I received over 20 emails from participants asking what was up. I don't know what happened, but I felt inadequate in trying to let you all know that it was indeed down and to keep trying. The entire domain including all the LUSENET Q&A forums was unavailable.

In the future, if our forum seems unavailable, please check http://www.alaska.net/~rowlett/leicaforum.htm, which is linked from my home page, for any relevant information. I don't have much control over the server or even the LUSENET software that runs our forum, but I will post at the top of that page anything I know about the situation. I sure hope we still have all our participants! And welcome back!

-- Tony Rowlett (rowlett@alaska.net), October 25, 2001

Answers

Our forum is back!

A good example of everyday life. I could live without this forum, but I don't! First thing in the morning and last thing in the day, I'm out here lurking! Seems to be not just Tony, but Greenspun up front who was down. I thought our time off might have something to do with some German or European filtering to cut down on today's white powders etc. Just to try and make sure, I mailed two of our best crew members on site (even as far away from here as LA) and they too were in the same boat. Pretty big boat, 'eh?

-- Michael Kastner (kastner@zedat.fu-berlin.de), October 25, 2001.

Thanks, Tony. I wrote that before I heard from you. Mike.

-- Michael Kastner (kastner@zedat.fu-berlin.de), October 25, 2001.

Glad you are back Tony. Those guys on my Nikon sites didn't want to hear about Summicrons.

Every day I promise myself that I won't spend so much time on the computer... just e-mail, some news sites, and what the hell, I'll just see what's happening on the Greenspun site... an hour later, I make the same promise for the next day.

The last two days, I think I understood what withdraw felt like. Oh well... starting tomorrow, I am not going to spend so much time on the computer.

-- Al Smith (smith58@msn.com), October 25, 2001.

L@@ks like I wasn't the only one going through lack-of-LUSENET withdrawal...

-- Jack Flesher (jbflesher@msn.com), October 25, 2001.

Phew, I didn't realize how much I would miss this "user friendly" Leica site until this week. Glad things are back up and running.

Thanks, John Collier, for letting me know the site was back up!

-- Steve Hoffman (shoffman2@socal.rr.com), October 25, 2001.

Even the new guy suffers from LUSENET withdrawL! Mike K. I hope I didn't open the gates to the Barbarians!

-- Brooks (Bvonarx@home.com), October 25, 2001.

For a moment I thought we were victims of terrorism, nice to read you back, and good to know we have a lifesalver in case something goes wrong, what would I do without this place?

Nice day fellows!!

-- r watson (al1231234@hotmail.com), October 25, 2001.

Tony: Thank-you for taking the time to let us know how to check on the site and especially for taking the time to host the forum. I appreciate the information and feedback from fellow users. Keep up the good work.

Mark J.

P.S. could it be related to the SNOW we got in Southcental Alaska. I understand no two snowflakes are alike, but computers rely on identical 1's and 0's.

-- Mark A. Johnson (logic@gci.net), October 25, 2001.

We have a few Alaskan's on this forum! Well, if it's the snow, then I'm glad it finally STOPPED for awhile. I'm getting tired of shoveling my walkway! :-)

-- Tony Rowlett (rowlett@mail.com), October 25, 2001.

Mark and Tony:

What is this thing you call "SNOW", and why on earth do you shovel it off of your walk???

Regards from California,

-- Jack Flesher (jbflesher@msn.com), October 25, 2001.

I was getting close to having an anxiety attack. The forum came back up just in time to save me. Sort of a natural form of Xanax for de- stressing. I appreciated the email, Tony.

-- Bob Fleischman (RFXMAIL@prodigy.net), October 25, 2001.

Actually I was glad of the break. Hardly noticed it was down. Did'nt miss this at all!

No, really, I really mean it - not for a moment, - could'nt care less........well, perhaps, just a tiny bit.

-- Tim Gee (twg@optushome.com.au), October 25, 2001.

Tony, thanks for your responses on e-mail, I am alive again :)

Victor

-- Victor Randin (ved@enran.com.ua), October 26, 2001.