[PaQSO] PAQSO 2001 Results problems

[w3dya@juno.com]

After the contest is over, I send my log and don't worry about the
results.  When I get them, I look 'em over and file 'em - will soon have
to start throwing them out... space problems!

I just wanted to say a disk crash is a convenient way to avoid questions
and complaints.  Over 30 years in programming and people still insist on
saying "it's a computer problem."  When a computer can finally talk (not
in my lifetime I hope), it will be saying, "it's a people problem." 
Unfortunately, the computer will probably be right....

In this day of cheap storage, a project as important as PQP results
should not be a victim of a disk crash!  By the way, when was the last
time anyone had a disk crash?  Maybe I did on a Commodore 64... don't
remember any but that disk drive couldn't always read what it wrote.  But
since the IBM PC1 and about ten hard drives later, none ever crashed
(head tears up the media) - and all my contest logs are still on them
(and on backups:  floppies, tape, ZIP, CD and, er paper). 

In all fairness, I admit I have seen a few IBM mainframe disk crashes
(physically wrecked disks), but with mirroring and backups, it was always
a minor incident.

Besides, a crashed PC disk can usually be recovered for a few hundred
dollars if it's not a complete physical wreck.  An accidentally formatted
disk (C:) is cheaper to recover (speaking from personal experience).

I'm glad I don't operate the contests for the awards; couldn't care less
- operating is the fun!  Only reason I send a log is it shows contest
activity, which is important to attract new blood!

I'm not suggesting the PQP contest people are a problem - as long as they
don't get the dates mixed up and keep the rules reasonably simple,
they're my heros.  Managing a contest is a thankless task - so maybe the
PA results are a little complex, but practice will take care of that!  Do
you guys have a backup and recovery plan? off site storage? relax,
neither does anyone else!

But let's face it; contesting is not like a business; it's a hobby!

73, Norm, W3DYA

PS:
That pounding you hear is me knocking on wood; I haven't backed up the CH
CW Contest files yet...