Trump, Obama seem equally disinterested in portrait unveiling — but journalism takes hits from both sides

On social media recently I saw people mocking Trump for “refusing” to unveil the traditional presidential portrait of Obama, and I saw people attacking “the fake news media” for pushing a narrative designed to make Trump look bad. The original NBC story that broke this item accurately states that neither Trump nor Obama is interested…

Déjà Q (#StarTrek #TNG Rewatch, Season Three, Episode 13) Amusing, insightful study of human nature

(Rewatching ST:TNG after a 20-year break) The meddlesome entity Q, stripped of his powers, throws himself at the mercy of Captain Picard: “in all the universe you’re the closest thing I have to a friend, Jean-Luc.” Lots of well-done banter and self-absorbed patter from actor John De Lancie. While Worf and Crusher have memorable reactions to…

I just found an abandoned blog draft, dated 2011, on economics in early computer games. Published!

I just found a post on economics in early computer games, tucked away as a “Draft” in my WordPress database, dated Jan 2011. I’m not sure why I never published it. The web page I was responding to has disappeared from the Internet, so I’ve linked to the Wayback Archive instead. Similar:Short Reports: How To…

Slow flyby of a scout shop. Starfield backdrop; particle-based engine exhaust; hull uses a Boolean modifier to cut out portholes; cockpit frame and text labels use shrinkwrap. #Blender3D

More progress as I continue to level up my #blender3d skills. Similar:The Staying Power of "A Christmas Carol" — Dennis Jerz, for WAOB Audio Theatrehttps://youtu.be/_US-PnhJ5FU What mak…Books‘Unexpected item’: how self-checkouts failed to live up to their promiseBusinesses still fret over these issues,…BusinessThe Daughter's 21st Birthday Current_EventsFacebook, Now You Remind Me of a Half-Drunk Cocktail Party…

Synchronous Online Classes: 10 Tips for Engaging Students

Every time I have taught an online class, I have made it asynchronous. I’m blogging these synchronous teaching tips so I can find them again when I’m prepping my fall classes (which will likely be HyFlex). The tips offered here won’t miraculously eliminate the initial awkwardness of virtual class sessions, but they’ll help. And over…

Carolyn Gombell Is Not a Real Person: #JusticeforCarolyn Is a Campaign Against Twitter Refusing to Delete Trump’s Tweets Accusing Joe Scarborough of Murdering Lori Klausutis

Fascinating use of social media. To be clear, this story about “Carolyn Gombell” is a fabrication, intended to spark Twitter to take action against people (such as Donald Trump) who use Twitter to publicize unfounded accusations. Will that matter to people who share it? It’s parody accounts, not journalists, who are retweeting this story as…

New York Times runs just 1000 names of the nearly 100,000 Americans who have already died from COVID-19

Similar:Police Say A Lot Of ThingsIt’s not all cops who lie. Just the bad …CultureI spent Thanksgiving break building a #trimsheet for steampunk control panels, because why…Aesthetics‘Aims’: the software for hire that can control 30,000 fake online profiles At first glance, the Twitter user “Can…BusinessThe Portable Writing desk — the Victorian laptopFocusing on the materiality…

Looking forward to Part 2 of #PPTPlaytime’s production “The Rivals” (live… now!)

Similar:Carnegie Science Center: Roboworld (and a bit of SportsWorks)Here’s a brief video, made up of clips I…CultureAlmost all the traffic to fake news sites is from Facebook, new data show I think and post about fake news a lot…CultureIn September 1999 I was blogging about Tom Stoppard, techno-utopianism, voice-recognition …In September 1999, I was blogging…

Dogmeat and I may yet win this game.

Yes, this was the decisive moment. I ended up cleaning my son out when he landed here later in the game. Similar:Love outdoor theater. Love #Chekhov ! Love #cherryorchard Support the arts in your city. @…PersonalQ Who? (ST: TNG Rewatch, Season 2, Episode 16)Rewatching Star Trek: The Next Generatio…MediaMy colleague Dr. Cusick bakes Irish soda…

Leveling up my skills in #blender3D.

Using invisible shapes to cut holes in the hull, and a shrinkwrap modifier to align the cockpit frame and the glass. Similar:Seriously, clouds? Now?PersonalOpinion | Fake News Comes to AcademiaThe three academics call themselves “lef…AcademiaFor God's sake John, sit down!Culture'My Fair Lady' Couldn't Actually Dance All Night, So These Songs Had To GoClever little Easter…

I just bought Diamond City.

Similar:Why I Like Papers, PleaseAt a certain point, the transit papers w…AestheticsConnecting with the BoyToday my son asked me to take him shoppi…CultureHas the focus on physical activity ruined playtime for kids?The researchers found that physical acti…CultureIn February 2000, I was blogging about "The Heist" (Sorrels); the "Instant Muse Poetry Gen… In February 2000, I…

The Rivals #PPTPlaytime

A great production of a delightful play. Similar:The Hidden Benefits Of DaydreamingWhen your mind wanders, its like P. T. B…CultureCulture Desk: My Life in PencilsDevotees of the Blackwing had been payin…AestheticsEaster collage 2018.PersonalCarolyn's performance as Ariel #bardinbloom @ThePublicPGHSo good to see her preforming live on st…CultureIn August 1999 I was blogging about Poohsticks Bridge, penmanship,…

The High Ground (ST:TNG Rewatch, Season Three, Episode 12) Sensitive, Artistic Terrorist Is Also a Terrorist

(Rewatching ST:TNG after a 20-year break) Crusher finds herself sympathizing with the charming terrorist who kidnapped her. After last week’s “The Hunted” and the week before’s “The Defector,” it seems the writers are very interested in humanizing perceived enemies. An unusually exposition-heavy captain’s log establishes the Enterprise is visiting a non-aligned world shaken by terrorists.…

On a little afternoon walk with my son.

Similar:More #blender3d #steampunk control panel details. #blender3dartAestheticsI had a grand time recording this little story about a misunderstood genius who just wants… The Cask of Amotillado (read by Denn…CultureThe girl's entrance as Marley's Ghost.PersonalT-Shirts for student journalists who recently leveled up to “staff writer”(with bear signe…PersonalThank you, anonymous donor of Mardi Gras candy.Okay, on closer…

Every few years, I Google the name of the kid who saw “The Empire Strikes Back” the night it opened, and blurted out the big spoiler during gym class.

Similar:Dax (#StarTrek #DS9 Rewatch, Season 1, Episode 7) Jadzia Dax faces the legal consequences …Rewatching ST:DS9 Dax is apprehended …CultureTreasure peaceful moments in a turbulent world.AestheticsPa. agency explains why it enacted new 'no force-on-force rule' for Bushy Run, other sitesAttending the re-enactment of the Battle…CultureThe Ongoing Obsession with Shakespeare’s True IdentityI’ve never been all too…

And you thought your last teleconference was rough!

Similar:Next up for the girl: Cherry in "The Outsiders" (March 6-15)BooksQuoth the ramen, "Eat some more!"PersonalStandardized Test Scores Don't Really Measure LearningThere are ways to raise a child’s test s…AcademiaThey both reached for the gun.PersonalCraiyon: The signing of the Declaration of Independence, starring Chewbacca.PersonalMy Shakespeare students are off peer reviewing their term paper rough drafts.…

Researchers: Nearly Half Of Accounts Tweeting About Coronavirus Are Likely Bots

Researchers identified more than 100 false narratives about COVID-19 that are proliferating on Twitter by accounts controlled by bots. Among the misinformation disseminated by bot accounts were tweets that conspiracy theories about hospitals being filled with mannequins, or tweets connected the spread of the coronavirus to 5G wireless towers, a notion that is patently untrue.…