Tagged: Google

PeterDavid.net and BobGreenberger.com NOT malware sites

PeterDavid.net and BobGreenberger.com NOT malware sites

We think.

I’ve been getting notices from people all morning, saying that they’re receiving warning messages at PeterDavid.net or BobGreenberger.com because Google is claiming there’s a link to a malware site somewhere– not that they’re saying what page it’s on, or other things that might be useful to a webmaster trying to track down the problem. (They’re claiming it’s on an underlying site in a different subdomain, which ain’t helpful.)

So we’re digging. In the meantime, use caution on odd links there.

Helping ‘Theater Hopper’ out

Helping ‘Theater Hopper’ out

Theater Hopper has been dropped from Google’s listings temporarily, due to some spam infesting its site code.

Luckily, you know what helps sites get reindexed? Links.

Links to some of the funny strips.

Links to some of their poignant strips.

Links to deep philosophical questions.

Just links in general.

And it really helps if you have a large website with a lot of Googlejuice of your own to spare.

No, no– we must use this power only for good.

Google Book Settlement Site Is Up; Paying Authors $60 Per Scanned Book

Google Book Settlement Site Is Up; Paying Authors $60 Per Scanned Book

From TechCrunch via Tom Galloway:

Last October, Google signed a $125 million settlement with the Author’s Guild to pay authors for copyrighted works it has scanned and made available on the Web through its Google Book Search project. More than 7 million books have been scanned by Google so far, a large portion of them out of print. Today, the Google Book Settlement site went up, which allows authors and other copyright holders of out-of-print books the ability to submit claims to participate in the settlement.

What do they get? Authors, publishers, and other copyright holders will get a one-time payment of $60 per scanned book (or $5 to $15 for partial works). In return, Google will be able to index the books and display snippets in search results, as well as up to 20% of each book in preview mode. Google will also be able to show ads on these pages and make available for sale digital versions of each book. Authors and copyright holders will receive 63 percent of all advertising and e-commerce revenues associated with their works. With Google Book Search now available on mobile phones, downloaded e-books could become an interesting digital side-business for Google. (But please Google, convert the scanned text into something more easily legible on the screen).

Remember, this settlement is only for the millions of out-of-print books that are making zero revenues for authors and publishers today. So it is not a bad deal all around. Copyright holders have until January 5, 2010 to make a claim.

There don’t seem to be many comics scanned in, but you never know. One wonders how they apply it to periodicals alike magazines and comic books.

Wes Craven Carves Google Logo

Wes Craven Carves Google Logo

One of the reasons we love Google is that they know how to have fun.  Throughout the year, usually around the holidays, they have interesting visual takes on their stark logo.  Today, horror director Wes Craven has provided the Halloween edition.

Review: Spain Rodriguez’ ‘Che: A Graphic Biography’

Review: Spain Rodriguez’ ‘Che: A Graphic Biography’

“Spain” Rodriquez and “Che” Guevara. Manuel and Ernesto. Two legends, one living, the other, well, not so much.

Spain has been a cartoonist for more than 40 years, one of the first and most visible and influential storytellers of the underground comix movement. While others were preoccupied (often brilliantly) with their X-rated tributes to Harvey Kurtzman, Max Fleischer and other visionaries of their childhood, Spain was telling adventure stories of urban America, often featuring his character Trashman. His works have a strong left-wing tilt. He continues to be active, contributing to [[[American Splendor]]], Blab! and [[[Tikkun]]], and he produced the highly acclaimed graphic novel [[[Nightmare Alley]]] for Fantagraphics. He’s been fairly active in recent years on the comics convention circuit, often appearing with S. Clay Wilson.

Che was a handsome medical doctor (specializing in leprosy) and revolutionary, part of the insurgency force that overthrew the Cuban puppet dictator Fulgencio Batista and his American mobster masters, Lucky Luciano and Meyer Lansky. When, in 1967, he was killed as he was organizing in Bolivia, Che became more than a mere martyr: he became an icon. Today, his likeness (inspired by Jim Fitzpartick’s classic illustration) is well-merchandised by capitalist clothing manufacturers in America. He even had floor space at the New York Licensing Show a couple years ago.

It was only a matter of time before Spain turned his professional attentions to Che. Actually, I’m surprised it took this long.

If you’re one of those people who reduce Dr. Guevara’s work down to that of an evil godless Commie, then this graphic novel is the exact right thing for you, as long as your life insurance is paid up. If you think the left might have had legitimate cause for their actions, you’ll like this as well. If you’re open-minded and curious about the events immediately to America’s south during the 1950s and 1960s that had such an overwhelming impact on our society and our political system, then this book is essential.

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April Fools Day Round-Up: Were You Fooled?

When it comes to April Fools Day on the ‘Net, I’m not sure where I stand. On one hand, I’m endlessly entertained by the creativity various companies show in their efforts to pull the digital wool over readers’ eyes. It’s also an amazing promotional opportunity, providing websites that normally wouldn’t be players in the viral marketing scene a chance to flex their creative muscles and attract new readers.

On the other hand, however, it’s an editor’s worst nightmare. Every story is likely to be a hoax, and it’s damn near impossible to break any authentic news due to the inherent skepticism of online readers for a 24-hour period.

It’s a bit of a personal hell for me, too. Every year, I wake up on April 1 and remind myself that anything I read that day is probably an April Fools Day prank. And every year, I end up getting excited about a story anyways, only to realize that it was just another joke — more often than not, this happens after I go public with my excitement, adding to the embarassment. In the end, I’m reminded of Charlie Brown trying to kick that football time and time again, even though he ends up on his back in the dirt every time he makes the attempt. I feel his pain.

So this year, I’ve put together a list of some of the highlights from this year’s April Fools Day on the Interwebs. It’s nowhere near a complete list, just some of my personal favorites from the world of comics and comics culture, as well as a few notable non-comics pranks. Feel free to add your own to the ‘Mix (pun totally intended) by adding a link in the comment section at the end of this article.

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