publishing
Beacon seeks advertising VP
The Beacon Journal is seeking a vice president of advertising to replace Alton Brown, who is leaving the newspaper to become a publisher in Lynchburg, Va.
Brown came to the Beacon Journal in 2006 as advertising director. He has been executive vice president and general manager since May 2007. He serves on the boards of the Akron Development Fund and the Akron Roundtable.
Previously, he was vice president of advertising for Gannett Newspapers’ Central Ohio region and vice president of advertising and advertising director for The Tribune in Mesa, Ariz. He is a graduate of Princeton University.
Brown will become publisher of the News & Advance in Lynchburg and will be responsible for the Danville Register & Bee, the weekly Amherst New Era-Progress and Nelson County Times.
Brown will leave the Beacon Journal July 27. Applicants for the advertising position should contact jhunter@thebeaconjournal.com.
COMPUTERS
Deal with website pop-ups
Q: Internet pop-up ads are out of control on my Windows 7 PC that uses Microsoft’s Internet Explorer 10 Web browser. They pop up on all websites. On some sites, all I have to do is get the cursor anywhere near a small advertisement, and it pops up to life size. I have a free pop-up stopper from Panicware that used to be good, but now it doesn’t stop most ads, especially the ones with video and sound. Is there any way to stop these annoying ads before I throw the computer out the window?
A: I doubt that your pop-up blocker software is failing. More likely your computer has been infected by malicious software.
Download the free Malwarebytes Anti-Malware program at http://tinyurl.com/blqaum7. Click “Download Now” and you’ll be taken to a download page; ignore the Web page and find, at the bottom of your screen, a rectangular download box that says, in part, “Do you want to run or save mbam-setup-1.75.0.1300.exe?” Click on “run.” When the installation is complete, uncheck the box next to “Enable free trial,” click “Finish,” let the program update, then click “OK.” When Malwarebytes starts, use its default setting “run quick scan” and click “Scan.” You’ll be given a list of questionable programs on your PC; choose to delete them. Periodically run this program from its desktop icon to keep your PC clean.
— By Steve Alexander
Minneapolis Star Tribune
WORKPLACE
Handle sneeze issue at work
Q: I share an office with “Megan,” who always says “bless you” when I sneeze. I think this is a silly habit, so when she sneezes, I say nothing. Recently, Megan scolded me for being rude when I failed to bless one of her sneezes. What’s the best way to handle this?
A: Blessing sneezes is like saying “excuse me” when you bump into someone. Despite having no basis in logic, it has become an expected social custom. So the real question is not whether these blessings have a valid purpose, but whether the relationship with your officemate matters to you.
Megan obviously believes that blessing a sneeze signifies caring and respect, so her feelings are slightly hurt every time you fail to do so. Currently, the two of you are playing a ridiculous game in which Megan sneezes, then quietly waits to see if you will respond. Meanwhile, you sit in stony silence just to make your point. Does this not seem rather juvenile?
So here’s your choice. If the relationship is important, then saying “bless you” is simply a minor courtesy which will cost you nothing. On the other hand, if you choose to stand your ground, at least help Megan understand your motivation.
— By Marie G. McIntyre
McClatchy-Tribune News Service