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:Small Changes in Teaching: The Last 5 Minutes of ClassI just ordered the book Lang mentions in…AcademiaHow Social Media Silences DebateThe Internet, it seems, is contributing …CultureHow Common Core Testing…
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:What kids do when Dad won't hand over the iPod So I’m not being selfish… this is …EducationOverheard at Quora: "Why after all these years is Moodle still so ugly?"Moodle is a free course-management tool…
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:'My Fair Lady' Couldn't Actually Dance All Night, So These Songs Had To GoClever little Easter eggs in this articl…DesignThe Transformation of American Journalism Is UnavoidableThere…
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:The overlooked masterpieces of 1922In literature the response to the challe…BooksSkeleton Crew at BarebonesSupport the arts in your community. BusinessWhat happened when I showed vintage Mister Rogers to my 21st-century kidsThey discovered TikTok.…
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:Looking forward in the back room of the officers' pub, in the #steampunk cruiser from…AestheticsUneasy Lies the Head — Tyrant: Shakespeare on PowerJohn Stubbs reviews Stephen Grenblatt’s …AcademiaWhy fake news worksFake news works on our emotions, usually…CybercultureFamily catch and eat octopus with six tentacles during…
Next up: Stage Right summer musical theater camp starts Monday! Similar:Google Docs MLA Style Works Cited Class ActivityI have rarely been satisfied with spendi…AcademiaThe Girl Wins the Upper Division Monologue in the 25th Annual Pittsburgh Public Theatre's …CultureKinetic Theatre's "Hound of the Baskervilles" was hilarious. Kinetic Theatre’s production was ful…BooksPics from Thursday's dress rehearsal of Shrek:…
Testing a tool to automate connections between iOS apps. Similar:Nerd siblings are awesome siblingsMy 15yo wanted to show me Terminator 4, …HomeThe Declaration Of Independence, 240 Years Later (NPR)When in the Course of human events, it b…CultureWhat my classroom looks like during today's video journalism workshopWithin 3 minutes of being placed into gr…HomeTolkien v. Orwell:…
Similar:Police respond to Twitter bot sending death threat to another Twitter botJeffry built himself a harmless little T…CybercultureFascination (#StarTrek #DS9 Rewatch, Season 3, Episode 10) Comic crush after crush; that's…Rewatching ST:DS9 A character-driven …AmusingThe Great Works of SoftwareI realized that each one of these techno…AestheticsPlaying God (#StarTrek #DS9 Rewatch, Season 2, Episode 17) Dax mentors…
Submitted revisions of 6 video tutorial scripts & drafted 5 more. Also, scored 3 boxes of leftover reception cupcakes and 1 of brownies. Similar:Portraits of my 11yo: Pretty, Goofy, and Pretty GoofyAmusingTwitter has blocked President Trump’s account, citing policy violations.Personal“Waiting for Life” (Once on This Island)https://youtu.be/NeoVD3prQWYPersonalAmenities are limited on a short range excursion craft, but…
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:I asked my geekling whether she was ready for bed…I asked my #geekling whether she was rea…AmusingRT @DDeClaudio: Who do you think controls the news…RT @DDeClaudio: Who do you think control…TweetsWhat kids do when Dad…