Re: New AMC book....what would you like to see??

[farna@xxxxxxx]

The reason I published a book in the first place was becasue data was scattered and difficult to track down, especially if you liked more than one specific AMC model. So the primary goal was to get all the GENERAL data in one easy to find place. I'm not kidding when I say I use that book as a primary reference. But I have to go to my TSM collection for specific details. Most questions I receive are a bit more general in nature, like decoding VINs and serial numbers. There is no other single volume that I can refer to, though I can go to any specific year TSM. It took me five years to collect all the TSMs and flyers! Now if I had a bigger hobby budget I could have done it in about six months, but I don't think any of us have that luxury, and most have more specific time period/model interests (which makes collecting a few TSMs and sales flyers easy!). It's still nice to have the most used data in something you can pick right up and refer to, and even easily take with you. Tha!
 t is the best thing about printed data. It does take a lot of work to proof and correct, and some mistakes will creep in regardless of how careful and knowledgeable anyone is. I've yet to see even a "perfect" encyclopedia. I don't think "lack of perfection" is a reason not to make the effort. 

The same problems occur in an on-line source, but that can be "self correcting". That's the main reason the AMCyclopedia project chose TikiWiki software (go to www.wikipedia.org for a great example!), but it proved a bit to much for our needs. The main problem was the learning curve to and time it took to get it set up though. The lack of participation was the most serious problem. Something like that is self-correcting only to the point there is participation from the community. There was none. Like most things, there were 3-4 people doing everything for the benefit of all, and receiving nothing in return. That's the way it works in most endeavours such as that, so I'm not really complaining -- pointing out a fact -- and why they don't work well. 

Never the less, the AMCyclopedia project will continue as well. There was a server crash (hackers!) and now everything has to be rebuilt. We should be getting things up by the end of January, at least the framework to get started again. The group will keep the list posted, and maybe we can get more participation this time! 

--
Frank Swygert
Publisher, "American Independent 
Magazine" (AIM)
For all AMC enthusiasts
http://farna.home.att.net/AIM.html
(free download available!)

original message--------------------------------------------------------

From: "Gary Walker" <NashFlash@xxxxxxxxxx>
To: "AMCList" <mail@xxxxxxxxxxxx>
Subject: Re: New AMC book....what would you like to see??
Date: Sat, 10 Dec 2005 00:12:23 -0600

<SNIP>
The hard copy stuff is too time consuming to orient and often impossible to get to.   
I, for example, have a lot of AMC books, literature, and AMC data ridden magazines 
( Which are often wrong )  in two houses 130 miles apart.  In either case I 
would have to wrestle with stacks of magazines and books for days which is 
what a computer is for in the first place !

<SNIP>
My point is that data on a website can be easily amended after collaboration and 
agreement, the mistakes then forever gone and additional data added.   
For myself, I hope that I will NEVER have to buy another AMC fact oriented book 
because they ALL drive me crazy with all the mistakes which inevitably begin to 
permanently permeate untruths.  If done on a website, data can be affirmed 
or corrected by the keeper of the site according to the proof provided by 
participants in the project as questions arise.
   The attempts at hard print have been extremely varied.   

<SNIP>
Many of us have SETS !,  and I repeat SETS ! of 
AMC originated or other hard core scientifically originated data in hard 
form which can be accumulated to begin a    *  SEARCHABLE  *   data base. 
(  And yes, I will admit that some of this data will be faulty, even if it 
came from a "Chilton"s or even our sacred "Performance American Style" by 
AMC.   ( More on that later if I don't give up or out first. )    There is 
also the case of the two inch wide thumb on the keyboard.   That can be 
fixed too if on the net !   If left in print it is permanent.  If kept under 
review, it can be corrected. 
     Your Friend,
      Gary Walker