I didn't say you should give up and not want to improve things. What I said was the guide you referred to was made and maintained by one person. That person is not obligated to take on more work because you or I or anyone else wants them to. If you want to improve things, you can do it on your own, or TALK to the people who are running what you want to improve. Posting here that the Chip Guide should be changed is not the right way to go about it. If you want to create something new (say, a Louisiana Guide), then you can propose it, suggest what you can do to make it happen, what you need that you can't do and see if anyone else wants to assist you. I am sure many people will be thrilled that you filled in a gap, and provided a valuable resource. If you want to improve an existing site, I suggest you e-mail them privately with your ideas. Inquire if they are open to new ideas and expansions rather than take the tack that they are not good enough as they are. It's not what you propose, as much as how you go about it.

I'm not saying that Greg won't be amenable to your ideas. He may be. I just don't think he should have to do any more than he has. He has a job, maintains a number of sites for the club and maintains the Chip Guide itself. I would have no problem asking him how I can create a site and link it to the Chip Guide like so many have done (personally, I find it easy to navigate through the different sites), but I would not conisder it appropriate or considerate to tell him what to do with his own site.

I don't think I am saying that you should accept the status quo in any way. Ideas are good. Keep coming up with them and think about the best way to present them. Then, they may become a reality.

And, if you think I am part of some clique, or jumping to the defense of some old buddies as a knee jerk reaction, I should point out that I have not been in this hobby that long, have only been to one function (a local club meeting), have only met three people who post on this board (at that meeting) and have never even spoken to anyone else on this board (though I did leave a voice mail message for Mr. Splashbar in a failed attempt to meet one time).

Think about what I wrote before you reject it. I believe you will be more likely to bring about the change you want if you take it to heart.

Michael Siskin