While I'm in favor of paper copies of the Texas Caver as it presently
exists, it is worth pointing out some advantages of going the route of
making it _completely_ on the Web, with no paper distribution at all.
1) There would be virtually no costs in money of publishing.
2) Therefore it could be made freely available on the TSA Web site, as
Gill suggests, without messing with things like passwords. Since the
TC doesn't publish exact locations of wild caves anyway, I don't see
any reason to hide its contents, except the possible problem of
inviting non-cavers to TCR. (The editor might have to be careful not
to print things that might be misunderstood by non-members, though.)
3) It would be easier on the editor, not only saving the effort of
arranging printing and mailing, but also the nuisance of keeping each
issue a multiple of 4 pages.
4) It could be entirely in color at no extra cost. (But don't use
color gratuitously in ways that wouldn't work well in a black-and-
white printout--much cheaper than color, at least on laser printers.)
5) It could appear at a higher frequency at no extra cost, since the
covers wouldn't cost TSA any more than any other page and there
wouldn't be any binding or mailing expenses. Monthly six-page issues
would be little more work and no more cost than quarterly twenty-four
page issues.
6) It could contain more material at little additional effort and no
additional cost. For example, educational things about cave science or
conservation could be reprinted from other sources to make the TC more
of an educational resource. Even more photos. Maybe more of those book
reviews that somebody keeps posting on this e-mail list...
I could, of course, come up with a similar list of disadvantages.
Nevertheless, if such a scheme resulted in a larger, more frequent,
and more informative Texas Caver, I'd be in favor of it. What I don't
see the point of is published a paper magazine and then trying to talk
people out of getting a paper copy, not taking any real advantage of
Web publishing and saving just part of the cost.--Mixon
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May the last lawyer be strangled with the entrails of the last priest.
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