ZEITGEIST

Apple approves third-party email client for the App Store, violates its own policies

Joshua Topolsky — Sat, 22 Nov 2008 05:39:00 +0000

Recently we were sent a PR email about an iPhone app called BdEmailer. No big deal, press releases about new iPhone applications show up in our box in large bundles every day -- but this one was different. According to the release, the program is the "the first wide email iPhone app that supports client SMTP." That means, in essence, that it duplicates an exact function of Apple's Mail application on the iPhone and touch. That's kind of a huge deal, because up until this point we've been led to believe that this duplication of functionality is one of the company's red flags when it comes to approval. Now mind you, we're not complaining. The idea of having more apps to choose from for doing things like sending email is a great idea, but Apple... what the hell is going on? You refused MailWrangler and Podcaster for similar reasons, yet BdEmailer passes through your review process, SMTP functionality intact? This means one of two things as far as we can tell -- either you've relaxed your policies on duplicate functionality, or you've gotten incredibly lazy when it comes to approving applications. We're inclined to believe it's the latter, as BdEmailer has a fair share of bugs that need working out, but really, people need some clarification here on what will and won't pass -- and moving the goalpost all the time isn't going to help.

Filed under: Cellphones

Apple approves third-party email client for the App Store, violates its own policies originally appeared on Engadget on Sat, 22 Nov 2008 00:39:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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The Texas School Book Suppository

Thigh Master — Sat, 22 Nov 2008 05:22:00 +0000

unhappy 45th birthday to the term 'grassy knoll'

mo umcredible photos can be found @
The Kennedy Assassination Photographic Archive

a dish anal stuffs

A Nightmare On Elm Street

Dearborn, Mich, home of the car that JFK was whacked in

Bob Schieffer gave Oswald's mom a ride
ahhhhhhhhhh yeahhhhh!!!

Oswald for Al Michaels, trade at its fairest (bueller)

Zodiac > JFK > most movies

Jack Joseph Valenti

Palm axes an undisclosed amount of employees, sort of blames itself

Darren Murph — Sat, 22 Nov 2008 04:03:00 +0000

My, my -- how's this for truth in advertising? Palm InfoCenter has confirmed with a Palm spokesperson that the flagging outfit will be laying off an undisclosed amount of employees as the economy worsens and the firm attempts to keep that final nail from being slammed down on its coffin. According to the spokesperson, the company will undergo a certain amount of restructuring (sound familiar?) that will "result in company reductions in the US and internationally." Incredulously, the statement also included this gem: "The global economic downturn continues to dampen demand for consumer goods around the world, and the impact on the economic environment is worsened by our maturing Centro line and the length of time it is taking to ramp our new Windows Mobile products." We won't say for sure that it's actually taking some of the blame here, but it sure sounds like it. Now, if only it would take charge of its future...

[Image courtesy of DayLife]

Filed under: Cellphones, Handhelds

Palm axes an undisclosed amount of employees, sort of blames itself originally appeared on Engadget on Fri, 21 Nov 2008 23:03:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Tiny Wiimote “projector” is not nearly as impressive as it sounds on paper

Laura June — Sat, 22 Nov 2008 03:10:00 +0000

This image is not necessarily one we are thrilled about having projected upon our walls, but we are pretty fond of anything in miniature. This 2.25-inch Wiimote is actually a semi-ingenious mini-projector which projects an image (yes, only one) from Super Mario Kart when its button is pressed. When you order you'll get a random choice of one of the six possible images, each less exciting and more pointless than the next. They're available from ThinkGeek now for $6, which is maybe worth the roughly one minute of amusement you (or your cat) will get out of the thing.

[Via Wired]

Filed under: Misc. Gadgets

Tiny Wiimote "projector" is not nearly as impressive as it sounds on paper originally appeared on Engadget on Fri, 21 Nov 2008 22:10:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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First screens of GTA IV: The Lost and Damned DLC

Randy Nelson — Sat, 22 Nov 2008 03:00:00 +0000

Filed under: Microsoft Xbox 360, Action

Following yesterday's news in USA Today, Rockstar has officially announced the first of two DLC episodes for the Xbox 360 version of Grand Theft Auto IV, titled "The Lost and Damned." The first high-res screens of the episode are out, along with a bare minimum of new details.

In addition to what yesterday's report contained - that players will control a new lead character, Johnny Klebitz, a biker with Liberty City motorcycle club The Lost - today's announcement confirms that the episode will contain "new missions that offer an entirely fresh way to explore Liberty City," along with new vehicles, weapons, multiplayer modes, and music.

The episode arrives via Xbox Live Marketplace on Feb. 17, and (obviously) requires the original GTA IV to play. We've been wondering if a Gold account will be required as well, but Rockstar's announcement merely mentions an Xbox Live account as a prerequisite for download. So ... let's hear your theories on the plot.

Gallery: Grand Theft Auto IV: The Lost and Damned DLC

First screens of GTA IV: The Lost and Damned DLC originally appeared on Joystiq on Fri, 21 Nov 2008 22:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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We’re Bringing Topless Back

Lux Alptraum — Sat, 22 Nov 2008 02:30:00 +0000

A look back at the week that was...

· Edita Vilkeviciute: we may have just met her, but she's our new fashion icon.
· We hear there's a light at the end of the tunnel butt.
· "Intimate Temptations" isn't bad, it's just named that way.
· Penny and Gianna: can you decide between these two? (Cause we sure can't).

· Evan Stone is a "Porn Icon." Even better, he gets to do Gianna Michaels.
· So many beautiful women... so many beautiful topless women.
· Stoya: Supreme Commandress and woman of the people.
· Sir Thomas Taliaferro, Lord Byron, of the House of Asses, would like to have a word with you.

Friday Distraction: “Comic Book” As A Search Term With LIFE Photos

tomspurgeon@yahoo.com — Sat, 22 Nov 2008 02:00:01 +0000

T-Mobile G1s now shipping with 3.5mm headphone adapters included

Chris Ziegler — Sat, 22 Nov 2008 01:46:00 +0000

It's not going to somehow magically conjure a jack where there's currently nothing more than a sad-looking ExtUSB port, but new G1 buyers can take some solace in the knowledge that they'll be able to plug in, turn it up, and tune out right out of the box. We've received official word from HTC that 3.5mm headphone adapters for the ExtUSB port are now being bundled with the phone, meaning you won't be stuck with that janky (no, seriously, it's insanely terrible) headset with the special connector that you get free of charge; after all, when we're blasting the Jonas Brothers at full tilt, we need the kind of fidelity that only high-end earbuds can provide. What, you got a problem with that?

[Thanks to everyone who sent this in]

Filed under: Cellphones, Handhelds, Portable Audio

T-Mobile G1s now shipping with 3.5mm headphone adapters included originally appeared on Engadget on Fri, 21 Nov 2008 20:46:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Game & Watch Collection could be US-bound

Randy Nelson — Sat, 22 Nov 2008 01:00:00 +0000

Filed under: Culture, Nintendo DS, Retro

The best thing about Japan's Club Nintendo? The occasional very cool branded merchandise, but, mostly, the exclusive games. Now there's a glimmer of hope that one of the most popular of these may be offered as a loyalty prize by the new North American chapter of the Club.

We're talking about the Game & Watch Collection, which has only been available in Japan ... or for those willing to pay for it on eBay and various online retailers to the tune of $40 and up. But now the game has been rated by the ESRB (it got an "E" rating, not surprisingly) leading to the inevitable conclusion / wishful thinking that it will be available in the States for some amount of Club Nintendo points.

The collection brings together re-creations of three classic Nintendo Game & Watch LCD games: Donkey Kong, Oil Panic, and Green House. Watch them in action after the break.

[Via DS Fanboy]

Continue reading Game & Watch Collection could be US-bound

Game & Watch Collection could be US-bound originally appeared on Joystiq on Fri, 21 Nov 2008 20:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Best Of Babelogs: World Hello Day Edition

Evelyn Leigh — Sat, 22 Nov 2008 01:00:00 +0000

Because these babes are waiting to greet you...

· Anastasia (join2babes.com)
· Brandy Amber (hq69.com)
· Calda(girlsofdesire.org)
· Carol and Jasmine (babeslogger.net)

· Cory Spice (babesandbitches.net)
· Crystal Klein (cayos.com)
· Dana Madero (badgirlsblog.com)
· Georgia Jones (novoporn.com)
· Jenna (bustynudebabes.com)

· Jo Garcia (novostrong.com)
· Kathy (galleries100.com)
· Laela (kindgirls.com)
· Laura Lee (iwantbabes.com)

· Larysa (pmates.com)
· Lucy Lux (hardporndiary.com)
· Patricia (labatidora.net)

· Rachel(baberoll.com)
· Silvia (pornio.net)
· Snow (nudeunion.com)
· Sophie Moone (morebabes.to)

And don't forget...

· Alexia Roy
· Ariel X vs Samantha Sin
· Hanna
· Jessica DiFeo
· Louisa Lanewood

...and all the rest of the Fleshbot Babes!

*****

Previously: Best Of Babelogs Archive

Tonight! Mer Perfoms with Ragwater Revue

Nadya — Sat, 22 Nov 2008 00:18:13 +0000

San Franciscans, tonight you are in for a special treat. Mer is performing with the Ragwater Revue at The Stork Club! If you have never seen Mer perform, let me tell you: it’s an experience. I’ve seen her twice, so far. One time, she played violin with The Dresden Dolls, and the other time, it was at our launch party, rockin’ the theremin. And let me tell you people - people faint when she plays. She’s that good.

So imaginging Mer with the Ragwater Revue - “a lethal concoction of booze-fueled swamp lust” - makes me want to hop on a plane to the Bay Area right now. Ragwater Revue combines elements of swampy blues, rockabilly and 1960s garage rock with lyrics that invoke alligator babies, glass eyes and cemeteries. “Imagine an old seedy bar in the 1930s where women adorned in puffy mink shawls smoke using long Cruella DeVille-like cigarette extenders and dark-haired men in suits slowly tap their feet to some jazzy blues,” writes Artsweek California. “Ragwater Revue would be the band on the stage.” As an added bonus, tonight’s show also debuts Coilhouse’s own star commenter Gooby Herms on bass! This show is not to be missed.

21:00 at Stork Club: Death Rock Dive Bar!
2330 Telegraph Ave, Oakland, California 94612. Cost: TBA.

Post tags: Drugs, Events, Flora & Fauna, Music, Self-Aggrandizement

Brokencyde

Warren Ellis — Sat, 22 Nov 2008 00:16:52 +0000

If you’ve been as busy as I have over the last couple of days, you too will not have seen the video for Brokencyde’s "Freaxxx." Ariana just made me watch it. I will think of a suitable punishment for that later.

As she says, it really kicks off into lunacy around the 1.50 mark. But I would like you to watch the whole thing. Because it really is one of those "fall of Western culture" moments. It’s a near-perfect snapshot of everything that’s shit about this point in the culture.

It is, however, going to be one of those great Litmus tests. If you meet someone who likes this? Even if they profess to like it in an "ironic," knowing, media-aware kind of way? Then they’re a turd with a haircut.

You Did Get the Memo, Right? Here’s a Better Way to Book Meetings

Adam Ostrow — Sat, 22 Nov 2008 00:03:38 +0000

This post is part of Mashable’s Startup Review series, which highlights great unsung startups. The series is made possible by Sun Startup Essentials.

Company Name

Bookmeetingroom.com

20-Word Description

A tidy and useful ‘Web 2.0′ SaaS application designed to simplify the management of meeting rooms in the office environment. Niche and Nice!

CEO’s Pitch

Using our online meeting room manager, you can check the availability of any meeting room in your office and make a booking in real-time using a web browser. Organising meetings made easy.

Imagine the simplicity of using an online room scheduler to book a meeting room from your desk rather than having to locate a meeting room coordinator and have them check availability and reserve on your behalf. Typically the larger the organisation the more time can be taken up in the organising a room for a meeting. With bookmeetingrooom.com staff will be able to see with one quick glance which rooms are available from where ever you are. It’s a fantastic facility for anyone who schedules meetings and those who have to attend them.

Mashable’s Take

Fortunately, it’s been a few years since I worked in an office big enough that booking meeting rooms was required. But if I still did, a service like bookmeetingroom.com would make a lot of sense. It’s a web-based application for managing meeting rooms, allowing employees to see a calendar for all of an office’s available conference space and make bookings.

While booking meetings is a seemingly simple task, Bookmeetingroom.com takes just about everything into consideration, like allowing companies to maintain meeting rooms in multiple buildings across different time zones, with reports built in for administrators to see how their workspaces are being utilized. Like other software-as-a-service business models, pricing is based on the number of meeting rooms being maintained and the number of users accessing the system.

If an app for managing meeting space sounds like overkill, you’ve probably never worked in a company where booking meeting rooms becomes a political affair and you wind up huddled in a janitor’s closet. (or maybe I’ve just had some really bad jobs in the past …). The alternatives are typically either a system based on Outlook/Microsoft Exchange’s scheduling features, or just having a receptionist maintain a list of who has what rooms booked.

In any event, bookmeetingroom.com has found a nice niche with a nicely executed web-based product. It seems a bit like something 37Signals should’ve come up with.

Editor’s Note: This post is part of an ongoing series at Mashable - The Startup Review, Sponsored by Sun Microsystems Startup Essentials. If you would like to have your startup considered for inclusion, please see the details here.

How would you change Apple’s unibody MacBook / MacBook Pro?

Darren Murph — Sat, 22 Nov 2008 00:02:00 +0000

Now that you've had well over a month to toy with Apple's latest MacBook and MacBook Pro, we're just dying to know what your impressions are. Has the glass trackpad turned you off (or just turned you off to every other trackpad on the planet)? Is the inability to order the MBP with a matte display still grating your nerves? Are you happy with the performance? Is your "S" key randomly popping off at the most inopportune times? You just spent a load of cash on what essentially amounts to a first-generation product -- you've every right to make your voice heard. Do just that in comments below.

Filed under: Laptops

How would you change Apple's unibody MacBook / MacBook Pro? originally appeared on Engadget on Fri, 21 Nov 2008 19:02:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Branching Dialogue: Display of E-motion

Ludwig Kietzmann — Sat, 22 Nov 2008 00:00:00 +0000

Filed under: PC, Sony PlayStation 3, Microsoft Xbox 360, Action

Presenting Branching Dialogue, a weekly, wordy and often worryingly pedantic discussion of video game genres, trends and err ... stuff I didn't think to put in this introductory line.

In his thoughtful review of Mirror's Edge, Eurogamer's Christian Donlan calls it a game "that's easier to love than like." He's quite right. DICE's first-person parkour platformer doesn't hold up to objective scrutiny, often coming apart under a reviewer's bit-by-bit examination. The discordant ratings are testament to that, if not to the claim that Mirror's Edge exudes a boldness and brilliance that's hard to capture in words, let alone numbers.

You can certainly try lobbing several comparisons at the game's gestalt ("It's Sonic the Hedgehog meets Montezuma's Return!"), but its evocative nature really comes through when you have the controller -- and the life of a runner -- in your hands. For as much as Mirror's Edge is about relentlessly pushing you through an urban obstacle course, it's also about capturing a gripping, breathless exhilaration. It's an unfortunate consequence of the mechanical and very deliberate design of games: doing exciting things with an on-screen proxy rarely feels as exciting as it should.

Continue reading Branching Dialogue: Display of E-motion

Branching Dialogue: Display of E-motion originally appeared on Joystiq on Fri, 21 Nov 2008 19:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Jar Jar Binks Goes Jedi in Clone Wars

Scott Thill — Fri, 21 Nov 2008 23:54:00 +0000

Let the reclamation of Lucasfilm's clumsiest character commence.

On Friday's episode of Clone Wars, Jar Jar Binks becomes a Jedi. In an interstellar case of mistaken identity, the half-wit Naboo native dons the cloak, teams up with the first trilogy's bumbler C-3PO, and saves Amidala from separatists who think he's a master of The Force.

"I wanted to find a middle ground between the funny side of Jar Jar and heroic redemption," writer Kevin Rubio said in a press release about Friday's new episode, "Bombad Jedi" (preview clip embedded). "He is a fish out of water, and, yeah, he can be goofy and stupid, but in context, it works."

It's been hard to work Jar Jar Binks into the Star Wars multiverse ever since he debuted in The Phantom Menace, only to nearly disappear from the new trilogy altogether. That is, except for the odd funeral appearance or legislative sellout to Palpatine that paves the way for the entire Galactic Empire clusterfrak.

But Binks has been slowly making his way back into fandom's good graces, starring as a jerk in Robot Chicken's spoofs and now this clever revisionism.

And why not? The impressive Clone Wars series has so far resuscitated battle droids, Toydarians and the clones themselves -- giving them all newfound reasons for being -- so why not other awkward entries? I can think of a few more Star Wars mistakes that Clone Wars could revise into triumphs. Can you?

Star Wars: The Clone Wars airs Friday at 9 p.m. EST on Cartoon Network.

Photo courtesy Cartoon Network

See also:

NXE creating HDMI headaches for UK Xbox 360 owners?

Richard Lawler — Fri, 21 Nov 2008 23:33:00 +0000

The path to Netflix-enhanced glory hasn't been entirely trouble free for everyone, this time it's posters on AVForum noticing a distinct lack of audio on Xbox 360s connected to their HDTV by HDMI. So far suggested solutions for the afflicted include plugging in the hard drive while the system is on, or waiting several minutes before switching the monitor to HDMI, and repeating them every time the system is started. It's not the first time we've heard of UK-centric HDMI weirdness, any of you hearing a whole lot of nothing while gaming (that's not attributable to hard drive installs)?

[Via Xbox 360 Fanboy]

Filed under: Gaming, HDTV, Home Entertainment

NXE creating HDMI headaches for UK Xbox 360 owners? originally appeared on Engadget on Fri, 21 Nov 2008 18:33:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Get Waxed (In The Sexy Way)

Evelyn Leigh — Fri, 21 Nov 2008 23:30:00 +0000

If Ricky Martin ever taught us anything, it was that candles aren't just for decoration anymore. Can anyone get enough of pouring hot wax all over a hot girl? Okay, in real life, probably yes. But in porn? Never! The more wax the better—especially when it drips from multicolored penis candles (Genius? We think so.). So get those candles going, because setting the mood just got a little hotter.

. . .

· Waxed whore shagged in bath (redtube.com)

on not doing an Alan

Neil — Fri, 21 Nov 2008 23:23:00 +0000

posted by Neil

There's an official CORALINE trailer out....

It's out in English, but this version of it is it in Italian. Because everything sounds better in Italian.

A few of you have written in asking if I'd done an Alan Moore and taken my name off the film, or if I'd had a falling out with the studio, as my name isn't mentioned in this trailer, just Henry Selick's -- and no, not at all. Nobody's name except Henry's is mentioned in the trailer, and that has more to do with Focus wanting to make sure that if they invoked The Nightmare Before Xmas, people wouldn't then assume this was a Tim Burton film, and go and see it -- or stay away -- based on that. (On the international poster -- above -- you won't find my name or Henry's.) I suppose it's a marketing decision.

I chatted to Henry today, and am really looking forward to seeing a finished film -- the last twenty minutes of the thing weren't done the last time I was sent anything. And it has music...

Incidentally, the Coraline Movie edition is now out, with an essay by me in the back, and another by Henry Selick...

I've now assembled the same list of passwords for the CORALINE website -- www.coraline.com -- that everyone else with access to a search engine has:

stopmotion : the Biggest Smallest movie ever made.

buttoneyes : Meet the cast...

moustachio : Bo Henry, art director of Coraline, shows off his remarkable moustache tricks.

armpithair : Every hair in the film was placed there by hand...

puppetlove : Director Henry Selick explains what it must be like for the puppets in the film.

sweaterxxs : Micro-knitting. That's right: micro-knitting.

...

A small collection of MAD fold-ins are up at http://www.nytimes.com/interactive/2008/03/28/arts/20080330_FOLD_IN_FEATURE.html. I cannot imagine a better time-waster than if someone were to put every Mad Fold-in up on line. I could click my way through them forever...

...

I've started playing with the T-mobile G1. First reactions -- I like it, mostly. It feels good in your hand. It's reasonably intuitive. (Bizarrely, when it isn't intuitive and I've had to head into manual land, the phone's software and the PDF of the manual do not always agree with each other.) I've had fun making ring tones, creating galleries. The way that your contacts list is also your Gmail contacts is mostly terrific (although it won't let me create entries that have the same email address as someone already on the list).

The things I don't like about it so far seem huge and obvious: no Blogger app (when there's a LiveJournal app and several others) seems a huge omission, seeing it's from Google; it can't read or open PDF files yet; you can send it pictures and watch them as a slideshow, but you can't save them; the built in Gmail app can't do anywhere near the things that the gmail program on my N73 can do; the camera is about the same standard as the iPhone's, which is to say, a bit meh. I like having a real keyboard but wish it was a tiny bit bigger -- I find myself typing with fingernails. Battery life is fine unless you've got Wifi on.

More reactions after it's been on the road with me and been used for a bit.

...

Hi Neil,

I just had a quick question on the Who Killed Amanda Palmer book. I have the album already (and have listened to it countless times. It's beautiful).

I was going to go and order the book, but when I went to the site, I found that the book seems to only be in packages. I was wondering if there are any plans to sell the book alone, or whether I should buy one of the packages. The extra CD could make a nice gift.

Thanks,
Nate

Let's see... the book is being desgned right now, then it goes off to the printers. The people who bought the package version will get theirs first. Depending on where in the world it's printed, this could be a couple of months before anyone else. Then, when copies come in from the printer, they'll go on sale -- probably in the early Spring. I think.

Neil!

I'm re-reading American Gods, and I'm at the point where Shadow first meets Sam. At the diner, Shadow reads a newspaper story saying "local farmers wanted to hang dead crows around the town to frighten the others away; ornithologists said it wouldn't work, that the living crows would simply eat the dead ones. The locals were implacable. 'When they see the corpses of their friends,' said a spokesman, 'they'll know we don't want them here.'"

Neil, I don't have Time Enough for Love here at school, but wasn't there something very similar to that in that story? Was your dead crow story a little Heinlein homage?

And OMG - just realized that Sam's last name is Black Crow, and that story was about crows. Wow. Sneaky of you.

Chris

When I'm driving through small-town America I make a point of buying local papers in towns where I stop, and reading them, preferably in local coffee shops. I read that in a small town as I went, and thought "It belongs in my book". So I put it there.

Dear Mr Gaiman,
I recently finished reading M is For Magic, and I have a question about the story Chivalry. Sir Galahad was considered the holiest of Arthur's knights; so, how coul he have obtained an apple from the garden of the Hespiredes? The Hespiredes were a part of greek mythology which was actually a religeon based on monotheism. So, how could he get something that his religeon said didn't exist? I am sorry to bother you with this question, but it has sparked my interest.

- a young and curious reader

He had to travel a long way.

I don't think it would have been a problem for early Christians, of whom Galaad would have been one: in The Golden Legend, which was the most popular book of stories about saints, collected in the thriteenth century, Saint Nicholas (the one who became Santa Claus) went up against the Goddess Diana. Then again, Narnia, a most monotheistic world, had more than its share of nymphs (just like the Hesperides) not to mention such gods as Bacchus and Silenus (and Santa Claus again) wandering around. So I would not worry about it, were I you.

I loved the link to the Sandman Death 20th Anniversary Bookends you put up.
When should they be coming out and how much of a dent will they put on my wallet, please?

According to a quick Google, http://www.toymania.com/news/messages/9960.shtml says they came out in September, and they will cost a wallet-twinging $295. (Ouch.) There are only a thousand of them.

This one has almost nothing to do with you Neil, but since his website is still in the makings I thought you could perhaps forward this to him.
I was very sad (like a child whose told there won't be a Christmas this year) to learn that Dave McKean's appearance this weekend in Buenos Aires was canceled.
In the event's blog they posted Dave's email in which he mentioned he couldn't make it because a date was changed (which sounds reasonable). But it remained unclear if it was the date of ANIMATE (the Buenos Aires event) which was changed, or if it was one of Dave's previous engagements.

Dave McKean said...

Hi Neil,

Please post this, as I certainly do feel very bad letting people down:

I agreed to go to Animate in the summer and had to organize a military
operation of friends and family to take care of our son Liam during
the proposed week, as he is appearing as Gavroche in Les Miserables in
London and has to be accompanied to and from the theatre each day he's
on, and also be available on 12 hours notice every day in case another
actor drops out.
We managed this, so both Clare and I could make the trip to Buenos
Aires, a city we've always wanted to visit.
Unfortunately, the date was changed by the organizers, and so we had
to re-arrange.
More importantly, it became obvious that the festival was now
colliding with a variety of previous commitments falling in the latter
half of November, so I decided with great sadness to withdraw this
year.
I hate letting people down, and I was really looking forward to the
trip (though not the 24 hours travelling each way, I admit!).

Hopefully there will be another event, an animation or film festival,
that will allow me to visit the city in the future. Or maybe we'll
just go for a holiday, and do a signing in a bookstore.

Thanks,
Dave

(I think it's worth pointing out that ten-year old Liam McKean -- owner of the original Pig Puppet -- is in Les Miserables in London. If you happen to go and see it, check if he's in your performance. Get his autograph. Mention pigs. Make his day.) And that reminds me...

Hi Neil,

I thought you might like to let people know that Dave McKean is on the BBC4 programme "Picture Book" talking about his illustations for David Almond's 'The Savage' and how he was inspired by Comic Book's art. The programme is airing (again) at 19.10 on Saturday and 3.30 on Sunday, and is also currently available on the BBC i-player. http://www.bbc.co.uk/programmes/b00fhnb6/comingup

Thank you again for all the stories,

Marjorie

You're welcome.

Hi,

Just read that you completed "the Dying Earth story." Huh? Is there a new collection of Dying Earth stories coming out? Is it an homage to Jack Vance's work, or what?

Did a search for "dying earth" on your website and saw no other mention of it.

Thanks,
Chris

It's for this.

...

And finally, Larry Marder talks about why the drawing we did together is so special at http://larrymarder.blogspot.com/2008/11/neil-gaimanlarry-marder-drawing-up-for.html.

Labels: Coraline movie, liam mckean, Jack Vance, Dave McKean, crows, why I was disappointed they cut Bacchus out of the Prince Caspian Movie, G1

Robert M. White II, 1915-2008

tomspurgeon@yahoo.com — Fri, 21 Nov 2008 23:22:00 +0000

My most sincere condolences to the White side of the family.

I didn't know my uncle, but we shared an alma mater. A few of the journalism professors there held him in what seemed to me then and now a mix of admiration and affection well worth achieving in one's public life.