When we create a plot using ggplot() in R, the order of the categories on the x-axis is set by default. However, for better clarity and aesthetics, we often want to …
Reordering Graphs in ggplot Plot: A Step-by-Step Guide
Category: Tagging the Tower
Formerly “insights” as of May 7th 2024/
The Social Elsewhere: A Look at Alt-Social Media
Over the past few years, internet users have expressed growing distrust and distaste toward dominant corporate social media sites like Facebook, Twitter (now X), TikTok, and YouTube. For some insight …
Reflecting on Alt Text and its Ethics
Recently, I attended “Art for Alt Text and The Pedagogy of Description.” The workshop is part of Alt Text as Poetry, a project by Bojana Colklayt and Finnegan Shannon that …
Let’s Build a Browser Extension!
Browser Extension Basics Browser extensions are simple tools that allow you to enhance your web browsing experience and workflows. For instance, one of my favorite extensions, Hypothes.is, allows you to …
Beyond the Map: Visual Literacy & Storytelling That Sticks
Story maps have exploded in popularity lately, becoming the go-to tool for effectively communicating data-driven narratives across fields like education, journalism, research, and urban planning. Their strength lies in effortlessly …
Hidden Costs of AI and the Case for Luddite Thinking
In conversations about technology, being called a Luddite is a big insult. Colloquially, it refers to a kind of technophobic kook who’s morally against technological development. But in my opinion, …
Register for GCDI Conversations in Digital Scholarship
GCDI Conversations in Digital Scholarship A Symposium Hosted by the GC Digital Fellows May 13, 2025 from 2 – 4 PM Register here on a first-come-first-served to participate. Please note …
Ethical Metadata for Digital Projects
Metadata is a foundational element of many digital projects, from tagging posts on a blog, to categorizing resources, to describing archival materials. Metadata is the information that describes the data …
Become a 2025-2026 GC Digital Fellow
Deadline: March 21, 2025 @ 11:59 p.m. Application link: https://cuny.is/gcdf25-26 Are you looking for a fellowship that will challenge you to enhance your existing technical skills? Do you enjoy working …
Rethinking Participatory Mapping as a Justice-Oriented Practice
Maps do more than document space—they shape who is visible, prioritized, and excluded. Participatory mapping is often framed as a democratizing tool, giving communities the power to define their spaces, …
