Could We Just Lose the Adverb (Already)?

I can’t really get myself that worked up over prescriptive grammar issues, but I do enjoy reading the arguments. The adverb is an incoherent lexical category, a catchall. How are “there,” “yesterday,” “quite,” “assiduously,” and “indeed” all members of the same family? As we learn in school — in a definition that dates from Dionysius…

Narrow Parsers

Creating n00b-friendly interactive fiction by deliberately reducing the number of available verbs? Intersting… Though I rather liked the results when I experimented with diegetic (in-game) hints delivered by an NPC who gets more and more specific to help the player accomplish some orientation tasks. Parser IF is fundamentally driven by player action, by game verbs, in…

Unmarked assignments in my queue: 0

This app, which sports a little red notification bubble showing the number of unmarked assignments on my to-do list, controls much of my life during the school year. This app doesn’t show the number of committee meetings I have to attend, the minutes from committee meetings I have to post, the assigned tasks I have…

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

Clickbait writers hate this English professor’s time-saving trick!

Defeat clickbaiters with this one weird trick! You won’t believe how punctuation can save you time. Will you regret clicking that headline phrased as a question? (You can safely avoid clicking any headline phrased as a question, promises an emotional reaction, or hedges a claim with “may” or “could be”. You won’t miss anything important if you don’t click that bait.)

Waiting for the sound of bagpipes. #setonhillgrad 2016

Similar:You may move your tassels from right to left. #classof2017 PersonalI created about a dozen basic building shapes, with textures to add variety. #goodenough #…I created about a dozen basic building s…AestheticsSupport the humans who make art in your community. Death of a Salesman. #wirerecorderlife …Support the humans who make art in your …PersonalStage Right's "The…

Here's a close look at the scepter leading the procession. #SetonHillGrad 2016 starts in a few minutes.

Similar:Dani Girl (Oct 1-3, 2015) at the Geyer Performing Arts CenterVinnie Tresco, Carolyn Jerz, Matthew Hom…CultureOnce on This Island (Stage Right! Greensburg; May 11 & 12 Promo Video)The girl plays Ti Moune in “Once on This…CultureCarolyn at about 7yo drew Titania in love with Bottom. #tbt #midsummerArtScratch 3.0 beta is available. Try out the text-to-speech…

Lining up for Honors Convocation 2016. #setonhill

Similar:Rehearsing for Little Women Tuesday (Carolyn plays Amy)PersonalI just picked up both Aslan's How and Cair Paravel. #narnia #monopolyPersonalBeing a deaf lipreader during a pandemic means increased social anxietyEven social events are a minefield. The …AcademiaThat's what's been bothering me since yesterday's #AirPod reveal. #manamanaNumber of times one of my $9.99 headphon…BusinessAcademics want to preserve…

The last submissions of this o’er ripe term, Ungraded, mock me though this app. And thus, Procrastination midwifes this blank verse.

Similar:"I might be putting a little too much effort into designing the cravat for the captai…AestheticsPippin! Last show today at 2pm.CultureDress rehearsal for Mamma Mia.PersonalIn June, 2002, I was blogging about… a female autistic scholars lament, Dr. Seuss, Ortho…In June, 2002, I was blogging about …AcademiaBuzzFeed plagiarism, deleted posts: Jonah Peretti explains.In 2012 my former…

Monument Valley: Minimal story, but an engaging world and a satisfying ending.

I was in no rush to finish the beautiful mind-puzzler game Monument Valley. Minimal story, but an engaging world and a satisfying ending. Similar:Get ready for Generation ZStudents continue to change… I’m doing…CultureAmusing Reference to ‘The Yellow Wallpaper’ Imagine a scenario in which circumstan…AestheticsHappy Flag Day! All flags matter, but nobody needs to say that…