My Kids Are Shatner Than Most

I passed along to my geeklings an appreciation for hammy sci-fi overacting.   Similar:My 11yo, of the opening chapters of a YA novel with an orphan heroineMy 11yo, of the opening chapters of a YA…BooksFind yourself someone who makes you plomeek soup like Nurse Chapel makes for Spock.PersonalJumpsuit for a female mechanic in my #neovictorian…

Cave Gave Game: Subterranean Space as Videogame Place | Electronic Book Review

Electronic Book Review just published an article I wrote with Dave Thomas, on cave space in video game ecology. Parts of this article are a companion to my 2007 Digital Humanities Quarterly article on the 1970s text computer game Colossal Cave Adventure. Crowther’s translation of real world caving experience into the digital medium provides a…

The Tribune-Review published a nice preview of Dani Girl.

My daughter Carolyn, Matthew Hommel, Vinny Tresco, and my wife are in this show.  (My wife is also the director.) The show runs Oct 1-3 (Thursday, Friday and Saturday at 7:30 at the Geyer Performing Arts Center in Scottsdale, Pa.) Geyer production ‘Dani Girl’ offers inspiration to those touched by cancer. –Tribune Review Similar:Two Trains Running (…

NASA confirms the best-ever evidence for water on Mars

Mars is the only [other] place where we have solid evidence for liquid [water]. —The Washington Post –– Similar:Lessons from the Covington Catholic FlashpointMy social media network includes people …CultureThe White House’s plan to colonize the moon, briefly explained: Putting humans on the moon… Political tensions alone could be a ma…BusinessCockatoos start sipping from Sydney’s drinking…

All the ‘Happy Birthday’ song copyright claims are invalid, federal judge rules

In a stunning reversal of decades of copyright claims, the judge ruled that Warner/Chappell never had the right to charge for the use of the “Happy Birthday To You” song. Warner had been enforcing a copyright since 1988, when it bought Birch Tree Group, the successor to Clayton F. Summy Co., which claimed the original…

Joust @setonhilluniversity discussion of summer book #readyplayerone

Similar:Overflow seating for the 50th anniversary of the canonization of #elizabethannseton @seton…PersonalWho left these on my office door? *fake cough sounds like “Betsy”*PersonalI regularly teach Uncle Tom's Cabin, but have never seen it before. BooksStunned by Viola Davis, Chadwick Boseman and the rest of the cast in Ma Rainey's Black Bot…Stunned by Viola Davis, Chadwick…

Pac-Man on Atari 800 @setonhilluniversity discussion of Summer reading book #readyplayerone

Similar:My student journos are meming it like bosses.PersonalThe barbican at Mickelgate was pulled down in the 1800s but I made a rough approximation f…The barbican at Mickelgate was pulled do…PersonalFirst page of a student’s Texture project. (This made me laugh.) This clever freshman writing student…AcademiaA #neovictorian #steampunk ship-of-the-line needs a dramatic flag and a conveniently…

Allergic to Grammar Errors

Source: Cyanide & Happiness (Explosm.net) Similar:Don't Give Apple Too Much Credit for Bowing to Taylor SwiftApple is skilled at attracting praise. O…BusinessWhy teens are leaving Facebook: It’s ‘meaningless’However, there’s a silver lining for Mar…BusinessThe crying Honduran girl on the cover of Time was not separated from her mother, father sa…The original was a stunning image, which…Current_EventsIn…

Kafka Meets Charlie Brown

This year marks the 100th anniversary of the publication of Franz Kafka’s The Metamorphosis. An opportune time, then, to revisit R. Sikoryak’s “Good ol’ Gregor Brown,” which first appeared in Russ Kick’s The Graphic Canon, from Seven Stories Press. —Literary Hub Similar:Boston Herald Guild Members Boycotting Twitter After Reporter SuspendedMembers of the Herald’s editorial guild …Current_EventsThe daughter experiences her…

Academic robe, Is this the year I finally send you out to be cleaned? Nah, Febreeze is good enough for you. #SHUConvocation @setonhilluniversity

Similar:Midterm Grades Submitted.AcademiaAnother 10 sq cm of #steampunk control panel. #blender3d #blender3dart #relaxing #aestheti…AestheticsAnd you thought your last teleconference was rough!PersonalOn the upside, no fake news is currently being shared on Facebook. Can't think of a do…PersonalFULL BLOOM at Latrobe’s Olde Main, Aug 30-Sep 2.CultureSherlock Holmes and The Woman (daughter and I rehearsing for a…

Journalism students guiltily ignoring the “no electronic devices” note in the program during Fall Convocation

That moment when you see a dozen or more of your own journalism students guiltily ignoring the “no electronic devices” note in the program so that they can livetweet Honors Convocation. Similar:So glad to be attending another live theatrical production. @quantumtheatre never disappoi…Projections, live music, sounds, props, …BusinessChess robot grabs and breaks finger of seven-year-old…

#SHUConvocation is about to begin @setonhilluniversity

Similar:Yesterday we took advantage of a rare free day.At the Carnegie Museum of Art. AestheticsLive theater. August Wilson's Jitney, in the back yard of the August Wilson House.PersonalDetailed Articulation of Feet in Unity3DI’m following a lot of tutorials, and co…AestheticsThe boy tied for second place in Saturday's Monroeville Chess Club tournament.Peter was the lowest-ranked player…

Thank you, anonymous person who left a container of Oreo minis outside my door.

Similar:Snape and Ginny at the Hogwarts Club event.PersonalColossal Cave: The Board Game by Arthur O'DwyerThe kids and I enjoy nerdy board games. …CultureSam Shepard Giggles, Doesn't GoogleI wrote my undergraduate honors thesis o…CybercultureJerz Nerdcation 2013On a visit to the Washington DC area for…CultureFinal grades are due tomorrow. My Fall 2020 is almost over. I survived.Final…

Details matter in journalism.

Get the brand of the beer, the make, model and year of the car and the name and breed of the dog. Here’s a great story that suggests journalists also “get the brand of the bra.” Similar:See How Vaccines Can Make the Difference in Delta Variant’s ImpactHere’s a great NYT “interactive” story t…DesignIn April, 2002,…

Letter of Recommendation: Fanny Packs

What other accessory ensures the safety of your essentials, with easy access, while also liberating your hands? The fanny pack, when used properly, enables a whole host of activities that other bags render awkward: a deep embrace, a dance party, the ability to quickly find and swipe and secure your MetroCard. Through its rare combination…