stuff

[Simon]

Penny wrote: "It actually seems to me that it might be fun to open it up &
let anyone who cares to submit a logo design.  Then, we could set up a poll
to tabulate the results.  It seems more democratic to let everyone (rather
than just the FAQs Committee or the Moderators) decide.  Thoughts?  We
should have a firm deadline though .... as I *really* want to start
uploading these soon."

Well first we have to let eGroups sort out the current problem.
As I see it a fortnight for people to design logos is plenty of time. I
produced my two in about 1 hour while and just after one of the Sunday
chats. So it does not take much time. We should probably agree on a maximum
size for the files (in pixels). We do not want the logos to be too large and
it is not that effective to reduce them in size afterwards.
After this I see another fortnight, at most, for voting time. Most people
who want to vote will do so in this length of time - especially if we plug
it quite well.


Penny wrote: "With Book 5 so far away, I wouldn't object if we wanted to
table this one for awhile.  <snip>  Maybe just a general "Predictions"
FAQ??"

I am writing a general predictions FAQ. I will probably go with the option
of putting this off until after I have finished the rest and then can
dedicate my time to searching the messages for predictions.


Penny wrote: "I sympathize.  But, we've left that one in the capable hands
of a mathematician -- who better to handle the Weasley age gap issue?  :--)"

The age thing went fairly ok. I decided in the end to split it into the two
possibilities (I hope there are only two - one has Charlie at 19 and Bill at
20 the other has Charlie at 23 and Bill at 24 with ages based at the
beginning of PS/SS) and then I outlined reasons for and against each.

I have completed notes (on the few updates I need to do) for this, the
Voldemort and Dursley FAQ's. I have not had much time in the last couple of
days, but hopefully will find time this evening and tomorrow to type them up
and then upload.


Penny wrote: "This is really more my deadline for myself to be honest.  I'd
rather not stray too far into Feb just in case of any complications or early
arrivals.  So, I'm trying to set myself some firm deadlines.  I also have
some professional writing obligations that are going to eat alot more of my
time in Feb than at present.  So ... onward with the FAQs I say!"

I really want to get them done before my work really kicks in properly. I
will start revising in March and want to have the FAQ's done and dusted by
then. Otherwise I will just run out of time.


Penny wrote: "For the initial drafts, I'm afraid I've been stuck with the
method that Simon described.  For example, with Hermione, I typed in
"Hermione" & have sifted through all the messages (an enormous task!).  Of
course, lots of messages I could tell by the subject line were not going to
be relevant to my character FAQ for Hermione & so I could skip them.  But,
lots of times I did end up opening a message & finding that there was only a
stray reference to Hermione.  The search feature has some problems in this
regard."

I put the messages onto expanded review and then find the ones for all my
FAQ's. Basically this means I simultaneously work on all the FAQ's at once -
which is why prediction messages have been missed (an oversight on my
part!). Typing Harry in the search brings up so many messages that I have
found it easier to just skim read all - it is much faster than searching and
then opening the appropriate messages (especially as eGroups is seeming
quite slow at the moment). You would have thought he is the main character
with the number of messages I have found about him! <VBG>


I think I am done now!

Simon