blog.shrub

I’m sure there are some of these around already, but I have written a script to back up your Mailman mailing lists. It dumps the member roster and list configuration into separate text files, zips them up, emails them to you, and cleans up after itself.

The script is called mailmanBackup.py, and its syntax is pretty straightforward:
Usage: mailmanBackup.py listname <recipient> [<sender>]

If sender is not specified, the recipient is used as the sender. The recipient can also be a comma-separated list of email addresses.

Typical use would be to place a helper script like this /etc/cron.weekly:

#!/bin/sh
/usr/local/bin/mailmanBackup.py listname emailaddress@domain.com


mailmanBackup.py is available under a CreativeCommons-Attribution license.

Sean Bonner rips into MySpace, calling out its poor usability (far, far too many clicks to do anything). Sean was inspired by Evan Williams’ analysis of how MySpace gets so many page views. Evan was in turn building on Mike Davidson’s analysis. Mike’s characterization of MySpace as an “Unnecessary Click Factory” is spot-on.

Oh, and Mike also shows you how to make a profile that looks anything but shit-ass. Well done!

lyle writes:

I heard and saw a lot of funny things yesterday… One of my favorite moments was when a carnie, upon seeing my camera, yelled to me, ” do you work for National Geographic or The Rolling Stones?” The Rolling Stones. Yes, I am walking around the Indiana State Fair, shooting pictures…because I work for the Rolling Stones.