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:How I Learned What I Learned (featuring Wali Jamal)Carving out some time to enjoy this show…AwesomeLiberal Arts Classes Could Teach Neil deGrasse Tyson a Thing or Two about the…
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…TweetsJury Duty UpdateI’m a happy, responsible, and no-longer-…GovernmentShe doesn't have keys or a phone or an ID. Why does my tween need a…
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:Actors Fail to Distract Audience from Prop Newspaper HeadlinesMy daughter and I were talking about pro…AmusingParallel structure in writing: Use it!These comic panels cover the issue…
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:In Ferguson, Washington Post reporter Wesley Lowery gives account of his arrestComedian Robin Williams and actress Laur…CultureDestroying trust in the media, science, and government has left America vulnerable to disa…From The Brookings Institution…
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:Merry Christmas 2018PersonalYour verbs have been lost and will be invisible until sentence author revision.The marketers and programmers at Google’…CybercultureChess with my son. As usual, it didn't go well for me.GamesHe checkmates me in two moves. I lasted about a half hour, and went down…
Next up: Stage Right summer musical theater camp starts Monday! Similar:Who is the more dramatic — my extroverted tween or my philosophical teen?Stoked from a morning show-choir perform…AmusingI just thought of a time before you were born when I should have been kind, but I can't re… Sometimes when I’m driving along los…AcademiaYouTube distortion after…
Testing a tool to automate connections between iOS apps. Similar:Infinite Scrolling: XKCD's Creative Insight on a Common Interface IndignityAmusingThe Declaration Of Independence, 240 Years Later (NPR)When in the Course of human events, it b…CultureI can probably remove that link to LycosOn a web page that I posted in Nov 2000 …BusinessTolkien v. Orwell: Who understood…
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Submitted revisions of 6 video tutorial scripts & drafted 5 more. Also, scored 3 boxes of leftover reception cupcakes and 1 of brownies. Similar:Merry Christmas 2019PersonalSeriously, clouds? Now?PersonalIf You Think You Hate Puns, You're WrongI wrote my college application essay on …AmusingTrump, finally, takes the coronavirus emergency seriously CNN’s Stephen Collinson praises the pr…Current_EventsGinger Christ…
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…AcademiaClassroom collaboration marketplaceWhile I am uncomfortable with the whole …BusinessRT @PhilKomarny: A floppy disc… In…