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:Juror's CreedWhile researching my obligations for #ju…CultureHow to Lie with Data VisualizationData visualization is one of the most im…DesignMy Review of the Charlottesville Tryout of "A Few Good Men"…
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:It's been nice knowing you, iPad3 It’s been nice knowing you, iPad3, but…TweetsRT @DDeClaudio: Who do you think controls the news…RT @DDeClaudio: Who do you think control…TweetsIn Defense Of Metaphors In Science WritingWe live in…
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:Here's some good writing from The New Yorker: "Seattle’s Leaders Let Scientists Take the L… If you think of science like the multi…CultureRaw Deal on Printer…
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:On teaching coding to English studies studentsBecause this is a practical, hands-on, i…AcademiaA Classicist Goes to Work in Silicon ValleyKristina Chew writes about what her frie…AcademiaMr. President, stop attacking the pressReagan recognized that…
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:Peter vs. the PenguinsFor the past hour, Peter (who is not yet…AmusingI Set A Trap To Catch Students Cheating With AI. The Result Was DeflatingMy classes are generally small enough th…AcademiaA new headshot for the girl.PersonalPipe Trouble’s government woes highlight gaming illiteracyInteresting discussion of a…
Next up: Stage Right summer musical theater camp starts Monday! Similar:The Role of Higher Education in Career Development: Employer PerceptionsGPAs and majors don’t matter to employer…AcademiaMasks serve many purposes. How sad that they’ve become politicized. I’ve seen the original meme on my so…Current_EventsShort-range #neovictorian excursion craft, now with glowing power orbs! Over the past year…https://youtu.be/-cJp-kelrL8…
Testing a tool to automate connections between iOS apps. Similar:A New Talent EmergesI tried hard to frown disapprovingly whe…HomeThe Dadliest DecadeThe eighties, at least, were drenched in…HomeYour Brain Does Not Work Like a ComputerThe brain-as-computer is a powerful meme…HealthWordPress duplicate images driving me crazy I’m using the Atahualpa Theme with WPT…HomeA Revolutionary Approach to Treating…
Similar:Updated my "Show, Don't (Just) Tell" HandoutTaking advantage of a summer day in the …AcademiaSuddenly Human (#StarTrek #TNG Rewatch, Season Four, Episode 4) Picard Bonds with Human Te…Rewatching ST:TNG after a 20-year break …CultureI Made a Cheerful Maze Game in Scratch Well, it’s cheerful unle…CybercultureCreate Joy with Content Management System Hexcodes for Canvas LMSI spent…
Submitted revisions of 6 video tutorial scripts & drafted 5 more. Also, scored 3 boxes of leftover reception cupcakes and 1 of brownies. Similar:The third Google hit for " #steampunk control panel" is a #blender3d image I cre…PersonalHandshakes Really Do MatterMonday night handshake/eye contact pract…CultureRandom sibling selfie.PersonalNerd-buddies”He likes Lord of the Rings, Star Wars *…BooksPost-publication…
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:What kids do when Dad won't hand over the iPod So I’m not being selfish… this is …EducationMaybe I'll just delete these QUARTER OF A MILLION spam comments.Not kidding — 254,460 spam comments in …CybercultureHow…