Phillipe & BrDevon: I've got an education health care and also an education in the handcraft of bookbinding (later also industrial) and worked as a professional bookbinder. I've even combined the two in a Rehabilitation project for people with disabilities, who managed to repair books from libraries and in doing so pro-longed the life of the books on behalf the readers. Also made books for others as well. I was quite proud over my students, the project and the rewards it gave to all involved. So I guess I'm somewhat bias when it comes to books. You get a special feeling for books especially when you restore older books from lets say the 16th or 17th century and there's only a few original copies left in the whole world. Feeling a part of a long line of bookbinders, honor the old master by restoring his work. Holding a well made book of high quality in ones hands is... I also find the text on the computer screen to be a bit dead... and also difficult to read it properly, but maybe thats a question of age and the younger generation has another view upon it? Often when I've written a longer piece I need to print it out and read it first. However, the computer is still a great tool. Then when I compare old paper and old with recently manufactured theres also a huge difference. Neither I believe that any e-books or other new formats will ever replace the traditional books. There is nothing that can compare to holding a well made book. Green literature? Samuron: Industrial bookbinding also requires a certain amount of power to run its production... compared to the cost of power required to read an e-book? Well, I don't know... I didn't think about those things while I worked there. But the machines ran almost constantly around the clock. However it's an important issue. Hopefully, we'll find an alternative to trees as building material or in making paper. At least so we can stop the destruction of the rainforests and save its species. It's terribly shortsighted when so much is still to be discovered and may help mankind in finding new medicine etc in future. Better contribute myself now... by shutting down my computer... besides I'm so tired I cant see straight at the moment and much less think. In a state of total confusion... I bid you farewell for now!
