Steig Larsson has overtaken death metal to become Sweden’s #1 export.
• Earlier this week, Scrabble announced that it would be changing its rules to allow the use of proper nouns. Miffed fans respond by uniting in protest: ‘If anyone puts down “Reebok” in a game, I will have to resort to violence.’ Unsurprisingly, the whole thing turned out to be nothing more than a publicity stunt for a new ‘easier’ edition due in stores later this year. Bravo, Mattel. Bravo.
• Steven King on how to write good and stuff.
• Science writer Simon Singh wins landmark libel case against the British Chiropractors Association. The saga, which began two years ago, saw Singh in a whole lot of legal hot water for publicly expressing doubt over some claims made by the BCA: specifically, that spinal manipulation could cure children of maladies as diverse as ear infections and colic. Under the preexisting laws, Singh would have had to go to court and prove that his claims were true, rather than the BCA having to show scientific evidence that there was some credence to the claimed benefits of spinal manipulation. The judges overturned the case – hopefully, paving the way to further libel reform…
• The iPad has arrived. AND GOOD GOD, IT’S GOING TO KILL US ALL!
• Now that I think about it, the ‘mad writer’ trope is a little bit overused.
• So you’re famous and rich. But you want to be richer and famouser. Who you gonna call?
• Finally, a Twitter feed for Grammar Police…
• How green is your eBook? Since this is appearing on the Friday Link Roundup, you can probably guess the answer…
• Wikileaks has ignored threats from the US Government and published one of the most shocking pieces of anti-war journalism ever to be unearthed.
