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:Grading the MOOC UniversityThe MOOC classrooms are growing at Big B…AcademiaAnyone capitalized in a standard how way without no lowercase pretension down.Fact CheckA Robotic Dog’s MortalityFascinating video journalism from the Ne…CultureInterface (#StarTrek #TNG Rewatch, Season…

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:Last night I dreamed I was a stagehand during a metatheatrical number called “Butts in Sea…I saw Seton Hill’s production of The Dro…DramaNational Headline Contest 2011Great headlines from winner David Bowman…AestheticsVintage Freebies for DesignersI wish I had time for cool stuff like th…AestheticsGoodbye, Google Search. I've switched to search.brave.com …for…

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:Ambiguous language in journalism: Monkey Pox and Camel Privates Amazing lead: A veterinarian prescr…AmusingEmail (finding the right tone as a writer) http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=qXlgO…CybercultureThe iPad Falls Short of Expectations—But What Does That Mean?…

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:Why I Like Papers, PleaseAt a certain point, the transit papers w…AestheticsAnnie Sullivan on teaching:  Helen Keller, rendered blind and dea…CultureSports Illustrated Published Articles by Fake, AI-Generated WritersThe AI authors’ writing often sounds lik…CybercultureRIP Metaverse, we hardly knew yeI am curious enough about cockatoos that…AcademiaChatGPT Can't Kill Anything Worth PreservingMany are wailing that this…

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

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A playable game of Tabletop Pong

If that’s not good enough for you, try Similar:In education, Apple must augment the reality of the cheap notebookIn 2012, Apple tried to position iPads a…CybercultureWhy We Forget Most of the Books We ReadIt was pleasurable to encounter a famili…BooksIf I don’t hang my own artwork on the walls of my #steampunk fantasy ship-of-the-line, who…AestheticsJaz…

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:iTunes 11: It’s time for Apple’s horrible, bloated program…

crazy…creative…it's a fine line

What would be more awesome than a colorful display of iconic images from 100 beloved games? How about a colorful display of iconic images from 100 beloved games on cupcakes? Similar:Writing Computer Games with InklewriterIf brass lanterns or slathering-fanged g…CybercultureMisSpelled: Premiering Oct 1In this podcast series, I voice a mage w…AmusingThe Ascent #StarTrek #DS9 Rewatch…