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Ode to a \special

mimi2-mini.jpg

Oh what a tangled web we get
When first we find \def and \futurelet.
We turn to eTEX, we turn to Omega,
They both look good, we start to get eager.
But no, what's this, a misplaced \omit?
Did we miss a brace, does \vbox still not fit?
Help me fix my macros, bracket heroes all!
But Pierre's font is calling, Lamport's left the hall
Barbara says use \downcase, Downes just strokes his beard.
Erik sells me 4TEX, pretends he never heard.
David's hacking tables, Frank is fixing floats,
Ogawa's talking slowly, Kacvinsky wants his oats.
Will Kaveh help me out? No, his dhoti's dirty,
Nelson's feeding awks, Mimi's feeling flirty.
Flynn says use a rubber, Wendy needs a hug,
Kath has got the answer, no it's just another mug.
Young Ross is such a hoot, he says use xypic
Why not turn to Sojka, he's sure to know the trick.
Anita, a Hoover, what use to me's a dam?
Send me out with Kiren, we'll both go on the lam.
Irina claims `for us in Mir is no problem',
TRIUMF uses \mathcode but \hspaces just one em.
TrueTEX does it both ways, and you can trust the Blue Sky
but hyperref the backend, oh why oh why oh why?

ActiveTEX, PassiveTEX, what a great to-do,
Can there be yet some way through?
MathML has pointies, XSL can claim its templates
ExerQuiz is so cute--so screw you, Billy Gates.

--Sebastian Rahtz




next up previous contents index TeXLionBiDirectV-button.jpgTeXLionPlain-button.jpgTeXLionPDF-button.jpg
Next: TUG'99 musings .......(Pierre MacKay) Up: Conference reflections Previous: Conference reflections   Contents   Index