This past weekend, it was time to bring up our air conditioners from the basement and get them set up. Both of us used to have to carry three units up, one by one, with someone getting stuck doing the awkward backwards walk up the six steps from the basement out the side door, then around to the front of the house and up seven more steps.
A couple of years ago I happened to discover that my next-door neighbor had a hand truck with pneumatic tires, something I didn't know existed until then. I borrowed it and was able to bring up the ACs by myself; the larger diameter of the wheels and tires allows them to traverse steps much more easily, and the air-filled tires eliminate the banging from step to step that happens with regular wheels.
Last year the tires were not filled and it made the task somewhat more difficult. A few weeks ago I saw my neighbor, and he mentioned to me that the tires were flat. I remembered that I had a floor pump for filling bicycle tires (something that had totally slipped my mind last year) and I asked if the hand truck's tires could be filled that way. He said yes, and I offered to bring over the pump. On Sunday when I was going to do this (so I could then borrow the hand truck), he was not around.
The Mrs. had twisted her ankle earlier in the week and I didn't think she would be able to help me, so I decided maybe it was worth it to get our own hand truck. There is a store down the street from us called Harbor Freight that sells tools and equipment. Several of their hand trucks were on sale, and there was a coupon in the Sunday paper for an additional 20% off, so we went down there and got one for $30.
Additionally, we had the ramp made for the dog back during the winter, and I reasoned that I could make use of it for this task. Getting each unit up the ramp on the hand truck was more difficult than I would have thought, but it was still easier than pulling the load up the steps one at a time.
We were going to see if we could put off needing the ACs, and it hasn't been that warm yet, but the plasma TV throws off quite a lot of heat in a small room, and after a certain point it becomes too warm to watch TV for more than 15 or 20 minutes. And there's our dog's comfort to consider as well. So we've only needed them a couple of nights since we put them in, but they are ready for when it gets really warm and humid.
12 June 2014
10 June 2014
Random Zero
The neighbor's 1968 Camaro has returned from storage for the summer. I saw it yesterday while walking the dog, and realized that when I posted it over two years ago, even though I didn't know it at the time, it was technically the first Random Sighting I ever did.
I'm still hoping to find it parked somewhere other than its driveway because I'd like to get more pictures of it, but the owner is understandably very cautious with it.
I'm still hoping to find it parked somewhere other than its driveway because I'd like to get more pictures of it, but the owner is understandably very cautious with it.
09 June 2014
Car Stuff: Random Sighting #26
Most of the cars I encounter for this feature are either in traffic or parked somewhere; this one was in a museum. Back in late March the Mrs. and I went to the Peabody Essex Museum in Salem (where a friend we've known for a long time runs the gift shop) to see an exhibit on California design, and this beautiful car was parked in the lobby. It's a 1964 Studebaker Avanti, and you may remember the Avanti II that I spotted at a car show last summer; this one is the real thing.
The California connection comes from the car's genesis: in 1961 Sherwood Egbert, the man running the company at the time, asked Raymond Loewy, a noted designer who had done other car designs for Studebaker, to come up with a design for a "halo car" that would attract attention to the brand. He was told to assemble a team of other designers he wanted to work with and they were set up in a rented house in Palm Springs, and given six weeks to produce a design.
And it's a wonderful design, unlike anything else being offered by American car companies at the time. It was extremely unusual for a car of this period to have no grille; even the dramatically styled 1963 Corvette Sting Ray, with its sharply edged, hidden-headlight front end, had a pair of small decorative grilles down below its twin "bumperettes." (The Avanti does have an air intake below its front bumper.) The asymmetrical "power bulge" in the Avanti's hood was also uncommon, and it's made all the more interesting when you notice that its general shape carries through to the inside of the car to the instrument panel housing.
As conceived, the Avanti was intended to split the difference between a two-seat sports car like the Corvette and a personal-luxury model like a Thunderbird. Its appointments were luxurious for the time, but it had much more of a sporting character thanks to its engine, which could be had with a supercharger, and like the Corvette its body panels are made of fiberglass. I think it looks especially attractive in this particular light turquoise shade.
The original 1963 cars had round headlight bezels, which I've always thought looked better with the lights than the rectangular surrounds seen on this '64. I wish I'd been able to get close enough to get a good shot of the interior, but you can read more about the Avanti and see more photos in this feature on Curbside Classic.
08 June 2014
This Week in Awesome (6/714)
Hey, it's still technically the weekend...
Are you interested in the World Cup but don't follow soccer? You might want to look at this chart to help you decide which team to root for, plus a little deeper digging into those answers. (New York Times)
Tumblrs to know about: one for engagement photos (is that a thing? we never had one of those); one for stock photography. (Note: some of the images on those could be nightmare-inducing, depending on your sensibilities.) (Comedy Central's @Midnight)
Interested in binge-watching a TV show but don't want to commit to the full series? I don't agree with this approach, and it's highly subjective, but this site is offering advice about which episodes you can skip. (TV Tattle)
John Oliver's piece about net neutrality has been around all week, but if you haven't seen it yet, it's absolutely worth your time.
And finally this week, Netflix has an animated show coming out later this summer, and the early marketing campaign is intentionally awful in the best ways. (Adweek)
Are you interested in the World Cup but don't follow soccer? You might want to look at this chart to help you decide which team to root for, plus a little deeper digging into those answers. (New York Times)
Tumblrs to know about: one for engagement photos (is that a thing? we never had one of those); one for stock photography. (Note: some of the images on those could be nightmare-inducing, depending on your sensibilities.) (Comedy Central's @Midnight)
Interested in binge-watching a TV show but don't want to commit to the full series? I don't agree with this approach, and it's highly subjective, but this site is offering advice about which episodes you can skip. (TV Tattle)
John Oliver's piece about net neutrality has been around all week, but if you haven't seen it yet, it's absolutely worth your time.
And finally this week, Netflix has an animated show coming out later this summer, and the early marketing campaign is intentionally awful in the best ways. (Adweek)
06 June 2014
Noises
It hasn't reached full summer here yet, but it has been nice enough to have the windows open for a while (with the exception of a few cold days and nights during the past couple of weeks). In this transitional period, sleeping is more challenging.
Our street is a main artery into and through an entire neighborhood, and it intersects with s busy, major non-highway road at a traffic signal about 350 feet east of our house. During the morning and evening rush hours, cars waiting at the light are lined up, in front of and sometimes further past our house. Also, in this area the houses were built pretty close to the curb, with shallow front yards maybe 20 feet from curb to building, maximum. So whenever the windows are open, especially in the living room, which faces the street, noise is an issue. There are what I think is an abnormally high number of unmuffled motorcycles that pass through at all hours of the day and night.
There's also a bird nest under the roof of our front porch. I think it has been there three or four summers now, and the birds start chirping very, very early each morning. This tends to wake the dog, whose bed is against the front wall of the house right next to the porch. For about a month each spring, she wakes up around 5:15 to 5:30, and wants to be taken out. It ends up messing up her walk schedule for the rest of the day, until the sun starts to rise later again.
And of course, there are neighbors. The homes are only 10 to 12 feet apart, and with the windows open noise tends to flow freely between houses. This morning I was awakened by music in the house next door. It wasn't especially loud, and it was a slow song; when it woke me, I thought it was my own clock radio until I realized that I'd already turned that off.
I like open windows and fresh air when the weather is comfortable, but air conditioning has benefits beyond temperature comfort: it helps us deal with noise, too.
(PB: I know things are much worse for you. Remember, everything is relative.)
Our street is a main artery into and through an entire neighborhood, and it intersects with s busy, major non-highway road at a traffic signal about 350 feet east of our house. During the morning and evening rush hours, cars waiting at the light are lined up, in front of and sometimes further past our house. Also, in this area the houses were built pretty close to the curb, with shallow front yards maybe 20 feet from curb to building, maximum. So whenever the windows are open, especially in the living room, which faces the street, noise is an issue. There are what I think is an abnormally high number of unmuffled motorcycles that pass through at all hours of the day and night.
There's also a bird nest under the roof of our front porch. I think it has been there three or four summers now, and the birds start chirping very, very early each morning. This tends to wake the dog, whose bed is against the front wall of the house right next to the porch. For about a month each spring, she wakes up around 5:15 to 5:30, and wants to be taken out. It ends up messing up her walk schedule for the rest of the day, until the sun starts to rise later again.
And of course, there are neighbors. The homes are only 10 to 12 feet apart, and with the windows open noise tends to flow freely between houses. This morning I was awakened by music in the house next door. It wasn't especially loud, and it was a slow song; when it woke me, I thought it was my own clock radio until I realized that I'd already turned that off.
I like open windows and fresh air when the weather is comfortable, but air conditioning has benefits beyond temperature comfort: it helps us deal with noise, too.
(PB: I know things are much worse for you. Remember, everything is relative.)
05 June 2014
Regimen
Our elderly dog (she'll be 13 in a couple of months) got a passing grade after her course of antibiotics last month. When we were at the vet we talked about her waning appetite and what is most likely arthritis in her hindquarters, both common in older dogs.
The vet told us that the acid-reducing medication Pepcid can sometimes have an appetite-stimulating effect in dogs, and the pills are inexpensive (a box of 30 was around $4 at Target) so we started her on those, one pill per day, and we have seen moderate results. She still isn't eating as much as we think she should be, but she has added back about a pound and a half so far.
For the arthritis she prescribed tramadol, a pain medication that is also given to humans. It's also inexpensive; 28 pills were around $12, and she's getting half a pill twice a day, so those will also last about a month. Of course, this means we have to get her to take three pills per day, so as I mentioned before we are using chicken salad as an enticement.
I figured tuna would work as well and buying it canned is a good bit less expensive. But after about a week she started to express a lack of excitement for the pill-packed blobs of tuna. It seemed to be because the tuna was slightly "wetter" and did not stick together quite as well, but that's a variation that I should be able to alter with another batch. She could just be expressing a legitimate preference, or just really likes chicken salad a lot more than tuna. Spoiled much?
The vet told us that the acid-reducing medication Pepcid can sometimes have an appetite-stimulating effect in dogs, and the pills are inexpensive (a box of 30 was around $4 at Target) so we started her on those, one pill per day, and we have seen moderate results. She still isn't eating as much as we think she should be, but she has added back about a pound and a half so far.
For the arthritis she prescribed tramadol, a pain medication that is also given to humans. It's also inexpensive; 28 pills were around $12, and she's getting half a pill twice a day, so those will also last about a month. Of course, this means we have to get her to take three pills per day, so as I mentioned before we are using chicken salad as an enticement.
I figured tuna would work as well and buying it canned is a good bit less expensive. But after about a week she started to express a lack of excitement for the pill-packed blobs of tuna. It seemed to be because the tuna was slightly "wetter" and did not stick together quite as well, but that's a variation that I should be able to alter with another batch. She could just be expressing a legitimate preference, or just really likes chicken salad a lot more than tuna. Spoiled much?
04 June 2014
Elusive Classics
I've been out roaming around the past couple of days on car-spotting runs, gathering material for future Random Sightings. While out in the car I had spotted a couple of places with vehicles parked on the property but couldn't stop at the time, so I made my way back to them and in both cases it was worth it.
But weirdly, while I was out doing this I saw other old cars on the road that I couldn't get pictures of in time, and in one case my shot was blocked by another car passing between me and my intended subject (I ended up with a partial that I'll probably still post at some point).
Maybe the presence of these vehicles is just due to coincidence and the onset of summer (or maybe my endeavors are stirring up some cosmic force?), but it's still disappointing to miss out on good photo subjects. As I make my way around town I'll be looking for these missed cars, hoping for another chance.
But weirdly, while I was out doing this I saw other old cars on the road that I couldn't get pictures of in time, and in one case my shot was blocked by another car passing between me and my intended subject (I ended up with a partial that I'll probably still post at some point).
Maybe the presence of these vehicles is just due to coincidence and the onset of summer (or maybe my endeavors are stirring up some cosmic force?), but it's still disappointing to miss out on good photo subjects. As I make my way around town I'll be looking for these missed cars, hoping for another chance.
02 June 2014
Car Stuff: Clusters
I know my efforts on this feature have been a bit erratic lately; last week I kind of just blew it off, because I'd planned on writing something about the recently concluded half-season of Mad Men (and I might still do that). Next week I'll have another Random Sighting of a genuine classic, but today I want to try something a bit different.
In walking around my neighborhood, whether with the dog, running errands, or just generally wandering, I've been lucky to spot some interesting old cars, primarily ones from the 1980s. But there's another category that I haven't paid much attention to: the daily driver that's approximately 20 years old, not yet old enough to be considered a classic or antique by any standard measure, and probably at the low point of its monetary value due to high mileage and resulting wear.
There are quite a few such cars where I live, and I started to notice that certain cars were particularly plentiful, and fell into groups of models or "generations" of a model (by which I mean the range of years in which a specific design of a particular model was produced). Today I'm going to talk about one of these, the third-generation (1992-96) Toyota Camry.
There are at least four Camrys of this generation in my immediate vicinity, and I've seen several others in parking lots and driving around locally. These cars sold quite well when new, from almost 285,000 in 1992 to more than 357,000 in '96. (Chances are you or someone in your family owned one; in my case my brother did, and he drove it for more than 200,000 miles.) It certainly didn't hurt that the car resembled its uptown cousins that wore Lexus badges and cost at least 50% more.
There's a very simple reason that so many of these cars are still in daily use: they were absurdly over-engineered, vault-solid, and put together very well (many in the gigantic Toyota plant in Georgetown, Kentucky, which I have toured). Some of these cars were probably passed from parents to children, and some were likely purchased from craigslist ads and are being used as commuter cars.
In fact, such serious engineering proved to be a major expense for Toyota, and when they were designing the next generation of the Camry they deliberately looked for ways to reduce costs, which unfortunately resulted in a product that was lower in quality in noticeable ways.
There were also wagon and coupe versions of this car, as with its
competitor the Honda Accord, and as with that car finding either a
coupe or a wagon is a lot harder, since they sold in much smaller
numbers than the sedans.
The condition of the cars near me varies; the green one (with a gold badge package that was pretty popular for a while in the '90s) lives directly across the street from us, but has been parked in its driveway, unmoving and without license plates, for at least six months, strongly implying engine issues.
The other cars around me get driven frequently. Here's a pair that belong to the same household. They are almost always parked together in front of their owner's house, though sometimes they switch places. (You can tell from the snow in these pictures that I've had this idea for several months.)
By chance, while I was noticing and taking pictures of these cars, I found one of the second-generation models; even though it's in much rougher condition, it's still driven regularly.
In walking around my neighborhood, whether with the dog, running errands, or just generally wandering, I've been lucky to spot some interesting old cars, primarily ones from the 1980s. But there's another category that I haven't paid much attention to: the daily driver that's approximately 20 years old, not yet old enough to be considered a classic or antique by any standard measure, and probably at the low point of its monetary value due to high mileage and resulting wear.
There are quite a few such cars where I live, and I started to notice that certain cars were particularly plentiful, and fell into groups of models or "generations" of a model (by which I mean the range of years in which a specific design of a particular model was produced). Today I'm going to talk about one of these, the third-generation (1992-96) Toyota Camry.
There's a very simple reason that so many of these cars are still in daily use: they were absurdly over-engineered, vault-solid, and put together very well (many in the gigantic Toyota plant in Georgetown, Kentucky, which I have toured). Some of these cars were probably passed from parents to children, and some were likely purchased from craigslist ads and are being used as commuter cars.
In fact, such serious engineering proved to be a major expense for Toyota, and when they were designing the next generation of the Camry they deliberately looked for ways to reduce costs, which unfortunately resulted in a product that was lower in quality in noticeable ways.
The condition of the cars near me varies; the green one (with a gold badge package that was pretty popular for a while in the '90s) lives directly across the street from us, but has been parked in its driveway, unmoving and without license plates, for at least six months, strongly implying engine issues.
31 May 2014
Retro Video Unit (5/30/14)
As I've mentioned before, sometimes videos don't exist on YouTube when I first look for them, so from time to time I will go back and try looking for things again after some time has passed, and this is another instance of that paying off.
After R.E.M. broke through in 1983 with Murmur, record companies courted other bands from their home town of Athens, GA, a college town about 50 miles east-northeast of Atlanta. Guadalcanal Diary (named for a World War II memoir) was from Marietta, a northwest suburb of Atlanta, but played frequently in Athens and got pegged as being from there.
Their sound had definite similarities to that of early R.E.M., which probably got them a few listens from curious fans, but they remained much more of an under the radar band throughout their existence. They released four studio albums during the mid to late 1980s and somehow I caught onto them quite early, probably from college radio.
This song, "Watusi Rodeo," actually goes back to the band's first recording, a four-song EP of the same name released in 1983. The song was also included on their first full-length album, Walking in the Shadow of the Big Man, which came out the following year. The video, which epitomizes the lo-fi aesthetic, was made by the band with help from some friends, and was shown on MTV's "Basement Tapes" show.
The audio source used with the video is from a 1983 live show in Atlanta. For an extra bit of flavor, this version (which has inferior audio quality) includes original MTV VJ Nina Blackwood introducing the clip:
After R.E.M. broke through in 1983 with Murmur, record companies courted other bands from their home town of Athens, GA, a college town about 50 miles east-northeast of Atlanta. Guadalcanal Diary (named for a World War II memoir) was from Marietta, a northwest suburb of Atlanta, but played frequently in Athens and got pegged as being from there.
Their sound had definite similarities to that of early R.E.M., which probably got them a few listens from curious fans, but they remained much more of an under the radar band throughout their existence. They released four studio albums during the mid to late 1980s and somehow I caught onto them quite early, probably from college radio.
This song, "Watusi Rodeo," actually goes back to the band's first recording, a four-song EP of the same name released in 1983. The song was also included on their first full-length album, Walking in the Shadow of the Big Man, which came out the following year. The video, which epitomizes the lo-fi aesthetic, was made by the band with help from some friends, and was shown on MTV's "Basement Tapes" show.
The audio source used with the video is from a 1983 live show in Atlanta. For an extra bit of flavor, this version (which has inferior audio quality) includes original MTV VJ Nina Blackwood introducing the clip:
30 May 2014
Better Late...
I was heading into Boston today, so I decided to try to get some pictures of the new Assembly station as I passed it on the train. It helped that the train was practically empty and I was able to stand at one of the doors and take multiple photos without any obstructions:
Here's the new section of southbound track I mentioned, just north of the station.
A bit further along, just before moving into the station itself.
This will be the platform, viewed from what will eventually be the northbound side.
A stairway under construction.
The southern end of the platform.
29 May 2014
MBTA Happenings
I don't write as much about the MBTA as I used to, probably because I'm not commuting every day. But whenever I head into the city I get an up-close look at one of the T's big projects.
A new station is being added on the Orange Line between Wellington and Sullivan Square stations to serve the Assembly Row complex (no relation), which is in the process of a phased opening. Currently there's outlet shopping and entertainment and, when fully built out in a few more years, there will also be housing, office space, and a hotel. Since the station is being built right along the existing track, it's easy to see the progress.
What isn't easy is to capture any of that progress with my camera. I've tried a couple of times, and even when on a slow-moving train it's extremely difficult to get any good shots. So you'll have to take my word for it, or go take a ride out there to see it for yourself. (The current projection for the station's opening is some time this fall.)
In the area where the new station is being built, the northbound and southbound tracks are side by side, too close together to allow a station with a center-platform design; there are also commuter rail tracks just east of the Orange Line tracks, so there was no space to build a separate platform on the northbound side, and as I witnessed the work on the station I wondered how this would be addressed. The station is being built just west of the existing southbound tracks, but over the past few weeks I've seen new track being laid on the far side of the station that will carry southbound trains when complete, and northbound trains will shift over to what is now the southbound track to serve the new station when it opens.
Except for the Silver Line stations along the waterfront, Assembly Square is the first completely new station to be added to the MBTA system since the realigned southern portion of the Orange Line opened in 1987. (The following year, Columbia station was renamed JFK/UMass, and was redesigned so that the Braintree branch of the Red Line, which used to split off north of the station, also served it.)
Meanwhile, the reconstruction project at Government Center station has been underway for about two months (the T has posted some illustrations and diagrams of what the station will look like when finished in 2016). While construction is underway, trains are passing through the station without stopping. I happened to pass through earlier this week, but unfortunately there are fences with opaque sheeting blocking any view of the work. Up at street level, the bunker-like "wart" that served as the station's entrance has already been removed, and if you're curious, there is a Twitter account belonging to someone with a view of the work area.
A new station is being added on the Orange Line between Wellington and Sullivan Square stations to serve the Assembly Row complex (no relation), which is in the process of a phased opening. Currently there's outlet shopping and entertainment and, when fully built out in a few more years, there will also be housing, office space, and a hotel. Since the station is being built right along the existing track, it's easy to see the progress.
What isn't easy is to capture any of that progress with my camera. I've tried a couple of times, and even when on a slow-moving train it's extremely difficult to get any good shots. So you'll have to take my word for it, or go take a ride out there to see it for yourself. (The current projection for the station's opening is some time this fall.)
In the area where the new station is being built, the northbound and southbound tracks are side by side, too close together to allow a station with a center-platform design; there are also commuter rail tracks just east of the Orange Line tracks, so there was no space to build a separate platform on the northbound side, and as I witnessed the work on the station I wondered how this would be addressed. The station is being built just west of the existing southbound tracks, but over the past few weeks I've seen new track being laid on the far side of the station that will carry southbound trains when complete, and northbound trains will shift over to what is now the southbound track to serve the new station when it opens.
Except for the Silver Line stations along the waterfront, Assembly Square is the first completely new station to be added to the MBTA system since the realigned southern portion of the Orange Line opened in 1987. (The following year, Columbia station was renamed JFK/UMass, and was redesigned so that the Braintree branch of the Red Line, which used to split off north of the station, also served it.)
Meanwhile, the reconstruction project at Government Center station has been underway for about two months (the T has posted some illustrations and diagrams of what the station will look like when finished in 2016). While construction is underway, trains are passing through the station without stopping. I happened to pass through earlier this week, but unfortunately there are fences with opaque sheeting blocking any view of the work. Up at street level, the bunker-like "wart" that served as the station's entrance has already been removed, and if you're curious, there is a Twitter account belonging to someone with a view of the work area.
28 May 2014
The Pothole That Ate Medford?
Over the weekend I spotted this pylon at the end of Harvard Street in Medford, where it hits Mystic Avenue.
It looks like it was left to mark a hole so motorists (or maybe bicyclists/motorcyclists?) would not hit it. But it also looks like the hole got worse after the pylon was placed, and now it's being consumed by the hole, or something. Either way, be careful over there...
26 May 2014
Long Weekend in Awesome (5/24/14)
Is it really Monday? It feels like time slowed down the past couple of days. Oh well...
The just-concluded half-season of Mad Men has featured the firm working to land the account of Burger Chef, a real chain that at the time was larger than Burger King. I'm old enough to remember visits to Burger Chef restaurants from my childhood (visits to any sort fast-food place were fairly rare events when I was growing up), though I don't have any recollection of them fading away.
Adding a little extra flavor to the story, the location used to film the final scene of "The Strategy," in which Peggy takes Don and Pete to a Burger Chef to show them why her idea for the campaign will work, was filmed at an actual former Burger Chef location (and is coincidentally just a few miles from where the Mrs. grew up). (Franklin Avenue) And if you haven't seen it, this article about that episode is excellent. (Vulture)
And finally this week, these two articles presented themselves to me within a few hours of each other, and after reading both I realized that I should share them with you together: the first will make you angry (or, at least, should make you angry), and it's telling that it's from a Canadian magazine; the second is, in some ways, an answer to the first. (Maclean's via Dappered; CNN)
The just-concluded half-season of Mad Men has featured the firm working to land the account of Burger Chef, a real chain that at the time was larger than Burger King. I'm old enough to remember visits to Burger Chef restaurants from my childhood (visits to any sort fast-food place were fairly rare events when I was growing up), though I don't have any recollection of them fading away.
Adding a little extra flavor to the story, the location used to film the final scene of "The Strategy," in which Peggy takes Don and Pete to a Burger Chef to show them why her idea for the campaign will work, was filmed at an actual former Burger Chef location (and is coincidentally just a few miles from where the Mrs. grew up). (Franklin Avenue) And if you haven't seen it, this article about that episode is excellent. (Vulture)
And finally this week, these two articles presented themselves to me within a few hours of each other, and after reading both I realized that I should share them with you together: the first will make you angry (or, at least, should make you angry), and it's telling that it's from a Canadian magazine; the second is, in some ways, an answer to the first. (Maclean's via Dappered; CNN)
23 May 2014
The Grays
About a decade ago I had something of an infatuation with retro sneakers, fueled primarily by my dislike of the bloated, garish spaceships that many people choose to wear on their feet. I'd already been through the all-black sneaker period, and found that was just a bit too dull. I was not ready to give up and start wearing Rockport "walking shoes," and as much as I'd like to support New Balance's efforts at manufacturing athletic shoes in the USA, their styles just don't appeal to me.
I bought several styles of adidas Originals on eBay, but I found many of them to be not especially comfortable, so most of those ended up getting resold. (The biggest disappointment for me there was and remains the Gazelle, which was pretty easy to wear but had an oversize, plasticized tongue that was just horrible.) I tried Puma, which in my mind was slightly more aligned with street style but also offered some lower-key styles. I had a nice pair of Puma Romas that I wore for several years, and a pair of "the Suede" that never quite worked for me.
Eventually I landed on Onitsuka Tiger, which is the retro brand of ASICS. The exterior styling was a bit busier than either adidas or Puma, but their shoes were often offered in multiple color choices (making ti more likely there would be one I liked), and after deciding to try a pair I also found that they are more comfortable than they look like they'll be.
The style on the left in this picture is called the Ultimate 81 LE in "gnumetal," and it's the second pair I've had. I got them about two years ago, after the first pair maybe four or five years back. I still have that pair, which is in a lighter gray with black stripes and orange accents, but they have different internal construction and this pair is a lot better for walking. The perforated leather upper is also nicer than the standard nylon.
The pair on the right is called the Tokuten in "charcoal," and I bought them last fall. I had not heard of this style until I saw them on the Nordstrom website, in four or five colorways. I was first drawn to a pale gray, but then I saw these; I've never been too enthusiastic about the look of gum soles, but the combination of the suede uppers and the red accents just clicked for me. Another element of these designs that I like a lot is the use of off-white or "birch" for the stripes and trim instead of plain white.
For warm weather I tend to keep it simple and stick to white sneakers like Vans, but for the parts of the year when it's nice enough for sneakers but not so warm that I want to wear shorts and go sockless, I prefer these gray sneakers.
I bought several styles of adidas Originals on eBay, but I found many of them to be not especially comfortable, so most of those ended up getting resold. (The biggest disappointment for me there was and remains the Gazelle, which was pretty easy to wear but had an oversize, plasticized tongue that was just horrible.) I tried Puma, which in my mind was slightly more aligned with street style but also offered some lower-key styles. I had a nice pair of Puma Romas that I wore for several years, and a pair of "the Suede" that never quite worked for me.
Eventually I landed on Onitsuka Tiger, which is the retro brand of ASICS. The exterior styling was a bit busier than either adidas or Puma, but their shoes were often offered in multiple color choices (making ti more likely there would be one I liked), and after deciding to try a pair I also found that they are more comfortable than they look like they'll be.
22 May 2014
About That Beer
Last week I expressed my excitement at the arrival of Narragansett's new Del's Lemonade Shandy. You don't have to be from Rhode Island to enjoy it, but it helps.
So how's it taste? Refreshing. Like Mike's Hard Lemonade wishes it might taste if it ever grows up. That's the most obvious point of comparison, but it's better because it doesn't have the sweetness of Mike's. It's Gansett lager with natural lemon flavor, just like it says on the can, and that's what it tastes like. It's crisp and light, and very pleasant, perfect for warm weather.
And it's only 5% alcohol, so it's going to go down smooth and not make you feel too weighted down, but at this point in my life I rarely drink more than one beer a day anyway.
So how's it taste? Refreshing. Like Mike's Hard Lemonade wishes it might taste if it ever grows up. That's the most obvious point of comparison, but it's better because it doesn't have the sweetness of Mike's. It's Gansett lager with natural lemon flavor, just like it says on the can, and that's what it tastes like. It's crisp and light, and very pleasant, perfect for warm weather.
And it's only 5% alcohol, so it's going to go down smooth and not make you feel too weighted down, but at this point in my life I rarely drink more than one beer a day anyway.
21 May 2014
Not Answering
One of the reasons we still have a home phone line is because there are certain types of calls I prefer not to receive on my cell, and I try to keep my cell number out of as many databases as possible. I still get junk calls on both, though not as many as I used to.
A couple of months ago the Mrs. and I both donated blood at a Red Cross blood drive. Soon after, we started getting auto-dialed calls from the Red Cross at least every couple of days, sometimes every day for several consecutive days. They had to be originating from an auto-dialer because there was never a message, just the machine telling me the date and time of the call and the number it originated from, which I looked up on Google: American Red Cross.
On Sunday I got a call from the Red Cross, from an actual human who wanted me to know that another blood drive was taking place in our area this week, and would I prefer a morning or afternoon donation time?
I know the Red Cross is a worthy charity and I understand that they provide a vital service, so I expect them to try to maximize donations. But I found it presumptuous that I wasn't just asked if I wanted to donate again, but they took it so far as to ask what time would be convenient for me to come in. (Pro tip: the appointment time doesn't even really mean anything; when we went, we had to wait over an hour just to start the process.)
And beyond that, I was very disillusioned with the way they had treated our personal information. It should be opt-in, just as it should be with email. There should be an area on the donor form that asks, "may we contact you about future blood drives?" and then, "if yes, how often may we contact you?" I said as much to the poor woman on the phone, though I made it clear I was not upset with her, just her employer.
Their incessant auto-dialed calls ended up alienating me to the point that I asked them not to call me again at all, at which point the woman asked me if I wanted to give her my email address. It's a shame that their clumsy marketing efforts are getting in the way of donations.
A couple of months ago the Mrs. and I both donated blood at a Red Cross blood drive. Soon after, we started getting auto-dialed calls from the Red Cross at least every couple of days, sometimes every day for several consecutive days. They had to be originating from an auto-dialer because there was never a message, just the machine telling me the date and time of the call and the number it originated from, which I looked up on Google: American Red Cross.
On Sunday I got a call from the Red Cross, from an actual human who wanted me to know that another blood drive was taking place in our area this week, and would I prefer a morning or afternoon donation time?
I know the Red Cross is a worthy charity and I understand that they provide a vital service, so I expect them to try to maximize donations. But I found it presumptuous that I wasn't just asked if I wanted to donate again, but they took it so far as to ask what time would be convenient for me to come in. (Pro tip: the appointment time doesn't even really mean anything; when we went, we had to wait over an hour just to start the process.)
And beyond that, I was very disillusioned with the way they had treated our personal information. It should be opt-in, just as it should be with email. There should be an area on the donor form that asks, "may we contact you about future blood drives?" and then, "if yes, how often may we contact you?" I said as much to the poor woman on the phone, though I made it clear I was not upset with her, just her employer.
Their incessant auto-dialed calls ended up alienating me to the point that I asked them not to call me again at all, at which point the woman asked me if I wanted to give her my email address. It's a shame that their clumsy marketing efforts are getting in the way of donations.
19 May 2014
Car Stuff: Stupid Car Tricks
While walking the dog yesterday I noticed this car in front of a nearby house. I don't think it belongs to a neighbor, as I don't recognize it. It has some aftermarket wheels and tires, but the owner seems to have gotten a bit carried away:
Not only does this look ridiculous, but it's generally illegal for a car's tires to protrude beyond the edges of the fender openings. (I'm not positive, but I believe this is because gravel and other road debris can be thrown back onto following cars more easily.) Typically if someone is set on adding wheels and tires this wide they would also add fender flares, so perhaps this is a work in progress.
It's also possible that this car has simply been fitted with the wrong wheels, ones without the proper offset to keep the tires within the confines of the fenders.
It's also possible that this car has simply been fitted with the wrong wheels, ones without the proper offset to keep the tires within the confines of the fenders.
17 May 2014
Retro Video Unit (5/16/14)
Sometimes I remember old songs and find they had videos I didn't even know about. I've always thought of this as a fairly obscure song, and I wouldn't have expected the record company to spend the money on a clip for it, but it exists: "Major Tom (Coming Home)" by Peter Schilling.
I had a 12" single version of this song that included a version sung in German (Schilling was from Germany), but somewhere along the way I sold it or gave it away, and I wish I hadn't.
I had a 12" single version of this song that included a version sung in German (Schilling was from Germany), but somewhere along the way I sold it or gave it away, and I wish I hadn't.
15 May 2014
Lemony Beer Goodness
For a couple of months, Narragansett Brewery has been throwing out hints of a new specialty beer, a shandy co-branded with Rhode Island institution Del's Frozen Lemonade. Last week they made an official announcement and said the brew was on its way to local stores. I just picked up a six-pack this afternoon, but it's not cold yet so a taste report will have to wait.
Technically it's not a true shandy, which is beet and lemonade, but rather beer with natural lemon flavoring added, which is still nicely refreshing in summer. The cans are done up in the green-and-yellow motif familiar to anyone who has had Del's from its signature cups. (Here's a pic for those of you who don't know what I mean.)
This should be good...
Technically it's not a true shandy, which is beet and lemonade, but rather beer with natural lemon flavoring added, which is still nicely refreshing in summer. The cans are done up in the green-and-yellow motif familiar to anyone who has had Del's from its signature cups. (Here's a pic for those of you who don't know what I mean.)
14 May 2014
This Week's Forecast
Yesterday: 85 degrees.
Today: 55 degrees (though it was below 50 for much of the afternoon).
Tomorrow: 72 degrees.
Thursday: a glacier arrives?
Today: 55 degrees (though it was below 50 for much of the afternoon).
Tomorrow: 72 degrees.
Thursday: a glacier arrives?
12 May 2014
Car Stuff: Fantasy Garage #6
I'm going to be spotlighting cars from the 1960s for a while longer, mainly because there were so many good ones. They may not meet any criteria for being "great cars," but they were stylish and appealing, and for the most part were still being put together pretty well (a quality which would become less common in the '70s).
One of the big trends of the '60s was the rise of the "personal luxury" car, a two-door that was either based on an existing full-size model or, more desirably, had its own distinctive bodywork. Ford pioneered this category when they enlarged the Thunderbird from a two-seater to a four-seater for 1958. It took General Motors and Chrysler a surprisingly long time to react and come to market with their own variations on this theme.
One of GM's early efforts was the 1961 Oldsmobile Starfire, like the Thunderbird a large, luxurious convertible (a coupe was added a year later) with bucket seats and a console, followed in the middle of the 1962 model year by the Buick Wildcat and in '63 by Pontiac's Grand Prix.
But GM had another surprise for '63: the Buick Riviera. It mimicked the
T-bird more closely by using a slightly shortened version of the
full-size platform and wearing unique body panels that set it apart from
Buick's other full-size cars.
The original Riviera is a beautiful car, but for me the second generation, which arrived three years later, is even more attractive. Its lines and proportions were sportier, in keeping with the general styling trend toward more sharply angled rear windows and rooflines, yet still very clean.
It was one of the first American cars to eliminate front vent windows.
It had a really cool hidden-headlight treatment. I feel like this is the
car Don Draper should have instead of his comparatively bland 1965
Cadillac Coupe de Ville.
I'm confining my fantasy-garage choice to either a 1966 or '67 Riviera,
preferably in GS trim, and definitely with bucket seats. There are only
very minor differences between the '66 and '67 Riviera models, but while
the '68 retained the same basic body, Buick started fiddling with
elements of the design, keeping the hidden headlights but making the
front end appear chunkier and less elegant, and the extremely cool
drum-style speedometer also was eliminated after only two years.
By 1970 the hidden headlights were gone, the rear of the car had been elongated, and it was given fender skirts that combined with the enlarged rear portion to make the formerly sleek lines look dowdy. (1971 would see the introduction of the polarizing "boat-tail" design, but I think we'll save that for another time.)
(Images from Old Car Brochures. If you'd like to read a more in-depth treatment of this car, head to Curbside Classic.)
One of the big trends of the '60s was the rise of the "personal luxury" car, a two-door that was either based on an existing full-size model or, more desirably, had its own distinctive bodywork. Ford pioneered this category when they enlarged the Thunderbird from a two-seater to a four-seater for 1958. It took General Motors and Chrysler a surprisingly long time to react and come to market with their own variations on this theme.
One of GM's early efforts was the 1961 Oldsmobile Starfire, like the Thunderbird a large, luxurious convertible (a coupe was added a year later) with bucket seats and a console, followed in the middle of the 1962 model year by the Buick Wildcat and in '63 by Pontiac's Grand Prix.
(Images from Old Car Brochures. If you'd like to read a more in-depth treatment of this car, head to Curbside Classic.)
10 May 2014
This Week in Awesome (5/10/14)
Can it be? A TWiA sighting on a Saturday? Whoa...
Next week the broadcast TV networks will be announcing their new shows for next season, but this article from New York magazine argues that this approach to programming is less relevant than ever. (Vulture)
Speaking of TV, if you're wondering how things are going for John Oliver in his new home on HBO, this clip shows that the answer is "just fine." (Kempt)
The way we dress has changed drastically over the past 60 years or so. Though this piece applies mainly to women, it's a well-considered examination of the societal shifts that prompted these changes. (Time via Put This On)
The folks at Thrillist were kind enough to do the heavy (pint) lifting and assembled a map of bars based on their proximity to T stations. (Thrillist via Universal Hub)
And finally this week, a look at our planet from space, courtesy of NASA. (Boy Genius Report)
Next week the broadcast TV networks will be announcing their new shows for next season, but this article from New York magazine argues that this approach to programming is less relevant than ever. (Vulture)
Speaking of TV, if you're wondering how things are going for John Oliver in his new home on HBO, this clip shows that the answer is "just fine." (Kempt)
The way we dress has changed drastically over the past 60 years or so. Though this piece applies mainly to women, it's a well-considered examination of the societal shifts that prompted these changes. (Time via Put This On)
The folks at Thrillist were kind enough to do the heavy (pint) lifting and assembled a map of bars based on their proximity to T stations. (Thrillist via Universal Hub)
And finally this week, a look at our planet from space, courtesy of NASA. (Boy Genius Report)
09 May 2014
Of Pets and Pills
After a recent vet visit we learned that our dog had an infection and needed a two-week course of antibiotics, two pills per day. Getting a pet to take a pill is not easy, and she's supposed to take these with food, but her appetite has also been iffy lately so coaxing her to eat on command, so to speak, hasn't been easy either.
We tried covering the pill in the usual dog temptations: peanut butter, cheese, even some leftover chicken fat. Either she turned her head away entirely or the pill ended up on the floor. We presume that she can smell the medication hidden within the treat, and the pill is large enough that packing it in food makes a morsel that's too big for the dog to gulp down all at once. Hiding it in her food hasn't gotten much better results.
"Pilling" a dog is no fun and is also quite awkward, but it seemed like the only option. It kind of requires three hands: two to hold the dog's jaws open and a third to lob the pill into the back of the throat, far enough back that the animal can't get it back out again. But I've been home alone on most of the days when the dog needed her morning pill, so I had to do the holding and the throwing. One day this week I tried six times, and each time the pill came back out again.
Later that day I tried to give her a different medication, her monthly heartworm prevention. It comes in the form of a chewy liver-flavored block slightly more than an inch long. I usually break it in half and give it to her from my hand, and it has always been irresistible to her. This time, though, she was still unnerved from my earlier pilling attempts and would not take the medication from my hand; I had to put it on the floor for her to sniff at and eventually pick up with her tongue.
Finally we discovered a lure sufficiently enticing to overcome the smell of the pill and the anxiety of taking it: chicken salad. It can be packed around the pill and is still small enough to slurp off my open palm. The dog has always been nuts about chicken, and the moist consistency allows it to slide down her throat. We still have almost a week left of the medication so we'll need to get more chicken salad to get her to finish taking the pills. Pets may be easier than children, but caring for them is not without its challenges.
We tried covering the pill in the usual dog temptations: peanut butter, cheese, even some leftover chicken fat. Either she turned her head away entirely or the pill ended up on the floor. We presume that she can smell the medication hidden within the treat, and the pill is large enough that packing it in food makes a morsel that's too big for the dog to gulp down all at once. Hiding it in her food hasn't gotten much better results.
"Pilling" a dog is no fun and is also quite awkward, but it seemed like the only option. It kind of requires three hands: two to hold the dog's jaws open and a third to lob the pill into the back of the throat, far enough back that the animal can't get it back out again. But I've been home alone on most of the days when the dog needed her morning pill, so I had to do the holding and the throwing. One day this week I tried six times, and each time the pill came back out again.
Later that day I tried to give her a different medication, her monthly heartworm prevention. It comes in the form of a chewy liver-flavored block slightly more than an inch long. I usually break it in half and give it to her from my hand, and it has always been irresistible to her. This time, though, she was still unnerved from my earlier pilling attempts and would not take the medication from my hand; I had to put it on the floor for her to sniff at and eventually pick up with her tongue.
Finally we discovered a lure sufficiently enticing to overcome the smell of the pill and the anxiety of taking it: chicken salad. It can be packed around the pill and is still small enough to slurp off my open palm. The dog has always been nuts about chicken, and the moist consistency allows it to slide down her throat. We still have almost a week left of the medication so we'll need to get more chicken salad to get her to finish taking the pills. Pets may be easier than children, but caring for them is not without its challenges.
08 May 2014
Car Stuff: Rollin'
Things got messed up this week, but Car Stuff will be back on Monday with another Fantasy Garage installment. In the meantime, here's another 1990s Cadillac I spotted in a supermarket parking lot a couple of months back. (Sorry for the lousy pic; obviously it's at night, and I took it from inside the car.)
Looks like someone inherited Grandpa's ride and made a few modifications. A lot of cars wore paint in this color and other similar shades back in the '90s, so it may or may not be original. And I think the vinyl top is period-correct as well, even if it was dealer-installed.
Bakery Fave
I do love doughnuts and pastry (more than I should, ahem), but one of my favorite breakfast treats is the raspberry squares from the bakery department at Market Basket. The top and bottom layers are similar to pie crust but slightly more dense, and the fruit filling is firmer than what's typically found in other bakery items.
They are available in several other flavors (lemon, blueberry, fig) but the raspberry is my preference.
They are available in several other flavors (lemon, blueberry, fig) but the raspberry is my preference.
07 May 2014
Big Shopping News
News comes this morning that Boston is finally getting its long-awaited Uniqlo stores. Rumors have been bubbling for a while, and the company had stated that the Boston area was one of their expansion targets for 2014.
But the arrival will play out a bit differently than I would have expected. A pop-up location will open in Quincy Market in July and remain open through September. Meanwhile, permanent stores will open in the malls in Natick and Chestnut Hill at the end of August. (Info about the Chestnut Hill location leaked several months back.)
Then in September a third store will open in the Northshore Mall, followed by one at Legacy Place in Dedham in October. Boston proper won't get stores until a year from now, when two will open: one on Newbury Street and one in Quincy Market.
The suburbs-first approach is surprising, but I imagine it's mainly due to the availability of suitable spaces and the time involved in getting them ready. (The future location on Newbury, roughly across the street from Newbury Comics, used to be a parking garage.)
Regardless, I welcome the imminent opportunity to shop at Uniqlo without having to buy online or travel to New York. Their inexpensive clothing is well above that of other "fast fashion" retailers in terms of quality, and its colorful styles are still conservative enough that adults can wear them without embarrassment.
But the arrival will play out a bit differently than I would have expected. A pop-up location will open in Quincy Market in July and remain open through September. Meanwhile, permanent stores will open in the malls in Natick and Chestnut Hill at the end of August. (Info about the Chestnut Hill location leaked several months back.)
Then in September a third store will open in the Northshore Mall, followed by one at Legacy Place in Dedham in October. Boston proper won't get stores until a year from now, when two will open: one on Newbury Street and one in Quincy Market.
The suburbs-first approach is surprising, but I imagine it's mainly due to the availability of suitable spaces and the time involved in getting them ready. (The future location on Newbury, roughly across the street from Newbury Comics, used to be a parking garage.)
Regardless, I welcome the imminent opportunity to shop at Uniqlo without having to buy online or travel to New York. Their inexpensive clothing is well above that of other "fast fashion" retailers in terms of quality, and its colorful styles are still conservative enough that adults can wear them without embarrassment.
05 May 2014
Last Week in Awesome (5/3/14)
I had everything ready, I just didn't have the time to put it together. As Liz Lemon used to say, blerg...
A very nicely done Boston time-lapse video made the rounds last week. (Vimeo via Univesal Hub) Then boston dot com offered up a selection of other Boston-centric time-lapse clips (some of which are more interesting than others).
People of Walmart stopped posting new content a couple of years ago, but fortunately we have a local variant. (UH)
Another Rolling Stone list in slideshow form, this one on cult TV comedies. (There may or may not be bad links in this; I had trouble getting it to work properly.)
New York magazine's Vulture blog is running an excellent series of essays by Roots drummer Questlove on hip-hop and how it has failed black America (part 1; part 2). In addition to his talents as a musician, he's a compelling writer with a deep understanding of the subject. (Four more installments will appear each week on Tuesday.)
And finally this week, a Mad Men story with a slightly different angle: show creator Matthew Weiner does an interview with Interior Design magazine about the show's set designs. (Basket of Kisses)
A very nicely done Boston time-lapse video made the rounds last week. (Vimeo via Univesal Hub) Then boston dot com offered up a selection of other Boston-centric time-lapse clips (some of which are more interesting than others).
People of Walmart stopped posting new content a couple of years ago, but fortunately we have a local variant. (UH)
Another Rolling Stone list in slideshow form, this one on cult TV comedies. (There may or may not be bad links in this; I had trouble getting it to work properly.)
New York magazine's Vulture blog is running an excellent series of essays by Roots drummer Questlove on hip-hop and how it has failed black America (part 1; part 2). In addition to his talents as a musician, he's a compelling writer with a deep understanding of the subject. (Four more installments will appear each week on Tuesday.)
And finally this week, a Mad Men story with a slightly different angle: show creator Matthew Weiner does an interview with Interior Design magazine about the show's set designs. (Basket of Kisses)
03 May 2014
Retro Video Unit (5/2/14)
These are supposed to get posted on Fridays. I know this, and I thought of it a couple of times yesterday but it still got away from me. Middle age...
Anyway, The Motels came up in conversation recently. I knew I had posted a clip of them some time back; turns out it was almost three years ago, and since I've always felt they were an underrated band I think they deserve another mention.
Now, the songs that got some radio airplay in the early '80s had videos that were, well, I guess "stylized" is a fair way to put it. Of course, some of that is due to the director, and let's be honest: most music videos back then were at least a bit silly, but that's part of what made that time so memorable.
So, without ironic detachment or apology, let's look at the videos for the hits "Only the Lonely" (1982) and "Suddenly Last Summer" (1983).
Anyway, The Motels came up in conversation recently. I knew I had posted a clip of them some time back; turns out it was almost three years ago, and since I've always felt they were an underrated band I think they deserve another mention.
Now, the songs that got some radio airplay in the early '80s had videos that were, well, I guess "stylized" is a fair way to put it. Of course, some of that is due to the director, and let's be honest: most music videos back then were at least a bit silly, but that's part of what made that time so memorable.
So, without ironic detachment or apology, let's look at the videos for the hits "Only the Lonely" (1982) and "Suddenly Last Summer" (1983).
02 May 2014
Urban Mysteries
I walked to the corner today to drop something in the mailbox and... it was gone. I've passed the same corner a couple of times in the past week, but I wasn't heading for the box either time so I didn't notice it was gone. I don't know when this happened; it probably could have been any time within the past three weeks.
If I have something I need to mail I usually leave it for our carrier, but if I miss the delivery the mail got picked up from the box around 1 pm. The city has been replacing sections of sidewalk in areas around the city this spring, and it's possible the box was removed in preparation for that.
Meanwhile I did determine that there is a box a block further north, on the other side of the main road where I wait for the bus, and a few streets beyond that one there's another that has a 5 pm pickup, where I ended up walking to deposit my mail today.
If I have something I need to mail I usually leave it for our carrier, but if I miss the delivery the mail got picked up from the box around 1 pm. The city has been replacing sections of sidewalk in areas around the city this spring, and it's possible the box was removed in preparation for that.
Meanwhile I did determine that there is a box a block further north, on the other side of the main road where I wait for the bus, and a few streets beyond that one there's another that has a 5 pm pickup, where I ended up walking to deposit my mail today.
30 April 2014
Work in Progress
I was downtown last Friday and got a look at the construction activity on the old Filene's site:
I took this picture from the corner of Franklin and Hawley Streets. Hawley is the street that runs "behind" the site, between Washington and Arch Streets. At the far left you can see the Macy's building in the background. The area in the foreground, just behind the safety fencing, is what used to be called Shoppers' Park, that wedge of space along Franklin where there were large circular planters with benches ringing them.
One thing that I'm not clear about: this building seems to be set back much more than the old one was. I don't know if there will eventually be a larger parcel of open space there, or if another, lower portion of the building is going to be constructed closer to the fencing.
Update: To satisfy my own curiosity I dug around a little, and the revamping of the old Filene's "Burnham Building" is what we're looking at in the picture above, but that's only one part of the project, the part where the retail will go. The much larger portion (56 stories, 625 feet), where the residential units will be, is going to be built in front of this structure, so while its footprint isn't that large, it makes up for it in height. Those areas covered by yellow are where the two buildings will be connected eventually.
One thing that I'm not clear about: this building seems to be set back much more than the old one was. I don't know if there will eventually be a larger parcel of open space there, or if another, lower portion of the building is going to be constructed closer to the fencing.
Update: To satisfy my own curiosity I dug around a little, and the revamping of the old Filene's "Burnham Building" is what we're looking at in the picture above, but that's only one part of the project, the part where the retail will go. The much larger portion (56 stories, 625 feet), where the residential units will be, is going to be built in front of this structure, so while its footprint isn't that large, it makes up for it in height. Those areas covered by yellow are where the two buildings will be connected eventually.
29 April 2014
Style Don't: Jacket Required
I've used AdBlock Plus in my web browser for some time, but there are certain sites for which I allow exceptions. Generally these are sites that I visit regularly and that I also know are operated by an individual who is relying on the revenue generated from ad views and clicks for part of their income, such as Universal Hub, Curbside Classic, and Dappered. (I don't have ads appearing here because there isn't enough traffic to generate any meaningful real-world revenue.)
Naturally, the ads on these sites tend to be related to their content. But yesterday while I was visiting Dappered, I noticed an ad in the right sidebar for a menswear product so appallingly heinous I had to click on it, and now I'm going to make you look at it too:
These abominations are known as "jacketless tuxedos," and the person responsible for this idea should be fired, then forced to wear only these items of clothing every day for the rest of his/her life.
Let's be clear: this is not a tuxedo. This is an excuse for a tuxedo, the "I couldn't be bothered" alternative. This is what nearly two decades of "business casual" and the tech industry's lazy, hoodie-and-flip-flop non-aesthetic has wrought and foisted upon the clueless and feckless men of this country. And here comes Jos. A. Bank to take advantage of that while making it worse...
There are a couple of circumstances in which I could see this not being a style foul: if you are seven years old and are making your First Communion, I think this would constitute an acceptable outfit (in an age-appropriate smaller size, of course). And maybe, MAYBE (but I admit I'm not 100% in favor of it) I could see this as a prom outfit in certain situations, like if most/all the guys in the class were planning to dress more casually for the event.
But really, that's just it: this is a very juvenile outfit, the sort of thing you see on young boys. Once you reach about age sixteen, there are certain events for which you need to be properly dressed, full stop. And that means a suit with a jacket, or in some cases a tuxedo with a jacket. Because technically this is not a tuxedo; it's a pair of pants and a matching vest, which we will henceforth refer to as a "fauxedo," or perhaps a "broxedo."
Now, I have nothing against vests. I like vests, in appropriate settings, which only include formal events like proms and wedding parties when worn under a jacket, not in lieu of a jacket. Guys: if you're getting married or going to prom, man up and wear what you are supposed to. Your mate/date will certainly appreciate the effort.
PS: Shit, I never even got around to the part about how long ties are not appropriate with tuxedos. You know what? Never mind, I can't. This has been enough for today already...
Naturally, the ads on these sites tend to be related to their content. But yesterday while I was visiting Dappered, I noticed an ad in the right sidebar for a menswear product so appallingly heinous I had to click on it, and now I'm going to make you look at it too:
Let's be clear: this is not a tuxedo. This is an excuse for a tuxedo, the "I couldn't be bothered" alternative. This is what nearly two decades of "business casual" and the tech industry's lazy, hoodie-and-flip-flop non-aesthetic has wrought and foisted upon the clueless and feckless men of this country. And here comes Jos. A. Bank to take advantage of that while making it worse...
There are a couple of circumstances in which I could see this not being a style foul: if you are seven years old and are making your First Communion, I think this would constitute an acceptable outfit (in an age-appropriate smaller size, of course). And maybe, MAYBE (but I admit I'm not 100% in favor of it) I could see this as a prom outfit in certain situations, like if most/all the guys in the class were planning to dress more casually for the event.
But really, that's just it: this is a very juvenile outfit, the sort of thing you see on young boys. Once you reach about age sixteen, there are certain events for which you need to be properly dressed, full stop. And that means a suit with a jacket, or in some cases a tuxedo with a jacket. Because technically this is not a tuxedo; it's a pair of pants and a matching vest, which we will henceforth refer to as a "fauxedo," or perhaps a "broxedo."
Now, I have nothing against vests. I like vests, in appropriate settings, which only include formal events like proms and wedding parties when worn under a jacket, not in lieu of a jacket. Guys: if you're getting married or going to prom, man up and wear what you are supposed to. Your mate/date will certainly appreciate the effort.
PS: Shit, I never even got around to the part about how long ties are not appropriate with tuxedos. You know what? Never mind, I can't. This has been enough for today already...
28 April 2014
Car Stuff: Look-Alikes, Part 2
Last week I looked at the overall shape of several mid-size and large sedans. Today we're going to look specifically at rear views of the same six cars, in the same order. (All cars are 2014 models unless otherwise stated.)
Ford Fusion:
2015 Hyundai Sonata:
Nissan Altima:
2015 Chrysler 200:
Chevrolet Impala:
Toyota Avalon:
(All the images of the white cars with blank backgrounds are from Edmunds; the Sonata is from Hyundai's website; the 200 is from Autoblog.)
There's a lot more shaping in real panels than there used to be, both in the way the rear of a car meets the rest of the body, and on the rear area itself. A lot of this has to do with aerodynamics (shaping a vehicle to minimize wind resistance results in improved fuel economy), and some of it is functional (trunk lid openings are cut lower for easier access), but much of it is merely decorative, and some of ti seems to be there just for the sake of being there, as though today's car designers are uncomfortable with simpler, less busy surfaces.
But all of those fussy lines and shapes don't amount to distinctive designs (not to my eyes, at least). There is a disappointing sameness to the appearance of these cars; everything is overly generic, or overly stylized but not in a good way.
All the logo badges are in the same place, right at top center; all the license plate openings are in the same place (you used to see some of them lower, in the bumper itself, but that practice seems to be a victim of bumper shaping); all the tail lights except the Altima's extend laterally into the trunk lids; and in almost every case the model and trim badges are in the same locations: again the Altima bucks the trend by having its badges mounted at the top of the trunk lid instead of the bottom, though there is what appears to be some sort of engine badge down below; the Impala is devoid of badges but has its model name stamped more subtly into the chrome piece across the middle.
As someone who has been into cars since early childhood, I find these developments disappointing. It used to be easy to tell one kind of car from another, but that's getting more difficult, even for someone like me who pays attention to, and appreciates, all the little details.
Ford Fusion:
There's a lot more shaping in real panels than there used to be, both in the way the rear of a car meets the rest of the body, and on the rear area itself. A lot of this has to do with aerodynamics (shaping a vehicle to minimize wind resistance results in improved fuel economy), and some of it is functional (trunk lid openings are cut lower for easier access), but much of it is merely decorative, and some of ti seems to be there just for the sake of being there, as though today's car designers are uncomfortable with simpler, less busy surfaces.
But all of those fussy lines and shapes don't amount to distinctive designs (not to my eyes, at least). There is a disappointing sameness to the appearance of these cars; everything is overly generic, or overly stylized but not in a good way.
All the logo badges are in the same place, right at top center; all the license plate openings are in the same place (you used to see some of them lower, in the bumper itself, but that practice seems to be a victim of bumper shaping); all the tail lights except the Altima's extend laterally into the trunk lids; and in almost every case the model and trim badges are in the same locations: again the Altima bucks the trend by having its badges mounted at the top of the trunk lid instead of the bottom, though there is what appears to be some sort of engine badge down below; the Impala is devoid of badges but has its model name stamped more subtly into the chrome piece across the middle.
As someone who has been into cars since early childhood, I find these developments disappointing. It used to be easy to tell one kind of car from another, but that's getting more difficult, even for someone like me who pays attention to, and appreciates, all the little details.
27 April 2014
This Week in Awesome (4/26/14)
I know the posts were a bit sparse around here this past week, but even though I'm still not working full-time, I still have other stuff going on that sometimes intrudes on my free time. This coming week should be better (no promises, though).
You want a time-lapse? How about a time-lapse of the aurora borealis? (Vimeo via Boy Genius Report)
Here's a nice piece on the under-appreciated work of John Waters. (Refinery29 via Dappered)
Trying to rank things invites criticism and controversy, but lists are still fun: this one is about TV shows based on movies. (Rolling Stone via TV Tattle)
And finally this week, a website that will show you a randomly selected YouTube clip that no one has ever watched (meaning, you'll be the first). (Gizmodo via Yahoo Tech)
You want a time-lapse? How about a time-lapse of the aurora borealis? (Vimeo via Boy Genius Report)
Here's a nice piece on the under-appreciated work of John Waters. (Refinery29 via Dappered)
Trying to rank things invites criticism and controversy, but lists are still fun: this one is about TV shows based on movies. (Rolling Stone via TV Tattle)
And finally this week, a website that will show you a randomly selected YouTube clip that no one has ever watched (meaning, you'll be the first). (Gizmodo via Yahoo Tech)
24 April 2014
CharlieCard Secrets
After the MBTA switched to its current payment system, I was issued a special pass that looks like a regular CharlieCard but has my photo on the other side.
Over the past few months I've been having minor issues with getting the card to read properly when I board a bus. (I've never had a problem going through a fare gate in a subway station.) I thought it could be that the card was simply getting old and the sensor had somehow weakened, or that it was some other, more obscure reason.
Bus drivers observe me struggling to get the card to register until I give up and pull it out of my wallet, even though the readers are generally capable if reading it through one thin layer of leather. Rarely a driver will break the silence and offer a bit of advice that turns out to be genuinely useful.
On my own I figured out that the chip in the card is near the top of my wallet, but I didn't know until a driver told me that moving the card (and my wallet) more slowly toward and over the reader would help read it on the first pass.
Likewise, I didn't know until today that the reader is located on the right side of the pad. I have a tendency to hold my wallet near the middle of the pad, which probably explains why I've been having problems getting my card to read properly. And this knowledge would also end up being a benefit to the drivers if they shared it more readily with passengers, because faster card reading means faster boarding overall.
Bus drivers observe me struggling to get the card to register until I give up and pull it out of my wallet, even though the readers are generally capable if reading it through one thin layer of leather. Rarely a driver will break the silence and offer a bit of advice that turns out to be genuinely useful.
On my own I figured out that the chip in the card is near the top of my wallet, but I didn't know until a driver told me that moving the card (and my wallet) more slowly toward and over the reader would help read it on the first pass.
Likewise, I didn't know until today that the reader is located on the right side of the pad. I have a tendency to hold my wallet near the middle of the pad, which probably explains why I've been having problems getting my card to read properly. And this knowledge would also end up being a benefit to the drivers if they shared it more readily with passengers, because faster card reading means faster boarding overall.
22 April 2014
Car Stuff: Look-Alikes
I took yesterday off from blogging. I know it's only a holiday in Massachusetts, but I knew I was going to need some prep time for this post.
Back before the oil crises of the 1970s sent American car manufacturers running for cover and forced them to reinvent the way they designed and built cars, it was easier to identify cars by make and model with just a quick glance. Now, fuel economy standards require cars to be more aerodynamic, which has led to more steeply raked windshields in front and more fastback-like rooflines in back, to the point where the appearance of cars is starting to become more homogeneous, particularly in the sedan category.
Designers are putting more effort into establishing a unifying design language that plants a similarly-styled corporate "face" on all the models offered by a particular brand (think of BMW's twin "kidneys," Kia's top-and-bottom chrome "teeth," Lincoln's split "wings," or Lexus's "spindle" shape), which is great if you are looking at a car head-on, but from the side it's getting more difficult to tell one car from another, and from the rear many cars now have tail lights with similar shapes. (The advent of LED technology for vehicle lighting means tail lights look more distinctive when they are lit at night, but that's not necessarily evident in the daytime.) At the same time, safety concerns have led to raised door sills (there's a lot of stuff packed inside those doors), resulting in reduced glass area and making passenger compartments appear more "squished down" from the outside.
Let me show you a few examples. This is a Ford Fusion, a midsize car that has been quite popular, selling around 300,000 units last year:
(Photo from Ford's website)
And this is the redesigned 2015 Hyundai Sonata, another popular midsize car that competes with the Fusion. This version was introduced last week at the New York Auto Show and will go on sale later this year:
(Photo from Hyundai via Autoblog)
Here's another popular midsize sedan, the Nissan Altima:
(Photo from Nissan's website)
And one more newly redesigned model that's not on sale yet, the Chrysler 200:
(Photo from Chrysler via Autoblog)
To me, the Chrysler looks most like the Fusion, but compared to the chrome-trimmed turd it's replacing, it looks fantastic, and the early first-drive reviews have been quite favorable.
Here is a Chevrolet Impala, which is a bit larger than all of the above cars but has many of the same styling elements:
(Photo from Chevrolet's website)
And here is a Toyota Avalon, which is a direct competitor to the Impala:
(Photo from Toyota's website)
See what I'm getting at? The designs are aggressive and modern, but they all kind of look the same. And more subjectively, I don't care for such swoopy rooflines on sedans. I miss more defined trunk lids.
Next time we'll look at tail light shapes, using these same vehicles as examples.
(Credit where it's due: this post was directly inspired by this one on Curbside Classic.)
Back before the oil crises of the 1970s sent American car manufacturers running for cover and forced them to reinvent the way they designed and built cars, it was easier to identify cars by make and model with just a quick glance. Now, fuel economy standards require cars to be more aerodynamic, which has led to more steeply raked windshields in front and more fastback-like rooflines in back, to the point where the appearance of cars is starting to become more homogeneous, particularly in the sedan category.
Designers are putting more effort into establishing a unifying design language that plants a similarly-styled corporate "face" on all the models offered by a particular brand (think of BMW's twin "kidneys," Kia's top-and-bottom chrome "teeth," Lincoln's split "wings," or Lexus's "spindle" shape), which is great if you are looking at a car head-on, but from the side it's getting more difficult to tell one car from another, and from the rear many cars now have tail lights with similar shapes. (The advent of LED technology for vehicle lighting means tail lights look more distinctive when they are lit at night, but that's not necessarily evident in the daytime.) At the same time, safety concerns have led to raised door sills (there's a lot of stuff packed inside those doors), resulting in reduced glass area and making passenger compartments appear more "squished down" from the outside.
Let me show you a few examples. This is a Ford Fusion, a midsize car that has been quite popular, selling around 300,000 units last year:
And this is the redesigned 2015 Hyundai Sonata, another popular midsize car that competes with the Fusion. This version was introduced last week at the New York Auto Show and will go on sale later this year:
Here's another popular midsize sedan, the Nissan Altima:
And one more newly redesigned model that's not on sale yet, the Chrysler 200:
To me, the Chrysler looks most like the Fusion, but compared to the chrome-trimmed turd it's replacing, it looks fantastic, and the early first-drive reviews have been quite favorable.
Here is a Chevrolet Impala, which is a bit larger than all of the above cars but has many of the same styling elements:
And here is a Toyota Avalon, which is a direct competitor to the Impala:
See what I'm getting at? The designs are aggressive and modern, but they all kind of look the same. And more subjectively, I don't care for such swoopy rooflines on sedans. I miss more defined trunk lids.
Next time we'll look at tail light shapes, using these same vehicles as examples.
(Credit where it's due: this post was directly inspired by this one on Curbside Classic.)
19 April 2014
This Week in Awesome (4/19/14)
We have a busy weekend ahead of us, so I want to take care of this before I forget...
The source of this (a real-estate blog) is unexpected, but it's interesting just the same. (Movoto via The A.V. Club)
You may have seen this building and wondered how stable it really is; in hindsight, "more so than it used to be" is not exactly comforting. (Note that the text glosses over exactly how it was reinforced, but I think the audio may cover it.) (99% Invisible via The Verge)
Not exactly awesome but still worth reading: seemingly the most prolonged death spiral of a major retailer that I can recall. Could it have been avoided? Possibly, if this guy wasn't in charge. (Salon)
And finally this week, This is another of those "if you're of at least a certain age..." stories about a strangely wonderful pop-culture artifact from the late-1970s/early-'80s period, but the good part is that it's filled with YouTube clips for the benefit of those who are too young to remember, and as the article points out, the shows are readily available if you have cable. (Vulture)
The source of this (a real-estate blog) is unexpected, but it's interesting just the same. (Movoto via The A.V. Club)
You may have seen this building and wondered how stable it really is; in hindsight, "more so than it used to be" is not exactly comforting. (Note that the text glosses over exactly how it was reinforced, but I think the audio may cover it.) (99% Invisible via The Verge)
Not exactly awesome but still worth reading: seemingly the most prolonged death spiral of a major retailer that I can recall. Could it have been avoided? Possibly, if this guy wasn't in charge. (Salon)
And finally this week, This is another of those "if you're of at least a certain age..." stories about a strangely wonderful pop-culture artifact from the late-1970s/early-'80s period, but the good part is that it's filled with YouTube clips for the benefit of those who are too young to remember, and as the article points out, the shows are readily available if you have cable. (Vulture)
Retro Video Unit (4/18/14)
Sticking with the '80s for now, in part because there's plenty of good material: "Let's Dance" by David Bowie, from the 1983 album of the same name. This is one of those videos that anyone who spent any amount of time watching MTV during its early golden years (see what I did there?) undoubtedly saw, probably repeatedly.
I've always been a big fan of David Bowie, and maybe this album isn't as artistically relevant as some of his other material, but as a pop-music document of its time, it has held up well.
I've always been a big fan of David Bowie, and maybe this album isn't as artistically relevant as some of his other material, but as a pop-music document of its time, it has held up well.
18 April 2014
Overheard: Class Notes Edition
On Wednesday afternoon I was listening to a conversation between two men who happened to be waiting for the bus with me, who clearly knew each other but seemingly not that well. Both were about a decade older than me, and I think they might have just gotten off work at the Stop & Shop because we were across the street from it (which would also explain their acquaintance).
At one point one of the men said to the other, "You went to [area Catholic high school]? I went to [area Catholic high school]! How come I don't remember you?" (The eventual answer was that he was a few years older than the other guy, and we all know how little attention seniors pay to underclassmen.)
The bus came, we all got on, and their conversation continued, turning to mutually remembered classmates. Of one person, one asked the other if he was in touch regularly and the other responded, "Ah, him I mostly see at, you know, wakes and funerals."
Then the second asked, "Do you remember ______? Blonde hair, tough as nails? Used to think, she's probably gonna end up in jail? Know what she ended up doin'? US marshal."
At one point one of the men said to the other, "You went to [area Catholic high school]? I went to [area Catholic high school]! How come I don't remember you?" (The eventual answer was that he was a few years older than the other guy, and we all know how little attention seniors pay to underclassmen.)
The bus came, we all got on, and their conversation continued, turning to mutually remembered classmates. Of one person, one asked the other if he was in touch regularly and the other responded, "Ah, him I mostly see at, you know, wakes and funerals."
Then the second asked, "Do you remember ______? Blonde hair, tough as nails? Used to think, she's probably gonna end up in jail? Know what she ended up doin'? US marshal."
16 April 2014
Watch Wednesday Follow-Up: In Need of Service
A little over a year ago I bought a Seiko solar chronograph as a "treat myself" bonus for shoveling a lot of snow last winter. I really liked the watch and wore it a lot. In fact, it became pretty much my #1 everyday choice.
A couple of months ago I noticed that the watch had stopped. This was surprising, since it's powered by light and I always leave it where it's exposed to plenty. Holding it up to a light bulb got it going again, and everything was fine. But it kept happening, and finally a couple of weeks ago it stopped and wouldn't restart at all.
The watch came with a three-year warranty, but obtaining service requires sending the watch to Seiko's only US service facility in New Jersey, so off it will go. I hope it can be fixed.
A couple of months ago I noticed that the watch had stopped. This was surprising, since it's powered by light and I always leave it where it's exposed to plenty. Holding it up to a light bulb got it going again, and everything was fine. But it kept happening, and finally a couple of weeks ago it stopped and wouldn't restart at all.
The watch came with a three-year warranty, but obtaining service requires sending the watch to Seiko's only US service facility in New Jersey, so off it will go. I hope it can be fixed.
15 April 2014
Doggie Delicacies
As our dog has gotten older, her appetite has decreased. We've taken to adding enticing things to her regular food to try to get her to eat more. To the plain yogurt we've always given her (for coat and digestion), we've added chicken broth and cheese, and now I'm making scrambled eggs to crumble up and mix in with the rest. I don't think I've ever cooked scrambled eggs for myself, but my dog is basically getting a kibble omelet...
14 April 2014
Car Stuff: Random Sighting #25
Sometimes unusual cars show up at odd places and times. A month or so ago, when it was still quite cold, the Mrs. needed to do a mundane errand on a Sunday afternoon. I decided to go along for the ride and to get out of the house for a while, which prompted her to suggest we entertain the dog by taking her for the ride.
That meant I would have to walk the dog around the parking lot while the Mrs. took care of her task, instead of just waiting in the car. But if I hadn't gotten out of the car in that parking lot, I would not have spotted this totally '80s Pontiac Firebird Trans Am. Check out the T-tops! And those wheels! (I wonder if the headlights are stuck in the open position?)
Back then, this was absolutely the ultimate car to have for a certain type of macho dude, who probably also had a substantial mustache and a Members Only jacket. I'm not being critical; that's just how it was. I have no idea what sort of person owns this car now, but the owner does seem to be making an effort to keep it clean and in good condition, which made it all the more surprising that it was out on the road in late winter.
The third-generation Firebird (and its cousin the Chevy Camaro) was made for 11 model years, from 1982-92. Changes during that time were fairly minimal compared to the changes the car had received every couple of years during the 1970s. I can say that this car is at least a 1985, as that's when the louvers appeared in the hood. And if you look closely at the back of the car, you can make out the center brake light under the spoiler, making this at least a 1987 (cars first got these lights for 1986, but for that year only, Firebirds had theirs at the outside top of the rear window), or possibly an '88 or '89; it's also possible it's a '90, though that was a shortened production year. (A redesigned front appeared on the 1991 models.)
13 April 2014
This Week in Awesome (4/12/14)
All right, I've got a big bag of internet and I'm eager to share it with you...
Twin Peaks fans: this one's for you. (The A.V. Club)
We all know that the presence of people of color on the major TV networks' programming does not really reflect our society (though it's certainly better than it used to be), but if you've ever wondered just exactly how it breaks down, I have some statistics for you, presented in a convenient visual format. (The Awl)
The punk band Fugazi hasn't performed in over a decade, but there's a vast archive of its live shows that it has been digitizing and offering for sale online. (The Verge)
Staying with music, this is one of those "old thing in context of same spot in present day" features that websites love to do, this one involving album cover photos. (The Guardian via The A.V. Club)
I was too young to have any awareness of the 1964 World's Fair, but it's one of those events in our country's cultural history that, in hindsight, turned out to be a key inflection point. (The New York Times)
And finally this week, in honor of Mad Men Day (finally!), a couple of bits of amusement: a promo for The Simpsons that mocks the frustrating, information- and context-free nature of AMC's end-of-episode "next week on Mad Men" bits (Splitsider); and a somewhat more elaborate spoof in the form of an extended trailer for an imaginary blaxploitation version of MM that I would totally watch (NSFW/K, language). (Slate via TV Tattle)
Twin Peaks fans: this one's for you. (The A.V. Club)
We all know that the presence of people of color on the major TV networks' programming does not really reflect our society (though it's certainly better than it used to be), but if you've ever wondered just exactly how it breaks down, I have some statistics for you, presented in a convenient visual format. (The Awl)
The punk band Fugazi hasn't performed in over a decade, but there's a vast archive of its live shows that it has been digitizing and offering for sale online. (The Verge)
Staying with music, this is one of those "old thing in context of same spot in present day" features that websites love to do, this one involving album cover photos. (The Guardian via The A.V. Club)
I was too young to have any awareness of the 1964 World's Fair, but it's one of those events in our country's cultural history that, in hindsight, turned out to be a key inflection point. (The New York Times)
And finally this week, in honor of Mad Men Day (finally!), a couple of bits of amusement: a promo for The Simpsons that mocks the frustrating, information- and context-free nature of AMC's end-of-episode "next week on Mad Men" bits (Splitsider); and a somewhat more elaborate spoof in the form of an extended trailer for an imaginary blaxploitation version of MM that I would totally watch (NSFW/K, language). (Slate via TV Tattle)
10 April 2014
Proved Wrong
A few weeks back I noted the "normcore" thing going on in fashion, and predicted that the New York Times Style section would do a piece on it in six months, when it was already over. I'm a bit behind on my newspaper reading, but in perusing last week's Style section I found there was just such an article. (I believe I read that the Times recently appointed a new fashion editor, who may be responsible for the improved response time in covering trends like this.)
08 April 2014
Catching Up
I know there was no TWiA last weekend. We were busier than usual and I hadn't gathered much decent material for it during the week, plus Comcast did their "watch all the HBO stuff you want free online this week only" thing again. I decided to watch the first two seasons of Veep, which is an outstanding show and I'm really glad I did, but it took up a lot of time that I might otherwise have been spending online looking for interesting stuff for TWiA.
Then on Sunday we went to see Captain America: The Winter Soldier, which was excellent, really just as good as The Avengers. I'm not going to spoil anything, but I will say that plenty of significant stuff happens that will directly impact next year's Avengers sequel and the rest of the Marvel universe. And Guardians of the Galaxy, which is part of that universe and comes out in August, looks just ridiculous in the best possible way.
Then on Sunday we went to see Captain America: The Winter Soldier, which was excellent, really just as good as The Avengers. I'm not going to spoil anything, but I will say that plenty of significant stuff happens that will directly impact next year's Avengers sequel and the rest of the Marvel universe. And Guardians of the Galaxy, which is part of that universe and comes out in August, looks just ridiculous in the best possible way.
07 April 2014
Car Stuff: Fantasy Garage #5
I've been attempting to execute this feature in chronological order, and I started with 1960 because I've always had more affection for cars of the '60s and '70s than for older ones. But I knew that at some point I would come up with a car from the '50s that I wanted to include, and I finally remembered it so now my attempt at order it messed up, and that's just how the middle-aged brain works.
After the end of World War II, the car companies rushed to restart civilian auto production, but they had to make do with warmed-over versions of existing designs from before the war. The first American company to put a completely new design into production was Studebaker (a company whose heritage went back to making wagons in the mid-1800s but would end up not surviving the 1960s). Being smaller than the Big Three actually made them more nimble and, in this instance, better able to get a new design into production more quickly. That car went on sale for the 1947 model year, ahead of the competition by a year or more.
But the car I'm interested in is the version that came later, for 1953. Its design is extremely advanced for the time: it's remarkably low compared to other cars of the period, and has a fresh simplicity that mostly wouldn't find its way to offerings from other American car companies for another decade.
As beautiful as these cars were and are, they were plagued with production problems, and Studebaker seems to have done everything possible to sabotage its chances to succeed. This article from Curbside Classic has more photos and offers a good overview of what was going on within the company that would soon lead to an ill-fated merger with the dying Packard, and to the company's complete demise by 1966. But I still want one in my fantasy garage.
(Image from hemmings.com)
After the end of World War II, the car companies rushed to restart civilian auto production, but they had to make do with warmed-over versions of existing designs from before the war. The first American company to put a completely new design into production was Studebaker (a company whose heritage went back to making wagons in the mid-1800s but would end up not surviving the 1960s). Being smaller than the Big Three actually made them more nimble and, in this instance, better able to get a new design into production more quickly. That car went on sale for the 1947 model year, ahead of the competition by a year or more.
As beautiful as these cars were and are, they were plagued with production problems, and Studebaker seems to have done everything possible to sabotage its chances to succeed. This article from Curbside Classic has more photos and offers a good overview of what was going on within the company that would soon lead to an ill-fated merger with the dying Packard, and to the company's complete demise by 1966. But I still want one in my fantasy garage.
(Image from hemmings.com)
04 April 2014
Retro Video Unit (4/4/14)
After the INXS video two weeks ago, I started to think about what other groups' videos I've overlooked. Eurythmics was one of the top groups in the early days of MTV, and "Sweet Dreams (Are Made Of This)" is a good example of a relatively early music video. (I also have always had a thing for song titles with parentheses in them, and for women in menswear.)
Anyone besides me see a resemblance between early '80s Annie Lennox and Christina Hendricks?
Anyone besides me see a resemblance between early '80s Annie Lennox and Christina Hendricks?
03 April 2014
Springtime Walkin'
Back in October I mentioned the Chippewa-made boots I wanted from L.L. Bean. I did get a couple of Bean gift cards for Christmas, and by combining those with a couple of $10 rewards from my credit card, I was able to get them with only a very small contribution from my own pocket. I got to wear them once during the winter, after January's snow had melted but before February's had fallen. Now that the snow is gone completely I've been able to wear them a few more times and I think they are a really nice product.
Interestingly, I had tried on a slightly different version of the boots a few years back in a Bean store and found that they ran small, but the reviews of this version indicated that they ran true to size or perhaps even a little large, so I ordered 10.5, which is down half a size from what I normally wear in athletic shoes. I may have been able to get away with size 10, but I still prefer having room up front.
The extra space would also be useful for insoles, but so far I haven't felt like I need them in these boots. The cushioning in the insoles is quite good and they have been comfortable to walk in. I imagine the rubber soles and the inner layer of cork contribute to that comfort as well.
The uppers are oiled leather and they have picked up a few stray marks so far, but in some cases those can be "erased" by rubbing the area around the mark to redistribute the oils. I do wish there were speed hooks at the top instead of eyelets all the way up (I believe the version of this boot that J. Crew is selling has speed hooks), but I think I could have them added by a cobbler and I may do so.
This picture in direct sunlight shows the burgundy color very well. Indoors it's a bit more subtle and tends to appear brown, but I tend to prefer subtle, and I like the small bit of contrast provided by the natural-color welt. The welt construction makes these resoleable and thus a better value.
Interestingly, I had tried on a slightly different version of the boots a few years back in a Bean store and found that they ran small, but the reviews of this version indicated that they ran true to size or perhaps even a little large, so I ordered 10.5, which is down half a size from what I normally wear in athletic shoes. I may have been able to get away with size 10, but I still prefer having room up front.
The extra space would also be useful for insoles, but so far I haven't felt like I need them in these boots. The cushioning in the insoles is quite good and they have been comfortable to walk in. I imagine the rubber soles and the inner layer of cork contribute to that comfort as well.
The uppers are oiled leather and they have picked up a few stray marks so far, but in some cases those can be "erased" by rubbing the area around the mark to redistribute the oils. I do wish there were speed hooks at the top instead of eyelets all the way up (I believe the version of this boot that J. Crew is selling has speed hooks), but I think I could have them added by a cobbler and I may do so.
01 April 2014
Overheard: Poor Grasp of Spanish Edition
Over the weekend at a bar in Salem, while sitting adjacent to the bar, this was overheard between a bartender and one of a group that appeared to be regulars:
"...so we'll be doing that for Cinco de Mayo."
"When's Cinco de Mayo?"
"...so we'll be doing that for Cinco de Mayo."
"When's Cinco de Mayo?"
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