Interesting set of observations exploring the limits of omniscience and the sheer scale involved in watching an entire population. Failures in empathy lead to misinterpretation of anonymous rebellion in plain sight. Tolkien’s most potent and intimidating image of centralized surveillance, the Eye of Sauron atop a tower, taking in the whole world, has resonated with…
This project looks promising. I’ve donated the money I was going to spend on a haircut. We’re keeping our UI super simple. The experience is entirely sound and story: Writing + Voiceover + SFX + Music. With either a spoken word or a simple tap on the screen you can listen to the drama unfold…
A recent Pew study (Smartphone Ownership 2013) found that blacks were about 10% more likely than whites to own smartphones, and that young urban people regardless of income are very likely to own smartphones. (With older people, a smartphone is more of a luxury.) It’s little wonder, then, that phone-friendly Twitter has been such a…
These are shoe-holding racks at a local indoor play area, where I took my daughter and a friend for a few hours. Why buy six different rainbow-colored shoe-holding racks, if you’re not going to arrange them in the proper order? I really wanted to pick up the purple one and at least put it in…
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 practical application of close reading skills: Nazi-spottingWhenever I teach a literature class, I p…AestheticsThe Best Word Book Ever, 1963 and 1991.As a child, I obsessed over many Richard…BooksThe…
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:My Minecraft-obsessed tween made this blocky foam pig at art camp. Next up: Stage Right summer musical th…AestheticsTweet: For an anatomy project, my #geekling made a Vulcan…For an anatomy project, my #geekling mad…TweetsParallel Structure vs.…
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:Remembering the Space Shuttle Challenger Disaster (1986)Space Shuttle Challenger Destroyed (my …CultureWe Got A Look Inside The 45-Day Planning Process That Goes Into Creating A Single…
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:Another social media post attacks journalists for doing their jobs — Updated Elijah McCla…If you’ve been following the sad story o…CultureAP reporter’s mistake: Did the punishment fit the crime? Reporters have been sometimes…
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:A Man, a Plan, a Pointless(?) ProgramI readily admit that my accomplishment h…AmusingTalked too much during a meeting today.Talked too much during a meeting today. …AcademiaTop U800. #chesstournamentPersonalAxios journalism style delivers traditional news content in scannable formatIn addition to the fact that it’s good n…Current_EventsMoonBot…
Next up: Stage Right summer musical theater camp starts Monday! Similar:Seton Hill University's New Media Journalism Program Named One of Pittsburgh Magazine's "1… Journalism — New Media » It’s the i…AcademiaCoined by Shakespeare? Think againFor years, Shakespeare has been thought …AcademiaLonely Among Us (TNG Rewatch, Season 1, Episode 6) Crew-posessing spark roams and a droid…
Testing a tool to automate connections between iOS apps. Similar:WordPress duplicate images driving me crazy I’m using the Atahualpa Theme with WPT…HomeI Canna Give Ye Any More Screens, Cap'n! The iPad Mini and the ChromeBook are…HomeEmail Tips: Top 10 Strategies for Writing Effective EmailAfter reading a clickbaity Bloomberg art…HomeSHU Commemoration of September 11 Terrorism Attacks…
Similar:True Q (#StarTrek #TNG Rewatch, Season 6, Episode 6) Visiting Intern Exhibits Q-like Power…Rewatching ST:TNG On its way to help an…CultureOne of my undergrad lit papers. Dot-matrix printed, with hand-written instructor annotatio…AcademiaMy understanding of biased polls is… (choose one) AmusingMy son showed me Seven Samurai. I had never seen it before. Amazing!I’m going to have to…
Submitted revisions of 6 video tutorial scripts & drafted 5 more. Also, scored 3 boxes of leftover reception cupcakes and 1 of brownies. Similar:At the airport, sending the daughter off to Ireland.At the airport, sending the daughter off…PersonalYou, Too, Can Have a Viral Tweet Like Mine: Demystifying Poetic MeterSaving for the next time I teach…
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:Judge: Apple conspired to fix eBook prices.Judge: Apple conspired to fix eBook pric…BooksMy Minecraft-obsessed tween made this blocky foam pig at art camp. Next up: Stage Right summer musical th…AestheticsRT @PhilKomarny: A floppy disc… In…