The Democratic Primary Season in 7 Minutes – Channel '08: The 2008 Election on Video

A good example of new media journalism, in which narration and animation weave short video clips into a coherent analysis. Via the Washington Post. Our partners at Slate.com created a seven-minute satirical depiction of the Democratic primary season thus far. It covers Sen. Hillary Clinton’s “cackle,” Sen. Mike Gravel scowling at the camera, debates, former…

The New World of Computers (1965)

Our Sons their Father’s failing mainframes see, And where lies reel-to-reel goes USB. Similar:I have for some reason reached another #duolingo milestone.CultureStudents Produce Breathtaking 3D Simulation of 17thC LondonThe haze effect lying over the city is b…DesignI’m fairly satisfied with this version of a medieval building trimsheet. (Source photo is …I’m fairly satisfied with this…

The Storybook Forest Copyeditor

If your father is an English professor, how do you respond to poorly written signs in a kiddie park? Everywhere I go, I like taking pictures of signs with mistakes that make good classroom proofreading examples. Shortly after I moved to Western Pennsylvania, I learned that Idlewild Park is the regional version of Disneyland.  Every…

The Power of Suggestion

Jason Lutes: With every step “forward” in any area of human endeavor, something is gained, and with rare exception there is a concomitant loss. I feel this keenly in video game design, as the cutting edge of graphics slices into the future, opening up new and ever hotter arteries of experience for the player, but…

Buying Its Way Onto the Program?

The idea of paying for positive coverage at a scholarly conference is 0% original. Inside Higher Ed reports on Turnitin.com’s awkward efforts to get positive coverage at the 4Cs next year.  (Via KairosNews, which links to blogger reactions.) The issue of paying professors to attend the 4C’s meeting is particularly sensitive because of the make-up…

Please Use This Door

More cruel jokes to play on literal-minded people. Similar:Has Academia Ruined Literary Criticism? “Professing Criticism” proceeds on the…AcademiaCourage Wolf: Write "Could Of" or "Would Of." I Dare You.AmusingThe Minecraft GenerationIt’s a world of trial and error and cons…AestheticsEye of the Beholder (#StarTrek #TNG Rewatch, Season 7, Episode 18) Troi probes a crewman's… Rewatching ST:TNG An…

Spoof of Get Lamp Trailer

Not the best spoof I’ve ever seen, but if you really want to see a spoof of a trailer of a documentary about text adventure games, you might be somewhat amused. (Here’s the original.) I’m mocked in this, if that’s any incentive to anyone… Similar:"Dammit Mom, I'm a daughter, not a theoretician!"”Dammit Mom, I’m a…

U.S. Spies Use Custom Videogames to Learn How to Think

Wired: The U.S. Army Intelligence Center is using a custom game to train interrogators, or “human collectors,” as they are euphemistically known. Known by the staggering title of Intelligence and Electronic Warfare Tactical Proficiency Trainer Human Intelligence Control Cell, the simulation was designed by General Dynamics from the shooter Far Cry. The Army game features…

Making Wikis Work for Scholars

Inside Higher Ed: “Information on computer science subjects in Wikipedia is likely to be accurate and informative, often using unique resources to illustrate concepts that are not available to print media,” wrote de Medeiros in an e-mail. “This probably derives from the fact that computer scientists use the computer as their main form of access…