ID for the registry

[Ray Plante]

Roy,

> I am starting to think that we should forget all the parsable IDs with all
> their juicy XML content.

I don't think it's necessary to throw out all our previous work just yet--  
there's less chaos out there than you think.  The job to do is organize 
people's feedback and adjust accordingly.  This discussion path is not to 
be unexpected.

> Suppose we copy ISBN numbers. http://www.isbn.org. 

I still claim that the URI standard is perfectly suited for our purposes.  
Sending every idenitifer through a central authority spells higher 
maintanence by a central body, slows progress, and (worst) inspires 
unnecessary political scrambling.  

I think the issues can still be broken down simply at this point (which
I'll attempt to do in my next email).  If not, the path to progress is
getting concensus on formal requirements.

cheers,
Ray