[TheForge] Help a sinking ship?

Mon Mar 21 06:32:39 EST 2005

>In the top 50 blacksmithing web sites Anvilfire is #1. The ABANA
> site is #3
> My own on-line newsletter is #5 or #6
> consistently.

Dave, just wondering how these ratings are made/verified?

Kevin

 -----Original Message-----
 From: theforge-bounces at mailman.qth.net
 [mailto:theforge-bounces at mailman.qth.net]On Behalf Of magichammer
 Sent: Monday, March 21, 2005 4:22 AM
 To: artgawk at thegrid.net; Sponsored by ABANA
 Subject: Re: [TheForge] Help a sinking ship?

 Thanks for your concern, I wish to respond in a responsible manner
 not with chest puffed out or pouting lower lip.
 Unfortunate as it may be that we lost keenjunk, it was immediately replaced
 with http://www.forgemagic.com/bsforum.php#last It runs almost the
 same way.
 It has about 100 regular users. It seems to be a smooth
 replacement for the
 junkyard.
 I have posted there several times and it is easy to use.

 The repair and updating of the ABANA web site http://www.abana.org is a
 contractual
 position that anyone can make a bid on if they wish. That contract
 comes up
 for renewal
 this year. The site has an active forum with 6 different topics
 http://www.abana.org/resources/forums/index.shtml
 The site basically addresses the business of ABANA. It has just about
 anything that one could want to know or
 be linked to other than being a "teaching" tool. That is what The Hammer's
 Blow, Anvil's Ring and Conference are for.
 It may not be the most exciting web site in town, but the little
 money spent
 on it is a good investment.
 I don't know what you consider a "substantial economic investment"
 to be. To
 become a dynamite web site
 would require a full-time webmaster. There is not funding for that.

 As far as "accessibility of BS  knowledge..." there are many good web sites
 with lots of good information and some with maybe not such good
 information.
 Check out http://www.MetalSmithingHow-To.com for a new site loaded with
 information and soliciting how-to content. It takes a long time
 and a major
 commitment to build a great site.

 The Anvilfire site is huge. It gets lots of traffic. Jock works
 really hard
 to keep that site going.
 I have personally always gotten along with Jock. We have worked
 together on
 several occasions without any animosity.
 In the top 50 blacksmithing web sites Anvilfire is #1. The ABANA
 site is #3
 My own on-line newsletter is #5 or #6
 consistently. http://lametalsmiths.org/news/  I don't get paid a dime. The
 hosting is donated by Buddy Holmes, the content is begged, borrowed, and
 shared. Of course there is no comparison between Anvilfire and any other
 site.

 I don't know what you mean when you say " I think that ABANA should stop
 defending it's institutional territory "
 I am sorry, I don't follow your meaning. The situation is not one of
 politics, rather economics. ABANA doesn't spend a lot
 of money on it's own web site, I don't think that they would financially
 subsidize someone else's. But you could ask them.
 All of the board member's e-mail and mailing addresses are on the site and
 easy to find.
 Writing to TheForge is not the same thing as writing to the ABANA board.
 Most board members are not subscribed.
 It is not a matter of ego involved. There is no competition between the
 sites. Anvilfire rules in my opinion.

 I would ask if you have donated money, time or content to Anvilfire, ABANA
 or another website?

 With Respect,
 dave mudge
 ABANA Member Services
 Affiliate Liaison
 Internet Committee Chairman

 ----- Original Message -----
 From: "Peter Fels And Phoebe Palmer" <artgawk at thegrid.net>

 >
 >
 > Keenjunk has gone down recently with unfortunate consequences.
 It hurt the
 > blacksmithing community and narrowed the educational resources available.
 > Abana's purpose to a great extent,is to support the  accessability of BS
 > knowledge...thus ABANA's purpose suffers the loss as well.
 > Last time I visited, ABANA's website was near mortibund, despite a
 > substantial economic investment.
 >
 > Anvilfire is teetering on the edge of collapse.
 > Anvilfire in it's present form is an invaluable resource for
 > blacksmithing, it's forums are active, it's Iforge "demonstrations" are
 > straightforward and extensive and the site has a great deal of other
 > material.
 > It was built up over the years, primarily by the efforts of crusty old
 > Jock Dempsey. He has put his heart and a fair part of his life into it.
 > He is towards the end of his economic resources, about to loose his shop
 > and Anvilfire isn't self supporting yet despite the huge # of hours he
 > puts in as editor, web master, programmer, Guru, photo editor and so on.
 > He needs secretarial help and bookkeeping, i think,first, new puter
 > equiptment and enough time so he can swing a hammer and earn a few bucks.
 > For the good of the art/craft, we need to set aside the egos
 involved and
 > make sure that Anvilfire survives...no, thrives.
 > I think that ABANA should stop defending it's institutional
 territory and
 > contribute substantially to Anvilfire's support....quickly...
 > Doing so would be an extremely cost effective way to effect ABANA's core
 > intent....and be the best thing for blacksmithing in general.
 > In my mind I can see a bunch of chests puff out and lower lips
 pout out at
 > this proposal....Hey folks, time to go for a larger overview on this
 > one......Respectfully,   Pete Fels
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