Re: Computer Access vs. Paper

[Wright Huntley <jwwiii at pacbell_net>]

Bobby,

We agree on lots of stuff, even if you are a liberal, but I wonder if you 
aren't going just a bit overboard, here. ;-)

My sense of the BOT, right now, is they are totally dedicated to finding a 
way to get on-line trading going. I also think most of them realize how 
lame it is to just plunk a copy of the F&E on a web page, and let it go at 
that.

With the BNL's F&E, killitrader and Aquabid, plus numerous active sales 
web sites, I do not see trade as quite as vital an issue for AKA as it was 
in the '70s. Hobby survival may no longer depend on it. If the AKA has a 
unique contribution to make in this area, great. Maybe a site where 
members-only can list stuff for sale is enough. As you know, I'd like to 
see the contribution more significant than that, but I'm running out of 
realizable ideas.

I think the AKA can still be an influence on those other outlets by 
providing accurate nomenclature and information on collection sites and 
codes. More than that, I think we have a huge role to play in publishing 
things like the Wildekamp Series and getting the old JAKAs on CD.

I may resent the hell out of their spending my dues on snail-mail BNLs, 
but Catherine wasn't at all out of line assuring folks that there are no 
current plans to abandon it, because many members (most with computer 
skills) still want it very much. That's a fair policy position, with which 
I'm free to dissent, if I choose to.

JAKA is undergoing a bigger revolution than even Russ's bringing back of 
color. As a sub-editor, in a flunky position, I get to feel the lash of 
the dynamic new tyrant we have bringing JAKA into the 21st Century in a 
big way. You ain't seen nuttin', yet folks. :-) Getting the last one, in 
time for Convention, was the handwriting on the wall. Did anyone bother to 
tell Marshall if they liked it? I am, right here and now, right out in 
front of the public. It was great and will get even better!

Bobby, I think that is the sort of thing we tend to overlook when we focus 
on one subject, too much. The days when we had to scramble and wheedle to 
get fish are long gone. While still not in every LFS, they are almost 
always in stock somewhere in the larger cities. Justin always has an ample 
stock of killies at Ocean Aquarium in SF, for example. He buys good stock 
from local breeders when he can, and brings in nice stuff from commercial 
channels.

Even if it is just a note to the killietalk list, I'd like to see other 
stores identified, so folks can find them. AKA can provide a service to 
new folks with such information.

Meanwhile, do as Russ suggests, and volunteer to do it yourself, or get 
off the backs of the BOT, who get enough of that stuff from dissidents 
like me. :-)

Wright

RuevenM at aol_com wrote:
> Hi Lee,
>
>     I just can't believe it is that hopeless. I choose to believe that if the 
> AKA finally comes to its senses and gets on the ball and does this pronto 
> that it will re-invigorate the whole fish sales/trading/listing side of the 
> organization. 

snip...

 Gee, thanks, Luddites.

> Bobby
>


--
Wright Huntley -- 760 872-3995 -- Rt. 001 Box K36, Bishop CA 93514




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