From juggle@hal.com Thu May  2 08:02:40 GMT 1996
Article: 27148 of rec.juggling
Path: hal.COM!hijinks.hal.COM!not-for-mail
From: juggle@hal.com (Juggling Information Service)
Newsgroups: rec.juggling
Subject: moving day coming for the JIS
Date: 1 May 1996 23:41:36 -0700
Organization: HaL Computer Systems, Inc.
Lines: 84
Sender: barry@hal.COM
Message-ID: <4m9lf0$2e9@hijinks.hal.COM>
Reply-To: juggle@hal.com
NNTP-Posting-Host: hijinks.hal.com

Today marks the second anniversary of the Juggling Information Service,
which was announced on May 1, 1994.  The huge amount of growth,
support, and usage that the JIS has seen in these two years has gone
well beyond my expectations.  I'd like to thank all of those who have
contributed time and information.

It has become apparent during the last several months that the JIS
could not continue to thrive while being dependent on a benevolent but
disinterested host.  I am very grateful to my employer, HAL Computer
Systems, for providing the considerable resources that the JIS has
required for these two years.  However, it is clear that we cannot
assume that such support can continue indefinitely.  It appeared that
this support might have to be withdrawn, and the chances of finding
another such generous host was unlikely, as the JIS has gotten very
large, and very demanding of various resources and computer privileges.
For a while, I feared that I might be forced to shut the JIS down.

I've given this a great deal of thought, and discussed it with many
people.  It looks like I can keep the JIS not only alive, but stronger
than ever, by moving it to its own computer system and Internet feed.
I have begun this process, and hope to have the JIS in full operation
at a new permanent home in about a month.  We should all expect some
problems and downtime during the transition.  I will try to keep these
at a minimum, but please be patient during this time.  I may also be
forced to temporarily stop maintenance and updates, as well as greatly
reduce my JIS correspondence, until things settle down in our new home.
If you don't get a prompt response to mail that you send here, please
give me some extra time this month.

Once moved, I will have full control over the new system, and will not
need permission from anyone else to do whatever is needed to provide
new and improved services.  This should make many things much nicer
than before, and allow new services that could not have been provided
previously.

In order to do all of this, I will be spending quite a bit of money for
equipment and services, well beyond what I can afford to donate, much
as I might like to.  In order to cover these expenses, I will be
offering limited commercial services to a variety of people who may
benefit from them.  This will be most apparent through the introduction
of advertising by juggling vendors at the JIS.  I will do my best to do
this in a way that is not disturbing to the functionality of the JIS,
and which I hope will serve both users and advertisers.  I will also be
offering commercial Internet services to performers, vendors, and
others who have a need for them.  If you are interested in advertising,
or creating a commercial web site, please consider supporting the JIS
by making use of these services.  The JIS will continue to provide free
web space for any juggler or juggling club that needs it.

I will make progress reports as things get closer, and I will be happy
to answer any questions that anyone may have.  Once this transition is
complete, I hope to work with anyone interested in helping to make the
JIS the best possible service to jugglers that it can be.  I encourage
anyone interested in helping to check out:

   The JIS Wish List
   http://www.hal.com/services/juggle/jis/todo.html

If you have any expertise in Unix system administration or networking,
and would like to help out during the transition, please get in touch.
In spite of what some people seem to assume, these are not areas in
which I have expertise, but it is clear that I need to learn quite a
bit very quickly.  I'd be very grateful for some support, advice, and
assistance in these areas.  In particular, I'd like to thank Ben Spade
and Nathan Hoover, who have both already provided considerable support
along these lines.

Finally, I'd like to thank all of you who have used the JIS for the
past two years, and who have sent countless warm wishes, encouragement,
thoughtful criticism, friendship, and support.  I've made many new
friends all over the world, and have found this to be a very satisfying
way to fill up what used to be free time.  Let's continue juggling down
this information superhighway, and see where it leads.

barry

Juggling Information Service
http://www.hal.com/services/juggle/   ftp.hal.com:/pub/juggle
E-mail: juggle@hal.com, FILE-SERVICE in Subject, HELP in body
--
Barry Bakalor          HAL Computer Systems    <home>
barry@hal.com          1315 Dell Avenue        1722 Cheney Drive
Mgr., Web Technology   Campbell, CA 95008      San Jose, CA 95128
www.hal.com/~barry/    408-341-5530            408-293-7279


