Posts from — April 2008

Something remarkable happened in a college softball game last Saturday in Ellensburg, Wash.

[From A Sporting Gesture Touches ’Em All - New York Times]

——-

sportsmanship, it means doing the right thing. These players knew what to do, and should be celebrated.

AN OPEN LETTER TO
MARK ZUCKERBERG, FOUNDER
AND CEO OF FACEBOOK.COM,
FROM A NEW YORKER MAGAZINE
FACT CHECKER.

[From McSweeney's Internet Tendency: An Open Letter to Mark Zuckerberg, Founder and CEO of Facebook.com, From a New Yorker Magazine Fact Checker.
]

——

hehhehehheheheheheh

Charles Tilly

Tilly

chuck tilly

Sociology, n-1

—-
From the sites that I read….

I’ve read a few of his books. He was an easy and sensible read, very accessible on the surface level. It is hard to find fault with the surface of his texts. I think he will be missed.

Replay (short animated film )
sad movie make you cry…

[From www.cyberthing.net :: You are watching Replay (short animated film )]

—

This is a nice short film that to me seems to be about the seduction of technology, specifically the way youth are seduced by the manifold appearances of good that are designed into and communicated through technologies. It presents a compelling example through metaphor.

ultraportable notebooks

[From Liliputing: Comprehensive list of low-cost ultraportables]

—–

well… here’s a nice little list of all the tiny computers coming out soon. very hand to have.

Restrictions sprout creativity. And so I gave five people this morning the following task: Tell me a story that starts with “Whether” and ends with “pudding” and has 27 words.

Can you do any better?
[From A tale of pudding]

Bill Bryson Against Litter

Call for Papers/Participation

Please join us in a workshop on learning and research in Second
Life(R) on October 16, 2008 in Copenhagen at Internet Research 9.0 (http://wiki.aoir.org/index.php?title=About_IR9.0
)

Paper Deadline June 15th.

Second Life is a 3d virtual environment created by Linden Lab (R)
which has captured the attention of researchers and teachers from
around the world from a variety of disciplines.

This workshop aims to improve the understanding of Second Life as a
Learning and Research environment. It will bring 35 researchers
together to collaborate, discuss and workshop diverse topics related
to research and learning in Second Life. We will pursue a full-day
schedule in which participants will discuss their work and interests
on four different topics: learning in Second Life, integrated
learning, the contributions of research to the community and ethical
research methods. How can we better enable learning in this sphere?
How can we better enable research?

Our honored keynote will be Pathfinder Linden

Researchers are requested to submit papers and short biography to slworkshop08@gmail.com
, which will be selected and distributed amongst participants before
the workshop. First invitations will be offered to those who provide
full papers for consideration.

These papers have two purposes: first is to provide a common platform
for understanding our research and teaching and second submitted
papers may be considered for publication in an edited volume being
produced in relation to the workshop, or possibly in peer reviewed
publication derived from the workshop (these are currently under
discussion).

Subsequent invitations will be made based upon research/teaching
statement and biography with priority given to people submitting full
papers. If you are interested in participating, please send an email
containing your information to slworkshop08@gmail.com.

Decisions will be made by August 1st, barring incident. There is a
limit of 35 participants at the physical meeting; the event will be
simulcast into Second Life which will be organized by Jason Nolan.

We welcome professionals, faculty and graduate students to participate.

This workshop is sponsored by Linden Lab, creators of Second Life, and
is organized by Jeremy Hunsinger, Rochelle Mazar, Aleks Krotoski and
Jason Nolan. Lunch, coffee breaks and the room is included in
participation. (And you’ll probably get a t-shirt!)

*We are also seeking additional sponsors, please contact jhuns@vt.edu
if you would like to sponsor this workshop.

Students want chance to defend themselves

[From Students want chance to defend themselves - CNN.com]

—–

in recent times, the chance for students to defend themselves is not in the classroom. that is too late. if these students want to defend themselves they need to care for their fellow students and take responsibility for the people around them. Both NIU and VT may have been avoided had the students, friends, and family of the individual ensured through their direct action that they got mental health support. If you need guns in the classroom, you are already too late to defend yourself. Be socially pro-active, and live a good life.

I just noticed that in Dictionary.app (at least in Leopard), under to “Go” menu, there is an option labeled “Front/Back Matter.” Clicking this brings up a whole slew of useful reference material, including a language guide (complete with a list of clichés to avoid), a list of the chemical elements, and the text of the Constitution. Next time I’m on a place, I think I’m going to brush up on the Bill of Rights.

It’s true: the Ready Reference area of Dictionary.app’s Front/Back Matter is a treasure trove of good stuff for writers or anyone who wants to see if they can name the capital of all fifty states in the U.S. Thanks, Ben!

[From Get to More Than Definitions in Dictionary.app [Mac Tip]]

——–

this is great! tons of secondary and funly esoteric knowledge to peruse at leisure.