Peguie
Wednesday, March 31, 2010
Editorial abril
Peguie
Washington Post's TR Reid on manga
But that's not the subject of this blog. Reid has 2 paragraphs on his favorite manga, coming after a discussion of Japan's view of America as crime-ridden:
While in Japan, I became a huge fan of mahnga, the ubiquitous comic-book magazines that sell tens of millions of copies every week. It seems to be conventional wisdom in the United States that Japan's "adult comic books" are routinely "adult" in the sense of being filthy, but this is not accurate. There are some filthy mahnga - so bad that stores won't carry them, and you have to buy them at vending machines. But the vast majority of Japanese comics are family fare. Some are funny, and some are serious novels - serial novels, really, like the one-chapter-per-month novels that Dickens and Thackeray used to write for Victorian magazines. I was particularly taken with the enormously popular weekly comic Section Chief Shima, about a junior executive named Shima Kosaku, who works for a giant electronics firm and fights a never-ending battle for truth, profits and the Japanese way.
In one extended episode, Section Chief Shima is dispatched to America to oversee his company's acquisition of a giant Hollywood movie studio (just like the acquisitions Sony and Matsushita had made in real life). One thing that deeply concerns the young executive is the possibility of a U.S. backlash if an Asian company buys a famous American firm (just like the reaction to the Sony and Matsushita purchases in real life). But an American-based executive tells Shima he need not worry: "The government won't be a problem, because we've already put a half-dozen ex-congressmen on the payroll, and they are lobbying for us." This exchange didn't bother me excessively, because it's probably what big companies actually do when they plan an acquisition. But it was disturbing to see what happened to Section Chief Shima personally during his stay in Los Angeles. When he sets out to see the beach, his rented Ford breaks down. When he tries to negotiate his business deal, an employee of the U.S. branch of his company sells corporate secrets to a competitor. When he walks outside his hotel, he's mugged on the sidewalk. Just your typical American business trip.
Our family grew increasingly angry at this depiction of a dirty, dangerous, dishonest America, partly because we found it hard to avoid, anywhere in Asia. (p. 208-209)
So 11 years later, I have no idea if this remains a common occurrence in manga, or views of Japanese, or even if Shima was ever translated. Reid is a good writer and a keen observer though, so I'm sorry the Post lost him as a foreign correspondent. He heads their Rocky Mountain Bureau now.
Weldon on Scott Pilgrim movie
Enjoy March while it’s still cold
The last day of March is typically the warmest day of the month. Today, scientists at Climate Central are launching a new interactive Google Map, which allows you to view areas of future freezing in the month of the March in the U.S.
Tom Toles, beyond the cartoon
Reformes i bromes en general
La Vita E' Una Cosa Meravigliosa (2010)di Carlo Vanzina
La vita è una cosa meravigliosa riassume perfettamente questa situazione. Si tratta di una commedia garbata, giocata su dinamiche classiche (dal tradimento, allo svelamento, fino allo scambio di persone), recitata da attori rodati e imperniata su un concetto anche interessante da sviluppare (l'attitudine italiana di aggiustarsi i problemi tramite intrallazzi vista come condizionamento esterno agli individui e non sempre interno) ma portato sullo schermo con una sciatteria rara.
Come dicono loro (giustamente) non esiste solo la commedia a tesi che divide nettamente i buoni e i cattivi, il cinema italiano da sempre ha utilizzato i cattivi come protagonisti per avvicinarsi, guardarli da vicino e scoprirne motivazioni e contraddizioni. Eppure viene da rivendicare la forza del manicheismo nel vedere come i loro "mostri" da baraccone sono assolti senza un perchè, tramite soluzioni iperboliche a problemi contingenti.
Il bravo chirurgo che vizia il figlio svogliato chiedendo favori agli amici professori per farlo andare avanti all'università e in cambio assume o licenzia le loro amanti nella clinica privata dove lavora, come soluzione lavapeccati va in Africa (?!?), senza affrontare minimamente ciò che ha fatto da un punto di vista critico.
Ancora una volta però tutto questo sarebbe anche foriero di una possibile (sebbene arrendevole) visione di mondo se non fosse che è raccontato, mostrato, proposto e sceneggiato con i piedi, largamente al di sotto di qualsiasi media (anche italiana!).
Vocabulari insòlit!
Tuesday, March 30, 2010
Anime Festival at Freer and Sackler Galleries, Saturday, April 3
|
PR: Capicons Show Sun, Apr. 18th
Dunn Loring Vol. Fire Dept.
2148 Gallows Road,
Dunn Loring, VA
10 am - 3 pm
Special Guests:
Martin Grams, Jr, Author of The Green Hornet: A History of Radio, Motion Pictures, Comics and Television
http://www.martingrams.com
Dan Nokes, Artist/Publisher--21 Sandshark Studios
http://21sandshark.com/
Also featuring
Artist Tom Arvis, Sureshot Comics
http://sureshotcomics.com
FREE admission! Door prize drawings!
Open to the public from 10 am - 3 pm. Buy, sell & trade: Gold, Silver, Bronze Age comics; Indie & Modern comics, Publishers & Creators, TV & Movie Collectibles. Non-sport cards; Videos & DVDs; Anime; Manga; Horror/Sci-Fi; figures, toys; Star Wars & Star Trek memorabilia; original artwork, posters and other comic-related collectibles.
For more info, visit www.capicons.com
Become a fan on Facebook: http://www.facebook.com/pages/Dunn-Loring-VA/Capicons-Comic-Book-Pop-Culture-Con/221236176794
OAuth access to IMAP/SMTP in Gmail
In addition to making it easier for users to export their data, we also enable them to authorize third party (non-Google developed) applications and websites to access their data at Google. One of the more common examples is allowing a social network to access your address book in order to send invitations to your friends.
While it is possible for a user to authorize this access by disclosing their Google Account password to the third party app, it is more secure for the app developer to use the industry standard protocol called OAuth which enables the user to give their consent for specific access without sharing their password. Most Google APIs support this OAuth standard, and starting today it is also available for the IMAP/SMTP feature of Gmail.
The feature is available in Google Code Labs and we have provided a site with documentation and sample code. In addition, Google has begun working with other companies like Yahoo and Mozilla on a formal Internet standard for using OAuth with IMAP/SMTP (learn more at the OAuth for IMAP mailing list).
One of the first companies using this feature is Syphir, in their SmartPush application for the iPhone, as shown in the screenshots below. Unlike other push apps, Sypher's SmartPush application never sees or stores the user’s Gmail password thanks to this new OAuth support.
We look forward to finalizing an Internet standard for using OAuth with IMAP/SMTP, and working with IMAP/SMTP mail clients to add that support.
By Eric Sachs, Senior Product Manager
Book reviews on Washington City Paper blog
International Ink: Hagar, Nemi, Little Nothings, and Lenore
Posted by Mike Rhode
Washington City Paper Arts Desk blog Mar. 30, 2010
Planning your public transit ride doesn’t have to be a drag
Google Maps has allowed you to get public transportation directions in hundreds of cities around the world for a while now, helping you get to your destination without a car. But sometimes you’re not quite sure which destination to choose, and you want to try out multiple options. We often get asked if it will ever be possible to drag your transit route, just like you can do with driving directions. As of today, it is indeed possible! Now you can drag your start or end point to preview your various options for the most efficient itinerary.
Imagine that you are on a business trip to New York City, and you will stay at the Chelsea Hotel. You start planning your trip by searching for directions form JFK airport to the Chelsea Hotel. Then you realize that you can also take a flight to Newark, and you want to figure out which is more convenient for getting to your hotel. Now it’s as easy as picking up the marker at JFK (you’ll see instructions ”Drag to change route” when you hover over the marker):
As you drag the marker, we will calculate the new trip automatically in the background and show a tooltip with the time of the new trip. When you drop the marker back onto the map at your desired starting (or ending) point, you’ll see the left panel update with your new step-by-step transit directions. Just search, drag, and ride!
Posted by Noam Ben-Haim, Product Manager
PR: Submissions for The First Annual Small Press Expo Animation Showcase
Requesting Submissions for The First Annual Small Press Expo Animation Showcase For Immediate Release Contact: Warren Bernard Phone: 301-537-4615 E-Mail: warren@spxpo.com Bethesda, Maryland; March 30, 2010 - The Small Press Expo (SPX), the preeminent showcase for the exhibition of independent comics, graphic novels and alternative political cartoons, announces a call for submissions to the First Annual SPX Animation Showcase. This showcase will be presented at this years Small Press Expo, to be held September 11 and 12 at the North Bethesda Marriott Convention Center, in Bethesda, Maryland. With the proliferation of animation by both traditional animators and comics creators, SPX is providing a venue for SPX attendees to see a wide variety of examples of this craft. There will be a series of set showings of cartoons throughout the two day SPX festival, which will reflect the myriad of different animation styles now dispersed across the Internet. All submissions will be screened and final selections made by a volunteer committee led by Angie Ottinger and Paul Nadjmabadi. The committee is comprised of the following members of the film and television community,:
CATHERINE TABER, Actress Cat has lent her talents to numerous films, television shows, and video games including Star Wars: The Clone Wars (Padme), Final Fantasy 12 (Penelo), and the upcoming Metal Gear Solid: Peace Walker (Cecile). CHAD STRADERMAN, Animator / Graphic Designer Chad has worked on a variety of television shows as well as his own independent animation. His short, Pass It On, was shown theatrically at Spike & Mike's Sick & Twisted Festival of Animation. MONZUKI, Art Blog Curator Monzuki is a successful art blog whose mission is to "introduce Art and Design to stimulate your mind and awareness by presenting a platform for creative artists to publicize their talented artwork". (http://blog.monzuki.com) DANIEL STRANGE, Director Daniel is the director of the viral video "The Ballad of G.I. Joe" and episodes of the web series "Between Two Ferns With Zach Galifianakis." He currently has an animated show in development with Fox. ANGIE OTTINGER, Writer / Producer Angie currently works in short-form and promo for television. Her short film, "The Donut King" screened at a variety of festivals, including the 2002 Sundance Film Festival. PAUL NADJMABADI, Editor Paul has worked in post-production for a variety of television shows and promos. He has also worked on numerous projects as a director and cinematographer. For entering submissions to the First Annual SPX Animation Showcase, just follow a few easy rules: 1. Fill out a submission for at http://www.spxpo.com/spx-animation-showcase-2010. 2. Please limit submission entries to no more than 10 minutes run time. 3. Submissions are due by June 30, 2010. 4. Selections for the showcase will be announced by August 11, 2010, 1 month prior to SPX. 5. If you are interested in attending SPX or have questions about the SPX Animation Showcase, please send inquiries to spxanimation@spxpo.com. SPX brings together more than 300 artists and publishers to meet their readers, booksellers and distributors each year. Graphic novels, mini-comix, political cartoon books and alternative comics will all be on display and for sale by their authors and illustrators. As in previous years, profits from the SPX will go to support the Comic Book Legal Defense Fund (CBLDF), protecting the First Amendment rights of comic book readers and professionals. For more information on the CBLDF, go to their website at http://www.cbldf.org/. SPX will be held The North Bethesda Marriott Convention Center in Bethesda, Maryland, next to the White Flint Metro stop. Admission is $10 for a single day and $15 for both days. |
Explore the world with new iGoogle themes
Today the iGoogle team announced a new set of themes designed for the world traveler in all of us. There are 25 themes that highlight places around the world and include beautiful scenery, historic monuments, exotic beaches, iconic cities, and breathtaking sites.
In addition to partnering with National Geographic Society, LIFE, Lonely Planet, UNESCO, and visiteurope.com to bring you the stunning imagery featured in most of the themes, we also created a couple of themes using imagery from Google Earth.
The 3D Views in Google Earth theme gives you a birds-eye view of a couple of natural wonders in the Unites States -- the Grand Canyon and the Great Lakes. It transports you to the last of the remaining Seven Wonders of the Ancient World -- the Great Pyramid of Giza in Egypt. And you can view the stunning architecture of the Taj Mahal in India. Lastly, relax in Positano, Italy, or Bondi Beach, Australia.
ICAF postponed until 2011
Announcement from The International Comic Arts Forum (ICAF)
The International Comic Arts Forum (ICAF), the foremost gathering for international comics studies and scholarship, has decided to postpone its annual conference for 2010 until 2011.
The 2011 conference will observe the 15th Anniversary of ICAF, and the Executive Committee has concluded that postponing for the 2010 calendar year will allow the organization to plan for a large and special 2011 event.
Please stay tuned for more details soon. For interested students and scholars, the CFP will be released later this year, as will more details on the 15th Anniversary Themes, Guests, and Special Events.
Please bookmark our website:
ICAF website: http://internationalcomicartsforum.org
Any inquiries may be directed to Professor Cecile Danehy, Executive Committee Co-Chair, at cdanehy@wheatonma.edu
plagis
Tomorrow: Warren Bernard lecture on Herblock at LoC
Pixar-se a la sabata
- Què hasses, papa?
- Estic fent pipi –li responc
- Què hasses, papa? –torna
- Fent pipi –li repetisc
I em solta tot emocionat:
- Mu bien!
Colpo di fulmine (I love you Phillip Morris, 2010)di John Requa e Glenn Ficarra
Da Prova a prendermi a The Informant fino a Colpo di fulmine, la vita di autentici truffatori (americani), camaleonti delle personalità e abili atleti del movimento tra le scartoffie burocratiche delle amministrazioni statunitensi, mostrano il cinematograficamente inedito lato debole di quella società solitamente propugnata come giusta e inaggirabile.
In particolare Colpo di fulmine con un umorismo decisamente più marcato dei suoi predecessori racconta di una figura incredibile che diversamente dagli altri truffatori cinematografici continua a cambiare identità e a sfuggire alle maglie della legge per un desiderio di affermazione personale.
L'impresa infatti comincia con una perentoria affermazione di omosessualità. Il protagonista dotato di una vita e una famiglia decide di fare outing e cambiare stile di vita nello sforzo di abbracciare il vero sè. Da questa affermazione di indipendenza ne discendono a cascata degenerante le altre, andando anche oltre la ricerca della propria identità.
In carcere poi l'amore verso Philip Morris (da cui il titolo originale) scopre una passione autentica che motiva molte delle sue scelte e in molti sensi dà un'altra piega al film.
Di sicuro Colpo di fulmine mette molta carne al fuoco ma una scansione rigorosa della storia, un montaggio preciso e un'interpretazione multiforme e controllata (com'è tipica di Jim Carrey) rendono tutto estremamente chiaro e digeribile. I continui raggiri alle istituzioni sono mostrati in chiavi ironiche, così come il rapporto d'amore con Phillip Morris e i dolori del camaleonte frustrato. Anche il dolore è mascherato dal continuo ricorso alla commedia.
Sebbene non sia ben chiaro cosa voglia essere Colpo di fulmine si esce dalla sala con un senso di destabilizzazione verso quelle certezze burocratiche e incrollabili nei confronti di come ci si debba muovere all'interno della nostra società. Il che è sicuramente un bene.
Monday, March 29, 2010
Student Applications Open for Google Summer of Code 2010
Since its inception in 2005, the Google Summer of Code program has brought together nearly 3,400 students and more than 3,000 mentors from nearly 100 countries worldwide - all for the love of code. Through the program, accepted student applicants are paired with a mentor or mentors from participating projects, thus gaining exposure to real-world software development scenarios. They also receive an opportunity for employment in areas related to their academic pursuits. And best of all, more source code is created and released for the benefit of users and developers everywhere.
Full details, including pointers on how to apply, are available on the Google Open Source Blog.
By Leslie Hawthorn, Google Open Source Team
Comics Riffs on Dick Giordano's death
RIP, Dick Giordano: Remembering a comics legend
By Michael Cavna
Washington Post Comic Riffs blog March 29, 2010
Buzzboy’s John Gallagher interview up at City Paper site
Meet a Local Cartoonist: A Chat with Buzzboy's John Gallagher
Posted by Mike Rhode on Mar. 29, 2010http://www.washingtoncitypaper.com/blogs/artsdesk/books/2010/03/29/meet-a-local-cartoonist-a-chat-with-buzzboys-john-gallagher/
Remember Me (id., 2010)di Allen Coulter
Per il resto i topoi ci sono tutti: un tormento interiore che funesta l'animo nobile di un ragazzo che vive un rapporto di incomprensione con la famiglia ma di amore verso la sorella più piccola, l'incontro con una ragazza meno problematica ma ugualmente afflitta da una relazione zoppicante e tempestosa con il padre e l'amore che salva ma è difficile da realizzarsi per i soliti problemi di comunicazione e relazione tra animi burrascosi.
Remember Me, voluto e prodotto dallo stesso Pattinson che la saga di Twilight ha reso ricco ma anche vincolato ad un personaggio espressivamente limitato (anche lì siamo davanti a film incentrati sul suo corpo ma ruotanti attorno alla protagonista), riesce però a centrare con felicità la sua missione, quella cioè di fare del romanticismo volutamente foriero di illusioni, sogni e aspirazioni che solo uno spettatore giovane (più dentro che fuori) può trovare originali ma che può comunque tramutarsi in un racconto tanto ingenuo quanto efficace e riuscito.
Stereotipo dell'originalità che si ripete ad ogni generazione perpetuando un certo modo di sentire i sentimenti che si aggiorna solo nell'estetica e che ad ogni passaggio illude la generazione in corso di essere diversa da quelle passate.
Proprio per questo (e per la già citata felice riuscita dell'intreccio) non si comprende come mai il film abbia un (inanticipabile) finale tanto inatteso quanto rovinoso, in grado con poche immagini di ridefinire tutto il senso e lo scopo della pellicola trasformando Remember Me da opera riuscita a pacchianata americana nel senso più deteriore del termine in soli 5 minuti. E' record!
Sunday, March 28, 2010
Comics on the Rack, Quick Picks for Comics Due 03-31-10
This week's Zadzooks and Bennett's Best reviews
Joseph Szadkowski
Washington Times March 27, 2010
Bennett's Best: Simpsons/Futurama and The Guild
By Greg Bennett, Special to Zadzooks
Washington Times Zadzooks blog March 27, 2010
Bennett's Best: Bronx Kill and American Vampire
By Greg Bennett
Washington Times Zadzooks blog March 21, 2010
Comic Riffs interview for Dragon Trainers in print too
Cavna, Michael. 2010.
'Dragon' directors are flying in the face of fearsome 3-D technology
Washington Post (March 28): E5.
Saturday, March 27, 2010
Contactes
Penses, respires i somies l'aire; amb un pessic de poder, crees un barandat d'il·lusions que les ones i una fe heretada per la llengua t'esperona.
Quina trampa més bella, quin parany l'esperança!
Els acords d'una música relativitzen els guanys, les apostes, els ritmes de les pèrdues.
I malgrat el respecte pel treball dels altres i les suors imaginades, lliges fills nascuts agonitzant, al perímetre de la buidor, paraules ja mortes: així certs llibres.
Però aleshores vénen, lloguen un tros d'ànima, la compren o venen, llostregen els contactes: l'infern de la fama aparaula la carn que truca, amb la flama, les portes. Per tot arreu, els monstres pidolen.
I, ganyota entre els dits, te n'adones que l'edén és ignot, un impossible jardí, descompost, uns no versos...
I escrius: on són els mots per desfer els batecs d'aquest blanc encanteri, la mentida elegant, la púrria crescuda en almoines?
Al cau del teu cor, la llengua gemega.
Agrair la fotografia a Open type.info
Comic Riffs interviews Dragon Trainers
By Michael Cavna
Washington Post Comic Riffs blog March 26, 2010
Small Press Expo adds animation
Friday, March 26, 2010
Podcaster Marc Maron roams DC after talking to Bob Fingerman
Episode 58 - El Chupacabra / Bob Fingerman. Marc Maron, WTF with Marc Maron Podcast (March 25 2010): http://wtfpod.libsyn.com/index.php?post_id=596953 and http://media.libsyn.com/media/wtfpod/WTF_-_EPISODE_58.mp3
By popular demand, Marc welcomes El Chupacabra back to WTF. Plus, artist and writer Bob Fingerman takes a unique look at the end of the world (forward by Marc Maron). And Marc searches for the soul of America as he wanders around Washington, DC.
Whither Thingpart, late of the City Paper
The cartoon made me do it
Post review of How To Train Your Dragon
By Mike Clark
Washington Post March 26, 2010; WE26
March 27: Steranko at Geppi's Entertainment Museum REPOST
Thursday, March 25, 2010
April 2-4: Cards, Comics & Collectibles Annual Easter Sale
From the Store that Brings You the Baltimore Comic-Con...
This Friday, April 2nd through Sunday, April 4th, come to the Cards, Comics & Collectibles Annual Easter Sale for amazing savings of 20% to 70% all weekend! Fill in those missing back issues or pick up that paperback, hardcover, or action figure you've been meaning to buy! This is the weekend to shrink that want list!
50% OFF: PAPERBACKS, HARDCOVERS, TOYS, TOON TUMBLERS, AND MORE!
70% OFF: MODERN BACK ISSUES, CARD SINGLES!
30% OFF: GOLD & SILVER AGE COMICS!
PLUS! DISCOUNTS ON CARD PACKS, POSTERS, AND MORE!
SUNDAY ONLY SPECIALS:
80% OFF: MODERN BACK ISSUES!
60% OFF: PAPERBACKS & HARDCOVERS!
Our address: 100 A Chartley Dr., Reisterstown, MD 21136
Our Hours: Friday, 11am-7:30pm; Saturday, 11am-7pm; Sunday, 12am-5pm
For more information, call Cards Comics and Collectibles: 410-526-7410
This annual sale has run for over 20 years, and this year, we're stocked to the gills!
Ask us about Free Comics every Wednesday!
Truitt on The Guild
This is getting to be like the Good Old Days when the Examiner was introduced with 3 pages of comics, and a weekly page of comic book articles by Truitt and Scott Rosenberg...
Estan bojos aquestos valencians!
Imagery update
We've just finished pushing out an imagery update for Google Earth and Google Maps, so check to see if any of your favorite places has gotten an update! You can view the updated areas highlighted in red below. Alternatively, you can download this KML for viewing in Google Earth, or you view the updates in Google Maps
Posted by Matt Manolides, Senior GIS Strategist
Provant, provant...
BALADA DE JOHNNY EL DUES PECES
Als catorze anys, d’una maçada
li boleiaren les incisives superiors:
el Dues Peces just pel que perdé.
I allò semblava un portal fosc, l’entrada menys recomanable.
El Dues Peces però, la noblesa del suburbi:
el de la paraula ferma i silencis com abraçades.
Cadena al coll, segell i esclava.
Els tatoos justos. El del nom de la mare, al bragó.
I a cada talonada dels botins del Dues Peces
va desplegant-se, catifa de pètals, l’Èpica.
Les fàbriques, els magatzems, les benzineres
dels nous polígons metropolitans.
De nits. A cara descoberta. Bah, les càmeres.
«En seixanta segons, tots fora!»
Les sirenes de la patrulla, afòniques,
perdudes per la malla de carrers industrials,
sis-cents segons més tard.
I els anys de glòria. Sens dubte. «Que córrega el bourbon!»
La vella història: els bons i els roïns.
Les persecucions, els esgarips de les rodes, a fons
els motors i sis-mil revolucions per minut!
Carreteres, motels. Les dones. Totes.
La vida al marge com un riure de roselles.
En la clínica d’una amant li empeltaren les incisives
que hi mancaven. Perdé el portal i conservà el malnom.
Cada volta passava menys pel barri.
Un notable prestigi, un respecte difús
estenent-s’hi, sempre creixent.
El barri té la seua lògica.
La nit de la nevada gran sobre la capital,
la policia, alertada per un veí xinés,
recull el cos de Johnny d’un container.
Net i polit, el cos glaçat, sempre elegant.
Un tret al cor, un puny de sang, clavell.
L’assassí li birlà també les dues peces.
Wednesday, March 24, 2010
Free Kick-Ass posters at Big Planet Bethesda
I'm not really looking forward to this movie, but Big Planet Bethesda has a pile of free Kick-Ass movie posters today.
Unexpected editorial cartoons in today's Post
Find the places you care about in Google Earth
On March 19, we announced some changes to the Google Earth layers panel intended to make browsing easier (with more descriptive icons, including more than 40 different icons to indicate place types). We also made some changes to the way layers are organized, with the goal of making it easier to find and control our top three layers:
We made the recent changes as part of our continual attempt to streamline and simplify the browsing experience, particularly for casual (or brand new!) Google Earth users. But we know we also have a very loyal community of users who weren’t happy with the changes. One of the most common complaints was that we removed the ability to individually select certain layers (such as “Parks” or “Transportation”), which now appear in our default-on “Places of Interest” layer.
We’ve been listening, and today we released some changes to make these separate layers available again in Google Earth. You can now once again expand the “Labels” folder:
You can also find “Parks and Recreation Areas” under “More,” as well as specific place categories like schools or coffee shops in our new “Place Categories” folder:
Finally, we’re working to restore our separate “Transportation” layers in the near future, and appreciate your patience while we make the required changes.
We'd like to make some further changes in the future to streamline the Ocean, Gallery, and Global Awareness content in our Layers panel, but we realize that many of you have very specific interests and want to easily find the information you care most about. In the interest of making these changes as painless as possible, we invite you to make suggestions about how best to organize the Layers panel in Google Earth.
Posted by Matt Holden, Product Manager, Google Earth Team