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:The News from Ferguson – Live, on Twitter[I]t turns out that Twitter is not just …AcademiaYou didn’t make the Harlem…
Playwright Arthur Miller on Terrorism
“Ever since Stalin and the Nazis, reality has transcended fiction.” (BBC) —Playwright Arthur Miller on Terrorism Similar:Witness Accounts in Midtown Hammer Attack Show the Power of False Memory Two people who saw a police encounte…Current_EventsThe Skin of Our Teeth Panel Discussion (Seton Hill University, October 2021; Carolyn Jerz,…https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=k03kQ7Ot…AcademiaHumanities research is groundbreaking, life-changing… and ignored Most…
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:We don’t need more STEM majors. We need more STEM majors with liberal arts training.A chemist celebrates the liberal arts. …AcademiaWe are cruel. We…
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:The Digital-Humanities BustDinosaurs evolved into birds. Not all of…AcademiaThat's my daughter in the hoop. Pippin Oct 21-23 and 27-29. AestheticsAdvice to First Year College Students on Freshman…
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:Something to Ponder — Let Me Fix That Meme For YouArtTales from the Antiquities Theft Task ForceA shot of Kim Kardashian leaning ag…AestheticsUVA administrator awarded $3M in Rolling…
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:Learn to code? No: Learn a real languageI…
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:Kairos: Open Since 1996As a plucky new faculty member I wrote a…AcademiaThe Air Force's Rules of Engagement for Blogging [Updated]GlobalNerdy, via.You’ve probably seen ma…CybercultureIn November 2000, I was blogging about the US Presidential election, mirrors,…
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:Paper…
"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:5 myths about Facebook’s Messenger appReal journalism takes a look at that Huf…BusinessThe Most Unexpected Workplace Trend Coming in 2020: the Return of the Liberal Arts Major On LinkedIn each year author Dan Sch…BusinessWhat Do People Do on Mobile Devices? (Infographic)A…
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:Very Berry Dead Makes a Big Impression at Big Storm Performance CompanyCarolyn Jerz lights up the stage from he…AwesomeCNN Reports On The…
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:Paramount Erases Archives of MTV Website, Wipes Music, Culture History After 30 Plus YearsI was never really a fan…
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:Carolyn performed as Ariel yesterday in the New Renaissance Theatre Company'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:Why Our Brains Make Us Click on ListsThe article-as-numbered-list has several…CultureWhat have…
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:Writing Tips for Critical Thinking Critical Thinking Matters Pers…AcademiaMy "Writing About Literature" Students Are Sampling Text Adventure GamesI’m having my students play Adam Cadre’s…CultureWhy Student…
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:Industriousness. Self-improvement. Thrift. And orange slime.…
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:Today's Google Doodle is Mostly HarmlessFord Prefect kept a script of Godspell i…AestheticsThe Moral Authority Of AnimalsChimpanzees in Arnhem’s Royal Burgers’ Z…EmpathyWhat have my students learned about…
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:#MyNYPD Hashtag Promptly HijackedSomeone is regretting this PR move. …Current_EventsTexas School Censors All Of ‘Huck Finn’ Except The N-Words…
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:"A Story Before Bed" Publisher Seems to be Scraping and…