Random Thoughts

If you want to send stuff to the troops, there's a list of specific requests from soldiers on AnySoldier.us. Via Unqualified Offerings.

Wildguard is back, and it's on-line? Todd Nauck is offering weekly strips in his forum to keep everyone up-to-date on the Wildguard crew while he works on getting a new project to the stores. Thanks, Near Mint Heroes for the heads up!

Kaja Foglio reassures us that there will be an issue #12 of Girl Genius. Everyone who has read issue #11 will know why this might be considered a concern.

Is it ok to review webcomics? 24 Hour Pixel People dissects a note that says people shouldn't review something they get for free. It's pretty clear that this particular debate goes back a ways, and I don't want to get into the middle of a fight like that, but the points that are raised on both sides of the issue are interesting enough that I felt like pointing this one out to my reader. Er, readers.

There's also a bit about the nature of reviews and reviewing. It's not rocket science, people. A review is a look back at something. If you want to be formal about it, a review involves analysis and backing up each point with examples, but an informal review can be as simple as a stated opinion. My "rapid reviews" aren't "real" reviews by the formal meaning of the term, but they are quick looks back at something I've read (usually after the first reading). One of the statements in the webcomics review debate seems to be that a reviewer should not express an opinion (I hope I'm reading that wrong), which seems to be idiotic. A good review will always include opinion. I refer you once again to Mike's Arrogant Guide to Reviewing.

Legomancer is disturbed by the new skin-tone Lego minifigs. I have to agree with him to some degree. On the other hand, there's a lot of possibilities opened up by having skin tones available, including an Aquaman custom minifig that really has properly yellow hair that looks right.

Polite Dissent lets us know that when all else fails, try Star Trek.

Kids like to play on playgrounds, right? And in some parts of the world, playgrounds don't exist. People also like to get clean water, right? And in some parts of the world, getting clean water is too expensive, as you have to run pipes and have energy to power a pump. So, what if someone designed a playground toy that doubles as a pump? Here's what happens. Call it genius, call it exploitation, at least people get clean water and kids get to have some fun on equipment that otherwise wouldn't be available to them. Via Boing Boing.

Cory Doctorow wants people to take pictures of the obnoxious anti-piracy warnings in theaters and post them.