My instant messaging (IM) system of choice is Jabber, the IETF standard messaging protocol. Of course, many folks don’t use Jabber, but that’s mitigated by the ability to use gateways to other IM technologies. My Yahoo gateway’s been down for a while, but I think I’ve restored it. If you know my old yahoo ID, look for me on yahoo messenger. If you know me and don’t know my yahoo ID, send me mail and we’ll try to connect.
Thanks!
Again, a couple weeks worth:
The Flash #233 – Waid and Eddie Williams II (backup by Waid & Rogers & Braithwaite). It’s a bad sign when the comic about the fastest man alive feels too slow. The villains are the sort of distraction that Wally would have dalt with off-panel a few years ago, and the character development is all happening too slow. Add to that an out-of-character JLA “intervention,” and I’m done. I did almost stick around for the lively back up, but the slow front doesn’t need anything stealing its focus.
Uncle Sam and the Freedom Fighters #2 – Palmiotti, Gray, Arlem. I’m liking this quite a lot. This issue focuses on the FF’s party girl, Phantom Lady, drawing from today’s tabloid culture fascination pretty reasonably for a mainstream underwear book. That’s fainter praise than the book really deserves; this is good work. The detailed and gritty art tells the story clearly and the stroy’s interesting and well paced. This is worth reading.
Captain America #31 – Still solid. Man I live in fear that something will happen to screw up this team’s creative footing. But so far, so good. Bucky’s in the clutches of Dr. Faustus and the Skull, the Skull’s plans moving forward and S.H.I.E.L.D. playing catch-up. Everyone still behaves like they should and tensions are high. Still a great book.
Black Summer #3 – Ellis & Ryp. The point of this issue is to let us know what Tom Noir can really do, and why he’s important at all. And Ellis does it beautifully. The art’s beautiful, the pace is breakneck, and now we know who’s the really dangerous gun. Catch up while you can.
Doktor Sleepless #3 – If Black Summer is getting clearer, we’re only beginning to see all the twisty passages in Doktor Sleepless. Interconnections and magic and technology all bouncing off one another. It’s good and creepy and probably has a point. This issue is fleshing out the supporting cast some more, so it may be a bit confusing if you haven’t read the earlier two. Top notch stuff!
I’ve mentioned the great joy that is Nathan Rabin’s My Year of Flops, but you really have to see this one to believe it.
Most computer or math geeks have come to love xkcd for its quirky geek humor and surreality. What I think is underrated about it is its breathtaking heart.
Nice excoriation of the stupid over at BoingBoing from Xeni Jardin.
This AP story (via CNN) alleges that NASA is being told to not release results of an aviation safety survey that might make people nervous and airlines less profitable (if that’s possible). If that’s true someone’s got a lot to answer for. Particularly troubling is:
The survey’s purpose was to develop a new way of tracking safety trends and problems the airline industry could address. The project was shelved when NASA cut its budget as emphasis shifted to send astronauts to the moon and Mars.
That makes the whole hubub about the impractical Mars mission particularly alarming. While I’d love to see us get to another planet before I die, using it as a smoke screen to cut aviation safety programs isn’t good government.
You really have to see it. Link courtesy of John Hickey.
Brenda has been delighted by this youtube video, but I see it for what it is. My cat has clearly decided to issue an unsigned threat. No casual cat observer could show her behavior so accurately. Bem has clearly issued some kind of feline fatwa on me. I’ll be making preparations.
“Flaming squirrel ignites car in Bayonne“ What can you add to that? Link courtesy of Phil Dibowitz.
Tim Wu has written an essay for Slate on selective enforcement of the law and how it illuminates the function of our political system. I found it to be one of those pieces that crystallizes disparate thoughts on the functions of law and society. It’s well worth a read.
BoingBoing told me about it among the steampunk and Hello Kitty assault rifles.