Invariably when there is discussion of the advantages and disadvantages of print versus digital delivery of books, someone says: 'Ah, but you wouldn't want to read an e-book in the bath.' I am therefore most grateful to New Yorker Chris Steib who has undertaken a controlled scientific experiment comparing his Sony Reader and a print copy of Thomas Pynchon's The Crying of Lot 49. The Reader won!

I must thank Jeff Gomez and his Print is Dead blog for stimulating the experiment in the first place and then bringing it to my attention. Jeff's book (in print and digital editions)with the same title comes out in November.

I had a meeting yesterday with the person responsible for the OUPBlog. They manage approximately two postings a day, which puts me to shame - and they are very interesting. My only defence is that most days the blog is written by one of their illustrious authors while I'm pretty much a sole trader with the occasional and much-appreciated support of some Macmillan colleagues.

I've just seen the latest account from Google ads, a majestic $122.78. Here's my question. Do the ads upset any of you in any way?