Rebecca's Pocket

Top 5 Economic Charts of 2011

2011-12-31T20:37:33Z

Wall Street Journal: Top Five Economic Charts of 2011.

Identical twins, one of them transgendered

2011-12-16T21:56:04Z

Wow, read the story of the identical twin boys, one of whom has known from early childhood that she was transgendered. It is hard to imagine what this family has faced, but how blessed Nicole and Jonas are to have parents who love them so much. (thanks, jjg!)

Why is the USPS failing?

2011-12-14T21:13:14Z

I was speculating to my husband recently on the reasons for the dire financial straits of the United States Postal Service. Well, the Internet, of course, but the alternative delivery services seem to be doing fine in the same environment. Why is it different to be UPS than the USPS?

And then it dawned on me: the Postal Service has a mandate to deliver mail to every person in the United States. That means a Post Office and a Postmaster and probably a Mail Carrier in every small town. Other delivery services can focus on profitable markets and let small-town customers make the drive to the nearest big town if they want to use their service.

Pure speculation, of course -- my specialty. So I was extremely gratified to read this analysis which draws the same conclusion (and points to an outline of some other significant factors).

Update: Here's an Economist article that makes many of the same points.

How to make Star Wars cookies with ordinary cookie cutters

2011-12-13T23:50:49Z

Yes, it's time to make Star Wars cookies using holiday cookie cutters. You can thank me later.

How N.K. Jemisin and Anthony Durham

2011-11-11T21:49:15Z

If Tolkien were Black. African-American authors N.K. Jemisin and Anthony Durham are reimagining the fantasy genre - and in the process, winning awards and selling lots of books. I'm putting them on my "to read" list.

The Mason Jar Trick

2011-11-09T22:20:43Z

Genius. (via @schampeo)

Blog Forum Gdansk 2011

2011-10-10T19:57:09Z

Join me this weekend in Gdansk! I'll be keynoting at the Blog Forum Gdansk, October 15 and 16. I'd love to see you there.

Dear DC Comics

2011-09-30T11:15:00Z

A 7-year-old comic fan reviews the new DC reboot of her favorite hero, Starfire - and nails it. (via @medley)

Are you better off today than you were during the Nixon era?

2011-09-28T11:15:00Z

The New Yorker: Poverty and Income in America: The four lost decades, John Cassidy

Median earnings for full-time, year-round male workers: 2010--$47,715; 1972--$47,550. That's not a typo. In thirty-eight years, the annual earnings of the typical male worker, adjusted to 2010 dollars, have risen by $165, or $3.17 a week. If you do the comparison with 1973 it is even worse.

An FPS with no bullets aims to give an on-the-ground view of war journalism

2011-09-26T22:16:19Z

A journalist, filmmaker, and Australian game studio have teamed up to develop a first person shooter that uses a camera instead of a gun - requiring the player to film wartime events then create narratives to explain them to at-home viewers. Action + media literacy + political education = awesome.

It's...about navigating through a morally gray world and making decisions that have human impact. It's about finding the story you want to tell, as each of our environments is filled with different story elements you can film and combine in your own ways.

I hope it's also about dodging bullets and noticing traps and staying alive. Remember, Defiant, if you can't die, it's no fun. (thanks, jjg!)

Facebook News: Juror held in contempt after friending defendant

2011-08-30T11:15:00Z

A Texas juror was held in contempt of court after trying to friend the defendant on Facebook during the trial.

Asian honey may contain chloramphenicol or lead

2011-08-18T11:15:00Z

Honey Laundering! Seriously, though, be sure to buy your honey from local sources and read labels to make sure the packaged food you are buying doesn't contain honey, especially if you have small children. Honey imported from Asia may contain chloramphenicol (an animal antibiotic banned by the FDA in food) or lead.

London during the Blitz

2011-07-25T21:03:22Z

Have you read Blackout and its continuation, All Clear, by Connie Willis? They won the 2010 Nebula Award for Best Novel, the Locus Award for Best Science Fiction Novel, and were nominated for the 2011 Hugo Award for Best Novel. And my goodness are they good, a historical page-turner. Perfect summer reading. Here are photos to accompany the books, two sets of pictures from London during the Blitz. Britain's finest hour indeed, and I didn't appreciate how much so until I read this novel. Even if you're not usually into genre fiction, I highly recommend them. (via kottke)

Ardis Butler James, RIP

2011-07-18T21:29:28Z

Why oh why did no one tell me the University of Nebraska, Lincoln has the only academic quilt-studies program in the world and - more importantly - the International Quilt Study Center & Museum? All in all, Ardis Butler James, its founder, has left an impressive legacy.

WSJ: YA is evil; Readers: YA saved my life; WSJ: We hear you

2011-06-06T11:15:00Z

On Saturday, The Wall Street Journal published a scathing article on Young Adult fiction. There is definitely some truth to the article, but as someone who is just barely familiar with the genre, it's impossible for me to judge just how accurate or representative the writer's examples are.

Readers objected, of course, starting a thread on Twitter called #YASaves. But here's the most interesting part of the story: the Wall Street Journal posted a subset of those tweets to their Storify account, pointed to it from their Twitter account, and invited further comment to their Facebook page.

So what do you think about the stodgy, conservative old Wall Street Journal proving to be the savviest of new-media newspapers?