Tue. 12/15 – The Origins of the Emoticon

What are tone indicators? Where do they come from, how are they used, and a look at both the pre-internet history of tone indicators as well as the origin of the emoticon. And, a question for the ages, what was the deal with the leg lamp in A Christmas Story?

Sponsors:

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Links:

• Tone Indicators and How to Use Them (NY Times)
• "Joke" Conversation Thread in which the :-) Was Invented (Carnegie Mellon)
• Here's some historical background on A Christmas Story's leg lamp (A/V Club)
• Leg lamp Halloween costume and more (Josh Sundquist, Instagram)
• Kottke.Org
• Jackson Bird on Twitter