On 1/10/07, Marion Sumerianlibrarian <[log in to unmask]>
wrote:

>
> as we now know, "rain" postings similarly lack a
> disclosure policy concerning its selection process,
> and are subsequently compromised in the point of view
> they present.


Folks -

Since no one is completely infallible (even the Pope claims this only in
the areas of faith and morals) it is conceivable that improvements can
be made to any human endeavor, including RAIN.  The questions that such
a proposition generates are not complicated and their answers relatively
simple.  

If there are those who would improve RAIN, especially after Peter K has
repeatedly explained the selection process, let them make a positive
contribution to the process rather than less than constructive
criticism.

As one versed in things Canadian, for example, on occasion I will
forward a link to Peter for a story from the Great White North when I
think it possible that Google might not catch it.  My success rate in
informing Peter is about 25% - in other words he has already found three
out of every four stories I send him - FROM ANOTHER COUNTRY.  That is
pretty solid.  I don't spend a lot of time on this.  Thankfully Peter
does spend enough time on RAIN to keep archivists and records managers
in North America and beyond well-informed.

The depth and breadth of Peter's own knowledge and professionalism is
such that he really does not need defending.  So here's the simple
answer to anyone questioning the RAIN selection process. I would suggest
that anyone agreeing with the post quoted above take a run at doing what
Peter has done so well - accept his challenge...reviewing a single
week's worth of Google News Alerts will soon become a fair measure of
such a person's fallibility.

One final note. "...as we now know..." (clipped from the post in the
quote above) is a logical fallacy, attempting to speak on behalf of the
entire list.  I prefer to speak for myself, even when I end up
demonstrating my own fallibility, and I do not believe that RAIN
postings are "compromised in the point of view they present."  

Cheers!

Mark

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