Profnets of the Week

by jill ~ September 23, 2008

It’s time again to take a look at some of the strange and interesting queries from Profnet, a service that sends us journalist queries and calls for sources dozens of times throughout the day. Enjoy!

LOL!
POP CULTURE: Slanguage Experts — TheRoot.com
I need a cultural sociologist knowledgeable about slang, or a linguist knowledgeable about cultural/sociological matters. I’m writing a piece about the appearance of the term “MILF” in our pop cultural lexicon. The term “MILF” apparently was coined in the 1999 film, “American Pie,” and was also used in an episode of Showtime’s popular comedy, “Weeds.” It is an acronym for “Mother’s I’d Like to F…” It was mentioned twice on the season-opener of “SNL” — the same one with the famous Tina Fey impersonation of Sarah Palin — and I am seeking guidance on how/why such a term appears to be gaining popularity with virtually no one protesting its skankiness. I’m a freelancer. Contact: Amy xxxxxxxxx, xxxx@aol.com

Woman’s World never disappoints with these queries.
BOTANY: Biblical Herbs — Woman’s World Magazine
I’m looking for info about herbs mentioned in the bible — myrrh, frankincense, etc. — that are still used to this day: what they do, how they work, and any research done on them. Contact: XXXX, xxxx@aol.com

And we thought trashcan marketing was strange…
MARKETING/TODAY: Cemetery/Funeral Marketing: Any News? — Ad Age
Can you tell I’ve had a bad day? I’m thinking of writing a piece for my Ad Age column on marketing death to boomers. I know cremations are up — so, supposedly, are above-ground burials. (Which is how I always described my mini-storage. But that’s neither here nor there.) I’d love to hear about any innovative ways funeral homes and cemeteries are going about the business of getting business. Because, of course, the competition is stiff. (Sorry, couldn’t resist.) Contact: Lenore xxxxx, xxxxx@yahoo.com