Riba Rambles:
Musings of a Mental Magpie

Posted by Lis Riba at 11:05 PM

http://www.whoisdoctorwho.co.uk/

Posted by Lis Riba at 6:50 PM

It's been a while since I posted anything new in this series^* but I'm currently reading Lord Minimus: the extraordinary life of Britain's smallest man.

Born in 1619, Jeffrey Hudson was presented to the court of Charles I by George Villiers, Duke of Buckingham, at the end of a lavish banquet -- climbing out of a gilded pastry pie. He was seven years old, 18 inches tall and "perfectly proportioned," and soon became the Queen's Dwarf.

It isn't just his stature that makes him remarkable, nor his association with famous people (Ben Jonson wrote about him; Van Dyck painted him), nor merely living in interesting times. Jeffrey Hudson really did appear to have the "extraordinary life" as the subtitle asserts.

Quoting the summary in Kirkus Reviews:

During the English Civil War, the diminutive Hudson served ably as a captain, then went with [Queen Henrietta] Maria into exile in France. In one of many unfortunate ironies to come, he fell from favor when he killed a brother of the queen's Master of Horse in a mounted duel after warnings to cease mocking his stature went predictably unheeded. Then the luckless adventurer was captured by the Barbary Corsairs and most likely sold into servitude at the Algiers market.

He was actually captured by pirates twice...

For 25 years, his whereabouts were unknown in England, and when he finally returned home, he was imprisoned during a resurgence of anti-Catholic bigotry.

Fun book, though a bit heavy on the superlatives.

Jeffrey Hudson's Wikipedia entry for those who want to read more without tracking down the book.

^* Previous installments:

• Hortense Mancini, from Royal Survivor: The Life of Charles II
• Book burning of early bibles from In the beginning: the story of the King James Bible and how it changed a nation, a language,and a culture
• Elizabethans in America from Big Chief Elizabeth: the adventures and fate of the first English colonists in America (Giles Milton is particularly skilled at finding such moments in history)
• Duelling from Gentlemen's Blood: a history of duelling from swords at dawn to pistols at dusk
• Queen Elizabeth's marriage negotiations from Her Majesty's spymaster

Posted by Lis Riba at 6:40 PM

Have you ever come across a scene that just screams cliche, even though you haven't necessarily run across anything like it before?

Yesterday I finished reading Mignon by Chris Hunt. It's historical fiction from the mid-1980s, published by Gay Men's Press.

It's set during the Elizabethan period, featuring a former lover of the French king who flees to England, where he becomes a boy actor and Marlowe's bedpartner.

Yeah, yeah... you knew Marlowe had to be in there somewhere...

At any rate, early in the book, the lead character is under pressure to marry, which leads to this exchange:

["I]n spite of what you say I do not think I am the kind who marries...

"Nonsense. Every man has the wherewithal to satisfy males and females both. Just because you have been with men up till now, Marc, it does not mean you are not capable. . . Why, all of us here," he said expansively, "have played around with other men, tis only natural. We've all been naughty in that way, and it was quite delightful. But we have women too; the one does not preclude the other."

I can't recall ever seeing/reading a scene like this, but it just feels so... rote.

I should add that (a) there is at least one Puritan in the room when Gervais makes his expansive gesture, and (b) the book does show many apparent Kinsey 6's (including Marc), disproving the statement. But still, this passage conveys an interesting notion that there are few Kinsey 0's, and straight men may have bent pasts.

Other than that, the book is generally inoffensive (for readers who don't take offense at gay sex) and unmemorable. I found myself referring to the protagonist as "Twink Starfucker," which I think would make an excellent name for the hero of a gay SF parody.

And, although I can't articulate it, there is a definite difference in prose portrayals of gay sex written by and for gay men and those in slash fiction written by and for women. If I were more motivated, maybe I'd attempt a compare-and-contrast, but close reading of gay sex scenes doesn't interest me that much. [The most obvious... standout... was "cock" seems more prevalent in slash, while "prick" is more common in gay porn.]

PS: On a related note, Elizabeth Bear reviews Young Will: The Confessions of William Shakespeare: A Novel. In brief, she read it so you (and I) don't have to. And since then, she's bravely compared three Marlowe sex scenes - from Young Will, Anthony Burgess' Dead in Deptford, and her own unpublished work.

Posted by Lis Riba at 7:30 AM

Gosh, has it really been nearly three years since I first posted a link to the funny cats video?

Well, somebody has finally created what they dub Funny Cats 2, and it's a worthy sequel.

BTW, YouTube has a longer version of the first segment (with the karate kitten) that's worth watching on its own.

For further concentrated cattiness in visual format, remember Cute Overload has category views, so here are their kittens. Or, jump straight to the winningest kittens on KittenWar.com.

For more cat humor, check out that old staple The Bad Kitty List (but only somewhere you won't get in trouble for laughing aloud).

Posted by Lis Riba at 12:56 PM

Somebody's actually done it!

I want!

[Via Becky]

PS: this time last year, third bullet.

Posted by Lis Riba at 12:20 PM

I don't know what happened, but last night I got home from work so tired, I just fell over and went to sleep. This meant that I skipped Purim services and didn't get to wear the lovely costume Ian made for me, so he wore it instead (since we weren't able to come up with anything equally inspired).

It was just a t-shirt covered in chemical formulae (worn over one's clothes), with a crown... Queen Ester.

Next year, I'm tempted to dress as the Madonna, fulfilling the mitzvah to "be merry, it's Adar!"

Or maybe, I could find a third person to accompany us and go as "Poly-Esther" (Ian thinks this would be better received -- or at least, better recognized -- at Tremont St Shul).

Like I wrote last year, I think the Purim story sounds like the perfect material for an Elizabethan revenge play. Do any such exist?

In looking that up, I had forgotten that in last year's post, I did casting suggestions for Rowan Atkinson's BlackAdar

This morning during the commute, Ian and I tried to cast a Muppet Purim shpiel. Let's see if I remember it...

• Link Hogthrob as King Ahasuerus
• Miss Piggy as Queen Vashti (though she keeps trying to upstage Esther)
• Rowlf as Mordechai
• Janice as Esther
• Pepe the Prawn as Haman
• Bigthan and Teresh: Fozzie Bear and Animal

  "I don't understand how our plot was uncovered!"
  "Kill King! Kill King!"

Um, anybody else I'm forgetting, Ian? We haven't yet found a role for Gonzo (maybe he and Fozzie are the assassins, and Animal is akin to the third murderer in Macbeth). Kermit would narrate the story.

PS: Ian has posted photos of his costume if anyone cares to look. (added 7:50 am Wednesday)

Posted by Lis Riba at 10:30 PM

all weekend, and he shares his recipe in the foodporn community.

An excerpt, just to whet your appetite:

Throw about five tablespoons of sugar, half a cup of honey, two lemons' worth of fresh-squeezed lemon juice, and a coup of bourbon into a smalish pot. Start up the heat on it, and start it cooking, noticing the part of the recipe that says, "Be careful not to let the mixture boil."

Get distracted by something else in the kitchen. Turn around when you hear the familiar "FizzzWHUMPH" sound as the pot boils over, pours down the sides, and the whiskey ignites against the flame of the stove. Turn off the stove, and wait for the flames to subside. Remember that this happened LAST year when you made the recipe, too, and it all turned out fine, so don't stress about it -- they're just alcohol flames, which are relatively cool, and they on the stove, which is DESIGNED to handle fire pretty well.

I love my husband.

Funny and an excellent cook... among the many reasons I married him.

PS: as long as I'm passing along other people's posts, Natalie Bennett is looking for:

Any recommendations for sources on the (to use anachronistic terms) production, marketing, administrative, management practices of printers in London at the end of the 16th century? (No, I'm not asking much ...)

I'm trying, perhaps hopelessly, to create a chronology for four pamphlets published in 1594 - none of which unfortunately were entered in the register of the Company of Stationers ... (in case you were wondering.)

I thought some of my readers might be able to help her; there's more in her post.

Posted by Lis Riba at 3:45 PM

This weekend, I've wasted a lot of time looking at fanvids.

And Firefly Friends just knocked my socks off.

The creator, Nicky, has come up with an alternate opening credits for the series -- using the music "I'll be there for you" by the Rembrandts.

Very clever and fun. It works so well; the right clips, and perfectly synched to the music. [The gunshots at the 11 second mark are a particularly effective touch.]

Download: Firefly Friends (2 MB zip of a WMV file).

More videos at her website, Obsessive24.net.

I wish I had those skills/tools/time...

Posted by Lis Riba at 12:24 PM

One of the reasons for last week's paean to Outer Limits was my recent realization that I've been following the story of Colleen Doran's A Distant Soil for probably fifteen years now. I just bought the fourth graphic novel, and once again felt a need to plug the series, since it's not as well-known or well-read as my other favorite books, possibly because it's told in the comic book format, rather than straight prose.

Thankfully, the publisher is making my job a bit easier. You can read the first 32 pages of the story free, online.

[Although I just noticed they flipped a couple pages. I let Colleen know in her blog, so hopefully they can get it fixed. For now, read 1-13 in order, then 15, 16, back to 14 and continue on from 17.]

Once you've finished that, continue on through the books:

Vol 1: The Gathering

Vol 2: The Ascendant

Vol 3: The Aria

Vol 4: Coda

Like I said, I've been following this story avidly for about fifteen years (through three incarnations), which is probably the strongest endorsement I can offer.

Posted by Lis Riba at 11:31 AM

A couple personality tests have been making the rounds recently, several quite long.

This is the first of three posts with my results, starting with some of the shorter and cutesier quizzes.

You Are 64% Open Minded You are a very open minded person, but you're also well grounded. Tolerant and flexible, you appreciate most lifestyles and viewpoints. But you also know where you stand firm, and you can draw that line. You're open to considering every possibility - but in the end, you stand true to yourself. How Open Minded Are You?

Which Color Are You?... You are BROWN, the color of stability. Practical and rational, you rely more on your head than your heart. Browns have probing minds and are very thorough in unraveling dilemmas. Always finding new ways to better yourself and mind, you are not one to get easily bored. Browns are able to remain objective and neutral by keeping an open mind. Via Avedon Carol

You Are Somewhat Machiavellian You're not going to mow over everyone to get ahead... But you're also powerful enough to make things happen for yourself. You understand how the world works, even when it's an ugly place. You just don't get ugly yourself - unless you have to! How Machiavellian Are You?

And here are the summary graphics for my other two results, for those who don't feel like scrolling down through the verbiage:

Personal DNA Respectful Thinker

Enneagram

PS: One word of advice if you take these tests or other online quizzes. Edit the HTML before just copying them over to your blog or journal.

OKCupid in particular is notorious for hiding zillions of invisible images in their code which link back to their website and alt-text that bears no relation to that particular quiz: a googlebombing to associate their site with the phrase "free online dating." The Enneagram quiz I took had four such links:

<A href="http://www.okcupid.com/"><IMG src="http://is2.okcupid.com/graphics/0.gif" border="0" alt="free online dating"/></A>

And every time you just reuse their test results, you're perpetuating the connection and skewing searches for the phrase.

It may be a small price to pay for the entertainment value, but if you're not using OKCupid for dating services, is it really right to make that link and raise their rank in this manner?

Posted by Lis Riba at 11:30 AM

This is the second of three posts with personality test results, focusing solely on Personal DNA.

You are a Respectful Thinker

About You You are a Thinker Your cautiousness, appreciation of functionality, and imagination combine to make you a THINKER. You have a vivid capacity for imagery that allows you to see beyond your present circumstances. You like to be sure of yourself before voicing your opinion. A lot of your time is spent at home, or with the people you care about. Although you may dream often, you're very aware of how things work, and you value things that work well. You take comfort in the familiar, and value predictability—and others value those things in you. Accordingly, you prefer a set routine, and although you often imagine how things can be different, you're hesitant to take risks to change things. Sometimes you doubt whether you have the ability to face certain challenges, but your practical focus helps you solve most problems. Because of this, you tend to be more reactive than proactive, thinking thoroughly about the challenges that you face. You have a broad-based, theoretical understanding of the world that allows you to understand its workings. You are balanced in your approach to problem-solving, not letting your emotions hold you up. You do your own thing when it comes to clothing, guided more by practical concerns than by other people's notions of style. Generally, you believe that you control your life, and that external forces only play a limited role in determining what happens to you. If you want to be different: Try indulging your imagination a bit more by experiencing new and different things. Have a little more faith in your capacity to do things—turn your thoughts into actions!

How You Relate to Others You are Respectful Your reserved nature, understanding of the world, and faith in others make you RESPECTFUL. You trust those around you to do the right thing, so you tend not to get involved in other people's affairs. You have fewer friendships than some, but the relationships you do have are very meaningful and important to you. Your careful and practical observation of your environment has led you to understand that others' situations can be very complex. Because of this, you are slow to pass judgments on others, even if sometimes you can't see what it is about certain things that upsets them. You tend to enjoy the world through ideas and reflection, which allows you to get a lot out of the time you spend alone. Your friends would describe you as laid-back and easy-going. As someone who is calm and centered, you aren't likely to rush into things—this patience allows you to see many different perspectives and options. If you want to be different: Try letting your insight into the world and trust of others allow you to understand the feelings of those around you. While you know how much can be learned from observing your world, remember that much of life can be lived by experiencing it, not just understanding it. Compared to Other Tests On a Myers-Briggs® test, you might be classified as INFJ FWIW, I haven't taken a serious Myers-Briggs test in about a decade, but when I did, they regularly came up as INFX (the last variable too close to 50% to count).

You can read the rest of my report here.

Intrigued? Take the test for yourself.

Alternately, if you think you know me better than I know myself (which is entirely possible), they've got a Psych You / Psych Me! feature.
I'd love to read your opinions! [The link is http://personaldna.com/psychyou-psychme.php?for=8d9f764f6921]

Posted by Lis Riba at 11:29 AM

This is the third of three posts with personality test results, focusing solely on Enneagrams.

I also tried taking The Quick and Painless ENNEAGRAM Test, which described me as:

Of course, the reason why this test is so simple is that it only has two questions with long, involved, broad choices. It's like those four-question Myers Briggs quizzes which just outright ask if you're an introvert or extrovert.

So, I went looking for a better Enneagram quiz and stumbled onto the Enneagram Institute homepage.

First of all, I discovered the above two-variable OK Cupid quiz is actually a simplification of the Institute's own Quick Sorting Test. Same two questions with the same three choices apiece, but there you have to choose which is most and least like you. A little better, but not by much.

They also offer a more detailed 36-question test, which I also took.

And...

Based entirely on highest score, you appear to have Type 5 personality characteristics.

THE INVESTIGATOR Enneagram Type Five The Intense, Cerebral Type: Perceptive, Innovative, Secretive, and Isolated Basic Fear: Being useless, helpless, or incapable Basic Desire: To be capable and competent Enneagram Five with a Four-Wing: "The Iconoclast" Enneagram Five with a Six-Wing: "The Problem Solver" Key Motivations: Want to possess knowledge, to understand the environment, to have everything figured out as a way of defending the self from threats from the environment.

Here's the Institute's description of Type Five, and their more detailed overview.

By the way, if anybody else knows their own Enneagram type, the Institute also offers compatibility charts.

Personality tests, in conclusion:

So there you have it. Several tests, several results. What do you think?