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…CultureFormer student: "I remember sometimes being annoyed with all of our blogging assignments, …A third alum in the last few weeks has c…AcademiaHow hate and misinformation go viral: A case study…
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:Mask-wearing cuts Covid incidence by 53%, says global study Globally, Covid cases exceeded 250 mil…CulturePersonal Essays: 7 Tips for Expressing Ideas in Words Wondering how to…
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:'Dream' casting a family affairAmong actors in Cabaret Theatre’s upcomi…CultureMy Cow Game Extracted Your Facebook DataThe Cambridge Analytica scandal is drawi…Amusing80 Days: "1872, with a steampunk twist. Phileas Fogg has wagered he can…
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:He checkmates me in two moves. I lasted about a half hour, and went down fighting.PersonalRehearsal Rabbi-CamThis weekend, I will be playing the rabb…CultureNew rules governing drone journalism are on the way — and there’s reason to be optimisticMapping disasters? So long as you’ve got…Current_EventsThe…
Next up: Stage Right summer musical theater camp starts Monday! Similar:Why Can't My New Employees Write? | Just VisitingWe’re talking about elite students here …AcademiaHad a blast watching all the amazing entries in Pittsburgh's 48 Hour Film Festival, b…PersonalStill More FaceTime FunI realize that video-chatting teenagers …Media11 Problems to Anticipate Before Your Next Website RedesignI’m…
Testing a tool to automate connections between iOS apps. Similar:Schadendrücke: Click-shameHomeComputers and Writing Conference 2013Where a nerd can be a nerd. (Thanks f…HomeVerizon Forced Me to Remove Parentheses, Quotation Marks, and Apostrophes from a Customer …When I finally found a way to contact Ve…HomeSuch deep roots you have: How Little Red Riding Hood's tale evolvedDid…
Similar:The Cabinet of Dr. Caligari (workshop premiere of a new musical by Greg Kerestan) I really enjoyed seeing the first work…CultureNo girl wins: three ways women unlearn their love of video games – OffworldSeveral times I assigned Brenda Laurel’s…BusinessGoogle 1407Philipp Lenssen and I had a bit of fun i…Aestheticsdungeon.jpg (JPEG Image, 2535×1616 pixels)Great Zork map.AestheticsDeath…
Submitted revisions of 6 video tutorial scripts & drafted 5 more. Also, scored 3 boxes of leftover reception cupcakes and 1 of brownies. Similar:Happy Sweet Sixteen, Carolyn!The girl spent her birthday weekend open…PersonalI just discovered what will grind up a significant portion of my free time over the break.So Khan Academy now has a grammar…
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:Yes, I do feel rather awesome right now.Lost brand-new earbuds. Reached in pocke…PersonalFormer student: "I remember sometimes being annoyed with all of our blogging assignments, …A third alum in the last few weeks has c…AcademiaMaybe I'll just…
I just touched up a handout on Parallel Structure vs Faulty Parallelism. Similar:Courage Wolf: Write "Could Of" or "Would Of." I Dare You.AmusingBing’s A.I. Chat Reveals Its Feelings: ‘I Want to Be Alive. 😈’In a two-hour conversation with our colu…Current_EventsSports Illustrated Published Articles by Fake, AI-Generated WritersThe AI authors’ writing often sounds lik…CybercultureOverwhelmed? Start a…
These comic panels cover the issue well. (Pennington Publishing) Similar:What's next in game narrative, with Emily Short Something that I tended to think was…CultureIf You Ever Find a Link to ThoughtCatalog, I'm Begging You Not to Click It Here’s a thought… nothing you can …BusinessComputer scientist Leslie Lamport to [Brandeis] grads: If you can’t…
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…
Standardized testing rewards standardized thinking, while excluding creativity, resilience & other “soft” skills. I have started gong out of my way to remind students in my classes that I am not comparing their papers to a “correct answer” in the back of my book — I want them to learn a habit of mind that…