The New York Times reported “Many Flee Homes to Escape `Gas Raid From Mars’–Phone Calls Swamp Police at Broadcast of Wells Fantasy” and the story of the hoax is firmly embedded in the history books. But the reports of streets full of panicked citizens don’t hold up to scrutiny. There’s only one problem: The supposed…
@ZCharisma On my blog I said my wife usually gives me nerdy DVDs (e.g. Mazes & Monsters), so I expect she’ll give me Zero Charisma one day. Similar:Proto iPads and Paper Coexist in Classic Star TrekRewatching the classic Trek episode “The…CybercultureIn Defense Of Metaphors In Science WritingWe live in an elegant universe. The c…CultureAnd the…
My student journos were given one class period to film, edit, and publish a 2-min TV news story. Speed journalism! blogs.setonhill.edu/el200-2013-fa/… Similar:It's been nice knowing you, iPad3 It’s been nice knowing you, iPad3, but…TweetsMy Minecraft-obsessed tween made this blocky foam pig at art camp. Next up: Stage Right summer musical th…Aesthetics10 Rules of Internet -…
@ZCharisma Oh, now I feel bad. Similar:Juror's CreedWhile researching my obligations for #ju…CultureClassroom collaboration marketplaceWhile I am uncomfortable with the whole …BusinessFormer student: "I remember sometimes being annoyed with all of our blogging assignments, …A third alum in the last few weeks has c…AcademiaProto iPads and Paper Coexist in Classic Star TrekRewatching the classic Trek episode “The…CybercultureYes,…
What can parents do to minimize their children’s risk of being hurt or killed by poison or sharp objects in Halloween candy? How many children would you say die each year from eating poisoned candy (or candy with razor blades and such) each Halloween? Just two or three? Maybe only one every few years? In…
My wife usually gives me nerd-themed DVDs as gifts, so I probably won’t make any effort to see this movie on my own. Still, I’m glad to know someone has made a movie that touches on the hipsterization of nerd culture, and I enjoyed reading the well-written review. Like lots of apologists and upholders of…
It: nailed. xkcd: Headlines. Similar:How We Can Help Students Survive in an Age of Anxiety Today’s students have also lived…AcademiaLoved part 1 of Alec Silverblatt's Mon Valley Medium. Part 2 tomorrow at 7. #pptplayt…CultureYounger friends, can you write or read cursive? I’m curious.CultureUnpopular grammar rulesLanguage is a fluid, living social const…CultureThe cultural implications of the…
…she’s pretending to be “Spock in a Tree on Omicron Ceti III.” Similar:Party Like a Jerz My dad just made us root beer floats.PersonalEveryone wants to save the world, but no one wants to help Mom do the dishes.CultureMore world-building props for a fantasy #steampunk #Blender3D project.DesignHemingway: The First Draft of Anything… Facebook.AmusingThe Zombie Argument that…
The observation car Pearl sings of her love for Rusty, in the “Like ‘Cats’ but with Trains” show “Starlight Express.” http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Ma4FusuIgSM By the way, that’s a Star Wars Stormtrooper outfit, with pink accents added by my wife. Post by Stage Right. Similar:A LiDAR map reveals #medievalyork fortifications that Speed captured in his stylized but…
Back in my grad school days, I was called a “run-of-the-mill programmer” by a brilliant IT genius. For a guy whose only computer coursework consists of a Pascal class in high school (“taught” by a math teacher who didn’t know the language, and checked my answers against those in the teacher’s manual), I still consider…
King Henry rallies his troops just before the decisive Battle of Agincourt. From this day to the ending of the world, But we in it shall be remembered- We few, we happy few, we band of brothers; For he to-day that sheds his blood with me Shall be my brother; be he ne’er so vile,…
RT @textfiles: Hi internet. In another few minutes I go onstage to point everyone to archive.org/details/histor… and hopefully computer history … Similar:Overheard at Quora: "Why after all these years is Moodle still so ugly?"Moodle is a free course-management tool …AcademiaAnd the girl has succeeded in getting me to wear t…And the girl has succeeded in…
Not my item, but the pathos caught my eye. Similar:Sesame Street had a big plot twist in November 1986My older siblings say they remember our …CultureThe Pope's Prayer for Countering "Fake News"Today is the feast of St. Francis de Sal…CultureKids Turn Bratz into Star Wars Rey DollsSometimes, I catch myself thinking there…AestheticsAll three shows have…
Seriously: What is Amazon? A retail company? A media company? A logistics machine? The mystery of its strategy is deepened by two factors. First is the company’s communications department, which famously excels at not communicating. Three requests to speak with Amazon officials for this article were delayed and, inevitably, declined. This moves discussions of the…
Tween: “My friends say Bieber’s a jerk now.” Me: “It’s hard when your idols fall.” Tween: “That’s why I don’t have any. Except for you.” Similar:Parallel structure in writing: Use it!These comic panels cover the issue well….HumanitiesParallel Structure vs. Faulty ParallelismI just touched up a handout on Parallel …HumanitiesCarolyn Gombell Is Not a Real Person:…
A new Emily Dickinson archive is online. Here is the opening of one of her most famous poems. Reading View for Fascicle 23. Similar:Perspective | After Hannity’s travesty, Fox News redeems itself (just a tad) with a bold e…Fox News was the first major outlet to p…CultureThe Outsiders — four sold-out weekday matinees; four more…
My wonderfully geeky tween made these Blinky, Pinky, Inky and Clyde pendants with her Rainbow Loom. Next on her list: making Pac-Man. Similar:Excited for Annette Vee’s visit. My journalism students have to submit a story by midnight…PersonalRadio News Delivery: How to Sound Like a Radio BroadcasterListen to a short news broadcast, such a…AestheticsThe iPad Falls…
Have you heard the story about the lady who spilled coffee on herself and won millions of dollars from McDonald’s? Have you looked up the details on the story, or do you just know the story as a TV show punch line? Stella became a symbol for frivolous lawsuits and fodder for talk show hosts,…
Reporters have been sometimes fired for willful misconduct, such as repeated instances of plagiarism or fabrication. Reporters who’ve suffered that fate, such as the New York Times’ Jayson Blair and The Washington Post’s Janet Cooke, were guilty of gross journalistic malpractice. But firing a reporter over an unintentional mistake is “extremely rare,” said Scott Maier,…
I’m getting ready to introduce my freshman writing students to college-level research, so I found it helpful to read this brief introduction to the internal problems Wikipedia creates for itself. When a major news event takes place, such as the Boston Marathon bombings, complex, widely sourced entries spring up within hours and evolve by the…