archiving as opposed to backing up

[John Foust]

At 10:27 AM 9/23/2004, Vintage Computer Festival wrote:
>You're a real saddist, you know that? 

Yes, he's quite sad.  :-)

>If you want to create historical challenges for future generations, take a
>pair of your finest underwear, a banana peel, some pencil shavings, a
>McDonald's Happy Meal prize, a couple books of any random topics, a few
>coins, a drill bit, three sticks of gum, and a toothbrush, put them in a
>lead box, and bury them six feet deep in your backyard.

It's hard enough (and quite entertaining) to try to understand
a contemporary culture unfamiliar to your own even when you're in
it, walking around...  that's why we like to travel.  

Pounds?  Quid?  This ain't lemonade!  

A tremendous amount of historical culture has been lost because it 
was made of wood, fiber, leather or bamboo.  How much will be lost
because it was "saved" on a cheapo CD-R?

- John