> On Mon, Sep 10, 2012 at 4:56 AM, Robert P. J. Day wrote:
[snip: request for help (63 lines)]
>
>   i am not an accomplished user of *any* of the technologies in the
> toolchain -- org-mode, emacs, latex or beamer.  i have used emacs in

Highly recommended series for getting to know Emacs better:
http://www.ibm.com/developerworks/views/aix/libraryview.jsp?search_by=emacs+editing+environment

HTH
--Manish