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:Mr. President, stop attacking the pressReagan recognized that as leader of the …Culture19 Book Cover ClichésThis one is #3, “Man Lurking by Fence.” …AestheticsURL Hacking (new graphic for an…
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:Overheard at Quora: "Why after all these years is Moodle still so ugly?"Moodle is a free course-management tool …AcademiaClassroom collaboration marketplaceWhile I am uncomfortable with the whole …BusinessProto iPads and Paper Coexist in Classic Star…
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:Why Fears of Fake News Are OverhypedFacebook seems to have made changes that…CultureTeaching with iPads: Motivation, Inspiration and Alienation in the AppleverseHere are the slides for…
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:SAT essay section: Problems with grading, instruction, and prompts.In my freshman writing courses I work ha…AcademiaA Man, a Plan, a Pointless(?) ProgramI readily admit that my accomplishment h…AmusingHow To Read a Poem Out…
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:Why No One Clicked on the Great Hypertext StoryIt’s not that hypertext went on to becom…CulturePractice, practice, practice. Making many things in #Blender3D. Arranging them to make a t… AestheticsA Man, a Plan, a Pointless(?) ProgramI readily admit that my accomplishment h…AmusingAn Unexpecting MinorityTruthfully,…
Next up: Stage Right summer musical theater camp starts Monday! Similar:The girl's modern dance choreography workshopAestheticsThesis Critique Activity: Another Use of a Class-edited Google DocA few weeks ago, I had students in my up…AcademiaHow to create a magazine: 5 tips from top designersCreative Bloq. AestheticsI let her tend the rabbits.Great production of a very moving…
Testing a tool to automate connections between iOS apps. Similar:Not Bad for an English MajorI didn’t have much choice when it came t…HomeMore split-screen actinghttp://youtu.be/EGgeZWskEs8DesignThe Rule of Capek's Robots: A public lecture, in which the word “robot” is traced, precurs… HomeThe Dadliest DecadeThe eighties, at least, were drenched in…HomeLEGO turned itself around by analyzing…
Similar:Visiting my parents. Admiring their original Hallmark Enterprise Christmas ornament. I ask…AmusingDark Page (#StarTrek #TNG Rewatch, Season 7, Episode 7) Lwaxana suffers from a hidden trau…Rewatching ST:TNG Troi’s mother visit…AmusingDesk blotters, with procedural leather and wood materials by Blendermada. #blender3dAestheticsGen Z Never Learned to Read CursiveWhen I used to teach a “Media and Cultur…AcademiaQ-Less (#StarTrek…
Submitted revisions of 6 video tutorial scripts & drafted 5 more. Also, scored 3 boxes of leftover reception cupcakes and 1 of brownies. Similar:Today's unexpected but welcome moments of grace She waived a fee. He accepted a…AwesomeContagion (ST:TNG Rewatch, Season 2, Episode 11)Picard faces aggressive Romulans and an …DesignTop U800. #chesstournamentPersonalCarolyn choreographed a fight-dance adaptation…
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:Parallel structure in writing: Use it!These comic panels cover the issue well….HumanitiesJuror's CreedWhile researching my obligations for #ju…CultureFormer student: "I remember sometimes being annoyed with all of our blogging assignments, …A third alum in the last few…