[OS X TeX] TeX and the wild wild world out there

[John Vokey]

Themis wrote:

> We may call this a "problem", or we may call it "reality". I have no
> illusions about convincing the Universe to switch to latex. I just
> hope that latex does not cease to exist before I do. Bruno's comment
> makes me wonder, however, whether this hope isn't an illusion, too.

There is a simple solution based on population epidemiology (or  
shampoo commercial dictate) that as long as I infect at least two  
more than myself, and they in turn do the same (and, on average, the  
infection rate is >1), LaTeX will only grow.  I require every honours  
and graduate student in my lab to use LaTeX (no exceptions).  They  
have *all* gone on not only to use LaTeX in everything they do, but  
to infect not just two others, but usually whole labs and even  
departments.  Once one groks LaTeX, it is very difficult to use  
anything else.  Yes, I, too, use Pages for specialised output  
(pamphlets, etc.), and Keynote (for presentations), but any serious  
document *requires* LaTeX, in that I can write faster and produce  
beautiful output in the bargain.  Indeed, BibTeX alone is worth the  
price of admission, and with BibDesk is a total joy.  Lately, I have  
been attempting the same with R (but with less success).  So, you  
want LaTeX to survive?  Require it.  You have the power.  Oh, and  
refuse to publish in any journal that *requires* Word, followed by a  
nasty letter to the editorial board.  It works.

--
Please avoid sending me Word or PowerPoint attachments.
See <http://www.gnu.org/philosophy/no-word-attachments.html>

-Dr. John R. Vokey




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