Back in 2003, shortly after I moved with my wife and two young children to take my current job, I was eager to make new friends and rebuild my social network. One evening, my wife agreed to watch the kids so I could drop by the local branch of a national service organization in which…
In a hole in the ground there lived a hobbit. @thepublicpgh Similar:Timeline of Donald J. Trump's Statements on Coronavirus OutbreakCultureA #neovictorian #steampunk ship-of-the-line needs a dramatic flag and a conveniently locat…AestheticsNipper Hears "His Master's Voice"As a kid growing up in Fairfax County, j…BusinessIn August, 2002, I was blogging about ebook readers and email in teaching;…
[A] popular type of generative AI model can provide turn-by-turn driving directions in New York City with near-perfect accuracy — without having formed an accurate internal map of the city. Despite the model’s uncanny ability to navigate effectively, when the researchers closed some streets and added detours, its performance plummeted. When they dug deeper, the researchers…
I was perhaps a bit more conversational and chipper than usual during class today. A grinning student asked what I was drinking. (It really is just iced tea.) Similar:Pippin! Last show today at 2pm.CulturePrime Stage Theatre to end 2018-2019 season with Shakespeare comedy Twelfth Night, May 3–1…2019 Pittsburgh Public Theater Shakespea…Culture1776. Binge-watching Liberty's Kids. New…
I create five color variations of each #blender3d building I #design, and each of those has closeup, high, mid, and low resolution variations. It’s tedious but enjoyable. Kinda like knitting. #medievalyork #mysteryplay #aesthetics Similar:Our 2014 class banner was an iPad. I can’t believe I just noticed that today.PersonalIn June, 2001 it seems I only blogged…
Journalism is not a crime. It’s not a crime if it offends the powerful. It’s not a crime if it doesn’t offend them enough to suit you. Yes, journalists make mistakes. Yes, you should take a break from doomscrolling for your mental health. But the First Amendment freedom of the press is crucial to democracy.…
I just caught myself thinking, “This doesn’t suck.” #medievalyork #mysteryplay #blender3d #design #aesthetics Similar:The Girl Wins the Upper Division Monologue in the 25th Annual Pittsburgh Public Theatre's …CultureMesmerizing Video of a Printer Terminal Running "Adventure" on a PDP-11/45After spending several days clicking but…AcademiaChallenger Disaster: 30 YearsI was a high school senior, watching on …CybercultureA little…
As part of an ongoing bid to get his hands on Vantablack, the super dark, light-absorbing material to which Anish Kapoor controversially has the exclusive license, artist Stuart Semple has legally changed his name to… Anish Kapoor. “It’s something I’ve been thinking about for a long time,” Semple told me. “I like the idea of being able to try a name…
Predatory publications are not concerned with writing quality (or even coherence), and thus also do not care about writing tools (although we could, perhaps, include generative AI as a tool that replaces those used by human authors). The rules change pretty radically as the predatory version does away with nearly all of the rules in…
Our family has seen David Whalen in the persona of Sherlock in five or six different shows. So happy Carolyn will be on stage with him this time. Similar:"Daddy, I'm sick of your tears."”Daddy, I’m sick of your tears.” –my 11…CultureThe dark future of American space exploration: NASA's golden age is about to come to…
“While my dad has always spoken lovingly and fondly of his old Camaro he sold for my ‘diaper money’ he was never sour about it,” Jared confesses. “There wasn’t negativity about it. He wasn’t sad. He wasn’t angry. He talks about the selling of the car like it was a duty.” This diaper money Camaro…
“While my dad has always spoken lovingly and fondly of his old Camaro he sold for my ‘diaper money’ he was never sour about it,” Jared confesses. “There wasn’t negativity about it. He wasn’t sad. He wasn’t angry. He talks about the selling of the car like it was a duty.” This diaper money Camaro…
I may have mentioned that I have a daughter who does things. @frontporchtheatricals Similar:Has life in the age of casual magic made moviegoers numb to the amazing?This is one of the reasons I’ve become m…AestheticsBlessing the “American sweet gum tree” that grew from a seed that Artemis I carried around…AwesomeMemories of Toronto Yonge Street EncountersI…
If you like bloody, singing, punning demons you will love this show. Similar:I absolutely adored Spock. Loving Dad was much more complicated.A great father-son story, written by Ada…AwesomeStage Right's "The Secret Garden": Performing with My Talented Daughter This weekend has been magical. Frida…CultureNot sure whether I should be proud or embarrassed… As part of a…
I am not in the splash zone but still definitely out of my comfort zone. Support the arts in your community. Similar:Crazy, Kinetic, Acoustic Visit to the Carnegie Science CenterA few days ago, I blogged about visiting…Education"Godspell" is sure to entertain audiences of all ages and faithsThat’s me in the white shirt, with a tie…CultureMy…
I have a daughter who does things. If demon curses and buckets of stage blood are your thing, join the fun this weekend in Greensburg. (I will not be seated in the splash zone.) Similar:Empathy in a Downtown Sub ShopSitting in a downtown sub shop. A half d…CultureFinished the female officers for my neovictorian steampunk…
Yes, Duolingo is free and I’ve learned a lot. No, I don’t like the psychological manipulation. I’m still using it but I changed my user name. Similar:My schedule every Friday this term. (Payback for teaching a course over Christmas break.) PersonalWestmoreland County Air Show 2012 (Photos)Traffic leaving the Arnold Palmer Region…AestheticsAm I a Bad Father Because…
“Murdering meteorologists won’t stop hurricanes. I can’t believe I just had to type that.” — Michigan-based meteorologist Katie Nickolaou. A wide range of misinformation has been spread as Helene and then Milton gathered pace in the Gulf of Mexico, such as claims spread by Trump that Fema had run out of cash for hurricane survivors…
It’s so heartbreaking seeing the amount of disinformation being spread by elected officials and partisan agitators with lots of followers. FEMA is not out of money, it’s not confiscating damaged property, and it’s not biased for against any ethnic groups or political affiliations. Similar:You Must Not ‘Do Your Own Research’ When It Comes To ScienceI…
My mother-in-law invited me to try out the 60- year-old tape machine that belonged to my father-in-law. When I worked in radio news in the late 1980s, we were still loading reels and splicing tape, so it all came back to me pretty quickly. Similar:Why Grown-Ups Keep Talking Like Little KidsFelt writey. Because reasons.…