Hot Type: Thumbing His Nose at Academe, a Scholar Tries to Auction His Services

In a society devoted to “reality shows” and rampant commodification, it had to happen some time. Late last month an independent scientist auctioned off his services as a co-author on eBay, with the promise of helping the highest bidder write a scientific paper for publication. The offer even had the added allure of a linkage…

It's a Matter of Perspective

The perception and use of an avatar – as the primary means of agency in online environments – might be expected to be shaped by the motivations for participating in the environment. In particular, goal-oriented users may be more likely to treat avatars as tools/pawns to achieve goals, thereby encouraging a preference for 3PP that…

MDs' neckties 'a health hazard'

Neckties worn by doctors can and do carry dangerous pathogens, a clever new study released yesterday reveals. It suggests a bedside visit by a well-dressed physician could dole out disease along with comfort and care. —Helen Branswell —MDs’ neckties ‘a health hazard’ (Toronto Star)

A Book in You

“Most writers are not getting published in magazines or literary journals,” Lee said the other day, clicking through her Internet Explorer favorites in her cluttered cubicle at the I.C.M. office on West Fifty-seventh Street. “For some more unconventional voices, for people that don’t have connections, blogs can be an entryway into the game.” —Daniel Radosh…

Shyness and Academe

Students might be surprised to know how nervous some experienced teachers can be at the prospect of a new class. I have taught at least 40 classes, but I still find teaching stressful, particularly after the summer break or a sabbatical. As the first day approaches, I’ll begin to worry: Will my voice tremble? Will…

Thirty Years With Computers

Since I started using computers, they’ve become almost a million times more powerful. Although big computers can be alienating, their evolution generally leads to a better user experience…. Although the bigger, newer mainframe had an actual CRT screen, it also had obscure commands and horrible usability. Worst of all, it was highly alienating because you…

Why end with 30?

At the bottom of each entry in this site’s blog, I use </30> to designated the end of the it. In my own way, it’s a nod to the tradition of ending newspaper stories (and occasionally broadcast and magazine pieces) with – 30 -. While no one’s sure why 30 was used as an end sign, there…

Mystery House Taken Over

The artists will reverse engineer Mystery House, the first graphical adventure game; reimplement it in a modern, free language for interactive fiction development; and make a kit freely available to the public so that others may modify Mystery House Taken Over as they see fit. The artists will create their own modified versions and commission…

the forest for the Iraqi trees

The Associated Press story from January this year breathlessly reports that: “U.S. soldiers in Iraq are killing themselves at an unusually high rate, despite the work of special teams sent to help troops deal with combat stress.” You have to scan a lot lower in the story to read the following: “[T]he military has documented…

Wanted: Heroes to Rescue City

You can choose to fight evil alone, or you can join a gang of good guys. As humiliating as it might be, you could become a sidekick apprentice to characters with more developed skills. So far, the player community is welcoming; there aren’t many foul-mouthed teens and crabby veterans. Newbie-friendly areas exist, and subscribers so…

Phone Ignites Gas Station Fire

Flames shot up around a 21-year-old college student whose cell phone rang while he was pumping gas. —Phone Ignites Gas Station Fire (http://www.cbsnews.com) I’m glad the guy wasn’t hurt. If we could rig up something similar in classrooms and theatres, I bet people would remember to shut off their ringers. The graphic shows what looks like…

Playing with 'Web Album Generator'

—Playing with ‘Web Album Generator’Jerz’s Literacy Weblog) I’ve got a huge backlog of digital images that I’ve wanted to post online… I’m using Web Album Generator, which automates the navigation and the thumbnail. Now making a collection of images is a lot less fiddly — though I wish it offered some way to add a…

Technology: Your Next Videogame

But the surprise for Xbox was Advent Rising from Majesco, a super-stylish “Star Wars”-meets-“The Matrix” action adventure, which is being written by sci-fi author Orson Scott Card, best known for the “Ender’s Game” series of novels. When writers of his caliber want to work on videogames, it’s more proof that electronic entertainment is no passing…

Dave's Stupid Adventure Game Final

You are a student. That should be enough to depress you in these tough economic Liberal dominated times, but you are troubled by a weightier burden – ITEC802. What you though would be a nice little romp in the woods has turned out to be tougher than finding weapons of mass distruction. You want your…