On Fri, 3 Feb 2006 Bowerbird@aol.com wrote:

michael said:

...

However, my response is NOT in jest, we will be only to happy to help, as with all such suggested projects.

let me focus on this constructive point, and get to the rest of your reply later...

last i heard, your whitewashers want to move files to the new directory structure when they do any corrections to 'em, thus can't update tons of files in one fell swoop. if that has changed, do please let me know.

besides, if there's no commitment to make new files consistent, there isn't that much point to making the older ones consistent. (you stop a spill before cleaning the mess.) but if that has changed too, please tell me.

i believe you are open to change, michael. i don't believe that your whitewashers are. but again, if i'm wrong, just let me know...

i first made these points when you were celebrating the 10,000 e-texts plateau. you will be at 20,000 before you know it, with the mess twice as big as it was then. i expect in 3 years it'll be twice as big again.

-bowerbird

First things first. . .before changing ALL files, let's try changing SOME files, eh? That's the way to get yourself some volunteers. Or, barring that, you are welcome to download ALL files you can get your hands on, by hook or crook, and work on them to your heart's content or form, and republish them here, or elsewhere. As always, you are welcome to address all of the Whitewashers individually or as a collection, to make whatever point[s] you wish. The one thing about volunteers, you have to SELL them on your ideas. Michael PS BTW, if you have been reading the Newsletter, you will see that we have started a PrePrints Site, which may eventually contain unpublished works that you can use to have your suggestions online before the final publication.