Amazing! Simply amazing!! I bet Jean Preston was a pretty cool person to hang out with.
Monthly Archives: January 2008
Dan Hillier’s Art
When I was checking out Boing Boing tonight (thanks for the reminder, Laurie!) I came across a link to Dan Hillier’s website. I’m simply smitten with his “altered engravings” and wondering why I am only discovering them now.
Taking Nature Writing to a New Level?
Apparently, the author of some old fashioned bodice-ripping romance novels recently decided to plagiarize a piece on black-footed ferrets. I suppose she figured she’d never be found out. All I can say is why? I mean, seriously, this is the most absurd thing I’ve heard in ages! I haven’t read the novel in question, but I can’t see how Tolme’s writing on the little critters would seem at all suited to a steamy romance novel. I’m sure Tolme’s writing and research is very good, but it is just, well, a different kind of writing altogether, isn’t it? What’s the thought process here? And then there is the question of the editor of the novel — even if he or she didn’t know Tolme’s piece existed, the abrupt shift in writing style should have triggered some sort of warning signal. Seems that this story is continuing to develop — more over at Smart Bitches.
Debunking the “Google Generation” Myth
The British Library recently released the results of a study which supports what a lot of us who use web-based applications in our teaching have noticed, namely that people are not necessarily any more or less web literate because of the year in which they were born. The study points to findings which indicate that the so-called “Google Generation” does not possess any special aptitude for internet research simply because of their age. The study concludes that it is important to teach critical thinking and analytical skills relating to conducting internet research instead of assuming that people in certain age groups naturally possess this kind of knowledge. In other words, a sense of familiarity with computers and internet applications does not simply translate into the level of information literacy that is often assumed of those who spend a lot of time online. For more on this study, click here.
The Artist’s Statement
Catherine H. sent me this comic today. Maybe it is just because I am way too tired, but I have to say that this is, perhaps, one of the funniest comic strips I’ve seen in ages. Enjoy!
Blue Monday
Today was kind of an uphill battle, for many reasons. I won’t bore you with the details, but suffice it to say that it was a long and frustrating day, and I got home from campus around 7pm. The minute I walked in the door I poured a glass of wine, sunk into my comfy reading chair and proceeded to get caught up on the news of the day. Imagine my surprise when I learned that today was “Blue Monday”! It sure felt like it!
(Of course, once I learned it was “Blue Monday” I had to look up the New Order video on YouTube and now I feel so much better!)
Mark Dion at the ROM
I am snowed under with the start of a new term and with the grading from last term (still!!), so I haven’t been blogging much lately. However, I wanted to post this link , which contains information about the upcoming talk that Mark Dion is giving at the ROM. I’ve never heard Mark Dion lecture before, but I’m a big fan of his artwork and I’m sure it will be a fascinating evening. I won’t be able to attend as I’ll be in NYC that day, but I look forward to hearing about this event from someone who can make it.
