GooseGrade’s premise is brilliant: use web-based services to allow readers to copyedit online content. Unfortunately, the execution leaves a lot to be desired.

For example, in both Internet Explorer (7.x) and Firefox (3.x), the fields that contain the text to be corrected and the corrected text orient themselves vertically, not horizontally, which makes corrections very difficult as the fields are only a few characters wide. Also, having to enter one’s credentials each time one makes a correction is completely aggravating. Finally, it would be nice to be able to view and edit one’s corrections. (I made a correction to an article only to change my mind as I read further, but there is no way to communicate to the author that the corrected text should be left ‘as is.’)

I am interested to hear what other editors have to say about this tool. I love the idea and hope that the developers will continue their work, however, until GooseGrade makes their tool easier to use, I anticipate that users will be reluctant to use it with any regularity.

Update: GooseGrade gets an A+ for effort. Within hours of my post, I received an email letting me know that the size of the textboxes had been corrected. Although the interface is still a bit buggy, once I figured out to use the back arrow instead of closing the window each time, it became much less cumbersome to use. Also, I’ve been assured that they’re working on storing a cookie so even if one does close out the window, the app will recognize you for subsequent corrections.

A couple of things I think would make this really useful. First, if there was a way to communicate to the author why the edits are being suggested. This could be as easily accomplished by adding a notes field. Second, a way to view all of one’s suggested edits and the ability to change or delete them.

In any case, the text boxes being fixed go a long way to making GooseGrade more useful. I look forward to seeing how it develops.

I found Sxipper too much of a departure from Roboform’s unobtrusive form-filling to be a good fit for me. Especially annoying was the way the entire page dimmed when a Sxipper form-filler pop-up appeared. I also found it to be too difficult and time-consuming to train the majority of the forms that didn’t work with Sxipper (about half of all forms I encountered.) I register for a lot of sites and generally speaking, I only register once per site, so training a site-specific form is an exercise in futility. I find Robo-Form to be more effective for my needs in this area - just fill it out and be done with it.

I think that Sxipper is a beautifully designed product with a couple of neat features - the idea of training a form for the benefit of others who will use the form is nice - and I look forward to seeing the product when it is mature. For now, though, my heavy-duty form-filling requirements are best met by RoboForm.

Categories in BerryStore

Fortunately for me, I came across Fred Potter’s BerryStore application. BerryStore is an application that installs on your Blackberry and lets you browse, download, rate and review applications. Since the app is still in Beta, only free apps are being offered now, but even so, I’ve been turned on to a lot of free apps that I didn’t know about - like PacMan.(Shout out to Benny Chow - thanks man!) I especially appreciate being able to read the reviews and ratings.

Downloading and installing applications from within BerryStore is easy, convenient, and requires very little interaction on your part. Just click the Download button and the app is transferred to your device. If you decide you don’t like an installed app, it can even be uninstalled from within BerryStore!

BerryStore is true one-stop-shopping and the finest example of application shopping that I’ve seen yet.

BerryStore is free and can be downloaded OTA at m.berrystore.com.

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After registering you’ll be offered the chance to start building your hurricane plan. The site suggests that building your plan will take about 20 minutes, but you should allow longer if your important documents are not already organized in a central location. Alternatively, you can opt to add additional information at a later time. The screens are ordered logically, and while comprehensive, the process goes very quickly since most input is done with check boxes as opposed to actually typing.
Having the following information handy will make the process go even faster: emergency contact numbers of friends and family, family neighborhood meeting place and out-of-town meeting place, pet immunization records, prescription information, and healthcare provider information.

The final section of the wizard lets you print out lists of supplies that are still needed, supplies on hand, human and pet health information, and contact information. You are also invited to share your contact, pet and health status with local emergency officials. I opted to just share my contact information.

This is a great site and I’d love to have been able to write a more comprehensive review, but my printouts indicate that I need to stock up, so I’m off to Sam’s Club. Stay safe, all.

@kitastrophe I’ve been meaning to comment on your twinklets word - I like it! Makes us all sound like snack cakes. #

@Whitneyboi Wasn’t that a book for little kids with gay parents? Not that I know of, why? #

@labanjohnson um, yeah. you say that like it’s weird or something. #

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@Whitneyboi He’s definitely not hard on the eyes. But the nose, well… we could always use a dab of Vicks under our noses. #

@critch Tea?! After being all manly man this morning you’re drinking tea?! #

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