Re: Questions on mesostics and the software Cage used
Louis Coppersmith <[email protected]> Mon, 14 Jan 2019 10:11:12 -0500
| Newsgroups | gmane.music.john-cage |
|---|---|
| Message-ID | <CALWUQMOWQ09XxZLSydwXThk4oi7+eV9Yj7w-+yq05xQQqy2Rjw@mail.gmail.com> |
--00000000000018c2b8057f6c756d Content-Type: text/plain; charset="UTF-8" Hi Dave, It's been a while since I researched into mesostics, and my notes aren't as thoroughly cited as I wish they were, so please take my findings with a grain of salt. I was looking specifically at *I-VI*, and from what I gather: mesolist found all possible words that would fit a given spine from a collection of source texts, following the 50% rule, and pointed to where the words could be located in the source text. Cage then used Andrew Culver's ic program to decide which of the possible words selected by mesolist to use. The chosen word was then located in a hardcopy printout of the source material, and wing words were added by hand. Wing words are limited by 50% mesostic rule and extend up to 45 characters away from the mesostic spine in either direction. Finally, Cage would "prune" the wings fairly extensively, deleting unwanted words. I spent some time comparing each line of one stanza of *I-VI* to the words as found in the source texts to check out what sort of pruning Cage actually did. Send me a note off-list if you'd be interested to see what I came up with. I searched for mesolist online a few years ago, and didn't find it. I'd be thrilled if a version of it turns up somewhere! Best, Louis On Mon, Jan 14, 2019 at 2:21 AM David Bellows <[email protected]> wrote: > Hey Stefano > > I had forgotten all about that thread -- things got pretty toxic after a > while. Nonetheless, I will go through it and see what I can find. > > I've been doing more research and after playing around with my software am > discovering that adding options for some things isn't so difficult after > all. I've got one more significant thing to change then I think I'll be > covering most possibilities. > > I'll create a separate thread with those results to see what people think. > > In the meantime, hopefully other people will come by and have some answers > to my initial questions. > > And I would enjoy seeing your version. I am doing mine in Lua (since the > rest of my project is in Lua). > > Dave > > On Sun, Jan 13, 2019 at 10:06 PM Stefano Pocci <[email protected]> > wrote: > >> Hi David, >> I remember a 2013 thread on this list named "mesostic generator" which >> triggered all kinds of nice responses to the topic you are tackling. Look >> for it in the list archives ( >> https://lists.virginia.edu/sympa/arc/silence/2013-04/thrd2.html#00074). >> I ended up writing my own mesostic generator, but probably in the most >> uncomfortable language of all, Java, instead of using Python, as I was >> suggested afterwards. >> Andrew Culver is in this list, so he is a good candidate to answer some >> of your questions. >> I don't recall all the details, but when I wrote my generator I had to >> face choices which could be similar to what the developer of such software >> had to face when he started to fiddle with the generator for Cage in the >> first place. >> One day I will attach it to my website www.johncage.it :) >> Good luck, >> Stefano >> >> >> >> >> Il giorno lun 14 gen 2019 alle ore 07:03 David Bellows < >> [email protected]> ha scritto: >> >>> Thanks for the link. Contacting Andrew Culver is a good idea. It might >>> be tricky but there are bread crumbs around online so I'll give those a >>> shot. >>> >>> I can't help but think that when Cage needed to generate a large amount >>> of mesostics he would let the software choose the wing words and not take >>> the time to do so himself. But that's speculation. >>> >>> >>> On Sun, Jan 13, 2019 at 8:57 PM Herb Levy <[email protected]> >>> wrote: >>> >>>> And, yes, I wrote that wrong - Andrew Culver did write most of the >>>> software on the list I linked to, but he clearly identifies the listed >>>> programs that Jim Rosenberg wrote for Cage. I apologize for my lack of >>>> clarity. >>>> >>>> On Sunday, January 13, 2019, 10:28:02 PM CST, Herb Levy < >>>> [email protected]> wrote: >>>> >>>> >>>> Here's Andrew Culver's list of software he developed for John Cage: Culver >>>> - John Cage Computer Programs >>>> <http://www.anarchicharmony.org/People/Culver/CagePrograms.html> >>>> >>>> It's my understanding that most of these programs are not available. I >>>> don't know if Andrew Culver is on this list, but from this web page you >>>> should be able find your way to a link from which you may be able to ask >>>> him questions. >>>> >>>> Culver - John Cage Computer Programs >>>> >>>> Anarchic Harmony: John Cage Computer Programs >>>> <http://www.anarchicharmony.org/People/Culver/CagePrograms.html> >>>> >>>> >>>> >>>> On Sunday, January 13, 2019, 9:41:15 PM CST, David Bellows < >>>> [email protected]> wrote: >>>> >>>> >>>> Hello all, >>>> >>>> I'm finishing up a mesostic generating program that I'm using for a >>>> larger project. While researching for it, I came across a number of >>>> claims about how Cage generated them. >>>> >>>> I get that the process evolved over time. But what I'm most interested >>>> is in the software he used to generate mesostics. >>>> >>>> If I'm reading everything correctly, it looks like Jim Rosenberg wrote >>>> the program MESOLIST for this purpose. I am having a difficult time >>>> finding details about the program and hoping some people here can >>>> help. >>>> >>>> 1. Is it available anywhere for downloading or studying? >>>> >>>> 2. Did the program generate the wing words? >>>> >>>> 3. Did the program follow only the 100% rule or allow for the 50% rule >>>> also? >>>> >>>> 4. I've read that Cage chose to leave out some wing words. Is this >>>> true for how he used the program or was that just something he did on >>>> the mesostics he generated by hand? >>>> >>>> 5. Right now my program chooses up to seven words on either side of >>>> the spine word following the 100% rule for all the words. Next I will >>>> have it limit the number of words randomly but they will still be in >>>> order (ie, anywhere from 0 to 7 of the preceding/following words). A >>>> mesostic generator I see online >>>> (http://vyh.pythonanywhere.com/psmeso/) chooses randomly from all the >>>> words between spine words following the 100% rule. My approach will >>>> generate fragments that make sense since it can potentially string up >>>> to 15 words in a row from the source text while the online one won't >>>> do so. Which approach more closely matches Rosenberg's program? >>>> >>>> I'm really a terrible programmer (I'm a composer and not a >>>> programmer), so the fact that I've gotten this much working probably >>>> means I won't change how it works on a fundamental level but I would >>>> like to have an idea about how closely my approach matches the >>>> software Cage used. >>>> >>>> Thanks everyone, >>>> Dave Bellows >>>> >>> --00000000000018c2b8057f6c756d Content-Type: text/html; charset="UTF-8" Content-Transfer-Encoding: quoted-printable <div dir=3D"ltr"><div dir=3D"ltr"><div dir=3D"ltr"><div dir=3D"ltr">Hi Dave= ,<div><br></div><div>It's been a while since I researched into mesostic= s, and my notes aren't as thoroughly cited as I wish they were, so plea= se take my findings with a grain of salt.=C2=A0 I was looking specifically = at <i>I-VI</i>, and from what I gather:</div><div><br></div><div>mesolist f= ound all possible words that would fit a given spine from a collection of s= ource texts, following the 50% rule, and pointed to where the words could b= e located in the source text.=C2=A0 Cage then used Andrew Culver's ic p= rogram to decide which of the possible words selected by mesolist to use.= =C2=A0 The chosen word was then located in a hardcopy printout of the sourc= e material,=C2=A0and wing words were added by hand.=C2=A0 Wing words are li= mited by 50% mesostic rule and extend up to 45 characters away from the mes= ostic spine in either direction.=C2=A0 Finally, Cage would "prune"= ; the wings fairly extensively, deleting unwanted words.</div><div><br></di= v><div>I spent some time comparing each line of one stanza of <i>I-VI</i>= =C2=A0to the words as found in the source texts to check out what sort of p= runing Cage actually did.=C2=A0 Send me a note off-list if you'd be int= erested to see what I came up with.</div><div><br></div><div>I searched for= mesolist online a few years ago, and didn't find it. I'd be thrill= ed if a version of it turns up somewhere!</div><div><br></div><div>Best,</d= iv><div>Louis</div></div></div></div></div><br><div class=3D"gmail_quote"><= div dir=3D"ltr">On Mon, Jan 14, 2019 at 2:21 AM David Bellows <<a href= =3D"mailto:[email protected]">[email protected]</a>> wrote:<br><= /div><blockquote class=3D"gmail_quote" style=3D"margin:0px 0px 0px 0.8ex;bo= rder-left:1px solid rgb(204,204,204);padding-left:1ex"><div dir=3D"ltr"><di= v>Hey Stefano</div><div><br></div><div>I had forgotten all about that threa= d -- things got pretty toxic after a while. Nonetheless, I will go through = it and see what I can find.</div><div><br></div><div>I've been doing mo= re research and after playing around with my software am discovering that a= dding options for some things isn't so difficult after all. I've go= t one more significant thing to change then I think I'll be covering mo= st possibilities.</div><div><br></div><div>I'll create a separate threa= d with those results to see what people think.</div><div><br></div><div>In = the meantime, hopefully other people will come by and have some answers to = my initial questions.</div><div><br></div><div>And I would enjoy seeing you= r version. I am doing mine in Lua (since the rest of my project is in Lua).= <br></div><div><br></div><div>Dave<br></div></div><br><div class=3D"gmail_q= uote"><div dir=3D"ltr">On Sun, Jan 13, 2019 at 10:06 PM Stefano Pocci <<= a href=3D"mailto:[email protected]" target=3D"_blank">stefanodoug76@g= mail.com</a>> wrote:<br></div><blockquote class=3D"gmail_quote" style=3D= "margin:0px 0px 0px 0.8ex;border-left:1px solid rgb(204,204,204);padding-le= ft:1ex"><div dir=3D"ltr"><div dir=3D"ltr">Hi David,<div>I remember a 2013 t= hread on this list named "mesostic generator" which triggered all= kinds of nice responses to the topic you are tackling. Look for it in the = list archives (<a href=3D"https://lists.virginia.edu/sympa/arc/silence/2013= -04/thrd2.html#00074" target=3D"_blank">https://lists.virginia.edu/sympa/ar= c/silence/2013-04/thrd2.html#00074</a>).</div><div>I ended up writing my ow= n mesostic generator, but probably in the most uncomfortable language of al= l, Java, instead of using Python, as I was suggested afterwards.</div><div>= Andrew Culver is in this list, so he is a good candidate to answer some of = your questions.=C2=A0</div><div>I don't recall all the details, but whe= n I wrote my generator I had to face choices which could be similar to what= the developer of such software had to face when he started to fiddle with = the generator for Cage in the first place.</div><div>One day I will attach = it to my website <a href=3D"http://www.johncage.it" target=3D"_blank">www.j= ohncage.it</a> :)</div><div>Good luck,</div><div>Stefano</div><div><br></di= v><div><br></div><div><br></div></div></div><br><div class=3D"gmail_quote">= <div dir=3D"ltr">Il giorno lun 14 gen 2019 alle ore 07:03 David Bellows <= ;<a href=3D"mailto:[email protected]" target=3D"_blank">davebellows@gma= il.com</a>> ha scritto:<br></div><blockquote class=3D"gmail_quote" style= =3D"margin:0px 0px 0px 0.8ex;border-left:1px solid rgb(204,204,204);padding= -left:1ex"><div dir=3D"ltr"><div>Thanks for the link. Contacting Andrew Cul= ver is a good idea. It might be tricky but there are bread crumbs around on= line so I'll give those a shot.</div><div><br></div><div>I can't he= lp but think that when Cage needed to generate a large amount of mesostics = he would let the software choose the wing words and not take the time to do= so himself. But that's speculation. </div><div><br></div></div><br><di= v class=3D"gmail_quote"><div dir=3D"ltr">On Sun, Jan 13, 2019 at 8:57 PM He= rb Levy <<a href=3D"mailto:[email protected]" target=3D"_blank">he= [email protected]</a>> wrote:<br></div><blockquote class=3D"gmail_qu= ote" style=3D"margin:0px 0px 0px 0.8ex;border-left:1px solid rgb(204,204,20= 4);padding-left:1ex"><div><div class=3D"gmail-m_5647580552835704327gmail-m_= 8257871209972085023gmail-m_8263525966453414718gmail-m_-6848716716840189008g= mail-m_4461089805873319056ydp780425e3yahoo-style-wrap" style=3D"font-family= :"Helvetica Neue",Helvetica,Arial,sans-serif;font-size:13px"><div= ></div> <div>And, yes, I wrote that wrong - Andrew Culver did write most of= the software on the list I linked to, but he clearly identifies the listed= programs that Jim Rosenberg wrote for Cage. I apologize for my lack of cla= rity. <br></div><div><br></div> =20 </div><div id=3D"gmail-m_5647580552835704327gmail-m_825787120997208= 5023gmail-m_8263525966453414718gmail-m_-6848716716840189008gmail-m_44610898= 05873319056ydp967b33eeyahoo_quoted_8076464440" class=3D"gmail-m_56475805528= 35704327gmail-m_8257871209972085023gmail-m_8263525966453414718gmail-m_-6848= 716716840189008gmail-m_4461089805873319056ydp967b33eeyahoo_quoted"> <div style=3D"font-family:"Helvetica Neue",Helvetica,= Arial,sans-serif;font-size:13px;color:rgb(38,40,42)"> =20 <div> On Sunday, January 13, 2019, 10:28:02 PM CST, Herb Levy= <<a href=3D"mailto:[email protected]" target=3D"_blank">herb.levy= @sbcglobal.net</a>> wrote: </div> <div><br></div> <div><br></div> <div><div id=3D"gmail-m_5647580552835704327gmail-m_82578712= 09972085023gmail-m_8263525966453414718gmail-m_-6848716716840189008gmail-m_4= 461089805873319056ydp967b33eeyiv0080460043"><div><div class=3D"gmail-m_5647= 580552835704327gmail-m_8257871209972085023gmail-m_8263525966453414718gmail-= m_-6848716716840189008gmail-m_4461089805873319056ydp967b33eeyiv0080460043yd= p1579b525yahoo-style-wrap" style=3D"font-family:"Helvetica Neue",= Helvetica,Arial,sans-serif;font-size:13px"><div></div> <div>Here's Andrew Culver's list of software he developed f= or John Cage: <a shape=3D"rect" class=3D"gmail-m_5647580552835704327gmail-m= _8257871209972085023gmail-m_8263525966453414718gmail-m_-6848716716840189008= gmail-m_4461089805873319056ydp967b33eeyiv0080460043enhancr_card_7831497334"= href=3D"http://www.anarchicharmony.org/People/Culver/CagePrograms.html" re= l=3D"nofollow" target=3D"_blank">Culver - John Cage Computer Programs</a><b= r clear=3D"none"><br clear=3D"none">It's my understanding that most of = these programs are not available. I don't know if Andrew Culver is on t= his list, but from this web page you should be able find your way to a link= from which you may be able to ask him questions.<br clear=3D"none"></div><= div><br clear=3D"none"></div><div class=3D"gmail-m_5647580552835704327gmail= -m_8257871209972085023gmail-m_8263525966453414718gmail-m_-68487167168401890= 08gmail-m_4461089805873319056ydp967b33eeyiv0080460043ydp8c5fa3cbyahoo-link-= enhancr-card gmail-m_5647580552835704327gmail-m_8257871209972085023gmail-m_= 8263525966453414718gmail-m_-6848716716840189008gmail-m_4461089805873319056y= dp967b33eeyiv0080460043ydp8c5fa3cbyahoo-link-enhancr-not-allow-cover gmail-= m_5647580552835704327gmail-m_8257871209972085023gmail-m_8263525966453414718= gmail-m_-6848716716840189008gmail-m_4461089805873319056ydp967b33eeyiv008046= 0043ydp8c5fa3cbymail-preserve-class gmail-m_5647580552835704327gmail-m_8257= 871209972085023gmail-m_8263525966453414718gmail-m_-6848716716840189008gmail= -m_4461089805873319056ydp967b33eeyiv0080460043ydp8c5fa3cbymail-preserve-sty= le" id=3D"gmail-m_5647580552835704327gmail-m_8257871209972085023gmail-m_826= 3525966453414718gmail-m_-6848716716840189008gmail-m_4461089805873319056ydp9= 67b33eeyiv0080460043ydp8c5fa3cbenhancr_card_7831497334" style=3D"max-width:= 400px;font-family:"Helvetica Neue","Segoe UI",Helvetica= ,Arial,sans-serif"><a shape=3D"rect" class=3D"gmail-m_5647580552835704327gm= ail-m_8257871209972085023gmail-m_8263525966453414718gmail-m_-68487167168401= 89008gmail-m_4461089805873319056ydp967b33eeyiv0080460043ydp8c5fa3cbyahoo-en= hancr-cardlink" href=3D"http://www.anarchicharmony.org/People/Culver/CagePr= ograms.html" style=3D"text-decoration:none;color:rgb(0,0,0)" rel=3D"nofollo= w" target=3D"_blank"><table class=3D"gmail-m_5647580552835704327gmail-m_825= 7871209972085023gmail-m_8263525966453414718gmail-m_-6848716716840189008gmai= l-m_4461089805873319056ydp967b33eeyiv0080460043ydp8c5fa3cbcard-wrapper gmai= l-m_5647580552835704327gmail-m_8257871209972085023gmail-m_82635259664534147= 18gmail-m_-6848716716840189008gmail-m_4461089805873319056ydp967b33eeyiv0080= 460043ydp8c5fa3cbyahoo-ignore-table" style=3D"max-width:400px" cellspacing= =3D"0" cellpadding=3D"0" border=3D"0"><tbody><tr><td colspan=3D"1" rowspan= =3D"1" width=3D"400"><table class=3D"gmail-m_5647580552835704327gmail-m_825= 7871209972085023gmail-m_8263525966453414718gmail-m_-6848716716840189008gmai= l-m_4461089805873319056ydp967b33eeyiv0080460043ydp8c5fa3cbcard gmail-m_5647= 580552835704327gmail-m_8257871209972085023gmail-m_8263525966453414718gmail-= m_-6848716716840189008gmail-m_4461089805873319056ydp967b33eeyiv0080460043yd= p8c5fa3cbyahoo-ignore-table" style=3D"max-width:400px;border-width:1px;bord= er-style:solid;border-color:rgb(224,228,233);border-radius:2px" width=3D"10= 0%" cellspacing=3D"0" cellpadding=3D"0" border=3D"0"><tbody><tr><td colspan= =3D"1" rowspan=3D"1"><table class=3D"gmail-m_5647580552835704327gmail-m_825= 7871209972085023gmail-m_8263525966453414718gmail-m_-6848716716840189008gmai= l-m_4461089805873319056ydp967b33eeyiv0080460043ydp8c5fa3cbcard-info gmail-m= _5647580552835704327gmail-m_8257871209972085023gmail-m_8263525966453414718g= mail-m_-6848716716840189008gmail-m_4461089805873319056ydp967b33eeyiv0080460= 043ydp8c5fa3cbyahoo-ignore-table" style=3D"background-color:rgb(255,255,255= );background-repeat:repeat;background-image:none;background-size:auto;width= :100%;max-width:400px;border-radius:0px 0px 2px 2px;border-top:1px solid rg= b(224,228,233)" cellspacing=3D"0" cellpadding=3D"0" border=3D"0"><tbody><tr= ><td colspan=3D"1" rowspan=3D"1" style=3D"background-color:rgb(255,255,255)= ;padding:16px 0px 16px 12px;vertical-align:top;border-radius:0px 0px 0px 2p= x"></td><td colspan=3D"1" rowspan=3D"1" style=3D"vertical-align:middle;padd= ing:12px 24px 16px 12px;width:99%;font-family:"Helvetica Neue",&q= uot;Segoe UI",Helvetica,Arial,sans-serif;border-radius:0px 0px 2px"><h= 2 class=3D"gmail-m_5647580552835704327gmail-m_8257871209972085023gmail-m_82= 63525966453414718gmail-m_-6848716716840189008gmail-m_4461089805873319056ydp= 967b33eeyiv0080460043ydp8c5fa3cbcard-title" style=3D"font-size:14px;line-he= ight:19px;margin:0px 0px 6px;font-family:"Helvetica Neue","S= egoe UI",Helvetica,Arial,sans-serif;color:rgb(38,40,42)">Culver - John= Cage Computer Programs</h2><p class=3D"gmail-m_5647580552835704327gmail-m_= 8257871209972085023gmail-m_8263525966453414718gmail-m_-6848716716840189008g= mail-m_4461089805873319056ydp967b33eeyiv0080460043ydp8c5fa3cbcard-descripti= on" style=3D"font-size:12px;line-height:16px;margin:0px;color:rgb(151,155,1= 67)">Anarchic Harmony: John Cage Computer Programs</p></td></tr></tbody></t= able></td></tr></tbody></table></td></tr></tbody></table></a></div><div><br= clear=3D"none"></div><div><br clear=3D"none"></div><div><br clear=3D"none"= ></div> =20 </div><div class=3D"gmail-m_5647580552835704327gmail-m_825787120997= 2085023gmail-m_8263525966453414718gmail-m_-6848716716840189008gmail-m_44610= 89805873319056ydp967b33eeyiv0080460043yqt0390275134" id=3D"gmail-m_56475805= 52835704327gmail-m_8257871209972085023gmail-m_8263525966453414718gmail-m_-6= 848716716840189008gmail-m_4461089805873319056ydp967b33eeyiv0080460043yqt402= 29"><div class=3D"gmail-m_5647580552835704327gmail-m_8257871209972085023gma= il-m_8263525966453414718gmail-m_-6848716716840189008gmail-m_446108980587331= 9056ydp967b33eeyiv0080460043ydp5bdea5c1yahoo_quoted" id=3D"gmail-m_56475805= 52835704327gmail-m_8257871209972085023gmail-m_8263525966453414718gmail-m_-6= 848716716840189008gmail-m_4461089805873319056ydp967b33eeyiv0080460043ydp5bd= ea5c1yahoo_quoted_7737916445"> <div style=3D"font-family:"Helvetica Neue",Helvetica,= Arial,sans-serif;font-size:13px;color:rgb(38,40,42)"> =20 <div> On Sunday, January 13, 2019, 9:41:15 PM CST, David Bell= ows <<a href=3D"mailto:[email protected]" target=3D"_blank">davebell= [email protected]</a>> wrote: </div> <div><br clear=3D"none"></div> <div><br clear=3D"none"></div> <div><div dir=3D"ltr">Hello all,<br clear=3D"none"></div><d= iv dir=3D"ltr"><br clear=3D"none"></div><div dir=3D"ltr">I'm finishing = up a mesostic generating program that I'm using for a<br clear=3D"none"= ></div><div dir=3D"ltr">larger project. While researching for it, I came ac= ross a number of<br clear=3D"none"></div><div dir=3D"ltr">claims about how = Cage generated them.<br clear=3D"none"></div><div dir=3D"ltr"><br clear=3D"= none"></div><div dir=3D"ltr">I get that the process evolved over time. But = what I'm most interested<br clear=3D"none"></div><div dir=3D"ltr">is in= the software he used to generate mesostics.<br clear=3D"none"></div><div d= ir=3D"ltr"><br clear=3D"none"></div><div dir=3D"ltr">If I'm reading eve= rything correctly, it looks like Jim Rosenberg wrote<br clear=3D"none"></di= v><div dir=3D"ltr">the program MESOLIST for this purpose. I am having a dif= ficult time<br clear=3D"none"></div><div dir=3D"ltr">finding details about = the program and hoping some people here can<br clear=3D"none"></div><div di= r=3D"ltr">help.<br clear=3D"none"></div><div dir=3D"ltr"><br clear=3D"none"= ></div><div dir=3D"ltr">1. Is it available anywhere for downloading or stud= ying?<br clear=3D"none"></div><div dir=3D"ltr"><br clear=3D"none"></div><di= v dir=3D"ltr">2. Did the program generate the wing words?<br clear=3D"none"= ></div><div dir=3D"ltr"><br clear=3D"none"></div><div dir=3D"ltr">3. Did th= e program follow only the 100% rule or allow for the 50% rule also?<br clea= r=3D"none"></div><div dir=3D"ltr"><br clear=3D"none"></div><div dir=3D"ltr"= >4. I've read that Cage chose to leave out some wing words. Is this<br = clear=3D"none"></div><div dir=3D"ltr">true for how he used the program or w= as that just something he did on<br clear=3D"none"></div><div dir=3D"ltr">t= he mesostics he generated by hand?<br clear=3D"none"></div><div dir=3D"ltr"= ><br clear=3D"none"></div><div dir=3D"ltr">5. Right now my program chooses = up to seven words on either side of<br clear=3D"none"></div><div dir=3D"ltr= ">the spine word following the 100% rule for all the words. Next I will<br = clear=3D"none"></div><div dir=3D"ltr">have it limit the number of words ran= domly but they will still be in<br clear=3D"none"></div><div dir=3D"ltr">or= der (ie, anywhere from 0 to 7 of the preceding/following words). A<br clear= =3D"none"></div><div dir=3D"ltr">mesostic generator I see online<br clear= =3D"none"></div><div dir=3D"ltr">(<a shape=3D"rect" href=3D"http://vyh.pyth= onanywhere.com/psmeso/" rel=3D"nofollow" target=3D"_blank">http://vyh.pytho= nanywhere.com/psmeso/</a>) chooses randomly from all the<br clear=3D"none">= </div><div dir=3D"ltr">words between spine words following the 100% rule. M= y approach will<br clear=3D"none"></div><div dir=3D"ltr">generate fragments= that make sense since it can potentially string up<br clear=3D"none"></div= ><div dir=3D"ltr">to 15 words in a row from the source text while the onlin= e one won't<br clear=3D"none"></div><div dir=3D"ltr">do so. Which appro= ach more closely matches Rosenberg's program?<br clear=3D"none"></div><= div dir=3D"ltr"><br clear=3D"none"></div><div dir=3D"ltr">I'm really a = terrible programmer (I'm a composer and not a<br clear=3D"none"></div><= div dir=3D"ltr">programmer), so the fact that I've gotten this much wor= king probably<br clear=3D"none"></div><div dir=3D"ltr">means I won't ch= ange how it works on a fundamental level but I would<br clear=3D"none"></di= v><div dir=3D"ltr">like to have an idea about how closely my approach match= es the<br clear=3D"none"></div><div dir=3D"ltr">software Cage used.<br clea= r=3D"none"></div><div dir=3D"ltr"><br clear=3D"none"></div><div dir=3D"ltr"= >Thanks everyone,<br clear=3D"none"></div><div dir=3D"ltr">Dave Bellows<br = clear=3D"none"></div></div> </div> </div></div></div></div></div> </div> </div></div></blockquote></div> </blockquote></div> </blockquote></div> </blockquote></div> --00000000000018c2b8057f6c756d--