Blog Section

2008

15 November

The real story behind the demise of Playgirl by Kate

While I’m far from the target demographic for Playgirl magazine (which even the editors must admit was gay men), this New York Times article reveals some interesting behind-the-scene aspects to its cancellation. Apparently, the editors had a slightly more intellectual magazine in mind, describing something that sounds like Bust magazine with nudity. Publishers Blue Horizon Media didn’t share their vision.

Former editor, Nicole Caldwell, doesn’t seem to have considered gathering the other ‘former editors’ together to create a more graphic version of the community newspaper she previously ran which is almost a shame (though not quite the “blow for feminism” she imagines).

27 August

Web serials, virals, nervous TV executives and the mainstream by Kate

In the same week I see a review of Dr. Horrible’s Sing-Along Blog in one of those free papers that appear en masse on the London Underground, The Medium has bravely plunged the depths of Web Serials.

18 August

psychoPEDIA interviews GLU Magazine by Kate

As we enter yet another phase of lesbian chic (and, let’s face it, they’re as regular as clockwork), psychoPEDIA asks Jessica Gysel, of Amsterdam-based GLU magazine, about all things proper lesbian (Li-lo, media representation and the not-unrelated absence of the “first brand featuring a mustached queer inter-sexual being”).

30 July

How would Annalee Newitz Reboot Farscape for a Modern Age? by Nick

Scrabble 1, Scrabulous 0 by Kate

Hasbro have managed to disappear Scrabulous from Facebook , in Canada and the US, by making various legal threats against both Facebook and the games’ creators. In other parts of the world, where the rights to Scrabble are owned by Mattel, Scrabulous remains the wordy procrastination tool of choice. For now, anyway.

12 July

The countdown to Dr Horrible has begun by Kate

But until Act One is released on Tuesday , we will just have to keep watching the trailer again and again (after the jump). Go NPH! .

03 July

More about that whole Boing Boing censorship thing by Nick

I’ve been following — with indecent interest — the Boing Boing OMG censorship! thing, so ably reported on by m’colleague a couple of days ago. (continued)

30 June

Never thought BoingBoing were the censoring types by Kate

Or even historical revisionists. But apparently they are when it comes to Violet Blue .

25 June

Women needed to rescue the UK games industry? by Kate

08 June

Best.headline.ever by Kate

Although I get the sinking suspicion I use that title a lot, it’s still worth checking out the Arianna Huffington interview on NPR. (HuffPo a Go Go).