Comicbase 11

I recently purchased Comicbase 11 Professional. I'd always heard it was the ultimate comic book collection software. All I have to say is if that is truly the case then comic book collection software is in a sad state. Over the past week I've found several bugs in the software that are written off by the author as 'by design.'

Here is a perfect example that left me speechless. There are browsing arrows at the top of the screen which bring you from one title in your collection to the next. When you reach the beginning or end of your collection you would think that it would stop on the first or last title of you collection or loop around to the beginning or end. That isn't the case at all. The first/last titles in the database ("0/6, o6Po (Netcomics, 2005)" and "ZZZ, ZZM (Alan Bunce, 2000)") are displayed as a place holder so the software knows when to stop. So in summary you get to browse through your collection plus one title at the beginning/end that have nothing to do with your collection. I'm not joking and I was told by the author that this is "by design." I couldn't respond to him, I was left speechless. You would think that at version 11 a piece of software would be a relatively refined piece of work.

Perhaps I'm being a bit critical as I have been writing database driven applications for over a decade myself. I'm putting this in my blog for the search engines. Hopefully the next technically savvy person researching CB11 will google this post and think twice before spending way more than this software is worth. Before closing I'd like to offer some positive remarks on the software. The data itself (not the application which presents it) is very useful and detailed. It is so good that it almost (that's a big almost folks) makes the software worth the price tag.

Good comics I've been reading

I read pretty much every horror comic that comes out every week. I know that's a bold statement but its true. Now if only they were all actually worthy of reading :). One new comic that peaked my interest is called Archaic. The cover art on the first issue kinda reminded me of some of the cover art I've seen on Glen Danzig's Verotik site. The actual story reminded me of a couple stories I read in an issue of the now canceled Metal Hurlant. If you are a horror comic fan such as myself I'd recommend that you check it out.

Another comic I've become addicted to is Girls being published through Image Comics. The entire premise of the comic is just nuts (not even going to bother explaining it, just read it!) but I really like the flow of the story and the writing reminds me a bit of some other great monthly comics like Y - The Last Man and The Walking Dead.

Hellblazer Full Run

I'm a nut and I just bought a full run of Hellblazer comics. Its every single issue 1 - 205 + about 35 additional comics in which Constantine makes an appearance. It wasn't that expensive and I'm so.. insanely.. happy!!! *struts*

Fedora Core one last time

This is my last post about this disaster of a linux distribution.

• Install 2 Package(s)


• Update 39 Package(s)


• Remove 0 Package(s)


• Total download size: 92 M

Fedora Core (2.5 weeks later) again

I thought I should keep this joke running because that's what it is really; a complete  joke. Why do they even bother having releases? I had to double check to make sure I wasn't tracking rawhide. Just because its F/OSS doesn't mean it has to suck guys.

• Install 1 Package(s)


• Update 60 Package(s)


• Remove 0 Package(s)


• Total download size: 88 M

Desolation Jones #1-2

Warren Ellis I want to have your babies. I love this comic book. I got them both as back issues and I think it might be the first time I've read a couple comics and re-read immediately afterword. I'm not comparing Jones to Constantine but Ellis' Hellblazer run was probably my favorite and Jones reminds me of Constantine. I'm now subscribed to this comic through my on-line retailer and anxiously await the next issue :).

Fedora Core (2.5 weeks later)

Time for another FC4 update a couple weeks later.

• Install 3 Package(s)


• Update 38 Package(s)


• Remove 0 Package(s)


• Total download size: 151 M

Here piggy piggy piggy. Come on piggy!