After writing that uber-cheesy marketing puff-peice, Boss floated another article for me to do. This one is 600 words (i.e. really short) but is slated for publication in a glossy-paged quarterly Which, upon looking at it, appears to be a *real* magazine...kinda like a niche-economics mini-foreign affairs. Its editorial board includes Paul Krugman and George Soros, and...drumroll...I have ten days to write this thing. Eek. Again, I have no clue.

Below is an amended version of the email Boss sent me... Is this punishment or a vote of confidence? Or both?

This is apparently boss-speak for "I'm sorry for yelling at you, but you should have done it faster/earlier. Now start on the next one!" I particularly liked the part where he says I should get a feel for "tone"- perhaps his way of saying, "please no more super-cheesy chiches... please?!"

Thanks for all your hard work on the article. Sorry for all the stress yesterday. That's why I like to have things done in advance. Monday deadlines are the worst.

The editor sent me a copy of the magazine. I'd like you to look at it so that you have an idea of the tone, format, and audience, assuming you are willing to do another article. This one is shorter, but that won't necessarily make it easier. Let's discuss.

Thanks again.

Boss