Traister writes: We are mired in a repetitious pattern of hate, jealousy and resentment toward those who are plucked by media powers and come to stand -- however inefficiently -- for the rest of us in the cultural imagination, securing the top spots, the best exposure, the prime media real estate in exchange for openings veins of feminine vulnerability.

Yes, it is very frustrating how few paid writing opportunities there are for anyone these days. And I was blown away by Salon itself when I elected to receive more information about its new beta test for Open Salon (there's an ironic moniker if there ever was one). I really hope that everyone who is interested in signing up for this "service" reads the TOS before joining. Because this is what you are agreeing to: "By submitting or posting User Content using the Service or the Site, you grant to Salon an irrevocable, perpetual, non-exclusive, transferable, fully paid, worldwide license to: (1) use, copy, publicly perform, publicly display, reformat, translate, excerpt (in whole or in part) and distribute the User Content in or through any medium now known or hereafter invented, for any purpose; (2) to prepare derivative works using the User Content, or to incorporate it into other works, for any purpose; and (3) to grant and authorize sublicenses of any or all of the foregoing rights."

Oh, and this, too: "Advertising served by Salon itself or by Salon in cooperation with third party advertising programs ("Salon Advertising"), may appear on the Site. Salon Advertising may appear on your Profile Page. You understand and agree that all revenue resulting from Salon advertising will be paid exclusively to Salon, and that you have no right to or interest in any such revenue."

So, in other words, even though Salon is going to be making money off YOUR content, which you have just signed away irrevocably, perpetually, and "fully paid" (huh?), you will never receive any compensation. There will never be any reason for any other publisher to pay you for your work, because Salon gets to do whatever it wants with it, including preparing derivative works using, again, YOUR content.

If you're happy with that, sign up. But this seems to me incredibly sleazy and I am so taken aback by Salon's rapaciousness in this venture that I'm considering getting rid of my subscription. And I've been subscribing ever since Salon started.