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:An Academic Conference Where YOU are the Hero: Interactive Fiction in Print…
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:Boston bombings: Social media spirals out of controlA thoughtful analysis. Problem-solver…CultureNASA! Mars!! Panorama!!! Video!!!! Audio!!!!!New video from NASA’s…
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:Watching ‘To…
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…
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?”…
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.…
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…
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…
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.…
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? 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. 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…
“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:The Emissary (ST:TNG Rewatch: Season Two, Episode 20) — Enjoyable Worf-centered RomanceRewatching ST:TNG after a 20-year break….CultureFacebook exec erroneously cites The Lord of the Rings when comparing the social network to…A…
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 (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:Tin Man (#StarTrek #TNG Rewatch, Season Three, Episode 20)…
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 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…
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…
A Florida woman has been awarded $11.3 million in a defamation lawsuit against a Louisiana woman who posted messages on the Internet accusing her of being a “crook,” a “con artist” and a “fraud.” —Laura Parker —Jury awards $11.3M over defamatory Internet posts (USA Today) I haven’t looked into the details of this case, here is…
Internet search leader Google is snapping up YouTube for $1.65 billion, brushing aside copyright concerns to seize a starring role in the online video revolution. —Google Snaps Up YouTube for $1.65B (AP|MyWay) Similar:The Surprisingly Savvy Weird Al Internet Machine When he talks about his business being…Aesthetics"I don't view Shakespeare's work as intimidating anymore." — midterm reflection…