Why Everything Sucks
Why does the world suck so much right now? Craig Ferguson provides a fairly compelling hypothesis.
The Francis Collins Controversy
The overtly religious views of Francis Collins, nominated to run the NIH, is creating a controversy deserving of careful attention.
Me Want Coffee Shop, Mr. Librarian!
Did a childhood character unleash a desire to mix libraries with snacks?
The Freelance Fireworks Hall of Fame
The founders of the Freelance Fireworks Hall of Fame wish us all a Happy Fourth of July.
The Impact Factor: A Tool from a Bygone Era?
With scientific information propagating in new ways, is the Impact Factor measuring what it was intended to measure?
Two Thoughts After the SSP Annual Meeting
Two long thoughts after the SSP Annual Meeting — about whether science is truly salvation, and reflecting on why non-expert information can be vital to an accurate scholarly record.
Percy Jackson & the Joy of Discovery
While scholars worry about how to transmit and teach culture to young children, a teacher has struck gold doing it with brio!
“The Next 100 Years” — Brilliant, Flawed
George Friedman’s “The Next 100 Years” is a book well worth reading, and reductionism of it won’t suffice.
The Series of Tubes
It really used to be a series of tubes. Watch a great, brief history for your Friday Fun!
Going Public About Privacy
Defining privacy is tricky, and it’s moreso in the digital-soaked world we live in. How can we frame our thinking on the issue?
Fast-Forward for Scholarly Video
Academic video makes great leaps forward with the unveiling of AcademicEarth.org and YouTube EDU.
Access: Revolution or Evolution?
Is open access to science best described as an evolution or revolution?
Copyright and Services
When information was scarce, it needed copyright protection. When it’s abundant and a service, is it relevant anymore? Really?
Do You Want Lies?
We’re in the early days of a major revolution in information dissemination and creation. Clay Shirky shows us why we need to think the unthinkable.
Film: History of the Internet
The law of unintended consequences states that it’s all unintended. This video documents one chain of events important for all publishers.