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10 Jun 2010 10:34

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Politics: Sad state of affairs: The new Oprah is … Glenn freaking BECK?!

  • This book is Amazon’s top seller. It’s not exactly a barn-burner. It’s not new. It’s a tome written against the dangers of socialism in the wake of World War II, which shouldn’t exactly be flying off shelves. But it is. Why? Because Glenn Beck devoted an entire show to it. Which means that – sigh – Glenn Beck singlehandedly has the power to make books popular. Crap. We’re going back to bed. We didn’t wake up for this. source
Posted by Ernie Smith • 0 Comments • Permalink

14 Apr 2010 20:04

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Culture: Five books the nanny state didn’t want you to read in 2009

  • one The popular “ttyl” book series, which was the most-challenged book series of 2009.
  • two “And Tango Makes Three,” where two sinner male penguins raise an egg unnaturally.
  • three A perennial favorite, the edgy ’90s teen novel “The Perks
    of Being a Wallflower.”
  • four Harper Lee’s classic “To Kill a Mockingbird,” which was nicked on charges of racism.
  • five Some book you’ve never heard of about vampires. What’s it called? Oh, “Twilight.” source
Posted by Ernie Smith • 0 Comments • Permalink

08 Apr 2010 22:39

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Politics: Glenn Beck isn’t just a blabbermouth. He’s a business.

  • $32M the amount Beck made last year alone
  • $13Mthe amount Beck makes from publishing, including books and his own magazine
  • $10Mthe amount Beck makes from his radio show, one of the most popular on the air
  • $9Mthe amount Beck makes elsewhere, including the Web, speaking and TV source
Posted by Ernie Smith • 0 Comments • Permalink

05 Mar 2010 21:37

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Tech: At least one publisher gets how awesome iPad books can be

  • The iPad represents the first real opportunity to create a paid distribution model that will be attractive to consumers. The psychology of payment on tablets is different to the psychology on a PC.
  • Penguin Books CEO John Makinson • Regarding what he sees as the future of books. What’s that future of books? Well, in the case of the children’s books he used as an example, a really fun, educational experience, the kind of thing everyone was hoping for with the iPad when it was first suggested (but Apple forgot to show when announcing it). This looks really awesome, Penguin Books. source
Posted by Ernie Smith • 0 Comments • Permalink

13 Feb 2010 14:12

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Culture: In Germany, cribbing from books not plagiarism, but a “remix”

  • Obviously, it isn’t completely clean but, for me, it doesn’t change my appraisal of the text. I believe it’s part of the concept of the book.
  • Book critic Volker Weidermann • Regarding the fate of 17-year-old Helene Hegemann’s “Axolotl Roadkill,” a highly-praised German book. The problem with the book? Many passages are apparently plagiarized by another author. However, she claims it wasn’t plagiarism, but a remix of old ideas made new. Despite the controversy brought on by the blogosphere, the Leipzig Book Fair put the book up for a $20,000 prize, knowing about the plagiarism. Kaavya Viswanathan should’ve used that excuse back in 2006. source
Posted by Ernie Smith • 2 Comments • Permalink

05 Feb 2010 10:57

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Tech: Amazon’s got a full-on Kindle publisher revolt on its hands

  • 3 major publishers are opting out of Kindle’s $9.99 pricing scheme source
Posted by Ernie Smith • 0 Comments • Permalink

28 Jan 2010 20:29

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Culture: Three key years in recluse J.D. Salinger’s life of not talking much

  • 1951 the year Salinger published his only book; that book, “Catcher in the Rye,” was a doozy
  • 1965 the last time Salinger published a short story, “Hapworth 16, 1924;” he lived in seclusion
  • 1981 the last time he gave an interview, to the The Advocate of Baton Rouge, Louisiana source
Posted by Ernie Smith • 0 Comments • Permalink
 

26 Jan 2010 20:48

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Biz: In Laredo, Texas, the literacy rate is about to severely drop

  • 250,000 number of people who live in the decently-sized Laredo, Texas
  • zero number of bookstores the city now has; thanks Barnes & Noble source
Posted by Ernie Smith • 2 Comments • Permalink

06 Jan 2010 20:10

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Tech: A bunch of Dicks annoyed that Google used the “Nexus One” name

  • We feel this is a clear infringement of our intellectual-property rights. … Our legal team is dealing head-on with this.
  • Isa Dick Hackett • Daughter of Phillip K. Dick, on Google’s usage of the name “Nexus One” for their phone. The author used “Nexus-6” androids in his book 1968 “Do Androids Dream of Electric Sheep?,” which was the basis of 1982’s Harrison Ford cult film “Blade Runner.” Did they reference it? Probably. Does the Dick family have a case? No. And that’s why Joss Whedon isn’t suing Google over “Google Wave,” even though they clearly took inspiration from “Firefly.” Enjoy the exposure, Dicks. source
Posted by Ernie Smith • 0 Comments • Permalink

26 Dec 2009 15:07

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Tech: Kindle had a banner day on Christmas Day, Amazon says

  • eBooks > books and Amazon’s investors go wild source
Posted by Ernie Smith • 0 Comments • Permalink
 
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