Don’t trust your Facebook feed. All Facebook wants is for you to spend time on Facebook, so that they can sell your attention to the highest bidder. Facebook recently fired 18 employees whose job was to write headlines for and monitor the “Trending Topics” list. When that list fell under scrutiny for an alleged…
Saving this for the next time I teach Shakespeare. All well and good, you say, but my parents are worried about what I’m going to do after I graduate. There, too, Shakespeare can be a model. When he was born, there wasn’t yet a professional theater in London. In other words, his education had prepared him…
Certain it is, that he was a great favorite among all the good wives of the village, who, as usual with the amiable sex, took his part in all family squabbles, and never failed, whenever they talked those matters over in their evening gossipings, to lay all the blame on Dame Van Winkle. The children…
Today, Facebook announced that human curators will no longer write short descriptions that accompany trending topics on the site. Instead, the company will rely on an algorithmic process to “pull excerpts directly from stories.” The company also said it will stop using human curators to sort through the news…. It’s important to note that Facebook originally…
Our future robot overlords never looked so squishy. A team of Harvard University scientists has built an entirely soft robot — one that’s inspired by an octopus. The octobot, described this week in the journal Nature, could pave the way toward more effective soft robots that could be used in search and rescue, exploration and…
Similar:‘Twelfth Night’ is a Shakespearean hoot, and Prime Stage actors Carolyn Jerz, Malcolm MacK…Why is Shakespeare’s comedy Twelfth Nigh…AestheticsTolkien v. Orwell: Who understood modern surveillance best?Interesting set of observations explorin…CultureSeton Hill University's New Media Journalism Program Named One of Pittsburgh Magazine's "1… Journalism — New Media » It’s the i…AcademiaThe girl performed musical commercials for a…
This short film documents an early attempt to use hypertext to help students study poetry. A fascinating early collaboration between computer science and the humanities. Similar:Utility Tactical Waist Pack Pouch Military Camping Hiking Outdoor Hand Waist Bag: Sports &…Really. These things aren’t at all assoc…AestheticsInternet Explorer cheated its way to the top, and I won't…
Similar:Cliffhanger from ST:TNG Best of Both Worlds. I haven't made time to watch TNG in probably …The cliffhanger for Star Trek: The Next …HistoryThe dangers of 'character education' in universitiesAs the authors depressingly note, “the U…AcademiaThe Circle (#StarTrek #DS9 Rewatch, Season 2, Episode 2) Kira relocates to Bariel's monast…Rewatching ST:DS9 Picking up where s2…CultureFake News…
If movies about space have taught us anything, it’s that no one can hear you scream. If you get lost in space, nobody’s going to find you. Unless you’re a spacecraft with a direct link to NASA. Then, there is hope for you yet. STEREO-B, from the Solar and Terrestrial Relations Observatory mission, went missing on…
Today my son asked me to take him shopping for his favorite foods. He’s tired of fast-food take-out. I told him I was busy today running the spotlight for and videotaping yet another one of Carolyn’s performances (this time her voice teacher’s summer revue).
The poor boy has been left at home a lot while the rest of us did so much theater over the summer. He competed in a chess tournament last week. I fell asleep in the next room. He came in second place. (I have no pictures. I’m a bad father.)
While secondary schools pour their resources into helping students get into a good university, and adults rush to teach teens how to behave well socially, no one’s covering what kids need to know for, you know, the actual classes. I have a clear picture of what’s missing from their preparation. Here’s what to tell your…
AFTER A 14-YEAR run, Gawker.com is shutting down next week. Gawker Media’s new owner, US Spanish-language TV network Univision, made the decision to shut down the site after bidding $135 million for the web publisher’s seven-site portfolio in a bankruptcy auction earlier this week. (A bankruptcy judge is set to approve the final sale later…
Helen Keller, rendered blind and deaf after an infection as a toddler, learned the gift of language from her patient and determined teacher, Annie Sullivan. Their story is told in the play The Miracle Worker (and my daughter plays Helen in three more shows this weekend at Latrobe’s Cabaret Theatre). As a young woman Helen Keller…
Similar:Had a rough day. Designing another 10 sq cm of #steampunk control panel doesn't fix everyt…AcademiaIt appears there may be some audience participation in this outdoor production of Richard …PersonalA #neovictorian #steampunk ship-of-the-line needs a dramatic flag and a conveniently locat…AestheticsPeter vs. the PenguinsFor the past hour, Peter (who is not yet…AmusingCarolyn performed as Ariel…
Business Insider calls this article an “anecdote… provided by linguist and cross-culture studies expert Richard Lewis.” The article provides several direct links to other works by Lewis, including an Amazon link for his book and an advertisement for the services he offers to businesses. The article makes many unsourced claims, and assumes that all Americans…
Similar:Look how the box leads your eye down to the car, then the two signs lead your eye up to th…PersonalThe Other 21st Century Skills User Generated Education.AcademiaAbove the Forward Ops conference platform we see the chief engineer's station and a glimps…AestheticsSomething to Ponder — Let Me Fix That Meme For YouArtPreteen Acting Scene Version…
Similar:xkcd: Types of Editorsxkcd: Types of Editors.AmusingIn July, 2002, I was blogging about military close reading, weblogs in journalism, UX evan…In July, 2002, I was blogging about …CybercultureSwiss cheese metaphor for fighting the pandemic: "Multiple Layers Improve Success"The anti-maskers are right when they say…CultureChoosing Carolyn's HeadshotWhich of these headshots do you like bes…AestheticsMore #blender3d #steampunk…
Similar:Reading a Classic American Play to My Daughter BooksI can’t fix this broken world but I guess I did okay using #blender3d to model this wedge-… AestheticsA pallet of cabinet fronts and structural elements to flesh out #neovictorian #steampunk i…PersonalEclipse!PersonalMy Memories of "Joseph…" [an original cast member reflects on Rice/Webber/Waring's amazi…My high school Drama coach…
Similar:A pleasant Independence Day photo shoot with the daughter.AestheticsNot doing well. As usual.PersonalSupport the arts in your community! I’m here for the daughter and the rest of the cast. @j…Support the arts in your community! I’m …CultureStage Right's 'Seussical' offers songs, messagesThe Tribune-Review does a great job cove…Current_EventsDance of "the awkward nerd trying to act…
Trump offers plenty of opportunities for his detractors to criticize him. In the case of BabyGate, it does appear that the media were quick to spread an unflattering story without confirming some key facts. From a reporter seated one row behind the crying baby: “Mom and baby, very much not kicked out, came back to their seat a bit later. The baby was sucking a pacifier, silent.” There’s a little more to the story than the transcript and video suggest.