The thing about “common knowledge” is that sometimes it isn’t. Yesterday I discovered by accident a thing that I needed to know, but didn’t even know I needed to. A classic “unknown unknown.” Namely, the four booster bushings holding up the innards of an Olympia SM3 typewriter often need replacing, and it’s dead simple to do. But only if you know you might need to.
Continue reading “Simple—If You Know About It”1968 Smith-Corona Classic 12
This lovely manual typewriter I dub “Flower Child” for its hippie vibe and late-’60s design. But it’s square enough to be a really great typer, too.
Interpretive Typing #1
You’ve heard of “interpretive dance.” Well, this is “interpretive typing”: the free intervention into the layout of a significant text using the capabilities of a typewriter to focus or even redirect attention.
Continue reading “Interpretive Typing #1”Not Six of One
“Tolerance is a very good quality in a man: if it were commoner, the world of today would be a more agreeable place to live in than it is; but I am not so sure that it is so good in a writer. Continue reading “Not Six of One”
2017 Mad Lib
Yet again this year, we are sending out a blank Mad Lib for the fun-loving among you to create your very own version of a Boyd holiday letter. But if you’re curious about the official version, read on.
Protecting human dignity
Herman Melville knew a thing or two about human dignity (and its source). Continue reading “Protecting human dignity”
Sending words through space
I realized recently that I miss postage stamps — their variety, design, colorfulness, even their topical content. So I’m doing to do something about it. Continue reading “Sending words through space”
Winnie-the-Pooh, Metrics, and VOI
You don’t want to be like Winnie-the-Pooh, do you? Well, maybe it’s good to be like him in his joy, his friendships, and his love of a simple life — but when it comes to metrics, he really is a bear of Very Little Brain. Continue reading “Winnie-the-Pooh, Metrics, and VOI”
Lead into Gold: Review of John Leax’s “Tabloid News”
The words “tabloid” and “poetry” don’t usually go together. That’s the genius behind this collection of poems inspired by actual tabloid-news headlines. You won’t believe them, but in a good way. Continue reading “Lead into Gold: Review of John Leax’s “Tabloid News””
“Why I Left Higher Ed” — Extra Resources
At the “2012 HighEdWeb Conference”:http://2012.highedweb.org/, I present a poster session, *”Why I Left Higher Ed — and Why You Should Stay.”* For those who want to follow up on some of the resources (or who couldn’t be present), here they are. Continue reading ““Why I Left Higher Ed” — Extra Resources”