The Silver Lining

A fan-produced Kings Quest sequel is shut down. What a way to treat your brand’s most loyal followers. Recently, however, ownership of the Sierra IP changed hands and became the property of Activision. After talks and negotiations in the last few months between ourselves and Activision, they have reached the decision that they are not…

The Internet Bible: The Fall of Eve

Via Similar:Benedict XVI (Pontifex) on TwitterJohn Paul II was a master of communicati…Current_EventsWhen Robert Pinsky Wrote a Video Game[F]or a brief time in the mid-nineteen-e…CultureFigured out how to configure my iPad as an external monitor for my laptop. Much more effic…CybercultureMost Television From Before 2000 Is Trapped in the Uncanny ValleyJust as the technological innovation…

Doyle Redland Says Goodbye

I’m still mourning the loss of Herman T. Zwiebel.  And now this? Similar:FBI admits flaws in hair analysis over decadesSo what if a WaPo story about huge flaws…Current_EventsYou're not going to read thisI ask my students to contextualize links…BusinessText Adventure Geeks Rejoice: Major Inform7 UpdateI have final grades, an annual report, a…Current_EventsOn UVa rape story:…

"By Their Sidewalks You Will Know Them"

There are no sidewalks where I live, but if there were, my sidewalk, and my conscience, would be clear. Here’s the first stanza of a five-stanza poem by TImons Esaias. Originally there were eleven CommandmentsMoses, perhaps confused by the unfamiliarsnow, ice, and sidewalk,botched one, and left it out. Similar:Adding a little Middle-Earth drama to a…

The ABCs of Adventuring

Thanks for this find, Mark Sample (via Twitter). The ABCs of Adventuringby Admiral Jota, Dylan O’Donnell, G. Kevin Wilson, and Dan Shiovitz.A is for Adventure, the first of them all;B is for Brass lantern, so you don’t take a fall.C is for Compass, an unseen one you keepD is for Drinking, eating and sleep.E is…

What Makes a Great Teacher?

Gripping story of an effort to use data to predict teaching excellence. As Teach for America began to identify exceptional teachers using this data, Farr began to watch them. He observed their classes, read their lesson plans, and talked to them about their teaching methods and beliefs. He and his colleagues surveyed Teach for America…

Why Google Has Become Microsoft's Evil Twin

Google Buzz combined the openness of Twitter with the “whoo-hoo look at me!” aspects of Facebook. The result? A total face plant. —PC World Similar:Letter of Recommendation: Fanny PacksWhat other accessory ensures the safety …CultureAnother #steampunk #neovictorian control panel module. #blender3d #blender3dart #design #…AestheticsStar Wars Han Solo in Carbonite Silicon Ice Tray  Star Wars Han…

Critical Code Studies Working Group — Colossal Cave Adventure Annotation

This week, I’ll be facilitating a week-long collaborative annotation project, as part of the Critical Code Studies Working Group online conference, on the source code to Crowther’s original Colossal Cave Adventure (a classic text-only computer game from the 1970s). According to Donald Knuth, designer of the “literate programming paradigm,” Colossal Cave Adventure is the “ur-game…

Happy V-Day: Valentines for Journalists

Valentines for Journalists. Similar:Kafka Meets Charlie BrownThis year marks the 100th anniversary of…AmusingWoah there, online tech site. Let's not set that bar too high, now.I just saw the following clickbait for a…Current_EventsFascinating details in reports about Trump's Russian retractionWe’re all still reeling from Trump’s sta…Current_Events'The Meatball: Not a Funny Rhyme' says Peter Jerz, age 5-3/4;…