Parallel structure in writing: Use it!

These comic panels cover the issue well. (Pennington Publishing)   Similar:Anti-Semitic Times Square Elmo admits to Girl Scout extortion attemptThe headline made me click the link, and…EthicsWhy Textbooks And Education Are To Blame For Fake NewsThe way we teach it at Seton Hill, as a …AcademiaTo Learn More, This High-Schooler Left The ClassroomNick Bain, 17,…

In Space as on Earth

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…

Ben Franklin Sings about Your Rights as a Photographer

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…

It’s a good day when one’s nerdiness is an asset to a colleague.

It’s a good day when one’s nerdiness is an asset to a colleague. Similar:In April, 2001 I was blogging about interactive fiction, Roget's Thesaurus, John Lennon, H… A student newspaper article about in…BooksMelissa Terras Reports Her Success in Making Digital Humanities More InclusiveA pleasant little success story. “TEI” i…AcademiaPope Francis declares evolution and Big Bang…

Jury Duty Update

I’m a happy, responsible, and no-longer-obligated-for-jury-duty citizen. Similar:This is manageable. Far better than some semesters.This is manageable. Far better than some…PersonalWith actor Ken Bolden, who appears in Quantum Theatre's gripping (and hilarious, and shock… Mix the paranoia of 1984, the absurd…CultureIf I don’t stock the officers’ pub on my #steampunk #fantasy #CGI flagship, who will?…

Judge: Apple conspired to fix eBook prices.

Judge: Apple conspired to fix eBook prices. #ethics #books The Federal lawsuit claimed that Apple, led by then-CEO Steve Jobs and senior vice president of Internet Software and Services Eddy Cue, conspired with HarperCollins, Hatchett, Macmillan, Penguin and Simon & Schuster to drive e-book prices up from the $9.99 price point Amazon had established. –readwrite.com Similar:Students must…

RT @spj_tweets: How TV could suffer the fate of newspapers

RT @spj_tweets: How TV could suffer the fate of newspapers: @alanmutter shares the second installment of his two-part blog – http://t.co/l… Similar:And the girl has succeeded in getting me to wear t…And the girl has succeeded in getting me…TweetsJuror's CreedWhile researching my obligations for #ju…CultureFormer student: "I remember sometimes being annoyed with all of our…

RT @DepressedDarth: Dear J.J. Abrams, If the new Star Wars is bad…

RT @DepressedDarth: Dear J.J. Abrams, If the new Star Wars is bad, you will forever be known as Jar Jar Abrams. Sincerely, Star Wars fans Similar:Homeownership in America Has Collapsed—Dont Blame MillennialsYes, the article is interesting, but I’m…AmusingEthics (#StarTrek #TNG Rewatch, Season 5, Episode 16) Leaky cargo barrel-1, Worf-0.Rewatching ST:TNG Worf is paralyzed i…CultureI'd love…

Juror’s Creed

While researching my obligations for #juryduty Thursday, I came across this “Juror’s Creed.” The gender-specific reference to men, the instruction to reflect upon the virtues of democracy, and the instruction to respect the judge’s education all hint at a historical context for the creed. Institutions never put their creeds into writing unless they feel those…

Spent a productive work day doing nothing but optimizing my blog.

Spent a productive work day doing nothing but optimizing my blog. Added a very nice plugin for displaying thumbnails of related posts. Similar:Apple Hill Playhouse is closing, leaving theater group seeking new homeConfiguring socially distanced seating a…BusinessMy son, volunteering at the local food bank.PersonalThat Class Where Stanford Profs Projected Hundreds of Zoom Students on a…

RT @mykidcancode: Managing Your Preschooler’s Fasc…

RT @mykidcancode: Managing Your Preschooler’s Fascination with Apps – bit.ly/lv1ZyR #parenting #technology Similar:Flannery O'Connor: "I am in a state of shock"There’s often a moment in a lit class wh…BooksWindows 3.1 Turns 30: Here’s How It Made Windows EssentialAfter watching all the episodes of the 8…AestheticsWhat Do People Do on Mobile Devices? (Infographic)A handful of vignettes…

Maybe I’ll just delete these QUARTER OF A MILLION spam comments.

Not kidding — 254,460 spam comments in my trash folder! Similar:Parable of the Polygons – a playable post on the shape of societyA very clever interactive essay that use…CultureMake America Meme Again! Create your own Trump executive order.Now all the powerful visual rhetoric of …AmusingCanadian teen's short film captures Spring 2020Not graphic, but emotionally powerful.…

“Bach is not for the weak of mind.”

“Bach is not for the weak of mind.” — Miss Renee, my kids’ piano teacher. “I’m in trouble.” — Peter, my son. Similar:In October, 2000, I was blogging about bobbed hair, Woolf, a CFP for interactive fiction s…In October 2000, I was blogging about …CultureThese chairs were cheap, but it really annoys me how the…

Classroom collaboration marketplace

While I am uncomfortable with the whole “classroom as marketplace” metaphor, since it’s pretty much gamifying without the fun, I am nonetheless interested in this strategy for encouraging students to collaborate by having them attach a value to the artifacts they present to the class for sharing.. We shop for everything from apps to ideas.…

Study: Singing together synchronizes your heartbeat

The researchers found that each singer’s heartbeat was linked to the song’s melody – i.e. the speed and structure of the music. They also found that when the choir sang together, their heart rates tended to increase and decrease at similar times. “As soon as the singing begins, (the hearts) start following each other,” Vickhoff…