May 2010 - dvdvol - lists.pglaf.org

DVD label, version 2
by Aaron Cannon 25 May '10

25 May '10

Hi all. The label has been changed quite a bit. You can view the new image at http://snowy.arsc.alaska.edu/cdproject/pgdvd042010-label-v2.jpg Would like to hear your thoughts. Aaron

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!@! Take a look at the new DVD label
by Aaron Cannon 21 May '10

21 May '10

Hi all. You can view and/or download the new DVD label for the April 2010 DVD at http://www.gutenberg.org/cdproject/pgdvd042010-label.jpg Let me know what you think. If it needs different text, let me know, as that's easy to change. Aaron

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update on the Apr. 2010 DVD
by Aaron Cannon 17 May '10

17 May '10

Greg has just given the green light on ordering the dual layer DVDs. We will be ordering 7,500. We chose that number, because we've given away about that many in the past 2 years. For those who are curious, we got them for $0.49 each. You won't need a rubber stamp, as the discs will be color printed. So, for those of you who mail, please let me know how many you would like. I would like to send everyone enough to get them through the end of the year or so, but on the other hand, don't order more than you're comfortable with. The discs may come from me, or they may come directly from the replication plant. Just email me off-list with the number you want, and your address. I think I have everyone's address already, but if you put it in your message, it will be a lot easier. In the mean time, only burn enough of the old DVD to meet the requests you have checked out. If you have a lot of extras left over when we start mailing the new DVD, we can send them to Michael Hart. He's always finding ways to give away discs. Thanks. Aaron

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Re: Application Update Discussion
by Christa & Jay Toser 17 May '10

17 May '10

Hi All, You bring up several topics that I hope to answer. I have sent some of this information previously to Aaron Cannon, so He'll see some of this twice. As to how I mail international requests. I always use Form 2976 -- the little green form -- for every package I mail international (even Canada). I do not use any automated system. That is because I use exclusively Macintosh, and I have not yet found an automated system that works with my platform. The declarations I use on Form 2976 are: Gift (checkbox); Description of contents: "Free books on DVD" (or CD as necessary); Weight 0 lb., 3 oz.; Value --0-- (they are free, they have no value); Date & signature. I use a rubber stamp for Sender's Name & Address. I use a word processor to print out the addresses directly from the database, and use tape to stick one copy of the address to Form 2976, and another copy to the envelope. I do not re-format the address in any way -- too time consuming. I usually use 6" x 9" envelopes (whatever is cheapest at Staples). I put a piece of cardboard in the envelope to protect the discs; I put both discs into one paper sleeve (cheaper); and include a cover letter describing Project Gutenberg. The cardboard usually increases the weight of the letter over 2 ounces. But I have seen what the various Postal Services and Customs Agencies do to the letters. It is not uncommon for returned packages to arrive in a "body bag." I am convinced the cardboard is necessary for international shipments. Others have not used the cardboard, and the package then slips under 2 ounces weight. Which is better? I'm not one to judge. A 6" x 9" envelope falls under the "First-Class Mail International, Letters" designation. Postage costs for international are by "Group" (similar to the Zone rates for Parcel Post). For a three ounce package: Group 1 (Canada): $1.25 Group 2 (Mexico): $1.89 Groups 3-5: $2.66 Groups 6-9: $2.54 You can use the usps.com website to get a list of which countries belong to which Group. When I mail, I use stamps. I have discovered a trick to getting the packages into repressive Muslim countries such as Iran and Yemen (The King James Bible on the DVD is usually death to the package). The U.S. Post Office has issued an "EID" stamp. Usually sold only around Christmas time. It has a beautiful gold Arabic script on a blue background, for Eid al-Fitr which is a celebration ending Ramadan, the month of fasting. Stick one of the EID stamps on the package, and it is almost guaranteed the DVD's will be delivered in Muslim countries. For Iran, the package may still take six months to be delivered, but it will arrive. I use the Wikipedia to determine if a country is more than 50% Muslim, and then use an EID stamp on those countries. Johnnie brings up several good points on the address format questions. Folk from Romania have the odd habit of not listing their city. Folk from India many times leave off their postcode. I also vote for a mandatory city field. However, not all countries have a postcode. In fact (if you count all 114 countries we have shipped to), most don't have a postcode. Making the postcode mandatory will just cause confusion among some requesters. Maybe a strongly worded reminder at the top of the request form is appropriate. As to the telephone number, it shouldn't be a required field. Not all folk have telephones. I am aware though, that (at least) the India Post Office will use the telephone number if they can't find the addressee. The list of fields from Ubuntu look pretty good. There should be more than two address lines though. Take a peek at any India address. Their address lines usually contain several commas. Within India, each comma represents a new line in the address. So the following address: SANDEEP M MAKHE C/O SHRI ASHOK JEEVANDHARJI UDOLE,KUNGHATKAR LAYOUT,ADJACENT TO DEHANKAR LAYOUT,BEHIND DURGAMATA MANDIR,NEAR GANESH PEETH GIRNI,SINDHI MEGHE WARDHA MAHARASHTRA 442 001 (Entered all on one line.) Is really formatted: Sandeep M. Makhe ℅ Shri Ashol Jeevandharji Udole Kunghatkar Layout Adjacent to Dehankar Layout Behind Durgamata Mandir Near Ganesh Peeth Girni Sindhi Meghe Wardha Maharashtra 442 001 India Name line, 5 address lines, city + district, state, postcode, country. Believe it or not, this package actually got delivered. I hope my comments are helpful Jay Toser

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field size, phone, &quote
by Johnnie CD 17 May '10

17 May '10

Hello, It appears the odd characters only show up in the export file. I did not have any data still on my computer so I feed the system my address with some of the characters included: "2306 Elba St" "Test" 'a & Intersect "a" & 'b Durham NC 27705 It displays properly on all of the pages. and it exported as: "2306 Elba St" "Test" 'a & Intersect "a" & 'b I think the set of fields and field length from the Ubuntu example is quite reasonable. Perhaps others would share their thoughts? The USPS software and website also ask for phone number on international items. My software actually requires an entry so I add a field with all "0" values before I import the data. I plunked around on the USPS website a few months back and the only place I saw that they make the phone number required instead of requested is for postal boxes in Canada. Of course I only spent a couple of hours looking around when I was trying to get an overview of the rules for international shipping so I only read a small portion of the info. Unfortunately I am unable to read most the the info on other countries rules due to the the language barrier. Johnnie

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Fwd: Thank you!
by Aaron Cannon 15 May '10

15 May '10

---------- Forwarded message ---------- From: Greg Newby <gbnewby(a)pglaf.org> Date: Sat, 15 May 2010 13:51:52 -0700 Subject: Re: Thank you! To: Joel Auringer <auringer.clarinet(a)gmail.com> Cc: Aaron Cannon <cannona(a)fireantproductions.com> On Sat, May 15, 2010 at 03:36:01PM -0500, Joel Auringer wrote: > Dr. Newby, > > I wanted to pass on my unbridled support for Project Gutenberg. I received > the April 2010 DVD a couple of days ago, and the sheer amount of information > contained therein is astounding. In an era where censorship and bureaucracy > often reign supreme, the Project Gutenberg team has managed to produce a > product that, in my opinion, embodies one of the most important efforts > against a Big Brother future that I have ever seen. While I am reading my > Oscar Wilde and D.H. Lawrence, Project Gutenberg will remain steady in my > heart, and will be shared will all that care to listen. > > Every best wish possible, > > Joel Auringer, undergraduate music major It is truly our pleasure to make this available to you, Joel. Enjoy!! -- Greg Newby Dr. Gregory B. Newby Chief Executive and Director Project Gutenberg Literary Archive Foundation http://gutenberg.org A 501(c)(3) not-for-profit organization with EIN 64-6221541 gbnewby(a)pglaf.org

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application update discussion
by Johnnie CD 15 May '10

15 May '10

Hello, For this application the system works well and it is certainly far better than anything I could come up with. I would find it most helpful it the city, province/region/whatever, and postal code were generally in the same field. It doesn't really matter what the field is called if the label on the form that the user fills out guides them to consistent entry it would be great. I realize some users will ignore it but I think some guidance might help. It only matters to me because I like to export the data from the system and import it into the application that I use to generate labels. Maybe you could alter the webpage text a little if it is complicated to change the guts of the program? Of course I don't know how it is setup I just offer my observations as an end user. You might even think about making 1 address, 1 city, and 1 postal code fields mandatory. We still get entries with no street address or no city. Undeliverable as such I suppose I could try to contact each of them but I did not do so for all of the old request. I would also find it helpful if the webpage form limited the number of characters in each field. Some folks enter strings to long that they will not fit on an envelope. I does help to know where the logical breaks go in international addresses. This also would not matter for everyone that addresses their envelopes by hand but when exported long entries get truncated and the additional text has to be edited back in manually. The other interesting thing is the way the system handles special characters. Things like " and ' come over as if I were working in html and have to be edited back to normal text. It is an obvious correction so it causes no trouble just a little time. If it it is easy for the software to make the correction that would be nice if not no big issue as the change is obvious. Microsoft is driving me nuts with their email. They are prone to spam or junk anything sent from one email address claiming to be from another unless it is sent from inside their network. Of course their rules are not as clearly published as some of the other folks which makes it difficult to comply. If anyone know how to make them happy I hope they will share. I look forward to learning how other folks are using the software. Of course it would not make sense to propose any change unless it makes life easier for everyone and it requires only a reasonable amount of time to implement. Johnnie

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the request database
by Aaron Cannon 13 May '10

13 May '10

Hi all. I'm going to do some work on the request database application soon, and I'm wondering if you folks who use it have any complaints/requests/wishes/bugs to share. One area I might look at is getting more standardized international addresses. What do you folks think? Does our current system work? Should we instead ask more specific questions on the international request page (E.G. City, Province, postal code)? Thanks. Aaron

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Customs forms, etc.
by Johnnie CD 11 May '10

11 May '10

I have been using a Form 2976-FCMI on all items outside the US except some APOs and a request from Mexico that showed up in the US Que through a receiving service. The one to Mexico got held up as it had no 2976, declaration of value, bill of sale, or anything like it. The send me an email asking for one and they indicated all was well. I was following the advice on the PG website and attaching a customs form to everything even though the USPS code appears to indicate that they do not require it. Of course, the opinion of the USPS is not really the crucial one as the receiving countries postal service is the one that decides if the item will be delivered. As everything else had the customs form I do not know if it would have been an issue or not. Most of the clerks at my local post office really do not understand international shipping so they are not very helpful. After my first visit to the post office with a handwritten multi-part customs form that they had never seen before I changed to the 2976 instead of the –A version and it is easier to work with. I currently export the name, correct the dropped characters from the impossibly long fields, isolate the City as required and run my labels through my Stamps.com software so the customs form, address, and postage all print at the same time. I do this to avoid completing the customs form by hand, as it is quite tedious. They have not yet made be pay the additional fee so it had usually been $2.03 except Canada, which is a little less. The Endicta folks are using a semi-static declaration form on their labels. It is not an USPS approved customs form but it has all of the same information and as it is static, you are supposed to just change the dates and run your labels. I have not tried international shipping with their service as I was usings the other folks service at home. It would be interesting to hear what other folks are finding. It would be much easier to forgo the customs form it will not have a negative impact on delivery. BTW, I sent Paul an email and he indicated that his gear will duplicate DL DVDs. I can also burn a few but not the quantities that I have consumed in the past. I tried the Ridata DVD-R DL from the online store. They are x4 and a little slow but my gear keeps rejecting them as non-identical copies. I Tried the TDK DVD+R (the only think on the shelf in the local store) they are x8 and they ran through without any errors. Of course they were considerably more expensive. I will try another brand next time I order and see how they work. Johnnie

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customs forms
by Aaron Cannon 10 May '10

10 May '10

Hi all. I know we had this conversation a long time ago, but I'm just curious what current folks are doing. Are you using customs forms? Are you using them for every country that you mail to that isn't outside the US, or just the problem countries? Based on my reading of the USPS guidelines, we shouldn't need to use them unless our packages are a pound or more (which they're not) or dutiable (which they shouldn't be). I've never used customs forms, except when mailing to certain problem countries, like Iran or Egypt, and I've never had any problems, but maybe I'm just really lucky. Also, approximately how much are you folks paying for international mailings nowadays? Is your post office imposing the non-bendable items sir-charge? I also noticed that the USPS has put the customs form 2976 online now. Is anyone using this? I ask because I recently checked out a large number of requests from Bangladesh (we must have gotten some local publicity; if anyone knows, I'd like to here) and I'm hoping to be able to avoid the forms if I an. Thanks. Aaron

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