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:Loki's Loop Escape RoomGreat concept for a virtual escape…CultureSherlock Holmes and The Woman (daughter and I rehearsing for a live recording Friday after…CultureUsing "Strive" as a NounObviously I know…
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:Proto iPads and Paper Coexist in Classic Star TrekRewatching the classic Trek episode “The…CybercultureHabits for happiness: tips for looking on the bright side of lifeHabits for happiness: tips for looking o…PersonalRT @PhilKomarny: A floppy disc……
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:Reading a Classic American Play to My Daughter BooksScat "boop oop a doop" and variations (Esther Lee Jones, Helen Kane, Betty Boop, Marilyn M… A few…
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:Watching Shakespeare With Your KidsMy retired parents and bachelor engineer…CultureSlate: "Police Erupt in Violence Nationwide" | Notice how writing style frames a story? Gr…The ongoing protests following the killi…Current_EventsHow to Reduce Racial Bias…
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:Pics from Thursday's dress rehearsal of Shrek: The Musical. This weekend only! @stage…PersonalWhy do academics dress so badly? (Answer: they are too happy)I used to wear a suit and tie when I tau…AcademiaJohn Speed’s 1611 map of #medievalyork features a “scale of paces.” My #unity3d…
Next up: Stage Right summer musical theater camp starts Monday! Similar:Faces the girl makes during her Luisa monologue. (Four more chances to see The Fantasticks…AestheticsIf in question, have more GOOD than BAD? University of Georgia Student Journalists Walk Ou…My students and colleagues sometimes won…AcademiaOnly a Dad (Edgar Guest poem, read by Carolyn and Peter Jerz…
Testing a tool to automate connections between iOS apps. Similar:A New Talent EmergesI tried hard to frown disapprovingly whe…HomeAnnie Sullivan on teaching: Helen Keller, rendered blind and dea…CultureGirlhood 2014They don’t even seem to want to watch Fr…CultureWordPress duplicate images driving me crazy I’m using the Atahualpa Theme with WPT…HomeYour Brain Does Not Work Like a…
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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:Colossal Cave: The Board Game by Arthur O'DwyerThe kids and I enjoy nerdy board games. …CultureThe girl's entrance as Marley's Ghost.PersonalNortheast braces for temps near boiling point – Yahoo! NewsThe inter tubes…
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:Loved seeing A Comedy of Errors @setonhillLoved seeing A Comedy of Errors @setonhi…Tweets10 Rules of Internet – Anil DashA very useful, concise summary of web-en…BusinessJury Duty UpdateI’m a happy, responsible, and no-longer-…GovernmentRT @PhilKomarny: A floppy…