Comments on: A Strange Case http://robertgerardhunt.com/2010/05/14/a-strange-case/ Stories. Commentary. Endorphins. Updated every Friday. Sat, 05 May 2012 03:33:53 -0400 hourly 1 http://wordpress.org/?v=3.0.3 By: Robert Gerard Hunt http://robertgerardhunt.com/2010/05/14/a-strange-case/comment-page-1/#comment-482 Robert Gerard Hunt Sat, 15 May 2010 14:43:30 +0000 http://robertgerardhunt.com/?p=878#comment-482 That's similar to the argument that our declining micrographics business used in our attempts to persuade prospective clients. Because we had neither the equipment nor the expertise to offer scanning services, we took a page from the sales book of our Kodak, Fuji, and Agfa suppliers and touted the proven 100-year archival stability of microfilm. We also cited statistics on the small percentage of information that was irretrievably lost during data migration every time a "legacy" platform was upgraded. And we raised concerns about the chemical breakdown of optical discs and magnetic tape. Few clients really seemed to care, though. The great advantages of OCR (though notoriously unreliable) and digital data retrieval were immediate benefits that provided more apparent value then microfilm's archival strengths. I imagine when confronting the issue, many an in-house records management specialist has secretly thought, "As long as the data holds up while I'm here, all is well." That’s similar to the argument that our declining micrographics business used in our attempts to persuade prospective clients. Because we had neither the equipment nor the expertise to offer scanning services, we took a page from the sales book of our Kodak, Fuji, and Agfa suppliers and touted the proven 100-year archival stability of microfilm. We also cited statistics on the small percentage of information that was irretrievably lost during data migration every time a “legacy” platform was upgraded. And we raised concerns about the chemical breakdown of optical discs and magnetic tape. Few clients really seemed to care, though. The great advantages of OCR (though notoriously unreliable) and digital data retrieval were immediate benefits that provided more apparent value then microfilm’s archival strengths. I imagine when confronting the issue, many an in-house records management specialist has secretly thought, “As long as the data holds up while I’m here, all is well.”

]]> By: Joe Landwehr http://robertgerardhunt.com/2010/05/14/a-strange-case/comment-page-1/#comment-481 Joe Landwehr Sat, 15 May 2010 13:01:13 +0000 http://robertgerardhunt.com/?p=878#comment-481 And a little info on digital storage. When the cataclysmic breakdown of society comes after the Great War (and you know it will), digital storage will be useless. You won't have the machines to retrieve it nor the electricity to run them. But with a candle and a magnifying glass, you'll be able to read microfiche and microfilm! My sister, with her Masters in Library Science, taught me that. And a little info on digital storage. When the cataclysmic breakdown of society comes after the Great War (and you know it will), digital storage will be useless. You won’t have the machines to retrieve it nor the electricity to run them. But with a candle and a magnifying glass, you’ll be able to read microfiche and microfilm!

My sister, with her Masters in Library Science, taught me that.

]]> By: Robert Gerard Hunt http://robertgerardhunt.com/2010/05/14/a-strange-case/comment-page-1/#comment-480 Robert Gerard Hunt Sat, 15 May 2010 01:02:23 +0000 http://robertgerardhunt.com/?p=878#comment-480 Oh yes, the turkey leg! Dad thought some kind of bird had somehow flown into the house and died. As you and I know, Joe, it wasn't MY room. Oh yes, the turkey leg! Dad thought some kind of bird had somehow flown into the house and died. As you and I know, Joe, it wasn’t MY room.

]]> By: Joe Landwehr http://robertgerardhunt.com/2010/05/14/a-strange-case/comment-page-1/#comment-479 Joe Landwehr Sat, 15 May 2010 00:35:23 +0000 http://robertgerardhunt.com/?p=878#comment-479 Anticipation of what you might find can be a powerful emotion. I, too, would have hoped for money, or perhaps some expensive company property that I could no longer return but could put to good use at home or at a pawn shop. Sometimes the unexpected rewards us. I remember the story of a petrified turkey leg and a bedroom closet and a house you might be familiar with... Anticipation of what you might find can be a powerful emotion. I, too, would have hoped for money, or perhaps some expensive company property that I could no longer return but could put to good use at home or at a pawn shop.

Sometimes the unexpected rewards us. I remember the story of a petrified turkey leg and a bedroom closet and a house you might be familiar with…

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