Have you ever thought about how often magazine offices appear as settings in movies? From writer Andie Anderson (Kate Hudson) in “How to Lose a Guy in 10 Days” to Andrea Sachs’ (Anne Hathaway) stint as an editorial assistant at Runway magazine in “The Devil Wears Prada,” movies are filled with characters who dream of making it big in journalism.
If you don’t believe me, take a look at this list compiled by Rex a few years ago and you’ll see how often it really is.
And it’s not just on the big screen. One of my favorite shows (“Ugly Betty”) is all about the making of a Vogue-esque magazine and the crazy people who help put it together.

Here’s a glimpse of the latest issue of Pharmaceutical Commerce, a magazine Hammock designed from the ground up in 2005.
The magazine, which covers the business side of the pharma industry, including marketing, finance, supply chain and packaging, delivers helpful and timely information to more than 16,000 readers.
The next issue should be out in a few weeks. In fact, as I type, Ben Stewart is probably designing some awesome illustration for it.

When faced with a tough decision, do you mull it over for weeks or go with your gut? Do you feel comfortable with your decision once you’ve made it? These are the questions we asked several of the subjects featured in the December/January 2008 issue of MyBusiness, the magazine Hammock publishes for the National Federation of Independent Business.
What we found in our feature “The Power of Trust” was that small-business owners listen to their instincts to help them make important decisions about their businesses, but deliberation is still necessary.
We also talked to some small-business owners who make their communities as much of a priority as their businesses in our inspiring feature “Like a Good Neighbor.”
Check out these stories and more in the latest issue, including a staff favorite on how one Arizona business creates success by blending into the crowd—a crowd of trees, that is.

Here at Hammock the typical business day is anything but typical, especially around deadline time. As a small business ourselves, we felt some kinship when compared to the hectic days of the small-business owners we shadowed for our ﾒDay in the Life of a Small-Business Ownerﾓ feature in the June/July 2007 issue of MyBusiness. The sheer energy and dedication exhibited by Caroline Geishecker and Mike Mitternight as they rise before the sun and work well into the night in order to ensure that their businesses run smoothly is exhausting even to read about.
But even long days at a tireless pace wonﾕt eliminate bumps in the small-business road. Issues like health care and tax relief can throw even the most committed entrepreneur for a loop. We asked five small-business owners how they confront the burdens of business ownership in the ﾒHandle the Headachesﾓ featureﾑbecause we believe there’s no better avenue for advice than real people dealing with real challenges.
When including state political and legislative news inside MyBusiness became one of NFIBﾕs strategic goals, we worked together to make it happen with the June/July issue. For the first time, this issue featured 51 versions, one for each state (and don’t forget Washington, D.C.). Just another (long) day at the office!

This weekend John Lavey and I both participated in the Country Music 1/2 Marathon, which, combined with the full marathon, brought 32,000 people to Nashville this weekend. From my location at the start line (about 20,000 people back), I could see Hammock Publishing headquarters, and for a split second considered just coming up here and watching it on television. But you see, spending almost four months bragging about how you’re running 13.1 miles at the end of April pretty much precludes you from chickening out. That, and fellow Hammorati Barbara Greenfield and Allison Lund were camped out at miles 3 and 6 respectively to cheer us on. I couldn’t let them down. Thanks guys!
John finished in 1:38:46, and I crossed the finish line right behind him (or some 9,500 people behind him) in 2:27:05.
In addition to running it for himself, John ran with Team Rio, benefitting Big Brothers and Big Sisters of Middle Tennessee, which, with a little help from Hammock Publishing’s corporate sponsorship, raised more than $100,000 this weekend.
In the Monday morning meeting, Rex suggested we put together a Team Hammock for next year. Kerri Davis, who walks every morning before work, offered to coach the speed-walkers, and Barbara Mathieson said to count her in for the running team, even if she has to use a cane to cross the finish line. And Julia Boklage is already planning the Hammock cheering station.
It’s 363 days away, but I think I can already tell that next year’s race is going to be the best one yet.

No amount of jet lag or intense desire to sleep late could keep Rex, Jamie, Susie and I from waking up early this past Saturday, putting on the work clothes and taking part in Hands on Nashville Day, a day of volunteering that brings together more than 1,500 volunteers each year to spruce up some of Metro Nashville’s public schools (more on the sprucing later).
The four of us joined up with a team of local bloggers — officially named Mr. Roboto’s Team Blogger Sponsored by Hammock Publishing and Amerigo’s, which was led by my favorite blogger of all time, Mr. Roboto (Sorry, Rex) — at Percy Priest Elementary School. Our objective: to clean, construct, mulch, prune, paint and organize.
Sure, there was chit chat and excessive donut consumption, but there was also hard work. Susie and Jamie mulched and pruned. Rex put together a corner cabinet for a classroom. I cleaned doorknobs and helped install shelves. The principal of the school was even there to help us find the tools we needed (and to make sure all the tools were returned) and to tell us how much she appreciated the work.
Overall, a good–and feel-good–time was had by all.

Last night, Hammock Publishing participated in the 13th Annual Corporate Spelling Bee, a fund raiser for the Nashville Adult Literacy Council. As many of you’ll remember, Team Hammock (represented by Carrie Wakeford, Bill Hudgins and me, Lena Basha) took home the big championship trophy last year after an awe-inspiring performance.
We got just as many oohs and aahs from the audience this year, amazed at our precision and cheetah-like reflexes when prompted to spell words like inveigle, colloquy and lornette lorgnette, but fell a touch short of first place. Yeah, we didn’t realize kookaburra was spelled with two Os either, but that’s OK.
Congratulations to the fine folks (and exceptional spellers, I might add) at Waller, Landsen, Dortch and Davis, the winners of this year’s spelling bee, and thank you to the Nashville Adult Literacy Council for their gracious hospitality (and free gifts!) and the opportunity to participate in such a fun event.

Everyone at Hammock Publishing knows what today is. Listed on the company calendar, among the various meetings and we all have today, is this: International Talk Like a Pirate Day. (Yeah, we have a huge Jack Sparrow fan in the office.)
In celebration, we’re taking a few minutes to bring out the swashbucklers in us. I’m not feeling well today, but it hasn’t stopped me from exclaiming the occasional “Aargh!”
Not the least bit surprising, Bill Hudgins, one of Hammock’s editorial directors, is really getting into it. I sent him an e-mail earlier and got this in response: “Arrr, poppet, then ye are doomed!” Thanks, Bill.
Jamie Roberts, the aforementioned Jack Sparrow fan and another one of our editorial directors, says she’s too busy for a proper celebration, but did manage to find the time to figure out what her pirate name would be. “It’s Red Jenny Rackhamﾉpassion is a big part of my life,” she says.
As for Production Director Barbara Mathieson, well, she asked if she could sail away with Johnny Depp. I told her she’d have to ask Johnny Depp. And her husband, probably.
Finally, Editorial Director Laura Creekmore, who’s never one to not say something, had this to say: “I dislike made up holidays. I’m also not fond of non-Irish people who celebrate St. Patrick’s day or non-Mexican people who celebrate Cinco de Mayo, particularly since no one seems to know the true meaning of the day and seems to think it’s Mexican Independence Day, which it’s not. I think that’s Sept. 16th, right?”
A simple ‘Aargh!’ would have done just fine, Laura.
So there you have it. From our office (except Laura Creekmore, apparently) to yours, have a happy International Talk Like a Pirate Day!

Because I’ve been talking about it for the past four months, it’s no secret that I ran the Country Music 1/2 Marathon this weekend. Besides the sweet medal I took home (I came this close to wearing it to work todayﾑyeah, I’m glad I didn’t either), here’s what I took away from the experience:
･ Everyone I work withﾑboth clients and coworkersﾑare super nice as they all wished me good luck.
･ John Lavey, who finished in 1:39, can run faster than I can, information to keep in mind if he’s ever mad at me.
･ Nashville is hilly. Like, really hilly. Ouch.
･ Despite the hills and the overwhelming oh-my-goodness-when-will-this-end feeling, it was great hearing coworkers like Emily McMackin and other fans scream “GO LENA!!” at mile 12.
Overall, it was a great experience. I can’t wait until next year! Who wants to join me??

From Lena, Hammorati entertainment correspondent:

We Hammock Publishing folks LOVE American Idol. OK, I love it and deep down, I think Rex does, too. In getting pumped for tonight’s final results show, there has been much discussion around the office as to which Idol contestant (the beautiful and talented Carrie “Crooner” Underwood or the grizzly but unfortunately likeable Bo “Bad Hair not to Mention Bad Habit” Bice) will be named the next American Idol. Here’s what some of us (those who admitted to following the show, at least) had to say:
Meredith: “Bo is scary looking.”
John: “I like that little Clay fellow. He’s great.”
Allison: “Bo. I think he offers up something a little different than all the other pop stuff out there.”
Rex: “Bo will win, but Carrie will move to Nashville and have a huge hit country album, then die in a tragic plane accident, after which she’ll develop a cult following who dedicate their lives to perpetuating the belief that she wast the greatest country singer ever.”
Barbara: “Paula is sleeping with Bo. No contest.”
Blair: “Carrie is a 5-7 favorite according to Vegas odds makers, so I go $1 on Bo.”
Laura: “Give me a rerun of ‘West Wing’ any day. ”
Jamie: “Bo. He’s from Alabama, the birthplace of another Idollittle Ruben Studdard.”
Carrie: “Well, I am for Carrie just based on the way she spells her name…”
Leslie: “Gotta go with Bo!”
Me: “Bo is stupid.”
So there you have it. If Hammock Publishing accurately represents the American Idol voting population, Bo will win. Blech.