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:The Skin of Our Teeth Panel Discussion (Seton Hill University, October 2021; Carolyn Jerz,…https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=k03kQ7Ot…AcademiaJournalists call out White House claims on terror reportingThe easily-disproved surface-level…

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:"Cool" Rosetta Mission Scientist Matt Taylor Objectifies Women via T-Shirt, LanguageHow very sad that someone with this leve…AestheticsNASA Just Found a Lost SpacecraftIf movies about space have taught…

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:Greensburg student wins Shakespeare contest A Greensburg student did the Bard pr…CultureThe Duolingo owl has been judging my German every day for the last year.EducationA Time magazine…

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:The Pointlessness of UnpluggingWhat sex was for the Puritans, technolog…Current_EventsI was 'raped' in VR – the effects can 'mirror' real sex assaultsThis is offensive, deeply troubling, and…CultureMy students seem increasingly confused by the difference between…

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:Puns…

"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:Given a chance to explain his support for a YouTuber who warns about alien DNA, Trump abru…After mounting a half-hearted defense of…Current_EventsHow Bad Design Wrecked Steve Harvey's "Universe"The consequences weren’t as serious as t…Current_EventsFact check: Trump lies about CNN at Mississippi…

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…

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:Don’t patronize older adults by calling them ‘the elderly’In English grammar, we use the definite …CulturePrime Stage presents ‘Twelfth Night’ as season-ending productionLooking forward to…

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:2001: A Space Odyssey – Discerning…

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:You Must Not ‘Do Your Own Research’ When It Comes To ScienceI don’t have scientific expertise. I wor…CultureHow Humans Respond to RobotsThe play that coined the word…

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:In October, 2002, I was blogging about stupid space explosions, the superiority complex, w…In October, 2002, I was blogging…

Helvetica Bold Oblique Sweeps Fontys

Helvetica Bold Oblique was the big winner at Tuesday’s 73rd Annual Fonty Awards, taking home 11 statues, including those for Best Sans Serif and the highly coveted 2001 Best Font prize. Satire from The Onion —Helvetica Bold Oblique Sweeps Fontys Similar:How Literature Became Word Perfect There can be no true distinction drawn …CybercultureNASA Calls It…