Traditional Books Become the Minority
Books made the traditional way accounted for less than 50% of US book production in 2008. Has the sea change come?
A World of Digital Docents
Untangling the functions of curators and docents raises an interesting set of questions for STM publishers — about ownership, value, and the future.
Bike to Work Week — Fun for Everyone!
National Bike to Work Week has ended. Here’s a bit of gentle cycling/driver humor to end the week.
Researching Social Media
Should a federal agency start funding research into social networks? It might be the greatest idea since DARPA.
The WSJ’s Payment Curbstop
The WSJ shows just how it’s missing the boat with its latest announcement about micropayments.
Percy Jackson & the Joy of Discovery
While scholars worry about how to transmit and teach culture to young children, a teacher has struck gold doing it with brio!
USPS = Spam in Meatspace
We often don’t think about the USPS as a vulnerable business entity, but a closer inspection shows that it’s another US business from a bygone era. Will its troubles push publishers to drop print?
I’m a Friend of “al” — A Rant
The disappearing -al ending seems part of a war on two innocent, helpful letters that exist because we still speak, and therefore seek sounds that let our jaws relax when we reach natural breakpoints. Why are STM editors killing the -al?
“The Next 100 Years” — Brilliant, Flawed
George Friedman’s “The Next 100 Years” is a book well worth reading, and reductionism of it won’t suffice.
Amazon Acquires Stanza
Amazon acquires Stanza, solidifying its position as an e-book provider across platforms.