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:My View: What will you do with an English degree? PlentyI just found my first reading assignment…AcademiaIn May, 2002, I…
Playwright Arthur Miller on Terrorism
“Ever since Stalin and the Nazis, reality has transcended fiction.” (BBC) —Playwright Arthur Miller on Terrorism Similar:What Could Have Been Entering the Public Domain on January 1, 2012?Current US law extends copyright protect…BooksInside Voices — A Weekend MusicalCarolyn was in this short movie, conceiv…AestheticsText Wrangler Discontinued (Free Mac Text Editor)I still miss Notepad++, a Windows tool o…Current_EventsPassage:…
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:Charles Schulz's Letter About Democracy, Discovered 50 Years Later | KQEDJoel Lipton, 10 years old at the time, w…ArtOk, never mind Dusgcxms2… buddy, you…
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:My Latest Classic Tales Online PurchaseJust finished listening to B. J. Harris …Books‘These are all fake news,’ said the honor student. He was wrong.Kim Ash teaches the…
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:I am not really sure why I have kept it up this long. I have no immediate or foreseeable p… CultureNever trust a corporation to do a…
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:Viral App FaceApp Now Owns Access To More…
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:New Facebook Notifications Alert Users When They Not Currently Looking At Facebook “We hope these helpful new alerts will …AmusingSam Shepard Giggles, Doesn't GoogleI wrote my undergraduate honors thesis o…CybercultureShip in a Bottle (#StarTrek #TNG…
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:“Oh,…
"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:Harvard University says it can't afford journal publishers' pricesRobert Darnton, director of Harvard Libr…AcademiaBooks Wield a Dangerous PowerWhile we might point to violent video ga…BooksThe real Lord of the Flies: what happened when six boys were shipwrecked for 15 months…
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:Coding Sucks: Why a Job in Programming Is Absolute HellI enjoyed the essay, but the truths it i…CultureStarship Mine (#StarTrek #TNG Rewatch,…
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:Press X to Teach Ready to mash up gaming and teaching a…AcademiaSupport the arts in your community! @geyer_pac Hello…
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:Paradise Lost #StarTrek #DS9 Rewatch (Season 4, Episode 12) Sisko Uncovers…
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:I’ve roughed out earthen embankments for the city walls. I know there…
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:Make Video Horizontal Again For confessionals or tapdance routi…AcademiaAll the world’s an appA review of three books — The App Gener…Culture‘These are all fake news,’…
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:Anti-globalism Is Common Factor in Social…
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 Perfect Mate (#StarTrek #TNG Rewatch, Season 5, Episode 21) Picard fails to bore an em…Rewatching ST:TNG A fussy ambassa…Amusing'Robot Journalist' Out-Writes Human Sports ReporterSports journalism is…
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:Your first test layout of medieval city streets will be your worst. #blender3d #medievalyo…Your first test layout of medieval…
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:Soldiers of the Empire #StarTrek #DS9 Rewatch (Season 5, Episode…