Work

Stacey J. Miller refused a client's request that she send out a prank press release yesterday:

... The press release would have contained how-to tips that were "funny," because they represented ideas that were diametrically opposed to the author's "real" how-to tips. I declined to send out such a press release on the grounds that it was irresponsible. ...

Maureen Rogers is a member of the Writers' Room of Boston, which provides carrels in a downtown office building for writers to, well, write in:

I spend several hours a day working in the Writers' Room of Boston, which provides quiet space for writers. We have about 50 members, with working space for 10 (12 if we stretch things), and at any given time we average 3-6 folks writing (or reading or thinking) away.

When we say quiet space, we do mean quiet space: no talking, no humming, no whispering, no muttering, no cursing, no whistling, no slamming your fist down on the keyboard. ...

She goes on to compare that to past offices in which she worked.

Spatch reports he spent yesterday afternoon on an enjoyable ramble about downtown, Beacon Hill and the Charles River:

Today at 11:00 my boss approached me and said "We drew names to see who could take the rest of the day off and you won. Do you accept?"

I said, "Well, let me think about it."

He said "With pay?"

I said, "I'll be done at 11:30." ...

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Angela describes one of the things I don't miss about working at a community newspaper (although we had better computer systems).

Steve Nadis keeps quiet when an interview subject gives him some tips on conducting an interview.

After reading her epic account of a mutant cockroach in the women's room at work today, one might suspect the Missus will be in no hurry to try the crunchy ice cream at Toscanini's.

Somebody who attended a noontime business function at the Back Bay Hilton today reports:

An angry mob of between 200 and 300 union construction workers who had been demonstrating peacefully outside the hotel entered the lobby, throwing trash on the floor and chanting, "Hilton unfair to workers." The hotel could not function during this time as the demonstrators filled every inch of the lobby with guests and hotel employees looking frightened. The protest blocked Dalton Street and even the 39 bus line. The demonstrators finally left the building after Boston police responded with the special operations unit and threatened to start mass arrests.

At issue: A multi-million renovation project involving non-union contractors.

Carmen, who is a freelance writer, starts a post: While reporting a hands-on story about floor mops ...

Mats Tolander analyzes a MassInc. report on sluggish Massachusetts job growth and thinks things will only get worse here.

The Missus reports on the commotion in her building today:

... About an hour and a half ago, the lawyers in the office next door to us came into ours in a panic. Their office suddenly began to "smoke up" and smell bad. Smoke began pouring from their pipes.

Thy were afraid that their office was one fire. They told us we needed to get out of the building. We saw some of the people in their office crawling low to the ground, on their hands and knees, to avoid the smoke. ...

She, however, made sure to shut down her computer, pack her purse, IM her boss, use the ladies' room - and then take a photo of a smokey hallway before "evacuating" to the Borders on the first floor, which remained open for business throughout it all - with it turning out to be a, well, click on the link for the denouement.

Dan Miller did not have a good commute this morning:

... Three-hundred pound guy falls face-forward onto the floor of the Green Line, knocking into me on his way down and sending my poor, abused glasses sideways onto my head.

A quick walk up Tremont, the icy chill searing, intense. ...

Jenny Frazier decides she NEEDS that pair of USB-powered heated gloves:

Let's just say my walk to the subway was really, really awesome. Really.

Now I'm at work, trying to figure out if I've just not thawed completely or if this office has no heat.

When a fired co-worker comes in one last time to confess he had reason to be fired, Kitty makes a confession of her own to another co-worker.

On Xconomy, Wade Roush reports on a booming job market in the Boston area for workers at technology companies:

... Human-resources managers at IT firms in the Boston area say they're hiring more people than at any time since the feverish dot-com days. Demand is so great, in fact, that many companies say they’re having to pull out all the stops to find qualified job candidates - and the situation is getting worse (or better, depending on which side of the hiring fence you're on). ...

Oh, wait, it IS a knife. Andrea describes the growing awareness that occurred when she sliced through her left index finger instead of that nice baguette she'd picked up in the North End:

... At first, I thought it was a minor thing, but then blood started pouring forth in rather disturbing quantities. So I ran around the office asking for tissues and simultaneously trying to catch the blood in my other hand. Eventually a level-headed colleague told me to rinse my hand in the sink, and gave me a paper towel to wrap my finger. I did so, and then commenced to eat my sandwich. ...

Beth Israel Deaconess honcho Paul Levy reports his CIO has hooked him up with a desktop mood ring: An "orb" that changes colors depending on how many people are waiting for treatement in the emergency room:

The Orb supports 35 different colors and glows blue if no patients are waiting, greens for 1 to 5, yellows for 6 to 10, reds for 11 to 20 and flashing red for over 20.

He posts a photo of his newly Orb-enabled desk.

Some technical details for our geekish friends - hawt XML and Web services are involved.

Apparantly, it's the thing to do these days.

Sam explains why she now hates that entire country.

Erika-Renee discusses an interesting ethical issue at work today: A student gives her a stolen copy of a movie she really wants to see.

Jenn Ski reports some of her art will be featured in a commercial for Hood Eggnog:

... I don't know the specifics about the script, but the commercial features a fabulous retro family whose house is decorated with, among other things, a number of pieces by yours truly. The commercial, entitled "Spice Up The Holidays", will air all over New England between Thanksgiving and Christmas. I'm so excited! ...

With photos of the pieces, so you'll know what to look for.

Of course, Jaime Garmendia did so as part of his punishment for his Halloween costume.

Props to Channel 4 for illustrating its version of the story with a photo of a noose, because that certainly adds to our understanding of the issues involved.