The university's new head of technology has instituted blocks for torrents, "obscene," and "unethical" pages, "misrepresenting identity," "political activities such as surveying, polling, material distribution, vote solicitation and organization or participation in meetings, rallies and demonstrations, among other activities" -- and any attempts to access blocked pages are logged and are grounds for disciplinary investigation by the school administration. Read the rest

http://feeds.boingboing.net/~r/boingboing/iBag/~3/KixirBn-tdM/northern-illinois-university.html

Robbo writes, "This was the closing monologue from The Twilight Zone epsiode "The Obsolete Man" - where Rod Serling sums up the realities behind and flaws within any tyranny - and, as with almost all things Serling, it remains profoundly prescient and relevant."

(Thanks, Robbo!)

http://feeds.boingboing.net/~r/boingboing/iBag/~3/qndUAmDmCHs/rod-serlings-closing-remarks.html

I've been haunted by Lewis Shiner's World Fantasy Award winning novel Glimpses since I read it in 1994; I rate it as one of the all-time great rock-n-roll novels, right up there with George RR Martin's stupendous Armageddon Rag -- so imagine my delight when I discovered that it was available as an audiobook! Read the rest

http://feeds.boingboing.net/~r/boingboing/iBag/~3/SxCWQ0o65HM/glimpses-amazing-audiobook-of.html

One year CNN and NPR can't be bothered to address Manning as female (UPDATED): "Manning hasn't taken any steps yet toward gender transition so use masculine pronouns ('he' and 'him')," the internal guidance reads.

Read the rest

http://feeds.boingboing.net/~r/boingboing/iBag/~3/8zjQ5mA_de4/blogging-history-cnnnprs-h.html

One of the operators of Doctor Who Media -- one of the oldest, most respected Doctor Who fansites -- had reps from the Federation Against Copyright Theft (who produce the awful "You Wouldn't Steal a Car" ads) and the BBC thunder at his door and tell him he'd be served with a warrant if he didn't shut down the site immediately and transfer his domain to FACT. Read the rest

http://feeds.boingboing.net/~r/boingboing/iBag/~3/hGISTu_n-L0/bbc-and-facts-daleks-extermi.html

Pop Sonnets is a tumblr that turns pop music into Shakespearean sonnets: above, YMCA ("Oh sweet and noble lad, be not aggrieved!"). Read the rest

http://feeds.boingboing.net/~r/boingboing/iBag/~3/CpaPVBzuFsI/pop-songs-as-sonnets.html

During a 2001 appearance on Inside the Actor's Studio, Robin Williams was asked to explain how he pulls off his incredible, high-speed improvisations; by way of answer, he ad-libbed a five-minute bit that is pants-wettingly hilarious.

(via Reddit)

http://feeds.boingboing.net/~r/boingboing/iBag/~3/-xYOHgqFsIs/robin-williams-explains-his-qu.html

Cartoonists Tom Scioli and Ed Piskor share a studio in Pittsburgh. We visited their studio to talk about what it’s like being professional comic book artists, selling their work, nostalgia, research, color theory, anger management, and "skewmorphism!" Read the rest

http://feeds.boingboing.net/~r/boingboing/iBag/~3/w2BvNv9np00/tmsidk30.html

With the completion of Season 4 of HBO’s Game of Thrones, Ivan and Red dig back into the Boars, Gore, And Swords book club, where they cover the chapters of George R.R. Martin’s A Song of Ice and Fire series that correspond to the previous television season. No book spoilers past the TV show! Read the rest

http://feeds.boingboing.net/~r/boingboing/iBag/~3/qFSDzVQwe24/game-of-thrones-book-club-pet.html

Hollywood icon Lauren Bacall died 10 days ago. Somehow, in the flood of tribute videos, I forgot about this appearance on The Dame Edna Experience , which is one of my favorite television shows of all time. Read the rest

http://feeds.boingboing.net/~r/boingboing/iBag/~3/zOq9QCAoNn4/lauren-bacall-on-the-dame-edna.html

Simba, a two-year-old giant Tibetan Mastiff, is sweet and friendly with Weiwei. They love to play together. Read the rest

http://feeds.boingboing.net/~r/boingboing/iBag/~3/KOwQiFK38ts/little-girl-plays-with-a-giant.html

April from EFF writes, "Help improve the Electronic Frontier Foundation's free software projects to defend freedom & enhance privacy and security online. Here's a list of all the projects we invite you to hack your heart out on!" Read the rest

http://feeds.boingboing.net/~r/boingboing/iBag/~3/IyPskSFL4JU/help-eff-code-for-freedom.html

A Gweek listener recommended The Magician and the Cardsharp to me (I can't remember who - sorry!) and I'm thankful he did.

Read the rest

http://feeds.boingboing.net/~r/boingboing/iBag/~3/TePBks-1H1U/the-magician-and-the-cardsharp.html

North American river otters. Read the rest

http://feeds.boingboing.net/~r/boingboing/iBag/~3/xbkK1RAs-uA/otterday.html

Check out the large shell that man is handling! When they finished, they took a nice bath together:

(Via X-Ray Delta One)

http://feeds.boingboing.net/~r/boingboing/iBag/~3/W0DZJkkl-XU/wwii-was-won-by-shirtless-gra.html

Radiant Heated Dog House: Because shoving Rover’s paw in a light socket wouldn’t be cruel enough. By Matt Maranian Read the rest

http://feeds.boingboing.net/~r/boingboing/iBag/~3/P5Osu4Y4z3I/maker-mayhem-low-moments-in-h-4.html

I could watch this video all day. [Michael Cooperman, via d0gbl0g]

http://feeds.boingboing.net/~r/boingboing/iBag/~3/gqcF4-su2X4/an-adorable-husky-puppy-howls.html

Photographed by Monterey Bay Aquarium staffer Pete Bridson. Read the rest

http://feeds.boingboing.net/~r/boingboing/iBag/~3/0-Bu2Tev9Jw/happy-harbor-seal-friday.html

"Portrait of James Foley. War photographer. Rest in peace, hero." —Molly Crabapple.

http://feeds.boingboing.net/~r/boingboing/iBag/~3/YiyzrlLCeoc/portrait-of-slain-war-photogra.html

A Squirrel Monkey peers into a photographer's lens at London Zoo, August 21, 2014. (more…)

http://feeds.boingboing.net/~r/boingboing/iBag/~3/-vIBM-aefME/heres-looking-at-you-macaqu.html