BadgerTrek.com website archived....

dave_in_delaware · 05-06-2008, 12:18 PM

Just FYI:

In case anyone was wondering (or worried) if this awesome site (www.BadgerTrek.com) would vanish one day, I took the liberty of "archiving" it into a Word document. I've done this for my own use while researching SMB's, and I find the Badgers have a well-documented journey in/with their SMB. The mods and problems documented are also very useful. (I left out the motorcycle stuff).

It's currently about 660 pages w/ over a half-million characters, and about 40 MB (as a Word doc). I'm going through the whole document and reformatting some of it, resizing the photos (to be smaller), and will be adding a table of contents and "bookmarks" in it. Once that's all done, I'll save it to a pdf (w/ bookmarks, too).

Why'd I do this? Because:

1. IMHO, It's an awesome resource for SMB owners everywhere
2. It has helped me in my research and design of my future SMB
3. It's great seeing what others have done to their SMB's
4. It's great seeing where others have gone in their SMB's
5. It's a good reference for problems, inprovements, etc.
6. You never know when a website could be removed or lost, so I saved it

Once the archive is complete, I'll have it available for anyone who wants it (probably via email).

Jeffrey · 05-06-2008, 03:23 PM

Good job.

At first, I really followed all they so authoritatively said. Soon, I only saw how much they hated their Sportsmobile and every single thing SMB did in building it.

Now, I make my own decisions about what I think works or is quality. And, I'm much happier!

Greg In Austin · 05-06-2008, 05:22 PM

I have to say that the Badgers have been a big help. I think they have done a wonderful job of recoding their experiences, problems and corrective actions. I have found both Erik and Amy to be helpful and very forthcoming.

...if they hated their SMB I doubt they would have made it as far or as long in it as they did....

...and it is always a good idea to make your own decisions, but it is also nice to have as much information as you can to make an informed and educated decision..

.

lowracer · 05-06-2008, 06:05 PM

It would be a really good idea to get the badger's permission before distributing their work...

Jeffrey · 05-06-2008, 07:20 PM

I'm reasonably sure that the information they chose to 'publish' is for all owners to read and share freely. It doesn't appear to have commercial value, and require copyrights. It's on the internet, so it must be right (and free!).

lowracer · 05-06-2008, 09:11 PM

Under US copyright law they do retain copyright in the work. Besides the legal angle it's a courtesy to ask permission before redistributing someone else's work.

Now excuse me while I tweak my bittorrent client to download mass quantities of bootleg movies and mp3s.

jage · 05-06-2008, 10:30 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Jeffrey

I'm reasonably sure that the information they chose to 'publish' is for all owners to read and share freely. It doesn't appear to have commercial value, and require copyrights. It's on the internet, so it must be right (and free!).

Feel that way about your photos? Or are you being sarcastic?

Jeffrey · 05-06-2008, 11:55 PM

Jeremiah, there's a great difference between sellable ART and a few truck tips accompanied by snapshots. I can do both, but with different goals and expectations.

But, I know you knew that!

jage · 05-07-2008, 09:30 AM

Sure, but their website could easily be the basis for, say, a book about their adventures and experiences or a direct source of advertising revenue by placing ads on the site, or any number of other things. I think a few truck tips with snapshots should be just as protected as sellable art.

Among other things it opens up a slippery slope for you- "Well Jeffery sold me this print, so it must be ok for me to reproduce and use." or "Well it was pubilished on the Internet, that must make it free for me to do whatever." I don't think you can expect the unwashed masses to differentiate between sellable art and snapshots either.

So that's why I thought you might be being sarcastic. All my opinions of course. Ah well, might as well talk Obama vs. Clinton.

dave_in_delaware · 05-07-2008, 09:34 AM

Wow guys! I didn't mean to get some of you in an uproar over copyright issues.

I did send Erik and Amy an email (this morning) asking their permission for distribution of the archive.

Erik's response: "That sounds fine by us. We put it up to be of use, and once something is on the internet it is as good as everywhere for all-time. I would just ask for credit for Amy and I as the generators of the content."

So, rest assured, it's OK w/ them. And I told them that many of us here have gotten some good use out of their website's information (I know I have). And as far as giving them credit, I was planning on doing that, although I think I speak for most people here, in saying that they're like legends here because of their website, and everyone knows BadgerTrek.com is their site.

I find their website content very interesting reading, especially since I'm in the design stage of my SMB. And since I doubt that I'll get out to the West Coast w/ my SMB, it was great to see what the other side of the Country looks like. And boy, is it different than it is over here.