Wasting Time

 In today’s busy, technology-driven world, time is of the essence. An award-winning scholar and author will explore how previous generations have grappled with wasted time at Weber State University, Oct. 21 at 1:30 p.m. in the Stewart Library Hetzel-Hoellein Room. More...

The Challenger Disaster

Energy Growth In America: No Longer An Unquestioned Good

All Is Vanity - Denigration of Selfies as a Form of Social Regulation (or: "iphone, iphone in my hand, who is the fairest in the land?)

In Ann Burns' Self(ie)-Discipline: Social Regulation as Enacted Through the Discussion of Photographic Practice (discussed also in Nathan Jurgenson' s What is a Selfie?)  Burns argues that commentary about selfies has "a regulatory function" that not only " acts as a cloaked expression of sexist attitudes but also defines and stigmatizes a specific group of subjects."  Whether this is true or not it reminds me a bit of Charles Allen Gilbert's 1892 drawing titled "All Is Vanity:"

I came across the above in Claire Tanner's Vanity, 21st Century Selves ( MacMillan, 2013).

Toward the end of "What Is A Selfie?"  Jurgenson suggests that the term "selfie" is somewhat fluid and that we should study those changing meanings since the "fluid meaning of selfie tracks the fluid meaning of the self."  As we continue our own research on "whether the internet makes people narcissistic" (and other present day anxieties about the internet) this seems like a worthy investigation.  And one that could also be complimented by investigating the fluid significance of words like vanity, humility, narcissism and self-promotion.

Wealth Inequality in America

A Dangerous Wandering Presentation at Weber State

Matt Richtel's very engaging presentation at Weber State University on March 19th sponsored by the Technology Outreach Center, the Provost's Office, the College of Arts and Humanities, the Psychology Department and the Neuroscience Program.

Matt Richtel to Talk About the Challenge of Attention in the Digital Age

Here's the accompanying publicity announcement for the below:

Radia Perlman To Visit Weber State

Here's the press announcement.

Here's the newspaper coverage in the Standard Examiner

Our Last Tech Outreach Presentation

Another Panel Discussion: This Time on the Concept of Intellectual Property

Here is the description of what the panelists will be discussing:  

Because intellectual property deals with ideas of how to do and make things (patents), expressions of ideas (copyrights), and symbols of goods and services (trademarks), it is an unlimited resource which contrasts with physical property which is a limited resource. Given its nature, is intellectual property an intellectual theft from the marketplace of ideas, or is it a necessary incentive to create new inventions, expressions, and goods and services?