Creative briefs

I love that this was posted today on the intranet at work:

It happens. You were working late on the BIG story. You missed your show. And since you’re not a total TV nerd, you don’t have TiVo to bail you out. Never fear, Television Without Pity is here!!

A video appeared on YouTube on Valentine’s Day of a guy quite publicly breaking up with his girlfriend. There was speculation at the time that it might have been a hoax. Guess what. It was.

Vonster has amazing illustrations. And so much more. Check out his freebies section. Among my favorites: The creative briefs, a way to keep track of illustration projects. Love it.

I don’t get Second Life. I understand what it is … but I don’t understand the allure. About a month ago I read that Ball State has classes on Second Life. Odd. Then today, Kevin pointed out that Reuters is hiring for its “Second Life Team.” I’m curious what Reuters is doing, though. And evidently the Bakersfield Californian has bought Second Life space, too.

Kevin also pointed out that the South Florida Sun-Sentinel is hiring reporters for a two-year residency program. Applicants are expected to speak Spanish or Creole. The lead 1A/special projects designer was named the business design team leader, too, so a design position may be opening up.

Dentists scare the heck out of me. I don’t know why; I also don’t know why they wouldn’t. But a story about a boy who died from a toothache … well, that scared me even more.

My A1 had a nice mention today on Best Front Design. (Woo-hoo!) I don’t put a lot of stock in Alan Jacobson’s opinions really — we don’t agree on many views. So perhaps I’m happiest that my page wasn’t picked, yet several designers said it should have been the page of the day. Visual Editors has now launched its own version, Best Front Page. The difference? Designers post their own pages, and are responsible for commenting on the pages that have been posted. And no chance to win $1,000 and Quark …

There was an 8,000 gallon toxic chemical spill on the Ohio River near Brookport, Ill., and Paducah, Ky. Never good. The spill isn’t that toxic, as far as toxic spills go, to humans.

On a health hazard rating of 0 – 3 cumene (1-methylethylbenzene) registers 1.2. A score of 3 represents a very high hazard to health, 2 represents a medium hazard and 1 is harmful to health.
On an environmental rating of 0 – 3 cumene (1-methylethylbenzene) registers 1.0. A score of 3 represents a very high hazard to the environment and 0 a negligible hazard.

It won’t be good for aquatic life and birds, though. Speaking of Ohio River fish:

The world record for the largest blue catfish taken in the line class (104 lbs.), was set on the Ohio River in 1999.

Kevin: “That’s a Nicole Richie!”

I was not at all surprised to learn that people who connect to the Internet wirelessly are more likely to “do more online.”

Great billboard by the Kansas City Star today. It’s a quick in-and-out look at the results of the local mayoral election.

You know, at first they were very cool. Quite innovative. But now those page-turn Internet ads are everywhere.

Interesting story: A high school student insulted another by saying “That’s so gay.”

Those three words landed the high school freshman in the principal’s office and resulted in a lawsuit that raises this question: When do playground insults used every day all over America cross the line into hate speech that must be stamped out?

Kevin: “That story was gay.”

Evidently size does matter. To mice. And just when you think it isn’t a story about sex or penises … it is. In related animal news, “Gay animals out of the closet.” And for a third animal sex story: “More pet lovers banking dog sperm.”

Britney Spears’ official Web site is doing … something. Not sure what, though.

McDonald’s has launched a new Web commercial for its filet-o-fish.

Perhaps the reason behind the decline in newspaper sales is lack of energy. This kid sells up to 400 papers each Sunday.

And, in perhaps the best story of the day, drunk texting. I know I’m guilty of it. I know others are guilty of send them my way. Come on, we can all relate.