Jerz Nerdcation 2013

On a visit to the Washington DC area for my father’s 80th birthday, we did nerdy things. Similar:Trouble importing UMA clothes from Blender 3.6In Blender3D, I created a jumpsuit, rigg…CybercultureI'm Gradually Losing My Hearing. (It’s Part of Aging.)During a department meeting today, I not…AcademiaI Made Cheerful Maze Game in ScratchWell, it’s cheerful unless you touch…

Pieces of Earliest Games Recovered

These small sculpted stones unearthed from an early Bronze Age burial in Turkey could be the earliest gaming tokens ever found, confirming that board games likely originated and spread from the Fertile Crescent regions and Egypt more than 5,000 years ago. –via Discovery News. Similar:Melissa Terras' Blog: Male, Mad and Muddleheaded: Academics in Children's Picture BooksLabcoats,…

10 journalism resources for PR pros

From PR Daily.com: In no particular order, below are some top journalism resources that can help PR pros understand today’s journalist and move toward a more cohesive, beneficial relationship for both sides: • Jim Romenesko (@romenesko and jimromenesko.com): Daily news, commentary, and links about journalism and media. • Sree Sreenivasan (@sree and sree.net): Columbia University’s first chief digital officer and a…

Irony in Blakes7 Reboot?

RT @Laroquod: @DennisJerz If #Blakes7 turns out to be a show you need Xbox/Win8 to watch legally (as per rumour), that’s a sad irony for a show abt rebels. Similar:Reflections on Flannery O'Connor's "The River"I’m teaching “The River” today in an “In…CultureVisiting my parents. Admiring their original Hallmark Enterprise Christmas ornament. I ask…AmusingAI Agents Are…

@Laroquod Fingers crossed re #Blakes7

@Laroquod Fingers crossed re #Blakes7 Similar:In Defense Of Metaphors In Science WritingWe live in an elegant universe. The c…CultureYes, I do feel rather awesome right now.Lost brand-new earbuds. Reached in pocke…PersonalHabits for happiness: tips for looking on the bright side of lifeHabits for happiness: tips for looking o…PersonalCarolyn Gombell Is Not a Real Person: #JusticeforCarolyn…

Creating Games for Journalism

We as journalists can learn a lot from video games. They can help players explore unfamiliar worlds and experience stories, almost literally, through the eyes of another person. Designed well, video games guide players to feel emotion and conflict, as well as learn the intricacies of complex subjects and systems. They engage users in a…

RT @KatySny: A big week for online news http://t.c…

RT @KatySny: A big week for online news wp.me/p1VKki-eZ 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…AmusingIn Defense Of Metaphors In Science WritingWe live in an elegant universe. The c…CultureRT @DDeClaudio: Who do you think controls the news…RT @DDeClaudio: Who…

Apparently Facebook Doesn’t Know Me Very Well

I’m actually rather happy at the thought that somewhere in Facebook’s database exists a picture of my personal preferences that is so wildly inaccurate as to suggest this. Similar:A Man, a Plan, a Pointless(?) ProgramI readily admit that my accomplishment h…AmusingMy Anti-Linkbait Pledge: Cynical Overhyping vs. Simply Being OnlineWhen I find something interesting that a…CultureI've…

Making the switch: A student news director looks toward a digital future

As “one big news team,” all 54 student reporters work for TCU360 regardless of their story’s medium. Content is published on the website and social media throughout the day, seven days a week. The Daily Skiff, still published Tuesday through Friday, acts as an aggregator of the week’s best content. The “leadership team” consists of…

The Lost Art of Proofreading

Plenty more where those came from. The Lost Art of Proofreading. Similar:Freedom of the press is not just important to democracy, it is democracy. Freedom of the press is not just impor…CultureEdgar Allan Poe Was a Broke-Ass Freelancer – The MillionsHis despair is only part of his artistic…BooksI have a daughter who does things. If…

The Day I Stopped Saying ‘Hurry Up’

Adorable photos help tell this story about a type-A parent realizing she’s been blessed with a type-B child. “You don’t have to rush. Just take your time,” I said gently. Her whole face instantly brightened and her shoulders relaxed. And so we sat side-by-side talking about things that ukulele-playing-6-year-olds talk about. There were even moments…

I was quietly reading online when @CBSNews force-f…

I was quietly reading online when @CBSNews force-fed me a loud, unwanted video. I’ll be more wary of CBS links from now on. #backbutton Similar:Loved seeing A Comedy of Errors @setonhillLoved seeing A Comedy of Errors @setonhi…TweetsAnd the girl has succeeded in getting me to wear t…And the girl has succeeded in getting me…TweetsHello, there,…