Snippet for the lung cancer 'r' us brigade.

Scene for Specialistic Journalistic Purposes happily achieved, and am very satisfied with it as an example of its genre (though there was a frantic moment where I was messaging katemonkey when I realised I'd lost track of what a limb was doing). Now about 590 words behind, so have to tackle the Indy and Jack adventure.

In other news, I want someone to write more Jenny Sparks-Jack Harkness fic. Possibly even porn, even though I don't as a rule read (and I certainly can't write) het porn. But, y'know, messing around in bed or aftermath would be fun to read.

Well, there's that and the scene that the world really, really needs. Jenny Sparks, John Constantine and Pete Wisdom in a pub in the mid-late nineties. This concept alone would be fabulous enough, but there's a particular scene I have in mind.
( Pub in Soho, circa 1997 )

Rec of the week : Go to Listen Again on the BBC, and have a gander at this week's I'm Sorry I Haven't a Clue. The new meanings for old words bit is on fine form. As is Sound Charades and the sublime scoring of tunes to Swannee Whistle and Kazoo. Also an utterly filthy comment from Humph about Lionel Blair. But the highlight? Rob Dryden, in the second part of his first outing on the Antidote to Panel Games, singing to Tom Jones' rendition of Danny Boy (they stop the music a few bars in and then re-start near the end and you get points for being within a gnats' crotchet of the correct timing, for those who aren't quite familiar with this game). Never mind getting within the gnat's crotchet bit. The man gets spontaneous applause just for his singing before the record is anywhere *near* kicking back in. Also? This week's one is recorded in *Croydon*. Like I said, seriously impressive.

Ooook

Which Discworld Character are you like (with pics) created with QuizFarm.com

You scored as The Librarian You’re the Librarian! Once a wizard, now an Orang-utan (due to an unfortunate magical accident), you refuse to be turned back for a few reasons: In this form, it’s easier to reach the shelves and hold more books; having the strength of five men makes people return their books on time; life’s great philosophical questions boil down to “when do I get my next banana?‿ You say “ook‿ but are usually understood well enough. The Librarian 88% Lord Havelock Vetinari 69% Gytha (Nanny) Ogg 69% Commander Samuel Vimes 63% Greebo 63% Rincewind 56% Death 56% Carrot Ironfounderson 50% Cohen The Barbarian 31% Esmerelda (Granny) Weatherwax 31%

Er.

temp boy (who is... let's just say annoying and frustrating and thin skinned and so geek he's actually nerd) has pointed out something today. I asked him on monday if he could do the chase letters. which involve, like request author checks, searching in the inbox for author's name, seeing if there's any notes like 'ask them for a better resolution figure' or 'they'll be out of office, please email this person instead', and then hitting the button that brings up the form email with our instructions of what to do and the link to their article in its current state. Which you can adjust for the instructions, like with request author checks. I just said 'if you've got a minute, can you do the chase letters? (he'd done request author checks previously). Expecting him to look at the page with author checks that have three buttons next to each manuscript, same basic set up - author check, no corrections, chase letter 1 (with chase letter 2 appearing if you've hit chase 1 and author has still not replied), with an instruction of what date you can go up to. and then went back to work. he only told me today that it had taken him half an hour to figure out what he was supposed to be doing. And he still wanted some instructions, because I hadn't actually told him anything further. I said '...but they're exactly the same as request author checks! I told you!' 'Three buttons! Confusing!' (request author check is a separate screen with one button but same basic layout) me: 'but it took me about two seconds to figure it out and that's all I was told!' 'Your brain doesn't work the same as everyone else's!' Me: '...point?'

has me thinking. I was left to figure out a lot of stuff by myself after I was given the basics and then asked a lot of questions on case-by-case basis. Gradually Gemma was put on her own work and I ran post accept. And wrote up instructions for anyone who needed to do stuff when I wasn't there, which most people are able to follow. (aside from me poking people occasionally and asking them if they've read the instructions) My attitude (and experiences - see anyone who's ever worked small-shop retail) has always been sink or swim, of being chucked in and expected to survive with minimum support once I've been taught the basics - which obviously makes for a defensive, prickly steamroller attitude. With little patience for people who don't seem to understand the lessons first off, or can't pick things up as quickly as I did. I have no problems providing tech support (often with added 'and did we read the manual?' poking) and case-by-case niggles, since I've always stated constantly that it takes a very quick period to teach people all the basics of my job, it's the experience that takes up the majority of the learning period. Not for nothing do I adopt the teaching method of 'right, these are the basics, we'll do a couple, now I'm going to sit here and silently judge you and then point out what you missed'. (That's nearly a verbatim quote.)

I'm just wondering if it's my ridiculously high expectations or I'm clearly not cut out to teach people of a different mindset. Because I know my brain takes shortcuts a lot of the time and makes connections very quickly between what might seem unrelated subjects. And I expect people to be able to keep up - most of my workmates do. Occasionally they scream 'help!', which is expected. Is it just me imposing my brain processes on others?