CBS News Forums
Scott Schwartz pointed out some interesting copy at the CBS News site. This is the text that precedes the comments section of a story:

Now you’re in the public comment zone. What follows is not CBS News stuff; it comes from other people and we don’t vouch for it. A reminder: By using this Web site you agree to accept our Terms of Service. Click here to read the Rules of Engagement.

Simple and to the point. And here’s the Rules Of Engagement:

People who want to post comments on CBSNews.com are going to have to follow our rules. We know that not all forums are like that, but this one is.

There’s legal language nearby. Here’s the plain English: no libel, slander, no lying, no fabricating, no swearing at all, no words that teenagers use a lot that some people think aren’t swearing but we do, no insulting groups or individuals, no ethnic slurs and/or epithets, no religious bigotry, no threats of any kind, no bathroom humor, no comparing anyone to Hitler, Stalin or Pol Pot. We expect heated, robust debate, but comments should be polite and civil. We consider this to be public space so behave and write accordingly.

Yes, what is not allowable is subjective. CBSNews.com absolutely reserve the right to remove posts we think break any of the rules or the spirit of the rules and we reserve the right to ban individuals from commenting. We will use language filtering programs to block certain words and we will use human editing too.

Comments should be limited to the topic of the original posting. This is not the place for private conversations, no matter how innocent.

We require everyone who comments to register and provide a real e-mail address. No exceptions. And posting comments is not the same thing as complaining to CBS News or notifying CBS News of a problem – legally, there’s a big difference.

Very important: if you see a comment that you feel is inappropriate, let us know by clicking on the “comment complaint” or “report this complaint” button.

As Scott says, “Legalese be gone. And they know Godwin’s Law to boot!”

Peerless Faucet instructions
François Beausoleil writes: “I just bought a Peerless faucet, and they have instructions on how to uninstall your existing one.” (Viewable at FaucetCoach.com.)

“All instructions for installing new faucets have the same first step: ‘Remove the old faucet.’ Well, we at Peerless thought it was about time someone provided some instructions for that too. Good luck to you, and may all your coupling nuts turn freely.”

A couple of steps later:

”... But first, put a towel or pillow under your back before you lie down. You’ll thank us tomorrow morning…Ta-da. Your pop-up is popped-out.”

And again:

”... Have you banged your knuckles on the pipes yet? If so, congratulations. Get out from under the sink, apply a bandage and move on.”

And the best piece yet:

“Try to remove the faucet…In a best-case scenario, the faucet will come right out. In a could-be-better-case scenario, the faucet will just sort of snicker at you. ...”

I didn’t bang my knuckles, but I had fun reading these instructions. Took me three hours to remove/replace my faucet, but that wasn’t the instructions’ fault :)

Be like Mailer
Advice from a photographer features a bunch of great tips for any creative pro. One that stood out…

24. Go to the Times today, and read the Norman Mailer Obit. Try to create your life to be half as interesting as his life. If you do that, you’ll be fine.

Here’s a link to Mailer’s obit: Norman Mailer, Towering Writer With a Matching Ego, Dies at 84.

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