My Kids Are Shatner Than Most

I passed along to my geeklings an appreciation for hammy sci-fi overacting.   Similar:The Hidden Subversive Messages of [MGM's Screen Adaptation of] The Wizard of OzWhen I tried teaching The Wizard of Oz i…BooksLooking forward to Part 2 of #PPTPlaytime’s production “The Rivals” (live… now!)CultureUnmarked assignments. As more keeps coming in, can I reduce that…

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:As I was preparing…

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:Oh, No. YouTube is Deleting Videos.Oh no.  First YouTube institutes a “COVI…Current_EventsWhy scientists should care about artMy artsy daughter loves stories about sc…ArtU.S.S. Requin — Extended Tour of the Cold War Submarine at the Carnegie Science CenterSoon after…

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

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Allergic to Grammar Errors

Source: Cyanide & Happiness (Explosm.net) Similar:Obamacare's broken website cost more than LinkedIn, Spotify combinedMuch of the criticism of Healthcare.gov …CultureReleasing a Tiny Game and Trying to Get Paid[G]ames is a bit more financially brutal…Business“The author talks about [topic]” is filler. Your professors want your college-level ideas.AcademiaReunion (#StarTrek #TNG Rewatch, Season Four, Episode 7) Picard Arbitrates…

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:The Enemy (ST:TNG Rewatch, Season Three, Episode 7) — LaForge and a Romulan Cooperate to …Rewatching ST:TNG…

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

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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:Downsides of being a convincing liarTest subjects whose test papers “acciden…AcademiaSeton Hill Hogwarts Dinner What would I get if I added powdered…AcademiaNarrow ParsersCreating n00b-friendly interactive…

#SHUConvocation is about to begin @setonhilluniversity

Similar:Progress.PersonalI’m fairly satisfied with this version of a medieval building trimsheet. (Source photo is …I’m fairly satisfied with this version o…AestheticsWhat does the girl do with my iPad while I try to jump-start her mother’s car at a gas sta…https://youtu.be/tOYQc8vByoYPersonalWhen you need to record footsteps on a sidewalk, and the carpeted studio has a brick…

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

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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:Finland is Winning the War on Fake NewsThis is story is from May, but it’s very…CultureBen Franklin Sings about…

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…