Brian Croxall

On Going Viral at the (Virtual) MLA

Brian — Mon, 08 Mar 2010 14:09:58 +0000

In the final days of December, the annual MLA Convention was held, and I wasn’t there. For a number of reasons, I was unable to / decided not to attend the convention. Instead, I chose to post my paper on this blog and to tweet about it. What happened next was very surprising indeed. Thousands of people eventually ended up reading that blog post, commenting on it, and responding to it on their own blogs.

Much of the traffic to my paper was in fact generated by this last category. Indeed, many of these posts viewed my comments on the MLA and the profession with far greater acumen than I had been capable of. In particular, posts by Bitch Ph.D. (@bitchphd), Amanda French (@amandafrench), and Dave Parry (@academicdave; two posts, as a matter of fact) took the ball and ran very far indeed. If you haven’t read these posts and you found my paper interesting, you’re missing out. It’s also worth mentioning the two gracious write-ups on my paper (here and here) in The Chronicle of Higher Education by Jen Howard.

I felt something like an “absent presence” myself as the discussion about my paper went on for about a week. In part, I was swamped with the beginning of a new semester (we started 7 January). But I had also been contacted by an editor at The Chronicle Review and asked if I would write a follow-up piece to my experience. Having this opportunity not only gave me a wider venue for publishing but also gave me a little more time to reflect on what it all “meant.”

That piece–”On Going Viral at the (Virtual) MLA”–appears in this week’s Chronicle Review, and you can now read it online. The article is unfortunately behind a subscription paygate. But I hope many will be able to read it on your respective campuses, and I should be able to republish it here in 30 days or so.

Twitter Weekly Updates for 2010-03-07

Brian — Mon, 08 Mar 2010 04:11:00 +0000

@KickakiteWunder You and me both. in reply to KickakiteWunder #
@mattthomas We've discovered that grandchildren and great-grandchildren are great inducements to learning new technologies. #
@mattthomas No. I was just doing that weird parent thing where one talks from their kids' perspective. in reply to mattthomas #
@billiehara You're very welcome. We had it last weekend. And then Amber ate the leftovers behind my back. #
@cscannella It just gets better and better. in reply to cscannella #
@DrewBrittain But to be snarky, I *did* own it well before the beginning of the semester. So don't front! Or some such… in reply to DrewBrittain #
@DrewBrittain Sadly my reviews and picks aren't in real time. I follow the muse and write when I've got spare time. in reply to DrewBrittain #
Sunday afternoon Skype-ing with the grandparents. #
My latest mp3 of the week features The xx. If you want dark, gloomy, and spare w/pop sensibility, this is for you: http://bit.ly/cVa4Hd. #
Resolved. Our next water heater needs to be bigger than 40 gallons. #
I kid you not. I just received a rejection letter from the NEH for a job I applied to in February…2009. #jobmarket #
@xentahl Haven't heard of Clubroot before, but I will check them out certainly. in reply to xentahl #
Time to prep for the next #jobmarket interview. #
@drnels Oh, I didn't even apply to any jobs there. It's just the dream logic. My id has decided *you* are the job fairy, apparently. in reply to drnels #
@academicdave You've absolutely got to check out Burial's album *Untrue*: http://bit.ly/bpUlQ0. in reply to academicdave #
@boonebgorges Oops. Forget to append the hashtag for that previous: #dontknowwhatimtalkingabout. in reply to boonebgorges #
@boonebgorges Which is why there should be an update of the standard that allows people to push comments from readers. in reply to boonebgorges #
I dreamt last night that @drnels wrote and offered me a tenure-track job. #
Trying to write a quick resume to apply for an #alt-ac job. #jobmarket #
@Scrivenings I'll see what my schedule can handle. Phone interview this morning and tons of grading to do. in reply to Scrivenings #
@Scrivenings For most of the day, I think. in reply to Scrivenings #
It's a very good day to be on Emory's campus since Spring Break is on Monday, everyone's already cleared out. #
@ryancordell You better be rubbing her feet, sir. in reply to ryancordell #
@kelseyagnew Trust me: that is the slamfizziest reason for getting the PhD. in reply to kelseyagnew #
@williamjturkel As long as you're not wearing someone else's wearables, I think you'll be okay. in reply to williamjturkel #
@amandafrench Yes. From students. #fail in reply to amandafrench #
@DrewBrittain That album is brilliant. One of my favorites of last several years. I listen late at night while working most of the time. in reply to DrewBrittain #
I was supposed to grade for the last two hours. Instead, I juggled the 70+ emails that I received in the last 8 hours. #
@DrewBrittain Have you listened to Burial's album Untrue? 'Cuz there's a song called "In McDonalds." #
Oh wow. Lego is now making board games: http://bit.ly/b8fEPV. I'm sold. #
Sorting out students' access to the timeline's spreadsheet less than one hour before their work is due. #
@DrewBrittain You didn't take @kickakitewunder or @jociland to the doctor with you, did you? #
@eetempleton What an awful category. I might not listen to them again. #snob in reply to eetempleton #
@emusic I think we should be able to subscribe to artists and you email/RSS us when new album, EP, or single is added to their page. #
@eetempleton Not where I would have thought that they would play, however. in reply to eetempleton #
@eetempleton It's an interesting venue. Old mill. Floor creaks when heavy bands play. But it's nice and big/open inside. in reply to eetempleton #
Short review: the Local Natives album is Fleet Foxes with a little more rock. Good stuff. Will get better with more listens. #music #
Playing around with the Cooliris FF plugin (http://bit.ly/am2NSj) for the first time in a while. Surprised Apple hasn't bought this company. #
@DrewBrittain No. I meant the regular Quarter Pounder. Maybe they've changed the numbers since I worked there? in reply to DrewBrittain #
I'm amused by how many students are telling me they are "bad at technology." #
@DrewBrittain So that's you and @HannahRabon. That makes 2 out of 20. I'm writing an article on this experiment, you know. in reply to DrewBrittain #
@HannahRabon That's what Twitter is for. Or something like that. Too bad the rest of #e399 doesn't agree. in reply to HannahRabon #
@DrewBrittain @JociLand The answer should always be #3. in reply to DrewBrittain #
@HannahRabon Not really sad. It just means you're on the Internet less than I am. #
@DrewBrittain I was trying to suggest that only boring people get bored. But I was trying to not be rude. I should've just thrown a grenade. in reply to DrewBrittain #
@DrewBrittain Only boring people get… in reply to DrewBrittain #
@DrewBrittain The Atlanta Beach House show sold out faster than anything I've seen in a while. Should e good. in reply to DrewBrittain #
@drewbrittain Did you ever listen to Washed Out? #
@nickproth @AlexRAAWR This has been happening to few people.Email me a regular Gmail address and I'll add to sheet when I'm home from gym. #
@eetempleton Well, @jbj developed the first round of the assignment while I did code. I've adapted & newly added geospatial stuff to asnmnt in reply to eetempleton #
@triproftri Good question. Here's the rubric: http://bit.ly/aSBnIl. And here's the assignment: http://bit.ly/6xuoAk. in reply to triproftri #
@zachwhalen Something for us *all* to hope for. in reply to zachwhalen #
@zachwhalen Now *there's* a way to spark interest. in reply to zachwhalen #
A problem with the timeline, however, is how long it is currently taking me to grade them. Need to go faster. #
Students are starting to populate our #eng399 #e399 timeline: http://bit.ly/9jWNSn. #
@HannahRabon TTIWWOP in reply to HannahRabon #
@academicdave This is true. But educators also need to be paid. (Not that one can't start new models. But they're hard to start) in reply to academicdave #
@mlaconvention I had you pegged as the judge. You are our Probst. (Not to be confused with Proust…) in reply to mlaconvention #
@samplereality I think that we give that role to @mlaconvention. I'm okay with being the closet addict. I've always loved a good closet. in reply to samplereality #
@samplereality The Republican. in reply to samplereality #
@samplereality This seems easy…although potentially libelous. But saying that, I'll put you down as the "Puck" character. in reply to samplereality #
New at ProfHacker: “What’s for lunch? Bean salad!" by @billiehara http://bit.ly/cWWLrT (via @ProfHacker) #
@samplereality So we have to pitch it to the right network. And supply a *lot* more coffee/alcohol. in reply to samplereality #
@cforster I'm just saying that I've seen things in grad school that would make good TV. in reply to cforster #
@triproftri @samplereality It's both. I think we need a reality show based on the professoriat. Or grad school. in reply to triproftri #
@kelseyagnew Much luck of the shamrock-shake variety! in reply to kelseyagnew #
Second phone interview of the week completed. Fairly successfully, I think. #jobmarket #
@samplereality If the bears had published another article or two, then they certainly would have made it to escape velocity. in reply to samplereality #
@HannahRabon That's an interesting connection that I hadn't thought about previously. in reply to HannahRabon #
@erinsells What do you think of new Shout Out Louds? I listened yesterday for first time and was bored to tears. #
@nowviskie That sounds like an awesome event. Will be interesting to hear what @the_real_jizzy_mcgann has to say. in reply to nowviskie #
@JociLand Will never happen. Halting State is too good to skip out on due to weather. in reply to JociLand #
@DrewBrittain Of course! You don't think a pesky job search is going to keep me from enlightening the likes of you, do you? in reply to DrewBrittain #
Campus visit scheduled. It *must* have been mentioning Google Buzz in that letter. #jobmarket #
@KickakiteWunder I knew there was a reason I liked that guy. in reply to KickakiteWunder #
@JociLand Awesome find. in reply to JociLand #
@ryancordell @Scrivenings If @jbj is out-hipstering us, it's because he's…uh…got a…uh…hip. in reply to ryancordell #
@ryancordell @Scrivenings I suppose it's 2 to 1 until @jbj weighs in with his pronouncement. in reply to ryancordell #
@ryancordell Don't let @jbj fool you. Boys & Girls is the superior album. in reply to ryancordell #
@erinsells Weird, huh? in reply to erinsells #
Strangely enough, I received a phone call to set up another interview while on the phone with the current group. #jobmarket #whenitrains #
It might not be surprising (http://bit.ly/bxLDVA) but I *might* have pre-drafted a thank-you note for my just-ended interview. #jobmarket #
I'm so not above name dropping. And you'd be surprised how many of you figure in my upcoming phone interview. #jobmarket #
My fingers are not lining up quite right with my keyboard today. Not quite sure what's going on. #
@academicdave I'm listening to The Embassy for the same reason. in reply to academicdave #
@captain_primate @jbj Well, provided the original Greek is a 7th-grade reading level. in reply to captain_primate #
@sfirth605 What's the problem? Boring assignment? Or is it just not working? #eng399 in reply to sfirth605 #
@captain_primate @jbj Don't let him tell you how often they've read the Iliad to him. in reply to captain_primate #
Am trying a new approach to scheduling my days today. All aimed toward the 3pm phone interview. #jobmarket #
The newest by @jcmeloni at @ProfHacker discusses "A Few Ways to Back Up Your Website" http://bit.ly/b1cJbF. Avoid your own @samplereality. #

Twitter Weekly Updates for 2010-02-28

Brian — Mon, 01 Mar 2010 04:11:00 +0000

Not sure what I did to my shoulder yesterday. But it's sure it isn't happy. #
@amandafrench See, I thought it was CC-licensed. Consider attribution given! in reply to amandafrench #
Twitter, tweeps, et al ftw. #
@erinsells I actually negotiated around our lunch. Not to worry. in reply to erinsells #
And…I just scheduled a second phone interview for next week. Witty things to say elude me. #jobmarket #
In good news, however, I've managed to take an @amandafrench shot. #
I have a piece coming out soon, and I've been asked to send a photo. You wouldn't believe how this is testing our marriage. #
Always nice to see the LARPers smacking on each other in the quad. #
@HannahRabon Try http://bit.ly to truncate your links. in reply to HannahRabon #
Well, hell-o there, Impostor Syndrome! It's been a while, but it's nice to see you back again. #
@kgoldschmitt Hopefully not. in reply to kgoldschmitt #
FWIW I still hate my insurance company. #
@nowviskie @jcmeloni That's a great post idea! in reply to nowviskie #
@kgoldschmitt The thank-you note is a gift, although not really in Bataille's or Mauss's sense. [2/2] in reply to kgoldschmitt #
@kgoldschmitt Book reviews don't serve the same function as I see it. It shows you've read it, but it goes on your CV. So seems self-serving in reply to kgoldschmitt #
@ryancordell Those suck. And it's a reason for why peer review needs to be changed up a bit. in reply to ryancordell #
@loscampesinos No love for Atlanta? I'm officially sadded. in reply to loscampesinos #
@samplereality This means we can launch the DOS attack now, right? in reply to samplereality #
@DrewBrittain Feel free to st. Nick her in return. Although you'll need to earn some DPs first. in reply to DrewBrittain #
@DrewBrittain If it's St. Nicks, you can only have 5 attached, so lay down five mines to get rid of them and then drop more. in reply to DrewBrittain #
@DrewBrittain Is she using St. Nicks or Watchdogs? If the former, the location doesn't matter. If the latter, just go elsewhere. in reply to DrewBrittain #
Another reason for building your academic network (see http://bit.ly/bxLDVA) is that they can help you prep for #jobmarket interviews. #
Is there a shortcut key for switching between OS X widgets in Dashboard? #
@pitchforkmedia It took you long enough. That was apparent within the 1:29 of the first listen. in reply to pitchforkmedia #
@JociLand Their best album is Citrus, but Hush is good too. It's shoegaze-y. in reply to JociLand #
@nickproth You should check out http://bit.ly to truncate your links. in reply to nickproth #
@JociLand They = good. I'm now on to Asobi Seksu. in reply to JociLand #
This was a close runner-up for the image on that @ProfHacker post: http://bit.ly/avQ4dI. #
My newest post at @ProfHacker explains how to "Expand Your Academic Network in 5 Minutes": http://bit.ly/bxLDVA. #
Those with concerns about the academic #jobmarket should look at the Coalition on the Academic Workforce's new brief: http://bit.ly/a0vakd. #
Band of Horses. #music #
There's so many different choices I have for #grading today. And so I'll start with a @profhacker post that's not at all related. #
@kickakitewunder @jociland @drewbrittain First person to my office in the next 20 minutes gets a free *print* copy of Halting State! #
@erinsells Well, if you don't care, then it's not a problem. But if it's going to affect grade, I think you owe it him to give him heads up. in reply to erinsells #
@erinsells To try curing non-participating students, give out preliminary participation grades. And make his brutal. in reply to erinsells #
@samplereality Not sure, but it gives me the excuse to do this: http://bit.ly/atxKU3. in reply to samplereality #
@mattthomas Right. The name probably refers to how few (%-wise) of that generation use social media, etc.But other titles aren't descriptive in reply to mattthomas #
@samplereality I found it interesting that the generation before Baby Boomers was the "Silent Generation." Seems reductive. in reply to samplereality #
@mattthomas No. But tweeting about your results afterward and obsessing about them is. in reply to mattthomas #
3 out of 4 classes took a mid-term today. I graded. And then got talked about Halting State in 4th class. Not a bad start to the weekend. #
@KickakiteWunder Ah. That explains the laughing perhaps? in reply to KickakiteWunder #
@jcmeloni Well, it's been a while since I read it, so I should probably qualify my statement. IOW, forget I said anything. in reply to jcmeloni #
@jcmeloni I look forward to hearing how it goes. It's a piece that I have mixed feelings about. in reply to jcmeloni #
@JociLand You can do it. Or at the very least recognize it will be over soon. in reply to JociLand #
@JociLand Cite the name of the lexia in parentheses. in reply to JociLand #
@ktcrow I shifted part way through grad school. One space sneetches are the best on these beaches! in reply to ktcrow #
Glad to be doing a #geoinst pow-wow over Google Chat rather than voice. Cause this way they won't know that my voice is naked. #
@KickakiteWunder You don't say? in reply to KickakiteWunder #
@DrewBrittain Not a chance. Nice try. in reply to DrewBrittain #
My day is rapidly slipping away. And I've still got a test to write and #classprep for #eng465. Thus was it ever. #
@drnels I am using the #e399 and the #eng399 hashtags for a couple of classes. #eng465 is another, although it's not seeing heavy use yet. in reply to drnels #
Nikola Tesla's letterhead is a-maz-ing: http://bit.ly/b7Tpxy. At Letterheady, which @foundhistory was kind enough to share. #
@erinsells If you play with the settings afterward, you can see that single answers have a large sway on the score. Seems strange. in reply to erinsells #
@erinsells No tatts. No piercings. Parents are still married. And I subscribe to a newspaper. in reply to erinsells #
@cscannella So that means I'm 55? Or do you subtract your score from 100, so I'm 45 and you're 38? in reply to cscannella #
I'm only a 55/100 on the millennial scale. I am officially old. http://bit.ly/aCSt1S #
@boonebgorges Make that #cunypie charts? in reply to boonebgorges #
@boonebgorges Are there any pie charts? in reply to boonebgorges #
@JociLand @DrewBrittain @KickakiteWunder And now I'll go back to playing Bejeweled. in reply to JociLand #
@JociLand @DrewBrittain I'll look forward to hearing more about this. in reply to JociLand #
@KickakiteWunder @JociLand @DrewBrittain You can also buy it from Barnes and Noble and read on your computer. http://bit.ly/aVEmYn #
@KickakiteWunder Both Barnes and Nobles in Greenville have it. in reply to KickakiteWunder #
@KickakiteWunder You could buy it for the Kindle app and read it on your iPhone. (Which wouldn't be pleasant.) in reply to KickakiteWunder #
@KickakiteWunder I understand that this isn't Emory. But I also have no control over the bookstore's stock and when they remainder books. in reply to KickakiteWunder #
@KickakiteWunder @JociLand @DrewBrittain This is why you need to buy texts at the beginning of semester. *sigh* in reply to KickakiteWunder #
@JociLand Well, see if you can find a copy on campus or in the neighborhood. Let me know if you can't. I *might* have an extra. Can't recall in reply to JociLand #
It's a double-Sweden day! New albums from Shout Out Louds and Sambassadeur! Excuse me, now, while I go twee by myself. #music #
Commute home was epic: the Fuck Buttons album finished right as I pulled into my driver. #music #
@JenHoward At some point people will catch on to me and start paying my way. *Then* where will I get my buzz? in reply to JenHoward #
Congrats @barbarahui and @ryancordell for #DH2010. I didn't apply because I knew cash flow would be a problem. #
@JociLand They send extra copies back to the publisher after a while. Did they have it at the beginning of the semester? in reply to JociLand #
@rusackas What do you mean? You've been following me for months! in reply to rusackas #
@jbj So…you're saying you're the judge for the award for the best story? And I thought only @amandafrench was reading romance today. #
@eetempleton It's unusual. And it means that I'll have some serious prep work to do as I have no excuse not to be awesome. in reply to eetempleton #
@jonbecker Please do! in reply to jonbecker #
@KickakiteWunder I will be exonerated. My class comes with an iron-clad EULA that you accepted by not dropping after the first minute. in reply to KickakiteWunder #
They've sent questions ahead of time, which is nice. But it also means I've got some serious prep work to do. #jobmarket #
@KickakiteWunder You are *not* safe from own bombs & if you switch tabs on a place where you placed a mine and switch back, you get nailed. in reply to KickakiteWunder #
Phone interview scheduled. #jobmarket #
@samplereality It's too bad that @Pierre_Menard_ appears to have not noticed your blog. in reply to samplereality #
@erinsells But you then feel compelled to make it collaborative by asking questions to get them to do your reading for you. Which fails. in reply to erinsells #
@erinsells I think it's because if one knows it well then one tends to have a particular reading to get to. in reply to erinsells #
RT @ProfHacker: New at ProfHacker: @billiehara on "Writer's Bootcamp: Commitment (to Write)" http://bit.ly/blwu5d #
@samplereality Curses. Condolences. And I hope it gets back in one piece. Would hate to lose what you'd done. in reply to samplereality #
@samplereality But you've got the backups, right? Since you're big on that IIRC. in reply to samplereality #
@zachwhalen Thanks, I just joined! in reply to zachwhalen #
@clioweb I think it only appears if someone else is logged in to the same document. in reply to clioweb #
@clioweb I *Swear* that there used to be a way for chatting in a previous version of GooDocs. I think you still can on spreadsheets. in reply to clioweb #
Preparing to talk about ARGs, esp. Year Zero today in #eng465. #
I just finished my assignment for a class to play @thenethernet for next 3 weeks: http://bit.ly/9RlzMG. #eng465 #cantbelieveigetpaidforthis #
@HannahRabon "Abandon all hope, ye who enter here." in reply to HannahRabon #
@samplereality Whoever is running things needs to learn a lesson from today's XKCD: http://bit.ly/diAUsJ. in reply to samplereality #
@dancohen That's a staggering figure. in reply to dancohen #
Which just shows how strange our language is when we talk about what we do. [2/2] #
"The word "whit" examined by a social philology is point at which cross both lateral metonymic associations and a vertical semantic coring" #
@kelseyagnew Put me on the top of the list for some of that Shamrock shake. in reply to kelseyagnew #
@bitchphd I'm not entirely sure yet I won't just walk away from it all. Which seems scary. It's good, however, to have a Bitch on my side. in reply to bitchphd #
@readitlater The checkmark has disappeared from my FF location bar. Any options for getting it back? #
I t appears that I'm finally rated on ratemy… My ship has arrived. #
@bitchphd No. No offer for me yet. Just know that current situation is a last-resort for next year. in reply to bitchphd #
@TCMcClernon I did mine *before* work today. Highly recommended. in reply to TCMcClernon #
@bitchphd Lucky, lucky them. Although I *do* get a 400/600-level course since I'm an adjunct with PhD (read, all the better for exploiting). in reply to bitchphd #
Just got my schedule for this Fall's courses. Too bad I'm not planning on being there, if I can help it. #
Just had a flashing inspiration for a paper assignment. Beware, #eng399 and #e399! #
Digital office hours (http://bit.ly/6d8hha) are through so I guess I better see to some #grading. #
@joguldi FYI I'm fluent in Dutch in case you need a confirmation on translations. in reply to joguldi #
Whoops! I got the URL wrong and just submitted an application for TATTCamp. Can't wait to see how you write "Digital Humanities" in kanji. #
The newest mp3 of the week, in which I become a parody of myself while trying to talk about Swedish duo Marching Band: http://bit.ly/cLNrdx. #
The cold medicine I took last night had me seeing double this morning. Took nap. Feel a bit better. This should make #grading fun. #
@DrewBrittain If you want something similar to Neon Indian, then you should look at Washed Out. #

At ProfHacker: Expanding Your Academic Network in 5 Minutes

Brian — Fri, 26 Feb 2010 15:45:52 +0000

I’ve got a new post up at ProfHacker on the usefulness of thank-you notes for academics.

Thanks for reading.

Twitter Weekly Updates for 2010-02-21

Brian — Mon, 22 Feb 2010 04:11:00 +0000

Enjoying the weather in a t-shirt only family walk. #
Emory has Schwarzenegger speaking at graduation. That's so much better than Vincente Fox. #
Despite what I said in my #mla09 paper, I assign lotsof things that aren't papers. Which means I'm *always* #grading. #
@amandalicastro I'm lucky enough to have insurance in my current gig. But I've been told I'm the only lecturer/VAP out of 30 that has it. in reply to amandalicastro #
@GeorgeOnline And I'd rather have a bound thing than a shelf of loose printed PDFs. But I'm a bibliophile. Can you survey your students? in reply to GeorgeOnline #
@GeorgeOnline But what's the total cost of PDFs? And what's the cost of used Nortons? in reply to GeorgeOnline #
@GeorgeOnline You mean it's going to write grant proposals for me?! in reply to GeorgeOnline #
@GeorgeOnline I wouldn't want to read things off a screen. I'd rather pay the $20 for a Norton. Or the $5 for a Dover. in reply to GeorgeOnline #
One problem of adjuncting is that I don't have time to apply to the things that helps one move out of adjuncting. #downwardspiral #jobmarket #
@billiehara I'm surprised you saw that since I'll *never* unfollow you!!! #stalker in reply to billiehara #
@HannahRabon That was a quick turn-around. in reply to HannahRabon #
@billiehara @billiehara You mean you're unfollowing people that are aren't unfollowing you? in reply to billiehara #
More #grading accomplished. Now to tackle some #steampunk or the #jobmarket. #
@eMusic “I think we need more post-coital and less post-rock" in reply to eMusic #
@fearv I hate YOU! just kidding in reply to fearv #
RT @ProfHacker: New at ProfHacker: @acavender asks: "Got Milk? Using Remember the Milk for Task Management" http://bit.ly/c5pEpY #
I'll second this! RT @sterflu: congrats to @zotero for moving out of beta yesterday: http://bit.ly/18AKCZ #
@popcap_games To Crazy Dave: What can I get you for Christmas? in reply to popcap_games #
It's the not-teaching day, so that means #grading, email, and general catching up on 3 different projects. Sigh #
@buzzdad No. It's not. in reply to buzzdad #
@cscannella Also good. Am fan of Ambling Alp too. I think Mondegreen is a full-on Boingo song. in reply to cscannella #
@jbj Bitch. in reply to jbj #
@jbj It's just the first track of the debut. The circus stuff? Intentionally awful. The rest of the album is solid gold. in reply to jbj #
The new mp3 of the week is up. Yeasayer's newest is designed to make you dance. http://bit.ly/aS4Vbd #music #
@sfirth605 You officially win. in reply to sfirth605 #
Tell me what's worse: when visiting my parents this weekend I discovered their browser homepage is Fox News. And their browser default is IE #
As I was #grading today I found myself reflecting on this @ProfHacker post by @nmhouston: http://bit.ly/d3Qtko. Really helped me. #
@mirk79 I'm also trying very hard to cut down paper feedback. I now use a timer any time that I'm #grading. in reply to mirk79 #
@mirk79 Overprepping is 5 hours prep for a 75-minute class. I tend to want to know *exactly* what I want to accomplish. Even for discussion. in reply to mirk79 #
@mattthomas Amen. in reply to mattthomas #
@erinsells TTIUWOP in reply to erinsells #
So I still over do it on #classprep. But I'm also reaping major rewards for last year's overprepping. #
@johnmjones Depends. What's the text on it? in reply to johnmjones #
@tcarmody Google #Buzz. in reply to tcarmody #
Discovering that most of my #eng465 students want to write about Hacker and the Ants. Last time I taught the course, everyone picked Lot 49. #
@eetempleton Yes, in those instances they are. But I'm not dealing with comp class now. Sorry for the confusion. in reply to eetempleton #
In comp classes, I should mention, I tell students to write an argument that we HAVE discussed in class. Don't worry @ content, just form. #
Question: what do you do when students' proposed paper topics are more or less what you already discussed in class? #
@billiehara @jbj @georgeonline Do you know how @drnels is feeling these days? in reply to drnels #
I was observed teaching yesterday.Observer said nothing when leaving (fine since I was talking w/students), but I still have no email. #lame #
@HannahRabon Consider them crossed. in reply to HannahRabon #
@billiehara @academicdave I tend to talk about branding issues when a lot of students are wearing Coach or Burberry rain boots. in reply to billiehara #
@academicdave Grand Theft Auto? in reply to academicdave #
RT @amazonmp3: 2/17 Daily Deal: Matt & Kim's Grand, sugg'd if you like Mates of State or Passion Pit. $1.99 today: http://bit.ly/aDL8LT #
@ktcrow Complete article, as long as it meets the job requirements/focus. in reply to ktcrow #
I never have time for email on teaching days, which means that the non-teaching days are full of it. #
Is it just me or is the @chronicle ghoulishly milking the U of Alabama shootings? #
@eetempleton I think you mean it's been an especially *brutal* three decades. in reply to eetempleton #
RT @ProfHacker: New at ProfHacker: @billiehara asks "What's for lunch?" and answers "Cafeteria Food!" http://bit.ly/a4gVCB #
@mkgold That is an AMAZING syllabus. Bookmarked, delicious'd, favorited, and everything else for stealing later. in reply to mkgold #
"In some cases, dissecting a poem can be as complicated as dissecting a cat." #grading #
@amandafrench I tried that a few weeks ago, and it didn't go as well as this. Admittedly, it was the end of Lot 49, so it was a hard class. in reply to amandafrench #
@filmsnob That's an essay I *have* to get the citation for. in reply to filmsnob #
@joshbrez No. I believe they rejected me (along w/250 others). And the Chair decided to let me know s/he is aware of me & paper. Courtesy. in reply to joshbrez #
@ryancordell I think they did. And to be honest, it worked. Nice to know that someone REAL (not mail merge) composed part of it. in reply to ryancordell #
@katrinagulliver It's something to consider. May be inadvisable. But at this point in my #jobmarket search I can't not do it. in reply to katrinagulliver #
@katrinagulliver Said that they read it with interest and sympathy. Didn't sound like it counted against me. in reply to katrinagulliver #
RT @ProfHacker: @jbj introduces "TeuxDeux: The closest thing to an online version of your post-it note" http://bit.ly/ayMNaY #
Just received a #jobmarket rejection that mentioned my #mla09 paper. I'm not getting jobs, but I'm not getting form letters anymore either! #
@erinsells That IS good. Congratls. in reply to erinsells #
Tried the @ProfHacker- (http://bit.ly/aECnIN) & @eetempleton-approved Zen Ten approach (http://bit.ly/9TjevJ) today. Very pleased w/results. #
@jbj Consider this the evidence of the efficaciousness of voodoo. in reply to jbj #
Does anyone have recommendation for screen cleaning of laptops? Wipes? Moose saliva? #
Getting really obsessed with Victory Garden again. #classprep #
Just got home. No sign of snow anywhere. I'm pretty sure this was all a fabrication of the media. #

Twitter Weekly Updates for 2010-02-14

Brian — Mon, 15 Feb 2010 04:11:00 +0000

@academicdave Wow. Hadn't seen the nation's weather for a while. 12" in Dallas is much more #snowpacalypse than DC's 50 inches. in reply to academicdave #
@mkirschenbaum I know. Southerners are silly. And this is about 5x as much snow as all my previous 8 years combined. in reply to mkirschenbaum #
@kelseyagnew I hope there's blue and raspberry flavors. in reply to kelseyagnew #
Apparently there's 4-5 inches of snow on ground in ATL. Just like the flooding in Sept, we're out of town (at my folks) for extreme weather. #
So THAT was fast. Just got a request for reference letters for the job I applied to at midnight. #jobmarket #fingerscrossed #
Application is out the door. Fingers crossed, as always. #jobmarket #
@eetempleton 1 to 1. in reply to eetempleton #
RT @HASTACscholars: Check out CFPs for the @mlaconvention on tech, digital humanities, new media, etc. http://bit.ly/bjK2rj #mla #mla2011 #
@sfirth605 Water's fine in Georgia, by the way. in reply to sfirth605 #
Writing my first #jobmarket letter that mentions Google Buzz. Do I get a prize for being (obnoxiously) bleeding edge? #
RT @dancohen: Brown University launches Center for Digital Scholarship: http://j.mp/ctvyea #
@mlaconvention No, I hadn't. I *am*, however, a master of the Renaissance of the Postmodern Asian. Too bad that's not what they want. in reply to mlaconvention #
Glad to see poetry beginning to creep into #eng399 and #e399 students' tweets. #
@clioweb It wasn't one of these, was it? http://bit.ly/drsz0b in reply to clioweb #
Oh, and that impossible #jobmarket ad? They also want you to teach play-writing! Here's the ad: http://bit.ly/cPPoZo. #
@loriemerson Would love to be there, but I'll be commuting. Good luck with it all! in reply to loriemerson #
"Preference given to candidates with expertise in Asian literatures, Postmodern theory, and Renaissance literature." #jobmarket #impossible #
@TCMcClernon And miles to go before you sleep, no doubt. in reply to TCMcClernon #
@samplereality I'm not seeing anything here about source code. What am I missing? in reply to samplereality #
Just wrote @eastgate the longest email ever. Condolences, Mark. #
I just let a class go early by 10 minutes. There mist be something wrong with me. #
Have just installed Victory Garden on office computer, & I'm now sure that it's been behaving strangely on both my Macs. Will call @eastgate #
@academicdave Is it problem w/system so much as it is youth not understanding value? I cheered when I ended piano lessons, & I now regret it in reply to academicdave #
Thinking that my current mood swing is suggesting that I need a massive infusion of sleep. #
@samplereality What about Cadigan's *Synners* or Nagata's *Bohr Maker*? The former more than the latter, I think. in reply to samplereality #
@wpwend42 I'm going to do a fresh install on office computer tomorrow and see if I can replicate. in reply to wpwend42 #
@HunterStofan But poetry isn't my thing either. I'm out to teach you skillz though. (Believe it or not.) in reply to HunterStofan #
@HunterStofan In my 310 course, I make students write a paper on a single word in a poem. Beware! in reply to HunterStofan #
Victory Garden is being SO weird. Am hitting loops much sooner than I ever have before. #
@eastgate Should be more clear. Now that I can compare the two side by side, it appears that OS doesn't affect the text. Map still prob tho. in reply to eastgate #
@eastgate Not seeing differences myself. Am having problem clicking on any portion of the map of garden though, in either OS 10.5 or 10.6. in reply to eastgate #
@digitalcampus So…I look forward to hearing your take on #buzz. #
How to kill #buzz (via @foundhistory): set "hide" under settings -> labels, unfollow everyone, and check "turn off buzz" at bottom of gmail. #
@ryancordell HOOOOOOO-RAAAAAAH!!! Congratulations! They are lucky to have you! #jobmarket in reply to ryancordell #
@foundhistory Do you mean to say that you're a #buzz kill? in reply to foundhistory #
@foundhistory I just got it on my account and am checking it out. @nowviskie has made me (rightly) gun shy. in reply to foundhistory #
@HunterStofan So what you're saying is that you'd like the *next* paper assignment to be on Whitman? #eng399 in reply to HunterStofan #
@jaheppler I think the point is that it's based on those you email most.And your email habits didn't take introduction of #buzz into account in reply to jaheppler #
I'm also thinking that Storyspace is working differently on Snow Leopard than on Leopard. Can you confirm this @eastgate? #
This is a strange time through Victory Garden. Haven't seen some of these lexias before. #
Whoa. Google moves toward becoming an ISP with GIGABIT downstream speeds for home users: http://bit.ly/d9u8Ru. via @michaelwillits #
@MsAnastasia Congrats! in reply to MsAnastasia #
RT @GLThatCamp: It's here folks – the final day for submitting an application to Great Lakes #thatcamp! http://www.greatlakesthatcamp.org/ #
@footnotesrising It works just fine on Mac OS X and on current Windows versions–except for 64-bit Windows. in reply to footnotesrising #
@TCMcClernon They *are* short, but that's part of my purpose: to dig deeper than you might otherwise do.I'll grant that's an annoying answer in reply to TCMcClernon #
Time to start *Victory Garden* again. #eng465 #
@BryanAlexander I use Twitter in my classes, so Buzz would be a good alternative/supplement. Helps that Clemson uses Google Apps. in reply to BryanAlexander #
@BryanAlexander I appreciated your write-up. Agree with commenter that this is possible working alternative to Wave. in reply to BryanAlexander #
@kfitz I'm jealous. No Buzz in my inbox yet. in reply to kfitz #
@chutry I'm at http://bit.ly/bkEn8Q for a Google Profile. in reply to chutry #
@Nico28love It's only fair. I misspelled your name last night. Congrats on finishing. #eng399 in reply to Nico28love #
Just now taking the time to read about Buzz. Have to say this: buzzing is a better verb than tweeting. #
@TCMcClernon A struggle because it's too hard? Not enough lines to write about? What? in reply to TCMcClernon #
@sfirth605 Invisible monkeys. in reply to sfirth605 #
@HunterStofan Suggestion: don't worry about the first draft. Just get one done and them start editing. #eng399 in reply to HunterStofan #
@samplereality On my watch they can! in reply to samplereality #
I taught all day/had solid students in office hours. Get home and just realized that Google did something. What's the best link to look at? #
@samplereality If you go to Disneyland, you're an adult at age 3. in reply to samplereality #
@Nico28love Dear Nice, Emily <3s you. in reply to Nico28love #
@jeffreywindsor I'd say that Adium gets you out to more students since it can handle more accounts. #
Commuting with the amazing new Yeasayer album. #music #
My notes for tomorrow's survey class are nowhere as detailed as they normally are. My OCD wants me to massage them, but I think I'll be fine #
@eetempleton @rachaelsullivan #mla11 *is* the approved hashtag. @samplereality is Twappering it already.Try to beat him on tweets this year in reply to eetempleton #
Writing the editorial board of our #steampunk journal issue to deal with problems a certain unnamed bald aggressive guy in CT keeps raising. #
@DrewBrittain It's not intuitive the first few times you use it, that's for sure. Glad it's working now. in reply to DrewBrittain #
@eetempleton It's available in email form too, if you prefer. And I can make the back issues available on request (and via US mail). #
@DrewBrittain In a good way or a bad way? #eng465 in reply to DrewBrittain #
@eetempleton And be sure not to miss my own brand of @pitchforkmedia overwriting at the mp3 of the week: http://bit.ly/aEuIjy. in reply to eetempleton #
@nickproth 'twas an honor to read it. Have never been myself. Feel like I've got a bit more of the flavor now. in reply to nickproth #
@eetempleton Have you heard the new Four Tet? It's really good. And only 9 tracks. in reply to eetempleton #
@eetempleton That's a great way to use it. It's my primary source for music at the moment since I = poor. in reply to eetempleton #
@paulallison So far, it's just getting used to interface. How to add to group folder.How to edit notes.Should have done more in-class w/them in reply to paulallison #
@tjowens @samplereality Excellent. Thank you. I'd looked there, but had missed it. Think it should be at top of page. in reply to tjowens #
My #eng465 students are working out the kinks with @zotero before their first bibliography assignment due tomorrow. #
@zotero How does one go about *leaving* groups? #
@kelseyagnew Wow. No one should endure Beowulf or middle English until they've committed. in reply to kelseyagnew #
RT @anneburdick electronicbookreview.com is now @ebr_barker. Critical writing produced & publd by emerging e-literary network since mid-90s! #
@eetempleton It's no connoisseur plan, but it'll do for much of what I need. in reply to eetempleton #
@eetempleton I normally know what I want, and since I can get it for $0.40/track, it's half as much as @amazonmp3 or others. in reply to eetempleton #
Preparing to teach Virilio's *Desert Screen*, as well as some Borges. #eng465 #
@boonebgorges Dance! in reply to boonebgorges #
@wpwend42 @eetempleton @erinsells It's still cheaper for me on @emusic. I too was disappointed, but they *are* the cheapest still. in reply to wpwend42 #
Dear student in the library: Tik Tok isn't such a good song that you should listen to it 3 times in a row. I promise. #
RT @therefore: In a blow to imaginary / fake locations everywhere, Google maps is working on interior mapping http://selnd.com/br8V7F #
@erinsells It's going to be available on @emusic tomorrow, FYI. in reply to erinsells #
@brettbobley I wish. Then I could sell them. I just talking about board games. in reply to brettbobley #
@DrewBrittain Nope. #eng465 in reply to DrewBrittain #
@amndw2 All we can do is hope that students start publishing this data because no one else will. Hmm. New project? in reply to amndw2 #
An appalling amount of my net worth (which is small, granted) is locked into pieces of card board. #
Best part of Benton article is he points out the lie of "doing homework and research" @ grad school before going. http://bit.ly/c3Cmip. #
Thomas Benton knocks it out of the park again on why no one should go to grad school: http://bit.ly/c3Cmip. #jobmarket #fail #dontgo #
"For most, grad school is @ implicit promise of mid-class professional, @ not hating your job & wasting your life." http://bit.ly/c3Cmip #
.@BenRobertson Anything that sounds like the opening of a movie trailer is epic fail for a paper. "From the beginning of time…" in reply to BenRobertson #
@KatieBelle432 You *don't* want to know. Srsly. in reply to KatieBelle432 #
A guest post by @academicdave at @ProfHackeron "The iPad and Higher Education": http://bit.ly/dyALAh. #
Dear students: defining "wife" might seem like a good way to start a paper. But we *all* know English. #
Of course, if you're away from Twitter for 2 days, there's that much *more* that you can procrastinate with. #
Most #eng399 students using Twitter to talk @ procrastination. They have to learn that if you follow enough people Twitter does it for you. #
@HannahRabon The ladybug infestation at Clemson is truly epic. #

Twitter Weekly Updates for 2010-02-07

Brian — Mon, 08 Feb 2010 04:11:00 +0000

Taxes > Potty Training. #
Balancing the checkbook FTW. Just saved myself some major grief. #
@sramsay Can you just bring it up with A & B? in reply to sramsay #
Taxes have been filed. Now to pay bills. Whee! #
@MsAnastasia I haven't played it. I don't have a PC or an xbox. And no Wii means I havent played the newest game either: http://bit.ly/zS5Nk in reply to MsAnastasia #
@MsAnastasia Wow. Looks great. Those are the best games evar. in reply to MsAnastasia #
@eMusic As Busta Rhymes would put it, Woo. HA! in reply to eMusic #
Listening to the new @Phantogram album on @allsongs' First Listen series: http://bit.ly/bzYQbj. This is really good. #music #
Finished what I've been writing this week and sent it off to my editor who, for once, isn't @jbj or @GeorgeOnline. #
@nickproth Still broken. Will check again later. in reply to nickproth #
@eMusic Can you tell me if we're going to get Phantograms album on Tuesday? They're on Barsuk. #
Trying out as as a futurist of the university. #
@dancohen That sounds really useful for the LAMU community. in reply to dancohen #
@HannahRabon Links? in reply to HannahRabon #
I've run out little tasks that I was using to keep me away from the writing I've now got to do. #
RT @nmhouston: My latest post @ProfHacker: Myers-Briggs, or how to learn to get along. http://bit.ly/a3wZLf #
@samhoff Undoubtedly. in reply to samhoff #
I'm using Twitter in 2 identical classes with a 3rd not using as control. #eng399 has embraced it while #e399 won't touch it. Interesting. #
@loriemerson That rules. In a psychotic kind of way. in reply to loriemerson #
@negaratduke Not ideal, but a very good air mattress. Better than all the others, I think. in reply to negaratduke #
@emarsh I've already done mine. What's taking you so long? in reply to emarsh #
@eetempleton @erinsells the @allsongs coverage is perhaps good enough for me then. in reply to eetempleton #
@erinsells Nope. It's all or nothing. in reply to erinsells #
@erinsells That's what it looks like. For a 5-day music pass. in reply to erinsells #
Whoa. Wet snow falling in Clemson. #
So this is the first time I've considered going to #sxsw …but not if it costs $700. #
@mattthomas Although everyone in my class was unborn or only1 when the Gulf War went down. (And thank you very much,) in reply to mattthomas #
All four classes went really well today, especially the Baudrillard. Not really what I'd expected. #
@eetempleton @GeorgeOnline I have the first Midlake. It's nice, but I haven't been compelled to go back to it much. in reply to eetempleton #
@eetempleton @GeorgeOnline Pitchfork *is* infuriating in a number of ways. But I feel that way about most writing @ music, mine included. in reply to eetempleton #
@erinsells I wrote about Washed Out in October's mp3 of the week. in reply to erinsells #
@chellebelle13 Are you feeling ready to be done with the Editor-in-Chief bit? in reply to chellebelle13 #
@chellebelle13 Hmm…I'll have to look for that. It says Faculty on it. Would that be a problem? in reply to chellebelle13 #
@chellebelle13 I saw that. And I'm trying to figure out how Imma gonna sneak in. in reply to chellebelle13 #
@billwolff I probably won't even have time to tell them that they should be reading Prufrock. Double curses! in reply to billwolff #
@erinsells Curses! Although to tell the truth, I more wanted to see Washed Out than Beach House. in reply to erinsells #
@eetempleton Midlake got skewered today by @pitchforkmedia. in reply to eetempleton #
@eetempleton It shouldn't be too bad. After all, I'm only teaching "Station" and "A Pact." Oh. And "Cantos." in reply to eetempleton #
My discussion of modernism in #eng399 and #e399 is really just an excuse to get to show this Charles Sheeler photograph: http://bit.ly/nt45. #
In 75 minutes tomorrow, I'm going to try to get through an overview of modernism, Pound, Frost, and Sandburg. I've made a huge mistake. #
To counter @jbj's upcoming THS concert, I'd like to mention that Beach House and Washed Out are in Atlanta on 29 April. #
@jbj You know me too well. I'll defer song writing duties to @georgeonline. I will simply look slovenly and menacing. I will *be* the townie in reply to jbj #
@jbj Actually, come to think of it. If we start a band called The Townies, THS is *obligated* to let us open for them, right? #poeticjustice in reply to jbj #
@jbj Watch out for the Townies. I hear they'll be there as well. in reply to jbj #
@grbaum We can sneak into see Girl Talk, right? in reply to grbaum #
@jbj Without Franz, of course. in reply to jbj #
The letter K is probably going to be the hardest to talk through: http://bit.ly/c4k4nU. #
The oldest can now read our framed Edward Gorey "Gashlycrumb Tinies" poster.Now to explain why his parents taste in art runs to infanticide. #
@sleonchnm Backlogs are overrated. None of us were *that* interesting today. in reply to sleonchnm #
Not feeling smart enough for Baudrillard at the moment. General malaise. #
I've posted a description of how my students are building a geotagged timeline for an assignment: http://bit.ly/dgLlrD. #geoinst #
Are you more likely to point people to your blog or to your Twitter if you're only giving them one URL? #geekpoll #
@loriemerson It is strange, but I have to figure they want uncluttered feeds. in reply to loriemerson #
@viola_lasmana That's why I turn off Twitter when I do write. I'm also working (very slowly) on a @ProfHacker post on this subject. in reply to viola_lasmana #
Writing is HARD, when you haven't had the chance to do it for a while. #
@mlaconvention Was there ever a total count released on #mla09 attendees? #
@ryancordell Knock 'em dead. in reply to ryancordell #
Put the wrong Norton anthology in my bag. Good thing I'm not supposed to be reading but writing. #eng399 #
Just chatted with someone from my undergrad who's doing a prospective visit to Emory this week. Glad I'm on this end of things. #
@GeorgeOnline Cixous or Mulvey might be good choices. in reply to GeorgeOnline #
@netwurker You've seen http://suicidemachine.org/, right? in reply to netwurker #
@saschel Felicitations! Hup hup hoerja! in reply to saschel #
@sterflu Oh, it's not blameworthy at all. Was just intriguing, and makes me wonder what class it is for. in reply to sterflu #
@jbj It's intentionally borked so as to provide me with better tweet fodder. in reply to jbj #
I and many of the DH tweeps I follow are suddenly getting followed by plenty of people at UT Austin. @johnmjones, is this your doing? #
I just received an email from @jbj with the subject line "sauciness." #beafraid #
@sterflu That's what Vonnegut said in Cat's Cradle about 50 years ago. in reply to sterflu #
@erinsells And RESPECT! in reply to erinsells #
@cscannella t00w! in reply to cscannella #
@erinsells I had one at Emory too, sucka! in reply to erinsells #
@mkirschenbaum He's in the next office over. Call back, and I'll pull him in here. in reply to mkirschenbaum #
My office phone just rang for the very first time all year. Wrong number. #
@AntArch That's what @nowviskie, @joegilbert, @barbarahui, @joguldi, and I are trying to figure out. #geoinst in reply to AntArch #
I've posted the newest mp3 of the week, w/Pains of Being Pure at Heart. It's The Smiths run through a shoegaze filter: http://bit.ly/90DrBF. #
@fearv Yes I do: http://thenethernet.com, in reply to fearv #
As a favor to @erinsells, I'm going to quickly write up the new mp3 of the week. #music #
Trying to do #classprep in record time as I'm a bit sick, like half of Twitter, it appears. #
And since I've got writing to do, I'm going to cautiously withdraw the toes from Twitter. Just as @academicdave was getting going, too… #
RT everyone: Legal Piracy today! Get a free copy of Adrian Johns's new book. http://bit.ly/9TK8Ol (via @dancohen) #
After a weekend away from Twitter (thanks, hellacious moving-a-friend experience), it's always interesting to wade back in. #
@erinsells Not new, but good. I guess I need to send out another mp3 soon, huh? in reply to erinsells #

Assignment: The “American Century” Geospatial Timeline

Brian — Wed, 03 Feb 2010 19:12:50 +0000

For the last several years, I have been interested in representing time and space visually in the context of literature courses. During my final year as a graduate student, I was a fellow in Emory’s Center for Interactive Teaching. There, I had the freedom to spend many hours exploring several web widgets for doing just this that were developed by MIT’s Simile Project and since spun off as independent Simile Widgets. I found the tools fairly powerful, but not especially well documented–particular for someone who was a coding dilletante at best. The result was that along with building several timelines, I also wrote a tutorial for building your own custom timelines.

Since I didn’t have a class to experiment on, I got in touch with Jason B. Jones, whose blog had first alerted me to the Simile Project. Jason was teaching a course on the Victorian period, and he quickly crafted an assignment using a timeline that I coded for his class. Jason wrote about our collaboration on his blog.

When I got my own survey class last year, I adapted lifted Jason’s assignment pretty much whole-cloth and had my students create a timeline to accompany our exploration of American literature following the Civil War. When I was given the chance to teach a similar course this semester, I wanted to represent not only time but also space. For last summer’s THATCamp, I had spent some time experimenting with Google Maps integration with the timeline, and I’ve now made some real additions to Jason’s assignment to incorporate the geospatial elements.

Why do I like using this assignment? I give my students three reasons.

In a survey of American literature, one of the key goals is to get a sense of how the literature lies in context with everything else that is happening. These events shape the literature in question, and creating a timeline lets the students go beyond what I bring up in class to explore developments in art, technology, politics, and more.
It lets me give them one less paper. (This is what really sells them, since I will have frequently thrown several other weird assignments at them that they aren’t sure about.)
I believe that every student–even English majors–that graduates from college should be able to read and write HTML, to work in a spreadsheet, and to have a little experience with databases. Such literacy is frequently overlooked but will be vitally important in a world in which it is increasingly difficult to find employment with a liberal arts degree.

The timeline and map that we’re working with are now live with a few examples that I have provided. (You’ll need to scroll the timeline to the right or left to find a date. Or you can use the search box at right.) Students will be adding data in the coming month. I’m hoping that in this version of the assignment we not only get a sense of temporal context but also spatial context. Will we see that the events that we have chosen as important move Westward in connection with Westward expansion? Do particular decades have more important events in one portion of the country? We’ll see.

As part of my project to promote open-source pedagogy, I wanted to post the new assignment. And if you feel like tackling your own timeline, I’d be more than happy to answer questions.

Timeline Assignment

Steps

Be sure that you’ve given me an email address that you actually check. By 1/30, you will receive an e-mail inviting you to collaborate with me on a Google Docs spreadsheet.
Choose two years between 1865-2010. One year must be in the range 1865-1935 and one year must fall in the range 1936-2010. You can see the list of available years below. When you have chosen your years, edit our wiki page to strikethrough your chosen years (strikethrough is the option to the right of italics) and then email me your two chosen years. Do this by 2/5.
Identify EIGHT historically significant events from each of your two years. (Births, deaths, legislation, wars, inventions, publications, . . . ). For each event,
- find a related image online and get the URL for the image. Do NOT get the URL for the page on which the image appears.
- find a link where one can learn more about the event (no more than half the links can be to Wikipedia)
- find a location (city, state) for the event
- find the latitude and longitude for this location using these instructions and Google Maps
- write a ONE- or TWO-SENTENCE description of the event. Descriptions may not be longer than two sentences.
In the Google spreadsheet, enter the FOUR most significant events for each year, filling out the various fields with the appropriate information. (See below for details.)
For each of your two years, send me an email with the full list and a two-paragraph document. The first paragraph should explain how you chose the full list of 8 events, and the second paragraph will explain how you cut it down to 4.
The information from the first year must be posted to the timeline and the document emailed to me by 5pm on March 4. The information for the second year must be posted to the timeline and the document submitted to me by 5pm on March 25. Of course, completing the assignment early is always fine.

The Spreadsheet’s Fields

Using the spreadsheet is easy, but it also requires the data to be input in a very particular way. For best results, follow these instructions exactly:

Always add your information to the BOTTOM of the spreadsheet.
The first field, “{label}” is the text that will be visible directly on the timeline. It should be short: 3-6 words (where a title of a novel or poem can count as one word). To make a title appear italicized, type it exactly like this (without the quotation marks): “AuthorName, Book Title” Don’t worry about the fact that it doesn’t look italicized in the spreadsheet, and DON’T USE THE SPREADSHEET’S ITALICS FUNCTION!
The second field, “{start-date}” is mandatory: when did the event happen? Fill this in: yyyy-mm-dd. You must use 2-digit months (01, 02, 03) and 2-digit days.
- For example, April 8, 1999 would be entered 1999-04-08.
The third field, “{end-date}” is optional: If the event happened over a span of time, when did it end? Again, use yyyy-mm-dd format.
The fourth field, “{description:single}” is where you put your one- to two-sentence description. Also, wrap the sentence–or some portion of it–in your “more information” link. Here’s how to do it (the quotation marks in the pointy-brackets are REQUIRED!!): SENTENCE GOES HERE
- For example, General Ulysses S. Grant meets with General Robert E. Lee at the Appomattox courthouse where Lee signs the terms of surrender that effectivley ends the civil war.
The fifth field, “{image:url}” is where you cut-and-paste the url for the related image.
The sixth field, “{EventType}” is where you identify what kind event this is: Politics, Military, Science/Technology, Economics, Literature, Arts, Biography. Only use one Event Type. If you think that your event doesn’t fit into any of these categories, please email me before you start using a ne one.
The seventh field, “{event_LatLng} is where you put the latitude and longitude that you strip from Google Maps using these instructions.
The eighth field, “{event_place}” is where you put the city and state where the event takes place.
In the ninth field, “{decade}”, please type the decade in which your event takes place. Please format these as 1860s, 1870s, etc.
The tenth field, “{initials}” is where you put your initials, which will help me with the bookkeeping.
After you have entered your information in the spreadsheet, make sure that it is displaying properly on the timeline and the map.

Twitter Weekly Updates for 2010-01-31

Brian — Mon, 01 Feb 2010 04:11:00 +0000

@erinsells I've decided Surfer Blood sound like The Shins more than anything else. #
@erinsells I think there are similarities, but the sound of the band is so different over the whole album, IMO. Diff production too. in reply to erinsells #
@erinsells So you're right about Surfer Blood track 3 and Vampire Weekend. Guess I'm just another backlashing hipster wannabe. #music #
Am convinced that my co-editor is so much smarter than I am. #soitgoes #
@erinsells I cleverly avoid them by taking on more (and less important) commitments. in reply to erinsells #
@erinsells I haven't applied to anything since December. Am in a bit of a mental rut. #jobmarket #fail in reply to erinsells #
@loriemerson Isn't it obvious that one close reads #elit by getting #iPad & then zooming in to the text? Srsly, people. It's not that hard. in reply to loriemerson #
@erinsells I wouldn't say it's a subtext though. It's just in your face much of the time. VW are omnivores. in reply to erinsells #
@erinsells Will listen to those. But I don't think of VW as surfer rock/pop. Sounds more like world (music) rock/pop. #
@erinsells I like the new Vampire Weekend more than the first. But I don't really hear the similarities. Examples? in reply to erinsells #
@nirak Right. And my mom trumps my dad in all things technical. It's a bad rhetorical move, although I still think a nuanced position. in reply to nirak #
RT @ProfHacker: New at ProfHacker: @acavender talks about Wikipedia with her students in "Ah, Wikipedia": http://bit.ly/bFPhiW #
@kelseyagnew Schivelbusch? Great book. in reply to kelseyagnew #
@johnmjones @jbj That would be an important step. Also, when iPad gets a camera. in reply to johnmjones #
@seabright I see your point, but I don't know that it's tech-ignorant so much as not needing the tech. Wld be safer if he'd chosen his dad. in reply to seabright #
People, people! I live in the *South*. I'm not trying to compete with you Calvinists who insist on ritual self-denial and coldness. #
@theyellowedpage Done, sir. Sending it your way. in reply to theyellowedpage #
One of the best things that I've read on the #iPad, as far as positive evaluation: http://bit.ly/d4O7ji. Read it with http://bit.ly/cN6WRi. #
I am not amused by our having 60-degree sunshine yesterday and 45-degree dark clouds and wind today. #
@moosewizard Write that thesis! in reply to moosewizard #
@BryanAlexander Health insurance? No. I've heard it's fairly common in Europe. Not so common in the US, alas. in reply to BryanAlexander #
RT @ProfHacker New at ProfHacker: @jcmeloni explains how "How 15 Minutes Can Save 24 Hours of Stress" http://bit.ly/1eFEq #
Now listening to Starfucker while trying to make sense of Clemson's homegrown student evaluation tool. #music #opensourcefail #
@cscannella Same thing happened to me. I think Catcher must be read in high school. in reply to cscannella #
Today's xkcd does a better job tackling ethics of robotics than Kubrick's AI did. http://bit.ly/a6MB8J. #
Amber reports that Finn is running around a store shouting "Surf Blood!" #
This Surfer Blood album is really, really good. #music #
Fun zombie #jobmarket spoof of #MLA09 on @chronicle: http://bit.ly/bVBbnO. #
@triproftri I know the feeling re:user error. Glad that you've got it sorted out now. in reply to triproftri #
@brentwalker500 Glad that it looks useful. Let me know if you have any questions. in reply to brentwalker500 #
RT @avantgame: Mad TV predics the iPad in 2007. Seriously Apple? http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=lsjU0K8QPhs #
@triproftri Answering the page! Shoot me an email so I can look at page/HTML? in reply to triproftri #
@SybilV That's not scripture. That's Spider-Man. in reply to SybilV #
Sneak preview for #eng399 and #e399 students. Paper 1 assignment is up on the wiki: http://bit.ly/a1CIUI. #
Thinking about using two pieces by Nicholas Carr in tomorrow's media class: http://bit.ly/ajVWFe and http://bit.ly/9QovSi. #eng465 #
@j_l_r That is *so* you! in reply to j_l_r #
And now that I read @eetempleton's post for @ProfHacker (http://bit.ly/9wpmeP), I'm even happier. Go, read, and post, people. I need ideas! #
The newest @ProfHacker post, "Silence is Golden…" is by the newest ProfHacker author, @eetempleton: http://bit.ly/9wpmeP. Welcome! #
And with that, I suppose I should be getting back to Hacker and the Ants. #classprep #
Just signed @lessig's petition for a Constitutional amendment to protect our democracy #changecongress #lessig http://bit.ly/dj4E9O #
@DrewBrittain Consider it a sacrifice for "Reading Technology." #eng465 in reply to DrewBrittain #
@sgsinclair No. No orders for now. Kind of like when they announced iPhone. strange how/when they make these choices. in reply to sgsinclair #
@johnmjones No. But it can transmute our money into #iPads. in reply to johnmjones #
@samplereality I mean, dammit. What if I get jonesing for some insurance banner ads? in reply to samplereality #
@samplereality This absence of Flash is such a strange #iPad fail. I don't program, so I don't know intricacies. But it's ridiculous. in reply to samplereality #
@DrewBrittain Because. Buy it. in reply to DrewBrittain #
@seabright The look of the real pages will help #iPad. But everything else? Blech for reading. in reply to seabright #
@patrickgmj Touche. ; in reply to patrickgmj #
Can I use Prezi on the #iPad? #
@foundhistory It sacrifices VIRGINS!! in reply to foundhistory #
@seabright Yes, the backlight flicker. It's not how eyes read easiest, in my experience. in reply to seabright #
@ericrettberg But $499 to do what? I don't see how it differentiates itself from any other device. in reply to ericrettberg #
Can I Second Life on the #iPad? #iSnark #
.@seabright Printed books don't flicker. If they do, you should go to an emergency room. #iPad in reply to seabright #
Very excited, however, to see Goro Fujita's work (http://bit.ly/cpAvT0) show up in the presentation. #ipad #
What I want to know is how easy it is to read the #iPad screen. Kindle is great because you escape the flicker. #
I am about 40 minutes behind on reading the live blogs on the #iPad, but I'm not yet sold on the what and why. #
Looks like #applerapture is seriously slowing down Twitter. #
So the #applerapture is upon us. But the Apple oline store hasn't closed. Unusual. Nothing to sell? #
@kfitz Right there with you. in reply to kfitz #
@boonebgorges Good man. in reply to boonebgorges #
2010 digital humanities workshop @ Nebraska will be hard to attend. It requires building a time machine to meet April 2008 submiss. deadline #
@jcmeloni Gah! Nope. You didn't. It just seemed like we were pussy-footing. Must be tired. Ignore me. in reply to jcmeloni #
@jcmeloni I love how we're being so careful to make sure the other's feelings aren't hurt. Ain't digital communication a gas? in reply to jcmeloni #
@jcmeloni And I didn't really have pedagogy classes. This might explain much. in reply to jcmeloni #
@jcmeloni I could do that more when I wasn't doing lecture courses. Wish I could do it that way. Would be more efficient. in reply to jcmeloni #
@jcmeloni A few bullet points? Wow. I have 6 pages of notes for most classes. Granted, I'm insane… in reply to jcmeloni #
@jcmeloni You mean that you don't practice dissertation spiels or lectures? in reply to jcmeloni #
@mkgold @samplerealtiy Mithril is an element, right? in reply to mkgold #
@jcmeloni Site design? Things you do during the commute? Different blogging tools? Linux basics? Workflow for task X or Y? in reply to jcmeloni #
@samplereality Hey! I resent th…[yawn] in reply to samplereality #
@xentahl "It Started with a Mixx," then? in reply to xentahl #
@loriemerson Are you nominating yourself? Because I know someone with pull at @ProfHacker… in reply to loriemerson #
@pbenzon Which is funny since it's both the too-new and too-old vis a vis the rest of Gibson's oeuvre. in reply to pbenzon #
@xentahl They're my favorite band of 2006-2009. in reply to xentahl #
@xentahl I've listened to the new one several times already. Not as great as first two LPs, but still good. in reply to xentahl #
@erinsells The album isn't as good as their others. Not yet at least. But they get points for titles. in reply to erinsells #
New at @ProfHacker: @billiehara writes about "Humor in the Classroom." http://bit.ly/dgcIoC #
@sherah1918 Do you have a posting number on that? Having a hard time finding it on the site. in reply to sherah1918 #
@BenRobertson Really? I <3 Virilio. I find his ideas/writing incredibly provocative. Always gets me thinking something new. in reply to BenRobertson #
@allsongs I just bought the Givers EP. Good call on it. #
The most important thing I had to do today is now done. I've purchased the new @loscampesinos album. #
@GreatDismal Not a chance. It's my favorite of yours. in reply to GreatDismal #
@emusic If you've got us Sony and Warner, when are you going to snag us @subpop? #
@GeorgeOnline I haven't been invited either. We can "Grrr" in harmony. You take lows, I'll take highs. in reply to GeorgeOnline #
@BenRobertson Unknown Quantity is much better. in reply to BenRobertson #
@jdrouin Now go celebrate! in reply to jdrouin #
@cscannella One can never be sure. But it's not me impersonating him. in reply to cscannella #
@pbenzon I did a diss chapter on @GreatDismal's Pattern Recognition. Haven't taught it yet though. in reply to pbenzon #
RT @JHabermas: Sorry for not following anyone. I'm still trying to lear how to use this tool. JH [This makes me all kinds of giddy.] #
For #eng399 today, I need to get through both *Daisy Miller* and "The Yellow Wall-Paper." #incomingfail #
@BenRobertson Pynchon himself thought the novel was crap. And Oedipa wonders the same thing re: 2nd question. Read via McLuhan tho, it's <3! in reply to BenRobertson #
@kelseyagnew Louisville Slugger museum. Decent minor league team (useless at the moment). in reply to kelseyagnew #
@emahlee Curses! I slipped on the reply button. It had been intended for @jbj. Pardon me. (And thanks!) in reply to emahlee #
@HunterStofan Well, it all depends on whether or not I manage to get us through Daisy Miller first. #eng399 in reply to HunterStofan #
@emahlee @boonebgorges Un-conference, my ass. This will be a CAN-DO conference! in reply to emahlee #
@profsyn Well, you can take heart that *I* was rejected by that program. in reply to profsyn #
@jbj @boonebgorges I'm sure that we could get the organizers to do a via*gra conference as well. #VLA10 in reply to jbj #
@jbj I think you mean the definitive conference *schwing*. in reply to jbj #
Lot 49 finished yet again. Fun as always. Wonder what the rest of #eng465 thought. #
Just discovered Firefox smart keywords. Can't believe I never paid attention to these before. #
New at @ProfHacker: @drnels on "Handling the Stress of the Tenure Process": http://bit.ly/5ngNrf #
@dradrea That's an interesting project. I've done the timeline assignment once before. The mapping is new. in reply to dradrea #
@melissaterras Hmm. They're not as minimal as I wanted today. I've only heard one of their whole albums, and it wasn't that impressive. in reply to melissaterras #
All of my students in #eng399 and #e399 should take a look at the timeline assignment: http://bit.ly/6xuoAk. #
@melissaterras Will check them out. Although I probably should have said I was doing a minimal *house* thing today. in reply to melissaterras #
I'm definitely doing a minimalist electronica thing today. After Fuck Buttons, it's been Farben and now it's The Field. #music #
Working on some materials for #geoinst. #
@jenterysayers I was listening to the '09 album. I have the previous one too. This newer one is light-years beyond though. in reply to jenterysayers #
Is it possible to take two items in a @Zotero collection and make on subordinate to/nest within another? #
@mirk79 Wow. Thanks for passing his along. in reply to mirk79 #
@samplereality Which might sound snarky, but wasn't meant to be. Great album. in reply to samplereality #
@samplereality You and everyone else. in reply to samplereality #
@samplereality Which album? in reply to samplereality #
@mkirschenbaum I'm teaching Halting State again this semester as well. Looks like a great course. in reply to mkirschenbaum #
I won't lie to you: the last two nights' dreams have featured airships, submersibles, and bowlers. This #steampunk journal is getting to me. #
@mkirschenbaum Will look forward to seeing that talk. in reply to mkirschenbaum #
@dancohen @wynkenhimself @academicdave If there isn't, I suppose we can start one for parents with same dilemma. Hello, #jobmarket solution! in reply to dancohen #
Listening to the new Fuck Buttons for the first time. This first track is mesmerizing. http://bit.ly/66pCps #music #
RT @ProfHacker: New at ProfHacker: @nmhouston considers the metaphor of working in "The Salt Mines: http://bit.ly/6gM2vO #
@wynkenhimself @dancohen "I learned it by watching you, all right! I learned it by watching you." http://bit.ly/8rSpUX in reply to wynkenhimself #
@dancohen Simple: http://bit.ly/7vpWvu. in reply to dancohen #

Twitter Weekly Updates for 2010-01-24

Brian — Mon, 25 Jan 2010 04:11:00 +0000

@erinsells Turn off the "age me" filter. in reply to erinsells #
@erinsells That or looking in the mirror while getting one's hair cut. in reply to erinsells #
@erinsells But I use Brizzly once a week. Twhirl is constnat. Just my preference. @wpwend42 in reply to erinsells #
@erinsells Brizzly requires you to have web open and be on the tab to read. Twhirl runs in background. I use both for different things. in reply to erinsells #
@roopikarisam @erinsells I know people who have a blanket statement on syllabus that says they'll use student's essays, barring opt-out. in reply to roopikarisam #
@roopikarisam In an ideal world, yes. But in an ideal world, you'd also be paid a fair wage for your labor. in reply to roopikarisam #
@erinsells Click "home" at the bottom of the Twhirl app. in reply to erinsells #
@erinsells You pass! in reply to erinsells #
@ibogost Didn't they re-release New Coke within the last year as well? in reply to ibogost #
My newest on @ProfHacker discusses how to hold "Digital Office Hours": http://bit.ly/6d8hha. #
@zephoria It probably has something to do with its moral crisis since you're asking it to work at Microsoft Research. in reply to zephoria #
@sfirth605 Congratulations. in reply to sfirth605 #
Trying to quickly finish a @ProfHacker post. Perversely decided to turn on Twhirl. That won't distract me, will it? #
Going home! Commute (and westward) ho! #
@chutry No more of those "foreign" films for you! in reply to chutry #
.@mattthomas Thanks. I think I *might* indeed be going too hard, trying to get them to parse hard book (Lot 49) with hard theory (McLuhan). in reply to mattthomas #
@clioweb Don't look too deep into this mystery. The last person who did was MC Escher. And we know what happened to him. in reply to clioweb #
Somehow my tweet count has ballooned ridiculously. I *promise* you that I haven't tweeted 21,000+ times. #
@stakats Looks like it could be a centrifuge: http://bit.ly/8CxC15. in reply to stakats #
@HunterStofan Read "Yellow Wallpaper"? in reply to HunterStofan #
@kfitz "Priming"! That's exactly what I need to think @ doing. I don't expect them to know it all, but to react in some way & they won't. #
@kfitz They're silent as the grave. Not even incredulous whimpers about how weird/hard Lot 49 is. Thanks for ideas. in reply to kfitz #
@kfitz @billiehara Maybe I need to try using pairs more often rather than small groups. I probably throw too many lifelines. in reply to kfitz #
@buzzdad Hmm. Don't have the tech for it, but I could maybe kludge something together without the tech. in reply to buzzdad #
@erochest That's the sort of suggestion I want! in reply to erochest #
@billiehara Haven't tried that. Will give it a whirl. in reply to billiehara #
@micahvandegrift I like that idea and use it myself, altho this classroom lacks the capability. in reply to micahvandegrift #
Thanks to everyone who said hi to my class earlier today, by the way. #
We're doing *cool* (to my mind) stuff in class: media, technology, Pynchon, wikis, etc. But it's like pulling teeth. #
I'm having the hardest time getting my 400-level seminar (http://bit.ly/5MYDBo) students to talk. No natural talkers among them.Suggestions? #
Trying to explain hashtags to #e399 #
i'm show twitter (not tqitter) to a class. say hi! #
@BenRobertson You get another chance in just about 5 minutes! in reply to BenRobertson #
I'm not sure if I'll ever live down that misspelling of Twitter. But I'm going to show another class Twitter in 10 minutes. So I'll try. #
Now explaining hashtags to #eng399. #
demonstrating tqitter to a class. can people say hi? #
@retius I really like their album. Haven't heard the EP. Worth checking out? in reply to retius #
@publichistorian Will have to check out Wan Light. in reply to publichistorian #
@fearv So where's the Peggle slash fiction? in reply to fearv #
Each time I've clicked on a @nytimes link today, I've wondered how what will be my dominant news source when they start charging in 2011. #
@publichistorian Do you have any favorites there? I'm partial to Acid House Kings and Club 8. in reply to publichistorian #
@publichistorian Oh, I know. Labrador and I are old friends. I guess I don't know their whole roster as well as I thought I did. in reply to publichistorian #
How have I not heard of The Radio Dept. until now? I'm *supposed* to be the master of all things Swedish, gauzy, and sweet. #music #
@roopikarisam I really prefer *Passing* for this reason. in reply to roopikarisam #
Wait. Is it 10pm and I'm done with tomorrow's #classprep? Not really sure what to do with myself. #
@avantgame The cake is a lie! in reply to avantgame #
I <3 me some http://www.random.org. #
@kfitz I sent it to this person's Gmail. I've sent a test invite to one student to see how quickly it processes. in reply to kfitz #
@cscannella This explains why I have still to figure out how to use QS effectively, right? #
RT @markgammon: The 3 Facebook Settings Every User Should Check Now http://bit.ly/7Otg2j /via @rww #
@kfitz Hm. Haven't invited students yet, but a colleague still has to receive hers that I sent a few weeks ago. in reply to kfitz #
Listening to The Lodger for the first time. Despite owning this album for an embarrassing number of months. #music #
@kfitz @jmcclurken @captain_primate @billiehara @billwolff Have you invited students to #Wave yet? Wondering how long invitations will take. #
Why am I only now figuring out how wonderful Stickies are in OS X? #
@mattthomas It's not exactly mellow, just not as bouncy as I expected from a group connected as closely to Tough Alliance as they are. in reply to mattthomas #
Rolling through the morning mail and listening to Little Dragon. #music #
@mattthomas I have yet to really get into jj. A little more mellow than what I want most of the time. But it's Swedish, so I keep it around. in reply to mattthomas #
@jbj Epic. Win. in reply to jbj #
@jbj That's some weird rhetorical figure that I just used, isn't it? Not quite catachresis, but I can't think of the name at the moment. in reply to jbj #
@jcmeloni Hmm. I wish I could see him with eyes that hadn't met him in person first. in reply to jcmeloni #
@jbj #1: Because you jump on them. #2: Because you proselytize for THS. in reply to jbj #
@sherah1918 Well, today was only first 30 pages. They've got time. in reply to sherah1918 #
@sherah1918 Didn't get the reaction I wanted. Normally expect them to be full-on befuddled. Just silent instead. Trying to draw them out. in reply to sherah1918 #
@viola_lasmana There are 13 students in the class. They looked a bit dubious when I explained it today. Fingers crossed. in reply to viola_lasmana #
@georgeonline Love your Spring 2010 soundtrack! #
Just submitted course request form for Fall 2010…despite being very unsure if I'll be here. #
@cscannella The whole album is fantastic. in reply to cscannella #
@jmcclurken I'm not sure how *I* would cite it, but for @jbj and @georgeonline it's just another line under the heading "Kickassery." in reply to jmcclurken #
@ibogost Sappho. Her work's only fragments, so it's easier to fill in the gaps (read: lesb[os]ian scenes!) in reply to ibogost #
RT @JenServenti: NEA is seeking a Program Analyst for their Office of Res & Analysis. Apps due 2/1/10. More info: http://is.gd/6zg54 #
@jcmeloni P'rhaps so re: @georgeonline. @jbj is going to hypnotize you into buying it. (And then will jump on you.) in reply to jcmeloni #
@jbj George is holding a map of Level 1-1 of Super Mario Bros. You aren't going to jump anyone. You're going to sell them a timeshare. in reply to jbj #
@jbj I've always thought of you and @georgeonline as mandarins. in reply to jbj #
@sherah1918 Since we're doing Pynchon after McLuhan, his take on the postal service explicates "medium is the message" rather well. in reply to sherah1918 #
@BenRobertson This is my 4th semester in a row teaching it. Kind of a standard for me now. in reply to BenRobertson #
Time to start #reading *Crying of Lot 49* for the first time this year. #classprep #
@lnakamur We can haz linkz? (To syllabi?) in reply to lnakamur #
@kfitz We did gyros tonight! in reply to kfitz #
@jlredu Nice looking course site. in reply to jlredu #
@dradrea Thanks very much! in reply to dradrea #
@cforster @sterflu Not necessarily. But understanding how data is orgnized matters. I want all of my undergrads to read HTML too. in reply to cforster #
@sterflu @cforster And undergrads *do* need to learn such informational literacy. #
@sterflu @cforster I like @zotero (or Endnote) b/c they teach metadata manipulation in ways reg. bibliographies don't. in reply to sterflu #
@ryancordell I really like Plath's "Morning Song." But @joegilbert's got great suggestions too. in reply to ryancordell #
@sterflu So linkable metadata is the desire? Or the elimination of dupicate entries? in reply to sterflu #
@sterflu Hence the need to tag things yourself. Creating metadata *is* an important thing we need to be aware of. Just look @ Google Books. in reply to sterflu #
@sterflu Do you mean that I should require students to fill out the Author, Title, etc. by hand? Or that we shouldn't trust @Zotero? in reply to sterflu #
@samplereality Thanks. That was one I'd stumbled across. Good to know it's worked for you. in reply to samplereality #
Here's the final version of my Annotated @Zotero Group Bibliography: http://bit.ly/67K3Rl. #
@theyellowedpage Well, the wiki is for my classes to use. It's where the assignments get accessed by students. in reply to theyellowedpage #
@theyellowedpage There's both. Naturally. in reply to theyellowedpage #
Never sure if I should point people on Twitter to finished assignments on my wiki or on my blog. #
@kakennedy @billwolff Don't miss @samplereality's assignment from Fall 2009 either: http://bit.ly/8tDrxa. in reply to kakennedy #
@billwolff I like the *idea* of them annotating each other's entries…but seems like it might be one step too many. in reply to billwolff #
Ditto. RT @amandafrench: I wish there were a Twitter client that synced w/ iPhone Twitter client & remembered last tweet I read both places. #
@billwolff Hmm. That's interesting. in reply to billwolff #
@samplereality What plugin are you using for CC on your blog? #
@billwolff Will do. Have a draft up at my blog now, but it's changing this morning a bit. in reply to billwolff #
@erinsells And your top 10 is listed where? in reply to erinsells #
As I'm finishing my @Zotero annotated bibliography assignment, I'm wishing that changes in your library could be made to sync to group libs. #
@erinsells But I'm pretty behind on 2009 music still. My favorite of 2008 that I got to in 2009 was Crystal Castles. in reply to erinsells #
@erinsells They have a good chance of being in top 10 as well. Phoenix would be up there too and Pains of Being Pure at Heart, I think. in reply to erinsells #
@erinsells I haven't gotten around to that. But I can tell you that Animal Collective was at the very top. in reply to erinsells #
Stream the new @LosCampesinos album, *Romance is Boring*: http://bit.ly/6ssHnv. Will almost certainly be in my 2010 top 10. #music #
Having lost a full day's work due to stomach flu on Friday, I'm working until late afternoon, when it's time for some Haiti-related service. #