Luke, I also think the bottle could be obsidian. Could you check for evidence of hollowing?....John

Tom, I agree with you. 'Paperless' should be an option....John

I very much looked forward to receiving the journal. In the 19 years as a member I've never been to a convention or met another member, so the journals were my only connection. I'm glad to have met some of you here and on facebook. I wonder if discontinuing the journal will have the effect of further declining the membership?

Hi Tom

I fully agree with you.

They should either go entirely paperless or retain the current printed version.

Having an option for the printed copy does not help. How many copies should they print? 20 or 50? There is no economy of scale, and the cost may be just as much as printing 500 copies.

Besides, not every member is tech-savvy, and some may have a slow internet connection.

Not to mention that the Society website is not really a pleasure to visit....

Regards.


Richard

Impressive!
But Ballmer was trying to keep his own 'Market Share', not prefict the future.
I just saw this,
Joey

Dear Tom,

   Because of my own preference and due to what you wrote here,
I recommended not doing this.
But I was not at the Board Meeting this year.
I was eating in Ken Lo's Memories of China in London....  
Best,
Joey

Hi All,

I was very disappointed to get an email last night from the ICSBS to say that all future copies of the Journal will be issued online in digital format.

When this topic was first mooted last year, I expressed my opinions on the matter to the Board of Directors in no uncertain terms, and proposed a number of other possible ways to boost membership numbers and income. Canceling the printed journal is the easy way out. OK, I understand that a printed version will be available, at an extra cost. With all the other learned societies I belong to going 'paperless' is an optional choice, not the default setting.
 
For me, and I believe for many others who do not attend the annual conventions, the printed Journal is the only tangible connection we have with the Society. It should remain the default choice, letting members who do not want the printed version opt out. Not the other way around.

That's my two-cents-worth. Will be interested to hear what others think.

Best,
Tom

Nice bottle Luke.

Could the bottle's material be obsidian? It's very similar to black glass, but natural rather than man-made.
I say that because on the lateral view I see what looks like a small reddish inclusion, which looks alien to man-made glass.

Best,
Tom

The next example is the only one I have in copper red with the Dragon Couple stealing the water of Beijing [85mm]. From a small auction in 2008.

OK. Thanks, John.
Best,
Joey