Play and Digital Space

Attention Conservation Notice: I’m putting this PowerPoint up for future reference. As some of you know, I’m considering a Second Life component of American Political Thought next semester, so this is just going into the research/prep stream for that. Note to self: Read The Play Ethic now that it’s out in US paperback.

Do you really need Microsoft when you have a Mac?

Okay. People who know me know I am a complete, dyed-in-the-wool, come-back-for-a-second-cup-of-the-Kool-Aid Machead. I’ll admit it. I am also a Microsoft-hater. Writing a dissertation on a Dell box running Windows Me will do that to you. However, I’ve used Microsoft Office 2004 for Mac since I bought my PowerBook back in ‘04.
I’ve never been happy [...]

Because a Conservative Mind is a Terrible Thing to Waste

Found over at Crooks and Liars:

Hahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahaha!
[big breath] hahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahaha!
But seriously. Young America Foundation -I get it. Really I do. But please understand: there is a LIMITED amount of time and sources that can be covered in a given course. If you’re going to put people like Michelle Malkin and Ann Coulter (who I get as a [...]

Why I am an atheist #34

It really amazes me, some of the bizarre shit you’ll hear people come out with from time to time. Are there REALLY people who still think the Earth is flat? Good lord, how is that even possible?

This woman make Elizabeth Hasselbeck look wise. And how unlikely is that?

Paul Saffo says 50-50 Chance U.S. Dissolves by Mid-Century

In this fascinating video (found over at the Epicenter Wired blog), futurist (and WEF advisor) Paul Saffo discusses why he believes that there is a 50% probability that the US will disintegrate into city-states or autonomous regions within 50 years.
I’m wondering how Saffo’s projected city-state/autonomous region mapping would overlap with “The Nine Nations of North [...]

How to Raise Your GPA This Semester

Over at Pick The Brain, there’s a good article on “7 Strategies to Raise Your GPA This Semester.” i would recommend that all my students take a look at this article and follow the advice it offers. Students are always asking me, “Dr. Rice, how can I get a good grade in this class?” Most [...]