SB: Update on recent problems with the SB:list

[tjones <tjones@repp.org>]

Hello to all Strawbale discussussion list subscribers,

My name is Tayleah Jones and I am the Internet and publications manager 
for REPP-CREST. REPP-CREST is the organization that hosts the Strawbale 
and many other discussion lists, including stoves, bioenergy, 
gasification and other lists discussing green building.

I just wanted to clarify a few points about what was happening with the 
discussion lists last week/this month.

The problem started with spam. Thankfully, none of the discussion lists 
specifically hosted by CREST, including Strawbale, have been subject to 
actual spamming. However, a different list hosted by our vendor on the 
same server WAS "spammed." This incident caused the ENTIRE mail server 
to be "black holed" by a number of ISP's--not just one discussion list 
(unfortunately!).

Being "black holed" meant that certain ISP servers would not accept mail 
messages from the server being used by crest.org/the stoves discussion 
list. Hence the bounced messages, the confusing "probe" messages, and 
the automatic removal of some subscribers--a measure the mailing list 
software takes automatically rather than filling all the other 
subscriber's mail boxes with bounced messages.

It did take some time to track down the problem and we apologize that 
REPP-CREST was not able to inform you more quickly of what exactly was 
happening. Our vendor has since contacted the ISP's and Mail-Abuse.org 
(an organization that monitors spamming) and the situation has been 
remedied.

Since our vendor has taken definitive steps to prevent this from 
happening again, the entire server has been removed from the RSS list 
maintained by Mail-abuse.org. And, while there may still be a brief 
period of adjustment while the correction circulates our vendor assures 
us that this will not be a problem in the future.

We apologize for any inconvenience or uncertainty you may have 
experienced. We value your privacy and are working to ensure that all of 
our discussion lists remain well protected. We appreciate your 
contributions to this list and the community it represents. We hope you 
will all continue to share your thoughts here and continue to build this 
valuable resource. Thank you for your patience and concern.

Sincerely,

--Tayleah Jones
Internet and publications manager, REPP-CREST

-- 
Tayleah L. Jones, Internet and Publications Manager
Renewable Energy Policy Project (REPP)
Center for Renewable Energy and Sustainable Technology (CREST)
1612 K St, NW #202, Washington, DC 20006
202.293.2898; Fax: 202.293.5857
www.repp.org and www.crest.org


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