, 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:Allergic to…
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:Three-dimenstional PrintersA new generation of three-dimensional pr…DesignComputers and Writing workshop on Inform 7. (Happening now. In an asynchronous way.)https://youtube.com/playlist?list=PLa8nP…AcademiaMaybe I'll…
“Ever since Stalin and the Nazis, reality has transcended fiction.” (BBC) —Playwright Arthur Miller on Terrorism Similar:‘You deserve that’: Commissioner’s wife arrested after dumping soda over a reporter’s head It was supposed to be a county…Current_EventsAP wins reinstatement to White House events after judge rules government can’t bar its jou…A federal judge ordered the White…
‘‘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:Liberal arts college professor assaults alt-right group memberCarefully choosing language that fits yo…AcademiaStar Wars' Original, Scum-Caked BrillianceThe B-movie shoddiness of actors and aes…AestheticsWorld Trade…
“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:U.S. Press Freedom TrackerIt’s frustrating and terrifying that the…CultureSomewhere out there, somebody is working really hard to come up with a meme to blame this …Front page…
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:Amazon’s Tactics Confirm Its Critics’ Worst SuspicionsThis week, as part of a contract dispute…BooksThe Real Reason Why You Can't WriteHave you ever stopped to think about wha…AcademiaI…
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:What Is Life Like For an Amazon Worker?You…
Large collection of links to the World Trace Center tributes that have sprung up after the towers came down. —www.derrickito.com Similar:The disastrous voyage of Satoshi, the world’s first cryptocurrency cruise shipLast year, three cryptocurrency enthusia…BusinessIn February, 2001, I was blogging about computer nostalgia, Napster, a horror typing game,…In February, 2001, I was blogging about …CybercultureThe…
“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:The…
Harrowing first-person account from a survivor. —“I was in the building when it all happened.” Similar:I Was Fired for Making Fun of Trump After 25 years as the editorial cartoo…CultureSHU Italy Trip « blogs.setonhill.eduSeveral students on Maureen Vissat‘s M-t…AcademiaBlog ten-beat lines of verse, like Shakespeare wrote. Blog ten-beat lines of verse, like Sha…AcademiaNovel defined: a term used…
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:Out of the Zuckersphere, (back) into the BlogosphereThis is why I still blog. While commerci…AcademiaI'm honestly not sure where that came from.For…
“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…
“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:The Day I Stopped Saying ‘Hurry Up’Adorable photos help tell this story abo…CultureMizzou professor who pushed reporter away from…
“[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:An interesting analysis of Trump's rhetorical strategy.In the Washington Post, Greg…
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:The Anatomy of an Amazon 6-pagerIn the halls of power at Amazon,…
“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:Ok, never mind Dusgcxms2… buddy, you can keep your first place as far as I’m concerned. Ok, never mind Dusgcxms2… buddy, you…EducationBeam me up, Chewie!AwesomeVideo…
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:The Pointlessness of UnpluggingWhat sex was…
“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.”…
“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:Dear organization from my past that just sent me a scolding email…Dear organization from my past that just…CultureJerz Nerdcation 2013On a visit to the Washington DC area…
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:Today's annoying adventures of adulting: fixing the bathroom ceiling fan.Not fun, but done. ModdingHow Mickey Mouse Evades the Public…