Maybe it’s the spring weather or the fact that my daughter asked me her The Robot and the Bluebird twice this morning but Roger Ebert’s death hit me harder this afternoon than I would have expected. According to Twitter and Facebook, this sadness is shared by many other Chicagoans of my generation. Perhaps our sadness … Continue reading »
Advice from the Road
Earlier this month Nina Strochlic shared tips from “professional traveler” Andrew Evans of National Geographic. “He’s sailed across the Atlantic twice, summited Kilimanjaro, and (literally) run the length of Liechtenstein.” My travels are neither as exotic nor as taxing as Andrew’s, but since I am on the road often and have been taking mental notes … Continue reading »
Counting smiles at the Tinkering Lab
I visited Chicago Children’s Museum’s new Tinkering Lab with my 3 year old over the weekend. (“Chicago’s first DIY maker-space for families!”) Neither O. nor I am are particularly handy– both of our first reactions to the drills, saws and wood glue was to split. Because I was with out-of-town guests who were into it, I put up … Continue reading »
Four years later
An hour before President Obama’s second term officially begins, the dominant media meme is: he’s older and different than he was four years ago. David Maraniss in the Washington Post: He comes to this term in a new place as a man and as a politician, not only forged by the experience of his mistakes but … Continue reading »
The new Tribune Co. directors on Twitter
The new Tribune Company board of directors, as seen from Twitter: Eddy Hartenstein. One tweet, c. 2009: “Reporters angry that I made LAT big $$ today. Lee suggested I use “new media” to assuage. Talking didn’t work; perhaps Twitter is the key?” Craig Jacobson. No evident Twitter presence. Bruce Karsh. No evident Twitter presence. Ross … Continue reading »
Nate Silver and the best media writing of 2012
For most of the last few years I’ve summarized the media that provoked the most thinking about media and technology. (Here are my lists from 2007, 2008, 2009 and 2010. I skipped 2011, not sure why.) This year Nate Silver tops the list– for his election modeling and the debates he engendered on the application … Continue reading »
How I spent the 19 day 1987 Chicago Teachers strike
Tomorrow teachers in the Chicago Public Schools may not go to work. The last teachers strike was in 1987 and lasted 19 days when I was in 10th grade. Prior to the 4 week extended vacation I sprained my ankle while (trying to) make a tackle in football practice. I spent most of my monthlong … Continue reading »
On work life balance
I came across three articles this Sunday all on the theme of balancing– or, in the best case, mixing– work and life. Derek Anderson, Founders Are Not Heroes. Let’s Get Back To Work: “Work life balance is less about keeping everything equal as it is making sure everything is in order.” Jackie Coleman and John Coleman, How Two-Career … Continue reading »
Netflix Prize lessons for the rest of us
For the last few weeks I’ve been in the throes of running a contest as part of my day job. Perhaps that was why this look at the disappointing results of one high profile contest caught my eye. Netflix’s Xavier Amatriain and Justin Basilico provide the history: In 2006 we announced the Netflix Prize, a machine learning and … Continue reading »
Mike Daisy, Kony2012, Greg Smith and the fundamental metaphor
“Is bending non-fictional truth OK only if we laugh?” is how I ended this 2007 post on creative non-fiction. Then, like now, This American Life was at the center of concern about the veracity of creative nonfiction. This year, however, we have more material to scrutinize than just America’s best radio show. The Mike Daisy … Continue reading »
