Research & Rescue

Happy Halloween - Keep it Real

In The Know: Has Halloween Become Overcommercialized?

“E-Mail Auto-Response” : The New Yorker

In case you weren't aware, yesterday was Information Overload Awareness Day - as if we needed to be made aware that we are overloaded....

This piece in The New Yorker does a great job at how many of us are [not] handling the deluge of e-mail we receive each day. Funny and brilliant.

Dear Friend, Family Member, Loved One, and/or Business Associate:

Thank you for your e-mail, which, if it is under three (3) sentences long, I have read. Owing to the large volume of e-mails I’m receiving at this time, please note that it will sometimes take up to fourteen (14) calendar days, though sometimes longer (and sometimes much longer), to respond to your e-mail; in the interim, please rest assured that I am attempting to address, resolve, or think about the matter you have described, unless, of course, I’m avoiding the matter entirely. Some possible reasons for this include:

—Thinking about the matter gives me a headache.

—Thinking about the matter takes longer than forty-five (45) seconds.

—Thinking about the matter is simple enough, and takes less than forty-five (45) seconds, but, when combined with all the other e-mails in my in-box, it creates a synergy of matterdom, exacerbating the headaches mentioned at the beginning of this list.

Please note that if your e-mail is more than three (3) sentences in length I have read the first three (3) sentences, skimmed the opening paragraph, and sort of eyeballed the rest of it. Please do not expect a response to your e-mail anytime soon, if at all, for I am not a mind reader, and therefore cannot guess the nature of anything beyond the first three (3) sentences. For those of you who continue to insist on sending e-mails longer than three (3) sentences, here is a Wikipedia entry on haiku. Reformat your e-mails accordingly, as in this example:

 

               I am busy now;
               The Internet has stolen
               So much precious time.

 

Under certain circumstances, you may feel as though you cannot express the matter at hand in less than three (3) sentences. Below, please find some possible reasons for this, and their solutions:

continued in full at www.newyorker.com

Deliberately uninformed, relentlessly so [a rant]

Many people in the United States purchase one or fewer books every year.

via sethgodin.typepad.com

Sometimes I dislike Seth's posts but this one's spot on.

Kiva Co-Founder on TED.com

Jessica Jackley, co-founder of kiva.org, talks about the roots of her organization. I think she really speaks to a fear many people have of trying to help the poor and falling into a quagmire of hopelessness. I have given to kiva in the past and it's wonderful to see her passion and determination. I hope it inspires others to get involved, as well.

Chewing and chewing all day long. The way that a cow does....

Sorry, Violet, but the gum isn't quite ready for prime time. Now off to the juicing room with you!

Willy Wonka 3-course meal in stick of chewing gum now a possibility | Mail Online

Indignities #MeowMonday

Levenger deliveries: fun for the whole family #FelineFriday

Note: Packing paper courtesy of Levenger.com -- Chaco Canyon considers this gift with purchase!

Talk about taking a different perspective...

I kind of knew what was coming here but this woman is still amazing to be able to take the view she did on her situation.

Mechanically separated chicken

Udpate: dangerousmeta! has kindly informed me that Snopes picked up on this and has marked it with half true and half false. You can read their assessment here: http://bit.ly/cUSZNV

You know, I love fried chicken stuff but if you aren't totally grossed out by this, there is something wrong with you. According to Early Onset of the Night, the eyes and guts of the chicken are extruded along with everything else. Then they wash it in ammonia to kill the bacteria. If you'll excuse me, I need to go be ill now....

via early-onset-of-night.tumblr.com

If you do this in an email, I hate you - The Oatmeal

via theoatmeal.com

Posted via email from thinking aloud