Reading in the dark

Request for photo description: anatomy of a thunderstorm

Fri, 01 Jun 2012 16:42:47 GMT

From the Earth and Sky June newsletter--I love thunderstorms! Also note: today is the first day of hurricane season for the Atlantic.

http://earthsky.org/earth/image-the-anatomy-of-a-thunderstorm

2 free Webinars: Usability at MIT +ebook accessibility

Thu, 31 May 2012 20:24:33 GMT

Kes: Love this MIT model which has usability and accessibility as part of the same service instead of creating an accessibility ghetto, but that's the good news, because the ebook accessibility Webinar seems to fail to mention that the only way to convert most proprietary format ebooks is to first crack the DRM, and that would count as a big intellectual property no-no, kiddies so, unless you are the Librarian of Congress, it would be wrong to promote such an act, which of course, I totally do not.

1. Free Webinar-Accessibility and Usability: Working Together at MIT
Tuesday, June 26, 11 Pacific, noon Mountain, 1 Central 2 PM Eastern
Presenters: Katherine Wahl and Stephani Roberts from MIT
The Usability and Accessibility teams in MIT's Information Services and
Technology Department (IS&T) always worked closely together, but were formally
merged during a department-wide reorganization in 2009. Our goal in
blending the
teams was to provide a comprehensive service to clients without diluting our
individual practices.
After two years, we have strengthened our ability advocate persuasively for
both
usability and accessibility with clients, have provided more comprehensive
services, and have observed standards applied more consistently.
This Webinar will share the MIT experience as a model for other
institutions to
emulate.
Register for this free June 26 Webinar: http://bit.ly/JiIYW8

2. EASI Free Webinar: The Cutting Edge of E-book Accessibility
Friday June 15: 11 PM Pacific, Noon Mountain, 1 PM Central and 2 PM Eastern
Presenter: Norm Coombs, Ph.D. CEO EASI, Professor Emeritus RIT

The explosion of e-books is changing the face of book publishing and changing
the role of book stores. Different vendors of e-books created their unique,
proprietary document formats which required their being read in e-readers
designed specifically for that format. Imagine having to use different glasses
to read print books depending on who was its publisher! Of course, the
document
format and the specialized e-readers were inaccessible to many people with
what
used to be called "print disabilities". The DAISY document format opened up a
wider and richer reading experience for people with disabilities, but DAISY
books were incompatible with commercial e-readers like the Kindle or Nook, and
commercial e-book formats were incompatible with DAISY.

All this is changing while we ponder these problems. Some software and
hardware
DAISY players have added the ability to read some books in the epub format,
and
the next version of that standard will include even more features that will
support accessibility for users with disabilities. This promises to open up a
new and larger collection of e-books for this population.

What will happen to the divergent proprietary e-book document formats? Either
all publishers will adopt a common e-document standard or, as is happening
already, tools to convert different formats will become common. This Webinar
will explore this complicated picture and try to simplify it for the audience.

Webinar participants will learn which formats are already accessible to them,
and they will be introduced to some tools for document format conversion.

Register for this June 15 Webinar
:https://docs.google.com/spreadsheet/viewform?formkey=dEFRVmhpOGFlTVN5T09ScWREeDdsVWc6MQ

This is what happens when you have a degree in media studies

Thu, 31 May 2012 10:49:22 GMT

Even my nightmares are kind of meta: this morning, right before I woke up, I had a triple feature horror anthology in the cinematic style of Hammer films, complete with elaborately-detailed pseudo-Victorian sets with lots of red and the slightly saturated film colors. It's the fact that I didn't get Christopher Lee in my film that kind of makes me feel cheated.

Learn how to relax this weekend

Fri, 25 May 2012 23:34:41 GMT

In this year of learning to live with menopause/depression/the season of the ongoing migraine, I have to keep reminding myself that being relaxed requires attention, as I tend to slip back into stressful ways if I stop paying attention, so
this post from LifeHacker
http://lifehacker.com/5913394/do-some-serious-relaxing-this-weekend
is full of useful reminders

Marvel’s New Superhero “Blue Ear” Created for Deaf Boy

Fri, 25 May 2012 12:41:39 GMT

Kes: It would be great to find more stories like this, perhaps with people creating their own superheroes with disabilities.

From the Daily Bits Web site
http://www.dailybits.com/marvels-new-superhero-blue-ear-created-deaf-boy/#more-6625

block quote start
Anthony Smith is a four-year-old boy who has medical conditions, including total deafness in his right ear and some hearing loss in his left. He has been using a hearing aid, but as things go with little boys, he just suddenly didn’t want to wear the device anymore.

His reason?
Superheroes do not wear hearing aids.

Parenting perspectives aside, how do you argue with a little kid about superheroes not wearing hearing aids?

Fortunately, Anthony’s mom seems to be quick on the ball. After hearing her son reason his way out of wearing his hearing aid, she got in touch with the guys at Marvel Comics via e-mail. To be honest, I am actually surprised that they got back to her. Just imagine the volume of e-mails they must receive!

In any case, the Marvel’s response is brilliant. They sent back an image of Hawkeye, who suffers from 80% hearing loss. This was in reply to Anthony’s mom asking for an example of a superhero who uses a hearing aid.

It gets better. Marvel created a new superhero just for Anthony. They call him Blue Ear, and guess what? He is named after Anthony’s hearing aid, Blue Ear.
block quote end

So, Bimbos of the Death Sun...

Wed, 23 May 2012 21:14:21 GMT

Am I supposed to find Dief quite so adorable? I keep hoping that the female science fiction professor will ditch the oblivious engineering prof/writer and sweep Dief off his tweedy feet.

Now I must google for fanfic...

'Dear Howie': Lovecraft answers your relationship questions

Sat, 19 May 2012 10:58:32 GMT

I guess this is wy they call it an agony column. Oddly, it makes me sort of wish that there was a "Talk like a Lovecraft character" day.
http://bygonebureau.com/2012/04/04/h-p-lovecraft-answers-your-relationship-questions/

You wouldn't think a burlesque troupe on the radio would work

Fri, 18 May 2012 16:39:14 GMT

but, osmehow, it does. wwoz.com is chatting with the Slow Burn Burlesque Show, which I guess is putting on a show which features the scandals of classic Hollywood. Plus, the emcee can actually sing.

I love you, Dorothy Sayers

Tue, 15 May 2012 15:02:28 GMT

I am currently reading Dorothy Sayers's introductory essay to her classic anthology, _The Omnibus of Crime_. My favorite passage of the day is written in regard to the fiction of "That voluminous writer, Mrs. Henry Wood," of whom DLS says: "Whether her problem concerns a missing will, a vanished heir, a murder, or a family curse, the story spins along without flagging, and, though she is a little too fond of calling in Providence to cut the knot of intrigue with the sword of coincidence, the mystery is fully and properly unravelled, in a workmanlike manner and without any loose ends."

"...calling in Providence to cut the knot of intrigue with the sword of coincidence..."--that is high-quality literary snark.

If you are interested in acquiring the etext of _The Omnibus of Crime_, go to archive.org and type "Dorothy Sayers" in the edit field, then select "texts" from the combo box. You will find a Daisy format ebook, which you can either keep as a Daisy ebook or, after unzipping the files, extract the .xml file and then change the extension to /html and read it in whichever browser or device you wish.

For the history fangirls

Sat, 12 May 2012 11:40:21 GMT

Fuck Yeah History Crushes !!
http://fuckyeahhistorycrushes.tumblr.com/

Although I am very disappointed not to find my personal historical crush, Lord Monckton Milnes, whom Carlyle dubbed the "perpetual President of the Heaven and Hell Amalgamation Society."

Shut up and take my money already

Wed, 09 May 2012 14:48:12 GMT

That's the meme Alexx told me about this morning while I was grousing about how I would really like to give the musician my money, if only the MP3 of his song was available through quote legitimate unquote means, as opposed to having to convert the YouTube video to MP3 as it is the only source I could find for the single. This is the second time this happened to me this week, and it's only Wednesday.

My cell phone is mocking me

Wed, 09 May 2012 14:43:30 GMT

It keeps turning on driving mode, where everything is at full volume, and when I try to tell it to deactivate, it just gives me the time. Voice recognition: still not perfect.

MIT: Free talk on stained glass

Wed, 09 May 2012 14:06:03 GMT

Gallery Talk with Roberto Rosa

When: Friday, May 11, 2pm
Where: Institute Archives (14N-118)

In conjunction with MIT Libraries'
Glass at MIT: Beauty and Utility exhibition,
http://libraries.mit.edu/sites/exhibits/glass-at-mit-beauty-and-utility/
Roberto Rosa from
Serpentino Stained Glass
http://www.serpentinostainedglass.com/Serpentino_Stained_Glass/Home.html
will discuss stained glass art and artists, and his work in the restoration and conservation of historic stained glass.

Rosa has restored windows in some of America’s most prominent buildings including the Massachusetts State House and Trinity Church in Boston. Most recently, he was the chief conservator for thirteen opalescent glass windows at Salve Regina University in Newport RI, designed by John La Farge.

After Rosa’s talk there will be time for questions and viewing the exhibit in the Maihaugen Gallery. This event is free and open to the public.
For more information, please contact:
maihaugen-lib@mit.edu

New book on women in theCarolingian period

Tue, 08 May 2012 12:08:29 GMT

I thought this might be of interest to my SCA friends

_Women and Aristocratic Culture in the Carolingian World_ by Valerie L. Garver (Cornell University Press, 2012)

EASI offers online course about creating accessible ebook formats

Tue, 01 May 2012 11:15:58 GMT

FYI: the cost of the course is $350
from the e-mail announcement

block quote start
Creating accessible EPUB, PDF, Word DAISY, audio content and converting between formats
This is a 4-week, EASI course stressing how to make accessible content in
many formats while primarily using authoring tools you already know and
use.While the course has been primarily about creating accessible document
content, this offering

will include an understanding of commercial e-book formats and mainstream
e-readers. Course participants need this background before moving on to
learning how to author accessible e-books in these formats.
Because we are only starting to integrate these insights into the course,
we will be making changes on the fly. The new content will be in a trail
format this time as we think through how to integrate it into the course.
Join me in May and be among the first alternative media content providers
to get astart at the important changes that are coming and which you will
have to understand within the foreseeable future.
We will try to focus on the features that make a document fully accessible
and help demonstrate how to do this using your familiar authoring tools.

*** Course begins May 7.

Read more about the course online and you can also register online:

http://easi.cc/workshops/text.htm

block quote end

. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .

Boston LGBT Film Festival to host "Science Fiction Night"

Fri, 27 Apr 2012 18:08:14 GMT

The Boston LGBT Film Festival will be May 3rd - 13th. Check out this year's Highlights and Events. We hope to see you there.

For more details, visit: http://www.bostonlgbtfilmfest.org/special-events

May 9th - Wednesday
Sci-fi Night & Reception
Brattle Theatre

7 - 8:30 Outland, Part I

8:30 - 9:30 CasablancaReception

9:30 - 11 Outland, Part II

Join us for Sci-fi Night with a hilarious Australian comedy tv show that revolves around a gay science fiction club. Following Part I, join us at Casablanca for drinks and free apps. Finish the night off back at the Brattle for Part II.

May 3rd - Thursday

Opening Night Gala

Institute of Contemporary Art

6:45 - 7:45 VIP Cocktail Party

8:15 - 10:15 Opening Night Movie - Loose Cannons

Join us for opening night for the cocktail party and/ or our movie. Loose Cannons is a fun family comedy that make you laugh - and probably want to visit Italy!

May 4th - Friday

MFA Opening Night and After Party

Museum of Fine Arts

7:45 - 9:45 Mosquita Y Mari

10 - 2 a.m. Venus Rising @ Foundation Room at the House of Blues After Party; 21+

Mosquita Y Mari is a beautiful coming of age story of two Chicanas growing up in L.A. Join us afterwards for dancing and lounging in the LGBT film festival room.

May 4th - Friday

Brattle Opening Night & Reception

Brattle Theatre

7 - 9 August

9 - 10 Casablanca Reception

10:30 - 12 a.m. In their Room/Berlin

August is a unique look at a love triangle between three men. After the movie, join us at Casablanca Restaurant for drinks and free apps with the lead actor, Murray Bartlett. Finish the night with our late night screening of In their Room/ Berlin, that looks at gay men, bedrooms, sex and intimacy.

May 4th - Friday

LGBT Seniors Brunch

11:00am, Club Cafe
Join the Boston LGBT Film Festival at a brunch for our LGBT senior community. Have brunch with members of your community and representatives of the Boston LGBT Film Festival. We'll be screening film trailers and discussing all the wonderful films that are part of this year's festival.
This event is free. Brunch has been generously donated by Club Cafe. Please RSVP at our website.

Co-presented by: LGBT Aging Project. Sponsored by: Club Cafe.

May 7th - Monday

Religion Panel Discussion

Brattle Theatre

7 - 8:30 Love Free or Die

8:30 - 9:30 Religion Panel Discussion

Love Free or Die is a documentary about Bishop Gene Robinson, the first openly gay Episcopal bishop. Following the screening, there will be a religion panel discussion. Join us as Bishop Gene Robinson, director Macky Alston (Love Free or Die), director Brendan Fay (Taking a Chance on God), The Rev. Patrick S. Cheng, Ph.D., Assistant Professor of Historical and Systematic Theology at the Episcopal Divinity School, and Alex Kapitan, the Congregational Justice Administrator for the Unitarian Universalist Association discuss the role sexual identity and religion play in our community.

May 8th - Tuesday

Fenway Health celebrates the LGBT community

Fenway Community Health Center Theatre

7 - 9 Shorts Program

Co-presented with the Fenway Health Youth Leaders Council, an initiative that empowers emerging LGBT leaders and allies to shape our community's future.

May 11th - Friday

Jobriath & Alley After Party

Brattle Theatre

9 - 11 Jobriath A.D.

11 - 1 Alley Bar @ 275 Washington - Downtown Boston

Watch the brief reign of the first openly gay rock star in the 1970s. Then, end the night at the Alley Bar for the Fur and Gold after party

May 12th - Saturday

Girl Trash & After Party

Museum of Fine Arts

7 - 8:30 Girl Trash: All Night Long (Work in Progress Film)

8:30 - 9 Producer Discussion

9 - 2 a.m. Dyke Night @ Machine Nightclub; 21+

Come see the work in progress, Girl Trash, which follows five girls finding love, lust, girl-fights, rock and roll in one night - all wrapped up in a musical. Following the film, there will be a Q&A with the producer, Lisa Thrasher. Finish the night off with dancing at Dyke Night.

May 13th - Sunday

Museum of Fine Arts
7:30 Naked As We Came
We are pleased close the 28th Annual Film Festival with the area premiere of director/producer Richard LeMay's (2010 festival closer Children of God, 200 American) stunning family drama Naked As We Came. Shot entirely in Massachusetts and staring a stunning ensemble, this film shows a family exploring love, loss, and hope. Director and actors will be present for the screening.

Getting what's offline online, or, Feel my pain, children

Fri, 27 Apr 2012 11:20:37 GMT

A post in which a media studies professor describes the results of an assignment in which college students had to find a print resource not available online and then scan it, run it through OCR, and upload it to the Internet.
The big epiphany: it's hard!
I don't think you need to be teaching media studies to find this an interesting assignment, as it would also demonstrate how little non-mainstream, non-bestseller, and indie literature is not online, and how that would shape what people read, and even what people are aware of as potential reading.

http://noteonmydoor.blogspot.com/2012/03/counterintuitive-digital-media_21.html

Make your own anti-alien thought control helmet!

Wed, 25 Apr 2012 11:41:50 GMT

http://www.stopabductions.com/

from The Art of Darkness blog, which has a
post discussing the difficulty of sifting parody of crazy-talk from actual crazy-talk
http://www.shadowmanor.com/blog/?p=13761

block quote start
There’s a concept known as
Poe’s Law
http://rationalwiki.org/wiki/Poe%27s_Law
which posits that, unless you state specifically that you’re kidding, it is impossible to create a parody of Fundamentalism that someone won’t mistake for the real thing. I think that idea should be expanded beyond religious fundamentalism, because I’m still not sure whether the Stop Alien Abductions site is serious or not.
block quote end

I'm a little disappointed to discover that Edgar Allan Poe is not the origin of Poe's law, because that would have thrown an extra crazy-spoke in the insanity wheel, but I realize that most people are less willing than I am to live with ambiguity and paradox.

Now, please excuse me--the books are whispering to me (Oo! does that make me The Book Whisperer?).

MIT: free talk: Technology in Stagecraft and Storytelling

Mon, 23 Apr 2012 18:06:40 GMT

Reserve your free tickets now!

This Thursday:
Technology in Stagecraft and Storytelling
with Robert Lepage and Peter Gelb
Thursday, April 26, 2012
5:00pm | Kresge Auditorium
48 Massachusetts Avenue‚ Cambridge, MA 02139

FREE and open to the public.
Online tickets available until midnight Wednesday April 25. Tickets available in person in Kresge Auditorium starting at 3pm on Thursday April 26.

Robert Lepage, 2012 Eugene McDermott Award in the Arts at MIT recipient in dialogue with Peter Gelb, General Manager, Metropolitan Opera.

Join Robert Lepage and Peter Gelb in a conversation about the use of technology in stagecraft and storytelling that includes highlights from the Met's Ring cycle.
http://arts.mit.edu/mcdermott/lepage-at-mit/
In residence at MIT from April 24-26, Robert Lepage will collaborate with MIT students, meet with the MIT community, and participate in two free public programs. Learn more about Lepage and his MIT residency: http://arts.mit.edu/mcdermott/

Lepage's residency is made possible by:
Council for the Arts at MIT
Arts at MIT
MIT's Department of Music and Theater Arts

The arts at MIT are rooted in experimentation, risk-taking and imaginative problem-solving.
More at arts.mit.edu

3D printers may be used to create medications

Wed, 18 Apr 2012 16:30:28 GMT

http://phys.org/news/2012-04-3d-diy-drugstores.html

Words of wisdom from Mae West

Thu, 12 Apr 2012 11:24:13 GMT

There are no good girls gone wrong - just bad girls found out.

from the GoodReads.com quote of the day, although I keep thinking this must be from a blues song--I've noticed that West seems to have taken a number of her scandalous sayings from the songs of female blues singers.

Pink moon tonight

Fri, 06 Apr 2012 12:27:32 GMT

http://earthsky.org/tonight/april-full-moon-near-spica-saturn-on-april-6

A day late

Mon, 02 Apr 2012 11:13:16 GMT

This link was posted to The Art of Darkness blog. I'm curious what image goes with it, although I am picturing a very pleased small girl standing over the bloody knife-ridden corpseof her brother, drawn in Edward Gorey's style, and a very stern-looking governess.
http://www.someecards.com/april-fools-day-cards/i-really-wish-i-didnt

Are there Internet puppy t-shirts available yet?

Fri, 30 Mar 2012 11:18:09 GMT

'Cause I *really* want one, especially if there is an Internet puppy with dark sunglasses t-shirt. Also, Charlie Stross never struck me as particularly puppylike, unless you can find a sardonic beer-drinking puppy. Oh, wait--I've met guide dogs like that.
http://www.guardian.co.uk/books/2012/mar/29/arthur-c-clarke-award-christopher-priest

Something celestial

Tue, 27 Mar 2012 10:56:52 GMT

Last night Alexx was telling me about the night sky--Venus, Jupiter, and a crescent moon looking like a set of horns--and it reminded me of this great way to get a daily text description of what's going on in the night sky
Earth and Sky Tonight
http://www.earthandsky.com/tonight
which also has a RSS feed.
Note: Once I wrote the subject title of this post, I kept hearing it with the melody of "A Comedy Tonight" but, unfortunately, the only thing my brain came up with to rhyme with "celestial" was "incestial," although this goes rather well with the Greek mythology theme of names in the system of Western astronomy.