Happiness is a warm puppy

I received the second volume of Fantagraphic's Complete Peanuts today. I know that it isn't exactly 'hip', but I absolutely adore the comic strip, and the first volume was enormously entertaining: you were able to watch as the kids began their metamorphosis from the sort of cartoon children one finds a lot in early-1950s illistrations -- very hard-edged and clean and interchangeable -- to something more unique. You also are able to watch the cast change from a few fairly interchangable kids (Violet, Shermy, and Patty) to the more familiar (and individual) Schroeder, Lucy, and Linus. This continues in the second volume. Plus, it comes with a free clipcover for the first two volumes. Bonus! My only gripe is the amount that the word "existential" is applied to the comic strip; while it can be that, people often seem to just mean to indicate that it can be a bit of a downer. But in a very good way.

This totally sounds like something out of Alias: apparently a Jpeg has been developed that can infect computers with a virus just by viewing it. It had been found posted in porn websites, which, you know, makes sense. It's like a virtual STD. (Full story is on BBC News World Edition site.)

E.L. Chen indicates in her blog that the new Michel Rabagliati book - Paul Moves Out - will be out next spring. Paul has a Summer Job is one of the best comics that I've read recently -- both the writing and the art is fabulous -- so I think this is very good news. I confirmed it on the Drawn & Quarterly website.

This is bloody beautiful; one of those Nigerian spam scam letters done as a monologue. The fellow doing it does a really good job of not cracking up, and the addition of a siren in the background just adds to the "dramatic tension". (via Boing Boing)

Song: "Smack It Up" by Fannypack.