Huh?

I found this comic in a box of pistachios, which were otherwise very tasty. They are called "Everybody's Nuts" and I am all for that, in theory.

I understand, having worked on a comic for a while, that the machinics of this strip are like this:

Panel 1: Incredibly random and possibly xenophobic statement.

Panel 2: Predetermined joke upon which the contents of Panel 1 have no impact or bearing.

You could put really any text in Panel 1, like "My clitoris aches" or something much more innocent like, "I hate pistachios. Therefore I am self-hating" and the second panel would still work, although "Work" is used very loosely here.

But why make a crack at Canada? Are these delicious nuts sold only within the U.S., with strict orders that they not be sold north of the border because there shelled little critters fear the figurative little sister?

I can't figure it out. And don't think I'm not devoting a lot of brainpower to trying.

Click here for the Flickr.com version.

Future prancer?

It's spring already, believe it or not, at least down here in Texas where's it not snowing and being mean to you.

But instead of flowers, what seems to be blooming are books and book-related projects from friends. Let me go down the list:

Pamie and Glark have brought back the Dewey Donation System for another round of books for a good cause. It's been wonderful seeing the project evolve over the years and it's never been easier to help get some wonderful books into the hands of those who need them most or to help a very special school get the resources it needs.

Please check it out and donate what you can.

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Heather and Jessica of Go Fug Yourself have published their first book, The Fug Awards. My copy arrived last week from Amazon and it's an absolutely gorgeous hardcover with tons of photos. It's as hilarious as you'd expect, especially if you love the Web site.

Buy it here.

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According to Amazon, Rob Rummel-Hudson's book Schuyler's Monster is on its way to my house as I type this.

I can't wait to read it. Everything you need to know about Rob and the book is right there on his site.

If you don't know anything about him I will tell you that he is a wonderful father, a brilliant writer and one of my favorite people on these World Wide Webs.

I cannot think of another online writer who has so consistently made me laugh and cry, sometimes in the space of just a few paragraphs. I'm jealous as Hell of him as a writer, but more importantly I admire him as a dad. He is very easy to love, as is the subject of this memoir.

I can't say it's with totally unselfish reasons that I recommend this book: many of us who write online hope to one day write something that sees publication in book form. Watching Rob go through the process of publishing (he has shared it with his readers every step of the way) has been an exercise in hope for all of us. I don't exaggerate when I say that for me it's been like watching my favorite team go to the Super Bowl.

You can buy Schuyler's Monster here.

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I don't get to talk to Gwen Zepeda much anymore, but that doesn't mean I don't get to be proud of her for publishing her second book, which looks so adorable I could eat it with a side of arroz and frijoles.

Growing up with Tamales will be published in May and I think Lilly will be hearing it read to her soon after.

You can pre-order the book, of course, and you should. Right now. Go! ¡Andale!

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And last but not least is a book I won't be able to read for a while, but only because it's not out until July.

M. Giant's (Jeff Alexander's) book A TV Guide to Life: How I Learned Everything I Needed to Know From Watching Television is available for pre-order.

M. Giant and Trash have been friends for so long that I can't even count the number of thoughtful things they've done over the years for us and what a pleasure it's been to see them the few times we've been able to hang out. They're just cool people and with M. Small they're now Cool Parents. Hey, I'd like to join that club.

If you know M. Giant from Velcrometer or recaps on Television Without Pity, you know he's smart and funny and worth the time of your eyeballs. So pre-order the book. That's what I'm doing.

My NPR segment about Getting Things Done aired this evening on All Things Considered. More people must have heard this one because I got a couple of e-mails and one very random Facebook message about it.

They even set up a nice little page of text along with the audio file for the story. You can check it out here.

I've been trying to write an uberpimpy entry all week listing some amazing stuff some friends of mine are doing that are worth your time and attention (books being published, Web sites being launched!), but I'm going to have to finish that a little bit later, maybe tonight.

For now, I'll pimp two little Omar things for the time being:

A new Space Monkeys! comic has arrived today, delivering on the recent thread of a Moon Weasel: P.I. strip. That strip is now here. It exists as something more than mere theory. Gotta say, I'm impressed with my bro's noir-drawing skills.

The other thing is the last Smallville episode for a while. My understanding is that the season is being extended to five more episodes than what was planned earlier, so it'll be about a 20-episode run, which is pretty close to the original 22. So things will be a little busier this spring than I was expecting, but I'm not complaining. The show has felt shorter and easier to recap this season, for some reason:

Insane in the Lex-Brain -- Clark uses crazy experimental science to take a trip into Lex's mind. Why would he do a crazy thing like that? Who cares? We get to meet Lex's inner child and see some hot and heavy sex.