Learn from this typesetter’s mistake

Wisdom to keep in mind as I plan for this semester’s “History and Future of the Book.”   FAIL Blog. Similar:'My Fair Lady' Couldn't Actually Dance All Night, So These Songs Had To GoClever little Easter eggs in this articl…DesignStephen Coles’ The Anatomy of Type, reviewed.Talk nerdy to me. You’re my type. What …AestheticsMisleading Publisher…

Constitutional Kombat: Psychological Evidence Used to Restrict Video-game Violence

Violent video games have triggered substantial controversy due to highly publicized incidents of youth violence that have been allegedly inspired by the content of such games. Several jurisdictions have passed legislation penalizing the distribution of violent video games to minors and used psychological research to support the justification for such laws. However, courts have consistently…

on lesson plans and pedagogic tactics

I am far less interested in turning my students into good bloggers, or good podcasters, or good YouTubers, and far more interested in helping them develop the big-picture synthesizing and evaluative skills that will enable them to learn whatever comes along next, and to keep learning whatever comes next.  Of course, I also ask students…

Raising a stink over printer ink

The price of printer cartridges has long irritated consumers and their advocates, and they say the lack of information from manufacturers only aggravates the situation. One recent study even estimated that consumers could save billions of dollars a year if they were armed with full information about how much it would cost to operate various…

First-Person Tetris

An interesting spin on Tetris. Similar:After a pretty crappy day, I found shreds of joy in this clip of socially distanced salsa.In my discipline, teaching small seminar…AestheticsFacebook Hired Journalists to Train Its Trending Topics AlgorithmRecently I noticed an unusually incendia…BusinessImaginary vs Real Office SpaceHere’s a fantasy workspace, that I built…AcademiaPushing and pulling vertices. Components that…

What Type are You?

Why did Brian Wilson use Cooper Black on the cover of Pet Sounds? Why did Obama use Gotham for his election propaganda? It has long been apparent that typefaces reflect the character of the person using them, and that type choice, as well as the words that are typed, is a powerful conveyor of meaning. At…

I Hate Your Blog — MC Frontalot

Very catchy tune. I love the way the meter of the refrain sputters, not unlike the sporadic posts of a blog that won’t die. Similar:Subtle Stylesheet Tweaks for Mobile SiteOn the mobile version of my WordPress we…AestheticsNarrative, Creativity, and EvolutionMy students are finishing up Hayles, My …AcademiaHow hate and misinformation go viral: A case study…

Nil by mouth

Afer extensive treatments for cancer, including the removal of part of his jaw, film critic Roger Ebert is still critiquing movies and writing, but he is unable to speak; he also can’t eat or drink. His recent column reflects on life without a mouth. One day in the hospital my brother-in-law Johnny Hammel and his…

The Turtlenecked Hairshirt

Ian Bogost has stirred up some discussion with his post on how digital humanities has challenged the humanities at large.  I’ve been very happy with the level of support I’ve received from my English colleagues, my humanities colleagues, and the dean, but all interdisciplinary, hybrid, and emerging fields rub against the sharp edges of the…

Colossal Cave Adventure Playthrough (with my 11-year-old son)

  Similar:Frodo Baggins, A.B.D.When I had pneumonia a few years into my…AcademiaFeeling Like an Impostor at 49I reminded my Shakespeare students that …AcademiaI MacGyvered myself a heat sinkI’m getting ready to record about 18hrs …DesignA rare win for Dad. CultureChecking sources back in 2006 involved using this *steampunk* contraption.Research Before Google Books AcademiaCommon Sense Media's AI…

My 11yo Son and I Play Adam Cadre's 9:05 (Interactive Fiction Playthrough)

Similar:Drumming Kid Is Epic. That Is All.https://youtu.be/MRvHI8tgx8A AestheticsIN-ZOOM (A world-premiere 10-minute play)A very current short play by Bill Irwin….CultureWhat Does the Demise of Cursive Mean?Are you aware that our children aren’t b…Culture"The Nightmare of Prince Prezelsky"Leigh, Peter, Carolyn and I had fun reco…AmusingMore modeling in #blender3d. Very happy with reflections and lighting. (The teacup is…

A playable game of Tabletop Pong

If that’s not good enough for you, try Similar:The Anatomy of an Amazon 6-pagerIn the halls of power at Amazon, busy ex…BusinessForgotten closet box: powder blue summer suit with a crisp 1990 $10 bill in the pocket and…The chunky laptop seems to boot and the …DesignIn March, 2002, I was blogging about…In March, 2002, I…

What art thou, Pez?

What are thou, Pez, that must needs be dispensed? T’ be merely wrapped would leave thee so incensed? T’were better still to leave the fingers sticky, Than be vomited up by the likes of Mickey. — Mark Janello Curtis Allina, 87, Put Heads on Pez Dispensers Similar:Stage Right's production of 'Secret Garden' is heart-tugging showIn…