The Need for Editors on the Web

There’s way too much information online.  What really matters to readers is quality, not quantity. Gerry McGovern —The Need for Editors on the Web Similar:Kids Whose Parents Limit Screen Time Do Worse in College, New Study Shows  “Parents normally set these ru…AcademiaYou are in a book. There is a typo here.Sigh. Critical Path – Dan…

Why Metadata is Important

Metadata “collects critical information such as heading, summary, author name, date of publication, classification, keywords, etc…. Without metadata a document is left floating in a cyberspace filled with 550 billion other documents. The chances of it being found by the right person at the right time are greatly diminished.” Gerry McGovern —Why Metadata is Important…

Silicon Valley Reporter

“[T]he Internet story has come to an end.” Reuters —Silicon Alley Reporter Magazine Closes (Wired) Similar:In February, 2001, I was blogging about computer nostalgia, Napster, a horror typing game,…In February, 2001, I was blogging about …CybercultureThe Drudge Report is pulling no punches as it covers the Trump document sagaThe Drudge Report is pulling no punches…

Hegemony Online

“a cybernetic process whereby people in power deepen their dominance by using online communication to negotiate for the consent of the subjugated.” Mike Dorsher —Hegemony Online (UWEC) Similar:Proto iPads and Paper Coexist in Classic Star TrekRewatching the classic Trek episode “The…CybercultureUnderstanding Shakespeare: "Pick a play. Click a line…"Pick a play. Click a line. Instantly see…CultureThe…

Valedictory on Software

“The Argument: A dying human being is like an automated spacecraft leaving the Solar System and entering interstellar space. Do we leave this world and arrive at another world?” Poetry by Jonathon Vos Post —Valedictory on Software Similar:In 2019, I have a college student who annotates readings like this!I asked students in my online “Dystopia…

Brave New World for Higher Education

MIT will offer its courses online for free: “This ‘OpenCourseWare’ initiative represents a radically different approach to digitizing, marketing and globalizing education.” —Brave New World for Higher EducationTechnology Review) Similar:The focus on misinformation leads to a profound misunderstanding of why people believe and…I’m consciously fighting confirmation bi…Current_EventsTwittering The MachineI’ve never been a phone guy.  My…

When Blogging Came of Age

(CNet) :”Sometimes they were raw, sometimes they were pretentious and sometimes they were flat-out wrong–I’d dare say that many times it was all three combined!–but the information was fresh and real and unmediated by any intervening institutions.” Charles Cooper —When Blogging Came of Age Similar:Lysistrata live.Current_EventsIndustriousness. Self-improvement. Thrift. And orange slime. The girl amusing herself…

Webloggers Offer View Media Can't

(SiliconValley.com) “Via e-mails, mailing lists, chat groups, personal Web journals and non-standard news sources, they received valuable context that the major American media couldn’t, or wouldn’t, provide.” Dan Gillmor   —Webloggers Offer View Media Can’t Similar:Newspaper For Sale: The Growing Threat of News Deserts in Western PennsylvaniaAs circulation has declined, local newsp…BusinessHow Poetry Helps You Improve…

And the Banned Played On

Of course, you can’t trust everything that you find on the Internet…. weblogs and e-mail chains are also responsible for spreading hoaxes: “Is it true, for instance, that Osama bin Laden profits directly from sales of gum arabic, a food additive? Or that radio DJs are forbidden to play more than 150 popular songs now?” …

Jakob Nielsen Drinking Game

“Every time he excuses his own refusal to observe the rules he dictates to everyone else on the grounds that he ‘knows his audience’, take one drink…. Every time he quotes statistics from an unrelated study to prove a point about Web usability, take one drink.” Jakob Nielsen Drinking Game Not that I’m condoning the…

Front Page News

“In which we take apart the news and put it back together all wrong.” A collection of short stories composed by re-arranging the words found in front-page news stories. Shelly Jackson —Front Page News Similar:Can the multiverse explain human history?Where did this idea of parallel universe…CultureRethinking TV news, Part III: First, kill the stand-upI’ve told…

The Warnings Were on Page 1

“These angry radicals who have now declared war on the West emerged from a movement we financed and armed. Then it turned against us.” LA Times —The Warnings Were on Page 1 Similar:Can AI write good novels?I expect that this is probably the year …AcademiaSymbiosis (TNG Rewatch, Season 1 Episode 22)Rewatching Star Trek: The Next…

A Punitive Puppeteer?

From the user license for Microsoft FrontPage 2002: “You may not use the Software in connection with any site that disparages Microsoft, MSN, MSNBC, Expedia, or their products or services…” Ed Foster (I don’t have FP 2002, so I can’t check this. –DGJ) —A Punitive Puppeteer? Similar:What a 21st-Century English Major Can Do: Screencast Demo…

Technology and Pleasure

“The popular image of the computer hacker seems to be part compulsive programmer preferring the company of computers to people, and part criminal mastermind… But this is at best only half the story.” Gisle Hannemyr —Technology and Pleasure Similar:Facebook Puts a Downer on UpworthyFacebook Inc. changed its newsfeed algor…Business80 Days: "1872, with a steampunk twist.…

The President's Speech

“By sacrificing human life to serve their radical visions, by abandoning every value except the will to power, they follow in the path of fascism, Nazism and totalitarianism. And they will follow that path all the way to where it ends in history’s unmarked grave of discarded lies.” George W. Bush —The President’s Speech Similar:Hermann…

Aboard Flight 564

, the captain gave an inspirational speech over the loudspeaker, and concluded: “Now, since we’re a family for the next few hours, I’ll ask you to turn to the person next to you, introduce yourself, tell them a little about yourself and ask them to do the same.” Wash Times —Aboard Flight 564 Similar:Avoiding Spoilers…

Many modern idioms are mechanical: “she has a screw loose,” or “he broke down crying”. Every culture has its in-jokes and specialized language. The Jargon File defines computing terms such as “404 compliant” and “kluge“. Similar:Why teens need live theater in the age of YouTubeA good article from the Boston Globe. T…CultureIn April, 2002, I…

Playwright Arthur Miller on Terrorism

“Ever since Stalin and the Nazis, reality has transcended fiction.” (BBC) —Playwright Arthur Miller on Terrorism Similar:Obama vs. Romney D&D Smack-Down at NYC GalleryThis week, if you head to the Allegra La…AestheticsAnother NewsBreak.com Exclusive Exposes a Royal Family Lie #FakeNewsYou sheep who trust the lamestream fake …AmusingRemember Who The Enemy IsGood article on Catching Fire.…