Portrait of a Ten-Year-Old Girl

This thoughtful article demonstrates how to use colorful details to keep a reader engaged enough to absorb statistics and trends. What could be just an amusing slice of a Canadian girl’s life of carpools, playdates, and self-invention becomes a launching point for social commentary. The author does refer to herself, but deliberately, selectively; to serve…

My son showed me #PacificRim.

My son showed me #PacificRim. Liked the child actress in the flashback. Enjoyed the feuding scientists. The rest? Flashy, soulless CGI. Similar:Synchronous Online Classes: 10 Tips for Engaging StudentsEvery time I have taught an online class…AcademiaLower Decks (#StarTrek #TNG Rewatch, Season 7, Episode 15) Junior officers star in a comin… Rewatching ST:TNG As Riker and…

Conflict Strategies for Nice People

Nothing to do with Christmas… just thinking about the upcoming group projects due in my online J-Term course. I should also probably re-read some Dale Carnegie, which I do every few years. Teams need conflict to function effectively. Conflict allows the team to come to terms with difficult situations, to synthesize diverse perspectives, and to…

What’s wrong with the way I talk?

Wife & daughter competing w each other to imitate brassy actress from Singing in the Rain. “Whaat’s wrong wit’ da way I taawk?” #pleasestop Similar:Another day, another 10 square centimeters of #steampunk control panel. #blender3d #blende…AestheticsRandom gauge design, for background details in a fantasy #steampunk project. #blender3d #b… AestheticsIn December 2000, I was blogging about…

Merry Christmas 2013

Similar:I had already created the little utility craft on the lower left, but this weekend I expan…PersonalHarvard revokes admission of several students for posting "offensive" memesThe First Amendment of the constitution …AcademiaThank you, 1993 Dennis, for documenting this low-resolution (the background image was 640x…Thank you, 1993 Dennis, for documenting …AestheticsCaptain Gearheart inspects progress on his…

Theory Trading Cards

This set of 21 Theory Trading Cards, published by AltaMira Press, is based upon the online trading cards which have been so popular at David Gauntletts website www.theory.org.uk. Being actual cards, these are two-sided and contain more information; and whereas the online cards were only an official set of 12, for the published version, 21 new…

RT @Historiator: “@dancohen: Finally upgraded to O…

RT @Historiator: “@dancohen: Finally upgraded to OS X 10.9. It feels like a Borges story about OS X 10.8.” @MikeArnzen @DennisJerz Similar:Juror's CreedWhile researching my obligations for #ju…CultureIn Defense Of Metaphors In Science WritingWe live in an elegant universe. The c…CultureMaybe I'll just delete these QUARTER OF A MILLION spam comments.Not kidding — 254,460 spam…

RT @Rhymestyle: First leaked photo from the set of…

RT @Rhymestyle: First leaked photo from the set of Star Wars Episode VII http://t.co/xji8x9J5zL Similar:She doesn't have keys or a phone or an ID. Why does my tween need a purse?To stash her Lemonheads and Smarties. ht…AmusingClassroom collaboration marketplaceWhile I am uncomfortable with the whole …Business10 Rules of Internet – Anil DashA very useful, concise…

RT @Historiator: Nicely balanced, real-time post m…

RT @Historiator: Nicely balanced, real-time post mortem on last night’s Twitter event. @DennisJerz @PhilKomarny @magawelek http://t.co/IwQ0… Similar:I asked my geekling whether she was ready for bed…I asked my #geekling whether she was rea…AmusingIt's been nice knowing you, iPad3 It’s been nice knowing you, iPad3, but…TweetsJudge: Apple conspired to fix eBook prices.Judge: Apple conspired to fix…

RT @PhilKomarny: @Historiator @DennisJerz @magawel…

RT @PhilKomarny: @Historiator @DennisJerz @magawelek Glad that it ended with some donations to @AidforAfrica justinesacco.com Similar:RT @DDeClaudio: Who do you think controls the news…RT @DDeClaudio: Who do you think control…TweetsShe doesn't have keys or a phone or an ID. Why does my tween need a purse?To stash her Lemonheads and Smarties. ht…AmusingI'm no longer surprised,…

A Word About Group Projects

Okay, students… who loves group projects! Let’s hear it for group projects! (Crickets… crickets…) Okay employers… who puts “Ability to work in a team” at the top of a Forbes Magazine list of 10 skills employers say they seek in new hires? Employers: (cheering wildly) We do! We do! Here are the 10 skills employers say they seek,…

Why NORAD Tracks Santa

The call had come in on one of the top secret lines inside CONAD that only rang in the case of a crisis. Grabbing the phone, Shoup must have expected the worst. Instead, a tiny voice asked, “Is this Santa Claus?” “Dads pretty annoyed,” said Terri Van Keuren, Shoups daughter, recalling the legend of that…

I Made a Cheerful Maze Game in Scratch

Well, it’s cheerful unless you touch something red AND DIE. Similar:Versu's Epilogue: How an Interactive Fiction Pioneer's 15 Year Project Ended Up in Limbo a…However there’s a particularly sad tale …BusinessVote for your favorite Monopoly token — or else!One of the six current game pieces will …AestheticsThe Horror… The Horror! How Music in Horror Games…

I made a cheerful maze game in Scratch. It’s cheer…

I made a cheerful maze game in Scratch. It’s cheerful unless you touch something read AND DIE. scratch.mit.edu/projects/14908… made w/ Scratch Similar:Hello, there, mini.Hello, there, mini. Let’s restore you fr…TweetsDesert Bus: The Worst Video Game Ever CreatedPenn and Teller are involved with this s…BooksTweet: Came around the corner and saw my kids huddled on…Came around…

RT @Historiator: Please note @PhilKomarny @magawel…

RT @Historiator: Please note @PhilKomarny @magawelek @VissatMaureen “@HistoricalPics: All this technology is making us antisocial. http://t… Similar:RT @JordanFor: One of the counters from the Civil…RT @JordanFor: One of the counters from …TweetsHello, there, mini.Hello, there, mini. Let’s restore you fr…TweetsYes, I do feel rather awesome right now.Lost brand-new earbuds. Reached in pocke…PersonalJuror's CreedWhile researching my…

Nerd-buddies

“He likes Lord of the Rings, Star Wars *and* Star Trek!!” — my nerdling daughter, eyes shining, about a new friend. Similar:A #steampunk control panel in context. #blender3d #design #aesthetics #blender3dartAestheticsSix rainbow-colored objects, arranged like THIS?These are shoe-holding racks at a local …AestheticsSharing a root beer float with your dad doesn't fix everything that's wrong…