A lengthy piece at Slate today by Matthew J.X. Malady delves into the question of why we humans insist on taking such pleasure in hating words so vociferously. But maybe we just hate words because it's fun.
Forbes took a look at how Slate is trying to figure out its revenue options, and, judging by its chief's instant freakout, those definitely do not include charging readers for access to every story.
Jessica Grose's debut novel, Sad Desk Salad, featuring the character of Alex Lyons, a writer for "Chick Habit, an increasingly popular women's website" (a la Jezebel and Slate's Double X, both sites at which Grose blogged), is out this week from William Morrow/Harper Collins.
Slate Moneybox writer Matt Yglesias, we're on to you: Your economics ideas are coming to you on your lunch runs.
Today in books and publishing: Questions about the so-called "Great American Novel;" Britain's "Famous Five" infatuation; what books to expect for the rest of the year; advice on self-publishing; Remnick on Ephron; Jake Adelstein gets a deal.
Today in publishing and literature: Slate's new book review section goes live, The Day of the Triffids is getting the Sam Raimi treatment, and Japan's publishers set a lofty and impractical goal for e-book production.
For at least one person, Slate's Hanna Rosin, The Berenstain Bears were horrid regressive devils, and Berenstain's death merits a contrarian essay about the books' awfulness, complete with the phrase "good riddance." Good riddance? Good grief.
As part of their Completist series, in which a writer consumes and considers an entire artist's (usually a director's) oeuvre, the Internet's perpetual hand-raising prodder Slate had Bill Wyman watch all of Steven Spielberg's films and report his findings. They were, unsurprisingly, pretty negative.
Culture editor John Swansburg is moving to The New Yorker's web team
According to New York, Shafer will join Reuters stable of opinion columnists
Departures of Jack Shafer and Tom Noah cause media shock and outrage
It's not quite a fetish. Call it a healthy interest
Plus: Michael Bloomberg gives rocks as presents
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