Received the following message and I thought the list might be interested.

Date: Thu, 27 Jan 2005 14:18:03 +0100 From: "Barbara Reed" <barbara@interpc.fr> To: cannona@fireantproductions.com Subject: Fwd: Project Gutenberg CD/DVD Reply-To: barbara@interpc.fr User-Agent: Opera M2/7.54 (Win32, build 3865)

------- Message réexpédié------- De: "David Kettlewell" <david@new-renaissance.net> A: barbara@interpc.fr Sujet: Project Gutenberg CD/DVD Date: Wed, 26 Jan 2005 22:09:04 +0100

Dear Barbara,

...

This message is just a small note to notify you that it has been mailed.

And this is one to let you know they already arrived - many thanks!

...

We have also included an extra disc for you to give away to a friend, family member, library, school, ETC.

There was just one of each, but that's fine anyway, I can make further copies: but what about this delightful label with Alice drawing aside the curtain to reveal the door to the secrets of world literature - is there artwork for that?! My labels don't usually come out as nicely as that, are they done in some special way, or do you just do them at home like the rest of us?

...

To hear about new Project Gutenberg eBooks, or get involved in creating new eBooks, visit http://www.gutenberg.org

Yes, I certainly see myself getting involved in various in the future, it seems such a wonderful goal and the friendly democratic profile seems too good to be true!

I didn't find it easy to find out how to send in suggestions - I suppose people aren't expecting us to send paper letters to Salt Lake City? For instance, I wonder if you can tell me where to send thoughts like the following? - or does one send everything to info@pglaf.org?:

- the letter that came with these discs should really have a sentence for those who *don't* already have an unzipper on their computers: I more than one Windows user who doesn't have WinZip nor have a clue about how to get it or install it, and of course Mac users may not know that these days StuffIt Expander also handles zipped files, since earlier versions didn't and zip isn't a usual format for the Mac. Another detail, if tiny, is that 'Zip' isn't a program, but a format, rather "compressed using the Zip program" a more usual formulation would perhaps be "compressed in Zip format" (of course they were compressed with *a* Zip program, but there are many, not just one, and the way it was done isn't interesting, just the result because that's what you have to have software to deal with!)

- there's an enormous difference in legibility between the two labels, the DVD label would gain greatly by having the same kind of solid-colour bar as the CD one has

- I'm confused and alarmed by the conflict between a) the simple happy injunction in the letter and the web-pages to share the files or copy the disc; and b) the standard 'small print' in every Gutenberg file which says ominously "Be sure to check the copyright laws for your country before downloading or redistributing this or any other Project Gutenberg file"; and the even more ominous "You agree that if you distribute this etext or a copy of it to anyone, you will indemnify and hold the Project, its officers, members and agents harmless from all liability, cost and expense, including legal fees, that arise by reason of your distribution"

- I didn't anything about how the copying of CDs and DVs works, for anyone who might be able to contribute in this way: the reference in the FAQs points just to the consumer's side of things

- the index page of the CD says "The eBooks on the CD consist mainly of text and HTML files, with a few movie files": I could only find one movie file, landing.avi, and although it's well worth having, I don't see how anyone could call it an eBook

- it would be wonderful if there were a way of getting the audio eBooks in disc collections, for those of us who don't have broad-band it's a major project to download all those separate files ...

- one wonders what the attitude of Project Gutenberg is to different editions, and indeed to history in general! For example, it seems extremely odd that there is only one version of Aesop's fables, which contains a very strongly-worded criticism of other peoples' work, with no mention of when it was made - the latest date I could find was 1864, so it's evidently after that, but doesn't seem to be a modern one. Similarly with Chaucer's Canterbury Tales, although there is a plethora of notes I saw nothing to show when the edition was made, which is an absolutely central feature of an intelligent reading of anything ...

:::::::::::::::::::::::::

I wonder which part of France you're in ... I've had very positive experiences of Auvergne, Vendée, Bretagne, and have worked in places like Calais and Arras, as well as Paris and Marseilles ...

All best wishes,

David Kettlewell formerly professor, Tartu University, Estonia ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ Musica Humana - Music and Musicology to educate the whole person ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ <http://www.new-renaissance.net>

-- With best wishes From the lady of the changeable locks, soggy shazadi, duchess of darkness and damp, Barbara Reed, and all the furry friends. Dalie asks you to sponsor her in aid of the Brooke Hospital, you can visit at http://www.thebrooke.org She is walking from Nantes to Brest in 2005 and wants your money to help working animals in poor countries.

-- E-mail: cannona@fireantproductions.com Skype: cannona MSN Messenger: cannona@hotmail.com (Do not send E-mail to the hotmail address.)