following the threads of, in particular, Linton Salmon's response to Joseph
Kung's suggestion re: use of HyperNews to view the discussions of this group:

What we have now seems not a bulletin board, but a listserv: everyone on the
list receives the complete message, individually.

A true newsgroup bulletin board viewer/browser (such as what Netscape provides
for viewing/browsing the contents of discussions on UseNet newsgroups) is the
goal we should try to reach. I say this, not because of any personal affinity
for the Web, but simply because I *like* the way Netscape organizes and
presents the information: commentaries with common threads are grouped, for
instance, which would make following any particularly thread, and contributing
to it, very easy.

[Playing devil's advocate a moment: grouping formation by thread removes a
certain element of serendipity alluded to by other commenters.] My email app
does not allow such grouping and organization. (Yes, I could move from Mac to
Unix and use Elm, I suppose.) In its absence, I'm content with the present
system of info distribution via mems@isi.edu; but perhaps a more fruitful
discussion here would be to answer the question, What organization and
presentation of information would best serve the needs of this group in the
long run?

Al Henning
Associate Professor
Thayer School of Engineer
Dartmouth College
al.henning@dartmouth.edu