We briefly went to the Northshore Mall today. I hadn't been there in a while, and I noticed a couple of changes. There's now an Orvis, which, combined with the one in Dedham, explains why the Quincy Market location is being closed. They do seem like a store with more of a suburban clientele anyway, and if someone in the city wants to buy a Barbour coat, they can go to the Barbour store on Newbury Street, or North River Outfitter on Charles.
Also, Brooks Brothers moved from its location next to Macy's to a two-level space adjacent to Nordstrom. I believe the space was formerly occupied by a dark, dull Zara for what seemed like about fifteen minutes. It has been transformed into a much brighter and more pleasant environment. There's a lot more room in this store, and the displays are able to take better advantage of that space.
The former Brooks location has been taken over by a Newbury Comics, which moved from a small strip-mall storefront a short way down the road from the mall. It's funny to see it situated between Macy's and Talbots, but in recent years Newbury has been transforming itself into something of a pop-culture department store, so it makes a certain sense. They carry a lot more clothing now, with emphasis on streetwear and skate brands as well as a generous selection of local sports team gear. Kids still spend plenty of time hanging out at the mall, so I'm sure there's enough foot traffic.
In other retail news, the Nordstrom Rack that is coming to Boylston Street in the former Filene's Basement space will be open within a month's time—I believe March 14th is the date I read.
18 February 2013
17 February 2013
This Week in Awesome (2/16/13)
Tomorrow: Bugs Bunny festival at the Brattle Theater...
Jimmy Fallon released the latest in the ongoing saga of Downton Sixbey.
I can identify only about a quarter of the movies referenced in this poster, but I didn't spend long looking at it. (Laughing Squid)
I don't really know how to describe this, but I do know that Lizzy Caplan is delightful, and I like it. (The Hairpin)
This week's time-lapse: stars over Death Valley. (Boing Boing via Laughing Squid)
And finally this week, a treatment for an affliction that affects thousands in areas like Brooklyn, Somerville, and Los Feliz. (Tastefully Offensive)
Jimmy Fallon released the latest in the ongoing saga of Downton Sixbey.
I can identify only about a quarter of the movies referenced in this poster, but I didn't spend long looking at it. (Laughing Squid)
I don't really know how to describe this, but I do know that Lizzy Caplan is delightful, and I like it. (The Hairpin)
This week's time-lapse: stars over Death Valley. (Boing Boing via Laughing Squid)
And finally this week, a treatment for an affliction that affects thousands in areas like Brooklyn, Somerville, and Los Feliz. (Tastefully Offensive)
15 February 2013
Retro Video Unit (2/15/13)
It seems that I forgot about this in the run-up to last week's storm, so I'll feature one today and one next Friday to get back on my arbitrary, self-imposed schedule.
I've posted a video by The Church before, but this is the song most people think of first when the band is mentioned, "Under The Milky Way." They are so much more than just this one song, but if this is how they are known/remembered, I don't mind.
I've posted a video by The Church before, but this is the song most people think of first when the band is mentioned, "Under The Milky Way." They are so much more than just this one song, but if this is how they are known/remembered, I don't mind.
Tweedy
I don't wear a lot of browns, but they are useful. Corduroy or moleskin pants, tweed jackets, boots—all look good in shades of brown and coordinate well with clothing in other colors.
I've had this sweater for well over a decade, maybe closer to 15 years. It's from the Macy's house brand Club Room. I was attracted to it because of the tweedy weave, with the variations in hues woven into it. (I know it looks sort of gray in this picture, but that's just my camera—it's definitely brown.)
The elbow patches were not original; I wore the sweater a lot, and holes developed in the elbows, so the Mrs. added the patches. Now you see this on sweaters all the time.
I've gone to pretty much all V-neck sweaters now, because I prefer that look, but I held onto this one because I liked it so much, and because I figured I'd never find anything similar enough to it. Until this fall that was true, but then a tweedy V-neck showed up at Club Monaco.
Not that long ago, there weren't even any Club Monaco stores in the US. The chain originated in Canada, and even after they opened stores here, the clothes they sold were a slightly more Eurofied iteration of Banana Republic. But a couple of years ago a new design director came in, and their style has shifted toward a decidedly more J. Crew aesthetic.
I'd still never bought anything there, and had only been in the Prudential Center store one or two times, finding nothing of interest. But I checked their website every once in a while, just so I'd have an idea of what they were offering, and that's where I saw this sweater:
It's a shade lighter than the old crewneck, but otherwise it's very similar, right down to the nubs of different-shaded yarns woven into the main color. There was also a dark brown version that went on sale almost immediately, but I had to wait three months for this one to get marked down, and then wait a little longer for CM to offer an extra 30% off sale merchandise, which brought it down to around half of its original price.
It doesn't have any elbow patches, but the Mrs. is going to add them.
I've had this sweater for well over a decade, maybe closer to 15 years. It's from the Macy's house brand Club Room. I was attracted to it because of the tweedy weave, with the variations in hues woven into it. (I know it looks sort of gray in this picture, but that's just my camera—it's definitely brown.)
I've gone to pretty much all V-neck sweaters now, because I prefer that look, but I held onto this one because I liked it so much, and because I figured I'd never find anything similar enough to it. Until this fall that was true, but then a tweedy V-neck showed up at Club Monaco.
Not that long ago, there weren't even any Club Monaco stores in the US. The chain originated in Canada, and even after they opened stores here, the clothes they sold were a slightly more Eurofied iteration of Banana Republic. But a couple of years ago a new design director came in, and their style has shifted toward a decidedly more J. Crew aesthetic.
I'd still never bought anything there, and had only been in the Prudential Center store one or two times, finding nothing of interest. But I checked their website every once in a while, just so I'd have an idea of what they were offering, and that's where I saw this sweater:
It doesn't have any elbow patches, but the Mrs. is going to add them.
14 February 2013
Early Awakening
Our entire household was rudely awakened at 4:30 this morning by loud noise in the street. It sounded like heavy equipment, and then there was the telltale beeping of a piece of machinery in reverse.
We got up to investigate, and it turned out the city was out clearing the storm drains and fire hydrants. A good idea, but did it need to be done predawn? I guess some people are pulling in some overtime.
The dog was the most upset by the disturbance. Truck engines still remind her of her many trips to the dog track, and this prolonged noise (at least five minutes) had her edgy and pacing around. Eventually they moved on and we all got back to sleep.
We got up to investigate, and it turned out the city was out clearing the storm drains and fire hydrants. A good idea, but did it need to be done predawn? I guess some people are pulling in some overtime.
The dog was the most upset by the disturbance. Truck engines still remind her of her many trips to the dog track, and this prolonged noise (at least five minutes) had her edgy and pacing around. Eventually they moved on and we all got back to sleep.
12 February 2013
Snow Shots
After the snowstorm was over, we had to begin the task of clearing the snow. On Saturday the objective was simply to clear the front steps and carve a path out to the street, mainly so we could walk the dog. I also made a path along the sidewalk in both directions.
On Sunday we needed to dig out the driveway so we could use the car:
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You can just see the nose of the car at the left edge of this picture, to give you an idea of how much we had to clear. After about an hour and 15 minutes, we were halfway done. At that point, a group of several teenagers with shovels came by looking to make some money, and asked us if we wanted help. We quickly agreed on what we would pay them and how much they would do for that amount, and they got to work:
It took them only about 20 minutes to finish. The result:
And all that snow had to go somewhere. This is only a small portion of it:
On Sunday we needed to dig out the driveway so we could use the car:
11 February 2013
Overheard: Lesson Learned Edition
At the theater last night, before the show started, three women in the row behind us were chatting and facebooking on their phones and such, then one said, "I just want to double-check that this is off. I don't want to be that person...again. Last week I was at a funeral and my phone rang."
09 February 2013
Digging Out
So the Blizzard of '13 (let's hope it's the only one) has come and gone. We never lost power, which is a relief. The official snowfall total at Logan Airport is 24.9 inches, ranking it at #5.
We seem to have gotten more than that here in Medford; when I finished clearing our front steps, I got a tape measure and the trough I had dug was 30 inches deep. There's also some drifting in our back yard that probably exceeds four feet in a couple of places.
The snow wasn't as heavy as I expected, but there's so much of it that I had to work on it in small sections. When clearing the snow from around our house, I normally try to remove as much as possible, but dealing with 30 inches of snow, even six linear inches at a time, is a daunting task.
Today I dug a path out to the street so the dog could finally be walked again, then worked in both directions to the adjacent property lines. All that took two hours. It's kind of cool to have a path that's only a shovel wide with these walls of snow on either side. I wanted to keep going, but I was worn out.
I didn't bother digging out the car yet, because we didn't need to go anywhere. Tomorrow is supposed to be sunny and somewhat less frigid, so we will work on clearing the driveway then. At some point we will also need to clear a path to the back door, but at the moment it's easier to use just the front door.
Also, our next-door neighbor is ill, and if no one else has cleared the sidewalk in front of their house by tomorrow, we will take care of it for them.
We seem to have gotten more than that here in Medford; when I finished clearing our front steps, I got a tape measure and the trough I had dug was 30 inches deep. There's also some drifting in our back yard that probably exceeds four feet in a couple of places.
The snow wasn't as heavy as I expected, but there's so much of it that I had to work on it in small sections. When clearing the snow from around our house, I normally try to remove as much as possible, but dealing with 30 inches of snow, even six linear inches at a time, is a daunting task.
Today I dug a path out to the street so the dog could finally be walked again, then worked in both directions to the adjacent property lines. All that took two hours. It's kind of cool to have a path that's only a shovel wide with these walls of snow on either side. I wanted to keep going, but I was worn out.
I didn't bother digging out the car yet, because we didn't need to go anywhere. Tomorrow is supposed to be sunny and somewhat less frigid, so we will work on clearing the driveway then. At some point we will also need to clear a path to the back door, but at the moment it's easier to use just the front door.
Also, our next-door neighbor is ill, and if no one else has cleared the sidewalk in front of their house by tomorrow, we will take care of it for them.
08 February 2013
Stocked Up and Ready
Well, we got back from the market about an hour ago, and we are definitely not the only people who waited until today to get provisions. But it was much less nutty than the reports from yesterday; it took less than five minutes to check out, and we were able to get everything we wanted/needed.
Some of the shelves were empty—there wasn't a lot of bread left, and the yogurt section was kind of decimated. Why yogurt? Don't know.
Bring on the storm...
PS: Snowstorms have names now? Weird.
Some of the shelves were empty—there wasn't a lot of bread left, and the yogurt section was kind of decimated. Why yogurt? Don't know.
Bring on the storm...
PS: Snowstorms have names now? Weird.
07 February 2013
Here It Comes
I haven't been anywhere, but I guess my brain has been elsewhere... so, we have a big snowstorm bearing down on us, the first major one in at least a couple of years. People typically rush to the supermarket to stock up on food and whatever else they might need, resulting in long checkout lines and empty shelves.
The Mrs. was in class all day and evening, so we didn't do that today. We didn't do it Wednesday evening either. We have enough of the basics: milk, bread, coffee and cream, and toilet paper. But there's still time; the snow will start tomorrow morning, but it will be falling lightly during the daytime. We can head to our closest store around 9 am and still be fine.
Today happens to be the 35th anniversary of the Blizzard of '78, the winter storm to which all other winter storms in this area are inevitably compared. It started on a Monday afternoon, and our street did not get plowed until some time on Thursday, and then only because my father, who was on the police department at the time and working double shifts, talked someone from the National Guard into coming down our street with a plow. We were out of school for a full week.
It seems unthinkable now that a storm could leave the region so paralyzed, but back then the forecasting equipment was not nearly as sophisticated as it is now, and if I remember correctly there was some confusion as to how severe the storm would actually be, and the warnings of a major snow event were not heeded by some. So much snow ended up falling so quickly that almost every road became impassable, and clearing even major roads took several days.
(Archival material I've seen since posting this affirms that the area of Rhode Island I lived in at the time received at least 30 inches of snow.)
After we get our provisions, we don't need to leave the house again (except for walking the dog) until Sunday, when we have tickets for the evening performance of The Glass Menagerie at the American Repertory Theater in Cambridge.
The Mrs. was in class all day and evening, so we didn't do that today. We didn't do it Wednesday evening either. We have enough of the basics: milk, bread, coffee and cream, and toilet paper. But there's still time; the snow will start tomorrow morning, but it will be falling lightly during the daytime. We can head to our closest store around 9 am and still be fine.
Today happens to be the 35th anniversary of the Blizzard of '78, the winter storm to which all other winter storms in this area are inevitably compared. It started on a Monday afternoon, and our street did not get plowed until some time on Thursday, and then only because my father, who was on the police department at the time and working double shifts, talked someone from the National Guard into coming down our street with a plow. We were out of school for a full week.
It seems unthinkable now that a storm could leave the region so paralyzed, but back then the forecasting equipment was not nearly as sophisticated as it is now, and if I remember correctly there was some confusion as to how severe the storm would actually be, and the warnings of a major snow event were not heeded by some. So much snow ended up falling so quickly that almost every road became impassable, and clearing even major roads took several days.
(Archival material I've seen since posting this affirms that the area of Rhode Island I lived in at the time received at least 30 inches of snow.)
After we get our provisions, we don't need to leave the house again (except for walking the dog) until Sunday, when we have tickets for the evening performance of The Glass Menagerie at the American Repertory Theater in Cambridge.
05 February 2013
Warm Hands
I don't spend all my time searching for American-made products, but I do like to know about them. One source for a lot of interesting stuff, both from the USA and elsewhere, is Kaufmann Mercantile.
KM puts a lot of thought into the products it chooses to sell; a look at any of their product description pages will confirm this. Some items are pricey, but others are quite reasonably priced.
A recent email from them highlighted ragg wool gloves made in upstate New York by one of the few remaining glove manufactures in the USA. I used to have these in college and I liked them, but I have to be honest: they are more effective when it isn't super cold out, unless they happen to also be insulated.
Still, I find them appealing in the way that simple, old-fashioned things often are, especially the ones with leather palms. The KM gloves have those (deerskin, actually) and they come in the traditional marled oatmeal color with tan leather, or in marled dark gray with black leather. And they cost only $22 a pair, which is a huge bargain in my view. They are available sized for men and women (though the lighter-colored women's gloves are sold out at the moment).
KM has other American-made gloves available, like these deerskin gloves and these wool-lined leather gloves. And they're also carrying my favorite winter hat, the Michigan-made Stormy Kromer.
KM puts a lot of thought into the products it chooses to sell; a look at any of their product description pages will confirm this. Some items are pricey, but others are quite reasonably priced.
A recent email from them highlighted ragg wool gloves made in upstate New York by one of the few remaining glove manufactures in the USA. I used to have these in college and I liked them, but I have to be honest: they are more effective when it isn't super cold out, unless they happen to also be insulated.
Still, I find them appealing in the way that simple, old-fashioned things often are, especially the ones with leather palms. The KM gloves have those (deerskin, actually) and they come in the traditional marled oatmeal color with tan leather, or in marled dark gray with black leather. And they cost only $22 a pair, which is a huge bargain in my view. They are available sized for men and women (though the lighter-colored women's gloves are sold out at the moment).
04 February 2013
Overheard: Career Conflict Edition
While walking past the deli counter at the supermarket, I overheard this, clearly from a supervisor to an employee: "What are you smiling about? You're not a male model, you're a deli guy. So quit smiling and get moving."
03 February 2013
This Week in Awesome (2/2/13)
It's snowing again, but barely enough to cover the sidewalks. I can get behind this concept...
I bet you saw this already, but I don't care; thematically, it's a must-link. (GQ Eye)
Do you watch movies and TV shows and think, "I wonder where they filmed that?" Here you go. (Laughing Squid)
You can now buy a die-cast replica of a Green Line trolley car (though it seems outrageous to me that, for $30, you're getting only half a trolley). But the real fun comes from imagining what to do with these things. (Dig Boston via Universal Hub)
And finally this week, two more Downton Abbey spoofs. (Videogum; Yahoo! Sketchy)
I bet you saw this already, but I don't care; thematically, it's a must-link. (GQ Eye)
Do you watch movies and TV shows and think, "I wonder where they filmed that?" Here you go. (Laughing Squid)
You can now buy a die-cast replica of a Green Line trolley car (though it seems outrageous to me that, for $30, you're getting only half a trolley). But the real fun comes from imagining what to do with these things. (Dig Boston via Universal Hub)
And finally this week, two more Downton Abbey spoofs. (Videogum; Yahoo! Sketchy)
01 February 2013
Inside Info?
Does being a fictional TV character give you access to inside information about the future plot direction of other TV shows?
During last night's 30 Rock finale, Liz Lemon, trying to talk Jack Donaghy out of killing himself (which he wasn't going to do anyway), yells to him: "Don't you want to know how Mad Men ends? Don goes to work for Peggy!" However, it was kind of hard to hear this because the background music was a little too foreground (a problem with a lot of TV shows), and at that point Liz was sort of shrieking; I had to go back and listen to the line three or four more times to decipher exactly what she was saying.
But what's interesting about the scenario Liz described (to me, anyway) is that it's been in my mind for some time as a possible ending for Mad Men. It's not entirely outside the realm of possibility (though I acknowledge that a great many things would have to happen), and it would probably be about the worst possible situation for someone like Don Draper.
Don't expect Matthew Weiner to have any sort of comment on this...
During last night's 30 Rock finale, Liz Lemon, trying to talk Jack Donaghy out of killing himself (which he wasn't going to do anyway), yells to him: "Don't you want to know how Mad Men ends? Don goes to work for Peggy!" However, it was kind of hard to hear this because the background music was a little too foreground (a problem with a lot of TV shows), and at that point Liz was sort of shrieking; I had to go back and listen to the line three or four more times to decipher exactly what she was saying.
But what's interesting about the scenario Liz described (to me, anyway) is that it's been in my mind for some time as a possible ending for Mad Men. It's not entirely outside the realm of possibility (though I acknowledge that a great many things would have to happen), and it would probably be about the worst possible situation for someone like Don Draper.
Don't expect Matthew Weiner to have any sort of comment on this...
31 January 2013
Shut It Down
After seven seasons and around 130 episodes (edit: Tina Fey says 140, so I'll go with her number), 30 Rock says goodbye tonight with a one-hour episode (8 pm Eastern on NBC). I have loved this show since it premiered in 2006, and my sadness at its end is something I don't usually experience with TV shows, regardless of how good they are.
Tina Fey and the other writers conjured an alternate-universe NBC full of crazy shows and crazier characters that somehow seemed like it was real, or at least could be real. My favorite moments include the two live episodes from seasons five and six, any episode with Liz's clueless ex-boyfriend Dennis Duffy, and the many appearances by NBC News's Brian Williams.
Last year I rewatched all of seasons one through five in order (the show airs in syndication on many channels) and I will probably do it all over again at some point, adding seasons six and seven (it's also on Netflix streaming). To me it's just that funny; I'll never get tired of it, and it will likely end up as one of my top five all-time favorite TV shows. (I think Liz would approve.)
There's been a LOT written about the show in the weeks leading up to its finale (a lengthy list is here), more than one could hope to get through in a reasonable amount of time, but you could do worse than reading these appreciations from Vulture's Matt Seitz and HitFix's Alan Sepinwall, and then take a spin with the Jack Donaghy Insult Generator.
Tina Fey and the other writers conjured an alternate-universe NBC full of crazy shows and crazier characters that somehow seemed like it was real, or at least could be real. My favorite moments include the two live episodes from seasons five and six, any episode with Liz's clueless ex-boyfriend Dennis Duffy, and the many appearances by NBC News's Brian Williams.
Last year I rewatched all of seasons one through five in order (the show airs in syndication on many channels) and I will probably do it all over again at some point, adding seasons six and seven (it's also on Netflix streaming). To me it's just that funny; I'll never get tired of it, and it will likely end up as one of my top five all-time favorite TV shows. (I think Liz would approve.)
There's been a LOT written about the show in the weeks leading up to its finale (a lengthy list is here), more than one could hope to get through in a reasonable amount of time, but you could do worse than reading these appreciations from Vulture's Matt Seitz and HitFix's Alan Sepinwall, and then take a spin with the Jack Donaghy Insult Generator.
Overheard: Wild Kingdom Edition
On the Orange Line: "Downtown, in front of where the Borders useta be, I saw a seagull eat a dead sparrow...whole."
29 January 2013
Food Stuff
I got an email from someone at Shake Shack thanking me for mentioning them in my bit from last month about eating in Manhattan. Not necessary at all, but nice of them. They also reminded me that they are coming to the Boston area (Chestnut Hill) later this year.
Also, the Mrs. has been waiting years for California-based See's Candies to open a permanent store in this area. The seasonal stores and carts in malls are nice, but we would like to be able to buy their dark chocolate nuts and chews assortment and walnut square bars year-round without having to order by mail. Well, according to the See's website, a store is opening Friday in the Natick Mall, and also one in Providence Place on the same day. Yay!
Also, the Mrs. has been waiting years for California-based See's Candies to open a permanent store in this area. The seasonal stores and carts in malls are nice, but we would like to be able to buy their dark chocolate nuts and chews assortment and walnut square bars year-round without having to order by mail. Well, according to the See's website, a store is opening Friday in the Natick Mall, and also one in Providence Place on the same day. Yay!
28 January 2013
The Hunt Is On
I haven't had an item of clothing to obsess over for a while, so I guess I was due. The other day I was downtown and went into Macy's to poke around, something I do maybe two or three times a year these days. This is a good time to check out clearance stuff, so that was enough of an excuse.
The clearance dress shirts were stocked standing up in boxes, arranged by neck size. I found a very nice Ralph Lauren shirt in gray end-on-end fabric, one of my favorites for dress shirts and in a color I could use. EOE fabric has tiny alternating lines of colored and white threads that you can see by looking at it really closely, but when viewed from a few feet away it appears as a textured solid.
Ralph's dress shirts fit me very nicely, and this one also had a spread collar, which is my preference for dress shirts, partly because it looks more dressed-up, and partly because the collar and knot of the tie form a sort of horizontal counterpoint to my longish, oval face. Most men's style advice I've seen says that a spread collar looks good on just about any man, and if you look at dressed-up guys on TV or even on the street you'll see that this tends to be accurate.
Unfortunately I could only find the shirt in neck sizes 17 and 17-1/2. I still wear a 16 after all these years, so I'll have to keep looking. At the clearance price it's worth it to expend some effort checking other Macy's stores that are T accessible. And it's something to do with my copious free time...
The clearance dress shirts were stocked standing up in boxes, arranged by neck size. I found a very nice Ralph Lauren shirt in gray end-on-end fabric, one of my favorites for dress shirts and in a color I could use. EOE fabric has tiny alternating lines of colored and white threads that you can see by looking at it really closely, but when viewed from a few feet away it appears as a textured solid.
Ralph's dress shirts fit me very nicely, and this one also had a spread collar, which is my preference for dress shirts, partly because it looks more dressed-up, and partly because the collar and knot of the tie form a sort of horizontal counterpoint to my longish, oval face. Most men's style advice I've seen says that a spread collar looks good on just about any man, and if you look at dressed-up guys on TV or even on the street you'll see that this tends to be accurate.
Unfortunately I could only find the shirt in neck sizes 17 and 17-1/2. I still wear a 16 after all these years, so I'll have to keep looking. At the clearance price it's worth it to expend some effort checking other Macy's stores that are T accessible. And it's something to do with my copious free time...
27 January 2013
This Week in Awesome (1/26/13)
I like it when we get only a fraction of an inch of snowfall and I can clear it with a push broom. Much easier than shoveling...
Remember the '80s? Remember the TV commercials? Want to get lost for nearly an hour? (Smash TV via Laughing Squid)
MBTA riders have to be able to laugh at their commuting misadventures, or they'd never be able to leave their houses. (Universal Hub)
Ladies, these are just for you: special products for women, here and here. (Yahoo! Screen; Funny or Die)
And finally this week, BU Today looks at how Kenmore Square has changed. The slide show moves way too quickly, but all the images in it are also available on this page, and are much larger anyway. (Universal Hub)
Remember the '80s? Remember the TV commercials? Want to get lost for nearly an hour? (Smash TV via Laughing Squid)
MBTA riders have to be able to laugh at their commuting misadventures, or they'd never be able to leave their houses. (Universal Hub)
Ladies, these are just for you: special products for women, here and here. (Yahoo! Screen; Funny or Die)
And finally this week, BU Today looks at how Kenmore Square has changed. The slide show moves way too quickly, but all the images in it are also available on this page, and are much larger anyway. (Universal Hub)
26 January 2013
Retro Video Unit (1/25/13)
As I was prowling around YouTube looking for clips, I was thinking about how so many of the songs I liked from back in the late 1970s did not have official videos, but often I will find vintage footage of live performances from back when the music was new.
I started thinking about Boston bands, and before long I found this clip of the legendary (to us locals, anyway) Neighborhoods performing both sides of their 1979-ish single, "Prettiest Girl" and "No Place Like Home." I still have this 45, packed away with all my vinyl.
I started thinking about Boston bands, and before long I found this clip of the legendary (to us locals, anyway) Neighborhoods performing both sides of their 1979-ish single, "Prettiest Girl" and "No Place Like Home." I still have this 45, packed away with all my vinyl.
25 January 2013
Medical Advice
Yesterday I saw a podiatrist. X-rays were taken which showed the presence of a small heel spur, confirming that the pain is, as suspected, due to plantar fascitis. But the small size of the spur means it hasn't progressed far and is still manageable.
I already know the basic parameters of what I need to be doing: ice, not heat; various stretching exercises; heel cushion inserts for my shoes; and wearing shoes with a defined heel. In other words, flatter shoes are bad. I spend the summer in boat shoes and flat-soled sneakers like Vans, so I may have contributed to this unknowingly.
For people whose pain does not get better, the podiatrist typically recommends physical therapy, and if that doesn't help, a cortisone injection. I hope my situation does not progress to that point. I just want to be able to walk with as little pain as possible.
I already know the basic parameters of what I need to be doing: ice, not heat; various stretching exercises; heel cushion inserts for my shoes; and wearing shoes with a defined heel. In other words, flatter shoes are bad. I spend the summer in boat shoes and flat-soled sneakers like Vans, so I may have contributed to this unknowingly.
For people whose pain does not get better, the podiatrist typically recommends physical therapy, and if that doesn't help, a cortisone injection. I hope my situation does not progress to that point. I just want to be able to walk with as little pain as possible.
24 January 2013
Overheard: Go (Insert Team Name Here) Edition
I was standing near a guy whose phone rang, but his ringtone was the music Fox uses during its NFL broadcasts.
23 January 2013
Coming Soon
Attention Mad Men fans: AMC has announced that the sixth season will premiere on Sunday, April 7th. Like last year, two episodes will air that night. I don't care for this practice, as it effectively shortens the show's season by a week, but TV programmers seem to favor it.
For whatever reason, season five has not yet made its way to Netflix streaming, but AMC already runs episodes from earlier seasons early on Sunday mornings, so they will undoubtedly be showing last season again for those still catching up, or just wanting to watch them again.
For whatever reason, season five has not yet made its way to Netflix streaming, but AMC already runs episodes from earlier seasons early on Sunday mornings, so they will undoubtedly be showing last season again for those still catching up, or just wanting to watch them again.
22 January 2013
Meal Planning
We're being careful about our expenses, so last week we stocked up at the grocery store, and over the weekend we made a bunch of food.
On Saturday I made meat loaf using a stupidly easy recipe from a Boston Globe cookbook published in the 1980s. It works nicely with a blend of ground beef and pork, and the market conveniently sells a package of the two combined. For me the whole point of making meatloaf is to have meatloaf sandwiches, which taste best the next day, after the loaf has been refrigerated, on good bread.
On Sunday I made chicken breasts, cut them up, and threw them together with tortellini and some cheese and olive oil. I then added pantry items we had on hand: a can of olives, a jar of artichoke hearts. We also had some grape tomatoes, so I put those in too. You can also make this with pre-cooked sausage like Trader Joe's (most markets carry some version of it) instead of the chicken.
Yesterday the Mrs. baked chicken thigh pieces that she had marinated overnight in the refrigerator. We'll be having those tonight with salad and some broccoli. Now we basically have enough food prepared for the rest of this week. Next week we'll shop again, and I'll make another batch of slow-cooker chili, which I've been perfecting for the past several months.
On Saturday I made meat loaf using a stupidly easy recipe from a Boston Globe cookbook published in the 1980s. It works nicely with a blend of ground beef and pork, and the market conveniently sells a package of the two combined. For me the whole point of making meatloaf is to have meatloaf sandwiches, which taste best the next day, after the loaf has been refrigerated, on good bread.
On Sunday I made chicken breasts, cut them up, and threw them together with tortellini and some cheese and olive oil. I then added pantry items we had on hand: a can of olives, a jar of artichoke hearts. We also had some grape tomatoes, so I put those in too. You can also make this with pre-cooked sausage like Trader Joe's (most markets carry some version of it) instead of the chicken.
Yesterday the Mrs. baked chicken thigh pieces that she had marinated overnight in the refrigerator. We'll be having those tonight with salad and some broccoli. Now we basically have enough food prepared for the rest of this week. Next week we'll shop again, and I'll make another batch of slow-cooker chili, which I've been perfecting for the past several months.
19 January 2013
This Week in Awesome (1/19/12)
Got it posted on Saturday! (slow clap) Anyway...
Remember when you used to have to leave your house to play video games? Here's a very interesting article on the history of video arcades. (The Verge via The Awl)
Who'd have thought termites would lead to these compelling photo opportunities? (Wired via Laughing Squid)
This video surely inspired Jimmy Fallon's "found footage" of a video dating service, and possibly also the "Lowered Expectations" running bit on MADtv. (The Daily What)
And finally this week, as 30 Rock nears its final episode, take a look back at some of the show's best jokes (Rolling Stone; hat tip to Dr. H), and then check out Tina Fey's thoughts about Twitter.
Remember when you used to have to leave your house to play video games? Here's a very interesting article on the history of video arcades. (The Verge via The Awl)
Who'd have thought termites would lead to these compelling photo opportunities? (Wired via Laughing Squid)
This video surely inspired Jimmy Fallon's "found footage" of a video dating service, and possibly also the "Lowered Expectations" running bit on MADtv. (The Daily What)
And finally this week, as 30 Rock nears its final episode, take a look back at some of the show's best jokes (Rolling Stone; hat tip to Dr. H), and then check out Tina Fey's thoughts about Twitter.
Start Your Engines
Great news for all you Top Gear fans: the new series (season to us Yanks) starts on BBC Two on January 27th, which is a week from tomorrow. I know a lot of people torrent the shows illegally right after they air, but according to Jalopnik, these episodes will air on BBC America a mere eight days after they've aired in the UK. I'm pretty sure that's the shortest gap yet between British and American airings.
I (along with many other people) have long wondered why it typically takes such a long time for the new episodes to make their way across the Atlantic, so let's hope this is how things are going to work from now on. If you have BBCA, look for the first episode of Series 19 on Monday, February 4th.
Also, to be fair, Top Gear USA returns to History Channel (?) on Tuesday, January 29th. We all know it isn't as good, but it still has its moments.
I (along with many other people) have long wondered why it typically takes such a long time for the new episodes to make their way across the Atlantic, so let's hope this is how things are going to work from now on. If you have BBCA, look for the first episode of Series 19 on Monday, February 4th.
Also, to be fair, Top Gear USA returns to History Channel (?) on Tuesday, January 29th. We all know it isn't as good, but it still has its moments.
Advice
When the doorbell rings and you aren't expecting anyone, it's probably better just to not answer it, especially if you're still in a bathrobe and haven't showered yet.
17 January 2013
Say It With Beer
I just saw this picture on Inside Medford. While I'm not as big a fan of Kappy's as I used to be (and certainly no fan of "Pissweiser"), I have to give them credit for effort.
(Picture copied from Inside Medford)
16 January 2013
Walk Safely
I just did a bizarre and rather obsessive-compulsive thing.
Today's snow was soft and slushy. We got only about an inch, and by the time I went out to clear it around 10 am, it came off the sidewalk easily, leaving no residue behind. A little later it warmed up a bit, the snow changed to rain, and some of it even started to melt.
Now, though, it's starting to cool down again, and anything left on the walks is going to freeze overnight. I just came back from walking the dog, and the business that occupies the corner lot two buildings down from us had plowed their parking area as they always do, but they left the sidewalk untouched, along with an area at the back of their property on the side street.
I walk along these places with the dog one or two times each day, and given that she's getting older, she's been having a little trouble on the slippery spots. After the last storm there were some icy patches that didn't go away until this past Monday, so after I finished walking her I put her back in the house, grabbed my shovel (which was conveniently still on the back porch where I'd left it this morning), and went over to the corner and cleared the slushy areas around the business's lot. I didn't do it just for me and the dog; I also did it for the dozens of people who walk around here every day.
Today's snow was soft and slushy. We got only about an inch, and by the time I went out to clear it around 10 am, it came off the sidewalk easily, leaving no residue behind. A little later it warmed up a bit, the snow changed to rain, and some of it even started to melt.
Now, though, it's starting to cool down again, and anything left on the walks is going to freeze overnight. I just came back from walking the dog, and the business that occupies the corner lot two buildings down from us had plowed their parking area as they always do, but they left the sidewalk untouched, along with an area at the back of their property on the side street.
I walk along these places with the dog one or two times each day, and given that she's getting older, she's been having a little trouble on the slippery spots. After the last storm there were some icy patches that didn't go away until this past Monday, so after I finished walking her I put her back in the house, grabbed my shovel (which was conveniently still on the back porch where I'd left it this morning), and went over to the corner and cleared the slushy areas around the business's lot. I didn't do it just for me and the dog; I also did it for the dozens of people who walk around here every day.
Foot Relief?
Over the weekend I was talking with a friend I hadn't seen in a while, and somehow the subject of plantar fascitis came up. Turns out he's had it in both feet, but he went to a podiatrist and got orthotic inserts for his shoes, so this seems like a logical move for me as well.
14 January 2013
Last Week in Awesome (1/12/13)
I had everything ready for this, but totally forgot about it until I was getting ready to go to bed last night. Oh well...
This is the intersection of design-nerd and car-nerd interests. (Curbside Classic)
This week's time-lapse: building a bridge. (Berkeleyside)
A misheard lyric in a song (" 'scuse me while I kiss this guy," etc.) is known as a "mondegreen." but what about when a song references something you just aren't familiar with? (Mental Floss via Blogfood)
And finally this week, last week Jimmy Kimmel Live moved to its earlier time slot right after the local news, but there was some confusion along the way.
This is the intersection of design-nerd and car-nerd interests. (Curbside Classic)
This week's time-lapse: building a bridge. (Berkeleyside)
A misheard lyric in a song (" 'scuse me while I kiss this guy," etc.) is known as a "mondegreen." but what about when a song references something you just aren't familiar with? (Mental Floss via Blogfood)
And finally this week, last week Jimmy Kimmel Live moved to its earlier time slot right after the local news, but there was some confusion along the way.
12 January 2013
Retro Video Unit (1/11/13)
I heard this while in the car a week or so ago, and it's one of those songs that instantly takes me back to when it was first released as a single in late 1979. At the time I was mainly listening to WBCN, because it was one of the only stations playing the new, different, and interesting music that I craved. But talent is talent, and "Heartbreaker" is the kind of song that forces you to notice it.
It's that voice. At the time, I had never heard a female singer with a voice like Pat Benatar's, except maybe Ann Wilson of Heart. It still kind of amazes me when I hear it. And that's one of the things that remains so thrilling about music—the power of a voice, and the sense of discovery.
(Oh, and Pat just celebrated her 60th birthday on Thursday.)
As is frequently the case with songs from this era, there's no official video that I could locate, but there are several live performances from around the time her first album came out, so I decided to feature a couple of them:
It's that voice. At the time, I had never heard a female singer with a voice like Pat Benatar's, except maybe Ann Wilson of Heart. It still kind of amazes me when I hear it. And that's one of the things that remains so thrilling about music—the power of a voice, and the sense of discovery.
(Oh, and Pat just celebrated her 60th birthday on Thursday.)
As is frequently the case with songs from this era, there's no official video that I could locate, but there are several live performances from around the time her first album came out, so I decided to feature a couple of them:
Today's Weirdness
I usually take the dog for her afternoon walk between 2 and 3 pm, and that seems to be when things happen around here. The day after our encounter with the National Grid guy, a police officer stopped to see if I had seen a seeing-eye dog that had escaped from its owner nearby. (I never heard anything more about that, so I don't know how it turned out.)
Today as we were out on our walk, a guy came down the street on rollerblades... being pulled by two huskies at a decent clip, in the middle of the street. A couple of minutes later they passed us again, going back in the direction they'd originally come from. I don't usually take my phone with me when I walk the dog, but I really wish I'd had it with me today so I could have taken a picture.
Today as we were out on our walk, a guy came down the street on rollerblades... being pulled by two huskies at a decent clip, in the middle of the street. A couple of minutes later they passed us again, going back in the direction they'd originally come from. I don't usually take my phone with me when I walk the dog, but I really wish I'd had it with me today so I could have taken a picture.
10 January 2013
Linens & Domestics
I was just changing the bed, and since I had pulled out the down comforter in haste when I was sick a couple of weeks ago, I'd put it on the bed without its cover, so I took that out too.
The cover is bright red, with variegated stripes in several colors: pink, orange, white, green, turquoise, and blue. It came from Target, and we have a set of sheets that goes with it, but those were at the bottom of the plastic bin where we store our sheets, so I chose another set, in a lighter green organic cotton with a vine pattern.
The Mrs. saw me stuffing the comforter into its cover and said, "That doesn't go with the sheets."
I replied, "Don't care." She was surprised. "You don't care?"
My reasoning: it's a bed, not an outfit. It's not being photographed for a shelter magazine, so it doesn't need to look perfectly matched, just be clean and comfortable. There is a bit of green in the cover, and it's not that far off from the green of the sheets, but... whatever.
The cover is bright red, with variegated stripes in several colors: pink, orange, white, green, turquoise, and blue. It came from Target, and we have a set of sheets that goes with it, but those were at the bottom of the plastic bin where we store our sheets, so I chose another set, in a lighter green organic cotton with a vine pattern.
The Mrs. saw me stuffing the comforter into its cover and said, "That doesn't go with the sheets."
I replied, "Don't care." She was surprised. "You don't care?"
My reasoning: it's a bed, not an outfit. It's not being photographed for a shelter magazine, so it doesn't need to look perfectly matched, just be clean and comfortable. There is a bit of green in the cover, and it's not that far off from the green of the sheets, but... whatever.
09 January 2013
The Sale Game
At this time of year, there are a lot of good clearance sales and extra discounts going on, and you can pick up sweaters and things that you'll make use of right away and for the next couple of months (although the way things are going with weather patterns, that may not continue to be the case).
The trick to these sales is finding the things you want in your size and/or color. I got three J. Crew gift cards over the holidays, and I've had my eye on a couple of items. I've had a contact in customer service for a couple of years who is usually able to locate items in my size, even if they have sold out online. Last week I wanted to take advantage of the extra 30% off sale items, so I emailed him, but he was unable to find either item.
The extra discount went away for a couple of days but came back this week and will be around through next weekend. Typically the sale section gets restocked every few days, as items get returned and added back into inventory. Yesterday I lucked out and was able to order one thing I wanted, a pair of shearling-lined chukka boots. But online shopping can be iffy about inventory levels, and until I get the email confirming that the shoes have shipped, the order could still be canceled. Meanwhile I'm still checking daily to see if the other item I want reappears in my size.
Update, 1:20 pm: And the shipping confirmation just came through...
The trick to these sales is finding the things you want in your size and/or color. I got three J. Crew gift cards over the holidays, and I've had my eye on a couple of items. I've had a contact in customer service for a couple of years who is usually able to locate items in my size, even if they have sold out online. Last week I wanted to take advantage of the extra 30% off sale items, so I emailed him, but he was unable to find either item.
The extra discount went away for a couple of days but came back this week and will be around through next weekend. Typically the sale section gets restocked every few days, as items get returned and added back into inventory. Yesterday I lucked out and was able to order one thing I wanted, a pair of shearling-lined chukka boots. But online shopping can be iffy about inventory levels, and until I get the email confirming that the shoes have shipped, the order could still be canceled. Meanwhile I'm still checking daily to see if the other item I want reappears in my size.
Update, 1:20 pm: And the shipping confirmation just came through...
07 January 2013
Existential Delivery
I'm not sure which is more disappointing: a day with no mail, or a day when every piece of mail we receive goes directly into the recycling.
This Week in Awesome (1/5/13)
No wait, I really do have TWiA this week, honest... well, it's after midnight Sunday, but I say it still counts.
These illustrations of cities without lights are very cool. (The Daily What)
Do you have a "first-world problem"? Help is here.
This was bouncing around the Mrs.' facebook the other day, so you may have already seen it, but someone was kind enough to provide a link to a static page that got picked up on Universal Hub: one crucial difference between New York and Boston.
Who says blind people can't take photographs? (Laughing Squid via Photojojo)
And finally this week, your New Year's Eve could not have been worse than this disastrous live TV broadcast on a Los Angeles-area station. Keep in mind, this is just an edited version of a few of the, um, highlights? (Grantland)
These illustrations of cities without lights are very cool. (The Daily What)
Do you have a "first-world problem"? Help is here.
This was bouncing around the Mrs.' facebook the other day, so you may have already seen it, but someone was kind enough to provide a link to a static page that got picked up on Universal Hub: one crucial difference between New York and Boston.
Who says blind people can't take photographs? (Laughing Squid via Photojojo)
And finally this week, your New Year's Eve could not have been worse than this disastrous live TV broadcast on a Los Angeles-area station. Keep in mind, this is just an edited version of a few of the, um, highlights? (Grantland)
05 January 2013
Hang It Up
Wire hangers have faded from common use (aside from when you get your clothing back from a dry cleaner). But I'm no fan of plastic hangers either. Several years back I replaced my plastic shirt hangers with wooden ones. I bought them in boxes of 20 at Bed Bath and Beyond. They still carry them, but they aren't as good a deal now; I think they come in packages of six or 12.
If you live in the vicinity of an Ocean State Job Lot store, there's a much better deal available to you. They have wooden hangers for 50 cents each, which is about what I paid per hanger for my first couple of batches from BB&B. These don't have a crossbar, so they might not work so well for heavier outerwear, but if you stick to using them for shirts and light jackets, they will do just fine.
Yesterday I discovered an even better deal at Job Lot: suit hangers. Suit jackets and sportcoats should be hung on wider hangers to preserve the shape at the shoulders and keep the jacket draped properly. Several of my sportcoats are vintage items I found on eBay, and a couple of my suits were bought online, so none of them came with hangers. Even if you buy a suit from a department store, there's no guarantee you'll get an appropriate hanger with it. You might have to ask for it, or you may be told it's store policy to keep the hangers.
What you want is a hanger that flares out toward the ends to at least a couple of inches wide. A bar for holding trousers is also nice. OSJL has hangers like this for only $2.25 each. I've been looking for such hangers for a while now; the best price I've been able to find online is $6 each for ones without a crossbar, $7 each with the bar, from a site called Wooden Hangers USA. I was about to place an order from them, and while the hangers I found yesterday may not be as durable, the lower cost is much better for my wallet at the moment. I grabbed half a dozen, and I may go back for more if needed.
If you live in the vicinity of an Ocean State Job Lot store, there's a much better deal available to you. They have wooden hangers for 50 cents each, which is about what I paid per hanger for my first couple of batches from BB&B. These don't have a crossbar, so they might not work so well for heavier outerwear, but if you stick to using them for shirts and light jackets, they will do just fine.
Yesterday I discovered an even better deal at Job Lot: suit hangers. Suit jackets and sportcoats should be hung on wider hangers to preserve the shape at the shoulders and keep the jacket draped properly. Several of my sportcoats are vintage items I found on eBay, and a couple of my suits were bought online, so none of them came with hangers. Even if you buy a suit from a department store, there's no guarantee you'll get an appropriate hanger with it. You might have to ask for it, or you may be told it's store policy to keep the hangers.
What you want is a hanger that flares out toward the ends to at least a couple of inches wide. A bar for holding trousers is also nice. OSJL has hangers like this for only $2.25 each. I've been looking for such hangers for a while now; the best price I've been able to find online is $6 each for ones without a crossbar, $7 each with the bar, from a site called Wooden Hangers USA. I was about to place an order from them, and while the hangers I found yesterday may not be as durable, the lower cost is much better for my wallet at the moment. I grabbed half a dozen, and I may go back for more if needed.
04 January 2013
Wasted Paper
The phone books started showing up on steps and porches around my neighborhood this week. It happens every year, and since there are several different ones, it will go on for a while. This is so stupid and wasteful, plus it puts the burden of disposal on the recipients.
In 2013 printed phone books are unnecessary for most people, and it's rather surprising that these companies spend the money to compile and print something that few people want or need. I remember reading about a city out west (maybe Seattle?) that passed a law that residents had to be offered the option to opt out of receiving phone books. This is incredibly sensible, and seems like something that might also be handled by a state's department of consumer affairs.
In 2013 printed phone books are unnecessary for most people, and it's rather surprising that these companies spend the money to compile and print something that few people want or need. I remember reading about a city out west (maybe Seattle?) that passed a law that residents had to be offered the option to opt out of receiving phone books. This is incredibly sensible, and seems like something that might also be handled by a state's department of consumer affairs.
03 January 2013
Dog Tales
After it snows, there is ample evidence of the number of dogs in our neighborhood. Of course, our dog insists on stopping to sniff every single yellow spot left by the other dogs, because they're right on the surface and therefore that much more accessible. It's not such a big deal when it's 30 degrees, but on a night like this when the temperature is flirting with 10, it can be a comfort issue. The dog doesn't seem to notice the cold; she still wants her outside time.
Also, when I was out with the dog this afternoon, a man driving a National Grid van stopped to ask me about an address. He then told me I was going to heaven because I had adopted a greyhound. That wasn't among our motivations at the time, but I'll take it.
Also, when I was out with the dog this afternoon, a man driving a National Grid van stopped to ask me about an address. He then told me I was going to heaven because I had adopted a greyhound. That wasn't among our motivations at the time, but I'll take it.
01 January 2013
Holiday Thoughts
Happy new year, everyone. Just a couple of quick bits before I return to my day of torpor...
For New Year's Eve TV broadcasts, nothing can beat Anderson Cooper and Kathy Griffin on CNN. She spends the entire time trying to embarrass and befuddle him, and he tries to deflect by repeating, "I don't know what you're talking about." It's loose and unscripted, the opposite of the canned revelry on the major network shows.
Also, if you're a fan of the amazing FX series Louie, there's an excellent piece on New York magazine's Vulture blog about this year's season finale, which aired in September and was called "New Year's Eve." (If you aren't caught up on Louie, you probably shouldn't read it.)
For New Year's Eve TV broadcasts, nothing can beat Anderson Cooper and Kathy Griffin on CNN. She spends the entire time trying to embarrass and befuddle him, and he tries to deflect by repeating, "I don't know what you're talking about." It's loose and unscripted, the opposite of the canned revelry on the major network shows.
Also, if you're a fan of the amazing FX series Louie, there's an excellent piece on New York magazine's Vulture blog about this year's season finale, which aired in September and was called "New Year's Eve." (If you aren't caught up on Louie, you probably shouldn't read it.)
31 December 2012
Comforted
A couple of weeks ago I brought up our down comforter from storage in the basement. Because last winter was so unusually mild, we didn't even need the heavy-duty bedding, but this year I knew colder weather was on the way.
Then I got sick. Last Sunday night I got into bed and immediately started having chills. The comforter was leaning against a wall, waiting to be unpacked from its zipper bag. I got up, shivering, and quickly threw it on the bed. After I got back in bed and the warmth started slowly returning to my body, I realized that there is no warmth quite like the warmth one feels when nestled under a down comforter.
This one is around 20 years old. I distinctly remember buying it when I was still single, at the old Jordan Marsh store downtown. I'd been a fairly regular patron of their bedding department since realizing I needed to buy double-size sheets for the first time right after graduating from college.
Back in the early '90s, Jordan Marsh and its competitor Filene's ran their sale ads almost every day in the Boston Globe. Being underemployed and relatively poor, I would have been watching and waiting for a "white sale," and most likely purchased the comforter with money received for Christmas from my parents. I know it was around $70 at the time, which from this vantage point seems like a solid investment; nowadays I don't really know what one costs, but I do know that A Proper Bostonian recommends Cuddledown and The Company Store, and I also know courtesy of her that there's a Cuddledown outlet up in Freeport, Maine.
Then I got sick. Last Sunday night I got into bed and immediately started having chills. The comforter was leaning against a wall, waiting to be unpacked from its zipper bag. I got up, shivering, and quickly threw it on the bed. After I got back in bed and the warmth started slowly returning to my body, I realized that there is no warmth quite like the warmth one feels when nestled under a down comforter.
This one is around 20 years old. I distinctly remember buying it when I was still single, at the old Jordan Marsh store downtown. I'd been a fairly regular patron of their bedding department since realizing I needed to buy double-size sheets for the first time right after graduating from college.
Back in the early '90s, Jordan Marsh and its competitor Filene's ran their sale ads almost every day in the Boston Globe. Being underemployed and relatively poor, I would have been watching and waiting for a "white sale," and most likely purchased the comforter with money received for Christmas from my parents. I know it was around $70 at the time, which from this vantage point seems like a solid investment; nowadays I don't really know what one costs, but I do know that A Proper Bostonian recommends Cuddledown and The Company Store, and I also know courtesy of her that there's a Cuddledown outlet up in Freeport, Maine.
30 December 2012
Retro Video Unit (12/28/12)
It's been another slowish week around the ol' blog, with traveling for Christmas and recovering from a cold. TWiA is also taking this weekend off.
There is real snow falling outside the SAR abode, the first we've seen in quite some time. Still not sure what sort of winter we're in for, but my gut says a repeat of last year is too much to hope for.
Meanwhile, it seems I overlooked my final Retro Video of 2012.. sometimes I think of songs for this and wonder how I haven't thought of them sooner. That's certainly the case with this one, "A Million Miles Away" by The Plimsouls. This song is roughly 30 years old, and it still makes my spine tingle a bit every time I hear it. For me, it's about as close to perfection as a single song can be.
There is real snow falling outside the SAR abode, the first we've seen in quite some time. Still not sure what sort of winter we're in for, but my gut says a repeat of last year is too much to hope for.
Meanwhile, it seems I overlooked my final Retro Video of 2012.. sometimes I think of songs for this and wonder how I haven't thought of them sooner. That's certainly the case with this one, "A Million Miles Away" by The Plimsouls. This song is roughly 30 years old, and it still makes my spine tingle a bit every time I hear it. For me, it's about as close to perfection as a single song can be.
27 December 2012
Perspective
I hope all of you who celebrate Christmas had an excellent one. We ate ourselves silly and spent some time with my family. My cold is slowly departing, and since it's kind of unpleasant outside, it's a perfect day to stay in and watch movies.
I was a bit down on the holiday season this year, due to the setback of being laid off yet again. I wasn't able to bounce back quickly into another job as I'd hoped, and consequently I had to lower my expectations for giving and receiving. The Mrs. is still in school full-time, so we decided we didn't need to give each other anything.
Maybe I had to choose the more prudent path and forgo buying myself a Nook this year, but I can still roam used bookstores and find books I want to read for less than their ebook counterparts. Other big-ticket items can also wait, plus I have a pile of stuff that I can sell.
Ultimately, I realized that I have everything I need, and quite a bit more. Whatever else there is, is a bonus. Like the J. Crew gift cards I got from my family...
I was a bit down on the holiday season this year, due to the setback of being laid off yet again. I wasn't able to bounce back quickly into another job as I'd hoped, and consequently I had to lower my expectations for giving and receiving. The Mrs. is still in school full-time, so we decided we didn't need to give each other anything.
Maybe I had to choose the more prudent path and forgo buying myself a Nook this year, but I can still roam used bookstores and find books I want to read for less than their ebook counterparts. Other big-ticket items can also wait, plus I have a pile of stuff that I can sell.
Ultimately, I realized that I have everything I need, and quite a bit more. Whatever else there is, is a bonus. Like the J. Crew gift cards I got from my family...
24 December 2012
Christmas Cold
I got an early Christmas present from the Mrs.: the cold she had last week. I haven't had the slightest illness in at least a couple of years, so I'm not too thrilled.
When she told me she felt like she was getting sick, I started fortifying myself with Emergen-C. I thought I was going to come through unaffected, but four days later I noticed a funny feeling and I knew I was getting it. The timing is terrible, as we're now at my family's house in Rhode Island. Now I have to see how quickly I can shake it.
When she told me she felt like she was getting sick, I started fortifying myself with Emergen-C. I thought I was going to come through unaffected, but four days later I noticed a funny feeling and I knew I was getting it. The timing is terrible, as we're now at my family's house in Rhode Island. Now I have to see how quickly I can shake it.
23 December 2012
This Week in Awesome (12/22/12)
I may not have posted much this past week, but I was still diligently gathering internet stuff for you, my loyal readers...
There's still time for one more riff on A Charile Brown Christmas. (The Daily What)
The things that can be accomplished with a camera will never stop being fascinating to me. (Flickr via Laughing Squid)
Some of these people are trying too hard; others aren't trying hard enough. (Laughing Squid)
Jimmy Kimmel looks back on the Year in Unnecessary Censorship. (Hypervocal)
And finally this week, car-nut site Jalopnik has a recurring feature of crazy video footage from Russian dashboard cameras. (Apparently most people in Russia drive around with a dash-mounted camera to prevent insurance fraud from faked accidents.) Appropriately, they did a year-end wrap-up of the most insane moments captured on video, and it does not disappoint.
There's still time for one more riff on A Charile Brown Christmas. (The Daily What)
The things that can be accomplished with a camera will never stop being fascinating to me. (Flickr via Laughing Squid)
Some of these people are trying too hard; others aren't trying hard enough. (Laughing Squid)
Jimmy Kimmel looks back on the Year in Unnecessary Censorship. (Hypervocal)
And finally this week, car-nut site Jalopnik has a recurring feature of crazy video footage from Russian dashboard cameras. (Apparently most people in Russia drive around with a dash-mounted camera to prevent insurance fraud from faked accidents.) Appropriately, they did a year-end wrap-up of the most insane moments captured on video, and it does not disappoint.
21 December 2012
Seasonal Discounts
I know I've been light on posts this week. It was unintentional; I guess I've had less inspiration than usual.
I have probably said this before, but while gift-giving to family and friends is thoughtful and nice, this is a great time of year to shop for oneself. The holiday season coincides nicely with the end of the fall clothing season for retailers, and all kinds of great markdowns are happening.
Since spring I've been looking for a dress shirt in chambray fabric. It's one of those unusual items that no one really needs, but it can make an outfit more interesting. I would most likely wear it with a tweed sportcoat and a tie, but in the right situation you could wear one with a suit.
Shoe mainstay Allen Edmonds offers a small selection of clothing, and they introduced a chambray dress shirt this fall, but at $125 it was out of reach for me. Now, though, it has been marked down to $50, which is 60% off. The catch: it's a trim fit, so it's not for everyone. Banana Republic is offering a similar shirt at a regular price of $80, with 30% off discount codes readily available to bring it down to $56.
Neither of these shirts is offered in neck-and-sleeve dress shirt sizing (I haven't been able to find any such offering in chambray), so its usefulness could be something of a gamble. From the size info on the AE site I learned that the sizing was a bit unusual: the medium has a 16 neck. I wear a 16 in dress shirts, but that usually corresponds to a large, so I was concerned about how it would fit in the body, especially being a size down from my "usual."
I decided I needed to try it on. I was going to order one online, but I was out the other day and my local AE store had the shirt in stock, so I bought one there. To my surprise, the medium fits, though it's definitely close-fitting. That's how I prefer dress shirts to fit, and it's no slimmer than any of my other dress shirts. The collar also buttons and fits properly, so I can wear it with a tie, which is the point after all. Even the sleeves are the correct length. I think it's just plain luck that it fits me so well.
There are a couple of other styles of "dress shirts" available from AE right now at the same discounted price, a tattersall in blue and white or khaki and white, or a blue and white butcher stripe. By the way, all the Allen Edmonds shirts are made in USA, which is fairly unusual, and it's highly unlikely you will find other American-made shirts for $50 anytime soon. Sizes are getting limited, so they probably won't last much longer. If you live near an AE store, I'd suggest checking to see what they have in stock.
I have probably said this before, but while gift-giving to family and friends is thoughtful and nice, this is a great time of year to shop for oneself. The holiday season coincides nicely with the end of the fall clothing season for retailers, and all kinds of great markdowns are happening.
Since spring I've been looking for a dress shirt in chambray fabric. It's one of those unusual items that no one really needs, but it can make an outfit more interesting. I would most likely wear it with a tweed sportcoat and a tie, but in the right situation you could wear one with a suit.
Shoe mainstay Allen Edmonds offers a small selection of clothing, and they introduced a chambray dress shirt this fall, but at $125 it was out of reach for me. Now, though, it has been marked down to $50, which is 60% off. The catch: it's a trim fit, so it's not for everyone. Banana Republic is offering a similar shirt at a regular price of $80, with 30% off discount codes readily available to bring it down to $56.
Neither of these shirts is offered in neck-and-sleeve dress shirt sizing (I haven't been able to find any such offering in chambray), so its usefulness could be something of a gamble. From the size info on the AE site I learned that the sizing was a bit unusual: the medium has a 16 neck. I wear a 16 in dress shirts, but that usually corresponds to a large, so I was concerned about how it would fit in the body, especially being a size down from my "usual."
I decided I needed to try it on. I was going to order one online, but I was out the other day and my local AE store had the shirt in stock, so I bought one there. To my surprise, the medium fits, though it's definitely close-fitting. That's how I prefer dress shirts to fit, and it's no slimmer than any of my other dress shirts. The collar also buttons and fits properly, so I can wear it with a tie, which is the point after all. Even the sleeves are the correct length. I think it's just plain luck that it fits me so well.
There are a couple of other styles of "dress shirts" available from AE right now at the same discounted price, a tattersall in blue and white or khaki and white, or a blue and white butcher stripe. By the way, all the Allen Edmonds shirts are made in USA, which is fairly unusual, and it's highly unlikely you will find other American-made shirts for $50 anytime soon. Sizes are getting limited, so they probably won't last much longer. If you live near an AE store, I'd suggest checking to see what they have in stock.
19 December 2012
Foot Update
At the risk of boring everyone, my foot still hurts and I imagine it will for a while, but it's been no worse than it was a week ago, when it was the most painful, and has maybe even gotten a little better.
I've been able to keep things more or less steady with ice and the gel heel cushions. Even walking around in New York didn't hurt as much as I thought it would.
Maybe it will start to improve, but at least I'm able to get around normally. My folding cane arrived today; I'd hoped to have it for the trip, but I still think it might be a good idea to keep it in case my recovery doesn't progress as I'm hoping.
I've been able to keep things more or less steady with ice and the gel heel cushions. Even walking around in New York didn't hurt as much as I thought it would.
Maybe it will start to improve, but at least I'm able to get around normally. My folding cane arrived today; I'd hoped to have it for the trip, but I still think it might be a good idea to keep it in case my recovery doesn't progress as I'm hoping.
17 December 2012
24 Hours
We went to New York over the weekend, but due to time and budget constraints we stayed over only one night this time. With such a short amount of time to spend, it's best to have a couple of things you want to accomplish and let the rest happen as it may.
In this case our primary goal was to eat. You can spend a fortune on some of the world's best dining in New York, but one of the things I love about the city is that you can have a great time and eat very well without spending a lot. If you're planning on visiting New York, these are places I recommend going.
Shake Shack will be coming to Massachusetts next year (specifically Chestnut Hill), but it's still fun to visit the original location in Madison Square Park. The food is delicious and fresh, and you can have a burger, fries, and shake for around $15. (I skipped the fries.) The park location is a walk-up stand with outdoor seating; on Saturday it was mostly sunny and around 47 degrees, still a bit chilly to eat outside, but there are heat-lamp fixtures to cut the chill. If that's not your thing, there are other Manhattan locations with indoor seating.
Over on Second Avenue in the East Village, a humble candy store that opened in 1954 evolved into Veselka, a homey 24-hour place serving "Ukranian soul food" (pierogi, goulash, stuffed cabbage) along with sandwiches and burgers, breakfast, desserts, and other good stuff. After three visits I can say this is a place I would be happy to eat at every single time I'm in New York. Authentic atmosphere can't be manufactured; it has to be earned, and Veselka is the real deal. They've opened a second location a few blocks away, but it's more of a bar scene (over 100 vodkas are offered) with a more modern, more expensive menu. I'm sure it's good, but I'll stick with the original.
On Sunday morning we headed for the Doughnut Plant on Grand Street. I love doughnuts, but I try to have them only occasionally, and there's little worse than having a bad doughnut and the accompanying feeling of having wasted the calories on one. You will have no such worry at the Doughnut Plant; in fact, this place is worth breaking any kind of diet you may be on.
It's a doughnut lover's paradise: the cake doughnuts are offered in flavors like pistachio and triple chocolate mint; the filled doughnuts are square (seriously); and there are smaller specialty "doughseeds" like creme brulee and chocolate hazelnut. Right now they're also offering doughnuts in seasonal holiday flavors like cranberry, marzipan, gingerbread, and panettone.
Nothing I've tried is too sweet, which makes me feel a tiny bit less guilty about them. I think the peanut butter and blackberry jam is a must-try; it's definitely my favorite so far. There's also a second location on the ground floor of the Chelsea Hotel on West 23rd Street, if you don't feel like heading all the way downtown.
In this case our primary goal was to eat. You can spend a fortune on some of the world's best dining in New York, but one of the things I love about the city is that you can have a great time and eat very well without spending a lot. If you're planning on visiting New York, these are places I recommend going.
Shake Shack will be coming to Massachusetts next year (specifically Chestnut Hill), but it's still fun to visit the original location in Madison Square Park. The food is delicious and fresh, and you can have a burger, fries, and shake for around $15. (I skipped the fries.) The park location is a walk-up stand with outdoor seating; on Saturday it was mostly sunny and around 47 degrees, still a bit chilly to eat outside, but there are heat-lamp fixtures to cut the chill. If that's not your thing, there are other Manhattan locations with indoor seating.
Over on Second Avenue in the East Village, a humble candy store that opened in 1954 evolved into Veselka, a homey 24-hour place serving "Ukranian soul food" (pierogi, goulash, stuffed cabbage) along with sandwiches and burgers, breakfast, desserts, and other good stuff. After three visits I can say this is a place I would be happy to eat at every single time I'm in New York. Authentic atmosphere can't be manufactured; it has to be earned, and Veselka is the real deal. They've opened a second location a few blocks away, but it's more of a bar scene (over 100 vodkas are offered) with a more modern, more expensive menu. I'm sure it's good, but I'll stick with the original.
On Sunday morning we headed for the Doughnut Plant on Grand Street. I love doughnuts, but I try to have them only occasionally, and there's little worse than having a bad doughnut and the accompanying feeling of having wasted the calories on one. You will have no such worry at the Doughnut Plant; in fact, this place is worth breaking any kind of diet you may be on.
It's a doughnut lover's paradise: the cake doughnuts are offered in flavors like pistachio and triple chocolate mint; the filled doughnuts are square (seriously); and there are smaller specialty "doughseeds" like creme brulee and chocolate hazelnut. Right now they're also offering doughnuts in seasonal holiday flavors like cranberry, marzipan, gingerbread, and panettone.
Nothing I've tried is too sweet, which makes me feel a tiny bit less guilty about them. I think the peanut butter and blackberry jam is a must-try; it's definitely my favorite so far. There's also a second location on the ground floor of the Chelsea Hotel on West 23rd Street, if you don't feel like heading all the way downtown.
15 December 2012
This Week in Awesome (12/15/12)
If you're seeing this on Saturday morning, the Mrs. and I are on our way to New York, but I still left you something for the weekend...
As both a word nerd and an all-around persnickety person, I love this sort of stuff. (The Atlantic)
This clip from A Charlie Brown Christmas may not be exactly the way you remember it. (Laughing Squid)
Here's a fun bit of retro-futurism to waste some time with. (Mashable via Basket of Kisses)
And finally this week, two takeoffs on Breaking Bad from two different sources. The second one also amounts to a Downton Abbey spoof. (Tastefully Offensive; Colbert Nation)
As both a word nerd and an all-around persnickety person, I love this sort of stuff. (The Atlantic)
This clip from A Charlie Brown Christmas may not be exactly the way you remember it. (Laughing Squid)
Here's a fun bit of retro-futurism to waste some time with. (Mashable via Basket of Kisses)
And finally this week, two takeoffs on Breaking Bad from two different sources. The second one also amounts to a Downton Abbey spoof. (Tastefully Offensive; Colbert Nation)
14 December 2012
Retro Video Unit (12/14/12)
After my link to the Pogues story last weekend, the choice for this installment is an obvious one:
Pain Management
The past few days have been interesting, if not exactly pleasant. I've been in considerable pain whenever I walk, but I can't exactly give up walking. Here are a few things I've discovered.
First, pain relievers aren't helping at all. I tried both naproxen and ibuprofen, and neither made any difference. Given that, I don't see much point in taking them. Icing my foot has helped; I just have to remember to do it. Also, stretching works the foot and leg, though that hurts too.
What has also made a difference are gel heel cushions in my shoes. It seems obvious, but they do make walking a bit less painful. Also, I found that using them in a pair of shoes with a relatively flat sole was more comfortable than in shoes with a more defined heel. That goes against advice I read to use arch supports, but I've never had good arches so maybe that's why flat shoes are working better for me. Of course, I don't want to be limited to wearing one style of shoes.
I've been a fast walker my whole life, so it's frustrating to have no choice but to move more slowly.
While looking for canes online, I found that there are collapsible canes, something I hadn't thought about in decades (in college I knew a guy with worse vision than me, who used to use a folding cane to aid in getting around without tripping over curbs and such). If I'm going to choose that option, even occasionally, it would be nice to have something compact that I could store in my bag or in a pocket, so I ordered a folding cane. (My local CVS had only standard canes, and I can imagine myself losing one of those.)
Maybe it's something I'll only use if I've been walking a lot, or if my heel is feeling particularly painful, but I think it would be a good idea to have one around.
First, pain relievers aren't helping at all. I tried both naproxen and ibuprofen, and neither made any difference. Given that, I don't see much point in taking them. Icing my foot has helped; I just have to remember to do it. Also, stretching works the foot and leg, though that hurts too.
What has also made a difference are gel heel cushions in my shoes. It seems obvious, but they do make walking a bit less painful. Also, I found that using them in a pair of shoes with a relatively flat sole was more comfortable than in shoes with a more defined heel. That goes against advice I read to use arch supports, but I've never had good arches so maybe that's why flat shoes are working better for me. Of course, I don't want to be limited to wearing one style of shoes.
I've been a fast walker my whole life, so it's frustrating to have no choice but to move more slowly.
While looking for canes online, I found that there are collapsible canes, something I hadn't thought about in decades (in college I knew a guy with worse vision than me, who used to use a folding cane to aid in getting around without tripping over curbs and such). If I'm going to choose that option, even occasionally, it would be nice to have something compact that I could store in my bag or in a pocket, so I ordered a folding cane. (My local CVS had only standard canes, and I can imagine myself losing one of those.)
Maybe it's something I'll only use if I've been walking a lot, or if my heel is feeling particularly painful, but I think it would be a good idea to have one around.
12 December 2012
11 December 2012
Ow
I think I might have plantar fascitis. I've had pain in my right heel for a couple of weeks but I didn't think much about it until it started getting more painful a few days ago. Today I was out for a few hours and did a fair amount of walking, and after an hour or so my heel really started to hurt.
I have not talked to a doctor about this, but some quick online research combined with what I can vaguely recall from our published content where I used to work suggests that PF is the most likely cause. The initial treatment is pain relievers and ice, and stretching is also recommended.
The bad thing is, we're making a very brief trip (just overnight) trip to New York this weekend, and that always means a lot of walking. It wasn't mentioned anywhere in what I read, but I think a cane or walking stick might help, since it would let me take some weight off my right foot when walking. I may try to find one tomorrow. It's a medical aid—and a fashion statement! Right?
Getting old sure is fun...
I have not talked to a doctor about this, but some quick online research combined with what I can vaguely recall from our published content where I used to work suggests that PF is the most likely cause. The initial treatment is pain relievers and ice, and stretching is also recommended.
The bad thing is, we're making a very brief trip (just overnight) trip to New York this weekend, and that always means a lot of walking. It wasn't mentioned anywhere in what I read, but I think a cane or walking stick might help, since it would let me take some weight off my right foot when walking. I may try to find one tomorrow. It's a medical aid—and a fashion statement! Right?
Getting old sure is fun...
Sixties Style
This seems like a good time to mention that Mad Men is back in production (and has been for a month or so, I believe). Here are some pix of Elisabeth Moss as Peggy, standing next to new boss Ted Chaough in the funky umber-brown suit.
By now we're probably closer to the start of season six than the end of season five, which is a very good thing.
By now we're probably closer to the start of season six than the end of season five, which is a very good thing.
09 December 2012
This Week in Awesome (12/8/12)
What's the best type of whiskey to use in egg nog?
HitFix TV critic Alan Sepinwall has written a book about how shows like The Sopranos and Mad Men have changed television. An excerpt about Lost will give you a taste. (Grantland)
This week's time-lapse video takes us to Cambodia's capital, Phnom Penh. (The Daily What)
Jimmy Fallon and Tracy Morgan read 'Twas The Night Before Christmas. But you'd probably watch the two of them read just about anything, right? (Late Night With Jimmy Fallon via Hulu)
Here's a collection of photos taken by people with an uncanny combination of luck and good timing. (BuzzFeed)
And finally this week, the story behind my favorite Christmas song, "Fairytale of New York" by The Pogues featuring Kirsty MacColl. (The Guardian via The Awl)
HitFix TV critic Alan Sepinwall has written a book about how shows like The Sopranos and Mad Men have changed television. An excerpt about Lost will give you a taste. (Grantland)
This week's time-lapse video takes us to Cambodia's capital, Phnom Penh. (The Daily What)
Jimmy Fallon and Tracy Morgan read 'Twas The Night Before Christmas. But you'd probably watch the two of them read just about anything, right? (Late Night With Jimmy Fallon via Hulu)
Here's a collection of photos taken by people with an uncanny combination of luck and good timing. (BuzzFeed)
And finally this week, the story behind my favorite Christmas song, "Fairytale of New York" by The Pogues featuring Kirsty MacColl. (The Guardian via The Awl)
08 December 2012
Loungewer
My Visa card earns me $10 credits to use at L.L. Bean. I guess I don't shop there as much as I used to, because I noticed last week that my credits were accumulating. I also noticed that they expire one year after being issued, and the oldest would expire in January.
I did need a new bathrobe, so I looked over that section of their website. I was going to get a regular flannel robe, but then I noticed that Bean offers robes made of its chamois cloth. It's thicker and heftier than flannel, perfect for a robe.
It's available in three solid colors (navy, gray, burgundy) and two plaids (green/black and red/black). I went with the red and black plaid, and it's very cozy, and more comfortable than the robe I had before. These are also available in tall sizes, which might be nice if you are over 6 feet.
When I ordered mine there was 15% off for Bean cardholders; after that I applied almost all of my $10 credits, so the robe cost me nearly nothing. I kept a couple of credits for future use, and I got a $10 gift card with the order.
I did need a new bathrobe, so I looked over that section of their website. I was going to get a regular flannel robe, but then I noticed that Bean offers robes made of its chamois cloth. It's thicker and heftier than flannel, perfect for a robe.
It's available in three solid colors (navy, gray, burgundy) and two plaids (green/black and red/black). I went with the red and black plaid, and it's very cozy, and more comfortable than the robe I had before. These are also available in tall sizes, which might be nice if you are over 6 feet.
When I ordered mine there was 15% off for Bean cardholders; after that I applied almost all of my $10 credits, so the robe cost me nearly nothing. I kept a couple of credits for future use, and I got a $10 gift card with the order.
06 December 2012
The Party Don't Stop
Key & Peele is a very funny sketch show on Comedy Central. This was on a few weeks ago, but I thought it was one of the funnier bits they did this season. (The show got picked up for a third season and will be back some time in '13.)
It takes a minute or two for the gag to become evident here, so stay with it...
It takes a minute or two for the gag to become evident here, so stay with it...
05 December 2012
Twill and Tweed
I don't need a new daily-carry bag, having bought an excellent one just over a year ago, but this just-released beauty from Filson certainly caught my eye. They've taken their standard waxed-cotton briefcase and added Harris Tweed accents.
(image borrowed from Filson website)
I love the colors in this, and it's just a great-looking pattern that goes so well with Filson's "otter green" twill fabric. The bag is also available in black with black-and-white herringbone tweed, but to my eye that one doesn't look nearly as good as this one does.
I love the colors in this, and it's just a great-looking pattern that goes so well with Filson's "otter green" twill fabric. The bag is also available in black with black-and-white herringbone tweed, but to my eye that one doesn't look nearly as good as this one does.
04 December 2012
Canine Dietary Choices
We have always been very careful about what our dog eats. She's 11 now, and we want to make sure she doesn't become overweight and put unnecessary stress on her legs. We don't give her any food or treats that come from overseas (little or no regulation of ingredients), and we are careful about the food we do buy for her.
Dogs love dairy products, but they should be given only in small amounts. Our dog gets a spoonful of plain yogurt on her food each day because it's good for her coat and her digestion. Otherwise human food—an occasional nibble of chicken or cheese, a few licks of vanilla ice cream—is a very rare treat.
Which brings me to this...
If I told you I had no idea how this happened, would you believe me?
Dogs love dairy products, but they should be given only in small amounts. Our dog gets a spoonful of plain yogurt on her food each day because it's good for her coat and her digestion. Otherwise human food—an occasional nibble of chicken or cheese, a few licks of vanilla ice cream—is a very rare treat.
Which brings me to this...
03 December 2012
Yard Work
Our next-door neighbor is having a tree removed from his yard today. It's located on the edge of his property between his garage and ours, but the bulk of it hung over our garage, so the tree service needed to use our driveway to get its bucket truck close enough.
As a result we've had a front-row seat for the whole endeavor since about 8:30 this morning. Right now they've swapped the bucket for a giant chipper to devour the branches. Parked in the narrow space between the two houses, it is extremely loud.
As a result we've had a front-row seat for the whole endeavor since about 8:30 this morning. Right now they've swapped the bucket for a giant chipper to devour the branches. Parked in the narrow space between the two houses, it is extremely loud.
02 December 2012
This Week in Awesome (12/1/12)
Hello, December. Wait, what?
Show your support for your favorite historical event with one of these fictional nonfiction T-shirts. (Laughing Squid)
Have you ever watched an old movie and thought to yourself, "This movie needs Nicolas Cage"? Done. (Pleated Jeans via Videogum)
This is my kind of Advent calendar. (Instructables)
And finally this week, some music: a BuzzFeed list of 22 worthy albums that folks may have overlooked this year. I'm not quite as plugged into what's happening in music as I used to be, so I have only one of these. (BuzzFeed via The Hairpin)
(Not really related, but worth mentioning: I have to praise BuzzFeed for eschewing slideshows on its list pages. I despise them and want them to go away forever, along with the infinitely-scrolling page style that facebook has inflicted on all of us, whether we use the site or not.)
Show your support for your favorite historical event with one of these fictional nonfiction T-shirts. (Laughing Squid)
Have you ever watched an old movie and thought to yourself, "This movie needs Nicolas Cage"? Done. (Pleated Jeans via Videogum)
This is my kind of Advent calendar. (Instructables)
And finally this week, some music: a BuzzFeed list of 22 worthy albums that folks may have overlooked this year. I'm not quite as plugged into what's happening in music as I used to be, so I have only one of these. (BuzzFeed via The Hairpin)
(Not really related, but worth mentioning: I have to praise BuzzFeed for eschewing slideshows on its list pages. I despise them and want them to go away forever, along with the infinitely-scrolling page style that facebook has inflicted on all of us, whether we use the site or not.)
30 November 2012
Retro Video Unit (11/30/12)
This one popped up on my iPod as we were driving home from Thanksgiving. One of the many synthesizer-based bands that found success in the early 1980s, Orchestral Manoeuvres in the Dark (OMD) had a series of hit singles including "If You Leave" from the soundtrack of the John Hughes movie Pretty In Pink.
Though this song, "Enola Gay," is from their second album, it's the first song I ever heard by them. Like some other '80s bands, OMD reformed several years back and are again recording and performing.
Though this song, "Enola Gay," is from their second album, it's the first song I ever heard by them. Like some other '80s bands, OMD reformed several years back and are again recording and performing.
Deal Alert
You never have to pay full price for anything from Lands' End, because there are constant coupon codes available. Some codes offer better discounts than others, but it seems like they offer 30% off at least every couple of weeks. (Usually you have to spend $50 to get free shipping.) Maybe every six weeks or so, LE offers a code for 40% off one item, which is a good way to purchase something with a higher regular price.
A few months ago LE introduced American-made jeans, after earlier bringing out American-made sweats and T-shirts. I haven't tried on the jeans or seen them in person, but the effort to offer this type of product at a more reasonable price than comparable US-made jeans is admirable. The regular price for these jeans is just below $100, and with the 40% off code you can get a pair for under $60, shipped to you for free. (If you aren't happy with them, you can return them to any Sears store that sells Lands' End merchandise.)
To make things just a little more confusing, LE offers these US-made jeans in both their regular line and in their more modern Canvas line, and each of those is available in two fits. The differences between all of the fits are a little nebulous, but generally the Canvas items are cut slimmer and have a lower waist than their standard LE counterparts. With the free shipping and easy returns, you could order your size in two fits and see if you prefer one to the other.
The current code JINGLE and PIN 1203 (you need both at checkout) is good through Monday, December 3rd. The $50 minimum for free shipping applies, but ordering even one pair of these jeans will put you over that.
A few months ago LE introduced American-made jeans, after earlier bringing out American-made sweats and T-shirts. I haven't tried on the jeans or seen them in person, but the effort to offer this type of product at a more reasonable price than comparable US-made jeans is admirable. The regular price for these jeans is just below $100, and with the 40% off code you can get a pair for under $60, shipped to you for free. (If you aren't happy with them, you can return them to any Sears store that sells Lands' End merchandise.)
To make things just a little more confusing, LE offers these US-made jeans in both their regular line and in their more modern Canvas line, and each of those is available in two fits. The differences between all of the fits are a little nebulous, but generally the Canvas items are cut slimmer and have a lower waist than their standard LE counterparts. With the free shipping and easy returns, you could order your size in two fits and see if you prefer one to the other.
The current code JINGLE and PIN 1203 (you need both at checkout) is good through Monday, December 3rd. The $50 minimum for free shipping applies, but ordering even one pair of these jeans will put you over that.
Gift Idea: Tickets to Something
I'm not presumptuous enough to try to put together a comprehensive holiday gift guide, but sometimes it's difficult to come up with the right gift for someone.
One suggestion is to consider getting tickets to a play or musical, a concert, the opera, the ballet, the circus—it can be any sort of event, as long as you know the recipient will enjoy going, and you will enjoy going with her/him. I know someone who reads this blog who once took his then-girlfriend to a monster truck event on Valentine's Day. (Your mileage may vary depending on your recipient's capacity for appreciation of irony.) Or, if your giftee loves Gregorian chants and you can't handle them, consider giving the tickets with the intention of having the recipient bring another friend or relative.
The cool thing about this gift choice is, the person receiving the gift has the excitement of opening it and seeing what it is, then a whole other round of anticipation leading up to the event itself. If it happens to be in another city and requires travel, like a Broadway show in New York, then that makes it even more exciting.
One thing to remember: for many one-time events like concerts, tickets can go on sale as far as six months ahead of the event date, so depending on your loved one's interests, you may need to be thinking about this gift and planning it well ahead of time. But it will be worth it, and it will show you've been paying attention.
One suggestion is to consider getting tickets to a play or musical, a concert, the opera, the ballet, the circus—it can be any sort of event, as long as you know the recipient will enjoy going, and you will enjoy going with her/him. I know someone who reads this blog who once took his then-girlfriend to a monster truck event on Valentine's Day. (Your mileage may vary depending on your recipient's capacity for appreciation of irony.) Or, if your giftee loves Gregorian chants and you can't handle them, consider giving the tickets with the intention of having the recipient bring another friend or relative.
The cool thing about this gift choice is, the person receiving the gift has the excitement of opening it and seeing what it is, then a whole other round of anticipation leading up to the event itself. If it happens to be in another city and requires travel, like a Broadway show in New York, then that makes it even more exciting.
One thing to remember: for many one-time events like concerts, tickets can go on sale as far as six months ahead of the event date, so depending on your loved one's interests, you may need to be thinking about this gift and planning it well ahead of time. But it will be worth it, and it will show you've been paying attention.
28 November 2012
Vintage Tech
Today I saw a guy with a portable CD player. I guess some people just prefer to keep it old school.
27 November 2012
Tweedy
Following up from last week, here are some additional pictures of the vintage Brooks Brothers tweed jacket I recently acquired.
The fabric is a traditional black and white weave, but the pattern is slightly less so. Instead of a typical herringbone, this is less regular—I think I have seen this referred to as a "broken bone" pattern, with the longer diagonal sections interspersed with shorter, zigzag sections.
On top of that, there's a windowpane. The horizontal lines are sort of a beige or light tan, but the vertical lines are a bright blue. Taken all together it makes for a very unusual and distinctive pattern. Flecks of other colors are scattered around randomly in the weave, something else I like.
The lapels are 3.5" wide, which is perfect—not too wide, not too narrow. Three-button front rolls very nicely to the center button. Two-button cuffs aren't seen much these days, which affirms my belief that this is at least a few decades old, but there isn't anything to go on in terms of interior labeling that could help narrow it down.
I'm not a big fan of patch pockets, but as long as they have flaps they make perfect sense on a jacket like this one. (Open-top patch pockets are a little too European for my taste.)
I have a beautiful Donegal tweed jacket that I got from Lands' End about 15 years ago, back when they were still offering very nice stuff at very reasonable prices, and it was made in the USA. Unfortunately this jacket no longer fits me, so for at least the past year I have been searching for a suitable replacement. I wanted something very specific, and this was a lucky confluence of color, pattern, fit, and price. The fact that it's vintage is just a bonus.
I have a beautiful Donegal tweed jacket that I got from Lands' End about 15 years ago, back when they were still offering very nice stuff at very reasonable prices, and it was made in the USA. Unfortunately this jacket no longer fits me, so for at least the past year I have been searching for a suitable replacement. I wanted something very specific, and this was a lucky confluence of color, pattern, fit, and price. The fact that it's vintage is just a bonus.
26 November 2012
Monday Reality Check
There's nothing quite like accidentally poking yourself in the eye to put everything in perspective.
25 November 2012
This Week in Awesome (11/24/12)
I hope you all have had a pleasant holiday weekend. Now let's get back to the usual foolishness...
TV news bloopers—nothing more need be said. (The Daily What)
This is one of the more interesting music mashups I've seen (heard?) in quite a while. (Laughing Squid via Waxy)
This collection of objects reminds me of the Island of Misfit Toys from Rudolph The Red-Nosed Reindeer. (Paradise Row via The Daily What)
I can't imagine having this much free time, but if I did I doubt I'd spend it this way. Also, it must have cost a fortune. (The Daily What)
And finally this week, if you've ever wanted to travel the entire length of Route 66, give this a look. (Laughing Squid)
TV news bloopers—nothing more need be said. (The Daily What)
This is one of the more interesting music mashups I've seen (heard?) in quite a while. (Laughing Squid via Waxy)
This collection of objects reminds me of the Island of Misfit Toys from Rudolph The Red-Nosed Reindeer. (Paradise Row via The Daily What)
I can't imagine having this much free time, but if I did I doubt I'd spend it this way. Also, it must have cost a fortune. (The Daily What)
And finally this week, if you've ever wanted to travel the entire length of Route 66, give this a look. (Laughing Squid)
24 November 2012
Food Thoughts
Yesterday my mother said she wanted pizza for dinner. It's kind of an ideal way to phase out of turkey and all the trimmings.
And apple pie makes an excellent Saturday morning breakfast.
And apple pie makes an excellent Saturday morning breakfast.
21 November 2012
Time and Texture
I took this shot today with my phone, for no reason other than I liked how everything looked together:
The Spaceview has been seen before; the shirt is an L.L. Bean Signature chambray, the jacket is a vintage Brooks Brothers tweed that I recently scored on eBay. It's a very interesting jacket, so I think I'll post some additional shots of it soon.
20 November 2012
Another Chance for Pie
Following up from last week's Pie Day post: the deadline to order a pie was last Saturday, but if you want to get a pie and support Community Servings, you can still do so.
Tomorrow is pickup day for those who pre-ordered pies, and as I have done for the past three years, I will be at a pickup location downtown. If you missed out on pre-ordering, the good news is that many of these locations will also be doing walk-up sales.
Over the years so many people stopped at the pickup tables and said that they had forgotten to order, or hadn't heard of Community Servings and Pie in the Sky, so it was natural to offer this option. Here is the list of on-site sales locations.
Tomorrow is pickup day for those who pre-ordered pies, and as I have done for the past three years, I will be at a pickup location downtown. If you missed out on pre-ordering, the good news is that many of these locations will also be doing walk-up sales.
Over the years so many people stopped at the pickup tables and said that they had forgotten to order, or hadn't heard of Community Servings and Pie in the Sky, so it was natural to offer this option. Here is the list of on-site sales locations.
19 November 2012
Closed on Thanksgiving
Yeah, TWiA did not happen this weekend, in case anyone was wondering. It'll definitely be back next weekend.
At this point I'm pretty sure I don't have to mention that you should not go shopping on Black Friday, right? So it totally goes without saying that you shouldn't go shopping on Thanksgiving Day either, unless you're doing it on your computer. Besides, the Patriots are playing the Jets in prime time on Thursday, so why would you be doing anything else instead of watching that?
Anyway, I got an email today from JCPenney CEO Ron Johnson that reads, in part:
I keep hearing that working on these Thursday-night openings is voluntary, and there may be employees who do want to work those shifts, but having spent more than a decade working in various retail settings, I know too well that "voluntary" often means "compulsory." I think retail employees deserve to have the Thanksgiving holiday off, and I think that staying away from stores on Thursday night is a simple thing you can do to show your support for that belief.
At this point I'm pretty sure I don't have to mention that you should not go shopping on Black Friday, right? So it totally goes without saying that you shouldn't go shopping on Thanksgiving Day either, unless you're doing it on your computer. Besides, the Patriots are playing the Jets in prime time on Thursday, so why would you be doing anything else instead of watching that?
Anyway, I got an email today from JCPenney CEO Ron Johnson that reads, in part:
...and yes, we're going to start our Black Friday—on Friday.
I know that some retailers are opening on Thanksgiving this year. But spending Thanksgiving with family is one of America's greatest traditions. Since jcp was founded on the Golden Rule, I'm proud to honor this tradition by keeping our stores closed on this special day.
I hope our customers and employees all enjoy a wonderful holiday with loved ones.Thank you, Mr. Johnson, for doing your part to respect this holiday. Look, I understand that some people don't enjoy holidays for whatever reasons, and not everyone gets along with their family members. But there also have to be some limits to the lengths retailers will go to to separate people from their money, and the effect these policies have on their employees.
I keep hearing that working on these Thursday-night openings is voluntary, and there may be employees who do want to work those shifts, but having spent more than a decade working in various retail settings, I know too well that "voluntary" often means "compulsory." I think retail employees deserve to have the Thanksgiving holiday off, and I think that staying away from stores on Thursday night is a simple thing you can do to show your support for that belief.
17 November 2012
Retro Video Unit (11/16/12)
I'm in the mood for a trip in the wayback machine, back to some real first-wave new wave. Who better, then, than Gary Numan?
He wasn't the first rock performer to float the "I've just arrived on your planet from outer space and I'm here to blow your minds and change music forever" story, but he certainly looked like it might have been true.
His early releases were genuinely groundbreaking, and he's still recording and touring after nearly four decades, mainly in Europe, where he has remained popular all along. Here's one of my favorite songs of his, "Down in the Park," a live version from the outstanding compilation album Urgh! A Music War.
He wasn't the first rock performer to float the "I've just arrived on your planet from outer space and I'm here to blow your minds and change music forever" story, but he certainly looked like it might have been true.
His early releases were genuinely groundbreaking, and he's still recording and touring after nearly four decades, mainly in Europe, where he has remained popular all along. Here's one of my favorite songs of his, "Down in the Park," a live version from the outstanding compilation album Urgh! A Music War.
14 November 2012
Don't Be An...
I just learned that there is a book about the history of the word "asshole" and what it has come to mean in our society. It's a serious book, written by a linguist. This is excellent; I want to read it.
13 November 2012
Hi There
I spent a couple of hours today trying to coax people into having a free piece of cake, explaining why free cake was being given away, and handing them postcards they could refer to after they'd walked away and forgotten what I'd said.
I haven't dealt with the public in any meaningful capacity for almost seven years. I've never handed out flyers or anything like that. But what was very interesting about today was: I had a hell of a time just getting people to make eye contact, even as I was speaking to them.
As people walked toward me in the mall corridor, I would say "hi there" or "hello" or something like that. Talk about a tough crowd. I'd say I had barely a 1% success rate. And I'm not talking about the people texting, talking on the phone, or otherwise manipulating a digital device. I didn't even bother with them. When people try to talk to me or hand me things on the street, I always say "no thanks" so they at least know I'm not ignoring them.
If I succeeded in making eye contact, it was a lot easier. I would then say something like, "Are you in the mood for some dessert?" That got most people's attention. But most people wouldn't even acknowledge that I was speaking to them. Look, I get it, you're on your lunch break, you only have 30 minutes and you have to get three other errands done before you have to go back. I'm not trying to poison you or sell you anything. Really. I'm just trying to get you to look me in the eye for a second, that's all. Come on, give it a try.
I haven't dealt with the public in any meaningful capacity for almost seven years. I've never handed out flyers or anything like that. But what was very interesting about today was: I had a hell of a time just getting people to make eye contact, even as I was speaking to them.
As people walked toward me in the mall corridor, I would say "hi there" or "hello" or something like that. Talk about a tough crowd. I'd say I had barely a 1% success rate. And I'm not talking about the people texting, talking on the phone, or otherwise manipulating a digital device. I didn't even bother with them. When people try to talk to me or hand me things on the street, I always say "no thanks" so they at least know I'm not ignoring them.
If I succeeded in making eye contact, it was a lot easier. I would then say something like, "Are you in the mood for some dessert?" That got most people's attention. But most people wouldn't even acknowledge that I was speaking to them. Look, I get it, you're on your lunch break, you only have 30 minutes and you have to get three other errands done before you have to go back. I'm not trying to poison you or sell you anything. Really. I'm just trying to get you to look me in the eye for a second, that's all. Come on, give it a try.
12 November 2012
Pie Day 2012
In years past I've mentioned local organization Community Servings and the great work they do bringing meals to ill people all over the Boston area (and now in Worcester as well). This is the time of year when CS has its big fall fundraiser, Pie in the Sky. The pies, which are baked by dozens of area restaurants and bakeries, are $25, and that amount provides a full week of meals for a client.
Tuesday, November 13th is Pie Day. Volunteers will be at several sites around Boston and Cambridge, offering pie samples and information about Pie in the Sky. In the morning visit Dewey Square from 8 am to 9:30ish (pie for breakfast is awesome, and they'll have coffee too), or come by the Prudential Center from 11 am to 2 pm (I'll be there). From 4:30 to 6:30 pm there will be folks in both Kendall Square (Marriott courtyard) and Central Square (Cambridge City Hall).
Tuesday, November 13th is Pie Day. Volunteers will be at several sites around Boston and Cambridge, offering pie samples and information about Pie in the Sky. In the morning visit Dewey Square from 8 am to 9:30ish (pie for breakfast is awesome, and they'll have coffee too), or come by the Prudential Center from 11 am to 2 pm (I'll be there). From 4:30 to 6:30 pm there will be folks in both Kendall Square (Marriott courtyard) and Central Square (Cambridge City Hall).
11 November 2012
This Week in Awesome (11/10/12)
Gotta love the weather around here: snowstorm last Tuesday night, 60 degrees today, 65 tomorrow, back to the mid-40s by Wednesday...
This fascinating series creates time-lapse videos of cities with people and vehicles digitally removed. There are four installments so far, with more sure to come. All of them are here, along with some behind-the-scenes clips.
New York magazine goes behind the scenes of its post-hurricane issue's cover image. (Kempt)
The latest installment of PBS's Off Book series (which I've referenced previously) looks at outdated forms of media and why people still care about them. (Laughing Squid)
And finally this week, I'm just going to leave this over here... this woman is the definition of awesome. It's 16 minutes long and worth it, but if you don't feel like watching all of it, just jump to the 12:50 mark. (Dangerous Minds)
This fascinating series creates time-lapse videos of cities with people and vehicles digitally removed. There are four installments so far, with more sure to come. All of them are here, along with some behind-the-scenes clips.
New York magazine goes behind the scenes of its post-hurricane issue's cover image. (Kempt)
The latest installment of PBS's Off Book series (which I've referenced previously) looks at outdated forms of media and why people still care about them. (Laughing Squid)
And finally this week, I'm just going to leave this over here... this woman is the definition of awesome. It's 16 minutes long and worth it, but if you don't feel like watching all of it, just jump to the 12:50 mark. (Dangerous Minds)
10 November 2012
At the Movies
I really want to see Skyfall (naturally), but I decided I didn't feel like dealing with opening-weekend madness. We did go to a movie last night, though: Argo. It was kind of a make-up for planning to go see it the previous two weekends, and failing.
It's a really good movie, quite tense and suspenseful. I have to give credit to Ben Affleck as a director. He has demonstrated good instincts in the projects he's chosen to direct, and his execution of them keeps getting better. It also has the feel of a movie from the time in which it takes place: there's a certain graininess to the image on screen, and the colors are appropriately washed out and muted.
As for the Bond movie, I think it merits seeing on an IMAX screen, so we're going to plan to see it at Jordans.
It's a really good movie, quite tense and suspenseful. I have to give credit to Ben Affleck as a director. He has demonstrated good instincts in the projects he's chosen to direct, and his execution of them keeps getting better. It also has the feel of a movie from the time in which it takes place: there's a certain graininess to the image on screen, and the colors are appropriately washed out and muted.
As for the Bond movie, I think it merits seeing on an IMAX screen, so we're going to plan to see it at Jordans.
08 November 2012
Or Not...
A pleasant surprise: by the time I got up this morning, the snow had turned to rain and washed away whatever was sticking to the sidewalks last night, so I didn't have to shovel after all. If it had been a little warmer in the early part of this week, this would have been just a rainstorm with a lot of wind. It's still pretty unpleasant outside now, though.
07 November 2012
Direct Effect?
So now that the president has been reelected, I automatically get a new job, right? Isn't that how it works? Related: we were also promised jetpacks, and flying cars...
05 November 2012
Uniqlo Online Shopping: In-Person Report
After Uniqlo's US e-commerce went live two weeks ago, you know I had to get in on the action right away. I placed an order that very afternoon, and since their warehouse is in New Jersey (and the hurricane hadn't happened yet) I got my package only two days later.
There were some "grand opening" type specials, including colored jeans for $10. I wasn't interested in those, but after looking around for a while I discovered that a couple of styles of their plain dark denim were also available for $10 (the regular price is $50), so I ordered a pair of those.
I've been going back and forth on Uniqlo's pants since my first visit to the Soho store in 2007. Most of their stuff has been cut wrong for my middle-aged body, but on my visit back in April of this year I bought a pair of their vintage chinos that I like a lot, and they have added a "relaxed fit" jean cut. Unfortunately that style wasn't part of the $10 promotion; the one that was is called "regular fit."
I would describe that fit as not quite as regular as I'd expected or hoped. It does fit, but the waist is still a little low for my taste. I've seen them described as similar to the Levi's 514, which I've never tried on, mainly because the legs are pretty skinny, but it may be a helpful reference point for some people. The leg openings on the Uniqlo jeans are closer to what I usually wear, and I will wear these, but probably not as much as my now-preferred Levi's 505s. I think it's in my interest to try on the Uniqlo relaxed fit at some point, but I'll probably wait until I'm in New York again.
One other note about the Uniqlo denim: the dye is very dark, and it came with a warning about rubbing off on lighter-colored upholstery and clothing. That could get to be a nuisance, and might be a deal-breaker for some people. I soaked my pair overnight in the washing machine, and it seemed to remove some of the excess dye, but I have no idea how much, or how transferable they still are.
I also bought a V-neck lambswool sweater at the everyday price of $20, which is a genuine bargain. The fabric is a nice weight—not too thick, not too thin—and the XL fits me well, as do all XL tops (shirts and sweaters) that I've bought from Uniqlo. However, the color was not what I expected; on the website it looked like a deep cobalt, but in person it's definitely navy. Getting color representation right is one of the toughest things to accomplish in e-commerce, and I think a bit of "caveat emptor" is warranted. If this was one of their $80 cashmere sweaters it would be worth it for me to pay $7 to return it, but in this case I'll probably just give it to someone else, since I don't wear navy.
I added a couple of pairs of socks and a couple of pairs of underwear to my order. This is one area where Uniqlo excels: the quality is very good and the prices are very cheap. If you're trying to get to the $100 threshold for free shipping, this would be an easy way to fill out an order.
One other note: at the moment, Uniqlo's site says they have temporarily suspended online shopping due to the storm's aftermath. Let's hope they get back to normal soon.
There were some "grand opening" type specials, including colored jeans for $10. I wasn't interested in those, but after looking around for a while I discovered that a couple of styles of their plain dark denim were also available for $10 (the regular price is $50), so I ordered a pair of those.
I've been going back and forth on Uniqlo's pants since my first visit to the Soho store in 2007. Most of their stuff has been cut wrong for my middle-aged body, but on my visit back in April of this year I bought a pair of their vintage chinos that I like a lot, and they have added a "relaxed fit" jean cut. Unfortunately that style wasn't part of the $10 promotion; the one that was is called "regular fit."
I would describe that fit as not quite as regular as I'd expected or hoped. It does fit, but the waist is still a little low for my taste. I've seen them described as similar to the Levi's 514, which I've never tried on, mainly because the legs are pretty skinny, but it may be a helpful reference point for some people. The leg openings on the Uniqlo jeans are closer to what I usually wear, and I will wear these, but probably not as much as my now-preferred Levi's 505s. I think it's in my interest to try on the Uniqlo relaxed fit at some point, but I'll probably wait until I'm in New York again.
One other note about the Uniqlo denim: the dye is very dark, and it came with a warning about rubbing off on lighter-colored upholstery and clothing. That could get to be a nuisance, and might be a deal-breaker for some people. I soaked my pair overnight in the washing machine, and it seemed to remove some of the excess dye, but I have no idea how much, or how transferable they still are.
I also bought a V-neck lambswool sweater at the everyday price of $20, which is a genuine bargain. The fabric is a nice weight—not too thick, not too thin—and the XL fits me well, as do all XL tops (shirts and sweaters) that I've bought from Uniqlo. However, the color was not what I expected; on the website it looked like a deep cobalt, but in person it's definitely navy. Getting color representation right is one of the toughest things to accomplish in e-commerce, and I think a bit of "caveat emptor" is warranted. If this was one of their $80 cashmere sweaters it would be worth it for me to pay $7 to return it, but in this case I'll probably just give it to someone else, since I don't wear navy.
I added a couple of pairs of socks and a couple of pairs of underwear to my order. This is one area where Uniqlo excels: the quality is very good and the prices are very cheap. If you're trying to get to the $100 threshold for free shipping, this would be an easy way to fill out an order.
One other note: at the moment, Uniqlo's site says they have temporarily suspended online shopping due to the storm's aftermath. Let's hope they get back to normal soon.
04 November 2012
This Week in Awesome (11/3/12)
Got together with most of my laid-off former coworkers last night, and had a really nice time catching up. I don't miss working, but I miss being around them every day.
Many TV shows, when looked at in hindsight, exhibited curious and questionable fashion choices. For a show set in space, the weirdness factor gets a lot higher. (Racked)
Here's a pre-hurricane video of New York that cleverly combines daylight and nighttime footage of the same locations. (Laughing Squid)
The Boston Business Journal did some hard-hitting and necessary research to compile this list of the ten oldest bars in Boston. I've only been to half of them. (Universal Hub)
Google's satellite images can be used for all sorts of purposes. (The Daily What)
And finally this week, an erroneous rumor about Chrysler shifting Jeep production to China (that stemmed from a story about Chrysler's desire to add supplemental Jeep production in China) led to several instances of misinformation being reported as fact, including a tweet from that Apprentice guy. He was promptly and amusingly shot down by Chrysler's VP of design. (Jalopnik)
Many TV shows, when looked at in hindsight, exhibited curious and questionable fashion choices. For a show set in space, the weirdness factor gets a lot higher. (Racked)
Here's a pre-hurricane video of New York that cleverly combines daylight and nighttime footage of the same locations. (Laughing Squid)
The Boston Business Journal did some hard-hitting and necessary research to compile this list of the ten oldest bars in Boston. I've only been to half of them. (Universal Hub)
Google's satellite images can be used for all sorts of purposes. (The Daily What)
And finally this week, an erroneous rumor about Chrysler shifting Jeep production to China (that stemmed from a story about Chrysler's desire to add supplemental Jeep production in China) led to several instances of misinformation being reported as fact, including a tweet from that Apprentice guy. He was promptly and amusingly shot down by Chrysler's VP of design. (Jalopnik)
03 November 2012
Retro Video Unit (11/2/12)
As the clock winds down to the election (and we'll finally be rid of all the political ads on TV for... what, the next three months or so?), I saw this clip and thought I'd deviate from the usual content of this feature:
02 November 2012
Uh-Oh
Today I walked through a part of the neighborhood I hadn't been by in a while, and came upon this:
This tree was at the back edge of a park where we sometimes take the dog to sniff around. Just behind the park's border fence is a house, but when it came down it went in exactly the opposite direction from the house. It also appears to have missed all the utility wires.
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