>I'm developing the database (via PastPerfect) for a
>tribe (no details, please). ...The words are considered
>sacred, and to speak them or use them out of context
>would be inappropriate.  Do we sanctify our computers,
>or what?  Any help and/or suggestions would be greatly
>appreciated.

How do other cultures deal with secret/sacred words? (Unspeakable names of
gods and spirits seem to lie at the heart of many ancient religions and
customs.) "Sanctifying" the computers seems awkward and inelegant. What
will you do with the (now sacred) machines when they are outdated- there's
another problem. And who gets to handle the holy machine, and what is the
ritual?

Resolution will be likely be specific to the tribe, though I suspect that
an acceptable solution will be found through precedent, either in the
tribe's own history, or some other culture's past.  What do the elders say?
I presume you went to them first, and not us!

I suppose you can't make access to the computer records exclusive to the
righteous. This is one purpose of ritual, or just locking things away works
fairly well (think of the Shroud of Turin, and many other with holy relics
or icons, etc.).

Another common solution is to substitute words or acronyms to represent
other (holy) words. For example, Adonai (which means our God) is used in
place of the ineffable name of the Hebrew God (Jehovah or Jaweh). The US
National Security Administration does the same thing. Acronyms don't just
make the name shorter, it's about ownership and secrecy!

BTW, our website has been "born again" for anyone interested in oxygen-free
preservation or constant humidity display and storage: www.keepsafe.ca

js
Jerry Shiner
Keepsafe Systems
Microclimate and Oxygen-free storage supplies and solutions
www.keepsafe.ca
toll-free 800 683-4696  fax: (416) 703-5991

=========================================================
Important Subscriber Information:

The Museum-L FAQ file is located at http://www.finalchapter.com/museum-l-faq/ . You may obtain detailed information about the listserv commands by sending a one line e-mail message to [log in to unmask] . The body of the message should read "help" (without the quotes).

If you decide to leave Museum-L, please send a one line e-mail message to [log in to unmask] . The body of the message should read "Signoff Museum-L" (without the quotes).