27 replies to this topic

[glengara]

*Phased them out in 65..*

Never knew they lasted that long, Spit was meant to be a bugger until the tail came up, IIRC :-)

[Nueromancer]

In the newspaper field there are SPECIALISTS whose job is to ONLY write headlines. Each newspaper does the headline for any article that they pick up off the "wires."

You really have to think differently when writing a headline versus writing the press release - as was pointed out - most people cannot do both.

Example: Federal Reserve Bank decision on interest rates in Dec (which one would get you to read it)

Feds Hold Rate After December Meeting

Feds Grinch Christmas Again

- the idea is to get the base message acrross AND hook you into reading more.

why would holding rates Grinch Christmass.

Always though the "Gotcha" Headline the SUN used during the Falklands war was one of the better ones.

[Tom Philo]

That's the hook - you would have to read the article to find out what the feds did to "Grinch" Christmas!

The headline accurate but ambigious - the Feds could have raised the rates, or kept them the same, but you would have to read to find out.

Lowering reserve rates lowers CC rates so that would let people buy more since the $ savings in interest plays off against the extra purchases - thus helping the economy. (In Theory!)

[bluenote]

I'm glad Querty responded here - if someone's uncommon name in a subject headline for forum posting doesn't grab someone's attention, then they're not paying it

Bulk email (opt-in and not) subject headlines have gone overboard with this concept yet it still works--unfortunately

Edited by bluenote, 07 March 2007 - 04:45 PM.

[Jill]

Actually, I think Qwerty may REALLY have been kidnapped by aliens. He was supposed to be at our SEMNE event last night, but never showed...hmmm......

[qwerty]

Yes, it's true. I've just managed to get home and I'm finding it very difficult to sit down...


Well... no. Actually, I got hit by some work that threw me off my planned schedule yesterday, which kept me from doing the laundry, which meant I didn't have a thing to wear (literally -- we're not talking about some Scarlet O'Hara deal here).

[Jill]

Yeah, no UPONGERs allowed at SEMNE events...good thing you didn't show (all).

[Ignoramus]

Competition won by 'The Times' of London for the least catchy newspaper headline (many, many years ago)...

"Small Tsunami in Japan. Not many dead".

[Ignoramus]

why would holding rates Grinch Christmass.

Always though the "Gotcha" Headline the SUN used during the Falklands war was one of the better ones.

Sorry about this - it's a bit of a rant.

The 'Gotcha' headline refered to the sinking of the 'General Belgrano' - an ancient Argentinian cruiser - by a British submarine.

The Belgrano was excercising outside the military exclusion zone imposed by the British around the Falklands.

Although (in my view) the sinking was justified, it resulted in the death of hundreds of young sailors who had no idea where they were or what they were doing there.

Justified maybe - but no reason to crow about it.

The SUN is what we call a 'tabloid rag'. It's readers are best known for their fondness of the photographs of large-breasted naked women to be found on the inside pages.

[bluenote]

Yes, it's true. I've just managed to get home and I'm finding it very difficult to sit down...
Well... no. Actually, I got hit by some work that threw me off my planned schedule yesterday, which kept me from doing the laundry, which meant I didn't have a thing to wear (literally -- we're not talking about some Scarlet O'Hara deal here).

Couldn't go because you didn't do a load of laundry? If you really want to distance yourself from Scarlet O'Hara, you gotta be willing to show up all wrinkly, stained, and nasty to a function sometimes. It will make you look relatively fantastic all the other times and you'll likely never again go missing by forgetting to remember to do laundry now.

Edited by bluenote, 21 March 2007 - 11:56 AM.

[Tom Philo]

the 'General Belgrano' - an ancient Argentinian cruiser

The 'General Belgrano' was a WW II USA built and designed cruiser sold to Argentina in the 60s as surplus from the US reserve fleet. It had 8" guns that were equal / maybe better than anything the British had in the waters - everything the British had was anti-sub and aircraft screening ships for the carriers - nothing that could stand up to ship vs ship battle like the WW II cruiser could.

Though outside the exclusion zone - really the lmiit of the Harriers could fly - in a day it could have steamed to within firing distance before they knew about it, so to remove that threat it was sunk with a single torpedo from around 3 miles out. (wire guided model if I remember correctly).

What it comes down to is if you are fighting a war every ship of yours is a target and should act as it is always is being targeted. Bad captain on the cruiser and bad naval leaders in Argentina.

[jehochman]

Three unguided torpedoes were fired, and at least two hit the ship. 323 died. Full story here.

[Ignoramus]

What it comes down to is if you are fighting a war every ship of yours is a target and should act as it is always is being targeted. Bad captain on the cruiser and bad naval leaders in Argentina.

Yes, thank you taphilo - my thoughts exactly.

My objection to the 'Sun' newspaper headline was simply that it treated the sinking like an arcade game.

It was notable that afterwards the Argentinian navy never ventured out of port - though their air force fought with courage and distinction - flying daily into what was termed 'missile alley'.

Incidentally, few people realised the debt we owed to the US for their support in this war in terms of intelligence, material and logistics. Without that support the outcome may have been different.