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Posting-Version: version B 2.10.2 9/18/84; site watmath.UUCP
Path: utzoo!watmath!jagardner
From: jagardner@watmath.UUCP (Jim Gardner)
Newsgroups: net.cooks
Subject: Re: Proposal for a simple net cookbook
Message-ID: <15581@watmath.UUCP>
Date: Thu, 4-Jul-85 17:13:31 EDT
Article-I.D.: watmath.15581
Posted: Thu Jul  4 17:13:31 1985
Date-Received: Fri, 5-Jul-85 03:18:45 EDT
References: <198@dcdwest.UUCP>
Reply-To: jagardner@watmath.UUCP (Jim Gardner)
Distribution: net
Organization: U of Waterloo, Ontario
Lines: 63
Summary: In Favour


[ . . . ]

There are no original ideas left in the world. 
Have you ever noticed that?

I have been coyly putting off proposing
net.cookbook for some weeks. Hurray!
There are two possible directions, as I see it.
One is, as proposed, an on-line response for
net users: sort of a beginner's cookbook, or
a greatest hits collection. This could be drawn
from the summary-type postings in particular
(sections like "net.cooks discusses quiche").
We would obviously rise to the occasion by
starting *new* areas of creative discussion
to fill out the book.

This implies lots of exciting things. We would
have a document for new users and old, *and*
a great opportunity to discuss all the recipes
and recipe-types we wouldn't want to be stranded
on a desert island without. New blood for an
slightly anemic newsgroup!

The second possible application is actually
publishing net.cookbook. Hassles like organization,
editorial responsibility, copyright respect *and*
getting published are inevitable. But
net.cookbook could be a great title!
This possibility is *not* one to be leapt into.

I suggest that we collect, edit and revise material
from net.cooks past for an on-line "book",
review the contents and bring the newsgroup a
list of conspicuously short/missing topics for
discussion. Watching copyrighted material carefully,
we should be able to come up with an exciting
on-line service! If that project is a success,
we could look at a (different) published book,
if anyone is still interested. Much later.

This is going to take a monitor/editor, folks!
The job description would include reviewing all
the old net.cooks material we can get hold of,
selecting exciting topics, and bringing subjects
back to the net for more input! Job qualifications
include the patience of a saint and the palate
of an artist. Sense of humour desirable.

Or not?

			      Linda Carson
			      "Cooking editors are tough;
			      they have to be."

p.s. It strikes me suddenly that I should mention this:
I am working, on again/off again, on a cookbook myself.
In the unlikely event that I finish *and* publish it
I would like to assure net.cooks readers that I am
not lifting the material from the net. I hope that goes
without saying. Bon appetit!