Japanese - Ask questions thread

Basically if you have a question about the language, ask it and fellow 4channers might see it and answer it for you.

To start it off. When an animate object (iru) dies, is it considered inanimate(aru)?

I have a question regarding noun phrases and the use of の.

Usually の is used as in:
本を読むのが好きです。

but occasionally it is omitted as in:
本を読む方がうまいです。

Is there a rule for this? or just lots of exceptions?