From Vin_Suprynowicz@lvrj.com Tue Feb 16 15:49:07 1999 Date: Mon, 21 Dec 1998 11:41:37 -0800 (PST) From: Vin Suprynowicz To: Marty Keef Cc: vinsends@ezlink.com Subject: Re: Dec. 18 column - Clinton still lying Resent-Date: Mon, 21 Dec 1998 13:01:11 -0700 Resent-From: vinsends@ezlink.com >Sir > >May I suggest the convention of ALL CAPITAL LETTERS for emphasis, >instead of (start itals.) whatever (end itals.) to the email typist. > >It's definetly easier to read as well as type. > >Thanks for your consideration. > >Your column is still the main reason I log on to read my email. > >WarlordX Greetings, WarlordX -- I'm glad you're enjoying "The Libertarian." The standard in the newspaper industry is to set words for emphasis in italics. The only exception I'm familiar with is Dave Barry, the syndicated humor columnist out of Miami, who (knowingly -- and I'm sure his editors are in on the joke) violates many standard rules of newspaper style on purpose, for effect. Editors at the many daily newspapers that pay to subscribe to my columns -- from California to Florida and North Carolina, from Texas to Michigan -- seem to have no problem (at any rate, I have never had a complaint) running seek-and-replace functions to insert whatever typsetting commands are necessary in their different typesetting programs to replace my commands "start ital" and "end ital" in such a way that their computers render the designated word into italic type upon publication. (I can't embed those codes for them for two reasons: 1) all their typsetting programs are different, and 2) many embedded codes fail to transmit properly via e-mail.) I'm a daily newspaper editor, myself. (In the daytime, anyway.) Every week, I set up columns to run in our pages, written by the likes of Charles Krauthammer and William F. Buckley. I can assure you, they come in laden with the commands "start ital" and "end ital." So far as I know, I am unique in offering e-mail readers the chance to receive the same columns I send out to paid daily newspaper subscribers, in advance, free of charge. I do this, frankly, because I am more interested in "getting the word out" than in finagling a way to get each of you to send me a couple of bucks every year (though you're welcome to return the favor by buying copies of my book, due out in February -- I always think a hand-dedicated copy for your daily newspaper's editorial-page editor and one for each close relative or friend is a good start), and because daily newspaper editors in many parts of the country (like, the Northeast) -- while they pretend to offer their readers "a full spectrum of contemporary political opinion" -- will never voluntarily offer space in their pages for "seditious rantings" such as mine. I do ask those receiving the columns free of charge to refrain from forwarding, copying, re-printing or re-posting these columns until on or after the embargo date which appears at the top of each (allowing my paid subscriber newspapers a few days to get into print.) Then, should they choose to do so, I also request that they copy each column in its entirety, retaining the original attribution. There is now a low but steady drone of folks receiving these columns, asking me every week why I keep inserting the subliminal message "end it all" into almost every essay. No, this is not an insidious government plot to see how many of my readers can be induced to commit suicide. As you have correctly noted, the typesetting commands "start ital" and "end ital" indicate where my subscriber editors should set italic type. "Why don't you have your editors fix this bothersome problem before it reaches me?" is usually the next question. If you want to wait to read my columns in your daily newspaper, then the editorial page editor of your daily newspaper will do exactly that. However, first you are going to have to help me convince that editor to subscribe to my columns on a paid basis. Feel free to advise him or her that "The Libertarian" is available at extremely reasonable rates, via e-mail, fax, snail-mail or AP wire; rates available by contacting Mountain Media, P.O. Box 4422, Las Vegas, Nev. 89127-4422. You might also politely tell him or her what you think of the notion that a commentary page offering up the opinions of a white male big-government collectivist, a black male big-government collectivist, and a female big-government collectivist -- from geographical viewpoints as diverse as New York, Washington, and Baltimore or Boston -- is "diverse." But till then, I'm afraid you are the editor. Or, more correctly, there ain't no editor. You are receiving my stuff before anyone else gets his or her hands on it and "trims it down to fit," just coincidentally taking out the more controversial parts. I suppose if this keeps making folks unhappy, I will eventually take up Michael Voth's kind offer to electronically "massage" the columns before they are re-sent via Alan Wendt's "Vinsends" list, eliminating the standard typesetting commands. But I warn you ... you're not going to see them as early, that way. In the meantime, Best Wishes to all, for a Joyous Holiday Season, Vin Suprynowicz p.s.: To unsubscribe from the "Vinsends" mailing list, send a message to vinsends-request@ezlink.com, including the word "unsubscribe" (with no quotation marks) in the "Subject" line. The Vinsends list is maintained by Alan Wendt in Colorado, who may be reached directly at alan@ezlink.com. The web sites for the Suprynowicz column are at http://www.infomagic.com/liberty/vinyard.htm, and http://www.nguworld.com/vindex. The Vinyard is maintained by Michael Voth in Flagstaff, who may be who may be reached directly at mvoth@infomagic.com. The Vindex is maintained by Mike Dugger in Phoenix, who may be reached directly at cartero@nguworld.com. (All these folks are volunteers -- please be gentle.) My new book, "Send in the Waco Killers," deals with many issues besides Waco and gun control, including fully-informed juries, the mandatory government youth propaganda camps ("public schools"), the war on drugs, and the demonization of the militia movement, and has been announced in the trade for February, 1999 release by Huntington Press. To be the first on your block to receive information on how to order "Send in the Waco Killers" (including volume discounts) or to find out if your city is currently on my 1999 book tour, contact Huntingon Press Director of Operations Len Cipkins at lencipkins@cplv.com. Vin Suprynowicz, vin@lvrj.com The evils of tyranny are rarely seen but by him who resists it. -- John Hay, 1872 The most difficult struggle of all is the one within ourselves. Let us not get accustomed and adjusted to these conditions. The one who adjusts ceases to discriminate between good and evil. He becomes a slave in body and soul. Whatever may happen to you, remember always: Don't adjust! Revolt against the reality! -- Mordechai Anielewicz, Warsaw, 1943 * * *