@Myron:

The Internet is already awash in negativity, and for the most part, I refuse to add to the pile. Maybe I'm a little old fashioned, but I believe in the old adage "if you can't say something nice, don't say anything at all."

I turn down the majority of review requests because I feel that I can't say anything positive about the product, even after delving deeply into it. You wouldn't believe some of the crazy requests I get (um, alien technology, anyone?) But I'd rather go without the money than having to say something superficial or untrue in the review.

I stand by all of Neatorama's sponsored reviews - they reflect what I genuinely feel about the product. True, I could have said something bad and still charge for a review, but I wouldn't feel right about it.

Advertising is an integral part of the web - many websites and blogs wouldn't exist (for free anyhow) if it weren't for ad income. I believe that there is still a place for honest, disclosed, and ethical review posts on this and other blogs.

Three person bidet! Bwahahahaha!

Wow - they really played the Star Wars theme? And Stephen King looked ... different!

Can't beat Etsy sellers when it comes to creativity!

You're absolutely right, Herbert Ford. Thank you for the correction.

Dear Chris,

Thank you for your recent suggestion for Neatorama. Unfortunately, our legal department is currently busy, so it may take us 3 months to get back to you with a mean letter :)

Hah! That's interesting result, viridari ...

@Pol x: you're right - I wasn't thinking when I typed it up last night. Of course it was arrow - a small mistake in the text of what is otherwise an awesome book.

@Andie - spelling errors are part of Neatorama's charm. Consider it part fun read, part typo hunting expedition. If you tell me which words are misspelled, I'll fix teh typso immediately.

@jonathan - angst is a big part of any teenager's life. The book is not about misery and whining - quite the opposite actually, as the excerpts from the book will show you. I'm guessing from your comment that you didn't look closely at the stories.

@Retrokatze - the very first sentence of the post will tell you that :) I had a pretty high expectation of the book after I reviewed the website, and I wasn't not disappointed. The book is very cool - definitely worth checking out (even if you browse through it at the library or the bookstore).

@Carruthers and others: Don't worry! America is strong enough to withstand comments like D's.

Hahaha InSpain - now that's truly a Neatorama reference!

Cuba has 170:1 ratio - the lowest I could find on the map. They must have great health care there... No freedom, but lots of healthy people.

Jonathan Swift's Modest Proposal FTW!

@jeff: but she is a child - treating her as an adult before it's appropriate to do so is callous.

I'd have the dish that my then-girlfriend-now-wife cooked for me the very first time.

If only they responded with a little more class, they could've had a customer for life. All they needed to do was word the letter better, or make her parents sign a waiver. That would be the right way to do it.

Apple worked hard to distinguish themselves as a "cool" company. They worked hard to build a loyal and passionate fan base. And it worked. You'd expect something like this from another company, but Apple? Apparently (and sadly), they're just like the rest of corporate America.