We are happy to welcome Levi Strauss into our increasingly crowded vessel, but wish to make clear that there is no connection between Slates, the pants, and S LATE, the interactive magazine. When we told Bill Gates that Levi Strauss was slapping our name on a line of trousers, his reaction was eloquent. "Have them killed," he said. "No, wait, my Dockers are getting a bit tight--order me a few pairs." We hope "Slate" comes to mean high-quality material in both textiles and, er, text. Tell you what, guys: We'll cover the head, you cover the lower body. (Or will that get us in trouble with the Justice Department?)