Jolie accused of hypocrisy over press 'gag'

The New York premiere of the film, on Wednesday, was held to support the organisation Reporters Without Borders, which defends journalists against persecution and combats censorship and laws that undermine press freedom. But several journalists covering the premiere objected when Jolie’s lawyer demanded they sign pre-interview contracts limiting exactly what they could and could not…

Negotiators: Ages Nine and Five

Negotiators: Ages Nine and Five (Jerz’s Literacy Weblog) I have a nine-year-old and a five-year-old who love each other to death, but do occasionally bicker. I tend to be far more impatient with the older child, since he is much more capable of finding something else to entertain himself. I generally remind him that, if he…

Church will face ''uphill battle'' if suing Sony, says legal expert

News emerged over the weekend that Church authorities have complained to Sony about the depiction of Manchester Cathedral in the game. Some reports have stated that the Church may pursue legal action against the company. But according to Alex Chapman of Campbell Hooper solicitors,”The Church will have an uphill battle in a legal claim against…

`Sopranos' extras thrown into TV history

But if Colandrea’s character was there to kill Tony Soprano, the actor who played him isn’t saying. “I do have an idea, but I cannot really talk,” Colandrea said Monday. “I have papers signed that I can’t make any comments on that.” Colandrea, who was born in Naples, auditioned for the role after a casting…

Courier-Journal reporter ejected from U of L game: Bennett removed for blogging super-regional

A Courier-Journal sports reporter had his media credential revoked and was ordered to leave the press box during the NCAA baseball super-regional yesterday because of what the NCAA alleged was a violation of its policies prohibiting live Internet updates from its championship events. —Rick Bozich —Courier-Journal reporter ejected from U of L game: Bennett removed…

Blogger removed from NCAA baseball game for blogging

According to the Courier-Journal, staff blogger Brian Bennett was approached by NCAA officials in the fifth inning of a game between the University of Lousville and Oklahoma State, told that blogging “from an NCAA championship event ‘is against NCAA policies (and) we’re revoking the (press) credential and need to ask you to leave the stadium.’”…

(BRACKETS) – hidden camera prank on unsuspecting public.

—(BRACKETS) – hidden camera prank on unsuspecting public. (YouTube) Amusing. Similar:YouTube distortion after the same clip is re-uploaded 1000 timesIn theory, technology lets people make a…AestheticsI watched E-mails glitter in the dark…   Transcript: Me: (Starts…AcademiaRubric for the Rubric Concerning Students’ Core Educational Competency In Reading Things I…Sadly, this only barely counts as satire…AcademiaUpdated Media Bias…

Richard Rorty, 1931-2007

“In recognition of his influential and distinctively American contribution to philosophy and, more widely, to humanistic studies. His work redefined knowledge ‘as a matter of conversation and of social practice, rather than as an attempt to mirror nature’ and thus redefined philosophy itself as an unending, democratically disciplined, social and cultural activity of inquiry, reflection,…

IF Comic

—IF Comic (David Garcia’s Blog) So far there are three installments of a new interactive fiction comic. I’ll be watching this site. Similar:Steve Strauss: Why I Hire English MajorsDoing things correctly earns you points …AcademiaIt's “Alexander’s Ragtime Band” 111th birthdayInteresting introduction to the history …BooksSurprise: Humanities Degrees Provide Great Return On InvestmentThe conventional wisdom is that…

How to Draw SteamPunk Machines

I am an animator and concept artist by trade. However, I don’t think my art is really so great that it deserves a “how to”. My devotion to my live steam hobby however, lends my steampunk designs a level of authenticity that often lacks in steampunk art. Therefore, this is just a quick explanation of…

BioShock

BioShock will be Ken Levine’s magnum opus. It will be his career defining game. It’s ambitious, unusual and aggressive, mixing the high polish expected of a “next generation” shooter, with equal parts storytelling, politics, and philosophy, all wrapped up in a bloody, underwater, 1940’s bow. […] The most prominent character in BioShock — Andrew Ryan,…