Inside Higher Ed :: Easy Targets

Inside Higher Ed :: Easy Targets

Journalists vs. Academics, especially in the humanities -- I wonder if this is a place where I can bring some clarity as I get further into my humanities academic studies --

OneLook Reverse Dictionary

Reverse dictionary -- you type in a concept; it gives you the words.

OKCupid! The Your SESAME STREET Persona Test

Amusing quizziness.

Kermit the Frog You scored 58% Organization, 50% abstract, and 71% extroverted!

This test measured 3 variables. First, this test measured how organized you are. Some muppets like Cookie Monster make big messes, while others like Bert are quite anal about things being clean. Second, this test measured if you prefer a concrete or an abstract viewpoint. For the purposes of this test, concrete people are considered to gravitate more to mathematical and logical approaches, whereas abstract people are more the dreamers and artistic type. Third, this test measured if you are more of an introvert or an extrovert. By definition, an introvert concentrates more on herself and an extrovert focuses more on others. In this test an introvert was somebody that either tends to spend more time alone or thinks more about herself. You are mostly organized, both concrete and abstract, and more extroverted. Here is why are you Kermit the Frog. You are both somewhat organized. You have a good idea where you put things and you probably keep your place reasonably clean. You aren't totally obsessed with neatness though. Kermit is also reasonably tidy. He'll even dress up for interviews. You both are sometimes concrete and sometimes abstract thinkers. Kermit spends a lot of his time as a reporter collecting facts, but he is also the author of the dreamy song "The Rainbow Connection." You have a good balance in your life. You know when to be logical at times, but you also aren't afraid to explore your dreams and desires... within limits of course. You are both extroverts. Kermit gets along with everyone. Sure a few folks annoy him, but that's just because they are annoying. Kermit likes to meet new people when he does his job as a street reporter. You definitely enjoy the company of others, and you don't have problems meeting new people... in fact you probably look forward to it. You are willing to take charge when necessary or work as part of a team. Oh, and in case you were wondering, Kermit starred on Sesame Street years before The Muppet Show. The other possible characters are Oscar the Grouch Big Bird Snuffleupagus Ernie Elmo Cookie Monster Grover The Count Guy Smiley Bert If you enjoyed this test, I would love the feedback! Also if you want to tell me your favorite Sesame Street character, I can total them up and post them here. Perhaps your choice will win!

My test tracked 3 variables How you compared to other people your age and gender: You scored higher than 53% on Organization You scored higher than 44% on concrete-abstra You scored higher than 78% on intro-extrovert

Link: The Your SESAME STREET Persona Test written by greencowsgomoo on Ok Cupid, home of the 32-Type Dating Test

Entertainment Weekly's EW.com | Feature: Stephen King on his picks for the best books of 2005

Another top 10 of 2005 list --

Of course, I like Stephen King's writing in general and his EW essays almost made me keep paying for a subscription. In any case, I've read two of his recommendations (Rowling and McEwan -- WOW, was Saturday engrossing) and plan to keep an eye out for some of the others....

Coudal Partners: Read For us

Read a short verse online...
via NeilGaiman.com

IBM in the Blogosphere - Motley Fool - MSNBC.com

A nice tidbit about how (and why) IBM is using (and encouraging) blogging, wikis, and podcasts.

Concurring Opinions: What If Copyright Law Were Strongly Enforced in the Blogosphere?

Concurring Opinions: What If Copyright Law Were Strongly Enforced in the Blogosphere?

I got linked to this article from someone -- sorry that I don't remember where I saw it first. Especially since that makes posting it very ironic, given the topic.

We -- all of us bloggers -- do take fair use as far as it can go. As someone who falls both into the camp of a writer who gets paid for writing and a blogger who wants to make my posts understandable and interesting by quoting liberally, I'm on the fence, but interested to see how this issue falls out over the long term.

What Are the Blogs Saying About Me? - New York Times

What Are the Blogs Saying About Me? - New York Times
Yes, it's another NYT article -- sorry.

Anyway, this one is about the interaction between blogs (and bloggers) and authors. What I find interesting is that the author of this article didn't talk as much about how authors USE blogs, such as Neil Gaiman's ongoing discussion.

As for me, blogs weren't quite as big when I first published, but my books were the reason I got into blogging, I think.

Two Gay Cowboys Hit a Home Run - New York Times

Two Gay Cowboys Hit a Home Run - New York Times Sorry, it's the NYT -- registration required.

This is a review/essay about Brokeback Mountain the "gay cowboy movie" that has had "stunning weekend grosses" in NY, LA, and SF -- highest per-screen average in those cities, of any movies this year. Thank you people. From everything I've read about it, this story tells about the pain for people forced to live a lie, and treats their story in a very plain-spoken, realistic way --

I can't wait to see this movie.

And bless you, Frank Rich (the columnist) for writing such a lovely review essay --
And I am so grateful that I get to read

Salon.com Books | Top 10 books of the year

Salon.com Books | Top 10 books of the year

It's that time of year -- the time when anyone who talks about books in the media does a top X books of the year. Here's Salon's list. I haven't read many of their suggestions, although a few of them are in the "to be read" pile next to my bed (the pile that not only took over the nightstand, but actually engulfed an entire small bookshelf!).

I've often thought of doing this kind of list -- I certainly read enough books this year -- but... it's more likely for me to make a "best books I read in 2005" list than a "best books published in 2005" list -- I don't always read what's new when it's new... And my list would have to encompass some off-center books -- I thought, for example, that Anansi Boys, by Neil Gaiman, was one of the top novels published (and read!) in 2005, either in print or in audio format. But it doesn't fit neatly into most people's categories, does it?

timbl's blog | Decentralized Information Group (DIG) Breadcrumbs

Important to be able to find again -- Sir Tim Berners-Lee and his blog.
via vowe.net

Aljazeera.Net - Japan's geeks set to inherit the Earth

Aljazeera.Net - Japan's geeks set to inherit the Earth

I watch an anime every week with the boyfriend and his friends about Otaku and one not-quite-so-Otaku girlfriend who struggles to "get it."

Thought this was interesting in that light. :-) I would never have known the term otherwise, so I guess I'm learning something too.

'Course, I'm not sure how I feel about reading it in al-Jazeera, but...

via http://www.rebeccablood.net/index.html

CNN.com - No advances made in adult literacy, study says - Dec 15, 2005

CNN.com - No advances made in adult literacy, study says - Dec 15, 2005

This is CNN's take on the NYTimes story I mentioned below:

"From 1992 to 2003, adults made no progress in their ability to read sentences and paragraphs or understand other printed material such as bus schedules or prescription labels.

"The adult population did make gains in handling tasks that involve math, such as calculating numbers on tax forms or bank statements. But even in that area, the typical adult showed only enough skills to perform simple, daily activities.

"Perhaps most sobering was that adult literacy dropped or was flat across every level of education, from people with graduate degrees to those who dropped out of high school."

Literacy Falls for Graduates From College, Testing Finds - New York Times

(Registration required for the link)

This article says that, according to the National Assessment of Adult Literacy exam -- which was given in 2003 to 19,000 people in the US -- our literacy has declined. Interestingly, the article emphasizes that it is the literacy of college graduates that has declined, but the test was given to "people 16 and older, in homes, college housing and in prisons" which implies to me that many of the people who took the exam were not, in fact, college graduates. Of those reults, though, some show a decline from 40% "proficient" literacy of college graduates in 1992 to 31% in 2003. Proficient is defined as "able to read lengthy, complex English texts and draw complicated inferences" -- in other words, what we as professionals have to do every day to understand and use reports, e-mails, articles, and instructions.

I'm scared.

Lotus Geek | You, in 10 words

Lotus Geek | You, in 10 words

Can you describe yourself in 10 words/short phrases? Looking at my heading above, you can see that I tried, but here's the list I posted for Rocky:

1. reader
2. writer
3. friend
4. (grad) student
5. educator
6. yogini
7. family-member (aka, daughter, granddaughter, niece, cousin)
8. girlfriend
9. curious
10. runner
11. geek

Narnia - Uncle Orson Reviews Everything

Narnia - Uncle Orson Reviews Everything
Good review of the movie -- can't wait to see it!

Yoga Journal : Wisdom : Yoga tradition and philosophy, information on yoga's pioneers, wisdom from spiritual teacher Philip Moffitt, and ways to incor

Yoga Journal : Wisdom : Yoga tradition and philosophy, information on yoga's pioneers, wisdom from spiritual teacher Philip Moffitt, and ways to incorporate the eight-fold path into your daily life.: "Like many of my peers, my spiritual seeking has taken me down foreign paths and into distant countries. This blending of influences has molded me into someone who can believe in a Buddhist cosmology, practice a Hindu meditation technique, and still celebrate Christmas like a good Catholic girl."
This might as well be me -- I have a lot of beliefs that coincide with a buddhist way of looking at life, things, and people, but I do yoga (closer to the hindu), and I'm still the spirit of christmas personified! :-)

A Fantasy Realm Too Vile for Hobbits - New York Times

A Fantasy Realm Too Vile for Hobbits - New York Times

I read the first 2 of this series avidly and lovingly after they were suggested by my friend Scott. The third started to lose steam for me. After this review/essay, I may have to go back to the start and read them all. I did get a bit overwhelmed, I think, by the painful events. Not quite enough redemption. But, perhaps I was too hasty. I'm always looking for good fantasy, and anything that is as imaginitive and new as these deserve a second chance.

Zero Tolerance - New York Times

Zero Tolerance - New York Times

Mom bought me both of Truss's books for Christmas. They're in the "to read" pile, but it is worth considering whether ranting about bad behaviour is bad behaviour in itself? Ms. Manners? Ms. Truss? Your thoughts?

Thanks for your good behaviour here.

Main Page - Blogsphere, a Lotus Domino Blog

Main Page - Blogsphere, a Lotus Domino Blog

I'm planning to create a new blog for LotusUserGroup.org using, probably, Blogsphere. Need to save this for more research.

Rio Audio : Forge 512MB Support Page

Philip's Rio died; I need to call for tech support.
:-(

Amazon.com Books: Books / Grownup School

Via Neil Gaiman --
So many cool things here; too bad I'm already in grown-up school at Rice!