Story of the Week; Contextualizing Bartleby

Just stumbled across the wonderful “Story of the Week” web page, from the Library of America (publishers of the ubiquitous black-with-a-red-white-and-blue-ribbon classics). The current run of baseball-themed stories aren’t really my thing, but the archives go back to 2009. Further exploration of the site led to this thoughtful response to “Bartleby the Scrivener,” a precursor…

Still More FaceTime Fun

I realize that video-chatting teenagers everywhere already know this, but last night, while holing up in my hotel and preparing for the Conference on College Composition and Communication, I checked in with my family by video call. My wife, who usually doesn’t really care for computers at all, was interested enough to hang around for…

Where’s my gravity gun?

At the Mariott Marquis in Atlanta. A citadel of formed concrete. I’m in a Half Life 2 state of mind. Your browser does not support the video tag Similar:Beard Typeface GuideChristian Goldeman felt compelled to mat…AestheticsThis 1960s teenager knew the neighborhood that inspired August Wilson’s plays“Aw, man, you know the brother um takin’…AestheticsMechanical #greebles (more…

Tech Woes

I wore out my key to the media cabinet. It snapped right off in the lock. Similar:NASA reconnects with Voyager 1 (after months of confusion)  NASA says it is once again abl…AwesomeGingerbread USS EnterpriseMr. Sulu, set phasers to delicious! Whic…AestheticsWhy We Fall for Fake News and How to Bust ItMeasuring the impact of fake news…

J.K. Rowling Is Now Considering Harry Potter e-Books

The move would transform the electronic market and add to Rowling’s already impressive net worth. J.K. Rowling is considering releasing digital versions of her lucrative Harry Potter books. Though she has declined eBook deals for years, her agent Neil Blair now says, “The e-book format is now something that is being actively considered,” according to the…

YouTube – Complete History Of The Soviet Union, Arranged To The Melody Of Tetris

via YouTube – Complete History Of The Soviet Union, Arranged To The Melody Of Tetris. Similar:A New Talent EmergesI tried hard to frown disapprovingly whe…HomeTolkien v. Orwell: Who understood modern surveillance best?Interesting set of observations explorin…CultureSHU Commemoration of September 11 Terrorism Attacks — Looking Back After 10 YearsCome to listen. Come to share. Come toge…CultureIncoming…

iPad vs. Netbook for a 1:1 | EdReach

Here’s an interesting reflection — are iPads worth the extra cost, when compared to netbooks? EdReach says no. (More on that later.) At Seton Hill, students get a very nice MacBook (and they trade up after two years), as well as an iPad. It’s been great being at a university that is so supportive of…

YouTube – Top 5 Viral Pictures of 1911

Okay, this one was cute, too.  Top 5 Viral Pictures of 1911. Similar:Iffy "Cloak of Darkness" on Inform7/Parchment”Iffy Cloak of Darkness” is based on the…CybercultureElmo? Yes, I do mind. I learned far more from Bert.Like plenty of people my age, I grew up …AestheticsEssential Journalists: How Coronavirus Changed TV Newshttps://youtu.be/CWcEABVWbfA Current_EventsMy Father's Day adventure included…

Gmail Motion BETA

One of the better April 1 gags I’ve seen in a while. Love the “lick a stamp and place it down” gesture. Gmail Motion BETA. Similar:The Fantasticks (Oct 18-27, Theatre Factory)  https://youtu.be/SYp1jQaSwjo …CultureDo television and electronic games predict children’s psychosocial adjustment?Wow… what a drab, unquoteworthy, unsou…AcademiaFlying Saucer Irony AmusingThere is no cloud. It's just someone else's computer.I…

Take That, Malware!

I spent hours fighting to remove a virus from the virtual Windows box on my MacBook. I could have just flipped a switch and restored a backup, but that would have let the bad guys win. Similar:Desk blotters, with procedural leather and wood materials by Blendermada. #blender3dAestheticsHermann Zapf, the font designer behind Palatino and Zapf…