Ed B., I demand a reboot

[Randall Arnold]

Wait-a-minute Ed-- you're 16?????!!!????

At least, that's what I get from your website.

Okay, that explains a lot! And I'm not discrediting your opinions and
experience solely on basis of a number, mind you, but I'm guessing (just
guessing) you haven't spent a lot of time in corporate America (your
location also playing a part in that).

Here's where I'm coming from, in a nutshell: the scenarios, needs, wants,
rants, raves and nitpicks I've bounced off you are all borne of frustrating
experiences using Office products in a corporate workflow. With all due
respect, one would really have to had traipsed a mile in my moccasins to
grasp where I'm coming from, especially regarding expectations of Publisher.
I understand now some of your comments regarding intended purpose and scope
of MS products (especially when contratsed against my own contentions), but
I feel I must also inform you that things are just a wee bit different in
the Real World... and it's experienced input and feedback like mine that
drives product development and improvement. Just knowing a product inside
and out per se isn't always enough: one must also know not only how it's
expected to be used by the developer but also how users expect the product
to function in the wild.

I now have a greater context with which to frame discussion with you, and
can avoid some serious contextual faux pas in the future. But that doesn't
mean I'm gonna dumb anything down for ya, though-- kid.

; )

Randall Arnold
Jurassic Age Tech Weenie

 

[Randall Arnold]

Trust me, corporate experience would "cure" you of that tendency reeeeal
quick...

But the important thing is I now know where you're coming from, and
understand our prior exchanges MUCH better! Gotta give you credit for
knowing what you know at 16, though. Wish my own kids put forth that much
effort!

; )

 

[BW]

Well, well. It might surprise you to know the age at which
many "men" made a significant contributions to the world.
Many great contributors were mere teens (15-18), some even
younger. Way to go Ed! Keep contributing. One of the teens
with whom I recently worked was so zealous in his desire
to please me that he offered to get me ANY software
programs I desired. I had to politely decline his offer,
as I knew these would not be properly licensed copies.
He's now at a major university expanding his already great
knowledge in technology. Yes, the contributions and
knowlege of youth need to be appreciated by those of the
older generation.

Oh--and look at the lessons of corporate America we've
recently seen. Do we really want our youth to emulate THAT?

Perhaps Ed could develop a software program that would
keep corporate business execs honest.

 

[Morisot]

Ed and Randall, actually, I blame it all on the <very
small>justice department</very small>. (Imagine if they
did that to a car!)

Randall - know this isn't what you are looking for, but it
is a workaround I use when importing Access items into
Publisher for a catalog type purpose. First I merge it
into Word! Then I copy it all and paste it into Publisher.
(Maybe you can make a query that adds a character
combination that you can "Find and Replace All" with a
dollar sign once you get it into Publisher.)

M.

 

[Jim Goldthorp]

Ed,

I think that we've had discussions about my distaste for
Microsoft products. Like the gentleman that started this
stream, I was basing my arguments on the experience that
I've had with a variety of software.

I don't fault you for your age (I only wish that I had
the knowledge base you're demonstrating when I was your
age). It's a little different having had the exposure to
computers that I have had from DOS to WindowsXP and
learning programming for a VAX mainframe with Fortran and
BASIC and Pascal. Combine that with having to learn a
wide variety of software in a corporate environment, you
kind of get your eyes open when things don't quite work
out the way the programmer intended.

The short of it is: I admire your skills and, given your
early start, you'll probably have a hell of a lot more
experience than I do when you reach my age.

Jim

 

[°°°MS°Publisher°°°]

Randall you must be an antique like Ed. Ed is so damn old his two brain
cells are rusty and fail more often than not.

 

[Randall Arnold]

Sorry David- having problems with one of my home PCs. A recent local power
failure seems to have affected the system clock, so I have to use an online
time syncing tool and it apparently didn't work after a reboot. Obviously
my UPS isn't worth a crap either. I was about to replace it when the
alternator went out in my car and has so far set me back about $400. What
next?

When it rains it pours... : (

Randall Arnold

 

[Erika]

Adding one more voice to the chorus: I am *astounded* that you are only
15 years old! Not only is your knowledge so extensive and accurate, you
write so clearly, concisely, and with no spelling or grammar errors! Are
you still in high school?

thanks for all your help!

 

[Ed Bennett]

After managing to set up OE-QuoteFix on his new PC, Ed reads a message

Adding one more voice to the chorus: I am *astounded* that you are
only 15 years old!

I'm actually 16 now - I forgot to update that page.

Not only is your knowledge so extensive and
accurate, you write so clearly, concisely, and with no spelling or
grammar errors! Are you still in high school?

Not exactly - being in the UK things are a little different
I have just finished my compulsory education (and done the accompanying set
of exams) - I'm now going into tertiary college (which is about the level of
senior high school), and I will then go to University in about 2 years time.