Off-The-Wall
Mannequin Madness
Mannequin Madness Henderson-Townsend’s company rents and sells mannequin body parts. When she first started, Henderson-Townsend mostly kept her company a secret. “I didn’t tell my parents at first because I knew they wouldn’t get it,†she says. She even named her business Mannequin Madness because she knew she was “either mad for doing this–or I’d [...]
Making a Living in Second Life
Jennifer Grinnell, Michigan furniture delivery dispatcher turned fashion designer in cyber space, never imagined that she could make a living in a video game. Grinnell’s shop, Mischief, is in Second Life, a virtual world whose users are responsible for creating all content. Grinnell’s digital clothing and “skins” allow users to change the appearance of their [...]
Nature Calls–And They Clean It Up
DoodyCalls They run a pooper scooper business. Let’s be real clear about this: Their company sends employees out into yards across communities to pick up dog poop. “When we first started, ‘disbelief’ would be the way to put it,†says Jacob, “disbelief bordering on pity.†When he told his employer he was quitting his job [...]
Murder Scene Mop-Up
It’s inevitable that when you meet someone new, the first question out of their mouth is, “So, what you do?” For those of us with normal jobs, the answer’s pretty straightforward. But what if your livelihood revolves around doing something that most people have never heard of? And, once they do hear, are puzzled that [...]
