• e + j = ____
• a + k = ___ (b m)
• c + n = ___ (b f)
• g + o = ___
• h to p
• d + l = _____
• greatest value for d = michiko?
• i to o

a = opportunism
b = via
c = reading
d = bitter reviewer
e = Lee Goldberg
f = Syntax of Things
g = sex
h = former journalist
i = your favorite indie band
j = Germany
k = online virtual world
l = Richard Ford
m = Bookninja
n = empathy
o = fiction
p = blog

• The New York Times investigates Aleksey Verner and he still comes across as a wanker. Paul Collins suggests that Verner is the second coming of Hugh Gallagher.
• Jason Boog asks Áine MacDermot about investigative journalism and procures a list of helpful links.
• Hurray, film noir! And speaking of film, I saw The Departed over the weekend and hope to offer some thoughts on what this means for both Scorsese and the film business later this week.
• Housekeeping #1: For those who have emailed me on the Millenia Black story this past week, after several conversations calling into question the veracity of what has been claimed, I have decided to stop pursuing it. I have neither the time nor the inclination to proceed further — unless, of course, a reputable publication pays me to write an investigative article. But if you remain curious as to the why, Lynne Scanlon comes the closest in her speculations.
• Housekeeping #2: And while we’re on the subject of overblown publishing industry scandals, a big amen to Miss Snark for her thoughts on L’Affaire Armstrong.
• Jim Holt quibbles over Richard Dawkins’ The God Delusion, but Mr. Asher finds problems within Mr. Holt’s review.
• Anthony Grafton on the history of academic charisma — specifically, William Clark’s book on the subject.
• Patrick Kurp reviews Richard Powers’ The Echo Maker.
• Are awards the death knell for literary culture? (via Bookninja)
• RIP Jane Wyatt.
• Poppy Z. Brite on planning out her novel. (via Chasing Ray)
• You say that Oprah is a thoughtful television show? Think again.
• At 64, Harrison Ford is “fit enough” to star as Indiana Jones. And by “fit,” Spielberg assures us that he’s only using the walker on weekends.
• Robert Bly will receive $775,000 for his personal archives. Memo to University of Minnesota: you can have my personal archives for the low, low price of $235,000. And you can pay 10% of this with a lifetime supply of Tootsie Roll Pops. Get in touch with my attorney.
• Is ghostwriting where the real money’s at?
• Video of Chris Ware at the Wisconsin Book Festival.
• You make the call: Does Tanenhaus thinks bloggers are dickheads? (Perhaps penis-shaped brownies are the remedy here.)
• Lauren Cerand on how important bloggers are to publicity.
• As yet unpublished in the States (a solecism for which this Faber fan hopes some publisher will atone for), John Barlow takes a look at Michael Faber’s The Apple.
• Stephen King: MoveOn pitchman.

• The Beatles’ Discography in Limerick Form.
• Coover & Silverblatt (via Rake).
• Why do books have to be ugly?
• The Myths of Writing (via Booksquare).
• C. Max Magee on Tin House‘s graphic issue.
• The Man Asian Literary Prize? What George said.
• Verizon to give grant for literary services. And by literary services, I think we all know that this means more text message haikus.
• Apparently, the owner of Centuries and Sleuths really, really, really likes Erik Larson.
• Did Theo Marzials write the worst poem ever?
• Laura Miller on Laura Kipnis.
• Spy Magazine stuff on YouTube. (via Waxy)

• Lifelong reader Jessica has less time to read. It’s a situation that plagues us all, but consider not being able to finish a book sitting on your nightstand since January. (via James Tata)
• The original title of Kate Atkinson’s One Good Turn was Jolly Murder Mystery. (via the Literary Saloon)
• The current state of book review coverage.
• This year’s nominees for Governor General’s Literary Awards. George opines that it’s “a great small press list.”
• Alvaro Pombo has won the Premio Planeta, Spain’s most lucrative literary award.
• Everything that’s wrong with author appearances: “Those purchasing books will be given a number, and the signing will follow in numerical sequence.” Not mentioned: Those who get there at 6 a.m. will be automatically entered into a drawing to personally wipe Charles Frazier’s bottom.
• Why aren’t e-books successful? One word: plastics.
• Rawson Marshall Thurber knew he was the one to direct Michael Chabon’s The Mysteries of Pittsburgh. The signs came as Thurber stared at himself long and hard in the mirror for seven hours, admiring just how goddam special Thurber was. He would have settled for five, had not Thurbert caught the glimmer of his own irresistible smile staring back at him. Thus, he required two more hours of solipsistic worship. Thurber clearly knew he was a genius. He also knew that Chabon was a genius, although it was quite clear to Thurber that he was the greater genius of the two. So he called Chabon and informed him that they were both geniuses. Chabon, in a particularly low mood, responded favorably to this plaudit and quickly signed away the film rights. And now Thurber stares long and hard again into the mirror when he isn’t directing, when he isn’t writing, when he isn’t existing. Rawson Marshall Thurber: if only we could all be like him.
• Chloë Schama asks why people love Murakami.
• Paul Barman talks with Weird Al.
• Chef Alain Roby has set a new record for the largest chocolate skyscraper. Unfortunately, current dessert zoning laws in New York have forced the building that Roby labored many long hours for to be prematurely demolished, to make way for Chef Robert Moses III’s grand boulevard of chocolate syrup.
• Bye bye, Macha. Best of luck, Tigers.
• Nick Tosches’ Dean Martin bio has been named the greatest rock and roll book of all time by Blender. What? No Lester Bangs?

• Over at The Rap Sheet, someone has somehow convinced James Ellroy to blog: “I’m James Ellroy, the demon dog of American literature, the author of sixteen books, twelve novels, a full length memoir, a book of short stories and two journalistic collections. Masterpieces, all.” Only the demon dog himself could get away with such argot. (via Sarah)
• The Kenyon Review joins the list of this year’s awards who hand out honorariums to the obvious choices. Could Philip Roth be next?
• A new biography may solve the mystery of Agatha Christie’s 11-day disappearance. What was it? In a nutshell: quaaludes.
• More on the Bechdel/Thompson fiasco from the Marshall Democrat-News. (via Brockman)
• Ursula K. Le Guin on the new Susanna Clarke book: “These are all elegant, entertaining stories, and many readers will be untroubled by the airy incoherences found in ‘The Ladies of Grace Adieu.’ Or else, they may simply say, with Tom Brightwind, ‘Who cares?'” Count me in the latter camp. (via Gwenda)
• SF Site has the scoop on a remarkable new overview of Philip Jose Farmer’s work.
• Better late than never: Paul Collins on the closing of CBGB.
• This week’s New Yorker offers a new story by Aleksandar Hemon.
• America’s Ten Dumbest Congressmen. What? No Lieberman?
• Bill Murray was bored. So he ended up hanging out with college kids. “The alcohol ran out very quickly when word got round that he was with us.” In other words, being in the presence of Bill Murray causes people to drink.
• Bon Jovi and James Brown at the same time? Wrong. So very, very wrong.