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Grex > Coop7 > #51: A Modest Proposal for the Grex Manual | |
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danr
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A Modest Proposal for the Grex Manual
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May 25 14:26 UTC 1995 |
A Modest Proposal
On May 1, 1995, I went into business for myself as a freelance
writer, editor, and publisher. I'm doing this to pursue projects that
I find both interesting and (hopefully) profitable. One such
project might be the long-elusive Grex manual.
What I propose is that I write this manual and publish it as
R-Squared Press, which is the publishing company my sister and I
operate. R-Squared Press will accept all of the financial risk,
paying for all of the printing and whatever publicity we think
would be beneficial. Cyberspace Communications would not have to
put up any money.
I would donate the author's royalties to Cyberspace
Communications, which I'll set at 12% of the cash receipts. This
is a pretty standard royalty. I'll also give the copyright to
Cyberspace Communications in return for the exclusive right to
publish the manual for however long I find it profitable.
My profit would be whatever R-Squared Press makes on the deal.
How much would we make? Well, obviously it depends on how many
books we sell. I did a little forecasting with a spreadsheet and
have attached a couple of possible scenarios below.
This seems like a win-win situation for Cyberspace Communications
and for me. Cyberspace gets a donation for little or no work on
its part, and I make a profit on the book.
One possible snag is that I'd like to use parts of the old M-Net
manual (mostly the sections relating to PicoSpan), and I may have
to pay Mike Myers some money for permission to use this material.
At any rate, I'd like to know all of your thoughts on this.
=================================================================
Scenario 1: Optimistic Forecast
Copies Printed 1000
List Price $11.95
Revenues
=======================================================
Discounted Sales 25.00% $1,493.75
Direct Sales 75.00% $8,962.50
---------
Total Sales $10,456.25
Royalties (sales x 12%) $1,254.75 (amount donated
to Cyberspace)
Unit Cost $2.50
Total Production Costs $2,500.00
Promotional Costs $500.00
Profit $6,201.50
Scenario 2: Mildly Optimistic Forecast
Copies Printed 500
List Price $11.95
Revenues
=======================================================
Discounted Sales 25.00% $746.88
Direct Sales 75.00% $4,481.25
---------
Total Sales $5,228.13
Royalties (sales x 12%) $627.38 (amount donated
to Cyberspace)
Unit Cost $2.50
Total Production Costs $1,250.00
Promotional Costs $200.00
Profit $3,150.75
Scenario 3: Pessimistic Forecast
Copies Printed 250
List Price $11.95
Revenues
=======================================================
Discounted Sales 25.00% $373.44
Direct Sales 75.00% $2,240.63
---------
Total Sales $2,614.06
Royalties (sales x 12%) $313.69 (amount donated
to Cyberspace)
Unit Cost $3.00
Total Production Costs $750.00
Promotional Costs $200.00
Profit $1,350.38
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| 18 responses total. |
davel
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response 1 of 18:
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May 26 02:14 UTC 1995 |
Hmm. All kinds of issues. One concern I'd have is kind of a weird one,
not related to whether this kind of commercial relationship is a good
idea in general. If you were doing this, I'd feel kind of uncomfortable
with your also being Grex's treasurer, & I'd really hate to lose you in
that role. (This is a fairly abstract concern, relating to policy in
cases of potential conflict of interest, not to actual doubts about your
own ability to handle the situation. <sigh>)
**I would really like to see that manual done** - if it can be done well.
And this looks like a way to see that happen.
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rcurl
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response 2 of 18:
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May 26 05:51 UTC 1995 |
There is no "conflict of interest" if the arrangements are formalized
by contract (and danr doesn't vote when the contract is considered).
Dan, in prior mail discussion of this, some terms and/or phrasing
of a contract were discussed. Do you have that discussion, and could you
write and post the amended draft contract?
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danr
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response 3 of 18:
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May 26 12:31 UTC 1995 |
Rane: Teh proposal above is the amended proposal and incorporates the
changes that were discussed.
Dave: I realize that some might consider this a conflict of interest;
that's why I'm posting it in coop. Personally, I don't consider it
a conflict, and there will be a signed contract between R-Squared
and Cyberspace Communications. Everything will be handled above-board.
I don't think the other board members would let me get away with anything
shady. :)
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popcorn
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response 4 of 18:
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May 26 13:44 UTC 1995 |
I think this is a great idea, Dan! I'm glad to see the manual finally
hopefully getting going.
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remmers
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response 5 of 18:
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May 26 16:48 UTC 1995 |
"Finally hopefully" smacks of oxymoron. :) But I think it's a good
idea too.
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davel
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response 6 of 18:
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May 26 19:15 UTC 1995 |
I guess it never hopefully got going before ...
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davel
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response 7 of 18:
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May 26 19:17 UTC 1995 |
Dan, I think I'm in favor of this. Sounds like a sure winner for Grex,
if we wind up with a completed manual. I hope it's a winner for you as
well (in which case it would be a winner for Grex in other ways, too).
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steve
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response 8 of 18:
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May 26 22:04 UTC 1995 |
I don't see a conflict of interest here, and see this as sometihng
wonderful for Grex. Taking the pessamistic forcast, it's a 1G disk
donated to Grex. ...And, no matter how few or many are sold, the
important thing would be that we'd have a manual!
I think this is wonderful. I'm all for it.
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adbarr
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response 9 of 18:
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May 26 22:44 UTC 1995 |
danr - please do this. Then, WIN, HVCN . . . . If you win the
Pulitzer prize .. well remember your friends.
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chelsea
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response 10 of 18:
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May 27 12:16 UTC 1995 |
I feel Grex is fortunate Dan wants to do this. We'll end up
with a good manual.
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adbarr
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response 11 of 18:
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May 27 18:34 UTC 1995 |
danr - this is a great idea. You may be surprised at the sales. Will
you donate a signed copy to the local libraries? I volunteer
to pruffe reeed.
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chelsea
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response 12 of 18:
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May 27 21:36 UTC 1995 |
I'd assume the Board will have final editorial control over
the content? I don't expect there to be a problem in this regard
but since the manual will be about and for Grex users I'd like
to see the Grex Board have the final word on copy.
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danr
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response 13 of 18:
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May 28 01:50 UTC 1995 |
Sure. I'll give the board final say on copy. I'm going to revise the
outline I had come up with before and post that in a separate item.
We can use the other item to discuss what should go into the manual
and what I should leave out.
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curby
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response 14 of 18:
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May 28 23:45 UTC 1995 |
Dan,
You say "...exclusive right to publish..." in you proposal. I assume
that this would be for everything, including electronic formats. If
grex wanted to use parts of the "manual" in some form of online
tutorial, would we be allowed to?
I like the idea of grex having a manual, but I would like to make sure
that the online help, which should always be the ultimate source of
information (even though we are on a unix platform), does not get
bogged down with concerns of copyright infringment...
BTW, does grex have a online help system?
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popcorn
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response 15 of 18:
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May 29 13:35 UTC 1995 |
Only the beginnings of one. Type !help to get there.
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danr
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response 16 of 18:
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May 29 15:25 UTC 1995 |
re #14: Good point, Tom. I would make all the text available here
on Grex at no charge to Cyberspace Communications or Grex users.
I would, however, reserve the right to publish it electronically
elsewhere in other formats.
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curby
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response 17 of 18:
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May 29 17:47 UTC 1995 |
That answers my concern. Thanks...
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rickyb
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response 18 of 18:
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Aug 10 21:01 UTC 1995 |
Dan, I like this idea too...but, I'd like to see a version of the manual
available on-line here as well. How do you feel about that, and how might
that affect your forcasts? I'm sure an on-line version will cut into your
hard copy sales a bit, but don't really think it'll be too much, especially
if the hard copy has drawings/schematics/graphics which are not included in
an on-line version.
I also think you could list price it a bit higher, perhaps $15.00.
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