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:Don’t Want to Fall for Fake News? Don’t Be LazyFake news is not a problem caused by tho…CultureSeven Guitars ( #AugustWilson #CenturyCycle, 5 of 10)August Wilson’s Century Cycle > …
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:Judge: Apple conspired to fix eBook prices.Judge: Apple conspired to fix eBook pric…BooksRT @PhilKomarny: A floppy disc… In #context htt…RT @PhilKomarny: A floppy disc… In #co…TweetsYes, I do feel rather awesome right now.Lost brand-new earbuds.…
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:Jack Rollins-Frosty the Snowman I voiced Jack Rollins, writer …HistoryTexas School Censors All Of ‘Huck Finn’ Except The N-Words (Satire from The Onion)Is it only a…
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:A salute lost to historyHistory is complex and baffling and fasc…CultureThe dangers of 'character education' in universitiesAs the authors depressingly note, “the U…AcademiaUPDATE: BREAKING: 'Star Wars' Returns — 'Episode 7' Slated For 2015…
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:Amazon may well be the most evil company in techLast week, I had a hardware emergency. A…BusinessHypertext as a Teaching Tool — Brown University Poetry Classroom 1974This short film documents an early attem…AcademiaOur 2014 class banner was an iPad. I can’t believe I just noticed…
Next up: Stage Right summer musical theater camp starts Monday! Similar:Controversial Content in YA Literature: A College Professor and Homeschooling Parent Answe…I received this comment on my blog: [F]…BooksBacon Starry Night MemeI’ve no idea where the “Bacon Starry Nig…AestheticsRossum's Universal Robots (Act 1) Artistic ProsperityThe first act of Artistic Prosperity’s v…CultureA pleasant find: somebody left…
Testing a tool to automate connections between iOS apps. Similar:Nerd siblings are awesome siblingsMy 15yo wanted to show me Terminator 4, …HomeWhat my classroom looks like during today's video journalism workshopWithin 3 minutes of being placed into gr…HomeSHU Commemoration of September 11 Terrorism Attacks — Looking Back After 10 YearsCome to listen. Come to share.…
Similar:Improbable Cause (#StarTrek #DS9 Rewatch, Season 3, Episode 20) Odo investigates an attemp…Rewatching ST:DS9 During his usual lu…CultureAnother #steampunk #neovictorian control panel module. #blender3d #blender3dart #design #…AestheticsI felt a great disturbance in the Fandom”…as if millions of voices suddenly cr…AestheticsStack of wooden desk trays with metal supports. #Blender3D. Normal map, glossy map; mahoga…My goal in trying…
Submitted revisions of 6 video tutorial scripts & drafted 5 more. Also, scored 3 boxes of leftover reception cupcakes and 1 of brownies. Similar:Apple Hill Playhouse is closing, leaving theater group seeking new homeConfiguring socially distanced seating a…BusinessI'm not showing you my email inbox, or my laundry pile, or the state of my soul. Just…PersonalI…
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:Former student: "I remember sometimes being annoyed with all of our blogging assignments, …A third alum in the last few weeks has c…AcademiaHow hate and misinformation go viral: A case study of a Trump retweetOn Sunday night,…