U.S. Cryptographers: 'FrpX-K5jE-Oc4n-e5Dn'

In a carefully phrased, 128-bit encoded announcement that has challenged U.S. security agency procedures, top officials of the National Cryptography and Information Security Council warned that “FrpX-K5jE-Oc4n-e5Dn” if “Ha4d-87gH-uiH3-gB5r-g8Bh” late Monday. —U.S. Cryptographers: ‘FrpX-K5jE-Oc4n-e5Dn’ (The Onion (Satire)) Similar:Multiple Choice = GoogleNo big surprises here, but this blog pos…AcademiaThe Amazon Mystery: What America's Strangest Tech Company Is…

Universal sues video-sharing websites

Universal Music, the world‘slargest record company, has launched the established media industry‘sfirst legal action against user-generated internet sites in the wake of its distribution deal last week with YouTube, the most popular video-sharing website. —Joshua Chaffin —Universal sues video-sharing websites (FT.com) Note that YouTube isn’t the one being sued. YouTube actually cut a deal with Universal.…

Online world to get news bureau

Reuters has opened a virtual news agency in the Second Life online world. The bureau will be staffed by Reuters media correspondent Adam Pasick who will report on the lives and business dealings of Second Life’s residents. —Online world to get news bureau (BBC) Similar:Pick Up Your Smartphone Less Often. You Might Think BetterResearch suggests we…

Participation Inequality: Encouraging More Users to Contribute

In most online communities, 90% of users are lurkers who never contribute, 9% of users contribute a little, and 1% of users account for almost all the action. —Jakob Nielsen —Participation Inequality: Encouraging More Users to Contribute (Useit.com) Similar:Brain, InterruptedIn most situations, the person juggling …AcademiaWhy Our Brains Make Us Click on ListsThe article-as-numbered-list has several…CultureKeyboard…

1,000-pound rosary sends heavy message: Pray

The rosary that retired quarry worker Bernard “Chub” Clark has created in his rural three acre yard near Nokomis is made of old bowling balls and probably weighs close to 1,000 pounds, give or take. —Tony Reid —1,000-pound rosary sends heavy message: Pray (Herald & Review) Now that’s style. Thanks for the link, Rosemary. Similar:Just wrote…

Cartoon tribute to Pope John Paul

A cartoon version of the life of Pope John Paul II, telling the story of his life and death in animated form, is to be released on DVD by the Vatican. —Cartoon tribute to Pope John Paul (BBC) I’m not at all surprised. John Paul II was an expert at reaching out in all media, so…

The Professor's Role in Admissions

As we sat in the admissions office, waiting to meet with a tardy faculty member, my daughter said she liked the place and could see herself enrolling there. But that quickly changed when the brusque and standoffish young professor arrived, coldly staring down at us and simply saying, “So what do you want to know?”…

One giant step for home entertainment?

Is this the way we will all be ‘enjoying’ our television programmes and computer games in the future? —One giant step for home entertainment? (Daily Mail) This will exercise your neck muscles, that’s for sure. Wait a minute… someone forgot to put the flat broom head on top of that helmet. Ohh this makes me angry.…

Dove – Evolution

Reginald Pike’s Yael Staav takes us from model to billboard in under 60 seconds in this impressive new spot from Dove. —Dove – Evolution (‘Boards) A short film that might be very useful for sparking discussion in a class studying the effect of marketing on women’s body image. This advertisement is still banking on the power…

Judge doesn't object to video game `Bully'

On Wednesday, Friedman ordered Take-Two to give him a copy of the game, along with providing someone to play the game for him to watch before he made a decision. A Take-Two employee played the game for the judge Thursday afternoon, using a cheat code to go through the game faster. A game like Bully…

Texas school tells classes to fight back

Response Options trains students and teachers to “lock onto the attacker’s limbs and use their body weight,” Browne said. Everyday classroom objects, such as paperbacks and pencils, can become weapons. “We show them they can win,” he said. “The fact that someone walks into a classroom with a gun does not make them a god.…

''Junior — put down that book and turn on the electric dog-washer''

Anyone over a certain age — and you know who you are — will remember those wonderful days of peppermint sticks and electric dog-washers, a magic time when running barefoot through the grass and having your cocker spaniel buffed and pressure-rinsed to a glossy sheen at the flip of a switch was every boy’s birthright.…

Why? Why? Why am I spending Friday night clearing out my in box?

Why? Why? Why am I spending Friday night clearing out my in box? There were 1900 e-mails in my in box when I sat down an hour ago. Now there are only 1250 or so. I feel good about that, but pathetic at the same time. There has to be a German word for “the…

Dr. Martin Sandry: 1937 – 2006

Dr. Sandry loved jazz–he played clarinet and saxophone–and was a big fan of Dave Brubeck and Charlie Parker. —Dr. Martin Sandry: 1937 – 2006 (Chicago Tribune) Uncle Marty had been married to my father’s sister for over 30 years. I remember him for his passion for jazz music, and his kindness towards my aunt. Thanks…

Man to live three years in cave

“When I remained 366 days underground, I had the impression of only spending 219 days,” he said. —Man to live three years in cave (BBC) Similar:Donald Trump Is a Broken Man (Assessment by Speechwriter for Reagan and both Bushes)Powerful assessment of Donald Trump, wri…CultureThe dangers of 'character education' in universitiesAs the authors depressingly note, “the U…AcademiaThe…

Home-schoolers get taste of classroom

While their children are in class, parents like Hanlon and Leigh Jerz, of Unity Township, sit and chat. Jerz’s 8-year-old son, Peter, is participating for the first time. “I thought it would be enjoyable for us to see other home-school children and parents more regularly,” Jerz said. Hanlon said the program offers home-schoolers resources they…

Many a Quaint and Curious Volume of Forgotten Flash

Many a Quaint and Curious Volume of Forgotten Flash Many a Quaint and Curious Volume of Forgotten Flash (Jerz’s Literacy Weblog) Just a bit of fun with Flash. (My work for chapters 3 & 4 of Flash Journalism…. I’m just barely staying ahead of my students.) Similar:iMovie Glitch: Unplug Removable Media before Using iMovieI spent…

The Problem is Choice: Aporia, Epiphany, and Conflict in Interactive Fiction Endings

The parser in Adventure is harder to use than most interactive fiction parsers, because this is the first of its type and fairly primitive. This is almost immediately evident when a user makes it to the building. One obvious thing to do would be to input “enter building;” doing so, however, returns the message “That’s…

The Handwriting Is on the Wall

The loss of handwriting also may be a cognitive opportunity missed. The neurological process that directs thought, through fingers, into written symbols is a highly sophisticated one. Several academic studies have found that good handwriting skills at a young age can help children express their thoughts better — a lifelong benefit. Children who don’t learn…

Home wind turbines turn fashionable in Britain

A mere breath of a breeze disturbs the quiet of autumn in south London and the wind turbine on the gable of Donnachadh McCarthy’s home turns lazily. The morning sun casts shadows from solar panels onto the walls of the house and filters through the windows into his living room. “I’m in surplus. I am…