Let's Be Each Other's Archive

[barondave]

I just thought of this so I'm not sure it's a good idea, but:

My brother's losing his house (though I haven't heard exactly what the damage is yet) and therefore potentially pictures and compter backups has inspired me to another geek idea. Most files are text, and small by today's standards. Even pictures don't take up that much space if you pack them in a DVD properly. Sound files/video etc is trickier, but still. You only really need a few things, if you had to start all over.

I suggest that we (in the larger sense, not just LJ) become each other's archives. It would be easy to burn a DVD (or set of CDs) with all the Shockwave Radio Theater files I've ever generated, plus my web sites plus quite a bit of Shockwave Radio audio plus pictures... and make multiple copies and give/send them to someone in exchange for a DVD of their files. I'd be happy to store a bunch of DVDs in a closet someplace Just In Case. Ideally, the farther apart the exchange is made the better.

This isn't a time capsule, so I'm not worried about the technology changing so fast that future generations can't read it (though if you're going to password protect some files, leave the pw somewhere for your grandkids...). This is Extended Offsite Backup, for an emergency situation.

Thoughts?

Comments

[bibliofile.livejournal.com]

I think it's a brilliant idea. I wouldn't be a great repository right now, as so much of my stuff is inaccessible, but I think it'd work. Backup DVDs and CDs take very little shelf space, but they're so important.

[minnehaha.livejournal.com]

As long as people encrypt them, that's fine.

B

[skylarker.livejournal.com]

Sounds like a Minicon Panel to me.

[chirosinger.livejournal.com]

That is an excedllent idea! You be so smart!

knock ? knock?

[faunhaert.livejournal.com]

herro love,
remember me?
i'm close over here in wisconsin-

mayeb up on a server? is a good place to store stuff
where you can access it from everywhere?

don't think you'll have minnesota being totally flooded to day

do you have grand kids ?
we just found out we have one
faun
ie> Stitch.at.bonewits.net<

Re: knock ? knock?

[barondave.livejournal.com]

Of course I remember you. I might have a picture or two that makes it on the web one of these days. Glad to hear you're doing fine w/grandkids and all.

A server is an option for many things, but long term archiving is not really one of them... yet. Wouldn't surprise me if someone came up with a service, sort of like PODS or the old document storage facilities in mountains, that was basically a guaranteed terrabit of memory, backed up three times in different locations. But it wouldn't be cheap, and it wouldn't be as reliable (for some things) as a DVD at a friend's house on the other side of the country.