Is RCN Outsourced to India or Something??

[NYC XYZ]

Um, no offense to the Indians, who frankly seem to give better overall
customer service over the phone, if rather less "colorfully"...but can
Recumbent Cyclist News LEARN ENGLISH????

WTF is up with the constant there/their-its/it's-car's/cars mess??????

I swear I'm going to wind up illiterate reading the damn thing!!!!

BTW, Amy Bryant looks cute! Please, can we see some more of her on
'bents instead of Fat Ol' Guys???

 

[Edward Dolan]

"NYC XYZ" <[email protected]> wrote in message
news:[email protected]...
>
> Um, no offense to the Indians, who frankly seem to give better overall
> customer service over the phone, if rather less "colorfully"...but can
> Recumbent Cyclist News LEARN ENGLISH????
>
> WTF is up with the constant there/their-its/it's-car's/cars mess??????
>
> I swear I'm going to wind up illiterate reading the damn thing!!!!
>
> BTW, Amy Bryant looks cute! Please, can we see some more of her on
> 'bents instead of Fat Ol' Guys???

RCN has always had typos all over the place from the beginning. It is more a
technical type of magazine than a literary type of magazine. It has always
needed a good editor. Mr. Sherman and I could do wonders for it, but we are
not available. The main trouble with RCN is that it is a one man operation
from beginning to end. You and I would also make many of the same mistakes
if we were doing it all on our own like Robert Bryant is.

However, forget all of that and just go for the information which is always
very solid. It is the only publication that I am aware of that is not in
the hands of the sellers and manufacturers of recumbents. Hence, it is
priceless for that reason alone.

Regards,

Ed Dolan the Great - Minnesota
aka
Saint Edward the Great - Order of the Perpetual Sorrows - Minnesota

 

[NYC XYZ]

Edward Dolan wrote:
>
>
> RCN has always had typos all over the place from the beginning.

Typos are bad enough, but we're talking a mental condition here: a typo
is like misreading a word on occasion; this
it's/its-there/their-bikes/bike's confusion is akin to dyslexia!

> It is more a
> technical type of magazine than a literary type of magazine. It has always
> needed a good editor.

Yeah, it should be outsourced to India! They have a very active HPV
community over there, what with all the pedicabs and rickshaws.

> Mr. Sherman and I could do wonders for it, but we are
> not available.

A pity the wider 'bent community is deprived of your talents...perhaps
it's time to make the leap from ARBR to RCN, O Grate One?

> The main trouble with RCN is that it is a one man operation
> from beginning to end. You and I would also make many of the same mistakes
> if we were doing it all on our own like Robert Bryant is.

Uh, no. Not me. I troll usenet in my spare time and I still manage to
follow MLA guidelines!

> However, forget all of that and just go for the information which is always
> very solid.

If I "forgot" I'd wind up writing like that, too! It's insidious how
stuff like that creep into your subconscious and become habits in no
time. And I was rather distressed to learn that he'd no experience
with hydraulic disc brakes beyond the usual homelies, and that he
didn't know Nazca is able to use bar-end shifters with SRAM DualDrive
(as Hostel Shoppe is able to as well now, apparently, after some
research into the matter as a result of my question to them).

> It is the only publication that I am aware of that is not in
> the hands of the sellers and manufacturers of recumbents. Hence, it is
> priceless for that reason alone.

Don't you mean "in the *pockets* of the sellers"...?

I'm not so sure about that. He's probably rather more critical than
other sources (heh, all four of 'em), but not by a whole lot.

And we definitely need to see more of Amy Bryant. I don't care if she
didn't review the article! Just stick her on a bike. Probably give
the readership a slight spike (ahem). It's one thing to have pictures
of metal and hardware, but quite another to have all these old fogies
from cover to cover!

> Regards,
>
> Ed Dolan the Great - Minnesota
> aka
> Saint Edward the Great - Order of the Perpetual Sorrows - Minnesota

 

[NYC XYZ]

WTF is Ed Dolan the topmost post in googlegroups' tree-view of the
thread??

 

[NYC XYZ]

WTF is Ed Dolan the topmost post in googlegroups' tree-view of the
thread??

 

[bryanska]

>WTF is up with the constant there/their-its/it's-car's/cars mess??????

Apostrophe usage in this country is down the tubes. Especially with
acronyms.

If Newsgroups is abbreviated NG, then...

NG's is possesive. Something belongs to the newsgroup.

NGs is plural. More than one newsgroup.

IT IS THAT SIMPLE, but even professional sign makers are clueless...

 

[Edward Dolan]

"NYC XYZ" <[email protected]> wrote in message
news:[email protected]...
>
> Edward Dolan wrote:
[...]
>> The main trouble with RCN is that it is a one man operation
>> from beginning to end. You and I would also make many of the same
>> mistakes
>> if we were doing it all on our own like Robert Bryant is.
>
> Uh, no. Not me. I troll usenet in my spare time and I still manage to
> follow MLA guidelines!

You would have to get rid of your colloquial spoken English in your writing.
There are just not enough idiots that find that sort of trash talk all that
endearing. However, even the best writers in the world require one or more
editors to make sure everything is correct.
[...]

>> It is the only publication that I am aware of that is not in
>> the hands of the sellers and manufacturers of recumbents. Hence, it is
>> priceless for that reason alone.
>
> Don't you mean "in the *pockets* of the sellers"...?
>
> I'm not so sure about that. He's probably rather more critical than
> other sources (heh, all four of 'em), but not by a whole lot.

RCN has had many troubles with various manufacturers down through the years
because of the reviews that have appeared in the publication. That says it
all!
[...]

Regards,

Ed Dolan the Great - Minnesota
aka
Saint Edward the Great - Order of the Perpetual Sorrows - Minnesota

 

[Mike Kruger]

"bryanska" <[email protected]> wrote in message
news:[email protected]...
> >WTF is up with the constant there/their-its/it's-car's/cars mess??????
>
> Apostrophe usage in this country is down the tubes. Especially with
> acronyms.
>
> If Newsgroups is abbreviated NG, then...
>
> NG's is possesive. Something belongs to the newsgroup.
>
> NGs is plural. More than one newsgroup.
>
> IT IS THAT SIMPLE, but even professional sign makers are clueless...
>
No. It's not that simple. So far as I learned it, the plural of NG is NG's.
The plurals of abbreviations and acronyms use an apostrophe before the s. I
always use this in my writing, and as this is technical specifications there
are lots of abbreviations and acrynoms, such as UPC's and EAN's. I've never
had this questioned even though I work with a bunch of nitpickers.

I shouldn't have to reference this basic bit of junior high English, but
since you will probably insist I will refer you to:
http://www.askoxford.com/asktheexperts/faq/aboutspelling/pizza

There's an extensive discussion of this topic (including indications that
the rule can be either NGs or NG's) at
http://answers.google.com/answers/threadview?id=499296

 

[Edward Dolan]

"Mike Kruger" <[email protected]> wrote in message
news:[email protected]...
> "bryanska" <[email protected]> wrote in message
> news:[email protected]...
>> >WTF is up with the constant there/their-its/it's-car's/cars mess??????
>>
>> Apostrophe usage in this country is down the tubes. Especially with
>> acronyms.
>>
>> If Newsgroups is abbreviated NG, then...
>>
>> NG's is possesive. Something belongs to the newsgroup.
>>
>> NGs is plural. More than one newsgroup.
>>
>> IT IS THAT SIMPLE, but even professional sign makers are clueless...
>>
> No. It's not that simple. So far as I learned it, the plural of NG is
> NG's. The plurals of abbreviations and acronyms use an apostrophe before
> the s. I always use this in my writing, and as this is technical
> specifications there are lots of abbreviations and acrynoms, such as UPC's
> and EAN's. I've never had this questioned even though I work with a bunch
> of nitpickers.
>
> I shouldn't have to reference this basic bit of junior high English, but
> since you will probably insist I will refer you to:
> http://www.askoxford.com/asktheexperts/faq/aboutspelling/pizza
>
> There's an extensive discussion of this topic (including indications that
> the rule can be either NGs or NG's) at
> http://answers.google.com/answers/threadview?id=499296

I will admit that NGs just does not look right. I always want to put an
apostrophe before the s too when writing the plural for an acronym. And then
someone will point out to me that only the possessive takes an apostrophe.
But like I said, it just doesn't look right.

Regards,

Ed Dolan the Great - Minnesota
aka
Saint Edward the Great - Order of the Perpetual Sorrows - Minnesota

 

[catzz66]

Mike Kruger wrote:
>
>
> No. It's not that simple. So far as I learned it, the plural of NG is NG's.
> The plurals of abbreviations and acronyms use an apostrophe before the s. I
> always use this in my writing, and as this is technical specifications there
> are lots of abbreviations and acrynoms, such as UPC's and EAN's. I've never
> had this questioned even though I work with a bunch of nitpickers.
>
> I shouldn't have to reference this basic bit of junior high English, but
> since you will probably insist I will refer you to:
> http://www.askoxford.com/asktheexperts/faq/aboutspelling/pizza
>
> There's an extensive discussion of this topic (including indications that
> the rule can be either NGs or NG's) at
> http://answers.google.com/answers/threadview?id=499296
>
>

Around our shop, we use apostrophes only if it implies possession or
some type of contraction. Otherwise, no apostrophe. So if we were
abbreviating the word newsgroups, it would be NGs rather than NG's.

 

[Dave Larrington]

In article <[email protected]>,
bryanska ([email protected]) wrote:

> IT IS THAT SIMPLE, but even professional sign makers are clueless...

Every day I pass a sign advertising the services of a sign maker. These
include "Menu, box, van and canape design"

--
Dave Larrington - <http://www.legslarry.beerdrinkers.co.uk/>
I thought I saw his name on a jar of marmalade the other day, but when I
looked more closely, I saw it read 'thick cut'.

 

[Mark Hickey]

catzz66 <[email protected]> wrote:

>Around our shop, we use apostrophes only if it implies possession or
>some type of contraction. Otherwise, no apostrophe. So if we were
>abbreviating the word newsgroups, it would be NGs rather than NG's.

I agree entirely, though sometimes I'm forced to use the apostrophe
when I'm using Microsoft Word. It seems that Word tries to "help" by
assuming you didn't really MEAN to capitalize that second letter, so
"NGs" "corrects" to "Ngs". Sigh...

Mark Hickey
Habanero Cycles
http://www.habcycles.com
Home of the $795 ti frame

 

[bryanska]

>I always use this in my writing, and as this is technical specifications there
>are lots of abbreviations and acrynoms, such as UPC's and EAN's.

According to the industry standard tome for technical writers, St.
Martin's Handbook of Technical Writing (fifth edition),

"Form the plural of an acronym or initialism by adding an s. Do not use
an apostrophe:

MIRVs, CRTs"

 

[bryanska]

>There's an extensive discussion of this topic (including indications that
>the rule can be either NGs or NG's) at
>http://answers.google.com/answers/threadview?id=499296

Can you point out where it specifically says this? I can't find
anything except the guidance that acronyms are pluralized with an "s",
and only period-seperated acronyms (like P.H.D.) are pluralized with an
apostrophied "s".

 

[NYC XYZ]

NGs = News Groups or, more correctly, Newsgroups. I think that's
better-looking than all those apostrophes all over.

And top-posting is fine, too.



Edward Dolan wrote:
>
>
> I will admit that NGs just does not look right. I always want to put an
> apostrophe before the s too when writing the plural for an acronym. And then
> someone will point out to me that only the possessive takes an apostrophe.
> But like I said, it just doesn't look right.
>
> Regards,
>
> Ed Dolan the Great - Minnesota
> aka
> Saint Edward the Great - Order of the Perpetual Sorrows - Minnesota

 

[NYC XYZ]

Many, many thanks.

Just seems more logical!

Though sometimes it's hard to decide...can't think of an example right
now, but I know there have been times, rare as they are, when using an
apostrophe would have been clearer somehow....


bryanska wrote:
> >I always use this in my writing, and as this is technical specifications there
> >are lots of abbreviations and acrynoms, such as UPC's and EAN's.
>
> According to the industry standard tome for technical writers, St.
> Martin's Handbook of Technical Writing (fifth edition),
>
> "Form the plural of an acronym or initialism by adding an s. Do not use
> an apostrophe:
>
> MIRVs, CRTs"

 

[Edward Dolan]

"NYC XYZ" <[email protected]> wrote in message
news:[email protected]...
>
> NGs = News Groups or, more correctly, Newsgroups. I think that's
> better-looking than all those apostrophes all over.
>
> And top-posting is fine, too.

Top posting is never fine. It is an abomination and done only by thorough
going idiots like yourself. Try to get up to speed why don't you?

Regards,

Ed Dolan the Great - Minnesota
aka
Saint Edward the Great - Order of the Perpetual Sorrows - Minnesota

 

[Mike Kruger]

"bryanska" <[email protected]> wrote in message
news:[email protected]...
> >There's an extensive discussion of this topic (including indications that
>>the rule can be either NGs or NG's) at
>>http://answers.google.com/answers/threadview?id=499296
>
> Can you point out where it specifically says this? I can't find
> anything except the guidance that acronyms are pluralized with an "s",
> and only period-seperated acronyms (like P.H.D.) are pluralized with an
> apostrophied "s".
>
Quoting from the above page:

"Use of plurals is another area of confusion to authors and editors.
As with everything, Chicago/Turabian style takes precedence in this
project. One area of specific confusion when it comes to computer
terms is with acronyms. Most people mistakenly add an apostrophe and
letter 's' to make an acronym plural. The major proponent of this
incorrect method is 'The New York Times,' even though all publishing
houses and computer magazines agree that it is wrong."

Rephrasing this in non-perjorative terms:
The New York Times would say NG's.
Most people would say NG's
Many/Most/All other publishers would say NGs.
To me, this says either can be justified.

 

[bryanska]

> "Use of plurals is another area of confusion to authors and editors.
> As with everything, Chicago/Turabian style takes precedence in this
> project. One area of specific confusion when it comes to computer
> terms is with acronyms. Most people mistakenly add an apostrophe and
> letter 's' to make an acronym plural. The major proponent of this
> incorrect method is 'The New York Times,' even though all publishing
> houses and computer magazines agree that it is wrong."
>
> Rephrasing this in non-perjorative terms:
> The New York Times would say NG's.
> Most people would say NG's
> Many/Most/All other publishers would say NGs.
> To me, this says either can be justified.

The quote directly says all publishing houses believe the practice to
be wrong. And the author admits and believes the practice to be
incorrect, too. And "most people" make the mistake.

I gotta stand my ground here. Incorrect usage.

 

[NYC XYZ]

As you were!

Top-posting looks better sometimes, and makes more logical sense when
all you have for a response is a few lines at most. Also, some folks
don't want to scroll all the way down in order to read the response,
especially if they've been following the conversation all along and/or
the post which is being replied to is a long one.


Dismissed!



Edward Dolan wrote:
>
>
> Top posting is never fine. It is an abomination and done only by thorough
> going idiots like yourself. Try to get up to speed why don't you?
>
> Regards,
>
> Ed Dolan the Great - Minnesota
> aka
> Saint Edward the Great - Order of the Perpetual Sorrows - Minnesota