Jay Wootten's CCCC 2006 Address: ''Riding a One-Eyed House''

Jay Wootten’s CCCC 2006 Address: ”Riding a One-Eyed House” (CCCC 2006 Chicago — Day 2) I won’t try to blog this in detail, since this talk will eventually be published by the CCCCs. A moment of comedy occurred when the other presenters on the dais started slipping out so they could see the screen, and Wootten…

Opening General Session

Opening General Session (CCCC 2006 Chicago — Day 2) Two huge projection screens flank the dais here in the grand ballroom. One screen shows a video close-up of the program chair, Akua Duku Anoyke. The other screen shows a textual transcript of her words. There is a soft chuckle in the room when she mentions a…

'Star Trek' inspired real inventions

Based on Shatner’s book “I’m Working on That,” in which he explored the connections between “Star Trek” technology and real science, “How William Shatner Changed the World” takes the tongue-in-cheek approach the actor often applies to what he considers the over-serious fandom of the TV shows and movies. —‘Star Trek’ inspired real inventions (AP | The…

Newsweek Educational Program

Newsweek Educational Program (CCCC 2006 Chicago — Day 1) A big part of the CCCC convention is the exhibit hall, where publishers offer their latest titles. I peeked in before the exhibit hall opened, and found the chaos very interesting. The exhibitors work for hours to set up booths that I might spend 2 seconds glancing…

900 Newbies

900 Newbies (CCCC 2006 Chicago — Day 1) According to one of the Newcomers’ Orientation Committee volunteers, there are 900 first-time attendees signed up for this conference. A staff member at the registration desk said there are 2800 people already registered, and they expect about 3400 in total. I think it’s a great idea to have…

It's a Simple Game

Victims of poor high schooling, of whom we have plenty at my university, often come to my classes asking, “Is this an ‘opinion paper’ or a ‘research paper’?” I tell them that that is a spectacularly bad question based upon a false dichotomy; that I’m interested neither in mere feckless opinion nor in the random…

CCCC Chicago 2006

CCCC Chicago 2006 (Jerz’s Literacy Weblog) I’m in Chicago this week for the Conference on College Composition and Communication. I had a very hectic weekend doing some emergency blog maintenance, working an article I had promised and a story pitch for which I’ve got high hopes, and working ahead so my students can work on their…

What's wrong with serious games?

They’re meant to educate people by simulating real-world events and are often created with the best of intentions. Problem is, education, science and health care aren’t exactly the stuff of exciting entertainment, let alone video games. —Daniel Terdiman —What’s wrong with serious games? (C|Net News.com) Okay, but I’m uncomfortable with the word “entertanment,” since that carries…

Finally Upgrading to MoveableType 3.2

Finally Upgrading to MoveableType 3.2 (Jerz’s Literacy Weblog) I’ve had a rather hellacious weekend. I upgraded the MovableType installation at blogs.setonhill.edu to version 3.2 on Friday. The actual upgrade went very smoothly, but it took most of the afternoon for me to get the anti-spam protection to work decently. The spam-blocker I had been using, MT-Blacklist,…

abbreviaciouns

Oh newfanglenesse! Y have learned the privitees of the manye abbreviaciouns ywritten on the internette. OMG: “oh mine ++DOMINUS++”. ROFL: “rollinge on the floore laughinge”. IRL: “in reale lyfe.” WTF: “whatte the swyve?” Beinge somethinge of an innovator myselfe, Y presente to yow, churles and gentils alle, the followynge abbreviaciouns. May they serven yow welle…

6th Annual Game Developers Choice Awards

The 6th annual Game Developers Choice Awards will devote a portion of the ceremony to honoring a group of individuals whose efforts stand out in the advancement of the interactive entertainment industry. The ceremony, which is produced and hosted by the Game Developers Conference (GDC) and presented by the International Game Developers Association (IGDA), will…

'Superman' torch is passed

Singer says he plans to use the late Marlon Brando in the new film. Brando, who played Superman’s father, Jor-El, in the 1978 Superman and died in 2004, will return in the same role. Singer says he found stock footage of Brando shot by director Richard Donner in 1978, which will provide Brando’s voice. Special-effects…