If you’re going to deal drugs, don’t sell them in front of the sheriff’s house. Idiot.
It’s A Great Time For Researchers
There are lots of things going on that is going to make researcher’s lives much easier. Google announces plans to digitize millions of books. Lexis Nexis launches their AlaCarte service (and if you know anything about that database, you know how large it is). And on the other side of the pond, The Scotsman is going to make nearly 200 years of content available online (thanks Neil for that). I really hope all of this starts a good trend where instead of pouring through a crapload of documents while witting at the library (which is what I had to do for this project in college), I can sit on my butt and get reliable, citable, information all online.
People Aren’t Too Bright
I’ve been dealing with some folks to get an ad for our company here into a local golf guide. Part of the gig was that I was to send them some marketing material, and they would write radio ad copy to use in their campaign. I had sent all the marketing gibberish a couple days ago, but I get an e-mail from my sales rep for the ad, asking me to send her the promotional bullet points again, because she didn’t have it.
The thing was, though, she was replying to my original message from two days ago, and she had the entire copy of my marketing gibberish in her e-mail to me — so she obviously already had the material she was looking.
I resent it to her anyway, as I could see there was no way to win this battle so there was no sense in starting one.
Alton Brown Rides A Sweet BMW
Like Jon, I love watching Good Eats on the Food Network. Alton Brown, who really needs to update his blog more, is hilarious, and a great cook to boot. That, and he rides one sweet motorcycle.
The Lost Journals of Doogie Houser, M.D.
I actually remember watching that show quite a bit, and remember the scenes at the end of the show where he typed into his journal. I would’ve loved to have seen these come across his screen. Some examples:
November 17, 1989
Sometimes the best advice is in the last place you look, and by “best advice,” I mean, “my wristwatch.” And by “the last place you look,” I mean, “Mr. Cheswick’s esophagus.”
May 7, 1992
This week, I finally found myself. No, really. Vinnie and I split a sixty of Triple Sec and nine hours later I found myself sleeping in the bushes beside the Taco Bell, wearing nothing but a couple of napkins and a plastic sombrero.
What can’t corporate America build?
R. Craig Hogan, a former university professor who heads an online school for business writing here, received an anguished e-mail message recently from a prospective student.
“i need help,” said the message, which was devoid of punctuation. “i am writing a essay on writing i work for this company and my boss want me to help improve the workers writing skills can yall help me with some information thank you”.
Hundreds of inquiries from managers and executives seeking to improve their own or their workers’ writing pop into Hogan’s computer in-basket each month, he says, describing a number that has surged as e-mail has replaced the phone for much workplace communication. Millions of employees must write more frequently on the job than previously. And many are making a hash of it.
“E-mail is a party to which English teachers have not been invited,” Hogan said. “It has companies tearing their hair out.”
And I don’t blame them for pulling their hair out. I’ve had to teach basic grammar and composition skills to some folks who have become far too casual when it comes to business communication, and it’s going to come back and bite them. Link via The Dren.
A Man Obviously Designed It
Apparently the new WonderBras are getting recalled because they have been breaking and allowing the woman’s breasts to fall free. And they act like this is a bad thing. Full Story.
Predictable News
There’s rarely a day that goes by where you couldn’t find an “old-lady/man mistakes gas-pedal for brake-pedal and runs automobile into immovable object” story. Heck, we even got on that news map when we had one in Bend a couple days ago. But a news story that is increasingly becoming more common: Man bites dog, type of stories (we’ve already had one of those locally).
This Is Depressing
Apparently deadlines multiply your risk for heart attack. I think we’re all screwed now. Link via Barney.