Sample, improved lyrics: “An old man turned 98 /He won the lottery, and died the next day (from a severe paper cut from his lottery ticket).” Similar:A Career-Aligned Major Isn’t EnoughI’ve taken over teaching the English dep…AcademiaReporters accurately repeat what VP spokesperson says; different official cites "misreport…The media reports that on an official tr…Current_EventsWhen is…
Rewatching the classic Trek episode “The Conscience of the King,” which features a Shakespearean acting troupe. In one scene, McCoy writes a report on a wedge proto-iPad… …but in the very next scene Kirk scrawls on a piece of paper. This episode also features characters doing computer searches, using an exposition-friendly voice interface to call…
At least three journalists left NBC, after the network aired a tape of George Zimmerman, edited in a manner that substantially altered its content. Filed in Seminole County, the suit adds that “NBC News saw the death of Trayvon Martin not as a tragedy but as an opportunity to increase ratings, and so set about…
Jon Negroni creates a meta-narrative to connect every Pixar movie, using Boo as the still point in the turning universe. Every Pixar movie is connected. I explain how, and possibly why. Several months ago, I watched a fun-filled video on Cracked.com that introduced the idea (at least to me) that all of the Pixar movies…
The contrast between KTVU’s treatment of its triumphs vs errors reminds us of the difference between journalism vs public relations. 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…AmusingOverheard at Quora: "Why after all these years is Moodle still so ugly?"Moodle…
Last week, the Fox-afiliated KTVU fell for a prank, repeating offensive fake names for the pilots involved in the crash of Asiana Flight 214 last week. [S]even-year veteran KTVU producer Brad Belstock closed his @producerBB Twitter account after his last Friday tweet just moments after the names were read aloud on the air by Tori Campbell.…
Francesca Borri writes of being a freelancer and a woman covering the war in Syria. (When my life gets hectic, a story like this helps me keep some perspective.) Similar:Final grades are due tomorrow. My Fall 2020 is almost over. I survived.Final grades are due tomorrow. My only u…AcademiaMy journalism students just gave me this…
Is your Sunday feeling incomplete because you haven’t read anything about punctuation today? This explanation of the semicolon should help. You’re welcome. Similar:Carolyn at about 7yo drew Titania in love with Bottom. #tbt #midsummerArtTexting? Pets? Millennials Are Flunking Job Interviews – CNBCThe other day, a Facebook friend posted …BusinessComing up for the girl is another…
My wife is something of a hoarder. Now, as it happens, I have saved my half of the slip of paper that I tore so that we could write down each other’s phone numbers back when we were about 22, but she saves old catalogs and phone books (phone books!) from years ago. Sometimes, when…
So I’m not being selfish… this is a parenting strategy. Similar:An overnight traffic spike on an older online handout prompted me to touch it up. #techwri… Those are the stats for my entir…AcademiaThe Scarlet Letter (Prime Stage)PersonalI’m still teaching journalism and my usual courses, but after 21 years I’ve stepped aside …I’m still teaching journalism…
Next up: Stage Right summer musical theater camp starts Monday! Similar:Close Reading: Introduction to a College English SkillI’ve been meaning to create a screencast…AcademiaSam Shepard Giggles, Doesn't GoogleI wrote my undergraduate honors thesis o…CybercultureUniversities must stop presuming that all students are tech-savvyAlthough considerable resources have bee…AcademiaIs College Worth It? Clearly, New Data SayAmericans with four-year…
Testing a tool to automate connections between iOS apps. Similar:A Revolutionary Approach to Treating PTSDInhabiting an improvised play designed t…HomeDress Rehearsal for Laurel Ballet "Alice in Wonderland"My daughter is playing the “Caterpillar …HomeSHU Commemoration of September 11 Terrorism Attacks — Looking Back After 10 YearsCome to listen. Come to share. Come toge…CultureWhat my classroom looks…
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Submitted revisions of 6 video tutorial scripts & drafted 5 more. Also, scored 3 boxes of leftover reception cupcakes and 1 of brownies. Similar:The grandmaster diet: How to lose weight while barely movingFascinating article about how the extrem…CultureI just finished recalibrating the port scanner station and lookout post. If you need help … AestheticsUnder my…
Blogging this so I can find it when I teach my “News Writing” class this fall. People do like to prank journalists with fake names. In this case, the reporter did what you’re supposed to do — get confirmation — but sheesh. KTVU reports fake racist names of Asiana Airlines 214 pilots from NTSB intern…
I recently bought a new phone. since then, I have answered an incoming call in my car. It felt awesome. Similar:Jury Duty UpdateI’m a happy, responsible, and no-longer-…GovernmentYes, 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…
I just touched up a handout on Parallel Structure vs Faulty Parallelism. Similar:In September, 2001 I was blogging about… With a grant from UWEC, I was able t…AestheticsLecturing is So Much Easier than Leading a DiscussionLecturing is So Much Easier than Leading…AcademiaHow To Talk To Babies About Semiotics (and Marxist Theory)BABY: read dog book again…
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A thoughtful reflection on religion in Star Trek. While Humans aren’t depicted as participating in any form of organized religion (there is a reference to a Christmas party here, a nod to monotheism there), the series also includes a distrust of science and technology, regularly depicting mad scientists, societies over-dependent on technology, etc.) that insists…
If you’re legally present on a public street or sidewalk, you can legally photograph anything in plain view. (This includes children and crime victims… but just because it’s legal doesn’t mean it’s always a good idea.) If law enforcement engages you, ask whether you are free to go; if so, then move out of the…