Riba Rambles:
Musings of a Mental Magpie

Posted by Lis Riba at 11:50 PM

For those waiting with bated breath for fiction updates, I wrote 745 new words to "Marked Man" today. That's over 1250 since I last posted the WIP and includes the entire next scene. It still needs a lot of polish, but it's getting there... Total story now 4055 words.

I may post another update soon; I now know how it ends, just have to figure out how long before that happens, and how many intervening scenes are required.

I'm also reading Elizabeth Bear's Blood & Iron this weekend.

Representative quote that should give nothing away:

"We're fucked."

"We're fucked," Seeker confirmed. "Welcome to fairy tales. Have a nice day. Canapé?"

I'm still only midway through (Chapter Thirteen), but that about sums it up.

Posted by Lis Riba at 10:15 AM

Okay, it's no longer Friday, but this is too... too much not to share immediately.

Courtesy of Stuff on my cat, it's:

This originally comes from a 1992 episode of Saturday Night Live.

Via Peg Kerr

Posted by Lis Riba at 8:10 PM

Yesterday's USA Today opens up a disturbing trend in the auto industry:

Cranked car windows are going, going...
More autos have power windows as standard

By Chris Woodyard

Hand-cranked car windows are starting to disappear as automakers move to make power windows standard on even entry-level models.

"You are going to see crank windows go the way of the dinosaurs," predicts Toyota spokesman Bill Kwong.

This year, Honda became the first of the largest automakers to banish the crank window, moving entirely to power windows as standard equipment.

"It's not even so much a luxury touch any more. It's an expectation," says Honda's Sage Marie. "That's why you see it on everything from our least expensive model to the highest."

Even if power windows cost automakers a little more, "Nobody wants to appear cheap," says Strategic Vision consultant Dan Gorrell.

The last two cars we've owned have had power windows. And both suffered from motor failures that rendered the windows inoperable. Windows would open (with the help of gravity, I presume), but won't close.

In each case, the garage has put the cost of repairs (requiring replacement door assemblies) at far more than the problem is worth to us, so we've just kept certain windows closed with tape over the controls so we don't accidentally forget.

I want hand-cranked windows: the pure mechanical crank seems more reliable than expensive automation that invariably breaks down.

The article mentions a couple options for people who prefer crank windows, mostly economy cars and a few off-road vehicles, though apparently even they are becoming few and far between.

The story concludes with a quote from Dan Gorrell: "I can't imagine anyone is going to miss [crank windows]."

Raises hand. I will.

Anybody else?

Posted by Lis Riba at 8:08 PM

I was browsing some of the newest slogans at NancyButtons, when I came across this intriguing quote:

Quite an interesting thought...

So what does it say about me that, though I read as much as ever, I don't buy many books any more.

Oh, I'll buy certain new titles I want to read immediately (such as the Temeraire series) and books written by friends (like Elizabeth Bear's), and books associated with signings or special events (museum exhibit catalogs), and some nonfiction books I think will come in handy later as reference (mostly ones about Marlowe).

But, for the most part, I'm content with borrowing the vast majority of my reading matter from libraries.

When I talk about my habits to bibliophiliac friends, they usually say that they couldn't possibly -- they simply must own the books which they read.

So I'm asking y'all. Am I really such an odd duck?

Posted by Lis Riba at 5:50 PM

The latest mailing from Harvard Book Store plugs an intriguing book:

Rediscovering Homer: inside the origins of the epic by Andrew Dalby

I guess Shakespeare authorship theories are getting stale, though, because reviews describe Dalby's thesis "not only that both epic poems are the work of a single poet but also that the poet was most likely a woman."

Uh-huh.

Aside from that doubtful claim, the book sounds interesting by trying to put the story into historical context.

Posted by Lis Riba at 5:48 PM

Last month, I posted a link to a video of a kitten attacking somebody's laptop.

Well this week, Salon's Video Dog has the sequel: Another cat watching the first video on somebody's monitor, pawing at the kitten attacking the laptop.

How positively meta!

Over on Cute Overload, somebody found a ten minute video clip from Japanese TV, pondering the scientific question: how large a fish will a cat carry away to eat? The answer may surprise you.

Posted by Lis Riba at 5:45 PM

Forgot about this when I wrote up the others:

Ian (sitting Nathan on his knee): "There's a game we play back home called 'Ride a horse to Boston.' Do you know where Boston is?"

Nate: "The moon!"

Ian: "That's right. Boston is on the moon."

Nathan then squirmed away back to his mother, and we rationalized that it was a little too late to be travelling quite so far.

Note: The full children's rhyme, recited while bouncing the child on one knee:

Ride a horse to Boston;
Ride a horse to Lynn.
But watch out, little baby,
That you don't fall in!

Posted by Lis Riba at 6:12 AM

So, the Space Shuttle Discovery took off without any apparent problems (thank Gd).

But as I wrote a couple weeks ago, they launched against the advice of their Chief Engineer and Head Safety Officer, because NASA still hadn't resolved the problems that led to Columbia's destruction.

And I just realized that NASA set up the perfect no-win situation for them:

• If an accident occurs, lives are needlessly lost and that spells the end to the shuttle program.

• If, on the other hand, the shuttle lands safely and successfully, that gives the political appointees further justification in ignoring the objections of the technical experts.

Isn't that unpleasant?

Posted by Lis Riba at 10:10 PM

Of course, no writeup of my trip would be complete without mentioning my nephew and godson.

What a charmer!

Black hair like mine (for those who know what I look like), eyes of blue, and an impressively expressive face.

Ian's already written up the best story, which I'll just quote verbatim:

Nate is 28 months old, so, about two-and-a-third. And he's really smart and adorable.

Among other things, I taught him the "Sneak sneak sneak. . . POUNCE!" game. In which you sneak up on someone, saying "Sneak, sneak, sneak, sneak. . . " and then you POUNCE on someone and give them a hug.

He spent much of the rest of the afternoon going, "Neak, neak, neak, neak. . . POUN!"

Heh.

But this wasn't Nate's only quotable moment.

• My brother (Nate's father): "Go look for your mother. Where's Mommy?"
• Nate: "I find Mama. You guys stay here, 'kay?"

Later, Nate's mother (my sister-in-law) had fallen asleep. After several attempts to keep Nate from bothering her, he insisted that he was tired and wanted to sleep with her. The moment he lay down beside her:

"I wanna glassa water."

And then, on Independence Day, Ian and I were following Nate around so the other grown-ups could talk.

• Nate (to Ian): "Watermelon!"
• Ian: "You're going to have to ask your mother."
• Nate (yelling across the house): Mama! Watermelon!"

Ian then informed Nate that he'd have to go over to her and use sentences. Which he did, though he needed a little more prompting to say "Please."

Isn't he just darling!? Ian says he could see my body produce oxytocin the more I spent time with him.

Anyway, that probably concludes most of what I want to post about this weekend. Had a great time; surprised the people I wanted to surprise; lots more happened, but not for public blogging.

'Kay? Bye!

Posted by Lis Riba at 9:45 PM

McFarland Publishers always prints the most interesting books. Their latest catalog arrived on our doorstep just before we left for Florida, and I wanted to share several of the titles that caught my eye.

First, specifically for Bear:

• I Spy: a history and episode guide, 1965-1968 by Marc Cushman & Linda J. LaRosa; Foreward by Robert Culp

And the others which looked particularly interesting:

When I was poking around the McFarland booth at PLA, and complimenting them on their fascinating selection, the rep said they were open to ideas if I had a topic I wanted to write about. I couldn't think of anything, but I suspect several subject experts I know may want to look them up...

Posted by Lis Riba at 9:15 PM

One more backlogged entry written in Florida and on the airplane:

Among the many treasures in my parents' house, my father has a bound collection of The Wisconsin State Journal (a Madison newspaper) from 1870.

Interesting (albeit fragile) stuff. Repeated topics include: The gradual ratification of the 15th Amendment. Southern states gradually being readmitted to the Union. Lots of gossip about Prince Arthur's visit to America from London.

A few gems from my moderately-random perusal (in each case, I'm quoting the entire news item):

Saturday afternoon, February 5:

A Washington correspondent telegraphed to a Boston paper that although the company at the Prince Arthur ball at Washington "was not the cream of society, there was a general gathering of the good, the great, the gifted, and the gay." Will he please telegraph to an anxious world what qualities enter into the cream of Washington society.

Saturday afternoon, February 5:

Since the assembling of the Ecumenical Council at Rome, seven of its members have died, and four have left the city.

Saturday afternoon, February 5:

It is stated that a pupil of Baron Liebig has discovered certain ethers, which, when poured upon some chemical compounds, produce instantaneously precious stones of all kinds. This is what Mr. Sam Weller would call a "werry agreeable sort of inwention," provided the ethers do not cost much more than the stones are worth.

Monday afternoon, February 7:

A Southern paper remarks that the Mayor of that city "rarely misses an opportunity to make a mistake."

Saturday afternoon, March 26:

It has been a rainy, foggy, drizzly, gloomy, sunless day — sloppy, muddy, disagreeable and chaotic — as if Nature intended to go out of business in disgust and leave the Earth to take care of itself.
Come, gentle Spring! ethereal Mildness! Come!

Monday afternoon, March 28:

Notice: At the request of numerous friends I hereby consent to allow my name to be used in the City Republican Convention as the nominee for City Treasurer. — <Name>

Tuesday afternoon, June 14:

A NUISANCE. — If there is a nuisance in this city that should be abated it is one that is to be found on WALTZINGER'S corner every evening. From ten to twenty loafers meet there and lounge about, using all sorts of language, and blocking up the way so that ladies passing have either to elbow their way through, at the risk of insult, or go into the street. This nuisance should be abated. If the Chief of Police has not the muscle or pluck to wade through such a lot of trash let him hire an assistant. We have referred to this matter before, and propose to keep it up till something is done about it. There is an ordinance on the subject. Let it be enforced.

The paper also contained numerous digs at the suffrage movement:

Thursday afternoon, January 20:

Two women of Trenton, N.J., have been confined in jail for being common scolds. Thereupon the Chicago Post indignantly comments that "Miss ANTHONY, who is an uncommon scold, has never yet been confined."

Saturday afternoon, February 5:

Miss Anthony says that she never heard of so many men in one place being simultaneously affected with sore throat as she found in Washington in selecting Congressmen to speak at the Suffrage Convention.

Wednesday afternoon, February 9:

Some rash fellow says that the giving of the ballot to women would not amount to much, for none of them would admit that they were old enough to vote until they were too old to take any interest in politics.

Friday afternoon, February 18:

Susan B. Anthony celebrated her fiftieth birthday at the Woman's Bureau, New York, on Wednesday evening. The apartments were well filled, mostly with ladies.

I wasn't sure whether that final remark referenced the gender balance or was a snide comment on what kind of women were in attendance.

Finally, the advertisements are positively priceless! Starting with one I almost thought was another news story:

The Ladies' Sorosia Club, of New York, recently changed their discussions from woman's suffrage to hair preparations and pimple banishers. They declared that where nature had not endowed them with beauty, it was their right — yea, their duty — to seek it where they could. So they all voted that Magnolia Balm overcame sallowness, rough skin and ring-marks and gave to the complexion a most distingue (Sorosian) and marble-like appearance (dangerous to men, no doubt); and that Lyon's Kathairon made the hair grow thick, soft and awful pretty, and moreover prevented it from turning gray. If the proprietors of these articles did not send the sisters an invoice, they are not smart.

And more (omitting the obsolete postal addresses):

Batchelor's Hair DyeThis splendid Hair Dye is the best in the world. Harmless, reliable, instantaneous, does not contain lead, nor any vitalic poisons to produce paralysis or death....

---

Sweethearts and Wives
Essays for Young Men on Single and Wedded Life — the dangers of Celibacy, and the joys of true Marriage, — with sanitary aid for those who are in any way unfitted for matrimonial happiness. Sent free, in sealed envelopes...

---

Wanted, all sufferers from seminal weakness to send five dollars for my prescription, with New Plan for preventing nightly losses, by which I have already cured over 900 cases, without a failure...

---

MANHOOD AND THE VIGOR of Youth restored in Four Weeks. Success guaranteed. Dr. Record's Essence of Life restores manly power, from whatever cause arising. The effects of early pernicious habits, self-abuse and climate, give way at once to this wonderful medicine, if taken regularly according to directions (which are very simple and require no restraint from business or pleasure). Failure is impossible. Sold in bottles at $3, or four quantities in one for $9. To be had only of the sole appointed agents in America...

---

MANHOOD!
How Lost! How Restored!
Just published, in a sealed envelope. Price six cents. A lecture on the natural treatment and radical cure of Spermatorrhea, or Seminal Weakness, Involuntary Emissions, Sexual Debility, and Impediments to Marriage generally. Nervousness, Consumption, Epilepsy and Fits. Mental and Physical Incapacity, resulting from self abuse, &c., by Robert J. Culverwell, M.D., author of the "Green Book," &c. "A Boon to Thousands of Sufferers." Sent under seal, in a plain envelope to any address, postpaid, on receipt of six cents, or two postage stamps, to...

And that's what folks were writing about, 135 years ago.

Posted by Lis Riba at 9:09 PM

To get the disappointments out of the way upfront, I didn't spend any time on my Florida vacation writing further in my Harry Potter fanfic A Marked Man. Sorry to keep you hanging.

Instead, I read two quite entertaining books, in a similar genre: first person narrative of an ordinary guy undertaking an extraordinary journey, on the way learning, educating the reader, and relating those discoveries to the mundanities of everyday life.

In The Know-it-all: one man's humble quest to become the smartest person in the world, A.J. Jacobs decides to read the entire Encyclopedia Britannica: cover-to-cover, A to Z. Twenty-six chapters, one for each letter, with alphabetical subheads for notable points, personal and encyclopedic... I considered many of Jacobs exciting discoveries to be common knowledge -- many times he came across somewhat shallow and naive, although he acknowledges that a career writing for Entertainment Weekly and Esquire forced him to focus on pop entertainment trivia, thus this quest. Meanwhile, he and his wife are dealing with infertility as he tries to integrate his newfound knowledge into his everyday life without becoming insufferable (including sidetrips to Mensa, and attempts to get onto a game show). Entertaining.

Tony Perrottet's journey is a more physical one. In Route 66 A.D.: on the trail of ancient Roman tourists, he recounts his and his wife's attempt to visit the typical tourist destinations of "the halcyon days of Pax Romana -- roughly 30 B.C. to A.D. 200", contrasting the words of ancient writers (and in some cases, the ancient guidebooks are more helpful than modern ones) with current conditions.

Fertility again plays a role: one motivating factor in taking this trip was his wife's pregnancy, making this possibly the last chance for the two of them to get away together. Her advancing condition does provide a useful grounding for some of the farther out exploits, as they travel from Rome, across Italy to Greece, the Turkish coast, and down the Nile in Egypt, along the way providing a crash course in ancient lives and recent history. Neat!

Written in midair on the plane, thus demonstrating the veracity of the "I'm blogging this" t-shirt which I'm currently wearing.
6:40 pm, which is after our flight was supposed to land; however storms on the route delayed our departure by over 90 minutes.

Posted by Lis Riba at 9:05 PM

Didn't get to see all the people I would've liked this trip, nor spend as much time with those I did see as I'd've liked. But we're now home again. More later (or earlier).