Paul Prescod <paul@[...].net>  wrote:
| Arjun Ray wrote:

|>  "It can't be done" is an acceptable answer, btw.
| 
| There is no global rule about the semantics of embedded namespaces. 

Semantics ("what names mean") wasn't the issue.  If you mean that there is
no global rule about the generic semantics of embedding syntax (using the
namespaces device) then I agree.  That was, after all, my question. :-)

| Any rule that handled the book/html case would fall apart in the face of 
| XSLT/XSLFO.

The general problem is the same.
 
| That's one of the reasons they were so contraversial all those years 
| ago. 

The controversy was stifld by the "all names shall be universal" fiat.

| Nevertheless, they have found widespread use as a trigger for 
| specific processors, like XSLT engines.

Actually, they have found widespread use for DWIMming.  The asymmetry in
John's first stab at a procedure is an example.  The real concern there
was "knowing" when to leave out #PCDATA.  In practice, the problem is
"avoided" by sucking values into attributes.  (Simon, your penance may
have been premature!)
   

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