Gizmodo: Work

Jobs: SF Intern Needed

Adrian Covert — Tue, 16 Sep 2008 16:25:00 EDT

Our summer intern managed to survive (and escape from) his time spent with Giz SF, and now it's time to find someone else to take his place. We need someone in the SF Bay Area to help out for at least 20 hours a week with various tasks, such as...

• Tracking down the best gadgets and entertaining stories on the internet
• Helping us pull together stories
• Helping writers out with live reporting from events
• Writing, eventually, if you're awesome (and still alive)

To do all this, you're going to need some basic skills and qualifications. Here's what were looking for...

• Passion for Gadgets and Technology
• Solid writing ability (excellent grammar, spelling, etc...)
• Basic HTML and Photoshop ability
• Good organization and attention to detail (cliched, I know, but a must)
• You HAVE TO live within commuting distance of SF
• Reliable mode of transportation is a big plus.
• Dedication—the job's fun, but it's definitely work

A degree in Journalism, Communications, or just understanding how news and media works is a plus, but not a must. A small monthly stipend will also be included, but it won't get you out of your parents' basement. Send a resume and cover letter to intern@gizmodo.com with the subject line "SF Intern" or "NYC Intern". Please, NO ATTACHMENTS, but links are OK.

Trek Desk Forces You to Exercise All Day at Work, Makes Your Job Even More Miserable

Adam Frucci — Wed, 07 May 2008 11:50:00 EDT

It's no secret that desk-based jobs (such as blogging) provide a lifestyle for people that quickly turns them into quivering, rotund masses of gravy-scented putty, which is why it's no surprise that this whole "exercising while you work" thing piques people's interest. But really, do you want to jog on a treadmill all day while you work, or bounce up and down on a yoga ball?

We're not talking about 20-minute stints here, we're talking about replacing your desk with exercise equipment. There's no leaning back in your desk chair with this Trek Desk, people. It's balls-out commitment.

And while I don't doubt for a second that you'd lose weight if you did light exercise for eight straight hours every day, who the hell wants to do that? Why don't you just, you know, go to the gym for 45 minutes after work so you aren't disgusting and sweaty during meetings. You don't want to get a reputation for that stinky, out of breath guy who doesn't know the meaning of the word "moderation," after all. [Product Page via Boing Boing Gadgets]

Eyelid Stickers Let You Sleep at Work if Your Coworkers are Blind Idiots

Adam Frucci — Thu, 14 Feb 2008 15:00:00 EST

So you want to sleep at work. I can't say that's the brightest idea in the world, but who am I to judge? Let me help you out: if you want to sleep at your desk and also look really, really creepy while awake, all you need to do is buy some of these eye stickers. Slap 'em on your closed eyelids, learn to sleep sitting up, and you'll be sure to fool everyone who walks by your desk. There is absolutely no way for this plan to fail… trust me. [Bits and Pieces via Neatorama]

Comment Intern THOR Needed

Christopher Mascari — Thu, 14 Feb 2008 13:40:33 EST

Earlier we labeled this position an internship, which was way off. This job holds much more power and responsibility than some coffee getting, office cleaning intern-(oh wait that's my title). We are looking for someone who will take full control of our comment system and only use the power for good not evil. Even if it is easy work, it is still extremely important so we're gonna pay you. If you think you can handle being THOR for Gizmodo, please read on.

Before we explain more let us get one detail straight—this moderator position is for comment-related work only. So if you are interested in any other type of work, we suggest you check our other announcements.

We are looking for someone who can handle our comment management system, which usually takes an hour or less a day. You will be reading through all new member comments, determining if the commenter has what it takes to be approved for Gizmodo.

The work isn't necessarily hard but it is extremely important. We need a responsible person that is able to manage this every day and will not flake out on the responsibility.

Doesn't matter where you're located, how old you are, or what you look like, we just need a level-headed, dependable person who enjoys reading Gizmodo and would be able to determine a good comment.

You will be paid $100 a month to start, and if you do well we will give you slightly more responsibility and double the pay.

So if you're still interested please send an email to tips@gizmodo.com with "Comment THOR" in the subject line explaining a bit about yourself, and why you would be perfect for this internship.

Working All Day on a Treadmill Helps Lose Weight. Duh.

Adam Frucci — Tue, 15 May 2007 19:00:00 EDT

Some genius doctors at the Mayo clinic built a "vertical desk," essentially a treadmill with a computer attached, and found out that if you walked all day while working instead of sat you would lose weight.

Who's paying these people? Seriously, are you surprised that obese people lost weight when forced to walk 8 hours a day, 5 days a week rather than sit down? I mean, I'd probably get sweet biceps if you attached a laptop to some weights, but it doesn't mean I'd want to subject myself to that kind of exertion all day every day. Go cure cancer or something, you idiots. –Adam Frucci

Making work even more of a slog takes weight off [Reuters]

Call-In-Sick Schedules Your Sick Calls Automatically

Jason Chen — Wed, 04 Oct 2006 17:33:30 EDT

For both the lazy and the really sick, Call-in-Sick lets you pre-record a message to give to your boss when you want to skip out for the day. All you have to do is call the number, record the message multiple times to get the right amount of phlegm in your voice, and schedule the delivery time.

They also note that you should test this out before your actual sick message with a "Hey boss, call me back", so it doesn't fail on you when it matters. The message goes directly to your boss's voicemail, so no one's the wiser. Adam of Lifehacker also notes that you can use this to send you or your family reminders in the future, such as "remember to buy some milk you ungrateful shrew"—for the wife. – Jason Chen

Product Page [Call In Sick via Lifehacker]