Those of you who like me are concerned about the activities of some organisations challenging authors's rights might like to see an organisation which is wholly positive for authors and the book industry. LibraryThing was invented and built by Tim Spalding and you can read some notes from him and others on his blog. There is also an article in the Wall Street Journal which is open access for thirty days - so read it fast.
Everything about this project makes sense. I do sometimes worry that publishers' legitimate requirement to protect copyright can be interpreted as luddism. It is not but we can do ourselves and our authors a service by wholeheartedly supporting technology where it really does support comunication and sharing of ideas.
Incidentally, Tim Spalding is also the publisher of Isidore of Seville which I'm incapable of describing but which again seems to offer simplicity, service and information. Three cheers.
Shame about England's inability to score penalties in soccer but at least we can stop worrying now and take down the flags of St George which were a little too nationalistic for my liking. This prediction from one of yesterday's papers was foresightful:
Should the quarter-final go to penalties, Hargreaves believes England will reverse a trend that has seen them go out of four major tournaments on shoot-outs.
Hargreaves, who scored one of England's penalties when they lost against Portugal in Euro 2004, said: 'I fancy our chances on penalties. For example, I don't think a German could take a better penalty than an Englishman. We've got dead ball specialists such as David Beckham, Frank Lampard and Steven Gerrard and they are some of the best in the world.'
England lost shoot-outs against Portugal (Euro 2004), Argentina (World Cup 1998), Germany (Euro 96) and West Germany (World Cup 1990). Their only victory on penalties came against Spain at Euro 96.
Hargreaves, Beckham, Gerrard, Lampard, Ashley Cole, Wayne Rooney and John Terry are known to be keen to take a penalty but Eriksson will not nominate in advance.