WARNING: Don't Try this at home! As a 127 lb. amateur, I am going attempt to break Gonghong Tang’s 2004 record for the "clean and press." AND... as I will likely tear off a limb or cause a massive brain hemorrhage, I am then going to attempt to stick the landing and turn the whole bloody mess into a recommendation.  Our subject today: David Weinberger's new book, Everything Is Miscellaneous: the Power of the New Digital Disorder.

Trust me, I am a little more than trepidacious. Why? Well, according to the press announcement, Miscellaneous:

"Charts the new principles of digital order that are remaking business, education, politics, science, and culture. In his rollicking tour of the rise of ‘miscellaneous,’ he examines why the Dewey decimal system is stretched to the breaking point, how Rand McNally decides what information not to include in a physical map (and why Google Earth is winning that battle), how Staples stores emulate online shopping to increase sales, why your children’s teachers will stop having them memorize facts, and how the shift to digital music stands as the model for the future in virtually every industry. Finally, he shows how by ‘going miscellaneous,’ anyone can reap rewards from the deluge of information in modern work and life. From A to Z, Everything Is Miscellaneous will completely reshape the way you think—and what you know—about the world.”

Yikes. My first and admittedly regrettable reaction was to get caught up in the title. A grueling rumination ensued. I wonder if he considered: Everything is Misplaced: Where are My Car Keys; Everything is Mischiato: Forgetaboutit; Everything is Meaningless: I think I am Gonna Kill Myself; and my personal favorite, Everything is Miasma: Fuck You.

Allow me to recompose myself. Seriously, this book is just not easily summarized. Even the rollicking "From A to Z” totally underestimates it. This is more like from A to #457 to the Zanzabar Platypus, batteries extra. Almost poetically, David’s logical order to his treatise is... well... whacked. Hurts my brain just to think about it (see hemorrhage above). And that's the problem; to examine it properly, one's got to first straighten it out.

Actually, for me—the total anal-retentive-neat-freak and card-carrying minimalist—that exorcise was close to irresistible frankly. I imagine the famous Dr. Nigel Higgenbottom compelled similarly by an almost overwhelming curiosity to treat a new virulent strain on Kalaupapa.

Edelman, the world’s largest independent public relations firm, is seeking a Vice President to join its Me2Revolution practice, the PR industry's preeminent loss leader in the social media direct marketing space.

QUALIFICATIONS:

In addition to at least eight years public relations experience, the right candidate will have a keen understanding and have demonstrated advanced proficiency with all this new media stuff. Some track record of developing and executing successful social media strategies and programs is critical.

In addition to new media expertise, the right candidate must also have experience with all facets of marketing communications and brand management. If you've got a deep Rolodex filled with traditional media contacts and can drop a couple names, that'd be huge. Also, we're hoping you've got a least one item on your resume claiming responsibility for some PR/marketing program milestone with a big-name brand that we can boast about in front of potential clients.

Finally, besides excellent communication skills, the candidate should have a strong sense of self, as well as confidence in his or her abilities to provide counsel. S/he must have experience managing relationships with clients and serving as a strategic business partner on a senior level. Bottom line: s/he must be able to foster belief and be able to support it with substantive arguments on an ongoing basis if we're going to pull this off. At the very least here, we are looking for an entrepreneur who is able to keep a straight face in ambiguous situations.

RESPONSIBILITIES:

• Lead and direct an aggressive new business initiative;
• Assist with organizational development, staff training and development and quality control of account teams with clients (if and when that might be needed);
• Help us sustain the "Revolution" in spite of industry snickering;
• Maintain a blog and variously promote the "conversation" concept in spite of the current public backlash against manipulation, blogola and fraud;
• Twitter with practice president Rick Murray and use the word "cool" a lot;
• And most importantly, stimulate and manage monthly billing without drawing any attention.

If you're geeky and like playing with gadgets and other cool toys and you think you can help us convince companies to hire us to play with gadgets and other cool toys, visit www.edelman.com and complete an online application for job #002918.