The Editors Page

The Editor's Page

Every now and again the editor might have a little something to say. In all probability it will be nothing of consequence but being the publisher of such a journal gives us that prerogative and we intend to use it when we can or must.
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Mar 18, 2001 - - - On our Publishing Plan
The quotation from "To A Mouse" by Robert Burns, which led you to this page, seemed apt, under the circumstances.

A couple of weeks ago, on this very same page, we were beating our breast about the big things to happen shortly at Inditer.com.

An established publishing company in Canada, publishing in over 45 countries around the world made us an offer. It seemed at the time an excellent and exciting way to publish about 15 or so Inditer.com authors once or twice a year.

So confident are we in the ability of our writers, we jumped at the opportunity and said "yes" much too soon before we researched it. Because this offer would require a good number of hours per day in little detail jobs it would require the time and ability of more than one aged man in poor health. It was with a great deal of sorrow we had to decline what your editor at least saw to be a very generous offer. Those who showed interest in the plan were given details of it, and for the most part, like we, were enthusiastic.

Because of an unforeseen long list of minor jobs thrust at the editor, and no physical way on earth of enlisting help, the scheme is off. We are very sorry if you are disillusioned or disappointed at this turn of events, and we apologise for that

Thank you so much for your interest. Perhaps another time.
Bill Loeppky
editor@inditer.com

Mar 09, 2001 - - Viruses
Perhaps we don't pay enough attention to things happening right under our noses. The Hackers are busier than ever, making life miserable for serious internet users. Another several very damaging viruses have made an appearance lately. They have been mentioned in the mainstream news and at various internet sites.
The most common way for these viruses to attack is to attach themselves to attachments sent and received on your email program. The safest way to avoid becoming a victim is don't open attachments. If you must send or receive an attachment...first, keep it small. Email doesn't like large files...I received one that was almost two megs the other day. Fortunately I have a fairly fast machine and modem, the attachment came at a slow mail time during the day, so I did have it downloaded in ten minutes. Don't sent large attachments. Once an attachment is sent to you, you must download it into your computer or it will jam up your mail system. Download it, don't open it, trash it immediately.
It is far safer for a sender of an attachment to load that file into a website. Tell the recipient the name of the file, the address of the website and the recipient can "grab" the file off of the website without having to go through your mail system and take a chance on picking up a virus along the way.
Above all, equip your computer with a good anti-virus program. I can recommend the Symantec Norton AntiVirus 2001. Each time you are on line, this program jumps into action and screens each piece of email and attachments and or ftp material being loaded in to your computer. If there is a virus in there, Norton will warn you about it. If there is a virus in there and Norton does not yet have all the info to counter it, you will be told and you can isolate or quarantine that file until Norton finds a way to render it harmless. Of course, Norton is not the only anti-virus program out there....your dealer can tell you about many more and will recommend the one he thinks is best. What-ever brand, get it and install it. It's a lot cheaper than having to get an infected computer down to the shop and cleaned up.
We have had requests from a couple of Inditer participants to tell people not to send them attachments, etc. Naturally we cannot go through the hundreds of pages in Inditer. com and put a warning like this one on each of them.
Until this hot spot for viruses cools a bit, our advice is "do not open attachments" and do not open "spam" or junk mail. If you don't know who it's from, if it looks funny, put it in the trash.

Mar 06, 2001
To question a few comments and to comment on a few questionables:
First: The Francis Alt file was not missing from Inditer.com. What was missing was the link to the Francis Fasano Alt file. This happens when our regular contributors cease being regular, they work themselves to the bottom of the list, and ultimately right off the list. In the case of the Alt file.....'Fran, that's what happens when we don't send something new for a long time....in your case, it's it's been since November of '99. That is no excuse for us taking your name off the index list completely. But, it did happen during our big virus wipe-out a couple of months ago and it was one that slipped by us, and we're sorry. Your name has been returned to the alphabetical list, from where it should never have been taken. And Fran, if this tells you we would like something new from you, you're right! That goes for some of the others who have caused the list "to become somewhat shorter lately".
Second: While we encourage debate and above all, communication and healthy critiques between our contributors, and still do, lately we were saddened to see a couple of our most stalwart contributors resorting to name-calling to make a point. Like politicians ultimately learn, name calling gets you nowhere. The people who wrote the critiques have every bit as much right to be heard as the person who wrote the initial piece. Each of us has a proper birth name and given name. Is there any reason we must resort to the use of name-calling simply because our points of view differ? I certainly hope not. That is not the intention of Inditer.com and it never has been. Argue all you want....all points of view will be published, but leave the name calling where it belongs....somewhere else! We all have tempers....at times we all have violent tempers....there are times we must blow off steam. There are also times when we must 'temper our tempers'. Name calling inflames them. A bit of charity is called for here, methinks.
Feb 24, 2001
Politically, things are beginning to heat up a bit in British Columbia. It's been a while since we've had a premier who's managed to serve out his full term...they've been falling like flies. Each time a premier or other high-ranking cabinet minister or a mere back-bencer for that matter is ousted from office, a bit of trust and integrity goes too.
British Columbia must have an election soon...within a couple of months. We now have seen the right wing...other than the provincial Liberal Party, join together in a new right wing organization, giving the provincial Liberal Leader another little boost up the ladder.
A strange situation in British Columbia....an NDP leader in power, liked and capable of being elected, but it is doubtful if one other of his party can be elected. The opposition on the other hand, sits well up in the popularity polls, but with a leader whose only strength is in the good material he has around him...his opposition shadow cabinet.
Inditer.com wants desperately to assist the voters of our province resolve the political storms that must be raging in every thinking British Columbia voter's mind. To this end, we would appreciate the input of the public, of politicians, of bureaucrats if they're not afraid of being fired, to take part in our new political forum. Our new section is named "Dogpile". Only those who make scurrilous, libelous and comments of defamation are excluded. All other citizens are welcome to participate. Send your comments to editor@inditer.com with 'dogpile' in the subject line.
It is our hope, that if this feature gets the input it should have, it will be expanded to allow us to take a look at the horrible mess shaping up in Ottawa as well. Our first "Dogpile" is posted now and features hard-hitting political comments from inditer.com stalwart, D. Grant DeMan.
We'd like to hear from you too. Send your comments in as soon as you can.
editor@inditer.com

February 20, 2001
John F. Clennan responded to the following piece your editor did several weeks ago: Mr. Clennan's response appears in the Dean's page
While I agree with Donald Grant DeMan - I too welcome the number of citizens of the USA who take the time and effort to submit stories and comment to inditer.com. I thank them for this. At the same time, I am sad because so few Canadians are interested enough in the affairs of state, our society at large to be bothered by it all. Like the USA, Canada and it's Provinces are quickly absorbing all of the terrible qualities it takes to run a true Banana Republic. As Dick Koss says, perhaps more Canadians have adopted the lesson from the old saying; "When ignorance reigns, 'tis folly to be wise." It is happening so fast it makes one's head swim and it makes one cry over the lethargy and apathy shown by the citizens of our country. Corruption, cronyism, nepotism, patronage...it's all there and we allow it to happen.

While, according to John Clennan, the USA and Canada have inherited some of the better qualities of the 'Banana Republics' we hasten to deride, what then is left for us, the citizens of the worlds supposedly 'leading Democratic Countries' to put things right in our own houses.
Citizens compain, and rightly so of the wholesale practice of nepotism, cronyism, patronage and financial corruption running into billions of dollars, yet our politicians and bureaucrats run rough-shod over the tax-payer who continually keeps re-filling a public trough at which these p[irates swill.
Just for a moment, let us lump in the captains of industry, then take another look at our democratic system. While capitalism is a requirement for our countries to remain rich, our captains of industry require consumers, just as our politicians and bureaucrats require tax-payers in order for them to maintain their obscene lifestyle.
What will happen when all of the western worlds money is held by government and the captains of industry? What will happen when there are no more tax-payers or consumers because the politicians, bureaucrats and captains of industry have all the money under their mattresses?
Naturally, the wheels will stop turning. The money amassed by the wealthy will be useless, if will buy nothing. The very poor who will still be capable of fireing a gun or using an axe will once again homestead to eke out a living for his family while the captains of industry and the very wealthy, corrupt politcians who have stolen all the money will be on the street corner, begging for an apple they are incapable of picking because they have beeen trained only to rob the poor.
Have we forgotten Hentry Ford's message? The message that he would build an automobile which every workingman could afford to buy because he realized when the working man could no longer buy his product, there would be no need for his factory? We have forgotten that simple message.
Is it too late? Do we have the will? do we have the guts to begin a North American Continent built on true, honest social values co-existing with a true, honest, morally correct market economy? .... all of this great engine of wealth powered by honest men and women, well paid for their jobs.... but not leeches as inhabit every federal, provincial, state, county or municipal rockpile in North America?
See more at Vox Pop - The Deans Page
February 19, 2001
Virus Alert
New Virus isolated by Norton Anti-virus.
This file: "joke.exe" was infected with the: "W95.Hybris.worm" virus.
The file was quarantined by Norton AntiVirus. Monday, February 19, 2001 11:19
Whatever you do, if you see it in your 'inbox', get rid of it pronto. DON'T OPEN IT!

February 13, 2001
Virus Alert
This alert is passsed along, with thanks from Jim Sposto of Sposto Productions. It wasn't that long ago Inditer.com was brought to a sickening halt by one of these viral infections. Take them seriously. Here's the scoop on the latest from Jim:
This virus infection came from a mailing list .
In the subject line.....this is the one to watch....was (here you have, ;o)
It hs an attachment: (AnnaKournikova.jpg.vbs)
As always, your best defence is Don't Open It If you're expecting an attachment, set up a special name and code for the subject line with the sender. That helps, but dumping attachments is best by far.
Thanks a lot Jim.
February 12, 2001 - on Bill & Hillary
Richard Koss, a regular and always most welcome contributor to Inditer.com has just posted a piece titled "A Nation Clintonized". In this well thought out comment on the reign of William Jefferson Clinton, Koss may have come down a little hard on Bill and Hillary. Others will say, he came down not near hard enough. I wish inditer.com had the reach and the power to ask every North American politician, from every level of government, to read Dick Koss's comments, then stop, stare and contemplate the next time he or she looks into a mirror. Trying not to be too tough on our politicians, while each and every one of them does their damndest to emulate the behaviour or Clinton et al. Congratulations Richard.
February 09, 2001
Being the self-proclaimed "editor" ..... in fact it should be "publisher", as very little editing is involved. What is involved is mainly 'grunt' work - that is html, ftp and the actual construction, lay-out and posting of Inditer.com. "editing" to me at least, means having to be judgemental and the purpose of Inditer.com is not to be judgemental, but encouraging.

Over the course of the years Inditer.com has been around (almost seven years now), it has been our great pleasure to have met some wonderful folks. A couple of these people, although we have never met face to face, have turned out to be of great value to Inditer.
I refer to Donald Grant DeMan who make his home at Royston on Vancouver Island, British Columbia, Canada. Donald Grant was formerly a literature and writing teacher as well as a police officer. John Clennan, a Lawyer at Ronkonkoma, Long Island. John was; Academic Honors Student, Judge Advocate in The Army, Law Assistant to the Appellate Division, founding member of the Peconic Literary Society and the Rockaway Park Philosophical Society.
These men, two of dozens who participate in the goings on at Inditer.com deserve and receive my heart-felt appreciation for what they have done in the way of contributions and for encouraging, reviewing and critiqueing the work of others. Both have played stalwart roles in the continuation of this journal....both have become treasured friends.
Without having received their permission, we make the following offer on their behalf. Quite frequently, new writers will ask me (editor or publisher) to evaluate work. As stated, I am not comfortable doing this. I am certain my friends D. Grant DeMan and John Clennan would help aspiring writers if asked to do so. If you would like your work, published in Inditer.com to be critiqued, please email either and ask for their evaluation. Please do not send them manuscripts....simply refer the work you have published in Inditer.com to them.
I am greatly indebted to both of these gentlemen who have shown so freely that they are willing and capable of helping others.

Feb 02, 2001 - "Tis here it beginneth - take note ye buffs of historie!
This might be called "The Great Canadian (make that "world") History writeoff. Our noted DeanOFrpps, John Davis Collins, being not only Attorney at Law, but writer of such things, is also an ardent student of History. The Dean has taken upon himself the task of devising this history examination with the hope of your participation. The first Inditer participant to take on this task is Inditer writer, Donald Grant DeMan. His response is forthwith:

January 23, 2001 ^{_________________________}

Many of you who have been following the "Words and One Liners" feature by Ric Masten willl know what great work he has done....not only as an author, but as a philosopher and story teller par excellence!
Ric has visited thousands of school and university auditoriums, gyms, church halls and basements to give his oustanding performance as a "Stand Up Poet"
Ric has brought joy to the hearts and minds of thousands, performed outrageous and colorful wedding ceremonies at the beaches and valleys of Big Sur country in the USA. As well as Stand Up Poet, Ric's a preacher too!
Now, this man, who has touched so many with his humour and pathos needs your love and assistance. Cancer has attacked Ric 'Big Time'. He is not a wealthy man and is using his art to help help keep him alive for just a while longer. A recent news release: Ric has advanced prostate cancer, now metastatic & hormone refractory (in other words, traditional treatments are no longer effective). He has found an alternative medicine, PC SPES that is working, but its $420 per month cost is not covered by Medicare or insurance. So, to raise the money for this medication Ric is creating a new book entitled WORDS & ONE-LINERS to be published in a fancy, hard cover, boxed, numbered, limited edition, personally inscribed, with a broadside suitable for framing included in the package. The book will feature Ric's poetry, lyrics (both old and new) along with his unique single line drawings. Price $100 --- Soft cover $30. (those prices are US Dollars). Please contact;
CPC Masten,
CARMEL PUBLISHING COMPANY,
P.O. Box 2463,
Carmel, CA
93921
publisher@carmeliving.com
Recently Ric told me he didn't want to ask for charity or welfare and decided instead to go this route. Rics new book will give you hours of enjoyment. When you order Rics new book, titled Words and One Liners, please tell them Bill at Inditer dot Com sent you. And, I wish you, one and all, "keep your fork". If you're not familiary with this salutation, check the link on the main page, or travel to Keep Your Fork right now.

January 23, 2001 ^{_________________________}

After our breakdown (viral inspired) if one would don one's slueth boots, he needs go no further than the local high, or even junior high school to find the vandal who would cause mayhem to our only "freedom of speech system"
I equate these people to the spray paint taggers who in turn I equate to the dog that pisses on every tree he passes. But, we must give the dog credit.....he has a reason for his action. He is marking his territory with the hope of luring a bitch to his den, impregnate her and further propogate his line down the line. You'll notice when you take your little, docile female canine pet for a stroll, she will stop and smell these trees, shrubs, firehydrants to perhaps select a suiter suited to her. The male dog has had a lucky day.
But the spray paint tagger doesn't have a probable retinue following to give him a day of luck. He is too stupid to plan a day like that. As this vandal why he stopped attending school in the eighth grade, his response will likely be, "well, like, you know like, man, like they couldn't learn me nothin' there anyhow." How little does he know the truth he speaks.
What he is succeeding in doing is putting pressure on the Feds to enact strict legislation limiting his own silly actions.
It all boils down to basic intelligence...a trait we lack these days at every level, particularly every level of government, bureacracy or poilitical level of municipal, territorial, provincial and federal jurisdiction.
If you are loathe to believe what I say about stupidity in government, if you have already read it, please read it again, then think about it a while and tell me if our bureaucrats are not stupid in permitting criminals to migrate to Canada without a fare-the-well. Da Man's piece Immigrating Criminals into Canada - - a symptom of national ineptitude? says it over again. Let's hear from you about our open door.
January 21, 2001 ^{_________________________}

Is recovering from a recent email virus attack. This particular violent attack saw dozens of files and email lost, to say nothing of the added work involved to get all back to order and the expense incurred in cleaning it up, new virus detection and destroying software, etc.
As may of you know, your editor has personally been under attack by a couple of what are termed 'Terminal Illnesses'. We are now under the care, control and good advice of the local Hospice Society whose main aim is to maintain the patients comfort without the administration of heroic and artificial methods of prolonging life.
With all of this in mind we will attempt to carry on much the same as we have, with only minor changes to tighten up the main pages.
For now, we will not be opening e-mail attachments under any circumstances unless prior and clear arrangements are made before hand with the editor. All manuscript copy should be sent pasted from ASCII, DOS or .txt format into the body of the email. Because viruses are running rampant and because they have been travellig by e-mail attachments, under no circumstances will we open those attachments. Our advice to you is to do the same. Have a good, up-to-date anti-virus propgram installed (Noron AntiVirus2001 is highly recommended), then use it. Do not open attachments even if you know the sender, a virus could be hitching a ride with that attachment.
It will take time to get it all cleaned up and back working properly. Please have patience. We will take care of your submissions and email as quickly as possible.
Check this page from time to time for operational updates. Be certain you have seen and used the Vox Pop pages of

If you haven't used the 'Vox Populi', get started! Send in your comments and critique on Inditer dot Com writers. Inditer.com is a community of like minded writers. Each wants and deserves the help of the other. Do it! It won't cost a dime! You'll be glad you helped!

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