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:Dress rehearsal for Mamma Mia. This weekend only.PersonalWhat’s an environmental issue? — Gus SpethI don’t know the provenance of this quot…CultureBeautiful. No Data / Lore opposition required. AestheticsRaw Deal on Printer Ink”The ink we…

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:Yesterday my wife took this last known picture of our two teenagers. The boy is 20 today.PersonalBrand new chairs for PICT draw applause.PersonalAfter my conference talk, a post-audition, pre-Jane-Eyre-performance dinner with…

Merry Christmas 2013

Similar:Weird History offers a good debunking of this persistent myth.PersonalThoreau's Cellphone ExperimentWhen I teach “Intro to Literary Study,” …AcademiaT-Shirts for student journalists who recently leveled up to “staff writer”(with bear signe…PersonalWhile searching my bag for a cable, I found an unexpected wealth of food-substitute items.AmusingWhat About “The Breakfast Club”?I made three movies with John Hughes;…

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:What kids do when Dad won't hand over the iPod So I’m not being selfish… this is …EducationCarolyn Gombell Is Not a Real Person: #JusticeforCarolyn Is a Campaign Against Twitter Ref…Fascinating use of social…

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:I'm no longer surprised, but still want to document.This is really noteworthy. Today the Pre…Current_EventsOverheard at Quora: "Why after all these years is Moodle still so ugly?"Moodle is a free course-management tool …AcademiaRT @JordanFor: One of the counters from the Civil…RT…

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:It's been nice knowing you, iPad3 It’s been nice knowing you, iPad3, but…TweetsClassroom collaboration marketplaceWhile I am uncomfortable with the whole …BusinessDesert Bus: The Worst Video Game Ever CreatedPenn and Teller are involved with this s…BooksJudge: Apple conspired to…

RT @PhilKomarny: @Historiator @DennisJerz @magawel…

RT @PhilKomarny: @Historiator @DennisJerz @magawelek Glad that it ended with some donations to @AidforAfrica justinesacco.com 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…AmusingHabits for happiness: tips for looking on the bright side of lifeHabits for happiness: tips for looking o…PersonalFormer…

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:Another delightful section of a #steampunk #neovictorian control panel. #design #aesthetic…AestheticsMicrosoft Publishes Garbled AI Article Calling Tragically Deceased NBA Player "Useless"This is what we have to look forward to,…BusinessReaders Are Liars: The 1928 Study That Predicted the Future of NewsThe invention of the telegraph and…

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:I asked my geekling whether she was ready for bed…I asked my #geekling whether she was rea…AmusingJudge: Apple conspired to fix eBook prices.Judge: Apple conspired to fix eBook pric…BooksRT @DDeClaudio: Who do you think…