h2g2 The Hitchhiker's Guide to the Galaxy: Earth Edition

Hi pinniped,

I'm the Sub-Editor who was allocated 'Glad Day - The Life and Works of William Blake' to Sub. I had read it through a couple of times and loved it - beautifully written - I started to do minor changes, single quotes instead of double, paragraph tags instead of so many tags, just house style stuff (you didn't even have the decency to leave a single typo for me to correct).

That's when the problem arose, my brain cells must have bumped into each other and it woke them both up and the alarm went off.

Encarta = Micro$**t = COPYRIGHT!!!

I checked Encarta online (I don't use Micro$**t software unless I can't avoid it), and it says you can use text for "informational" and "non-commercial" use if (amongst other limitations) "the proper credit and Microsoft copyright notice appears on all copies...."

After checking on the Subs e-mail group it looks like this is going to be a problem which may require some rewriting of your entry, SORRY!!!

You'll probably be hearing from hootoo towers in due course, but I thought I'd better own up and let you know who to blame.

Wildman
off to get body armour (see message title)

No worries, Wildman. I haven't shot anybody in ages.

First, I'm really pleased that you like it. It's been a bit of a labour of love, this one. It was softened a bit from weird early drafts, but still remains a determined attempt to express Blake's inspiring ideas.

I tried to make the piece feel a bit like a discourse between a Blake-like narrator and a dry, dead, factual encyclopaedia. The latter voice is what the 'Encarta' bits are there for.

'Some indebtedness' is about right. There is little if any literal plagiarism. If I remember correctly, I cut and pasted a few excerpts and edited them in, changing and reshaping. It was a way of getting the feel for the discourse.

I guess one of us will now have to check it through and excise any close matches - me, presumably, since I have the offending edition here. What would you have me do? Post a revised version of the original with all the offending bits altered and highlighted in some way?

Just an idea, would it be OK to replace a tentative reference to a real encyclopaedia (Encarta) with a spurious but specific reference to an entirely fictitious one? I think the piece needs a veneer of officialdom; some part of itself to kick against.

If this sounds silly, it's because of what I'm seeking to do here. The piece is in some ways 'anti-EG'. I'm on a mission to convince the Powers that worthy, factual Entries are not the only way to pay tribute to DNA. I don't mind admitting that this is a latest attempt to push the boundaries of the Guidelines, and that Blake's model of imagination as reality puts the case better than I ever could.

Thanks, and I'll listen out for your instructions on what you want me to do next.

Pin

When I first posted about the copyright issue to the Subs e-mail list I got a reply from Jim Sangster, saying (in part) 'If you can just check it for spelling and grammar, I'll take a look at it when you return it.' Of course I had already checked spelling and grammar (and found them spot on), so I sent it back as requested.

I've posted again to say that I'd be happy to take it back and work WITH you to alter anything that needs "softened" (it's your work and I don't issue "instructions").

I'll get back to you as soon as I hear anything.

Sorry about causing this bother, I should have contacted you first!

Wildman

No probs. S'

OK!

I got an e-mail on the subs list from hootoo towers and they seem to like the idea of giving me the entry back to work with you. I don't actually have it back yet but there's no harm in starting preparations.

The way the system works is that your original article is left alone and a copy is generated, this goes to the Sub-Ed with editing rights credited to him. The idea being that he can mess it about as much as he thinks fit but the original is still intact if the author wants something restored.

I'm assuming that I'll be re-allocated the copy that I'd already mucked about, A2116694 . If you check it you'll see that all the changes I've made are purely cosmetic - I couldn't find a word that I wanted to change. That's basically the plan I want to work to - keep any changes to the absolute minimum - because it's a great article.


You said that 'this is a latest attempt to push the boundaries of the Guidelines', well for me this is more an attempt to get the best entries possible into the Guide, to raise the standards of writing by setting a good example (I don't mind admitting there have been one or two recent entries that I thought more suited to a primary school text). You've obviously spent a great deal of time and effort on this already and I want to see it in it's proper place in the Guide.


First things first,
1) Are you OK with what I've done to the entry so far? As I say, it's purely cosmetic to bring it into line with the 'house style', but if there's anything you'd like to have changed back we can discuss it and I'm pretty flexible.
2) It's probably a good idea to see exactly how the Encarta entry compares with what you've written, as I said above I don't use M$ software if I can avoid it and so I haven't actually seen their entry in full. Would it be possible for you to e-mail me a copy at eudoramail.com, I couldn't get my nickname but wildestman is what I use.

Hoping to hear from you soon,

Wildman

You will! Hear from me soon, that is.

I'm not too sure what's happening!

Sometime since my last message (and your reply) A2116694 seems to have been modified by someone (not me). I only just noticed and haven't really studied it for any changes but the single bold line in the middle of the text makes me wonder.

I'll wait and see if I hear any more about it on the Subs list.

Wildman

Yeah, they've excised specific Encarta-mention, but the only other change seems to be the fonts. They've junked (most) of the bold and italicised quotes - very GuideML.
Trouble is, this piece needs three distinct fonts, one for the dead-voice, one for the narrator, one for the Blake-quotes.
They shouldn't have changed the fonts. I'm not happy about that.

You still want the Encarta-stuff? Seems academic now, maybe.

I'm not very happy either!!!

As you say, it really needs three different 'voices' to work properly. I'm still waiting for a proper reply to my e-mail on the subs list.

Wildman