It's not the same as multitasking; that's about trying to accomplish several things at once. With continuous partial attention, we're scanning incoming alerts for the one best thing to seize upon: "How can I tune in in a way that helps me sync up with the most interesting, or important, opportunity?... It's crucial for CEOs to be intentional about breaking free from continuous partial attention in order to get their bearings. Some of today's business books suggest that speed is the answer to today's business challenges. Pausing to reflect, focus, think a problem through; and then taking steady steps forward in an intentional direction is really the key." [Smart Mobs]

A Harris Poll finds overwhelming support for legislation banning spam. [internetnews.com: Internet Advertising Report]

Patrick Nielsen Hayden -- blogger, senior editor for Tor Books -- announces on his blog this morning that,

...I really did make a publication offer, on behalf of Tor Books, to a writer named John Scalzi for a science fiction novel he had serialized on his web journal. And he very graciously accepted.

Link Discuss [Boing Boing Blog]

IAR: Building a Better Pop-Up Ad

CommFlash, from the California-based FCBA Group, is the latest version of the pop-up (or pop-under) according to the IAR, but its really just another name for 'interstitial,' which is an ad that's delivered between pages on a publisher's website.

Look for more of this 'in between pages' advertising in the future as advertisers and publishers try to become less invasive and intrusive and more integrated (had to try and get all of those 'hot' keywords in there), but don't look for them to replace pop-ups, and they really shouldn't be put into the same class as pop-advertising on the internet.

[MarketingFix]

IAR takes a look ahead, as the industry tries to turn the corner after its two-year downturn. [internetnews.com: Internet Advertising Report]

A 19-year-old author of a self-published epic fantasy novel has successfully promoted his book into a worldwide publishing deal reportedly worth $500k.

This young author became one of the latest graduates of the difficult world of self-publishing to climb into the major publisher big leagues. World rights to Paolini's "Eragon" and its two unwritten sequels were sold recently to the youth division of one of the country's most prestigious houses, Alfred A. Knopf, in a deal reportedly worth more than $500,000...

The young author, who recently turned 19, has now learned far more than just to sound like a big-time author. He has learned about the draining grind of book promotion, with more than 70 appearances around the country during 2002, from elementary schools to bookstores. And he has also learned the power of persistence, to keep slogging away through good times and bad.

Link Discuss (Thanks, Vera!) [Boing Boing Blog]