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richfed
Sachem
USA
Bumppo's Patron since [at least]:
May 13 2002
Status: offline
Administrator |
 Posted - February 01 2004 : 08:33:52 AM
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Well, let's see ... what is going on around here on this first day of February?
 A State Of The Site Address
First, and foremost, the MyDoom Virus has hit us ... hard! By the thousands these critters invade, clogging up the downloads of E-mail to the point I get frustrated & just delete the whole mailbox from the server & begin anew. Finally, I've got a filter in place to keep the vast majority of them at bay. But, if you sent anything of import to us, particularly on Thursday or Friday, I'd send it again - probably, I never saw it. No, don't have the virus ... but, here's how this thing works [similar to the last big round of attacks a few months back]. Someone opens the darn thing; it reads all their E-mail addresses, and unbeknown to the innocent user, steals them & propagates E-mail to all of them, faking return addresses so that it looks like it's coming from a known user. Another person falls for it, and so on ... and it spreads. All for the Spam business, in the end. I fear, the end of free E-mail is in sight. This cannot continue as is ... way too much abuse.
Anyway, at least on this end, it seems to be under control ... somewhat! 
Stuff like that, work, kids, holidays, taxes, and other interests [I have rediscovered the joys of reading!!!! ... one of my favorite pastimes before the computer age. See: Gettysburg Book recommendation?] have all combined to make the web site somewhat static over the past few months - couple all that with the semi-disappearance of people who had planned contributions [remember the 3-D Fort & Soldier #1 Videos, for example?], and things have been very static. They're probably in the same mode I am in! 
Ah well ... how I remember, fondly, the old days of not being able to keep up with it all - things were happening so fast.
Anyway, I devoted much of yesterday to maintenance of the Mohican Board and added a few things here - some of which you cannot notice. What you can notice: - A new Forum called In The News ... located down near The Lions Den. It fills a void, I think, and at Adele's suggestion ... there it is.
- A Babelfish translator on the topic pages.
- A forum search down at the bottom of the individual forum pages.
- Other stuff ... later!
The usual E-mails ... I need help who are the Woodland Indians? ... That was an entire E-mail ...tiring, isn't it, but that's the lay of the land!
Visitation remains high ... picking up after the Holidays ... back up to 2800, or so, per day.
The site, though remaining a valuable resource, is losing its timeliness - excepting this Board, very little is is in real-time, anymore. What's a mother to do? {Remember the St. Joseph aspirin for children commercial? Only you elders will get that one!] Again, the lay of the land ...
Orders, though, are trickling in for the not-yet-released Author's Expanded Edition of On The Trail Of The Last Of The Mohicans. Seems the interest never wanes!
Ah, but it's February 1! In years past, this was the day we began to take sign-ups for the Great Mohican Gathering. This year, that began nearly a month earlier, yet we're only up to 39 souls, and some of them will be very much part-timers. 2004 Gathering Registrations If'n you are coming ... click that link & let us know. I am wondering, seriously, if perhaps this event has seen it's day. An awful lot of work for very little return at this point in time. Just thinking out loud again ... Coins for Chingachgook ... another link in need of clicks. This drive ends exactly one month from today - March 1, 2004!
No, this is
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Rich
Mohican Press
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Wilderness Woman
Watcher of the Wood
USA
Bumppo's Patron since [at least]:
November 27 2002
Status: offline
Donating Member |
Posted - February 01 2004 : 10:29:50 AM
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quote:
Originally posted by richfed
The site, though remaining a valuable resource, is losing its timeliness - excepting this Board, very little is is in real-time, anymore.
Ok, Sachem. Methinks thee is a victim of the Wintertime Blahs/Blues. Time for a WW Pep-talk.
If I understand what you are saying, I completely disagree with the above statement. The site is still very "timely". I think that the numbers of visitors prove it, plus the fact that you are still getting orders for the book. The movie that you based your whole site on is a classic! As long as it remains so, your site remains "timely."
I've turned to reading again this winter, too. I think it fills a need to curl up in a corner and go to "another place" for awhile. Short daylight hours tend to do that to us, and it can be "a good thing", to quote Martha.
Regarding The Gathering... I cannot imagine the amount of work this must be for you, and for others who assist you in planning and executing. I don't blame you for getting down in the dumps about it when the response isn't as you would hope. I'll bet that as the time gets a little closer and spring begins to appear, more will join in. Again, when you are in the throes of horrible weather, it's not always easy to set one's mind to planning a trip or vacation, much as it would be welcomed. Bear in mind, also, that financially, folks are still recovering from Christmas spending. So... hang in there! You are building it so they will come!
End of  Pep Talk.
quote:
Originally posted by Richfed
The little, tiny gal is standing up on her own now!
What!! Already?!? Has she been creeping and crawling and all of that stuff? Woo-hoo! Go Sophia!
The "In The News" forum is a great idea! Thanks, Adele.
BTW, what is a "Babelfish translator"? |
"It is more deeply stirring to my blood than any imaginings could possibly have been." |
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caitlin
Bumppos Tavern Patron
USA
Bumppo's Patron since [at least]:
May 17 2002
Status: offline
Donating Member |
Posted - February 01 2004 : 2:43:11 PM
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quote:
BTW, what is a "Babelfish translator"?
WW, It's a language translator. Should be very helpful, actually!
Rich, love the "those who have been lurking around the corn crib" feature. So glad to hear Sophia is up and I'm sure, soon to be running! You'll have to post a picture of her accomplishment!
as always,
caitlin |
Jack McCall: "Should we shake hands or something, relieve the atmosphere. I mean how stupid do you think I am?"
Wild Bill Hickok: "I don't know, I just met you."
"A nation with no regard to it's past will have little future worth remembering."
A.Lincoln
"Enjoy the little things, for one day you may look back and realize that they were the big things"
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Fitz Williams
Colonial Militia
USA
Bumppo's Patron since [at least]:
May 19 2002
Status: offline
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Posted - February 02 2004 : 01:30:14 AM
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Of course you realize that you have 39 more people registered that you have ever had before on Jan 31.
I have absolutely no idea what I will be doing this summer. I have registrered for what I think I can do, but it could be more, maybe less. It depends on a lot of things that won't become clear until much later this spring. I am sure that I am not the only one in this shape. It has to do with changing jobs, lack of vacation, the coming birth of my first granddaughter, and some other things. I am in the habit of waiting until the last possible moment to make decisions so that I can get a better handle on what I can and cannot do. I think that in 2002 I did not register until May. I checked the count of people going to the showing of LOTM in Hendersonville, and when the count got dangerously close to 75, I registered. I realize waiting is good for me and bad for you, so this time I tried to do a little better.
After being involved in the 2003 Un-gathering I have a better appreciation of what you have to do. Especially when nothing goes like you want it to. That was a one-afternoon thing, so I would NEVER want to plan ANYTHING which lasted for a week.
If you want to see "dead" then look at The Patriot site. You know it's dead when the "spammers" have found it, and no one deletes the posts. I liked The Patriot. It was a good movie. But the interest is not there. This site is very much alive and growing.
Just some of my thoughts. |
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Theresa
Bumppo's Tavern Proprietress
USA
Bumppo's Patron since [at least]:
May 17 2002
Status: offline
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Posted - February 02 2004 : 07:15:35 AM
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Hey Fitz,
Claude is in the same situation as you. He's not sure yet when he can cut loose from work and make the trek. Right now, we're hoping he'll be there from Wednesday, could be sooner, could be later, and could be not at all. We'll know more come May. Hope to see you there! |
Theresa |
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Fitz Williams
Colonial Militia
USA
Bumppo's Patron since [at least]:
May 19 2002
Status: offline
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Posted - February 02 2004 : 09:33:33 AM
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I am a little more fortunate that you and Claude since I live in Greenville and can be in Asheville in about one hour. So I know I will be at any evening events, like SOTR, and any weekend events. And it sure seems like I should be able to manage a few days in there as well. The wife, however, is another story, and with a new granddaughter I know that any vacation days will be spent with her.
On an entirely different note, I was reading about Grant's campaign against the Chreokee in 1761, and he was using Stockbridge Mohicans as scouts. So there really were Mohicans in "Mohicanland", at least for a short period of time. |
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Christina
Deerslayer
USA
Bumppo's Patron since [at least]:
May 27 2002
Status: offline
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Posted - February 02 2004 : 12:13:08 PM
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Re: The Gathering and etc. I'm in the same situation as Fitz et al. In the past I'd signed up in February or March -- this year being just like last year, I'm in a situation where I'd don't yet know I can take all the days off I want, money is tight, some things are being changed at my job, etc. etc. etc. It's all the usual B.S. that makes long-term planning in my case so difficult. Same as anybody else. But I'll make every effort to figure out what's going on as soon as possible. Rich, I know it's a lot of work...stay with us...this one being so long is probably a lot harder for folks to plan for than the three or four day deal.
Hey, 39 folks is a GOOD result, in my opinion. You should see the folks I know down in South Carolina...it takes us a week just to get two or three people together to watch a football game!!! 
Christina |
See this face? This is the face of a woman on the edge.
Whoopi Goldberg, "Jumping Jack Flash"
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richfed
Sachem
USA
Bumppo's Patron since [at least]:
May 13 2002
Status: offline
Administrator |
Posted - February 02 2004 : 7:12:08 PM
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Oh guys ... no need to explain. Sorry to make you feel like you needed to offer up an explanation. I fully understand. And everyone has their own thing going on. There's no controlling that, nor any intent to try to. It's simply that when you put all the individuals together - each with their own set of special needs, so to speak, it gets frustrating, I guess is the best word. It's not like this is some "distant" event - you know, cold & impersonal - organized for money. To the contrary, it's a very intimate affair that often costs money. Entanglements, hassles, procrastinations ... all that kind of stuff detracts from the personal - makes me feel, sometimes, like the "outsider organizer."
There's only one solution: K.I.S.S. The movie, the freebies, maybe one paid event per year, no special guests. Back to the basics. But, honestly, I am very tired. The motivation is on the wane - I can feel that.
A lot of factors at play - touching on a few - cumulative stuff ... just add it all up & that's how I feel ... right now. Six or seven years of putting the shindig together ... I absolutely HATE begging & prodding to raise money, etc. etc. I am not a business-oriented person. I really hate that, but it's become a necessary routine for me. I do it without a thought now, and that bothers me. Yet, it has to be done. You can't put on this thing with 40 people ... or with no money. We have TWO flights to arrange, all the facilities, etc. etc. It's expensive, relatively speaking [compared to other Gatherings; still a bargain, I think, in the grand scheme]. The thing, though, that really bothers me is that I see a similar scenario developing to last year - thankfully, the personal extraneous-to-the-Gathering stuff is not here for me this time around, so cancellation is not being considered. I do see the end of the line approaching, Gathering-wise, for me, though. I'm a-running out of steam ... I think most others are, too. I am very sorry.
Anyway ...
Excellent pep-talk, Joyce ... but, alas, for me this is an ongoing thing - a continuing battle inside of me for at least the past 4 years. Sheeeeeeeee-oot!
Thanks, Caitlin - glad you liked the new feature. I thought it kind of neat. Installed that right after posting the Weekly Update. For those who have no clue, try the Active Topics page. |
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Two Kettles
Colonial Settler
USA
Bumppo's Patron since [at least]:
August 01 2002
Status: offline
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Posted - February 03 2004 : 12:31:28 AM
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Rich,
Regarding the timeliness of topics here on the Board: Remember, it's February, and things are somewhat settled for the winter. But look at what's coming:
1. The Annual War College at Ft. Ti and the publication of the annotated edition of Kirk's (Kirkwood's) Memoirs. There will be LOTS to talk about when those hit, believe me;
2. The 250th of Ft. Necessity;
3. The F&I War Grand Encampment in Michigan;
4. The 25th Anniversary of the F&I War event at Ft. Niagara (hopefully there will be a few good war stories come out of it - and maybe Major Bray could do a retrospective - how about it, George?);
5. The filming of "The War that Made America" (I know there are reasons to be cautious of this project, but we can hope for the best);
6. The publication of Gary Zaboly's long awaited biography of Robert Rogers;
7. ????Maybe John Sayles will find a sugar daddy for JAMIE MACGILLAVRY????;
8. And, although it's not F&I War related, there's THE ALAMO (had to throw that in for Wade!).
9. I'm sure there's a lot I've missed...
So be of good cheer, Sachem Rich. This Board is still providing a useful function for us history junkies, and we appreciate your efforts immensely. If you give us a place to talk, I promise we'll keep talking!
Two Kettles
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richfed
Sachem
USA
Bumppo's Patron since [at least]:
May 13 2002
Status: offline
Administrator |
Posted - February 03 2004 : 05:21:14 AM
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| Not to worry, TK - Was just speaking of the Gatherings - and my total involvement with them [I will happily assist any takers in carrying on the tradition!!]. No plans to dissolve the Board or Site!!! |
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Carter
Colonial Militia
USA
Bumppo's Patron since [at least]:
August 28 2003
Status: offline
Donating Member |
Posted - February 03 2004 : 07:36:07 AM
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| I can't say I blame you for being a bit "battle weary" Rich. Ten years of Mohicanland and five years of gatherings is an awfully long time. I am new to the board relatively speaking, and I hope I am not speaking out of turn, but as President of the Studigroup I have an inkling of how draining and thankless the job can be at times. You are right; it may be time for someone to step up to the plate. Of course I would prefer it if you decided not to retire. |
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