Unearthing a Long Ignored African Writing System, One Researcher Finds African History, by Africans
Not only is this a fantastic story about language and culture and colonialism, it’s also a great example of how a talented PR writer used journalistic storytelling strategies to turn a scholarly study into an appealing narrative. We start with a very specific, very personal story about a man returning home for his father’s funeral.…
Fun with Geometry — Biological and Theoretical
For some reason today I was thinking of the 3D shape scientists recently discovered in our cells — I had to look it up just now to refresh my memory. Not being an expert in geometry, I would describe the “scutoid” as an irregular prism-like shape with a hexagon on one end and a pentagon…
By the way, humans sent a robot to another planet, and the robot sent us the sound of a dust devil. On. Another. Planet.
Mars rover captures first sound of dust devil on red planet.
I am very happy for these folks, who spent 20 or so years tweaking an insanely complex, completely free game, and are now selling a deluxe version that fans like me can’t wait to buy.
I regularly teach A Raisin in the Sun but haven’t seen a live production in decades. Looking forward to it!
They’ve got magic to do. Carolyn is the Leading Player. (Pippin, Oct 21-29)
Nested (procedurally generated game of expanding drop-down lists)
A text game that you play by opening folders.
I just learned I only have months to live. This is what I want to say. – The Boston Globe
What a storyteller. Boston Globe journalist Jack Thomas, who wrote about his impending death a few months ago, made me laugh out loud several times in this touching essay. Very powerful. He was 83. I’ve had the privilege of having spent more than 60 years working for newspapers. There was not a day when it…
The Enduring Allure of Choose Your Own Adventure Books
I didn’t realize how involved the children of divorced dads Packard and Montgomery were in the creation of the “Choose Your Own Adventure” gamebooks. (The children of divorced dad Will Crowther were one motivation for, and were early playtesters for, Crowther’s original Colossal Cave Adventure; the history of parser text adventure games and branching path…
Checking out of @frontporchtheatricals Grand Hotel. What an experience!
My brother had already planned to visit from Virginia to see Carolyn in the closing of Grand Hotel. We were already driving to the theater when we got word that Aunt Rona is visiting yet another cast member, and the final show is cancelled. So we stopped by Julie’s Bubble Tea and Smoothies for a…
Do you remember Harry Monster counting with adorable little John-John? Watch this 2 min clip until the end…. it’s worth it!
This @sesamestreet moment will bring you joy pic.twitter.com/bsAZd7hdI5 — Vala Afshar (@ValaAfshar) August 21, 2022
Youngster in a tight spot has an inspiration
https://twitter.com/TheFigen/status/1550489097273237504?s=20&t=ODSCVfhbXBSNgP1r6WdpNw
The world’s population is lopsided.
A pleasant Independence Day photo shoot with the daughter.
I did not know how much I would appreciate this detailed exploration of Star Trek: TOS prop computers.
I’m amazed at the level of detail that went into analyzing the prop computers created over 50 years ago for the original Star Trek. Not only has this website collected screen shots of the various props, but some include diagrams indicating which practical buttons on the props activated which lights. (The same website has sections…
Trainer and Sea Lion Tango: “He Had It Coming” (Cell Block Tango, from Chicago)
The daughter looks stunning in pink.
Nellie Bly statue to be unveiled at Pittsburgh airport Thursday
In 1889, Bly became famous for an-around-the-world journey she completed in a world-record 72 days, 11 minutes, and 14 seconds after her departure on a steamship from New York. The journey was inspired by Jules Verne’s widely read novel “Around the World in 80 Days.” Bly chronicled her travels in a series of articles for…
