This is an archived article that was published on sltrib.com in 2014, and information in the article may be outdated. It is provided only for personal research purposes and may not be reprinted.
Fusion 360, a Utah advertising firm, recently posted an ad to fill a managing editor position.
It's "an extremely fast-paced and far-reaching position," said the ad. "This talented individual must be able to write, edit, post and proofread quickly and accurately. They will have a journalistic mind and will work together with our digital PR and social media team to monitor and strategically join online conversations."
This firm also seems to be looking for a rare skill set. Besides the usual education requirements and management, writing, editing and social media know-how, requirements also include:
• "Proficient juggler (or any circus-like skills) encouraged."
• "Digs writing and editing like a chubby kid digs sweat pants."
• "Able to meld even the lamest subjects into all that is awesome and interesting, drawing readers to and through their content like moths to a flame."
• "Stellar dance moves and 'Top Gun'-style high-fives encouraged, but not required."
• "Ability to be a digital marketing agency 'rock star,' less the attitude and that whole snorting coke off Vegas hookers, thing."
The ad also asks that applications be emailed. "All phone calls and walk-ins will be publicly flogged and forced to listen to Nickelback."
Marcus McReynolds, the firm's director of digital marketing, says it's good to have a fun-filled atmosphere in the office. It helps engender creativity. The humorous notations in the list of qualifications was meant to attract applicants who enjoy that sort of thing.
The firm got several applicants, McReynolds said, and filled the job.
Loose with the laptop • A reader called recently with disturbing news. He had just received a letter from a national clearinghouse letting him know that because an employee there lost a laptop containing lists of stock-brokerage clients, his personal information could be compromised.
The letter from Sterne, Agee & Leach, based in Birmingham, Ala., said clients doing business with brokerages from 1992 to 2013 could be affected.
When I called the company to inquire, Kelly Bolvig, senior vice president and associate general counsel, said in a statement: "Customers were notified of a potential data security breach after an employee was unable to locate a password-protected laptop computer. The company is unaware of any customers whose personal information has been accessed as a result of the loss. But protection of personal information is critically important to us and to our customers. In an abundance of caution, we are providing customers with extended identity-theft protection services and identity-theft insurance.
No limits for common folk • Many Utah legislators have argued that replacing the caucus/convention system with direct primaries would ensure only rich people who could afford glitzy ads would win elections, cutting out commoners from any chance at public office.
But most of those lawmakers consistently oppose putting caps on individual and corporate campaign contributions. This past legislative session, Rep. Kraig Powell, R-Heber City, sponsored a bill that would have limited donations from a person or corporation to $9,999 in a two-year period. It didn't get out of committee.
We'll see how such contribution-cap proposals fare in the upcoming legislative session.