Friday, October 16, 2009

Be careful what you say

We all know that email is not a secure medium - how do you think those spammers got your address?
Write Stuff members are all respectful of the written material shared at the meetings, both in terms of not distributing it and commenting on the craft of writing, no matter how personal the subject matter might be.
That's why it's distressing when something goes astray. A mistyped email address, perpetuated and amplified by cut and pasting, and who knows where your work and thoughts might end up.
Well we do know, since someone receiving a full broadcast by mistake recently took the trouble to reply.

So here's my suggestions:
  1. Send email only from your own distribution list. Yes, it is a pain to set up and some new members may get missed at first, but is that really a bad thing, given the nature of some subject matter. At least until everyone is comfortable.
  2. If a piece is particularly controversial, personal, or let's be honest, not ready to face the world at large (and I do mean world), then don't distribute it by email. Bring hard copy and feel comfortable asking for all copies to be handed back after discussion.

They are your words after all, at least until you decide to make them public, by email or any other means.

Thursday, August 13, 2009

Transcription errors

I was doing some research on transcription services today and found these priceless examples of medical transcription errors:

1. Bleeding began in the rectal area and continued all the way to Los
Angeles.
2. Since she can't conceive I've sent her to a futility expert.
3. Surgery will be performed under General Anastasia.
4. I saw your patient today, who's still under our car for physical
therapy.
5. I've asked him to call and let me know who he's feeling this week.
6. There was some concern about financial matters, but patient was told
she could apply for pubic assistance.
7. After her last child she had her tubs tied.
8. Infection resulted after she pimped a few popples.
9. Rectal exam reveals normal size thyroid.
10. His hands only feel better when he operates his cash register.
11. I instructed her to lie on the floor with her legs in the air, but
she said that's how she got pregnant last year.
12. Social history reveals this 1 year old patient does not smoke or
drink and is presently unemployed.
13. Patient called and left word that he had expired last week.
14. Patient came in today complaining of severe vaginal affection.
15. When she fainted her eyes rolled around the room.
16. While she was in the emergency room, she was examined, x-rated, and
sent home.
17. Prior to surgery she was prepped and raped in the usual fashion.
18. He's rather sedentary and drives a bust all day.
19. There's no weakness in her gluteus meatiest.
20. This chubby youngster needs a slim adult to look up to as a roll model

Neil

Tuesday, February 10, 2009

Ch...changes

No I haven't developed a stutter.
As I battle to complete a first novel worthy of the name I noticed two significant but opposite developments in publishing.

The first is magazine print-on-demand.
A friend in NY is artistic director of the one-year-old Constellation on-line magazine. Dissatisfied with the quality and non-tactile nature of web only publication, the editors also moved it to print-on-demand publisher Magcloud, which appears to be a Hewlett Packard based company or spin-off.
I have to say I am impressed by the high-end color print and paper quality. Turn around of my copy, delivered by US mail, was only a few days and yes it is more portable and engaging on paper.


Which brings me to the other development in portability. Amazon's new Kindle 2, a paperback sized, pencil-thin electronic screen, capable of holding 1500 paperback size books, each one available by 3G wireless download in 60 seconds from a catalog of 230,000 choices.
The thing weighs less than 10 ounces and will even read text aloud, which could be a boon in a language or reading learning environment. 1500 books - can you say library anyone?


I'll know that is ready for prime time when:

a) I have one
b) There are as many people pulling one out on the T as reading the free Metro 'newspaper'
c) My book is available as a download.