I want to believe Verizon (naturally) when they tell me my iPhone has shipped and I will definitely receive it tomorrow, but the tracking number gives me only an error message, so it's making me a tiny bit nervous.
But I choose to remain optimistic. Then again, the address got mutated again. More and more lately, shippers are taking it upon themselves to alter the address I provide for shipments to my workplace. The address they're changing to is only slightly different, but it's enough to cause delivery problems. Looks like I will need to be extra-vigilant tomorrow.
13 October 2011
12 October 2011
Not Suitable
I had another look at the cotton suit last night, and it isn't going to work, because I'd forgotten that the sleeves are too long and need to be altered. I wasn't 100% certain when I bought it whether I was going to keep it or not, so I never took it to the tailor. And anyway, I imagine it's going to cool down as soon as the sun sets Friday, and it's supposed to be raining, which just adds to the fun. Time to have a look at my other suits and see what fits.
11 October 2011
Loafing
I've realized that those of you who stop by to see what I have to say about clothes and stuff have quite possibly been a little bored lately, what with all my going on about my impending iPhone, griping about nice weather, etc. Fair enough...
I have days when I just can't decide which shoes to wear. This happens at least once a week, and it usually coincides with being in a hurry to finish getting dressed. Since the shoes one chooses to wear on a given day tend to determine the belt one wears, and to some extent what outerwear (this may just be my own neurosis, but I can't leave the house wearing sneakers if I'm also wearing a hip-length coat), the choice of shoes is fairly important.
On such indecisive days, I tend to fall back on penny loafers, of which I have several pairs. This is partly due to the fact that they slip on quickly and easily, with no bending and tying. Also, they go well with most of the stuff I wear, which makes the other decisions easier.
The term "penny loafer" tends to apply to a few different styles of shoe. It typically has a strap with a cutout; back in the late 1950s, when my parents were in high school, people actually put pennies in the slots, but that's best left to the kids. The strap may be attached to the sides of the shoe, it may extend all the way to the bottom of the upper on both sides (sometimes called a "full-strap"), or there may be stitched rolls of leather at either end (called a "beefroll"). A loafer with no strap is called a Venetian.
I find Venetians too plain-looking, like they're unfinished. I don't like beefrolls either. A full-strap loafer can be all right, but I prefer the classic flat-strap penny. (I'm not going to discuss tassel loafers, because I happen to believe that tassels do not belong on a man's shoes. If you like them, fine; I can't abide them.)
Bass Weejuns are the iconic penny loafers. "Weejuns" is a contraction of "Norwegians" because G.H. Bass had seen Norwegian farmers wearing similar shoes and borrowed the design from them. I own one pair of Weejuns at the moment, the "Logan" in tan leather with cream contrast stitching. My other penny loafers are other brands, because the leather on the Logan in black or burgundy is too glossy.
But Bass has other styles of Weejuns now, in different leathers. The "Longwood" is a standard flat-strap penny very much like the Logan, but made in a matte calf leather. (It's also available in black, but I guess Zappos isn't carrying it.) This is good, because I've been looking to replace my black penny loafers, which are Sebagos and never quite worked on my feet, though I've been pretending otherwise for two years. One issue with the Longwood is that the edges of the leather are unfinished, and to me the natural leather clashes with the black of the rest of the shoe. I suspect this may be rectified with either the application of some shoe polish, or a visit to a cobbler.
One other Weejun of note is the 75th anniversary "Linwood" model. The leather on these has a nice luster without the fake-looking gloss of the Logan. These are described as exclusive to Opening Ceremony, a hipster store in New York, but I found them at ShoeBuy and Piperlime. They're already marked down at Piperlime, and ShoeBuy offers discount codes all the time. One unusual thing about the Linwood is that it's available in navy as well as burgundy. I also can't abide navy shoes, but if that's your thing, this might be a good shoe for you.
By the way, I opted not to go with American-made shoes like the Walden from Allen Edmonds mainly because of cost. A pair of Waldens is $235, versus $100 to $120 for Weejuns, depending on style, plus if you put in a small amount of effort you can almost certainly get the Weejuns of your choice at a decent discount. I ended up ordering the Longwoods from Piperlime for $90, which is 25% off their regular price. And Weejuns are manufactured in El Salvador, which is at least in this hemisphere.
I have days when I just can't decide which shoes to wear. This happens at least once a week, and it usually coincides with being in a hurry to finish getting dressed. Since the shoes one chooses to wear on a given day tend to determine the belt one wears, and to some extent what outerwear (this may just be my own neurosis, but I can't leave the house wearing sneakers if I'm also wearing a hip-length coat), the choice of shoes is fairly important.
On such indecisive days, I tend to fall back on penny loafers, of which I have several pairs. This is partly due to the fact that they slip on quickly and easily, with no bending and tying. Also, they go well with most of the stuff I wear, which makes the other decisions easier.
The term "penny loafer" tends to apply to a few different styles of shoe. It typically has a strap with a cutout; back in the late 1950s, when my parents were in high school, people actually put pennies in the slots, but that's best left to the kids. The strap may be attached to the sides of the shoe, it may extend all the way to the bottom of the upper on both sides (sometimes called a "full-strap"), or there may be stitched rolls of leather at either end (called a "beefroll"). A loafer with no strap is called a Venetian.
I find Venetians too plain-looking, like they're unfinished. I don't like beefrolls either. A full-strap loafer can be all right, but I prefer the classic flat-strap penny. (I'm not going to discuss tassel loafers, because I happen to believe that tassels do not belong on a man's shoes. If you like them, fine; I can't abide them.)
Bass Weejuns are the iconic penny loafers. "Weejuns" is a contraction of "Norwegians" because G.H. Bass had seen Norwegian farmers wearing similar shoes and borrowed the design from them. I own one pair of Weejuns at the moment, the "Logan" in tan leather with cream contrast stitching. My other penny loafers are other brands, because the leather on the Logan in black or burgundy is too glossy.
But Bass has other styles of Weejuns now, in different leathers. The "Longwood" is a standard flat-strap penny very much like the Logan, but made in a matte calf leather. (It's also available in black, but I guess Zappos isn't carrying it.) This is good, because I've been looking to replace my black penny loafers, which are Sebagos and never quite worked on my feet, though I've been pretending otherwise for two years. One issue with the Longwood is that the edges of the leather are unfinished, and to me the natural leather clashes with the black of the rest of the shoe. I suspect this may be rectified with either the application of some shoe polish, or a visit to a cobbler.
One other Weejun of note is the 75th anniversary "Linwood" model. The leather on these has a nice luster without the fake-looking gloss of the Logan. These are described as exclusive to Opening Ceremony, a hipster store in New York, but I found them at ShoeBuy and Piperlime. They're already marked down at Piperlime, and ShoeBuy offers discount codes all the time. One unusual thing about the Linwood is that it's available in navy as well as burgundy. I also can't abide navy shoes, but if that's your thing, this might be a good shoe for you.
By the way, I opted not to go with American-made shoes like the Walden from Allen Edmonds mainly because of cost. A pair of Waldens is $235, versus $100 to $120 for Weejuns, depending on style, plus if you put in a small amount of effort you can almost certainly get the Weejuns of your choice at a decent discount. I ended up ordering the Longwoods from Piperlime for $90, which is 25% off their regular price. And Weejuns are manufactured in El Salvador, which is at least in this hemisphere.
10 October 2011
Indian Summer
I want to feel happy about this weather. I really do. I understand why people dread winter; as I get older, it gets more challenging to deal with. But sitting in the living room this evening, we had to turn on the AC to be comfortable watching TV. It's mainly the TV's fault; it's plasma, and they throw a lot of heat. I didn't know this when I was shopping for a TV four years ago; I never saw it mentioned in any of the reviews I read. Had I known, I might have reconsidered getting an LCD.
I just want some fall. Is that too much to ask? Everybody likes fall, right?
We're going to a dress-up event this Friday evening, and for a couple of weeks now I've been assembling potential outfits in my head. Now the forecast says it's supposed to be 70 on Friday, and I'm thinking I might need to wear the beige cotton suit I bought this summer. I'm not certain if that's a fashion "don't" or not, but it might be a necessity for comfort.
I just want some fall. Is that too much to ask? Everybody likes fall, right?
We're going to a dress-up event this Friday evening, and for a couple of weeks now I've been assembling potential outfits in my head. Now the forecast says it's supposed to be 70 on Friday, and I'm thinking I might need to wear the beige cotton suit I bought this summer. I'm not certain if that's a fashion "don't" or not, but it might be a necessity for comfort.
08 October 2011
This Week in Awesome (10/8/11)
Got busy at work again yesterday afternoon (what's up with these busy Fridays; that's when I'm supposed to be able to slip out early), guess I didn't have anything useful to say anyway. I did preorder my iPhone yesterday morning (through Verizon, so I could get my upgrade discount) and if everything goes according to plan I will receive it next Friday, the same day they go on sale.
Here's a tumblr site that chronicles the colorful and unusual outfits and people seen on subways. (Thrillist via Racked NY)
Ever think your barista is a snob? Watch this. (Funny or Die via Eater)
Imaginary Playboy covers featuring the ladies of Mad Men. What, no Peggy? Sure, she's not as sexy as Joan (who could be?), but come on. (BuzzFeed via Videogum)
A time-lapse video that's not of a city. Disclaimer: I did not think this was as awesome as the Gizmodo poster did, but maybe that's just me.
And finally this week, many, many tributes to Steve Jobs appeared online, and you probably saw many of them. I decided to feature just a couple of them: Stephen Colbert (video) and Stephen Fry (text). (Hat tip to DC)
Here's a tumblr site that chronicles the colorful and unusual outfits and people seen on subways. (Thrillist via Racked NY)
Ever think your barista is a snob? Watch this. (Funny or Die via Eater)
Imaginary Playboy covers featuring the ladies of Mad Men. What, no Peggy? Sure, she's not as sexy as Joan (who could be?), but come on. (BuzzFeed via Videogum)
A time-lapse video that's not of a city. Disclaimer: I did not think this was as awesome as the Gizmodo poster did, but maybe that's just me.
And finally this week, many, many tributes to Steve Jobs appeared online, and you probably saw many of them. I decided to feature just a couple of them: Stephen Colbert (video) and Stephen Fry (text). (Hat tip to DC)
06 October 2011
Thanks, Steve
Well, I guess I really have to get an iPhone now...
I always thought Steve would be around, fostering innovation at Apple for decades to come. Even when he resigned in August, I didn't want to believe he could really be so gravely ill.
Personally, Apple's products have meant a lot to me. Macs are the only computers I've owned. I bought my first, a Mac Plus, in 1992 from someone I worked with, who had bought it from someone else we worked with (who was the original owner). I still have it down in the basement, though I doubt it would work at this point. In fact, I still have four of the five Macs I've owned, including the one I'm using to write this. (Seeing that written down makes me realize that perhaps I might have some issues around holding onto stuff longer than necessary.)
Back in the '90s, it wasn't easy to be a Mac partisan. Software was less available, and typically more expensive. I knew that making a conscious choice to be a Mac user at least in part because it was a sort of identification: I am different because I choose to do this. Even before I bought my first Mac, I always felt like that was the group I belonged with.
I'm also lucky enough to use a Mac at work, and at other jobs I've had as well. When my mother asks me questions about how to do something in Windows, I usually don't know the answer. (The Mrs. has helped out with some of those.) I've had a couple of iPods, so it seems only right that I should be moving on to an iPhone.
My boss showed up today wearing jeans and a black mock turtleneck, to honor Steve. (He's a guy not generally given to that sort of expression.) But it made me realize that there's a bit of Steve in all of us Mac users, and in our computers, music players, phones, and tablets.
Thank you, Steve. You gave us so much. I hope you felt like you got something from us in return.
I always thought Steve would be around, fostering innovation at Apple for decades to come. Even when he resigned in August, I didn't want to believe he could really be so gravely ill.
Personally, Apple's products have meant a lot to me. Macs are the only computers I've owned. I bought my first, a Mac Plus, in 1992 from someone I worked with, who had bought it from someone else we worked with (who was the original owner). I still have it down in the basement, though I doubt it would work at this point. In fact, I still have four of the five Macs I've owned, including the one I'm using to write this. (Seeing that written down makes me realize that perhaps I might have some issues around holding onto stuff longer than necessary.)
Back in the '90s, it wasn't easy to be a Mac partisan. Software was less available, and typically more expensive. I knew that making a conscious choice to be a Mac user at least in part because it was a sort of identification: I am different because I choose to do this. Even before I bought my first Mac, I always felt like that was the group I belonged with.
I'm also lucky enough to use a Mac at work, and at other jobs I've had as well. When my mother asks me questions about how to do something in Windows, I usually don't know the answer. (The Mrs. has helped out with some of those.) I've had a couple of iPods, so it seems only right that I should be moving on to an iPhone.
My boss showed up today wearing jeans and a black mock turtleneck, to honor Steve. (He's a guy not generally given to that sort of expression.) But it made me realize that there's a bit of Steve in all of us Mac users, and in our computers, music players, phones, and tablets.
Thank you, Steve. You gave us so much. I hope you felt like you got something from us in return.
05 October 2011
It's Time
Like many other people, I spent my lunch yesterday refreshing my browser page on a tech blog as the information about the latest iPhone unspooled across the web. We knew what to expect, and yet we didn't, because so much (sometimes conflicting) information had been swirling around in recent weeks.
As I've mentioned before, I like my Palm Pre, but the lack of app development has made it a somewhat disappointing smartphone experience. My other area of reluctance was the iPhone's virtual keyboard, but to be honest, the keyboard on the Pre is kinda terrible, so I don't see how tapping virtual keys on glass could be worse.
As someone who's been an Apple adherent for 20 years, I knew I should have an iPhone, but in January 2010 when I got this current phone, there was still no iPhone for Verizon. When that appeared this past winter, it was too soon for me to make the switch without it costing more than I could justify. I decided to wait until my upgrade discount came up.
As of last week I am eligible for a discounted phone upgrade. (It seems early, but when I sign into my Verizon account, that's what it tells me.) And here we are with the iPhone 4S about to go on sale. Do I need to replace my phone right this minute? Not really, but I would have gone ahead and upgraded to a new phone some time in the next couple of months anyway, and I've gone without iPhone goodness for four years now, so why should I wait any longer? It's time.
Preorders start this Friday, which seems like a smarter way to go than standing in line a week from Friday, when the new iPhone goes on sale. This should be interesting, and it will probably give me something to write about.
As I've mentioned before, I like my Palm Pre, but the lack of app development has made it a somewhat disappointing smartphone experience. My other area of reluctance was the iPhone's virtual keyboard, but to be honest, the keyboard on the Pre is kinda terrible, so I don't see how tapping virtual keys on glass could be worse.
As someone who's been an Apple adherent for 20 years, I knew I should have an iPhone, but in January 2010 when I got this current phone, there was still no iPhone for Verizon. When that appeared this past winter, it was too soon for me to make the switch without it costing more than I could justify. I decided to wait until my upgrade discount came up.
As of last week I am eligible for a discounted phone upgrade. (It seems early, but when I sign into my Verizon account, that's what it tells me.) And here we are with the iPhone 4S about to go on sale. Do I need to replace my phone right this minute? Not really, but I would have gone ahead and upgraded to a new phone some time in the next couple of months anyway, and I've gone without iPhone goodness for four years now, so why should I wait any longer? It's time.
Preorders start this Friday, which seems like a smarter way to go than standing in line a week from Friday, when the new iPhone goes on sale. This should be interesting, and it will probably give me something to write about.
04 October 2011
Fall TV Check-In
So it's a couple of weeks into the new TV season, and I have sampled a few new shows. Even with the aid of a DVR, there's only so much time a person can spend watching TV, and I already have a roster of shows I watch regularly, so I tend to be picky about adding new shows.
There are a bunch of new comedies this fall, and comedy seems to be having something of a resurgence in general. It's easier to add a comedy or two to my regular viewing because of they're shorter. The Mrs. and I both like The New Girl on Fox, and we were already watching Raising Hope, which comes on right after New Girl on the same channel, so this one was an easy choice.
We're also watching Up All Night on NBC, about a couple coping with being new parents. It's a bit ironic that we like this one, since we are not parents, but the cast appealed to us (Christina Applegate, Will Arnett, and Maya Rudolph) and so far it's been pretty funny.
A show that looked promising but has not lived up to the anticipation is 2 Broke Girls on CBS. The premise: spoiled rich girl finds herself penniless when her disgraced Madoffesque father's assets are frozen, must resort to taking waitress job in Brooklyn diner with acerbic coworker and moving in with same. The show comes from Sex and the City creator Michael Patrick King and stand-up comedian Whitney Cummings, and it's... just not very good. It's disappointing, and somewhat bewildering, to see a talented group of writers and performers produce something so mediocre, but the worst part of it is the hints and glimmers of a better show that are peeking in around the edges. It might end up there, but I don't think I'm going to keep watching and waiting for something that may not happen.
On the drama side, I've added a couple of shows to the rotation. Person of Interest is not quite sci-fi, though it comes from J.J. Abrams (Lost, Fringe, Alias) and Jonathan Nolan (writer of the screenplays for The Dark Knight and The Prestige). A very rich man was asked by the government to build a machine that can predict crimes. He built himself a way to access the machine, but the information he receives does not reveal whether the person is to be a victim or a perpetrator. He enlists an ex-CIA operative to help him investigate and prevent these crimes from occurring. So far it's a nice bit of diversion with some action thrown in. This is the kind of thing I watch when I don't want to think.
NBC is airing an American version of the British classic Prime Suspect. While not nearly as meaty or thought-provoking as the original, it is character-driven, and while Maria Bello isn't going to make anyone forget Helen Mirren's Jane Tennison, she is a good choice to play the American Jane (Timoney). I haven't made up my mind on this one yet, but I'm leaning toward sticking with it.
Tomorrow night brings the premiere of the soapy gothic drama American Horror Story on FX, from Nip/Tuck and Glee creator Ryan Murphy and Brad Falchuk. If you watched Nip/Tuck, you know how insanely baroque it got, and that makes me hesitant. If it were solely my decision I would be inclined to skip this one, but the Mrs. says she's interested in it, so we're going to sample it and see how it goes.
Several critics have called Showtime's Homeland the best new show of the fall. An American soldier is released after years in captivity in Iraq, and a CIA analyst thinks he may have been turned by his captors, but she may not be of particularly sound mind herself. Unfortunately I don't get Showtime, so I'll have to follow my Dexter pattern of waiting until the season comes out on DVD next summer.
There are a bunch of new comedies this fall, and comedy seems to be having something of a resurgence in general. It's easier to add a comedy or two to my regular viewing because of they're shorter. The Mrs. and I both like The New Girl on Fox, and we were already watching Raising Hope, which comes on right after New Girl on the same channel, so this one was an easy choice.
We're also watching Up All Night on NBC, about a couple coping with being new parents. It's a bit ironic that we like this one, since we are not parents, but the cast appealed to us (Christina Applegate, Will Arnett, and Maya Rudolph) and so far it's been pretty funny.
A show that looked promising but has not lived up to the anticipation is 2 Broke Girls on CBS. The premise: spoiled rich girl finds herself penniless when her disgraced Madoffesque father's assets are frozen, must resort to taking waitress job in Brooklyn diner with acerbic coworker and moving in with same. The show comes from Sex and the City creator Michael Patrick King and stand-up comedian Whitney Cummings, and it's... just not very good. It's disappointing, and somewhat bewildering, to see a talented group of writers and performers produce something so mediocre, but the worst part of it is the hints and glimmers of a better show that are peeking in around the edges. It might end up there, but I don't think I'm going to keep watching and waiting for something that may not happen.
On the drama side, I've added a couple of shows to the rotation. Person of Interest is not quite sci-fi, though it comes from J.J. Abrams (Lost, Fringe, Alias) and Jonathan Nolan (writer of the screenplays for The Dark Knight and The Prestige). A very rich man was asked by the government to build a machine that can predict crimes. He built himself a way to access the machine, but the information he receives does not reveal whether the person is to be a victim or a perpetrator. He enlists an ex-CIA operative to help him investigate and prevent these crimes from occurring. So far it's a nice bit of diversion with some action thrown in. This is the kind of thing I watch when I don't want to think.
NBC is airing an American version of the British classic Prime Suspect. While not nearly as meaty or thought-provoking as the original, it is character-driven, and while Maria Bello isn't going to make anyone forget Helen Mirren's Jane Tennison, she is a good choice to play the American Jane (Timoney). I haven't made up my mind on this one yet, but I'm leaning toward sticking with it.
Tomorrow night brings the premiere of the soapy gothic drama American Horror Story on FX, from Nip/Tuck and Glee creator Ryan Murphy and Brad Falchuk. If you watched Nip/Tuck, you know how insanely baroque it got, and that makes me hesitant. If it were solely my decision I would be inclined to skip this one, but the Mrs. says she's interested in it, so we're going to sample it and see how it goes.
Several critics have called Showtime's Homeland the best new show of the fall. An American soldier is released after years in captivity in Iraq, and a CIA analyst thinks he may have been turned by his captors, but she may not be of particularly sound mind herself. Unfortunately I don't get Showtime, so I'll have to follow my Dexter pattern of waiting until the season comes out on DVD next summer.
03 October 2011
Weather or Not
My favorite month has finally arrived, though it sure seems like it took its time getting here. October in New England is just beautiful, and if you have not had the opportunity to experience it, I hope you get to at some point.
The weather doesn't quite seem to know yet what month it's supposed to be. Just before I took the dog out this morning it started raining, and by the time we were halfway around the block it was really pouring, which made the dog reluctant to do her thing. Eventually she gave in, but it took her much longer than it usually does. The poor thing doesn't seem to realize that she's making it more difficult for herself than it needs to be. An hour or so later, as I was walking into work, the sun was out at full strength.
It was still a bit too warm today for me to wear a jacket, but over the weekend I decided that, regardless of what the weather brings, I am going to dress for the calendar, so I'm done wearing shorts for this year, at least to work. I'm going back to my regular shirts, pants, and shoes. But my shoes occupy the space under the bed, and I have more shoes than I have space, so I have to rotate the sneakers out and down into the basement, and get at least some of the loafers and lace-ups back in place; the boots can probably wait another couple of weeks.
I have a suspicion it's going to get warm one more time, so I need to be mentally prepared for that.
The weather doesn't quite seem to know yet what month it's supposed to be. Just before I took the dog out this morning it started raining, and by the time we were halfway around the block it was really pouring, which made the dog reluctant to do her thing. Eventually she gave in, but it took her much longer than it usually does. The poor thing doesn't seem to realize that she's making it more difficult for herself than it needs to be. An hour or so later, as I was walking into work, the sun was out at full strength.
It was still a bit too warm today for me to wear a jacket, but over the weekend I decided that, regardless of what the weather brings, I am going to dress for the calendar, so I'm done wearing shorts for this year, at least to work. I'm going back to my regular shirts, pants, and shoes. But my shoes occupy the space under the bed, and I have more shoes than I have space, so I have to rotate the sneakers out and down into the basement, and get at least some of the loafers and lace-ups back in place; the boots can probably wait another couple of weeks.
I have a suspicion it's going to get warm one more time, so I need to be mentally prepared for that.
02 October 2011
Retro Video Unit (10/2/11)
Okay, here's a video to make up for me forgetting on Friday. It's just a lip-synch performance clip on a soundstage (thus cheaper to make), so it's not as interesting as the "Brass In Pocket" video, but this has always been one of my favorite Pretenders songs. I don't remember ever seeing this video, so I have to assume it did not get shown much.
Pretenders, "Talk of the Town"
Pretenders, "Talk of the Town"
This Week in Awesome (10/1/11)
Sorry for the unexpected lapse in posting... there was supposed to be a retro music video on Friday afternoon, and for once I was so absorbed in my work that I lost track of time. At home, I now have to share the computer more with the Mrs., who has a fair amount of school work these days.
Watch these people build a full-size model of a car out of LEGO blocks. (Jalopnik)
Borders employees get a few things off their chests about the customers in their store's final days. (HappyPlace via Consumerist) Sonewhat related: clever juxtapositions of books in store displays.
This site makes impressive poster art of graphical representations of historical stuff. One specific example: this chart showing the history of the airline industry. (Kempt)
And finally this week, one of these dogs is in trouble. See if you can figure out which one. (The Daily What)
Watch these people build a full-size model of a car out of LEGO blocks. (Jalopnik)
Borders employees get a few things off their chests about the customers in their store's final days. (HappyPlace via Consumerist) Sonewhat related: clever juxtapositions of books in store displays.
This site makes impressive poster art of graphical representations of historical stuff. One specific example: this chart showing the history of the airline industry. (Kempt)
And finally this week, one of these dogs is in trouble. See if you can figure out which one. (The Daily What)
29 September 2011
Five Years of This Nonsense!
That's right, I started this blog five years ago today. Crazy, huh?
I began as a kind of academic exercise, to see if I could sufficiently motivate myself to write somewhat regularly. It turned into a way to foster my creativity while simultaneously serving as a way to waste time at work (since that's where I do the bulk of these posts). To say it has evolved beyond whatever modest expectations I may have had is an understatement.
Thanks for following along as I've indulged my personal obsessions and attempted to chronicle the bits of everyday behavior that I happened to observe or overhear. Your support has been extremely gratifying.
I began as a kind of academic exercise, to see if I could sufficiently motivate myself to write somewhat regularly. It turned into a way to foster my creativity while simultaneously serving as a way to waste time at work (since that's where I do the bulk of these posts). To say it has evolved beyond whatever modest expectations I may have had is an understatement.
Thanks for following along as I've indulged my personal obsessions and attempted to chronicle the bits of everyday behavior that I happened to observe or overhear. Your support has been extremely gratifying.
28 September 2011
Watch Wednesday Upgrade Update #1
When I posted my most recent watch purchase back in early August, I mentioned replacing the strap, as I frequently do. But funny things happen, and the strap I bought with the intent of putting on that Seiko ended up on another of my watches.
Last year I got a Rolex Explorer lookalike made by a company called Alpha. It came with a metal bracelet, and it looked like this:
After going back and forth for a bit I decided to leave it on and wear it that way, since I didn't have any other watches with metal bracelets. So I wore it a couple of times, and whenever I turned my wrist a certain way, the clasp came undone. I was afraid of losing the watch, so I set it aside and didn't wear it for several months.
When the strap came that I had intended for the Seiko, I remembered this watch and was happy to see it took the same size strap, so I decided to use it on this watch instead (the Seiko will be fine with its low-rent strap for a bit longer). So now the Alpha looks like this:
It's a really nice strap, and it makes this watch somewhat dressier while keeping its overall sporty air. I have a couple of other watches I want to upgrade in this way: the Omega and the Tudor both deserve nicer straps. Unfortunately, the place I bought this strap from is out of those sizes at the moment, so it will have to go on hold for now.
Last year I got a Rolex Explorer lookalike made by a company called Alpha. It came with a metal bracelet, and it looked like this:
When the strap came that I had intended for the Seiko, I remembered this watch and was happy to see it took the same size strap, so I decided to use it on this watch instead (the Seiko will be fine with its low-rent strap for a bit longer). So now the Alpha looks like this:
27 September 2011
Brand New Bag
Allen Edmonds is currently having its biggest sale of the year, through Columbus Day. If you're in need of new shoes, this is an excellent time to take advantage of reduced prices on American-made shoes. I bought my first pair last year, but I'm abstaining from the sale this time around. There are definitely shoes I'm interested in, but I'm staying away in the interest of fiscal responsibility.
I did make a recent accessory purchase, one I'll be using for at least the next several years. I replaced the bag I've been carrying daily for the past four years or so. My main justification for getting another bag was that I wanted something water resistant, but to be honest, after using the bag every day for that time, I was simply ready for a change. (I called it a birthday present to myself.)
I had also become more aware of companies making products in the USA, like Filson, J.W. Hulme, Duluth Pack, and Frost River. Unfortunately, none of them had quite what I was looking for, but that doesn't mean their products aren't good; any of them are worthy of your consideration.
Then I came across a small company based in New York called Ernest Alexander. They started with a line of waxed canvas luggage and messenger bags, and they make their products right in New York City. They had a couple of bag styles that interested me. I had bookmarked their site some time ago, and went back when I decided I was ready to replace my older bag.
Another thing that I liked was the multiple color choices. The bag I was replacing was sort of olive with brown leather trim, so I was hoping to find something different from those colors. I was originally leaning toward the Voldis in gray, but I wasn't sure how I'd feel about those side pockets, and while I prefer a bag with dual closures, I didn't want to have to be latching and undoing those two buckles all the time. So instead I chose the Walker, which is available in the same gray waxed fabric. It has only one closure, but it's hidden under the flap, which gives it a cleaner outside appearance. The leather strap is a very dark brown, definitely darker than the trim on my previous bag.
Other good stuff: if you place an order by 1 pm Eastern time, your order will ship out the same day, and shipping is included in the price. Since I'm only a couple hundred miles from New York, I got mine the next day. It arrived at my office in an enormous box, much larger than necessary to hold one bag. Inside the box was a huge matte black Ernest Alexander shopping bag on its side. Inside the bag was my bag, wrapped in black tissue paper. A printed card attached to the tissue with a sticker read, "Many thanks—we hope you enjoy your purchase with compliments." My name was written at the top, and at the bottom it was signed "The Ernest Alexander Team." This presentation is just a nice touch that makes the arrival and unboxing of a product more memorable.
I've been using the bag for a couple of weeks now, and the biggest adjustment has been the placement of the pockets, but I love how well it's made, and it also weighs less than my previous bag, so it's more comfortable to carry.
P.S. When I made my purchase, I was able to take advantage of a short-lived discount code related to Fashion Week; there may be others out there, but I don't know. And if you find Ernest Alexander's waxed canvas bags too pricey, they've just introduced a line of nylon bags at lower prices.
I did make a recent accessory purchase, one I'll be using for at least the next several years. I replaced the bag I've been carrying daily for the past four years or so. My main justification for getting another bag was that I wanted something water resistant, but to be honest, after using the bag every day for that time, I was simply ready for a change. (I called it a birthday present to myself.)
I had also become more aware of companies making products in the USA, like Filson, J.W. Hulme, Duluth Pack, and Frost River. Unfortunately, none of them had quite what I was looking for, but that doesn't mean their products aren't good; any of them are worthy of your consideration.
Then I came across a small company based in New York called Ernest Alexander. They started with a line of waxed canvas luggage and messenger bags, and they make their products right in New York City. They had a couple of bag styles that interested me. I had bookmarked their site some time ago, and went back when I decided I was ready to replace my older bag.
Another thing that I liked was the multiple color choices. The bag I was replacing was sort of olive with brown leather trim, so I was hoping to find something different from those colors. I was originally leaning toward the Voldis in gray, but I wasn't sure how I'd feel about those side pockets, and while I prefer a bag with dual closures, I didn't want to have to be latching and undoing those two buckles all the time. So instead I chose the Walker, which is available in the same gray waxed fabric. It has only one closure, but it's hidden under the flap, which gives it a cleaner outside appearance. The leather strap is a very dark brown, definitely darker than the trim on my previous bag.
Other good stuff: if you place an order by 1 pm Eastern time, your order will ship out the same day, and shipping is included in the price. Since I'm only a couple hundred miles from New York, I got mine the next day. It arrived at my office in an enormous box, much larger than necessary to hold one bag. Inside the box was a huge matte black Ernest Alexander shopping bag on its side. Inside the bag was my bag, wrapped in black tissue paper. A printed card attached to the tissue with a sticker read, "Many thanks—we hope you enjoy your purchase with compliments." My name was written at the top, and at the bottom it was signed "The Ernest Alexander Team." This presentation is just a nice touch that makes the arrival and unboxing of a product more memorable.
I've been using the bag for a couple of weeks now, and the biggest adjustment has been the placement of the pockets, but I love how well it's made, and it also weighs less than my previous bag, so it's more comfortable to carry.
P.S. When I made my purchase, I was able to take advantage of a short-lived discount code related to Fashion Week; there may be others out there, but I don't know. And if you find Ernest Alexander's waxed canvas bags too pricey, they've just introduced a line of nylon bags at lower prices.
26 September 2011
Arsenic and an Old Face
There was a time when Lewis Black would appear for his "Back in Black" segments on The Daily Show pretty much weekly. But these days we only get to see him every couple of months or so, presumably because he spends a lot of time touring and performing, as a result of the higher profile he gained from doing these pieces. You could say we're the victims of his success, because we don't get to enjoy his wit as often.
That's why I like to post his Daily Show segments here—I know there are those of you who appreciate Black's point of view but aren't regular TDS viewers, which is totally okay. But more importantly, there are very few people who are as good at exposing and skewering ridiculous hypocrisy as Black is, and in the current climate of our society, we need that—we need it badly. Enjoy:
That's why I like to post his Daily Show segments here—I know there are those of you who appreciate Black's point of view but aren't regular TDS viewers, which is totally okay. But more importantly, there are very few people who are as good at exposing and skewering ridiculous hypocrisy as Black is, and in the current climate of our society, we need that—we need it badly. Enjoy:
| The Daily Show With Jon Stewart | Mon - Thurs 11p / 10c | |||
| Back in Black - Threats to America's Children | ||||
| ||||
24 September 2011
This Week in Awesome (9/24/11)
Is it October yet? I'm asking for a friend...
History has recorded the final words of these noted authors. (BuzzFeed via Gilt MANual)
Remember those Ron Swanson TV dinners? The same guy has given us another great Parks and Recreation-themed food product. (Vulture)
You know how sometimes there's something you're interested in, like a body of work by a particular author, a band, a TV show that has achieved cult status, a genre of movies, etc., but you don't know where to start? The Onion's auxiliary the A.V. Club has you covered with their Gateways to Geekery series.
And finally this week, also over at the A.V. Club, Louis C.K. has been doing an episode-by-episode breakdown of the second season of Louie. (You watched Louie, right?) There were thirteen episodes this season, so it's in four parts: part 1, part 2, part 3, and part 4.
History has recorded the final words of these noted authors. (BuzzFeed via Gilt MANual)
Remember those Ron Swanson TV dinners? The same guy has given us another great Parks and Recreation-themed food product. (Vulture)
You know how sometimes there's something you're interested in, like a body of work by a particular author, a band, a TV show that has achieved cult status, a genre of movies, etc., but you don't know where to start? The Onion's auxiliary the A.V. Club has you covered with their Gateways to Geekery series.
And finally this week, also over at the A.V. Club, Louis C.K. has been doing an episode-by-episode breakdown of the second season of Louie. (You watched Louie, right?) There were thirteen episodes this season, so it's in four parts: part 1, part 2, part 3, and part 4.
23 September 2011
Banned
Did you know that Banned Books Week still exists? It seems like something our country and society wouldn't have to bother with in 2011, and I honestly didn't think that sort of thing was still happening, but it is. Banned Books Week 2011 begins tomorrow and runs through October 1st.
I accidentally bumped up against this issue back in early August, when I happened upon a story about a high school in Missouri that had chosen to ban Kurt Vonnegut's Slaughterhouse-Five from its library and curriculum. In response to the banning, the Vonnegut Library in Indianapolis offered students at the school free copies of the book, and at the same time was asking for donations to cover the cost of mailing books to students.
I made a small contribution on the general principle of the issue, and a couple of days later I received a very appreciative email fromsomeone at the library's president thanking me. I meant to write about it at the time to bring attention to the issue, but it got away from me. Seeing a mention the other day of the upcoming Banned Books Week brought it back to the front of my mind.
I stay away from politically charged topics because I'm not comfortable writing about them; there are literally thousands of other people out there who understand them better than I do and can do a better job of articulating the issues. My late father-in-law was one of them. (I know stuff about stupid, useless stuff.) And I would never presume to tell anyone what to do or how to live. But freedom of speech is one of our country's most cherished and most important founding principles, and why hasn't everyone who would seek to ban a book realized by now that doing so only makes the people you are trying to keep the material from want to read it more?
More importantly, attempts to enact such prohibitions are another reminder that our freedoms are not static, and that the challenge of protecting and preserving them is an ongoing responsibility that all of us share. Think about taking time this coming week to read a book from this list, or explore the other books and authors listed in that section. Visit your local bookstore and ask a staff member to recommend a banned book. If you can't swing for a book purchase at the moment, your local library will be thrilled to help you out.
I accidentally bumped up against this issue back in early August, when I happened upon a story about a high school in Missouri that had chosen to ban Kurt Vonnegut's Slaughterhouse-Five from its library and curriculum. In response to the banning, the Vonnegut Library in Indianapolis offered students at the school free copies of the book, and at the same time was asking for donations to cover the cost of mailing books to students.
I made a small contribution on the general principle of the issue, and a couple of days later I received a very appreciative email from
I stay away from politically charged topics because I'm not comfortable writing about them; there are literally thousands of other people out there who understand them better than I do and can do a better job of articulating the issues. My late father-in-law was one of them. (I know stuff about stupid, useless stuff.) And I would never presume to tell anyone what to do or how to live. But freedom of speech is one of our country's most cherished and most important founding principles, and why hasn't everyone who would seek to ban a book realized by now that doing so only makes the people you are trying to keep the material from want to read it more?
More importantly, attempts to enact such prohibitions are another reminder that our freedoms are not static, and that the challenge of protecting and preserving them is an ongoing responsibility that all of us share. Think about taking time this coming week to read a book from this list, or explore the other books and authors listed in that section. Visit your local bookstore and ask a staff member to recommend a banned book. If you can't swing for a book purchase at the moment, your local library will be thrilled to help you out.
22 September 2011
Fall Isn't Ready
Most people can't wait for summer, and dread when it ends. I've always been the inverse: I can't wait for fall, both for the cooler temperatures and because I'm tired of wearing all my warm-weather clothes. But last weekend's cool-down was just a head-fake; we're back into the 70s, it's muggy and damp, and it's going to be that way for the next four days at least. I'm definitely ready for fall, but fall isn't ready for us.
Yesterday I met the Proper Bostonian for lunch at a Newbury Street restaurant with an outdoor patio, and she was surprised that I was wearing shorts, but as I've said before, if you try to dress for the calendar rather than the actual weather of the moment, you will almost certainly end up uncomfortable. I don't like it, but it's just how things are around here.
I have been trying to be more careful with my spending now that the Mrs. is a full-time student and not bringing in a regular income. Over the past couple of months I've made just a few purchases of fall items: a couple of shirts, a new pair of jeans. But I've resisted buying more things than I've purchased, and that will continue. To be honest, I hardly need any clothing; what I do need is to get myself in gear and sell some of the excess stuff I've accumulated over the past couple of years.
Today I did order boots from Lands' End Canvas with a combination of a 25% discount and a $60 voucher I purchased for $30 through LivingSocial in August. I've been waiting for Lands' End to offer a Canvas-specific discount (or at least one that didn't exclude LEC, as most of them do these days) so I could make the purchase this way. I wrote about these boots last year, pointing out their resemblance to Alden's "Indy" boots, and I've been thinking about buying them for a long time, but I decided to wait until I could get this sort of a deal on them. For those of you who prefer the look of the Alden boots, LEC has obliged with a moc-toe version that looks even more like the Indy, but I'm staying with my preference for plain-toes.
(By the way, have you noticed that Lands' End isn't being as generous with the Canvas offers as they were last year? I guess it's a victim of its own popularity.)
Yesterday I met the Proper Bostonian for lunch at a Newbury Street restaurant with an outdoor patio, and she was surprised that I was wearing shorts, but as I've said before, if you try to dress for the calendar rather than the actual weather of the moment, you will almost certainly end up uncomfortable. I don't like it, but it's just how things are around here.
I have been trying to be more careful with my spending now that the Mrs. is a full-time student and not bringing in a regular income. Over the past couple of months I've made just a few purchases of fall items: a couple of shirts, a new pair of jeans. But I've resisted buying more things than I've purchased, and that will continue. To be honest, I hardly need any clothing; what I do need is to get myself in gear and sell some of the excess stuff I've accumulated over the past couple of years.
Today I did order boots from Lands' End Canvas with a combination of a 25% discount and a $60 voucher I purchased for $30 through LivingSocial in August. I've been waiting for Lands' End to offer a Canvas-specific discount (or at least one that didn't exclude LEC, as most of them do these days) so I could make the purchase this way. I wrote about these boots last year, pointing out their resemblance to Alden's "Indy" boots, and I've been thinking about buying them for a long time, but I decided to wait until I could get this sort of a deal on them. For those of you who prefer the look of the Alden boots, LEC has obliged with a moc-toe version that looks even more like the Indy, but I'm staying with my preference for plain-toes.
(By the way, have you noticed that Lands' End isn't being as generous with the Canvas offers as they were last year? I guess it's a victim of its own popularity.)
21 September 2011
Another Shoe Story
Remember a few weeks ago when I tried and failed to get those Spring Court canvas sneakers from J. Crew? I contacted the customer service person who has helped me in the past, and he said he would try to find me a pair, but that it might take some time.
By last Friday morning I hadn't heard from him, but I was making a quick pass through the sale section of their site and saw that the white sneakers were back in stock in my size. I wanted to just go ahead and place an order, but I'd gotten the original, two-right-shoes pair with an extra discount, and due to the circumstances (I was told they had more in stock, a replacement order was placed, then that order was canceled almost a week later) I felt that if I was going to get these shoes, I should be getting them at the discounted price, so I shot an email to my guy telling him the shoes were again available online.
He responded that he was not at work, but he was looping in one of his coworkers to process the order for me. Since these reps work in the same location as J. Crew's warehouse, she was able to go into the warehouse, get a pair of the sneakers, and confirm that the box did in fact contain one left shoe and one right shoe. She shipped them to me via overnight, they arrived Monday, and I'm happily wearing them today.
They're good shoes, and I like them a lot. One thing that's unusual about the Spring Court shoes is the design of the sole. There are four holes on each side of the sole, which open into chambers inside. The rubber insole (which is topped with the same canvas as the body of the shoe) rests loosely on top of these chambers, creating small air spaces and allowing air to circulate around the feet.
This is about the fourth time in the past 18 months or so that J. Crew's customer service has stepped up to resolve a problem for me, or just to locate an item I was looking for but had not been able to get online or in a store. They are pros, and they do things right. I didn't do anything special to merit this treatment; I simply used the contactus@jcrew.com email address which I found on their site. (To be fair, my mother has had problems ordering gift cards for me: two years in a row, the gift card was mailed to her instead of to me. No one can explain why it happened, but it was fixable, and they took care of it.)
By last Friday morning I hadn't heard from him, but I was making a quick pass through the sale section of their site and saw that the white sneakers were back in stock in my size. I wanted to just go ahead and place an order, but I'd gotten the original, two-right-shoes pair with an extra discount, and due to the circumstances (I was told they had more in stock, a replacement order was placed, then that order was canceled almost a week later) I felt that if I was going to get these shoes, I should be getting them at the discounted price, so I shot an email to my guy telling him the shoes were again available online.
He responded that he was not at work, but he was looping in one of his coworkers to process the order for me. Since these reps work in the same location as J. Crew's warehouse, she was able to go into the warehouse, get a pair of the sneakers, and confirm that the box did in fact contain one left shoe and one right shoe. She shipped them to me via overnight, they arrived Monday, and I'm happily wearing them today.
They're good shoes, and I like them a lot. One thing that's unusual about the Spring Court shoes is the design of the sole. There are four holes on each side of the sole, which open into chambers inside. The rubber insole (which is topped with the same canvas as the body of the shoe) rests loosely on top of these chambers, creating small air spaces and allowing air to circulate around the feet.
This is about the fourth time in the past 18 months or so that J. Crew's customer service has stepped up to resolve a problem for me, or just to locate an item I was looking for but had not been able to get online or in a store. They are pros, and they do things right. I didn't do anything special to merit this treatment; I simply used the contactus@jcrew.com email address which I found on their site. (To be fair, my mother has had problems ordering gift cards for me: two years in a row, the gift card was mailed to her instead of to me. No one can explain why it happened, but it was fixable, and they took care of it.)
20 September 2011
Look at Me
I was mildly surprised to open Sunday's Boston Globe and find myself not included among the "25 Most Stylish Bostonians of 2011" compiled in the bonus magazine section. After all, I certainly approach life with the intent of displaying a distinctive style. But after I'd flipped through and gotten a look at what the editors consider stylish (at least regarding the men included on the list), I was relieved not to be among them.
Perhaps a better title would have been "the 25 biggest attention whores of 2011." Too many people forget that style and fashion are two different things. I think these fancy dressers are meant to provide inspiration to us regular folk, but the approach to dressing on display among the majority of the men included on the list seems to be: dress to get attention, and wear as many layers and items of clothing as possible. That's great if you're young and out to leave your mark on the word, but most men are not comfortable dressing in a way that would attract so much attention to themselves, but that doesn't mean we can't be stylish.
What I'd really like to see the Globe do is compile a list of the 25 most stylish average Bostonians, the ordinary people with ordinary jobs who enjoy dressing well but who are not attention seekers by nature. Esquire has run a contest called the "Best Dressed Real Man in America," and that seems like an excellent template. Maybe 25 men and 25 women?
Also: can we just stop it with the untucked shirts? Especially under jackets. You guys are supposed to be grown-ups, right? Stylish ones, at that. There's a place for the untucked look: Saturday morning at the farmers' market.
Side note: women are still reluctant to reveal their ages. I had no idea this was an area of concern anymore.
Perhaps a better title would have been "the 25 biggest attention whores of 2011." Too many people forget that style and fashion are two different things. I think these fancy dressers are meant to provide inspiration to us regular folk, but the approach to dressing on display among the majority of the men included on the list seems to be: dress to get attention, and wear as many layers and items of clothing as possible. That's great if you're young and out to leave your mark on the word, but most men are not comfortable dressing in a way that would attract so much attention to themselves, but that doesn't mean we can't be stylish.
What I'd really like to see the Globe do is compile a list of the 25 most stylish average Bostonians, the ordinary people with ordinary jobs who enjoy dressing well but who are not attention seekers by nature. Esquire has run a contest called the "Best Dressed Real Man in America," and that seems like an excellent template. Maybe 25 men and 25 women?
Also: can we just stop it with the untucked shirts? Especially under jackets. You guys are supposed to be grown-ups, right? Stylish ones, at that. There's a place for the untucked look: Saturday morning at the farmers' market.
Side note: women are still reluctant to reveal their ages. I had no idea this was an area of concern anymore.
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