The Attachment That Still Makes Noise
DO you have a stapler?
If you do, maybe it’s a little dusty in this age of PDFs. Or maybe it’s been missing for a while, after someone borrowed it and never brought it back. Or maybe you’ve affixed your name to your stapler with a piece of clear tape, so your co-workers know: you take this stapler, you die.
Even as data moves to computers and the cloud, staplers continue to help people keep it together. On the computer, we can file copies in folders and send messages to mailboxes. We can cut, copy and paste text and files. But which computer activity is similar to stapling? Sure, there’s the paper-clip icon that attaches documents to e-mail. But nothing, really, comes close to the satisfying ka-chunk of a stapler: it’s a sound that means work is getting done. Full Story »
John Kenney has worked as a copywriter in New York City for seventeen years. He has also been a contributor to The New Yorker since 1999. His Debut novel,
Paul Hagen joins Tim and John for an Ad Campaign Smack-down. One example? Palmolive’s Madge—“You’re soaking in it!”—pitted against the Pine-Sol Lady—“That’s the power of Pine-Sol Baby!” Also on the docket, a Memorial Day inspired edition of Can You Focus.

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