Dennis G. Jerz | Associate Professor of English -- New Media Journalism, Seton Hill University | jerz.setonhill.edu Logo

During a modest snowfall, I’m passing the time in a public place where someone else has turned on the local TV news. #StormSurge #FearCast #manipulation

Stay tuned for more live footage of StormSurge FearCast Weather Crusaders, standing in the cold, snow blowing in their faces! Media personalities, warning everyone to stay inside, except of course for the media personalities paying back student loans by churning out anxiety-producing live reports like this one! Our own Slick Goodhair, telling you just how…

Me loving my birthday truck, c. 1971.

  I adored this truck, and spelling words with the letters. When I got older, it was the shuttlecraft for my Star Trek figures. Similar:Popcorn MakerI’ll have to look into this. Popc…AestheticsIn-person classes heighten age-related hearing problems (opinion)My family tells me I’m starting to speak…AcademiaI have two scenes in a horror film. My head appears…

Tapdance / jazz music outing with the girl.

Tapdance / jazz music outing with the girl. Here’s a sample of what a Sarah Riech show is like. (Each one is different — lots of improv.) https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=oEiQQmMi2nQ Similar:Affect (v. "to change") vs. Effect (n. "the result")I ran into this problem several times in…AcademiaAdobe steals your colorWhat a horrible situation. The Adobe mon…AestheticsThe girl around…

Physics simulation demo: crate made up of mostly loose boards. #Blender3d #design #practice

Physics simulation demo: crate made up of mostly loose boards. #Blender3d #design #practice Similar:In May, 2000, I was blogging about the 'I Love You' virus, hacking URLs, PG Wodehouse, and…In May, 2000, I was blogging about …AcademiaThe Onion's Supreme Court Briefing on Satire Is StunningFrom October: A man who was arrested ov…AmusingPost Gazette Corrects Headline…

A brief respite from grading.

A brief respite from grading. Similar:Datalore (TNG Rewatch, Season 1, Episode 12) Data's bro wants to be with a big crystal tr…In “Datalore,” an encounter with Data’s …CultureThey both reached for the gun.PersonalDear organization from my past that just sent me a scolding email…Dear organization from my past that just…CultureTrying something a bit different for…

As Twinkle Twinkle is to Suzuki musicians, so is a wooden shipping crate to CGI modelers. #Blender3D #design #practice

I have certainly made more complex scenes, but this time, I modeled each board, getting the grain of the wood at least plausibly right on each face, and placing each nail realistically. Following the workflow for creating game assets, I converted the completely realistic 3D simulation with 3D boards and nails into flat images. The…

As Twinkle Twinkle is to Suzuki musicians, so is a wooden shipping crate to CGI modelers. #Blender3D #design #practice

I have certainly made more complex scenes, but this time, I modeled each board, getting the grain of the wood at least plausibly right on each face, and placing each nail realistically. Following the workflow for creating game assets, I converted the completely realistic 3D simulation with 3D boards and nails into flat images. The…

Snowfall at the White House (Official White House Photo by Tia Dufour, Jan 7) Tweeted by WH on Jan 12

My social media feed was full of people mocking the White House yesterday for publishing a photo titled “First snow of the year!” on a day when Washington had clear skies and freakishly warm weather. What was the Trump administration trying to pull? Why would they publish such a blatant lie? It wasn’t a lie.…

Facebook paid Teen Vogue to run a fake article praising Facebook for “helping ensure the integrity of the 2020 election”

After FB crowed about this super-upbeat story, a notice appeared saying it was a paid editorial, and then the story disappeared. This looks very bad for Teen Vogue, and very bad for democracy. Read story on Boingboing. Similar:Karate, Wonton, Chow Fun: The end of 'chop suey' fonts Close your eyes and imagine the font y…AestheticsDownsides…

Feeling classy while I lose.

Feeling classy while I lose. Similar:My Kids Are Shatner Than MostI passed along to my geeklings an apprec…DramaI’m still teaching journalism and my usual courses, but after 21 years I’ve stepped aside …I’m still teaching journalism and my usu…AcademiaOuttakes from “Once on This Island” promohttps://youtu.be/QlMJuogD9to  AmusingA colleague bakes Irish soda bread to share on the…

Freedom of the press is not just important to democracy, it is democracy.

Freedom of the press is not just important to democracy, it is democracy. Some basic concepts: What is Newsworthy? Recent events that are unusual, nearby, have widespread/significant impact, or involve celebrities are more newsworthy than events that are stale, distant, have limited/trivial impact, or happen to average people. (9 min audio.) Objectivity: Traditional journalism reports fairly…

Picking up books for another term

Similar:Harvard revokes admission of several students for posting "offensive" memesThe First Amendment of the constitution …AcademiaRemember Who The Enemy IsGood article on Catching Fire. (I haven’…BooksHow reading fiction can help improve our mental healthIn general, I avoid clicking on any head…BooksFamily ( #StarTrek #TNG Rewatch, Season Four, Episode 2) Picard Retreats to Family Vineyar…Rewatching ST:TNG…

Volunteering at our local food bank

Similar:Former Facebook Workers: We Routinely Suppressed [a Certain Political Slant] NewsOne day when I was an undergraduate work…BusinessSource: Wenner Declined Resignation from Rolling Stone Deputy EditorAccording to a source inside Rolling Sto…Current_EventsPesky journalists, always showing up to document atrocities.No Democratic president should send in t…CultureConnecting with the BoyToday my son asked me to take him…

Emily Dickinson Fun Page #literature #amusing #dashes

Emily Dickinson Fun Page #literature #amusing #dashes Similar:In Which I Bow Before the Mistress of Teen SnarkThe Girl: I’m sorry I’m being so… Me:…CultureOn teaching coding to English studies studentsBecause this is a practical, hands-on, i…AcademiaPart of Wright brothers' 1st airplane on NASA's Mars chopper “Wilbur and Orville Wright would be pl…AwesomeI feel juvenile enough…

Hitting the weekend with just 6 ungraded papers. #partylikeaprof

Hitting the weekend with just 6 ungraded papers. #partylikeaprof Similar:The Outrageous Okona (TNG Rewatch, Season 2, Episode 4)Rewatching Star Trek: The Next Generatio…PersonalWe are all of us works in progress. Sometimes progress looks messy.PersonalJust in case you can’t find the tweet that Trump, who got trolled for making a rookie erro…This is how the President…

#Blender3D rendition of the bridge of the æthership that featured in the musical #steampunk bedtime role-playing campaign I ran for my kids 2007-2012.

Similar:Tapdance / jazz music outing with the girl. Tapdance / jazz music outing with …AcademiaIt's a thing to do.PersonalMany familiar faces in this cast but this one is my favorite. Sold out opening of Grand Ho…PersonalAt Computers and Writing #cwcon for the weekend.Am I wise now? At an event for encouragi…AcademiaNot a #carguy but I…

Siblings gotta sib.

Similar:To my daughter for 2020: “You shall prevail.”PersonalFacebook paid Teen Vogue to run a fake article praising Facebook for "helping ensure the i… After FB crowed about this sup…BusinessNerd-buddies”He likes Lord of the Rings, Star Wars *…BooksBrass desk lamp, with translucent green shade and glowing light bulb filament. #blender3dPersonalQuick visit to see my mother and…

Parent: “Why don’t you use one of your stress balls?” The girl: “They don’t like me.”

Similar:Volunteering at our local food bankEthicsThe boy is visiting the Prohibition exhibit @HistoryCenter while I continue at NeMLA.PersonalComputers and Writing 2020 Funding Request: SubmittedMy contributions this year are a worksho…AcademiaStar Trek: "Wink Of An Eye"/"The Empath"Amusing, if cynical, reaction to some of…AmusingWinners Chosen in Annual Shakespeare Monologue and Scene ContestMichael Henninger took this wonderful ph…BooksIn…

Facebook exec erroneously cites The Lord of the Rings when comparing the social network to the One Ring

A Facebook executive, Andrew “Boz” Bosworth, recently defended Facebook’s policies about political advertising, which critics say rewards politicians who spend a lot of money pushing lies to the slogan-chanting, meme-sharing masses (including the ones in red hats and the ones with the blue hats). Bosworth seems to suggest that for Facebook to tamper with its…

To my daughter for 2020: “You shall prevail.”

Similar:The Cabaret Theatre (Latrobe) presents Shakespeare's popular Midsummer Supernatural pranksters! mismatched …CultureUpdating a villain's lair in #Blender3D. Still a work in progress.AestheticsA snifter of brandy helps a supporting character deliver exposition & set up for a nic…PersonalI am slightly ahead of the boy. Rare.PersonalThoroughly enjoying Company.PersonalSomeone I know very well is in the trailer for…