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:Fatworld ReviewOn Jan 14, Ian Bogost of Persuasive Game…CybercultureI actually don't mind Canvas — it just happens to be the…
Playwright Arthur Miller on Terrorism
“Ever since Stalin and the Nazis, reality has transcended fiction.” (BBC) —Playwright Arthur Miller on Terrorism Similar:Smith College Protesters Bar Journalists From Covering Sit-In Unless They Support the Caus…Reporters planning to cover the sit-in a…AcademiaPracticing Intellectual, Evidence-based DisagreementThis is what a busy literature seminar o…AcademiaLoki's Loop Escape RoomGreat concept for a virtual escape…CultureSo long, Newsweek…
Talk to Me
‘‘Hello,’’ a man’s voice, not my husband’s, said. I had no idea whom I’d called, but I had finally gotten through to New York, to news. NYT Magazine —Talk to Me Similar:Superman Comic about Sympathy and HopeJust in case someone out there could use…AestheticsShrek: The Musical (Nov 22-24; Stage Right! Greensburg)Come see me as the…
Novelist John Updike witnessed the WTC Attack
“The freedom we have enjoyed in the states has been unusual in world history and may be becoming more unusual.” (BBC) —Novelist John Updike witnessed the WTC Attack Similar:A quick primer on semicolonsIs your Sunday feeling incomplete becaus…CultureLoki's Loop Escape RoomGreat concept for a virtual escape…CultureNew York Times runs just 1000 names of the nearly…
Another Eyewitness Account
10:19 a.m. To: Dad Call Kozue [my wife] and tell her I’m fine. We evacuated my office and I’m walking somewhere. War zone. Jonathan Segal —Another Eyewitness Account Similar:How to lie with charts, by the @NYTimes I tend to defend journalism when sho…Current_EventsDoes the phrase "based off of" make you shudder… or shrug?Jerz > Writing >&nb…AcademiaJames Comey: Trump…
The Internet is Now a Dominant Tool for Regular People
The Internet has succeeded in becoming a tool that many regular people turn to in lieu of alternatives for communicating and for finding information. It has become a new, often-used tool in their personal toolbox. Dan Bricklin —The Internet is Now a Dominant Tool for Regular People Similar:How professors use their time: faculty time allocationInteresting…
www.derrickito.com
Large collection of links to the World Trace Center tributes that have sprung up after the towers came down. —www.derrickito.com Similar:Trump, halting his own policy: "I didn’t like sight of families being separated." No fake news here. This is why journ…Current_EventsVerification HandbookOne of journalism’s most treasured clich…Current_EventsSean Spicer: Hero in the War Against JournalismThe Onion…
The Americans
“Can you name me even one time when someone else raced to the Americans in trouble? I don’t think there was outside help even during the San Francisco earthquake. Our neighbours have faced it alone and I am one Canadian who is damned tired of hearing them kicked around.” Gordon Sinclair, 1973 —The Americans Similar:Scat…
"I was in the building when it all happened."
Harrowing first-person account from a survivor. —“I was in the building when it all happened.” Similar:In Defense of DistractionIf you’re a fan of lifehacking, you’ll a…CultureIn October, 1999 I was blogging about college application essays, Willie Crowther, and Eli… Jessica found herself wishing that s…AcademiaOscar Wilde and the Importance of Being Earnest (Part 1 of…
Net Draws Fire, Offers Comfort in Wake of Disaster
Interesting article focuses on how people are using the Internet to react to the terrorists attacks on New York and Washington. Globe and Mail —Net Draws Fire, Offers Comfort in Wake of Disaster Similar:Unmarked assignments in my queue: 0This app, which sports a little red noti…AcademiaTake a moment to appreciate these good COVID-19 statisticsMay 1,…
Semiotics for Beginners
“One of the broadest definitions is that of Umberto Eco, who states that ‘semiotics is concerned with everything that can be taken as a sign’ (Eco 1976, 7). Semiotics involves the study not only of what we refer to as ‘signs’ in everyday speech, but of anything which ‘stands for’ something else.” Daniel Chandler —Semiotics…
World Trade Center: Reflections on the Disaster
“Skyscrapers in general, and the twin towers of the World Trade Center in particular, symbolize, for many writers, either prideful arrogance, or a new technological beauty.” Dennis G. Jerz —World Trade Center: Reflections on the Disaster Similar:Los Angeles sheriff appears to back down after signaling he was investigating reporterVillanueva has repeatedly singled out LA…Current_EventsI never…
Online Health Websites Frequently Inaccurate
“[T]here were big holes in the information offered. Across all four health conditions, nearly a quarter of the key questions were completely ignored, and less than half were given both more than minimal coverage and complete accuracy.” Rae Fry —Online Health Websites Frequently Inaccurate Similar:Interface changes make it a little harder to work with Google's…
Apocalypse Soon: Is the Web-Development Fairy Tale Over?
Good web designers are a dime a dozen — just like the former armies of professional typists and word-processor operators, whose specialized tasks were eventually absorbed by the average office worker. Frank Yu, Gorilla Asia —Apocalypse Soon: Is the Web-Development Fairy Tale Over? Similar:Youth Can Check Out Briefcases, Neckties via NYPL Grow Up Work AccessoriesThe…
Children 'Slow' at Learning English
“Children learning to read and write in English are slower to master it than other European youngsters learning their own language, new research suggests.” BBC —Children ‘Slow’ at Learning English Similar:Dead metaphor alert, as far as the Associated Press is concernedOther signs of the digital age: we don’t…BooksReflections on Flannery O'Connor's "The River"I’m teaching “The…
Superstitions and carelessness
cause many boating deaths. “[I]f you believe an accident occurs because of the hand of God or because George opened the can of beans with the label upside-down, then that gives you every reason to not read safety literature or continue learning about fishing.” National Post —Superstitions and carelessness Similar:In March, 2001, I was blogging…
The Gentleman's Page: A Practical Guide for the 19th Century Man
“A gentleman should always walk around a lady’s train and never attempt to step over it. If by accident he should tread upon her dress, he should beg her pardon, and if by greater awkwardness he should tear it, he must offer to escort her to the dressing room so that it may be repaired.”…
10 Myths about Copyright Explained
“An attempt to answer common myths about copyright seen on the net and cover issues related to copyright and USENET/Internet publication.” Brad Templeton —10 Myths about Copyright Explained Similar:The new marshmallow test: Resisting the temptations of the webThe Stanford marshmallow experiment is a…AcademiaWhere is the tipping point?What if universities stopped buying acad…AcademiaThe Irreversible Damage of…
Scott Adams: Storytelling in Computer Games
The author of the first commercial computer game (“Adventureland,” 1978) leads a lively discussion on narrative, copyright, and violence. He also describes his first night playing EverQuest. UWEC English Festival. —Scott Adams: Storytelling in Computer Games Similar:Traces of ScribesBook historian Irene O’Daly notes that t…AcademiaIn May, 2000, I was blogging about the 'I Love You'…
How To Write a Book in 10 Days
“It won’t be a large book, but you can write a small book and get acquainted with the basics of how to write a book.” [But see this discussion thread: “Theory: Write a web-book in a day“] —How To Write a Book in 10 Days Similar:This English major will walk off the graduation platform this…