During the original run of Star Trek: The Next Generation, my college roommate and I invited our friends over to our duplex for Star Trek parties. Our local TV station ran the show at midnight Sunday, which was a terrible time, but we sometimes had 30 people over. Though we kept in touch virtually, I…
Yesterday, I asked my students, “How many of you spent $4 on a cup of coffee in the last month? How many have spent that much to support local news?” “If people don’t get local news, they don’t know what’s going on in their community. If they don’t know what’s going on in their community,…
Similar:Learning the hard way, by making mistakes and starting over. The fore section of the fanta… AestheticsDani Girl (Oct 1-3, 2015) at the Geyer Performing Arts CenterVinnie Tresco, Carolyn Jerz, Matthew Hom…CultureOne of my undergrad lit papers. Dot-matrix printed, with hand-written instructor annotatio…AcademiaOpening night. Support local artists in your community!PersonalServing at Christmas on the Hill…
Similar:Spring 2024 Grades: SubmittedSpring 2024 Grades: SubmittedPersonalForgotten closet box: powder blue summer suit with a crisp 1990 $10 bill in the pocket and…The chunky laptop seems to boot and the …DesignChess tournament in Monroeville. Two losses, two wins.The boy’s personal best in terms of win-…CultureI've got a lot to learn, but my #blender3D #neovictorian #steampunk…
Similar:Classroom Vignette: MLA StyleStudent (shouldering backpack and headin…AcademiaWhat about Socialization?Sometimes, I worry that by homeschooling…Current_EventsYeah natural born creative genius is a cool myth, but have you tried grinding through hour…PersonalSparkle unicorn "Winston" lends ethos to a presentation on moral agency on anima…PersonalWork / Life Balance: UnlockedI think I must be doing something right …AcademiaMy big…
This looks like a deliberate attempt to plant a “fake news” story, presumably in order to discredit the Washington Post for falling for it. Verify, verify, verify. The Post did its homework, and did not fall into the trap. Sadly, this story will be used to discredit people who come forward with legitimate sexual assault…
I spend a lot of time re-educating my students, assuring them that my job as a college professor is not to give them a checklist, and then award points for each item they ticked off correctly; nor is my job to teach to a test. Shortly after I started teaching in my current job, a…
Similar:Green / mahogany variation of the vibe I'm working on for a fantasy #steampunk #blend…PersonalPICT's production of Jane Eyre has its first preview tonight.PersonalJust a #neovictorian avatar in spats and a tailcoat, checking out the back porch and bridg… AestheticsThe Best of Both Worlds, Part 2 ( #StarTrek #TNG Rewatch, Season Four, Episode 1)…
I’m frustrated by these accursed conference proposal maximum word counts. (10) Curse you, conference proposal word limits. (6) Damn proposal word counts!! (4) Cut wherever possible. (3) Trim wordiness. (2) Simplify. (1) Actually, that helped. Back at it. Similar:The Coronavirus Is Rewriting Our ImaginationsPossibly, in a few months, we’ll return …CultureThe Piano Lesson ( #AugustWilson…
Did you share fake news from Russia during the US Presidential election? Grudgingly following up on a Congressional order, Facebook will permit you to jump through hoops to find out. Because Facebook apparently does not have the technology to insert items of its choosing directly in user feeds, the social media company has helpfully provided…
A few minutes ago I heard about HQ for the first time, through a friend’s Facebook post. An item or two down in my feed I saw a different FB friend had linked to this story. The Daily Beast describes a tense encounter with a CEO who calls a reporter, threatens to fire his own…
Editor and columnist Jonah Goldberg questions his fellow conservatives who call for the resignation of Al Franken (a Democrat; junior senator from Minnesota), equating the allegations against him with the allegations against Hollywood producer Harvey Weinstein, all the while downplaying the serious allegations against Roy Moore (a Republication; Chief Justice of the Supreme Court of…
I have nothing against essays, but not every writing task requires an essay. I tell my students they will be more successful if they produce a narrative personal essay because it’s the right genre for the occasion, not because it’s the only genre they feel comfortable writing. This handout is my latest attempt to help…
Similar:Enjoying an ice cream cake, apple pie, and the classic Star Trek episode “The Doomsday Mac…PersonalAfter a successful piano recital.CultureFeeling classy while I lose. Feeling classy while I lose. PersonalToasting Shakespeare at the Bard's Birthday BashOrganized by Pittsburgh Shakespeare in t…CultureThe girl will be performing as the Dew Drop Fairy in the Dec 8…
The other day I found myself very annoyed at how much headspace was occupied by a free game I had downloaded on my phone. So I deleted it. I still go into fight-or-flight mode when I’m drafting a text and a phone call comes in. I like to page through the my notebooks full of…
Similar:MoonBot is back. This time he fights a new adversary. #Blender3D physics practice.I submitted midterm grades at about 11 l…AestheticsA serious summer activity.Once classes start again, we will all ha…CultureTaking a break from my syllabustering in order to design some stairs. I’ve learned so much…Taking a break from my syllabustering in…PersonalI just thought of a…
Similar:My schedule every Friday this term. (Payback for teaching a course over Christmas break.) PersonalIt's a thing to do.PersonalStage Right's 'Seussical' offers songs, messagesThe Tribune-Review does a great job cove…Current_EventsGoodbye, Google Search. I've switched to search.brave.com …for now. I can’t stand Pinterest. I hate when G…Business“If music be the food of love, play on!” I may…
Similar:7 web design trends you’ll actually see this year and how to survive themContent is often finalised many months a…Cyberculture‘Tentacles squelching wetly’: the human subtitle writers under threat from AIArtificial intelligence is making steady…ArtThe Ongoing Obsession with Shakespeare’s True IdentityI’ve never been all too keen on Shakespe…AcademiaAfter Halloween where do all the pumpkins go? Now…
During the Christmas break of 1996, when I was working on my Ph.D. at the University of Toronto, I asked my boss at the Engineering Writing Center if I could log about 10 hours converting a bunch of paper handouts into hyperlinked web documents. I actually put in about 20 hours, and slapped into shape…
Similar:Those emails can wait.PersonalThe Defector (ST:TNG Rewatch; Season Three, Episode 10) Cold War Brinksmanship, via Shakes…(Rewatching ST:TNG after a 20-year break…CultureThe chief engineer does not know where the floating lamps are coming from, but he looks gr…AestheticsIn between 3 walks and a chess game with my son, today I managed to churn out a…