A story this week by True contributor Jennifer Weiner struck me the wrong way, so I sent it back for a rewrite. I thought you might find the original story intriguing, as well as her reaction to my rewrite request.
Crime
Illuminated (Security Camera Video)
Another story that’s immeasurably enhanced by its security camera video. From True’s 12 December 2010 issue.
The Opposite of Zero Tolerance
Yet another astounding story from the front lines — our nation’s schools.
From True’s 28 November 2010 issue:
A Picture’s Worth a Thousand Laughs
With a title like that, I certainly couldn’t run the story without providing the photo! As usual, the story first, from True’s 14 November 2010 issue:
This is True List Break-in
From True’s 17 October 2010 issue.
On the whole, This is True readers are a pretty technically savvy bunch: many of you use “tracking” email addresses — addresses which readers have used only to subscribe to my newsletter(s) — and I’ve had a number of reports this week from readers who have received spam to those unique addresses. That’s obviously a big concern to me.
Family Feud
Sometimes there’s a story that I “have” to publish, even though I know it just won’t make it past the spam filters, so I “can’t” put it in the email newsletter. And see below for an update.
Smooth Move, Megan
This is a study of contrasts: this story was so good that I ran it both in This is True and in the now-defunct Mug Shot Museum. First, the True treatment, from the 7 March 2010 issue:
A Picture Worth 1,000 Anytime Minutes
…or, The Birth and Death of a Spinoff Web Site
Sure: a picture is “worth 1,000 words.” Sometimes it’s worth 1,000 minutes on your cell phone plan, as in this case. The story, from True’s 27 December 2009 issue:
A Clever Disguise…?
Once again, a picture is worth a thousand words. But I’m not sure that in this case, two pictures are worth two thousand words!
Don’t Talk to the Cops
Some readers will be a bit puzzled why I would spread this message in my blog: “Do not, under any circumstances, be interviewed by the police without advice from a lawyer.” You have a right to remain silent, and I urge you to exercise that right. Especially if you are innocent.
Another April, Another Mass Shooting
There was another mass shooting today, a nut with a gun at an immigration office in New York, with at least a dozen killed. Here’s what I want to know: why do these things so often happen in April?
Weird News Video #42 — Facebook Addict
Episode #42: “Virtual Life”, from True’s 22 March 2009 issue.
Weird News Video #40 — Hide in Plain Sight
Episode #40: “Hide in Plain Sight”, from True’s 8 March 2009 issue.
Weird News Video #37 — That’s No Choirgirl
Episode #37: “That’s No Choirgirl” from True’s 15 February 2009 issue.
Weird News Video #36 — The Doctor is Out
Episode #36: “The Doctor is Out”, from True’s 8 February 2009 issue.
Weird News Video #35 — Keystone Criminals
Episode #35: “Keystone Criminals”, from True’s 1 February 2009 issue.
Weird News Video #34 — Booze Meets Stupid
Episode #34: “Booze Meets Stupid”, from True’s 25 January 2009 issue.
Weird News Video #33 — Carwash Robbery
Episode #33: “No Wax”, from True’s 18 January 2009 issue.
Justifiable(?) Homicide
There was a horrendous story in last week’s issue about a guy who stabbed an intruder to death. Several readers took me to task for my tagline on the story, so I’m putting it here as a place for discussion.
Mug Shot = 1,000 Words
One of the stories in this week’s column is notable for two reasons. One of them is the guy’s mug shot.