Several years ago I worked for a man who had built a strong business and reputation over his 45 years in the corporate world; he asked me to help him hire an assistant. It was a small company with fewer than 10 employees, so the job wasn't only limited to assistant work, but would include some office management and event coordination to boot.

The New York Times recently published an article, Big Paycheck or Service? Students are Put to Test, about graduates who go into school with high ideals for changing the world, but come out working for big business. (Hat tip to Echoing Green for the link).

I've read Lisa Belkin's pieces for The New York Times for years, and Friday I had a chance to speak with her about how couples are finding innovative ways of managing their careers and households, how she got on the "Balance Beat", what was really the intention behind her now-famous article, "The Opt-Out Revolution," and her take on the question, will CEOs ever get flextime?

Once I was sent on a magazine writing assignment to attend a flirting class. The strangest thing about the curriculum of that class was that it broke down into tactics what seemed like the most natural of skills. But as I saw people struggling with the exercises, such as mirroring someone, showing interest, or just chit-chatting, I realized that not everyone is born a flirt.

Back in 2005, at the very first BlogHer conference I was asked to introduce BlogHer's Press and Discussion Policy for bloggers who would undoubtably be taking pictures and live-blogging throughout the event. I was also going to moderate our very first Naked Blogging Panel, with Ronni Bennett, Koan Bremner (who has taken her blog, Multidimensional Me, down since then), and Heather Armstrong.

Tony Kanaan wins the IndyCar race at the Detroit Belle Isle Grand Prix, Danica Patrick took second place in her best ever finish after a high jinx last lap and a half. Lorraine Schultz, CEO of the Women's Automotive Association International attended the preview dinner which provided a great photo op with several of the drivers, including Danica Patrick.