theo|digital

This has me laughing so hard I was tearing up. Can’t believe how well Tina Fey picked up Sarah Palin. Gotta wonder if anyone on the current cast could have done as well. Still, I think SNL’s got some juice to it. Plus, I love nerdy political humor.

The YMCA feels a lot like a small town, and Fourth of July carries holiday excitement that anonymous communities don’t seem to have.  Who dresses up for the 4th?  Everyone.  Plus the winners of the parade contest will dog the other departments for at least a week.  Here are my photos of our morning parade under the visage of Long’s Peak, featuring LT students in almost every department.

A friend of mine a while ago let me have his copy of Dragon Naturally Speaking, the voice recognition software. I’ve had limited success with it (although admittedly I haven’t been able to use it a lot).

It has one feature that will take a pre-recorded audio file – i.e. MP3, and transcribe what it hears into a Word doc. Sweet! I wanted to use this a couple weeks ago when I transcribed a talk by Mark Driscoll on the emerging church. It was a one hour sermon, and doing it manually was going to take serious time. This seemed like the solution.

Uh, not so much. Here’s the Dragon transcribed file. Compare to the original I did by hand. Heheh.

Just because.

(these guys were hanging out in Daley Plaza a couple weeks ago. They’re sitting on the footing of the Picasso – the name of which I don’t know because Chicagoans just call it, you know, the Picasso).

When I was out in DC seeing Alan Hirsch and company, my brother-in-law offered me a tour of the Pentagon. His position as a staffer on Capitol Hill sorta affords him some privileges. Most of it isn’t much more than long hallways with florescent lights and office doors. But certain things mean a photo op. Say, like the Pentagon briefing room.

I don’t know what I’m trying to do here. I’m hanging on the side of the podium like I’m scared to be there. Actually it was sorta intimidating. But the podium was easily wide enough for two people shoulder-to-shoulder. Also notice that I would be a good briefer, because if I stood squarely in the middle while deftly dodging troop withdrawal questions, you’d still be able to see the Pentagon logo.

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Now playing: Jason Harrod – My Mad Girlfriend
via FoxyTunes

The Onion – America’s Finest News Source:
“The Election: How It Works”

The selection of the American president involves several important events, institutions, and activities. Throughout the campaign, the Onion’s War For The White House team will explain the history and significance of this important process.

Election Process: Super Tuesday

The History

• Historically, Super Tuesday falls on a Friday.
• As always, Super Tuesday will fall the day after Overhyped Build-Up Monday and the day before Giant Letdown Wednesday, which precedes Remember All That Stuff Last Tuesday? Thursday.”
• more…

Also: Depressed Candidate Runs Attack Ad About Self

Just sayin’.
(Stole this from my good friend Nick.)

ps – spent the late evening flopped on Champaign couches with my friend Ben talking about Once.

Brought to you from the Stalling-Because-I-Don’t-Have-Time-To-Really-Blog-Dept:

I’m sure this isn’t new. But it’s my cool web thing of the day. Been staring at it for longer than I should, prolly. The key question: is she spinning clockwise or counter-clockwise?

Okay, back to stuff.

The wisdom of crowds: “w00t!” voted word of the year.

On the list of things I like to think about when I’m bored thinking of other things, this is in the top 50. Classic question: should English dictionaries adapt to what is spoken, or should English speakers adapt to what is written (in those dang dictionaries)?

hint: the evolution of language happens (you mean you don’t breeze through Early Modern English e.g. KJV 1611?) , so practicals and nuanced answers are a must. Historical linguistics, w00t!

Seriously? (actually, I think it’s not trying to be.). A note that I’m watching presidential politics pretty closely, just not posting on it much. Also – sorry for being absent. School and travel is kicking my butt. We’ll make it. Thanksgiving and Christmas on their way!