From: ptkwt@... (Phil Tomson)
Date: 2004-02-18T13:14:55+09:00
Subject: Re: [ANN] Why's (Poignant) Guide to Ruby, Chapters 1 to 3

In article <40327236.9000301@whytheluckystiff.net>,
why the lucky stiff  <ruby-talk@whytheluckystiff.net> wrote:
>Greetings.  Man, I'm giddy about this announcement.  My blood is visibly 
>pulsing.
>
>On Nov. 11, 2003, during RubyConf 2003, I kinda mentioned a major 
>project of mine that I believed would "change the Ruby world 
>significantly." [1]  Well, we'll see about that.  Sorry if that was a 
>bit pompous, but I'll let you be the judge of that.
>
>Why's (Poignant) Guide to Ruby is a free, open-source book for anyone 
>wanting to learn Ruby.  I have finished the first three chapters.  You 
>can start reading at http://poignantguide.net/.
>
>This book is not so much a manual.  There will be no reference.  This 
>book is closer to a novel, a comic, or maybe a biography.  Or all 
>three.   Ultimately, I'd like to have a book that could be so accessible 
>that it could be a NYT bestseller.  Of course, I don't ever expect that 
>to happen, but that's how plain I'd like the instruction to be.
>
>Face it.  This is the future.  Kids are going to be programming their 
>skateboards, their GI-Joe tanks, their shoelaces, their oatmeal.  Ruby 
>could easily be that language that the common man can get his hooks 
>into.  This probably isn't the book that will make Ruby become 
>universal, but it's a steppie in that vicinity.
>
>My roadmap has the book finished next summer.  This gives me a couple 
>months for each chapter.  I'd like to release early and often.  The best 
>thing you can do is bug me.  Feedback.  Constant reminders when a new 
>chapter is due.  Bug me to death.  The demand will motivate me.  If you 
>don't like the book, tell me why.
>
>I have no intention to print the book.  I have no desire to publish.  I 
>am not working on PDF, Palm, TeX, etc. versions of the book.  I am 
>writing the book and I am going to leave those matters for later.
>
>However, I will be setting up a RubyForge project soon.  The 
>YAML/Textile source for the book will be available for any of you to 
>format, print or reuse.  I am releasing it all (graphics included) under 
>the GPL'ish Attribution-ShareAlike [2] license of the Creative Commons.  
>Cool?
>
>Okay, then.  I *starch* you all!
>

Noooo... we're all doing that low-carb diet thing.  No *starch*!

Why, your missive is a postmodern literary tour de force.  I couldn't put 
it down (now my arms hurt from holding the monitor that long).

Do you think you could come speak to our writer's club?  Some of us even
don our fox suits and pretend to be Ruby programmers.

Are you sure you're from Utah?  Your book has such a Portland 
zine-scene flavor to it.  Don't lose your roadmap.

Phil