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:You're not going to read thisI ask my students to contextualize links…BusinessThe grudging emergence of American journalism's classic editorial: New details about ''Is …”Is There A Santa Claus?” was…
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:Habits for happiness: tips for looking on the bright side of lifeHabits for happiness: tips for looking o…PersonalCarolyn Gombell Is Not a Real Person: #JusticeforCarolyn Is a Campaign Against Twitter Ref…Fascinating use of social media.…
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:When you see a show alone often you can get really good seats. Idaspe @quantumtheatreCultureWhy are sports in trouble in the U.S.? Because we didn’t do…
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:Self-Regulation: American Schools Are Failing Nonconformist KidsFor a while, we were part of a homeschoo…CultureWhy Fears of Fake News Are OverhypedFacebook seems to have made changes that…CultureRest assured, there will soon be enough…
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…
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Next up: Stage Right summer musical theater camp starts Monday! Similar:Chess tournament final pairing. (He’s currently tied for 2nd.)PersonalBlade Runner | Typeset In The FutureThis is nerd heaven — a deep analysis o…AestheticsHello, there, mini.Hello, there, mini. Let’s restore you fr…TweetsHermann Zapf, the font designer behind Palatino and Zapf Dingbats, has died at 96Hermann Zapf,…
Testing a tool to automate connections between iOS apps. Similar:When a Blogger Shares a Too-good-to-be-true Meme Featuring Hilarious Handwritten Notes fro…Or something like that.HomeA New Talent EmergesI tried hard to frown disapprovingly whe…HomeGirlhood 2014They don’t even seem to want to watch Fr…CultureSchadendrücke: Click-shameHomeMore split-screen actinghttp://youtu.be/EGgeZWskEs8DesignDress Rehearsal for Laurel Ballet "Alice in Wonderland"My daughter is playing…
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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:The Benefits of No-Tech Note TakingI quibble with The Chronicle headline wr…AcademiaAmenities are limited on a short range excursion craft, but we can still meet for tea in t…AestheticsPict Classic Theatre Romeo…
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…
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These comic panels cover the issue well. (Pennington Publishing) Similar:15 Times "Filler Text" Became a Journalist's Worst EnemyIt doesn’t happen often but when filler …AmusingThe world's oldest story? Astronomers say global myths about 'seven sisters' stars may rea…In cultures around the world, myths abou…CultureCameras and Masks: Sustaining Emotional Connections with Your Students in an…
A thoughtful reflection on religion in Star Trek. While Humans aren’t depicted as participating in any form of organized religion (there is a reference to a Christmas party here, a nod to monotheism there), the series also includes a distrust of science and technology, regularly depicting mad scientists, societies over-dependent on technology, etc.) that insists…
If you’re legally present on a public street or sidewalk, you can legally photograph anything in plain view. (This includes children and crime victims… but just because it’s legal doesn’t mean it’s always a good idea.) If law enforcement engages you, ask whether you are free to go; if so, then move out of the…