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:Kids Actually Read the Books That Movies Are Based OnIf the seasonal fluctuation represents t…BooksBloopers from my monologue for @pictclassictheatre 's Shakespeare Webinar this Friday at 2… View…
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:Juror's CreedWhile researching my obligations for #ju…CultureWhat kids do when Dad won't hand over the iPod So I’m not being selfish… this is …EducationHow hate and misinformation go viral: A case study of a Trump…
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:Thou shalt not commit logical fallacies Thou shalt not commit logical fallaci…AmusingMr. President, stop attacking the pressReagan recognized that as leader of the …CultureThe Irreversible Damage…
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:Local news is the building block of a national democracy.Yesterday, I asked my students, “How man…BusinessAffect (v. "to change") vs. Effect (n. "the result")I ran into this problem several times in…AcademiaThe Booming Japanese…
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:Come see Carolyn as “The Girl” in The Fantasticks, Oct 18-27. CultureFDR in AnnieI’ve accepted the role of FDR in the upc…CultureDespite its impressive output, generative AI doesn’t have a coherent understanding of the …[A] popular type of generative AI model&…Cyberculture“Let It Go,” Idina Menzel’s…
Next up: Stage Right summer musical theater camp starts Monday! Similar:50 Years Ago: The World in 1961 – Alan Taylor – In Focus – The AtlanticA fantastic series of photos exploring t…AestheticsSomeone seems to have slipped this over my transom. Thank you, #foodsubstitutefairy whoeve…PersonalStage Right's 'Seussical' offers songs, messagesThe Tribune-Review does a great job cove…Current_EventsBefore…
Testing a tool to automate connections between iOS apps. Similar:Such deep roots you have: How Little Red Riding Hood's tale evolvedDid all these stories spring from a comm…HomeDress Rehearsal for Laurel Ballet "Alice in Wonderland"My daughter is playing the “Caterpillar …HomeMaybe Star Wars 7 won't suck, but I'm not holding my breath.I was burned in…
Similar:Equilibrium (#StarTrek #DS9 Rewatch, Season 3, Episode 4) Grumpy, newly musical Dax halluc… Rewatching ST:DS9 Sisko is cookin…MediaWhat Is Gamergate, and Why? An Explainer for Non-GeeksI’ve been following the frustrating slow…Current_EventsRefreshing my memory of working with reel-to-reel tape as a radio news intern (c. 1989).HistoryVintage TV News Coverage of Pac-ManVintage TV news coverage of Pac-Man.…
Submitted revisions of 6 video tutorial scripts & drafted 5 more. Also, scored 3 boxes of leftover reception cupcakes and 1 of brownies. Similar:The Importance of PunctuationFrom Yahoo! News: Update: T…GamesI think I smelled a hint of my mint toothpaste just now. Wishful thinking, or another sign…For the past 2 weeks I have slept…
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:Desert Bus: The Worst Video Game Ever CreatedPenn and Teller are involved with this s…BooksRT @PhilKomarny: A floppy disc… In #context htt…RT @PhilKomarny: A floppy disc… In #co…TweetsWhat kids do when Dad won't hand over…