NetWork IX

Cynthia Typaldos has compiled a nice roundup of social software and services. While I'd like to eventually do an in-depth study of best practices and processes, as well as how people use the services differently, I'm largely with Clay Shirky: Interoperability is increasingly important.

Street Art IX

Space Invaders is an urban invasion reality game in which participants surreptitiously install mosaic tile patterns in urban settings around the world. You can even obtain maps of invasions already made. Similar to Shepard Fairey's Obey campaign, Boston's Hi Guy, Upski's open-source No More Prisons tags, and other street art, I can't wait until I find my first tiles.

Big Brother Is Watching XVI

The Surveillance Camera Players now offer outdoor walking tours in New York City. Sounds like another possible project for the Boston World Explorers Foundation: cataloging security cameras in Boston.

Comics and Cinematography

If you thought Frank Miller's Dark Knight was a progressive take on the Batman mythos, wait until you get a load of Dan Harmon's Batman.

Thanks to Go Away.

Comics and Community XVII

Last weekend, I drove down to Bethesda, Maryland, with some friends for SPX. Rumor is that the conference is going to merge with a larger, more mainstream comic-book convention and move to Baltimore soon, so I wanted to catch it while it was still what it was. Thing is, I should've gone several years ago, I think. SPX wasn't the awe-inspiring, energy-raising experience my friends had described, and even the parties in the evening were relatively lame. That said, I hung out with friends, met lots of neat people, reconnected with folks I'd met at TCAF and MoCCA, and went to an interesting panel on comics and journalism.

Featuring Heidi MacDonald, who writes for Comics Buyer's Guide and Pulse; Johanna Draper Carlson, publisher of Comics Worth Reading; and Arnold Blumberg, a senior editor at Cinescape, the session focused on the "strange relationship that the comics industry and journalists share, what works, and what doesn't." Here are my Cory Doctorow-inspired notes on the discussion:

Johanna Draper Carlson: Comics journalism gets no respect.

Heidi MacDonald: Has written for the Comicon.com Pulse daily news site for more than a year. Got into comics journalism 20 years ago. Has written for Amazing Heroes and the Comics Journal. Used to edit for Walt Disney and DC -- now back to journalism.

Arnold Blumberg: A senior editor for Cinescape. Worked for Eon online. Also an Overstreet Comic Book Price Guide editor.

Carlson: It's her 10th anniversary in comics journalism. Used to contribute to Comicology magazine. Has a masters in popular culture, thesis on comics fandom. Once DC's Webmaster. Comics journalism and criticism is fairly new academically and otherwise. No impetus on standards or journalism as a craft -- no medium is healthy unless there's a culture of criticism and commentary. Large companies don't support that.

Blumberg: Crossover to other media (film, video games) encourages mainstream media to pick up on it. Entertainment Weekly's comics coverage is subscription only.

Carlson: Still targeting a young male audience, though.

MacDonald: Need to get past negative feelings that they hate us! Concentrate on the positives.

Blumberg: Not really a strange relationship, but an area of journalism focusing on a medium that's not overly respected. Literate criticism still not looked at. Media studies now spilling over into comics. He teaches a class on comic book literature at the University of Maryland. Usually it's an art department course, which is another battle.

Carlson: 10 years ago it was part of the English department.

Blumberg: Largest growth is on the art side. He focuses on the literature side. How to analyze and critique rather than make comics.

Carlson: Need a shared language about comics to critique.

Blumberg: Need consistent rules to critique.

MacDonald: Disagrees. There's little textual analysis of comics. But look at Fantagraphics' Frank Miller interview book. An interview in the '80s focused on craft. Today everyone focuses on the industry.

Carlson: That's not true.

Blumberg: Journalism is now about the self-involvement of the industry. Mainstream needs to chang from focusing on the top two publishers and most iconic characters. Some look at the licensing.

Carlson: That's the benefit of being independent. Writes for Publisher's Weekly. Actually edited by Heidi. Covers collections of strips, graphic novels -- chunks, not serials.

MacDonald: Comics world is small and cliquey. Arnold works on a price guide and covers comics -- conflict of interest?

Blumberg: A sign that few people have the capacity?

MacDonald: The comics industry is really welcoming. We really don't turn anyone away.

Carlson: Hard to find paying outlets.

MacDonald: Doesn't write reviews any more. Gets two emails a week about her CBG column. There's a gentlemen's agreement. If you're friends with creators, what if you don't like their book?

Carlson: People either know her, know her husband, or hate her.

MacDonald: Needs to do news -- needs to maintain friendly relationships.

Carlson: Cut me off, fine! Publishers don't. They need the coverage.

MacDonald: I do news.

Blumberg: Danger of doing news features and then negative reviews. Can't review stuff honestly?

Carlson: Involve yourself in the story. Is news the problem? Small industry, easy to connect with anyone.

MacDonald: Other than Todd MacFarlane, Neil Gaiman, and Alex Ross.

Blumberg: Negative reviews aren't a personal thing.

Ed Mathews: Gets uppity PR people who will threaten you if they don't get good coverage. You just have to not care. Comics journalism needs external sources of funding so you can do what you need to do.

MacDonald: All magazines, editorial and advertising aren't always separate.

Mathews: Make comics vs. cover comics?

Carlson: Doesn't want to do comics. Writing comics is a separate skill than writing about comics.

MacDonald: Doesn't want to write comics either -- she's a journalist. I don't know how big your place is, but my place is not big enough for free comics.

Blumberg: I still read superheroes comics. Sue me. Reach a point where you realize what you're not comfortable writing about. Lose the spark you had when a kid. Deserves serious critique.

Carlson: Combine hobby and day job focuses way too much on one thing -- if this is what you want to do, you need outside hobbies. Role of feedback -- writes about comics about ideas. Feedback is still too personal. Talk about ideas, not people.

MacDonald: Publishing and library interest in comics. Great to see books coming out. Knowledge is becoming Google-ized. Old reference books: George O' indices, Maurice Horn, Steranko's history. FAQs started about 10 years ago.

Carlson: Group mind and accuracy.

MacDonald: Old knowledge spreads out. New knowledge not there? She's contributed to the group mind.

Carlson: Comics scholars' list.

Blumberg: Teachingcomics.org .

Question: Consideration of audience?

MacDonald: Hard with the Pulse because it's a big readership. Has to be more general interest. Feels like she gets more out of pieces not written by insiders. Publisher's Weekly article on licensing tie ins. A challenge to get a fresh perspective.

Carlson: Uses the term collection or graphic novel vs. TPB.

Blumberg: More mainstream vs. academic. Magazines need to be short, punchy, cool quotes. Essays in price guide a different gambit.

Carlson: Hard to fake the perspective of a new reader.

Blumberg: Can't meet extremes -- aim for middle, the intelligent reader.

Carlson: Is print news viable?

MacDonald: The Pulse, Newsarama, CBR.

Carlson: Best print news source is the Journal.

While interesting, the panel was hardly the in-depth consideration of comics-related journalism I was hoping for. And the participants for the most part fell prey to the very traps they mentioned. As I see it, there are three basic camps in which comics-related writing is welcome: academic media studies, industry- and reader-related media, and the mainstream media. The discussion focused primarily on industry media -- the very self-involvement mentioned above -- and somewhat on media studies. Both are fine and help support the industry, but it's the mainstream media coverage of comics that's the hindrance for the medium's growth, I think. Why does mainstream coverage of comics suffer?

Most newspaper reporters and magazine writers (read: people) aren't comic book readers.

Most comic book readers are still teenage boys, and the medium's output reflects their tastes and interests, which don't resonate with the wider culture or a mature audience.

The pamphlet form ghettoizes comics (read: direct market) and adds to the impression that comics are ephemeral, disposable, and not deserving artistic or literary respect and consideration.

Some of the more interesting parts of the conversation were about how comics journalism largely focuses on craft -- the process and practice -- or the industry (Who has MacFarlane sued lately? Will Dave Sim punch Jeff Smith?). That's fine and dandy for people already in the know -- we read comics, we know people who make comics, and we care about the industry. But to the average person? Yawners, goners. We, as comics readers and writers, need to begin writing comics journalism for a non-reader audience. We need to encourage publicists to better educate writers while promoting select titles. And we need to continue to increasingly approach comics as books. Sure Jimmy Corrigan was serialized in Acme. But what got picked up by the New York Times Book Review? Sure Jason Little serialized Shutterbug Follies online. But what got picked up by... you get the picture.

In a recent CBG column, Peter David argues that the TPB (Sorry, Carlson.), graphic novel, and collection is killing comics. Au contraire. Publishing books that should be books as serials is killing comics. (Actually, crappy comics are killing comics, but that's just Sturgeon's Law in action.) Quantity, meet quality. Maybe comics made for kids should be serialized. Kid culture embraces that. But not all comics should be pamphlets. Pamphlet sales shouldn't determine the fate of what was created as a book-length story. And if we want to attract more older, mature, life-long readers of comics, we need to make better comics, reconsider their format and distribution, and begin to infiltrate professional mainstream journalism about popular culture.

I was also fascinated by the industry PR service aspects of the discussion. I've never received ongoing free comics service as a reviewer. (Full disclosure: Jim Valentino and Deni Loubert did set me up with Aardvark-Vanaheim and Renegade Press service in the late '80s. But I was 13 then, and Jim didn't remember me at all when we met at SPX. Ouch!) Sometimes a minicomics maker will send me an item they'd like me to consider for review. Sometimes I'll rank a freebie from Top Shelf or Highwater. But in general, when reviewing comics, I buy almost all of what I write about. At SPX I dropped about $300 on stuff to review. Support the scene, as they say. I buy the books I review. I do get some free records. Sure, I'd like free comics. If you work as a publicist for a publisher, hook me up. Heck, if you're a small publisher, hook me up. But know that I won't review everything, I might not like everything I receive, and that I'll tell Media Dieticians what I think works -- or doesn't work. All in a constructively critical, widely read, appreciative way.

I'll leave comics news to MacDonald and Blumberg.

Among the Literati LI

Warren Ellis, one of my favorite comic-book writers, is now a novelist. To quote the man hisself: "Behold, and shit." Man's got the gift of glib some days.

Cover Story IV

Open, a design studio in New York City, has designed the covers of The Nation for the last five years. That's more than 225 covers. Their run ends with this week's issue, dated Sept. 22.

Rock Shows of Note LXXVI

Having no interest whatsoever in the NEMO showcase and conference, which strikes me as a poor man's SXSW -- and which will hopefully change now that it's under new management -- I went out last night to hear my friend TD spin at the Middle East. We'd both gotten up to leave Bethesda, Maryland, at 5:30 a.m. yesterday, TD heading to the airport in Baltimore, and me to drive to New York and then catch a Greyhound home. We were both relatively tired, but I thought the usual Sunday night at the Middle might make up for the lame parties at SPX.

Even though I fared slightly better than TD, who was left to DJ'ing for a largely empty bar, I was right. Last night rocked. Why? Upon my arrival, TD told me that he didn't start for another 30 minutes and that I should check out the bands playing upstairs. "Aren't they NEMO bands?" I asked. "No; they're downstairs. Here we've got the Ex Models." The Ex Models? I am so there.

I stepped into the stage side to catch the end of a set by whom I think was the Chinese Stars, a band comprising former members of Arab on Radar and Six Finger Satellite. It's also rumored that comics cutie Allison Cole's boyfriend is in the band. The several songs I heard impressed me with their energetic, herky jerky approach to dance music a la the Rapture. Fun stuff, and the singer had his jean jacket buttoned all the way up. I think more bands should light their drummers from below, too.

Next up, the Ex Models. One of the more intense bands I've seen in awhile, their angular combination of the Talking Heads, Fugazi, and Scared of Chaka is feverish enough on record but much, much more impressive on stage. All three standing band members jump around, throw their instruments back and forth, share vocal attacks, and otherwise make the music with their bodies as well as their instruments. Stab, attack, jump, growl, hoot, holler, twitch. And repeat. A brilliant set. "Other Mathematics" does them little justice. Guttural but gladsome. Took me back to the days of Scissor Girls and Math, they did.

But the band that everyone seemed to really be there for was Daughters. While I was pleased to see one member wearing an old Warp Comics T-shirt, Daughters isn't really my bag. Take one Jim Morrison-like frontman. Add screamo hardcore. Result? Instant mosh pit. Not that the pit, which erupted almost immediately, irritated me any more than the tall men that kept stepping in front of me, trying to back into me to edge me out of my spot, and otherwise invading my space, but for the most part, Daughters don't do it for me live. Their recordings are slightly more palatable, reminding me of Weasel Walter's projects, so maybe there's hope for me yet, sad old man that I am.

I left the show a little into Daughters' set to revel in the openness of the restaurant, sit up front near the DJ booth, and talk with TD. He was pretty bummed that there weren't more people there. When the show closed and people filed out in a parade as though heading to a tour bus, some folks -- including Tall Guy -- stayed behind, which was cool. Thanks, TD, for turning me on to the show. I had no idea the Ex Models were in town, and I was thrilled silly to see them.

Soundtrack: Helloween, "Rabbit Don't Come Easy"

Hiking History XII

Forgotten NY documents the "infrastructure of a lost metropolis," offering photographs of old advertising, cobble stones, outdated signs, and abandoned hospitals. Deeply researched, the resource is an amazing project. Does anyone know of anything similar for Boston?

Among the Literati L

One of my favorite bloggers name drops one of my favorite young writers and former co-workers. Small world, smaller.

The Free-Range Comic Book Project XXXI

This is an installment of Media Diet's Free-Range Comic Book Project:

Disavowed #2 (Homage/Image, April 2000). Writers: Brandon Choi and Mike Heisler. Artist: Tommy Lee Edwards. Location: On the freebie table at SPX.

Doom 2099 #6 (Marvel, June 1993). Writer: John Francis Moore. Artist: Pat Broderick. Location: On the freebie table at SPX.

Doom's IV #3 (Image, September 1994). Writers: Mark Pacella and Kurt Hathaway. Artist: Mark Pacella. Location: On the freebie table at SPX.

Dragon Ball Z Part 3 #4 (2000?). Writer and Artist: Akira Toriyama. Translator: Lillian Olsen. Location: On the freebie table at SPX.

For more information on this project, please refer to this Media Diet entry.

Anchormen, Aweigh! XXVII

Many thanks to KDVS-FM, WRMC-FM, WVKR-FM, and CJSR-FM for playing the Anchormen on the air!

Technofetishism XLV

I now have my iSight camera on hand and operating. We've opened some firewall ports, and audio and video (presumably) now works outside of the office. My AIM username is h3athrow. If you use iChat AV, feel free to ping me when I'm online. This is pretty darn cool. As my friend Davo says, "The future is now."

The Restaurant I Ate at Last Night XXI

When my friend Joanie was in town not too long ago, she recommended that I meet a friend of hers. We messaged via Friendster a couple of times and then took the conversation to email. Last night, we met face to face for the first time. The setting? The West Side Lounge on Mass. Ave. between Harvard and Porter squares. I don't spend a lot of time in that stretch of Mass. Ave. since I moved to Central Square, and it's interesting to see how posh it's gotten. West Side Lounge, while posh, also focuses intently on the nosh. Attracting a clientele that's a mix of after-work business people who live in the neighborhood, older area residents (which was nice to see), and -- later -- a younger crowd, the restaurant and bar is highly designed and darkly lit but not at all pretentious. Unfortunately, my new friend had already eaten dinner , so I ate alone -- we'd discussed coffee or drinks, but I hadn't eaten, so there we go. I was so glad I ate there. The menu is reportedly largely Mediterranean in nature, but I opted for the salmon dish. The salmon was cooked well and seasoned sensibly, and it rested on a bed of absolutely fabulous garlic mashed potatoes. The accompanying side salad didn't do too much for me, though. We sat at the bar, which is relatively short -- my friend described it as comfortable enough that you can almost always get a seat, but you're lucky if you do -- and the booths looked even better. Cozy, intimate. Perfect just to meet up with friends who don't always follow the funk -- or for a quieter, romantic dinner, perhaps. If you like Christopher's but don't quite go for Temple Bar, try the West Side Lounge. It's stylish enough that it's appropriate for a special night out -- but comfortable enough that you could eat there every night, easy.

Comics and Community XVI

After some internal debate, I've decided to make the trip to Bethesda, Maryland, this weekend for SPX. As much as I could use the time at home, this is an opportunity I can't quite pass up. Should be a hoot! If any Media Dieticians are going, let me know, and we can try to meet up.

Rock Shows of Note LXXV

After work yesterday, I went to the Million Year Picnic for the signing featuring Jason, creator of such wonderful books as Ssssshh and Hey Wait. I hung out with Stacie, Jef, Dan, and Tony for awhile, and then Greg Cook showed up. Four of us mosied over to Charlie's Kitchen to "edit" this year's edition of the Somerville Comics Collaborative's project. While last year's edition was pretty easy to organize, this year, it was quite a challenge. Because the table was crowded almost all day, we ended up with several plotlines and recurring characters making appearances in each story thread. But with a couple of transition pages -- one contributed by Greg -- inserted, I think it'll make sense in the end. But, boy, was this year's comic confusing!

Around 9 or so, after eating dinner, Tony, Jason, Ben, and Stacie made their way to Charlie's as well, so we all hung out until they were about to start karaoke. Then Jef and I walked down Mass. Ave. to TT the Bear's for the Scout Niblett show. We arrived a little ways into the second band's set, having missed all of Joy's performance. Joy comprises former members of 71 Sunbeam and the Jack McCoys, which are in the process of breaking up. "Aren't Joy and the Jack McCoys basically the same band?" I asked Matt Savage. "All you did was take some letters out and smash the words together!" He replied, "Pretty much." I was sad to miss their set.

That said, last night's show was the loudest show I've ever gone to at TT's in terms of conversation on the bar side. It seems that all of the second band's friends came out and then stuck around to socialize after the set. Usually, I don't notice this -- or get irritated -- but it was frustrating given Niblett's solo, scaled-down approach to songwriting. A guitarist and drummer, Niblett sings scarring songs of anger, loss, and frustration, reminding me slightly of Cat Power, Bjork, and perhaps Sinead O'Connor and Lois. Her voice is extremely intense, and her guitar playing just as harsh. My favorite songs were the ones she sang while playing drums. Niblett is an argument for simplicity. No drum machine. No tape. Just a too-pure voice and a single instrument. The drum songs got some cheers from the carousing conversationalists, and I especially appreciated the pieces about Linus from Peanuts, the song about how we're all going to die, and a couple of others I don't recall.

The show wrapped up around 11:30, which made it a welcome early evening given Monday night's late Labor Day cookout. Jill and Jef headed home, and I walked back to Church Corner to read Jason's new "Meow Baby" mini and hit the hay. A fun and productive night.

The Movie I Watched Last Night LXXVII

The Skull
I couldn't sleep Friday night, so I set my alarm for 2 a.m. to watch this 1965 horror movie starring Peter Cushing and Christopher Lee. Based on a short story by Robert Bloch, the slow-paced suspense expands on the mythos surrounding the Marquis de Sade. A phrenologist digs up his grave shortly after death to claim de Sade's skull. Possession of the skull leads to the demise of almost everyone who comes in contact with it. Cushing's character, a collector of supernatural esoterica, obtains a book about de Sade's life -- bound in human skin -- and then the skull. And all heck breaks loose. The plot is relatively plodding, and the special effects unconvincing. But the idea behind the movie -- and its ending -- are quite interesting. B-movie fare straight from Shock Theatre.

The Fog
Jef and Dave were right: This movie way predates Jamie Lee Curtis's emergence as a proper movie star. The 1980 John Carpenter film is a west-coast wave at the hidden history of a small town. On the 100th anniversary of the town's founding, a sour -- and sacriligous -- secret returns to lay claim on the future of the city and its citizens. While the special effects are next to nonexistent -- and highly dissatisfying -- the characterizations are quite believable, and the story is an intriguing one. I liked the sequences in which the heroes were trying to determine the fate of the dead -- and their seafaring vessels -- and several sections caused me to jump with surprise and fear (something the Skull failed to do). I also appreciated the sultry-voiced radio announcer, who practically narrated the progress of the killer fog from her lighthouse studio. The sea, lepers, hidden treasure, heavy weather, and an independent radio station: What more could you want?

The Story of Spam V

With the SoBig virus continuing to hammer the Net, I came in after the holiday weekend to 400-plus emails diverted to my Deleted Items -- and 900-plus emails in my Inbox. But just now, a message crossed my transom that me smile:

Old Farts Band

Hello

Permit me to introduce myself. I am Sonnie Chamberlain the father of Drummer Matt Chamberlain. I am contacting as many of the fathers of famous musicians as I can to see if any of them play any thing. I am trying to get a band together of fathers. I talked to Sheral Crow's father yesterday and he is busy but said that if I can get something going he would like to play rhythm sometimes. I dont know if this email will reach anyone or not but was hoping by going threw you it may . I play drumms so not other drummers need apply. LOL If you know of anyone please ask them to contact me.

Sonnie Chamberlain

I am not the father of a famous musician, but it sounds like an interesting project -- like the All Heaths group on Friendster. I think it's hilarious that he misspelled Sheryl Crow's name. If you're going to drop a name to lend credibility, spell it right, for chrissake.

Newspaper Chase

On the way to the T this morning, I spied a new paper box in the row by the station entrance. Barstool Sports is a new free tabloid "by the common man, for the common man. Featuring a half-page Hooters ad below the fold, the first issue of this weekly outlines the editors' agenda -- sports, gambling, golfing, and "chasing short skirts." In addition, there's an NFL season preview, fantasy football tips, an advice column "to help us win over the ladies," a top 10 list of public golf courses, an essay about dealing with the "gambling god," and a review of Boston-area sports reporters and writers. Dated Aug. 27, it's a thin read at eight pages, and it's not really my cup of tea, but it's good to see a new paper in town. We'll see how it develops!

Rest in Peace II

My sister just called to tell me that Ruby Williams, one of our longest-running babysitters when we were children -- and a dear family friend -- died yesterday. She was 99. Her birthday wasn't too far away from mine, and I'll always remember her grilled cheese sandwiches. They were perfect. I'll miss you, Ruby.

Science-Fiction Spam IV

Finally, Wired News picks up on my favorite spammer.

Placeme(a)nt

Want to see where I live? Here's an aerial photo. And here's a topographic map.

Thanks to Metafilter.

Technofetishism XLIV

File under: Tech demos can be dangerous.

Davo, a co-worker, just brought over an iSight camera for me to test drive with him. I downloaded a new version of OSX and the iChat AV beta, and we just played around with the video and audio chat functions.

Brilliant. Absolutely wonderful. Unfortunately, Davo wasn't giving me the camera, so I had to order my own. Which I just did. Wow. I can't wait. The iSight is extremely cool.

Comics and Commerce IV

According to Briefing.com this morning:

07:55 ET Marvel Enterprises Vice Chairman sells 5.13 mln shares (MVL) 21.07: In an SEC filing, Vice Chairman Isaac Perlmutter reports the sale of 5.13 mln shares on Aug 26.

Who's the largest shareholder now? Does this mean Toybiz chief Isaac Perlmutter is on the outs? Is this good or bad for the company?

Event-O-Dex LXXIV

Friday, Aug. 29: Emetrex, Verona Downs, Francine, and Dear Leader get down at TT the Bear's in Cambridge.

Sunday, Aug. 31: The Great Clearing Off, Combat, Disaster Strikes, and Fruit Salad get tossed at the All Asia Cafe in Cambridge. The all-ages show starts at 3:30 p.m.

Tuesday, Sept. 2: Norwegian comic artist Jason does a signing at the Million Year Picnic in Cambridge.

The Movie I Watched Last Night LXXVI

Taxi Driver
This 1976 film directed by Martin Scorsese ends with a mixed message. While Robert De Niro's character Travis Bickle's first instinct is to lash out in a destructively antisocial manner because he was jilted by a woman (Cybill Shepherd's character Betsy), the way he finally lashes out in a destructively antisocial manner -- to free Jodie Foster's street-walking Iris Steensma -- secures him as hero. While his motivations in the latter violent outburst are understandably more laudable, Bickle's more antihero than hero as his post-Vietnam war trauma and trials add up to a distaste for most New Yorkers, if not the city itself. The movie's cast is awesome, including an early role by Harvey Keitel and a political campaign nebbish played by Albert Brooks, and the cinematography is solid. Even though I don't think the "You talkin' to me" line is the most memorable (I much prefer the following exchange: "I think you are the most beautiful woman I've ever seen," "But how do you feel about the candidate, Palatine?"), it's clear why this movie has found such a priveleged place in late-'70s filmmaking. And finally, Bernard Hermann's score, his last, adds a layer of jazzy atmosphere to a film that becomes increasingly dark and desperate.

Tunnel Love

Building the Washington Metro outlines the organization and construction of the 103-mile rapid transit system in the Washington, DC, area. The Architecture and Construction sections are particularly interesting, as are the reader-contributed history and memories.

Thanks to Metafilter.

Comics and Media Coverage

The New York Times is all over comic books today.

One Vision from 1940's Still Rocks by Elvis Mitchell, New York Times, Aug. 27, 2003
Jack Kirby Heroes Thrive in Comic Books and Film

The Magic of Comics! While Batman Turns 64, a Fan Goes Back to 9 by Dana Jennings, New York Times, Aug. 27, 2003

Library Gets a Trove a Cartoonist Collected by Elizabeth Olson, New York Times, Aug. 27, 2003

The Movie I Watched Last Night LXXV

Tomb Raider
Honestly, this was hella better than I expected the video game-inspired movie to be. Not overly linear -- and with a richer back story than I could have imagined -- this is a straight-up adventure movie in a fine Indiana Jones-inspired style. The mystery surrounding the key Croft finds -- and the role it might play in the once-every-5,000-years planetary alignment -- adds a degree of desperation and necessity to the plot's development, and the screenplay writers rolled in several other popcult aspects that work quite well. While I don't agree that the Illumimati made the best evil foils for Croft, the mythical undercurrents pulled me in. Jon Voight shines as Croft's father, but Croft -- as played by Angelina Jolie -- showed no chemistry with the Alex West character, although it seemed some romantic connection was implied. It is the end that impressed me the most, with its Contact-meets-From Hell singularity in time and space. For what it is, a fine movie. Not great, but not awful.

Requiem for a Dream
This, however, is a great film. Directed by Darren Aronofsky, the man who brought us Pi, Requiem for a Dream is a frantic expansion on exploration of the American dream. To paraphrase Jared Leto's lead character, "I really only want her to be happy, I guess." The pursuit of happiness looms large throughout, with Leto's Harry Goldfarb seeking ecstasy --- and escape -- with his friends and the drugs that they take together. His addiction -- to drugs, to Marion -- is picked up by his mother, portrayed by the frenetic Ellen Burstyn, who obtains an uppers habit in order to lose weight for a TV appearance that never solidifies. The cinematography is amazing, trading surreal TV sequences featuring Christopher McDonald's infomercial king Tappy Tibbons ("No red meat! No refined sugar! Juiced by you!") for quick-cut, multilayered sequence that aptly capture the rush of drugs. The movie itself is a rush as it accelerates to its demeaning end, in which happiness eludes all of the main characters and the shared dreams that connected them dissipate like so much sand. The Kronos Quartet-provided soundtrack portions add a nice touch, as does the DVD's interface. When I first popped it in, I thought something was wrong with the DVD or my TV. But the DVD designers incorporated infomercial elements from the Tappy Tibbons sections to create one of the best DVD UI's I've ever seen. Play around with it for awhile. It's an impressive part of the movie experience.

North End Moment XL

Some random snaps taken in the alley behind the Scotch & Sirloin building:



These were taken moments ago in response to Warren Ellis' "It's Wednesday. I want to see the world, please," plea in Die Puny Humans.

Music to My Ears XLVI

I had no idea how important it was for presidential and other political candidates to have a theme song. Months before the Boston Globe picked up the story, Martha Brant gave Rev. Al Sharpton extra credit for the appropriateness of his choice: Bob Marley's "Stand up for Your Rights."

Magazine Me XLIV

Advertising Age features a solid article about the forthcoming magazine Tracks, which just secured $5 million in startup funding. Previously titled Good Music, the magazine will target music listeners over the age of 30. The ideal reader? Pushing 40, kids, a commuter, shops at malls. Huh. Planning to publish two issues before the end of the year, the magazine aims for 10 issues a year by 2006.

Thanks to I Want Media.

Among the Literati XLIX

While David Eggers continues to play soft shoe when interacting with reporters and interviewers interested in writing about him, his erstwhile partner in crime Neal Pollack has no such qualms about letting it all hang out with fellow mediavolk. MediaBistro catches up with my favorite Pollack, pushing his buttons on book tours, the importance of being informed, and his writing habits. It's interesting. While Eggers will most likely be remembered for his editing, publishing, and other endeavors, Pollack will most certainly be remembered for his writing.

Thanks to Jim Romenesko's Media News.

Sites for Sore Eyes III

SillyGlobe is a snarky, external ombudsman of sorts for the Boston Globe. Every day, Terry Catchpole tracks the "editorial whimsies" of the Globe, deconstructing headlines, comparing Globe content with other newspapers of record, and attacking specific writers' foibles and failings. It's a lively, invested read of the Globe -- and a site I'll return to daily from now on.

Thanks to Boston Common.

Happy Birthday to Media Dieticians XVIII

Blogger launched Aug. 23, 1999. A belated happy birthday to Evan and the Blogger gang!

Magazine Me XLIII

As part of the Medill School of Journalism's Magazine Publishing Project, graduate students at Northwestern University collaborate to create a prototype of a new magazine title. I recently read the two most recent prototypes: Fall 2002's Bite and Spring 2003's Invite.

Bite establishes its purpose and attitude on the front cover. With an edgy name and a solid cover image, Bite opens with energetic cover language. The table of contents continues the enthusiasm, sharing the insides of this effervescent magazine for foodies. The prototype features shorts on vegetables (the humble radish), soda pop (with a lefty leaning), and basics (rice and beans), along with recipes, drink recommendations, and regional hit picks. But it's the deeper features -- dinner party reports, profiles of catalytic cooks, pieces on important ingredients (goat cheese), retrospective trend reports (the raw food movement) -- that really please the palate. Add to that a tippler's timeline, a compilation of comfort food, and international immersion, as well as a kitchen gadget guide, interior design developments, cookbook looks, and hoi polloi how to's, and you end up with an engaging and encouraging read. Given ReadyMade and extreme golf magazines, it's high time we get an everyman's guide to eating. If Martha Stewart's Everyday Food isn't it, maybe this is.

Invite is another shelter and nesting read. Less radical in its approach than Bite, it still focuses on food and drink -- and establishing one's image through entertaining. Despite its subtler tone, Invite's table of contents is decidedly less staid, and the magazine motivates with a much more fun approach to layout. The mag leads with products, entertainment elements, fete faux pas (a key item), ingredient introductions (watermelon), an entertaining calendar of recommended events and holidays, a social grace Q&A, and recipes. The feature well comprises decorating decisions, first-person narratives, holiday-oriented how to's, social strategies (the ever-beguiling guest list), party promotion profiles, and other offerings. Invite emphasizes the how as well as the to (in terms of purpose). But all in all, this prototype issue falls far from Bite's belligerence and -- while timely in terms of 911, the downturn, and all -- doesn't quite connect with my nesting instincts.

We need an edgy foodie magazine to accompany such lifestyle lit as Bark and ReadyMade. I think Bite's got potential.

Big Brother Is Watching XV

The Carnegie Mellon Data Privacy Lab's new SOS Camera Watch project aims to catalog the estimated 10,000 publicly available Webcams trained on public spaces. Currently featuring about 600 cameras in New York, Pittsburgh, and Washington, DC -- as well as ocean, prison, and school views -- the project is growing slowly but surely. Some cameras you can even control online, taking control of the surveillance yourself. Wonder how soon they'll get to the Webcam aimed at the Rock at Northwestern University!

Thanks to Interesting People.

Blogging About Blogging LXVIII

Halley Suitt, the mighty mind behind Halley's Comment, wrote a fictional case study about blogging in a corporate setting that will be published in the forthcoming issue of Harvard Business Review.

I can't wait to read it, but I'm curious about three things. One, is HBR now in the business of publishing fiction? Two, is the fictional case study approach a sign of poor reportage? Or three, is the fictional case study a sign that business-related blogs are still the exception, not the rule?

It's clear that No. 3 is a possibility, but really, there is no shortage of business people -- or people working for companies -- doing blogs. Curious how much of the fictional case study draws on real-world examples. Because a case study like this doesn't need to be made up out of whole cloth.

Thanks to Scripting News.

Rock Shows of Nope

Showing a rare bit of restraint last night, I left the house after 10 to consider going to a show -- only to turn around and walk right back home again.

I went by TT the Bear's and the Middle East before debating whether to check out the show at the Middle East Down. The Damn Personals, Cracktorch, and the Gentlemen were playing, and a friend was going to be there. But standing in back of TT's near the rear load-in door that accesses the automated ramp down into the Middle East Down, I decided I couldn't cope with the noise and the smoke and the people so I walked home and settled in to read about turnpikes.

This morning, my friend emailed me saying, "It was really REALLY loud. Not so much fun. Kind of like a big drunken frat party with a cover charge."

Glad I didn't go! Perhaps we can expect more Rock Shows of Nope posts in the future.

Mix Tapeology III

Don't forget that I am almost always open to mix tape and CD-R trades. I recently received two mix CD's worth mentioning.

Sean Kennedy recently mailed me two CD-R's chock full of wonderful MP3's. One contains the aforementioned Trojan Dub Box Set. And the other comprises songs from no fewer than 16 Richmond, Virginia-area bands. Well, Denali's more DC-based, aren't they? Seems not. Denali member Keeley Davis is also in Engine Down. Regardless, a nice counterpart to the Richmond mix I made while visiting last fall.

Thanks, Sean!

Humor Me IX

The Boston Globe details how Harvard Lampoon staff members drink beer, eat pizza, smoke cigars, play cards, and publish a college humor magazine -- all in the name of pursuing a career in writing comedy.

Rock Shows of Note LXXIV

Last night, antsy after 10, I went for a walk around the block to see what shows were going on. For some reason, the Boston Phoenix's Web calendar doesn't let you see what shows are Wednesday night on Wednesday because the schedule starts on Thursday and the new edition comes out that evening. Makes no sense to me. The Web shouldn't follow the print schedule in lock step. Anyway, the Middle East didn't have any fliers posted outside, so I walked around the block back to TT the Bear's, where I'd seen that the Lot Six was playing. I got there in time to see quite a bit of the set performed by the Beatings, which I enjoyed immensely. The dual guitars work well, and the songs in which the female bassist sang added a nice touch. Aggressive, catchy, power pop with a punk tendency. The Lot Six disappointed me a little, however. On record, they come off as a kind of post-Fugazi, post-emo hardcore act, but on stage, they were pretty basic. Still well worth listening to, but not acerbic or edgy in the Les Savy Fav sense that I recall from the recordings. They've got one more Wednesday night in their residency, and Mittens joins them next week. Check it out.

But the real show of note took place last Friday at the Milky Way in Jamaica Plain. Travers did his hyperkinetic dance-pop video art performance piece again, focusing mostly on Primary Color Man, Accidentally Prepared Homosexual, and DJ Nitetrain, who joined him to mime turntablism. If you're fond of Tracy and the Plastics' brand of video-driven performance art rock, you'll get more than a giggle out of Travers. The video segments are priceless, and the whole show is extremely well done. The highlight, of course, was the debut of Scrapple's new lo-fi sci-fi techno-popera Tromo. The gang got hella press, being featured in the Globe, the Phoenix, and the Weekly Dig, and they did not disappoint.

The popera itself was wonderful. In a dystopian future, heterosexuality is outlawed, and people are bred artificially. A special police force makes sure that heterosexuals -- tromosexuals -- don't rise up, and people are regularly sent to reeducation camps. In the midst of this, two police officers -- one male, one female -- fall in love and strive to beat the system. Even though my friend Chris' performance was a little stilted -- he's expressed interest in not having speaking roles in Scrapple performances any more, instead just playing the bass -- the show went off without a hitch. Jef's security guard role rocked, and everyone did really, really well. Then, because one writeup had mentioned several songs and props not included in -- or used -- the popera, Scrapple did an encore featuring "Light Up Alien Pussy" and "Trash Ass" so people wouldn't go home disappointed. The crowd ate both up, and it was clear that those mentions inspired some people to come.

Scrapple will stage Tromo again in November. It is not to be missed.

Products I Love X

Back in July, I bought a pedometer. It's a little, simple one, totally analog with no special features. And even though I look a little geeky if my shirt's tucked in, I've been wearing it every day this week to see how far I walk. Sunday, I walked almost four miles along the Charles River, but during the week, I range between 1.6 and 2.2 miles. That's not a lot.

In fact, to get to work only takes just shy of .4 miles. Sure, I take the T, but this interests me -- and makes me think that time and distance are eminently relative. Mapquest indicates that it's a 2.73-mile drive from my apartment to the Scotch & Sirloin building. Where did the other 2.33 miles go? Does time on the train erase space?

Blogging About Blogging LXVII

For the first time since Media Diet launched more than two years ago, I deleted an entry at the request of the subject of the post. Turns out that my friend who's launching a new Web magazine is in the earliest of early days of the project and -- despite letting people know about the project -- didn't really want to let people know about the project. While I'm more than happy to respect the wishes of a friend, our email exchange got me thinking.

If you're doing something on the Web that you don't want the Web to know about, don't do it on the Web. If you're working on something that you don't want to spread word about, don't spread word about it. And, as the disclaimer to the left says, "Portions of our correspondence might make its way back here. If this makes you feel uncomfortable, be sure to let me know."

Clearly, I post with discretion if I think something is sensitive or overly personal. So don't be overly concerned that anything and everything you say to me will be blogged. I'm not that kind of blogger. If I'm not sure whether something is public, I'll check in to ask. But if you're working on a project you don't want to promote, please don't promote it.

Because the whole point of Media Diet is to turn people on to innovative independent media projects -- and to offer tools and resources for DIY media makers.

Pieces, Particles XVI

The following media-related stories spotted today in print publications might be worth a look. Heads and decks, only. Heads and decks.

As Talks Resume, Verizon Argues with a Union over an Ad Phrase by Matt Richtel, New York Times, Aug. 20, 2003

FBI Accused of Corrupting Surveillance by Benjamin Weiser, New York Times, Aug. 20, 2003
Techniques questioned in terrorism prosecution

Gunning for Search Engines by Byron Acohido, USA Today, Aug. 20, 2003
Google, Yahoo, and Microsoft are in a race to dominate

Ready, Set, Compute by Robert Weisman, Boston Globe, Aug. 20, 2003
Pentagon driving a renewed race for faster machines

Schwarzenegger Buys First Ads: $1M to Start by Martin Kasindorf, USA Today, Aug. 20, 2003

Survey: Cable Costs More, Offers Less Satisfaction Than Satellite Service by Michael McCarthy, USA Today, Aug. 20, 2003
But J.D. Power study gives both industries reasons to brag

This Could Be Hobbit Forming by Hiawatha Bray, Boston Globe, Aug. 20, 2003
A Westwood company is re-creating Middle-earth for a world of online players

With a PC and the Right Software, You, Too, Can Be a Music Producer by Sean Piccoli, Boston Globe, Aug. 20, 2003

Pieces, Particles XV

The following media-related stories spotted today in print publications might be worth a look. Heads and decks, only. Heads and decks.

"Edgy" Language Invading the Comics by Christine Chinlund, Boston Globe, Aug. 18, 2003
To the under-20 crowd, the s-word is just slang.

Lowly Home Movies Get a Day as High Art by Lawrence Levi, New York Times, Aug. 18, 2003
Intimate moments, now for all to deconstruct on the big screen.

Silly Convergences of Strangers by Janet Kornblum, USA Today, Aug. 18, 2003
Secret e-mails send "flash mobs" into action

The Smoking Gun Joins High-Caliber Media by Cesar G. Soriano, USA Today, Aug. 18, 2003
Dirt-digging Web site hits TV, radio, books, mags