In our proposal for adding a small levy to every used book sale, we noted that other models for this type of fee exist. Many countries in the world assess a fee on blank media, assuming that these items will be used on copyrighted materials. The basic theory is that blank CDs or DVDs will […]
Articles from July 2005
And For Those Not Thoroughly Sick Of The Topic
July 31st, 2005 · 5 Comments
File Under: Square Pegs
In Which We Present Another Viewpoint
July 31st, 2005 · 1 Comment
There must be something in the Kool-Aid this week — all sorts of talk about used book sales and related issues are floating through the Internets. While we remain perfectly content with our proposal and our belief system, we feel it’s important to present another point of view. We believe you can never have too […]
File Under: Square Pegs
Further Thoughts On Free Books
July 28th, 2005 · 5 Comments
We have simples rules for buying used books: the author must be dead or the book must be out of print or unattainable through normal retail channels. While we rarely borrow books, we do loan them, having learned that all it takes is matching the right reader with the right author for future happiness. In […]
File Under: Square Pegs
Another One Takes The Plunge
July 27th, 2005 · Comments Off on Another One Takes The Plunge
Our friend Bella Stander has succumbed — yes, she’s supplementing her already busy life with a blog. It will give her something to do when she’s not doing the million other things she does. Bella will be providing commentary on “writing, publishing & a bunch of other stuff”. Given her inaugural entries. . . I […]
File Under: Books/Mags/Blogs
The Boston Globe Jumps On Trend. Late.
July 27th, 2005 · Comments Off on The Boston Globe Jumps On Trend. Late.
We have some bad news for the Boston Globe: the party shut down about three months ago. It is no longer appropriate to write a story about any subtitle relating to changing the world. We cannot be sure, but we believe we banned further discussion. Carry on. The story that changed the world – How […]
File Under: Square Pegs
Droit de Suite – A Modest Proposal
July 26th, 2005 · 8 Comments
It is an interesting thing that artists do not benefit from their works beyond the first sale. With certain notable exceptions — residuals in the motion picture industry and music publishing royalties come to mind — you get one chance to make a dime off your work. Thereafter, it can change hands, for profit, as […]
File Under: Square Pegs
Things To Do While On Hold
July 25th, 2005 · 4 Comments
Sometimes we must go with the flow, or at least distract our mind from really, truly, horribly bad almost-pop music while waiting for the next operator (our call is really important to someone, just not entity we’re calling). Thus we bring you yet another story about women and book sales. It’s our last one this […]
File Under: Square Pegs
It’s Still Safe To Be A Michael
July 25th, 2005 · 8 Comments
Sometimes, stories make the rounds on the Internets and we just sit back and wonder what people are thinking. Or perhaps these are cases where we should worry that people are thinking at all. Sometimes it’s better to disengage the brain. Print-on-Demand publisher Lulu.com has scored a nice bit of publicity by issuing a press […]
File Under: Square Pegs
Life, And How To Live It
July 25th, 2005 · 1 Comment
We attended two distinctly different dinner parties this past weekend yet faced the same problem. At each party, one guest (Party A, 11-yeard old girl; Party B, 40-something man) wanted to Talk About A Book, or, rather, The Book. This was impossible — we were safely contained under a cone of silence — because, well, […]
File Under: Books/Mags/Blogs
John Irving’s World of Fiction: Almost As Bizarre As Reality
July 22nd, 2005 · 2 Comments
We have a friend, who, when encountering yet another ridiculous moment in life, says, “You can’t make this stuff up.” It is true that nobody would believe things that happen when some humans get together. Thus is the beauty of John Irving’s work — he comes very close to the stuff of real life. It […]
File Under: Books/Mags/Blogs