Book recounts 100 years of county courthouse – Tribune-Review

Jennifer Reeger of the Tribune-Review (Pittsgurgh) reports on my colleague’s local (Westmoreland County) history book. “Thank God we do have this beautiful building,” said Mike Cary, professor of history and political science at Seton Hill University and an editor of a book on the courthouse’s history. “People remember Greensburg — they remember that dome when…

When Musicians Play Interactive Fiction

Nick Montfort, Grand Text Auto: Leonard Cohen Manhattan: Taken. Berlin: Taken. Similar:14 questions for new journalists to consider when filing a story – PoynterIf you’re new to reporting, here is an e…Education50 Years Ago: The World in 1961 – Alan Taylor – In Focus – The AtlanticA fantastic series of photos exploring t…AestheticsThe Penance of…

John Henry was a steel-drivin' bastard

Via MetaFilter: You’ve got just over two weeks to make it to the John Henry celebration in Leeds, Alabama, where some folks believe the legendary steel driving contest actually took place. Maybe you already made it to John Henry Days in Talcott, West Virginia (or read a fictionalized account), where some more folks claim the…

The Tale of the Mechanical Virus

Sean McBride: The problem I discovered was that one of the thin walls between the holes had broken and bent down, forming a ramp. When I plugged the DVI adapter into my computer, two of the pins went into the same hole, and the projector could no longer understand the output from my computer. However,…

Full Moon Rising

This evening, I was out in the yard playing with the kids, when they noticed the full moon rising above a house a little ways down the street. Similar:Merry Christmas 2022.PersonalPac-Man on Atari 800 @setonhilluniversity discussion of Summer reading book #readyplayeron…PersonalI’ve been teaching with this handout for over 25 years, updating it regularly. I just…

YouTube – Short Letterpress Documentary (Wonderful)

  Similar:For some reason, I saw a bump in traffic to a page that linked to a "make-your-own-Trump-e… This sort of thing was funnier back …AestheticsMake Video Horizontal Again For confessionals or tapdance routi…AcademiaBWW Reviews: Prepare Ye for GODSPELL in Fox Chapel  I’d like to say a few words in d…CultureLittle Green Men #StarTrek #DS9…

Colossal Cave Adventure — History

Couldn’t sleep. Thought I’d do some more work on the Wikipedia entry for Colossal Cave Adventure. Similar:More world-building props for a fantasy #steampunk #Blender3D project.DesignFather copes with toddler son's cancer by creating 'empathy' gameGreen and Larson both admit that even th…Aesthetics#PPTPlaytime adaptation of The Merchant of Venice.Top — nonverbal addition with Jessica an…DramaSights, Sounds, and…

YouTube – The Wilhelm Scream Compilation

The Wilhelm Scream is a sound effect that appears in many action films, as an in-joke among sound designers. Similar:The press lobby is going feral—ignore it Given that they need to write multiple…CultureNecessary Evil (#StarTrek #DS9 Rewatch, Season 2, Episode 8) Odo revisits his first case -…Rewatching ST:DS9 On a stormy night o…EmpathyMy Summer Project:…

Going South

It’s funny, because it’s true…. David Galef satirizes the humiliation humanities professors have to go through when requesting research funds: To Professor Michael Wall, Chair, English Department: This has to do with the travel budget for the coming academic year. As we discussed last spring, I need something on the order of $700 for the…

Is There Anything Good About Men?

Roy F. Baumeister One can imagine an ancient battle in which the enemy was driven off and the city saved, and the returning soldiers are showered with gold coins. An early feminist might protest that hey, all those men are getting gold coins, half of those coins should go to women. In principle, I agree.…

One in four read no books last year

One in four adults say they read no books at all in the past year, according to an Associated Press-Ipsos poll released Tuesday. Of those who did read, women and seniors were most avid, and religious works and popular fiction were the top choices. The survey reveals a nation whose book readers, on the whole,…