Exactitudes, the work of Ari Versluis and Ellie Uyttenbroek, is a photographic study of self & group identity. Funny how so many different people move towards these specific wardrobe subcultures. And on a personal note, it's kind of scary that I'd fit in so well with the old men.

First metrosexual, and now there is technosexual. Geeks have needs, too.

WPopac made an even bigger splash after winning a Mellon prize recently. WPopac (what's an OPAC?), is a work-in-progress online library catalog that uses WordPress. There's all sorts of potential for customer tagging, comments, RSS, trackback, relevant search. Good stuff.

I really liked Goodbye, Chunky Rice, so I was looking forward to Blankets. Craig Thompson's more recent graphic novel is a coming-of-age sort of story of love and religion and obsession and companionship, mostly hopping between vignettes in the childhood and teen years, from boyhood to first love and after. It is, in fact, Thompson's own story rendered with impressive honesty. The artwork is fantastic and the dialogue is great, and Thompson really has a way with body language. From my layman's I'm-not-a-graphic-novelist perspective, I can see how a graphic medium can make it so difficult to be subtle. There are times when the relationships in Blankets seem too clich?©. On the other hand, that sort of awkward transparency seems appropriate for melodramatic young love, and I really like how he just lets loose and puts it all on the page.

The University of British Columbia has placed online Oliver Byrne's rendition of Euclid's geometry. Very cool. Edward Tufte highlighted it in one of his recent books that I read. I can't remember if it was Beautiful Evidence or Envisioning Information. In sum...

An unusual and attractive edition of Euclid was published in 1847 in England, edited by an otherwise unknown mathematician named Oliver Byrne. It covers the first 6 books of Euclid, which range through most of elementary plane geometry and the theory of proportions. What distinguishes Byrne's edition is that he attempts to present Euclid's proofs in terms of pictures, using as little text - and in particular as few labels - as possible. What makes the book especially striking is his use of colour.

It's quite beautiful for a textbook.

Here's a multi-part dialogue mulling the question, Why Are Atheists So Angry?

Al Gore talks with GQ magazine. Politics aside, he actually seems like a cool, earthy guy. What I would really like is for a journalist to do an interview without bringing up the 2008 election. Seems like they all are just begging to get the scoop: "Al Gore Changes His Mind." He said he isn't running, folks. Lay off.

CNN Money asked a number of notables, from Rachel Ray to Craig Newmark to Andre Agassi, for tips on how to succeed in 2007.

The Pulitzer Prize can now be awarded for online journalism. It's no longer limited to articles and still images, but explicitly embraces infographics, slideshows, video, and blogs.

I sincerely hope that Nick Hornby's writing isn't as effortless and carefree as it reads. It just wouldn't be fair. Especially because all he had to do for this book was read books (which he already does), and write about them (albeit under the cracking whips of the Polysyllabic Spree). This book was especially good in light of the interview I read two days ago, where Chuck Klosterman mentions how criticism is really autobiography. There's a lot to learn from Housekeeping. I really like how Hornby weaves his comments with a little background about how he came across the book, what kind of reading phase he was in, etc. Mix in a little self-effacing Britishness or some affectatious declarations (e.g. "I decided today that from now on I will only read books recommended by..."), and you've got a really fun package.

At long last, the new computer arrived tonight. I was in too much of a hurry to take any Apple unpacking pr0n photos, but here is a nice gallery for you to see it through someone else's eyes. I'm thrilled to pieces.

Some pictures of Peanuts characters made to look like Marvel supheroes. Lucy as She-Hulk is just perfect. [via dethroner]

It looks like DC is about to make a serious move to attract teen females to graphic novels. DC does a generally good job with their mainstream comics, but I can only read superheroes for so long. I'm curious to see what they come up with.

I wonder what if there is a world that equates to a small-town version of a pastorale? Suburbanale? Anyway, in Ghost World Daniel Clowes presents a few days in the life of two teenage girls as they piss away a small-town summer. The first time I tried to read this, I was bored to tears. Really, nothing happens. On second read, what actually impresses is the way Clowes can craft those micro-moments and give a full characterization with minimal material. This parallels the restrained artwork, using only black, white, and a pale blue for all the panels. The dialogue is shockingly foul and absolutely hilarious at times. High drama it is not, but there are worse ways to kill an hour. Keep an eye out for Enid's shifting hairstyles.

I thought it was funny to see this little essay on businesses that check receipts at the exit doors. I had a similar experience a while back. Honestly, I was kind of hoping I'd run into one of these situations so I could make a valiant little stand for consumers throughout the nation. This was the first time anyone had ever asked me. Anyway, so I was at Fry's... [Scene: I was buying some things for my home office [document trays, labeler, file folders, & other geekery]. I paid up, got my bag, and headed confidently towards the exit. As I approached the door, I saw a man with suit, tie, and badge, wielding a highlighter in his hand.]

Store Guy [approaching with a smile] Hello! I'll just need to take a look at your receipt. Mark [walking past, with bag in hand ] No, thanks! Have a good day, sir. Store Guy [blank expression, then recovering] Excuse me! M [slowing, turning] Yes? SG [following, hand to ear] What was that? M [paused at door] I've got my stuff. I'm heading out now. SG [approaching, highlighter at the ready ] Excuse me? M - I'm... leaving... SG [standing face to face] You can't leave without checking your receipt. M [deftly wielding a keyword ] Are you detaining me? SG [kerflummoxed] Ah, no... I just need to check your receipt. M - No thanks. SG - It's store policy. M - That's Fry's policy for everything? SG - Yes, our store policy is to check every receipt. M - Hm. [pause] No thanks, I'm going to head home. Have a good day, sir. SG [blank stare] [Mark exits.] [Exeunt]

---

So I honestly felt bad about giving him a hard time. I try to go out of my way to be a Good Customer, and I hate to be the one to make this guy's afternoon go sour. But darn it, someone has to stand up to these incursions, and I would gladly repeat it. Though perhaps not in the near future at the same store. What do you about it? Do you stop and let them check? Do you go on out the door?

I was at work today in the library and saw the most wonderful thing. Over in the magazine section, there was an old guy reading. Grey hair, wrinkles, hunched in his chair. Maybe in his 60s-70s. He even had a walker to help him get around. So what do you think he's reading? National Geographic? Time? Smithsonian?

Nah. He was flipping through Transworld Skateboarding. Just when you think you know your customers...

Photos from an incredible little selection of pop-up books for children.

Rebecca Blood shares the hot tip from Dangerous Meta, that Encyclopedia Brittanica has a weblog. This could be really cool.

I love the jacket design for Noise, so I really had high hopes for this one. I really wanted another cool pop science book like Chaos or Linked, one that would take a fringe science and make it sparkle. Now, don't get me wrong. There's a ton of information here (a full 40% of the book is notes and indices), and it touches on how a range of fields like mathematics, law, engineering, and information theory deal with "unwanted signals." But this latest work by Bart Kosko came off a bit dry, no flesh. Or maybe I'm just a less patient reader lately. Probably both.

A guy who thinks a lot about traffic has come up with experiments and solutions for traffic waves and jams... "It's nonlinear soliton physics." The basic idea is to leave a little space to 'absorb' the slowdowns, instead perpetuating them by joining the crowds of hard-brakers and quick-accelerators. I think my own experience agrees with this. Smooth, nuanced driving does seem to work better in traffic, and the added bonus is that you don't get so emotional about the whole thing. Chill out, think Big Picture.