the hang-up with plotting multiedges for graphs

I really wanted to wait to post the first blog entry until I had some really pretty pictures to show of multiedge plotting for graphs. Unfortunately, it's not really so pretty -- mostly due to the reliance on NetworkX's plot function. Whenever I add new arcs they are drawn on top of NetworkX's graph, so we end up with lines through the vertices. (Ugly). After a brief discussion with rlm, I've decided that we should cut NetworkX out of graph drawing in general. So I'm just beginning to play with matplotlib with this goal in mind. There are a few simpler patches in my queue, so I'll probably post a few unrelated things to trac in the meantime.