Riba Rambles:
Musings of a Mental Magpie

Posted by Lis Riba at 9:58 AM

Plus: Trying to Communicate, a Torchwood fanfic.
     [No actual knowledge of Torchwood necessary to enjoy this story.]

Posted by Lis Riba at 9:05 AM

I'm not sure whether to feel proud or ashamed of this:

Sara Newton's Fontastic Quiz Score: 100% (10 out of 10)

Posted by Lis Riba at 7:45 PM

I was feeling well enough today to go into work.

Although I was physically present, I wasn't 100% all there mentally.

Still, some good things were accomplished, and I've now got the weekend for further rest and recuperation.

Posted by Lis Riba at 6:03 PM

I think I'm about to turn the computer off and go back to sleep, but first wanted to ask the collected wisdom a question.

I'm thinking of writing up some kind of internal training on the various features of our various interfaces. Something geared towards new-hires, but better than the one-on-one demos I've been given in that they'd be files which could be re-read as reference.

Mostly annotated screenshots.

But as I've been mapping this out, I've realized that lessons could go in a couple different directions: interface-by-interface, feature-by-feature across interfaces, possible digressions to the behind-the-scenes controls...

What I really want is a modern equivalent of a HyperCard stack with its support for alternate navigation paths.

Anybody else who writes training have any suggestions for tools?

Thanks.

PS for LiveJournal users: Please comment on my regular site, rather than using the LJ feed. At least for the next 24-hours. Thanks.

Posted by Lis Riba at 5:32 PM

Spent most of today sleeping, and when not sleeping I was slurping down soup and echinacea tea.

Hopefully, I've nipped this thing in the bud.

I'm skipping Purim services, though. Somewhat sad that I won't be able to watch Ian's Purim shpil, but I suppose one can't have everything...

PS: For your reading pleasure, check out purimgifts, the multifandom Purim Treat-a-Thon 2008, which has been posting stories all day. At the very least, read this take on Esther, Chapter 2: 21-23

Posted by Lis Riba at 2:55 AM

...the first signs of coming down with a cold?

Yeah.

Had a bit of a sore throat earlier this evening. Thought my mouth was just dry from talking too much.

But I woke up a little while ago with a sensation in my ears like getting on an airplane -- needing to equalize pressure thru the eustacian tube.

Holy sh!t; I have too much to do. I can't afford to get sick right now.

So, I'm currently sitting in the kitchen, guzzling a cup of hot echinacea tea, and hoping to beat this thing into submission -- or, at least, minimize the disruption to my schedule and avoid infecting Ian or my coworkers...

Posted by Lis Riba at 7:55 AM

Via Cory Doctorow, Desmond Warzel's [first published] short story: Wikihistory.

Quick and cute.

On a related note, if you haven't seen the webcomic Subnormality: Doubt creeps in, I recommend that as well.

Posted by Lis Riba at 7:45 AM

Monday night, we got together with my in-laws.

Tomorrow night is Purim services.

Which means if I want any chance of catching Twelfth Night at MIT, that has to be Friday or Saturday night.

Tonight at MathWorks in Natick there's a (free) lecture on "Mobile Usability & Teens: Going Mobile and Agile"

I'm somewhat interested in the subject, but I'm also tired and behind in blogging and wouldn't mind spending the evening at home catching up.

But I've already made some commitments to attend.

My life has gotten very busy lately.

Posted by Lis Riba at 10:35 PM

I don't know when this first aired -- sometime in the 70s, most likely -- but it's stuck with me for decades.

Does this bring back memories for anybody else?

Posted by Lis Riba at 8:01 AM

• Erin go blam
• The Democratic Race:
  • It's a floor wax and a dessert topping
  • The Clinton Rules and The Obama Rules
• LiveJournal:
  • stewardess: Circle the one that doesn't belong: (Porn) (Hardcore) (Bondage) (Faeries)
  • Nostalgia: LiveJournal's Greatest Fuck-Ups.
• Procrastination Flow Chart
• The Lost Features of Google
• A Very Special Google Docs Feature
• Fear, desire and fembots (an interesting clip from the Terminator TV show)
• A Cartoon about Interface Complexity

Posted by Lis Riba at 8:30 AM

The makers of Bass Ale have been heavily promoting Black & Tans.

As Ian points out, the drink is indelibly associated with Guinness, but bartenders and drinkers often substitute other pale ales instead of Bass.

Thus, this advertising campaign.

The reason I'm mentioning it here is the opportunity for free stuff.

The market is full of black and tan spoons and turtles to simplify pouring of the drink.

Bass is calling their device the "Brolly" and they're giving them away -- free.

Just go to the Bass website and register before the end of April, and they'll mail you one.

Bottoms up!

Posted by Lis Riba at 7:25 AM

So, the challenge was to take 15 of my favorite films and list a quote from each.

A surprisingly fun process, thinking about movies I like and trying to pick out quotes. [I could easily have posted twice as many.]

Here's what I came up with:

1.	“That is the kind of woman that makes whole civilizations topple.” Highlight to see answer: Ball Of Fire (1941)
2.	“Wonderful girl! Either I'm gonna kill her or I'm beginning to like her.” Highlight to see answer: Star Wars (1977)
3.	“You got types?” “Only you, darling... lanky brunettes with wicked jaws.” Highlight to see answer: The Thin Man (1934)
4.	“What's a dazzling urbanite like you doing in a rustic setting like this?” Highlight to see answer: Blazing Saddles (1974)
5.	“I came with [name].” “I should have known.” “My husband is with me, too.” “He is? Well, [Name]'s getting broadminded.” Highlight to see answer: Casablanca (1942)
6.	“That shows how much you know. There's a constant stream of men in and out of here. Day and night. I can't get them out of my hair.” Highlight to see answer: Desk Set (1957)
7.	“I do hope you're gonna favor us with something special tonight. Say, Hamlet's soliloquy, or the balcony scene from Romeo and Juliet?” Highlight to see answer: Singin' In The Rain (1952)
8.	“How would you like to have a sexual experience so intense it could conceivably change your political views?” Highlight to see answer: The Sure Thing (1985)
9.	“Oh, how can I put this delicately? It's just that I'm not really in the vagina business.” Highlight to see answer: Peter's Friends (1992)
10.	“This morning, in the car. I gave you the clap.” Highlight to see answer: The Wizard Of Speed And Time (1989)
11.	“Well, [name], at least you haven't forgotten how to show a lady a good time.” Highlight to see answer: Raiders Of The Lost Ark (1981)
12.	“Are you going to walk me home? Or should I just get murdered on my own?” Highlight to see answer: The Tall Guy (1989)
13.	“Love me? Why??? It must be requited.” Highlight to see answer: Much Ado About Nothing (1993)
14.	“This is true love. You think this happens every day?” Highlight to see answer: The Princess Bride (1987)
15.	“Of course she is [his wife]. Look at the way they fit.” Highlight to see answer: 1776 (1972)

Now, it's up to you to identify each movie.
Please, instead of commenting in your normal place (either YACCS or LiveJournal), post your guesses here.

Since I was tagged for this meme, I get to tag five other people and ask them to offer up their own list.

Here's a shout out to: Avedon Carol, Gary Farber, Lisa Fortuner, Jeff Hitchin, and Ford.