Certainly some guys will just take the milk and forget the cow, but without the cow, you’ll not get the cream.
For me, the internet is a great place to search out otherwise difficult or relatively obscure subjects, and by doing so, you’ll generally find some information on the topic. And a lot of time, the initial tidbit of info will lead to more, sometimes ending with a book on the subject where you’ll actually get the cream, if you’re willing to pay for it. So in that respect, the free info by the author leads to a purchase of his book, in order for to receive more information.
A quick for instance; another interest of mine is making knives, but not just a blade with a handle on it. The one I’d like to make next will require the use of some stuff called Mokume Gane. While not unavailable, it’s not really common either. It’s basically a sort of Damascus, but instead of steel, is made using layers of silver, brass, copper, various colored gold’s, platinum, etc. Usually it has two or three different colored metals heated and pressed together to form different patterns. My problem is that none of the standard patterns will work for what I want to do, because I want a pattern and color that will look like raw pinkish/red salmon flesh. Internet searches have lead me to jewelry shops that have it in the form of rings, some suppliers that sell it as sheets, basic information on how to make it (but I’m lacking the forge and press), then finally to a guy that can and will make it in the color and pattern that I need. In this case, I’ll be getting what I want, and he’ll be getting the cream!
As for our guns here, I read a lot of different web-sites, for the milk. But if Gary, or Eric Kettenburg, or Jack Brooks to name a few, were to write a book on their area of expertise, I’d buy it in a heartbeat!
If the milk was good, no doubt the cream will be better!
John
