::: Daily Diversions (6/25/2004) ::: |
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These links represent my current daily reads. I've separated them into groups for easier
reading. Links are listed in semi-alphabetical order within each group and will open into a
new window.
You might also want to check out my LiveJournal friends page.
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::: Journals and Blogs ::: |
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Alexis -
Alex is bright, witty, and occasionally rather smug. Her latest design effort is wonderfully
sparse and wintery.
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Beth/Xeney -
It's called Bad Hair Days now. Beth has given her journal many other names in the past, but
it really doesn't matter what she calls it, it's always damn good. She isn't so much interested in
journal updates lately, but you can visit her (and me for that matter) at
The Usual Suspects.
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Beth K -
Thursday's Child is the latest version of Beth's journal. Through the past few years I've
watched as she honed in closer and closer on finding a balance for her writing. She has an
ability to weave her words into a sense of place which I admire greatly. She's also got a
LiveJournal if that's
more your style.
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Brad -
I prefer The Daily Brad to his other
offerings, but there's something at the BradLands for everyone.
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Bryan -
Although he likes to refer to himself as "Bryan", this site is actually run by a robot based on a
prototype of Max Headroom with a penchant for the color blue. Bryan has been most recently spotted
as the lead singer for Bulletproof Lincoln. Check them out if you get the chance.
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Ceej -
Ceej is one of the pioneers of the online journal community. In spite of that fact, she
remains an engaging read, particularly for those with a technical background. The topic
occasionally veers off into baseball (of all things), but if you can forgive that then this
is your ticket. For recent updates, check out her blog.
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Dan -
Dan specializes in fresh design and has a meticulous, not to mention enviable, eye for
detail. Don't forget to check out Dan's weblog
danelope for a fresh perspective. And while I spend these hours, five senses reeling, I laugh about
the weatherman's satellite eyes.
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Derek -
Not technically a journal (though it sometimes touches on personal issues) and not quite
a weblog (though it takes the form of one), powazek.com is certainly 100% Derek to its very
core. Derek also has a photo-blog of sorts over at Ephemera
which manages to cast me headlong into the pit of envy on a daily basis.
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Diane -
Diane is a screenwriter and as such has a unique perspective on the world. Finally back from
an interminable hiatus (during which there was considerable gnashing of teeth), "Nobody Knows
Anything" serves as both a personal outlet for Diane and an excellent resource for the avid
movie watcher.
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Greg -
Greg Costikyan designs games. In his blog he discusses the issues that surround the gaming
industry as it struggles to leave its infancy. I don't always agree with Greg, but I always
appreciate his insight.
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Gwen -
I've read Gwen for several years. She went away for a while, but now she's back and sassier
than ever. What's not to love?
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harb -
harb is a sysadmin. He can recite php and perl the way goths spout Robert Smith lyrics only
he does it with more angst and existential longing. I think that's worth a link.
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Jake -
8bitjoystick.com is a 'zine of sorts, but reads a lot like a blog. Jake isn't the only
poster there, but he's probably the most prolific. Confucius say, sidebar hold many
riches.
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Jen -
I first ran across Jen in someone else's comments. After a quick jaunt through the archives,
Very Big Blog became an instant fixture in my daily bookmarks. Jen dishes up everything from
popcult discourses to swanky martini music and generally does so several times a day. I'm
hooked.
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Josh -
I've known Josh for well over five years now. In that time he really helped me to
stretch my web design concepts. It must be tough being an internet rock star.
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Julie -
I first "met" Julie in #blogirc. Since then I've read her blog on and off. Lately I've
found myself checking in daily. Such an infectious style surely can't be accidental.
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jwz -
jwz (aka Jamie Zawinski) used to work for Netscape back in the day. Back then I would check his site every
few weeks to see if he had posted a new rant. Today he runs a
nightclub and offers up tasty nuggets of web joy from his
blog. Jamie would absolutely abhor the phrase "tasty nuggets of web joy". It's a good thing
he'll never read this.
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Kim -
Kim's journal doesn't get updated as often as it used to, but there's always something interesting
going on in her blog. If nothing else,
FreshHell is a is a must read for those who appreciate good celebrity gossip.
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kitten -
kitten maintains walled|city along with occasional visits from an elusive and dangerous
harbivore. If you find his answers frightening, then you should cease asking scary questions.
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The Mighty Kymm -
Kymm writes an entry daily. Women have delivered babies at her feet and she still updated. Kymm
doesn't update in real-time anymore and delays of several weeks are common. That hasn't made
her site any less appealing to me though.
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Lynda -
Lynda is intelligent, engaging, and sometimes melancholy. There is a raw courage and
strength within her writing that amazes me on a daily basis. Those with easily broken
hearts may want to look elsewhere.
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Michael -
I first encountered Baker Street after Michael responded to one of my entries in Grayscale.
After reading for a week or so, he went directly onto my daily list. His word choice and
phrasing make for a very comfortable read.
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Mo -
I really don't understand how I went so long without anyone telling me about Mo. Anything that
looks this effortless is bound to be a tremendous amount of work. I live in awe of anyone who
can make life seem like so much fun. She's the perkiest!
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Narilka -
I was introduced to Nari through her sister Zannah. She has several projects, but I mostly just keep up with her
blog and her collaborative site StillHere.
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Pamie -
Pamie is always entertaining, but more importantly she is real. Laughter and tears and rage and
frustration all pour off the page and into the reader. If Pamie isn't famous soon, I'm going
to lose all faith in the Hollywood star-making machine. No. Really. I am.
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Penny -
Penny collects domain names and shiny things. Her
livejournal is a wonderful way to inject a bit of fun into your day.
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rabbit -
rabbit's site is part blog, part journal, part advice column, and nearly 100% sarcastic,
biting wit. There are very few sites where I've laughed out loud before I could stifle
the reflex, but rabbit does that fairly regularly.
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roxy-pops -
roxy is one of my irc buds from way back. She writes damn funny stuff and she adds her own
unique personality to every single word. I like that.
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Ryan -
Ryan's site has so much content you will likely be busy for quite a while during your first
visit. I mostly just read his blog, but I dig his style. (No pun intended.)
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Stee -
Stee is funny and irreverent and edgy and a million other adjectives that mean he says what
we all wish we could. Sometimes his stuff is offensive and crude, other times he can be
amazingly subtle. Frankly, Stee is the man.
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Terry -
Alternately beautiful and heart-wrenching, terrapindream is a near daily exploration of topics
most of us wouldn't dare talk about. I admire Terry for that and much more. Updates are
sporatic, but are often worth the wait. [MIA]
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Shauna -
I've known Shauna since the Fray 1 year anniversary. She
makes pretty things and gets paid for it. One of these days I'm going to have to ask her how
she manages that. She and Drue won awards
for their site which chronicles eBay
curiousities, but you shouldn't let that stop you from visiting.
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Wendy -
Wendy is trying to lose weight and started a journal as a record of her journey. Since then
Poundy has evolved into something else entirely, but has kept the same irreverent wit. I wouldn't
care if Wendy was writing about the dietary habits of the upper mongolian dung beetle, I'd still
read her site.
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Zannah -
Zannah writes for several of her personal sites on a semi-regular basis. This page is a
meta-index for all of her sites. Zannah defines the term "personal site" and has done so
for years.
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::: Online Comics ::: |
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a softer world -
Such a simple concept. Just a simple photo or two overlaid with simple words set in a simple font.
And yet, so funny, so profound, so warming, so deranged, so... unsimple. A new strip is posted
each Friday.
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Joy of Tech -
A wonderfully quirky view of the tech world. Sometimes a little Mac-centric, but always worth a laugh.
A fresh full-color comic is posted each Monday, Wednesday, and Friday.
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Orneryboy -
Just when I thought I was done collecting web comix, Ryan points me towards orneryboy.
It's delivered as a flash app which takes some getting used to, but there is a "Print This Strip" button and a spot to gank
a permanent link suitable for cut'n'paste. New strips arrive each Monday occasionally.
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Penny Arcade -
Come for the game-centric comics, stay for the news posts. Often immitated, but never
duplicated. A new color comic is posted every couple of days.
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PVP Online -
PVP follows the adventures of a group of misfits who work for a gaming magazine. New
comics are posted every day with a full color comic on Sunday.
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Real Life -
Real Life is a comic based on the life of the artist, Greg. Greg's story-lines dip into the
fanstastic on occasion, but always to good effect. A new full-color comic is posted Monday
through Friday. Unless Greg's real life gets in the way.
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Sinfest -
Sinfest has at least three distinct concepts: Slick & Monique, God & The Devil, and Percy &
Pooch and leverages each quite skillfully. I confess that while I enjoy Sinfest nearly every
day the Percy & Pooch strips are my favorites. A new hand-drawn strip is posted each day.
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::: Computer Stuff ::: |
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Bob Thompson -
Bob and his wife Barbara write computer books for a living. Bob covers the trials
and tribulations of this lifestyle and much more in his daynotes.
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Robert X. Cringely -
I've been reading Cringely since he was a sidebar in InfoWorld back when computer magazines were still
printed on paper. When he left InfoWorld they kept the name and assigned the article to another
journalist, but it wasn't the same. Now Bob writes weekly columns for PBS in his "I, Cringely" column.
You will be hard pressed to find another computer journalist with less bias and more connections than
Cringely. A new column is posted every Thursday.
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Jerry Pournelle -
Although some folks would debate it, I think Jerry started the Daynotes concept with his Chaos Manor
column in Byte Magazine. He continues it today on both his website and on the subcription-only
Byte website. His thoughts on technology are interesting, but his
comments on politics and the like are often far more thought provoking.
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::: News and Views ::: |
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CNet -
If The Reg and The INQ are twins separated at birth, then CNet and ZDNet are the
ridge-browed, conjoined twins that your mother scolded you for staring at in the
KMart parking lot. I generally just check out the "Most Popular Headlines" section.
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Gamerfeed -
Videogame news without the suck.
While I'll admit The articles here are of uneven quality, I haven't yet found a better alternative.
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Gizmodo -
All hail the mighty Gizmodo. Perhaps the best edited and lowest noise gadget site on the
entire 'net. I'm not so much digging on the new design, but the content still rocks.
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Joystiq -
Gizmodo for gamerz. What's not to like?
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Microsoft Watch -
I'm still unsure what to think about this site. Some days they seems to be on the
pro-Microsoft bandwagon and others they seem to revel in Redmond's misfortunes. All
in all, most Wintel sysadmins would benefit from a quick weekly skimming of the
headlines here.
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Obscure Store -
Unlike the majority of the news sites listed here The Obscure Store specializes
in locating odd news from around the globe. From the ridiculous to the sublime,
if it raises an eyebrow or prompts a quizzical headshake it will be chronicled
here.
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Oddly Enough -
Odds and ends from one of the most respected news organizations on the planet. Since this
site is used heavily by morning radio shows who need filler between gags, the stories tend
to be a bit on the short side.
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The Inquirer -
If you read The Reg, then The INQ should be right up your alley. Both sites are
edited by Mike Magee and the similarities don't end there.
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The Register -
Technology news from across the pond served up with a glistening slice of snark.
All kidding aside, as long as you stay mindful of the source, The Reg is a
treasure trove of tech lust, lore, and lunacy.
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Wired News -
Call me a sentimental fool, but I still subscribe to the dead tree version of Wired
and I still read their news site first thing each morning. Wired has meant a lot
of different things to different people over the years, but in the end there is a
core competence and integrity there that you have to respect.
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ZDNet -
Please see CNet above. Rinse. Repeat.
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