The Real-Time Web Emerges
The “Now Web” has emerged as a major alternative for users. Google is watching it, and you should be, too.
“Star Trek” Bashed as “Fun, Watchable”
“The Onion” continues to skewer many things scholarly publishers probably like, including President Obama and “Star Trek.” Join us for a few Friday laughs.
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?
The WSJ’s Payment Curbstop
The WSJ shows just how it’s missing the boat with its latest announcement about micropayments.
When Tools Dominate Tasks
A recent study shows that article tagging actually decreases recall of content. This points out the inelegance of most social media tools, where the act of using the tool becomes paramount over the activity it’s supposed to aid.
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.
Information as Property
We need to shake ourselves from the metaphor of Intellectual Property and create a new way of viewing information.
Are e-Books Already Mainstream?
Consumers are adopting e-books, and even as the base grows, the growth rate is phenomenal. It might be the year for a big shift.
April Fool’s Roundup — 2009
April Fool’s was a good one at the Scholarly Kitchen. Here’s a roundup of some notable pranks across the Interwebs.
The Google Books Settlement: An Author’s Perspective
The Google Books Settlement has authors up in arms. I’m an author now, and I don’t know what they’re so upset about.
University Presses: Missing an Opportunity?
While university presses shrink and go digital, are they trying to preserve a structural memory in the face of a modern reality?