To Whom It May Concern, and, Especially, to Whom It Mayn't:
So, I spend 25 years in the publishing world, and I get extremely
well-versed in all the ways to mark up a manuscript--and the equivalent ways
to make changes in editorial tracking programs. I learn to make corrections
in PageMaker, and the Quark Xpress, and then InDesign. Then I spend five
years in the blogging world, and learn enough html to get by, as well as the
art of writing/editing in several different blogging interfaces. (Blogger, a
handful of others that I use for guest-blogging and co-blogging, and
multiple versions of Movable Type. [Yes, I spelled that correctly,
goddammit; stay with me.])
So I finally land at Wikipedia and feel that after decades of fact-checking,
familiarity with over half a dozen major style sheets,some training in
conventional journalism, a smattering of html, "power user" status in a few
programs, a respectable IQ, and an extensive "online" life I should be able
to pick up their way of doing things rather quickly.
Wrong. Their markup system bears no relation to standard proofreaders'
marks, html, or any of the blogging interfaces. I feel as if I am in
kindergarten again, and look forward to recess and naptime with high
delight.
I was really hoping that sexism wouldn't rear its ugly head at this point.
But what's a girl to do?--some of my most groundbreaking, original,
scintillating articles are being deleted at Wikipedia for what they call
"lack of objectivity," or "lack of importance." Well, we all know that is a
code word for "sexism." After all, the objectivity construct is a function
of the left brain, which is merely an instrument of patriarchy. The
importance fantasy is merely a puerile extension of the male ego.
Can you imagine the utter heartbreak?
Just consider yourselves lucky that YOU don't ever have to deal with this
kind of oppressive atmosphere in order to let your minds flourish. This
rules-changing-in-the-middle-of-the-game. This ever-shifting-signifiers
dealio. And, of course, full directional control.
Oh, how you make me sick.
--J
Like a different language!--the HORROR!
On Thu, Jun 12, 2008 at 12:25 AM, Joy McCann <joy.mccann_at_gmail.com> wrote:
> I'm not sure about the 2:34 time. Sounds early--also, a bit hard to
> remember. How about 3:14?
> Dean's book is still in storage, having been spirited away by a
> husband-person who was skeptical that I would be able to get all my junk out
> of the house in time. (Turns out, he was right to question that little
> detail . . . but I don't want to talk about it. I've turned a new leaf, or
> something. Anyway, it doesn't matter, because I'm NEVER MOVING AGAIN!)
>
> So we fire up the grill circa five, eat around six, and hop into the hot
> tub the second it gets dark?--is that the non-plan?
>
> Let's start kicking around a date for the olive birthday/housewarming 'do
> at my house this July. The last weekend in that month won't work, since I'll
> be at Comic-Con (on, of all things, the Warner Brothers dime). We might
> combine that party with the "John's friends" summer party, but we will NOT
> be combining it with the "Joy's blogger friends" party; that just doesn't
> work. (They like to let their political hair down at such things; it's a
> treat for them NOT to be a political minority. Actually, I'm in the
> minority, since I'm a social liberal, but they tolerate me.)
>
> I have to double-check on whether I might be going up to SF for the BlogHer
> conference in mid-July, but so far it looks like 7/19-7/20 would be the
> preferred weekend for the Glendale Gathering. (No gifts--except for wine,
> premium gin, Pier One Imports gift certificates, and--most
> importantly--potluck contributions for the party itself.)
>
> Turns out the Wikipedia people are smarter than I thought, and are
> resisting my "olive infiltration" plan :( Fortunately, I'm craftier than
> my Russian counterparts . . . Turns out one just needs a bit of
> misdirection, air superiority, and a lot of cannon fodder . . . more on that
> later.
>
> --Joy
>
> On Wed, Jun 11, 2008 at 10:34 PM, Georgie Hinklemyer <samoolives_at_yahoo.com>
> wrote:
>
>> We're going to have to change the theoretical date from Saturday to
>> Sunday. I'd forgotten a prior family commitment for June 21.
>> Hopefully a June 22 party will still be acceptable, if slightly
>> shorter 'cause of work the next day.
>>
>> We're looking at a theoretical starting time of 2:34 pm. (Easy enough
>> to remember?) Pot luck as usual. Please bring something to share,
>> even if it's just some soda, and the BBQ should become available
>> around 5 or 6-ish.
>> --G.H. at the Ozzy Zoo.
>>
>> P.S. We could even hand out prizes for all the wonderful "A's" we've
>> gotten recently.
>> )
>>
>>
>>
>
>
>
> --
> Joy Whittemore McCann
> Goddess of Ink and Paper
> (But pixels obey me, too.)
> Copy Write Editorial Services
> 818/429-9806
>
--
Joy Whittemore McCann
Goddess of Ink and Paper
(But pixels obey me, too.)
Copy Write Editorial Services
818/429-9806
[Non-text portions of this message have been removed]
Received on 2008-06-12 03:42:15