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Author	Message
Phillip Blanchard	Post subject: Take the day off Posted: Tue Jan 14, 2003 2:09 am
Joined: Sun Apr 07, 2002 1:01 am Posts: 8342 Location: Bethesda, Md.	BY MARK BROWN SUN-TIMES COLUMNIST I'm in too bad a mood to write a column today. Sorry, I just can't do it. I suppose I owe you some sort of explanation, but honestly, I can't quite put my finger on it. I'm just in a foul mood. (Chicago Sun Times)<p>***The "I don't feel like writing a column today" column is even worse than the "letters from readers" column. Brown reveals later that he's grumpy because he's on a diet, about which no one cares. If you don't feel like writing a column, don't. And, if you're an editor, if someone turns in a column that begins, "I'm in too bad a mood to write a column today," spike it.***<p>[ January 15, 2003: Message edited by: blanp ]</p>
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Emily Salmon	Post subject: Re: Take the day off Posted: Tue Jan 14, 2003 6:18 am
Joined: Sat Nov 16, 2002 1:01 am Posts: 86	Actually, I would have said, a major cause of diet failure is that it causes irritability and increase depression in those who already have it. I saw a study on CNN.com that stated it lowers serotonin levels in depressed overweight women due to lower tryptophan levels. So, I wouldn't say the column should be trashed--but the editor should have told the columnist that it's an issue that could be really relevant to the readers, so get on the Web a little and apply yourself.
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rumymommy	Post subject: Re: Take the day off Posted: Tue Jan 14, 2003 4:30 pm
Joined: Tue Aug 06, 2002 12:01 am Posts: 138	<blockquote><font size="1" face="Arial, Helvetica ,sans-serif">quote:</font><hr>Originally posted by Emily Salmon: Actually, I would have said, a major cause of diet failure is that it causes irritability and increase depression in those who already have it. I saw a study on CNN.com that stated it lowers serotonin levels in depressed overweight women due to lower tryptophan levels. So, I wouldn't say the column should be trashed--but the editor should have told the columnist that it's an issue that could be really relevant to the readers, so get on the Web a little and apply yourself.<hr></blockquote><p> Haven't dealt with too many columnists, have you?
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Bumfketeer	Post subject: Re: Take the day off Posted: Tue Jan 14, 2003 5:25 pm
Joined: Fri Nov 15, 2002 1:01 am Posts: 3557 Location: Cusp of retirement, grave or both	It's easier and more efficient to hit a columnist over the head with a frying pan than it is to say all that, Emily.<p>Or, better yet, hit this particular columnist over the head with a 10-pound sack of pork rinds.
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Emily Salmon	Post subject: Re: Take the day off Posted: Tue Jan 14, 2003 7:06 pm
Joined: Sat Nov 16, 2002 1:01 am Posts: 86	You're right, I guess that was dumb--columnists are probably the paper's stars, and you don't tell them anything. Except, I open my mouth regardless of what your status is, which is why I'm...unemployed. Well, as I've told some of you, I'm just a groupie here--a former reporter, now a barely part-time freelance writer. You have to take your groupies as they come--no pun intended.
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Phillip Blanchard	Post subject: Re: Take the day off Posted: Tue Jan 14, 2003 8:27 pm
Joined: Sun Apr 07, 2002 1:01 am Posts: 8342 Location: Bethesda, Md.	What pun?
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Emily Salmon	Post subject: Re: Take the day off Posted: Wed Jan 15, 2003 12:36 am
Joined: Sat Nov 16, 2002 1:01 am Posts: 86	Oh, no. Here we go again.
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Bumfketeer	Post subject: Re: Take the day off Posted: Wed Jan 15, 2003 12:40 am
Joined: Fri Nov 15, 2002 1:01 am Posts: 3557 Location: Cusp of retirement, grave or both	Emily:<p>I tell our columnists whatever the hell I want to tell them. As we all should.<p>And as far as you speaking up here, I would be disappointed if you didn't.
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SusanV	Post subject: Re: Take the day off Posted: Wed Jan 15, 2003 12:28 pm
Joined: Thu Apr 18, 2002 12:01 am Posts: 1399 Location: In the newsroom	<blockquote><font size="1" face="Arial, Helvetica ,sans-serif">quote:</font><hr>Originally posted by Emily Salmon: Oh, no. Here we go again.<hr></blockquote>If that (non)pun is what I'm thinking it is, OUCH.<p>Note to blanp: To get this one, it helps to have a mind permanently stuck in the gutter. ;)<p>[ January 15, 2003: Message edited by: SusanV ]</p>
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Emily Salmon	Post subject: Re: Take the day off Posted: Wed Jan 15, 2003 1:12 pm
Joined: Sat Nov 16, 2002 1:01 am Posts: 86	Sorry--since there are so many men on this site, I should have remembered their sensibilities.
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gullyj	Post subject: Re: Take the day off Posted: Wed Jan 15, 2003 8:43 pm
Joined: Fri Jun 21, 2002 12:01 am Posts: 145 Location: Toronto	<blockquote><font size="1" face="Arial, Helvetica ,sans-serif">quote:</font><hr> Note to blanp: To get this one, it helps to have a mind permanently stuck in the gutter. ;) [/QB]<hr></blockquote><p>Blanp did mention recently he likes to bowl.
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Phillip Blanchard	Post subject: Re: Take the day off Posted: Wed Jan 15, 2003 8:52 pm
Joined: Sun Apr 07, 2002 1:01 am Posts: 8342 Location: Bethesda, Md.	<blockquote><font size="1" face="Arial, Helvetica ,sans-serif">quote:</font><hr>Originally posted by SusanV: If that (non)pun is what I'm thinking it is, OUCH.<p>Note to blanp: To get this one, it helps to have a mind permanently stuck in the gutter.<hr></blockquote><p>I "got it." Enough!
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