jsmith@spectro.UUCP (Jerry Smith) (06/20/91)
The premiere issue of The X Journal, September/October 1991, will be mailed by the end of August. So far the interest has been quite overwhelming, so much so that I'm just now getting around to addressing the idea of having a regular column in The X Journal that presents "the best of comp.windows.x". This type of column is not a new concept; there is, for example, a column called "Best of comp.lang.c++" that appears regularly in The C++ Report. Although I've already scheduled one column more than we planned initially, I could add a "Best of comp.windows.x" column, if anyone out there is interested in serving as the columnist. There are many X programmers who don't read comp.windows.x regularly, don't have access to FAQ postings, and/or can't access archives. The basic idea would be to pick several important questions/issues/problems that have been raised in recent postings and then present the best responses to those question. A good example would be the recent question posed about extensions and event handlers by Steven Furr, which was answered by Rich Thomson, Ralph Swick, Bob Scheifler, Paul Asente, and others. Note that even though you would be presenting the collective questions and answers of other newsgroup participants, writing this type of column is far from trivial. The columnist would have to state each question, possibly a variation on similar questions posed by multiple participants, and put together a response, derived from the responses of other newsgroup participants (giving proper credit to all participants, of course). It's clear that the columnist would have to be: (1) very knowledgeable about most of the technical aspects of X, (2) skilled at editing and presenting the collective comments of others, (3) a regular reader of comp.windows.x, etc. If you're interested in serving in this capacity, please contact the editor. (You should submit a one-page [one-screenful?] proposal by email.) Note that this particular column doesn't have to start with the premiere issue, although this is still a possibility. Finally, if you'd like to make comments on the merits of this type of column, please email the editor directly. I've been told by readers of The C++ Report that the comp.lang.c++-related column is very popular. I think that this type of column could provide a real service to members of the X community who aren't fortunate enough to have regular access to comp.windows.x. Thanks, Jerry Smith Editor The X Journal Phone: (USA) 615-886-3429 Email: uunet!spectro!jsmith