The New York Times is currently hiring stringer/researchers in Atlanta, Georgia. To ensure that you’re up for the job, the paper requests that you submit 5 story ideas that go beyond what the Times usually covers. What do they insist for this southern stringer/researcher?

“Please do not submit ideas concerning dog fights, cock fights, or the Confederate flag.”

Alright, so nothing about “dog fights, cock fights, or the Confederate flag”. But they didn’t say nothin’ ’bout possum recipes or moonshine! By golly, there ‘ya go!

Update: newscoma shares her application. Seems I might have some competition:

My name is Skeeter Bob Alice Hatfield. I am interested in writing for that there paper you got up there in the big city. I like big cities. I’d a sent my job page to you before but I was busy completing our moonshine harvest and then meth season is coming in so I had to take a bit of time eating three squares up at the jail. I’m out on good behavior. And I got me some new shoes from Wal Mart that the warden gave me as a going away prezzie.

I ain’t ever seen a dog fight but I did see two raccoons get intimate out on the farm one time and the only time I’ve ever seen a chicken is when grandpoppa would ring their necks for a country dinner.

Uncle Hubpie has a rebel flag, but when he got married to his first cousin Bertha, she made it into a table cloth with napkins for the wedding. It was purty.

I bet it was.