Meredith Shamburger

"A fire-breathing dragon lives in my garage."

How to Write an Effective Email

Sometimes I receive random emails.

I keep getting emails from the Galveston Historical Society, I get emails about webinars, and then there’s the occasional PR pitch. But today’s email takes the cake.

Entitled “the estate tax,” it’s from a guy in Frisco who rails against the weathly:

These inheritance rich families, and their bankers, lawyers, and money managers are what is wrong with our government, economy, legal system, health care system, and environment today. They have used their wealth and power to buy our politicians and together they are getting away with murder, theft, and environmental destruction on a scale that threatens all of humanity. The $1 trillion dollar Saving & Loan Crisis bubble of the 80’s, the multi-trillion dollar tech bubble of the 90’s, the Enron bubble, Bush’s trillion dollar tax cuts for the rich, the multi-trillion dollar wars in Iraq and Afghanistan, and the current multi-trillion dollar financial bailout were all designed to transfer and concentrate wealth into the hands of fewer and fewer people. These trillion dollar scams have left the American people picking up the bills and scratching their heads wondering what the hell happened.

He goes on to say that our only option may be a French-type revolution, but even that probably wouldn’t work.

But the absolute best part was the ending:

Therefore, get ready to bend over and take it up your collective asses because it looks like we are going to let a few inheritance rich assholes and their stooges fuck us into an early grave so that they can have more wealth for themselves. But don’t worry, because we all get cake and ice cream afterwards.

Cake and ice cream? Yes please. Ok, maybe he was being sarcastic…

But how many of you will remember his email now? That’s effective (if slightly offensive to some) writing. The full email is after the jump, although I’ve omitted his last name.

Read the rest of this entry »

Filed under: E-mail, Random

Sneak Peek: The Daily Campus

mockup

I’m a little speechless.

College Publisher just sent back their version of the mockup we sent them for our new Web site. What you see to the right is a small snapshot of the awesomeness.

We had a couple of goals (well, I did) when this redesign started:

  1. It had to be user-friendly
  2. It had to be pretty and simple in its design
  3. It had to feature our social media prominently
  4. We had to get rid of the mash-up of newspapers in the background of our nameplate on the Web site. And the blue background.

I’d say we sufficiently accomplished those goals. I know College Publisher may not be thought of as the best college newspaper CMS, but they’ve been pretty awesome so far with our redesign. We don’t have super tech-savvy staffers (myself included; I couldn’t code to save my life unless it’s basic HTML), so it’s not much of an issue.

Plus, CP will allow us to have a mobile site (they just released it). SMU students are smartphone addicts, and I’m thrilled we’ll be able to accommodate them.

Expect the new site to launch over Winter Break.

Filed under: Life, News, SMU, The Daily Campus

Having Fun with Google Suggestions

Just because. Here’s what I learned today, from Google suggestions.

Picture 14

Filed under: Random

Freeze Punk!

Ok, ok. You’ve got me cornered.

I’ve been neglecting my blog. But it’s because I’ve been working for The Daily Campus, writing stories, blogging and working on the Web site.

And tweeting. But you guys should know that I’m pretty dedicated to Twitter (much more than this blog, apparently).

Filed under: Life, Random, This Blog

Discon/nect: Chain Mail

Chain mail is a phenomenon that I just don’t get. Whether it’s snail mail, e-mail or text message, it’s all Greek.

Why would a person forward chain mail? By chain mail, I mean those ridiculous messages that try to scare you by saying a ghost will come into your room at night and slash your throat if you don’t send this message to everyone in your contact list.

Do these people actually believe that little Sally Jo (who was murdered before e-mail was invented) will hunt you down because you didn’t hit forward? If the answer is yes, I’m scared for the future of our world.

We can’t just forget about the other types of chain messages: those funny jokes, the religious message, the sob story or the propaganda machine (Woodward and Bernstein called it “ratfucking”. I think this term needs to be brought back to the forefront). These other types of chain messages are far more annoying, and possibly dangerous. Read more about these after the jump. Read the rest of this entry »

Filed under: E-mail, Life, Random

Going to the Movies

I remember the first time I told my mother that I would be going to see a movie… alone. Why would you do that?” She asked. “Don’t you have a friend you’d like to go with?”

Ok, so maybe those weren’t her exact words. It was some time ago, and I am not Sherlock Holmes. But it brings up a question: why do some people find it difficult to go see a movie alone?

It’s not like sitting in a restaurant by yourself, where all the other patrons will stare as you pick at your food and wonder why you didn’t bring a book to read. At the movies, everyone is looking at the screen. There’s no talking (hopefully). There’s no interaction with other people, save for the ticket guy, the concession workers and those people who prefer the aisle seats.

I don’t mind going to see a movie by myself (and it always makes me feel like a V.I.P. when I go to an early matinee and am the only person in the theater). So I put the question into Twitter’s capable hands: “I’m curious as to your opinion: Is it perfectly normal or just plain weird to go to the movies by yourself?” I received some great answers.

blueberrychica: I think it’s pretty fantastic if your comfortable enough with yourself to go to the movies by your self

rodgermclane: Oh yea, I would do it only if I was in a Longview size movie theater or bigger.

blueberrychica (after rodgermclane tweeted): yeah @rodgermclane does have a point. Alone in a small town theatre makes me think of pedophiles

newsjunkie365: Oddly, I think it depends on where you live. City like New York? Perfectly normal. The burbs? A little weird. Thems the rules.

samanthaurban: I do it all the time, but I find it’s less awkward for others during the day than at night.

It’s clear that the size of the theater (and the town it’s located in) matters to some. That’s not so hard to see. Bigger theaters lend more anonymity to its patrons. Were a person to go see a movie in a small town’s theater, such as the double screen theater in my hometown of Carthage, it might be awkward. Undoubtedly, you’d know everyone in that small town theater, and they’d probably be wondering why you’re alone.

I don’t think this is the definitive answer. Some people just like to go to the movies with other people. Others are more comfortable with the idea that you can go alone. One of the best things about the theater is that you’re seeing a movie with other people (some strangers, some familiar), but I don’t think we should think it’s weird for people to go to the movies by themselves. Most of the time, there’s going to be a lot of people watching the same movie anyways.

Filed under: Carthage, Life, Movies, Random

@mshamburge

  • @Shamburgesa Remind me when I tweet that I'm packing to go home. 1 hour ago
  • The worst part about buying a 2010 desk calendar in Decemnber 2009 is that you can't use it for another month. 1 hour ago
  • @adamrucker Apparently, your 6-yr-old self believes that Santa is dead and in Heaven. He "just figured it out." 19 hours ago

Pages

About the Author

Meredith is a junior at Southern Methodist University in Dallas majoring in Journalism with a minor in American Politics (as-yet undeclared). While at SMU, she works as the online editor for The Daily Campus, the independent student newspaper.

This is her personal blog/Web site.