Think Social Media is a Fad?
A video compilation of data, set to a familiar tune, showing why social media is changing the world.
Two Stories from the Management Trap
Two owners, two magazines — but one magazine wishes it could flee, while another is part of a larger digital strategy. It shines a light on what can happen when the owner is the problem.
Wikipedia’s Plateau: A Sign of Elitism, Maturity, or Both?
The plateau of entries in Wikipedia has people scratching their heads. Are the editors becoming elitists? Is quality beating quantity? Or is it a little of both?
Free Digital Textbooks Win in California
An initiative to see if free K-12 textbooks in math and science could exist, California tested the waters. The results have been released. They’re surprising, and may portend changes for educational publishers.
The Trouble with Fribbles
Right and left are fundamental relative directions and biological preferences. Do they shape more than just our preferences for handedness?
Google Knol — Vanity Publishing Fails Again
Google Knol is fading fast. Why didn’t it work? And when will it be put out of its misery? Meanwhile, Google opens the doors on a faster, more accurate version of its search engine.
Facebook Acquires FriendFeed, Hitler Throws a Fit
The social media world was thrown for a loop when Facebook announced its acquisition of FriendFeed. Even historical villains were upset, as captured in a smart parody video.
A Decade of “Crossing the Chasm” — The Mountain Has Moved
My copy of “Crossing the Chasm” is 10 years old. What’s changed? Are we crossing it fast enough?
Ghostwriters & Ghostresearchers: Supernatural Forces in Scholarship
Ghostwriters and unnamed contract researchers might scare up controversy, and frighten away the truth. And they’re only part of the problem.
Why Everything Sucks
Why does the world suck so much right now? Craig Ferguson provides a fairly compelling hypothesis.
Interview with Jason Roberts from the ISMTE Annual Conference
An audio interview with Jason Roberts, founder of the ISMTE, recorded after a keynote in Baltimore Tuesday.
Will Feudalism Fade from Knowledge Exchange?
Feudalism was a necessary step in social organization, but is it the end-state for academic organization? A number of related events this past weekend make me think not.
Stochasticity — and You Can Dance to It!
A video tribute to randomness, with a beat you can dance to. What better for a Friday?!
Diversion, Invention, and Socialized Medicine
A study of social citation reveals diversion, invention, and distortion, and provides a cautionary tale about how socialization of knowledge in medicine can have downsides.
What It Takes to Run a Blog
How much work is it to run a blog? After 18 months, I think I finally have enough experience to share some insights.