<VV> Paper or electrons

[James P. Rice]

ALL:  Without a breakdown in the total cost of the Communique (editorial
effort, printing cost and postage) for paper, for pure electronic and for
some SWAG for a reasonable combination of both, saying one is cheaper than
the other is blowing smoke out of several body orifices.  Sorry, but
Caterpillar taught me to do 6-Sigma statistical analysis instead of taking a
opinion poll of interested parties.  I trust one of our Directors is, as we
jawbone this to pulp, trying to get an answer and present it to other BoD
members.  .

My guess is it is a zero sum game.  Just doing a e-copy is moving cost of
printing (assumption there) from the publisher to the reader.  Getting a
better printer as someone emphatically insisted, at minimal cost he
insisted, is still transferring cost to the individual end user.  But is it
a cost saving from start to finish?  Don'tanoa.  Got that expression from my
3 year old granddaughter.

The second definition of "fetish" in my 1989 Webster's New World Compact
School and Office Dictionary is: "anything to which one is irrationally
devoted"  The key adjective there is "irrationally".  Somebody who is
throwing around the term has yet to demonstrate preferring paper
"irrational".  But then I suppose I should also buy a new dictionary...
(The 1st and 3rd definitions deal with magic and/or exotic issues.)

"Print is dead!"  Dr. Egon Spengler.  I don't know the story line behind
this quote, other than it was uttered by a fictional character.  But the
fictional TV show "Star Trek: Next Generation" had books on the shelves in
various officer quarters.  Apparently print wasn't dead in their vision of
the future.

One of my son-in-laws, who knows a lot of general info but not so good on
most detail info, recently told me I should get one of those e-book devices,
"because you could have a 1000 books at your disposal."  I said, "Why would
I want a 1000 books, when I haven't read some of the books I already have?"
He changed the subject.

Warren's comments below about paper vs electronic experiences in his SCCA
circle of activities is educational for those willing to learn from the
experience of others.  Real world vs oughtbe/wantabe world.  It's called
history.  Warren's paper music archives is also educational.  As he says,
paper never crashes.  Subject to getting lost or misplaced, just like
e-devices, but paper never crashes.  If you have it with you, it works as
intended.

Way does this quote say "their" and not "our"?  "I guess I don't see why
people can't see the problem. If I am  correct CORSA spends $125,000 a year
on the Communique. It's their biggest
expense."  I thought CORSA was us, not them.  Unless the writer is not one
of us.  Hummm....

"There is something inherently wrong with that statement that some of our
Directors simply cannot fathom."  The Directors fathom it, they just are not
yet willing to change the terms and conditions for chapter membership.  I
don't disagree with "you wanna play, you gotta pay".  Question is who will
be left to play if the terms and conditions of chapter membership is
changed.  If the Directors knew the answer, then...but it is a really hard,
maybe impossible set of statistics to get.  (As a Illinois resident, "Pay to
play" sounds to much like our state government over the last few years.  So
I shutter some ever time I read or hear the expression.)


Historically Yours,
                   James Rice
                   CORSA member since mid-70's
                   Former Chairman of the Competition Committee
                   Member of original CPF Advisorary Committee
                   CORSA/CPF BoD member and CPF Liaison 1999-01
                   Occasional contributor to the Communique
                   PCG member

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Message: 6
Date: Thu, 10 Dec 2009 10:28:20 -0500
From: levair at aol.com
Subject: Communique, Print vs. Electronic or Both Suggestion/comment
To: carmerjr at mindspring.com, Corvkid50 at aol.com
Cc: virtualvairs at corvair.org, Yenko108 at hotmail.com,
	fastvair at yahoogroups.com

The SCCA has a program where you pay extra to get some previous paper
items like Fasttrack for an additional amount of money. Our Indy SCCA
group has as an opt in or opt out program for paper newsletters; I out
in and pay the extra.,
    Another SCCA group has discontinued their paper newsletter
altogether and has seen attendance fall from 80 cars to 30 cars.  When
interviewed the attandants all came because of the Web news . That
works good for the hard core dedicated who enjoy searching the web for
events . The 50 missing  casual entrants needed reminding by a mailed
newsletter in their laps (rather like a special invitation) .
     The FortWayne SCCA has gone to a sparodic on line newsletter and
the club has almost dissolved.
     Recently I felt the need to research some past Corvair items and
was able to look through both some 30 year old Communiques and some
very recent ones---it warmed my heart. This years Communique
has been great; especially the early foundry and casting articles.
      A few years ago I saved some information on floppy disc. Now that
then current techonology is obsolete and not available on new
computers. When is our current technology going to become obsolete?
Nothing is forever EXCEPT PAPER.
     There is some arrogance of youth about only the latest (soon to be
obsolete) technology to be of any value. Why do they automatically
assue that we codgers know nothing about it? Surely we old codgers have
some special value about being to see the big picture fromn a greater
distance, rather than now is always better, just because it is newer. I
just received some interesting postal mail and pictures form a Corsa
menber
    who obviously has no computer. I consider it special because of the
extra effort--sort of like hand written Christmas cards.
     In my musical field, I have the latest electronic storage device to
play sheet music from. When it is obsolete, I will get the next newest
one. It is a great tool and  I respect it. It is ONLY a tool and being
electronic ,it will eventually fail unexpectedly(like all of the
electronic ignitions this summer-or viruses in computers). However I
will still have my PAPER sheet music  forever.
     Just give me the choice and let me make my own decision on paper or
web.

Warren