[Zoobank-list] Code fear

[Richard Pyle]

> It would be wonderful if the Code could be summarised, as suggested in
> this discussion, for taxonomic beginners, and the summary put on the ICZN
> website. That website would also be a suitable place for a primer
> on correct formation of Latin and Latinised names, plus a digital resource
> similar to Roland Brown's classic "Composition of Scientific Words", plus
> links to all the specialist databases and resources.

Some time ago, I had an idea that I posted to the Taxacom email list.  I
forget which year it was, but I know it was the second week of April,
because that is the week when every procrastinator who lives in the U.S.
(roughly equal to every person who lives in the U.S.) suddenly realizes that
they have to complete their annual Federal income tax forms.  As any
tax-paying U.S. citizen knows, this procedure can be very daunting to anyone
who is not a professional finaincial wizard (not altogether different from
how a non-taxonomist views the procedure for describing a new species).
Thankfully, there is a very popular software package called "TurboTax",
which makes the job of filing federal income tax forms IMMENSELY easier.
The reason it's easy is that it "holds your hand" and steps you through each
part of each form, explaining in plain english what each box is for, and how
to know if you are eligible for this deduction or that, and so on.  At every
step in the process, there are useful links for more information, or a more
detail explanation of the relevant portion of the U.S. Tax Code, with
helpful illustrative examples, etc.

It dawned on me how incredibly useful it would be to have an analagous
software application called "TurboTaxonomy", that did essentially the same
thing -- except instead of walking users through the U.S. Tax code, it would
walk the person, step by step, through the ICZN Code and guide them through
the process of naming a new taxon correctly, and in accordance with the
Code.

I think it would be a WONDERFUL addition to the ZooBank web site -- and in
fact, could be integrated into the registration process directly.

Aloha,
Rich

Richard L. Pyle, PhD
Ichthyology, Bishop Museum
1525 Bernice St., Honolulu, HI 96817
Ph: (808)848-4115, Fax: (808)847-8252
email: deepreef at bishopmuseum.org
http://hbs.bishopmuseum.org/staff/pylerichard.html