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What's up with SLATE.

By Michael KinsleyPosted Saturday, Oct. 26, 1996, at 3:30 AM ET

(696 words; posted Friday, Oct. 25)

Focus Pocus
Some readers have expressed curiosity about the results of the focus groups we mentioned in this space a few weeks ago. Rupert Murdoch's Weekly Standard magazine recently published an amusing article pooh-poohing the use of focus groups, at least by politicians. But our own experience confirms their value. Although SLATE's focus groups are not completed yet, we have already learned a great deal about our readers. The typical SLATE reader, we have discovered, is intelligent, discerning, and, above all, physically attractive. Also, musically gifted, witty, kind to strangers and animals, and a great cook. What is even more noteworthy is that readers seem to develop more of these outstanding qualities--especially physical attractiveness--the longer they actually spend reading SLATE. Those who regularly read the print-out edition of SLATE are able to juggle an average of 3.5 tennis balls at the same time; among those who read SLATE online, the average rises to 4.7 tennis balls; whereas those who log in faithfully several times a week can juggle more than eight tennis balls, a second job, three kids, church volunteer work, and yoga classes simultaneously. By contrast, a control group of people who do not read SLATE suffered from anemia and completely missed the bull market. And their looks are nothing to write home about, either. The lesson is clear: (a) read SLATE; (b) spare us your high-minded sermons about focus groups. And, oh yes, (c) thanks to all those who participated.

Riddle of the Sphinx
Seriously, our publisher, Rogers Weed (and no, we're not making up that name, like Betty Crocker), says he was impressed by the intensity of involvement with SLATE that many of the readers seemed to feel. Naturally, as we begin marketing the magazine for money, he would like to figure out how to identify other potential SLATE loyalists. So he poses this riddle: What three questions would you ask someone to determine if that person is a likely subscriber to SLATE? ("Would you like to subscribe to SLATE?" is not a permissible answer.) Around the office here in Redmond, we're having fun with this challenge, and thought you might as well. Got any suggestions? If so, e-mail us at letters@slate.com.

Speaking of MSN ...
Our announcement in last week's "Readme" that billing for SLATE ($19.95 a year) will begin in February should have mentioned that SLATE will remain free as sunshine to members of the Microsoft Network (MSN). Or rather, SLATE will be one of the many delightful sites and services available from MSN for one low monthly fee. When Bill Gates saw that we had neglected to mention our MSN affiliation, he said, "Find out who left that out and have him killed. Or her, as the case may be. No, wait, make them run a slavish apology next week--darned slavish--and make sure there's a link to the MSN sign-up page." Fair enough. We should also mention that even after SLATE begins charging, a small amount of content will remain accessible for free. But not enough to improve your juggling skills.

Bad Boy Makes Good
Our columnist Paul Krugman is known as the bad boy of the economics profession, and we all know what the city-state of Singapore does to bad boys. Remember the American kid a few years ago who got beaten to the point of permanent scarring on his buttocks for a minor act of graffiti? There are many, including some fellow economists, who would like to do that to Krugman. But that is not Singapore's attitude. In 1994 Krugman wrote an essay in Foreign Affairs calling the alleged Asian economic miracle a "myth." He focused particularly on Singapore, and argued that its economic prosperity was due to artificial infusions of capital and labor, not genuine productivity growth. The Singapore leadership apparently was furious. But, according to an article this week in the Wall Street Journal ("Singapore Swing: Krugman Was Right," Oct. 23), they also adopted his recommendations. So, our congratulations to Paul (and to Foreign Affairs). It is the rare writer who can bend an entire nation to his will with a single magazine article.