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:Unification, Part 1 (#StarTrek #TNG Rewatch, Season 5, Episode 7) Picard Questions Sarek a…Rewatching ST:TNG Informed that t…Drama‘There’s a certain madness to it’ … fans await new…

Tech Woes

I wore out my key to the media cabinet. It snapped right off in the lock. Similar:Rehearsal Rabbi-CamThis weekend, I will be playing the rabb…CultureIn August 1999 I was blogging about Poohsticks Bridge, penmanship, Archimedes, and ebooksIn August 1999, I was blogging about …BooksPater Noster Passenger ElevatorsSome 50 years ago, my father took me to…

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:Kirby Delauter SagaLet’s hope many, many more journalism st…HomeHacking the WordPress Social Plugin to Include Pages in Addition to PostsI love the WordPress Social plugin, whic…HomeTolkien v. Orwell: Who understood modern surveillance best?Interesting set of observations explorin…CultureSuch deep roots you…

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:This Is Not a Book: Thomas Jefferson & Apple's App StoreHumanities professors from the Universit…Academia1,000-pound rosary sends heavy message: PrayThe rosary that retired quarry worker Be…AestheticsThe bots are coming. And they have poems.  Yet in a circle pallid as it f…CybercultureThe Best of…

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:Things may be awful, but at least an invasive species of spider the size of a child's hand…AmusingThe t-shirt many professors would enjoy wearing Inside Higher EdAcademiaHomefront #StarTrek #DS9 Rewatch (Season…

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:Who Watches the Watchers (ST:TNG Season Three Episode 4) Rationalist, talky mythbustingRewatching ST:TNG after a 20-year break….EthicsHow to Make…