January 19th, 2009
Resident sucker for oral histories yours truly recommends the one on Daily Beast about the inauguration changeover.
I nearly can't believe it's finally come: the last day of the Bush presidency. I watched his farewell remarks the other night; when he got to the part about how civilians slowly went back to their lives after September 11, but he never did, I could feel the bile rising. I didn't believe him, because he delivered the line with that trademark vile egg-farty smirk, and even if I had believed him…but then I remembered that it doesn't matter anymore. He's done. It's over at last. Whatever that guy tells himself about his own righteousness is no longer something I have to care about, and thank God.
Obama is going to screw up, and lie about it, and do all the other frustrating and human things all the guys before him did, but praise God he's going to do it while using correct English, and here's the other thing: as thrilled as I am to see this moment in American history, as hopeful as I am that the Obaministration can make meaningful change, as much as I look forward to seeing his portrait up on the wall at the P.O. for the first time, I think Obama's real gift to the nation is having restored our faith in ourselves to get things done. "Yes We Can" is a clever rhetorical tool, but it became something bigger; it became true. It's what made the post-election atmosphere in Brooklyn so friendly and fun, at least partly — because everyone felt bonded by it, had a sense of ownership in it.
I hope we can remember that feeling as we go forward, because Obama isn't going to get inaugurated and then create a bunch of jobs the next day, or pull the trapdoor on Iraq. But the great thing he brought us is the reminder that he doesn't have to do everything. We the people have reserves of extraordinary that we can and should spend freely.
If you have a dream, in other words…let's hear it. Let's do it. Why not?
All y'all in Washington, stay warm and share cabs. Everyone else: we made it. Party on this thread tomorrow.
Posted in politix | 85 Comments »
January 17th, 2009
An editor walks a tightrope. It's part of an editor's job to let and/or to help the writing be what it is. It depends on the content undergoing the editing, of course, and whether a house style pertains, and not every editor will agree on where to put the line (or even if there is a line), but it's my feeling that you shouldn't see more of the editor or the editing than you do of the writer or the writing.
At the same time, though, if "what the writing is" is…okay, "crappy" is a bit broad, but basically, if it's not succeeding for whatever reason, it's also part of an editor's job to do what's required to get it to succeed. A good editor stays out of the way, while also getting the writer out of his or her own way when it's called for. A good editor gets the writing to work, without doing the writing work herself.
It's a tricky balance, it takes a lot of time, and not every writer is going to let the editor step in and make the changes anyway. Not every editor knows which end is up in the first place, either, I guess, but you can have as many ideas for streamlining the narrative as you can fit in a Hefty bag, and Buzz Bissinger is, I suspect, not going to incorporate any of them. He won a Pulitzer, he's written bestsellers, and if he wants to wax moist about Kenny Lofton, by God he's going to whether he should or not, and there's probably just not a whole lot you can do about it.
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Tags: Buzz Bissinger, Joyce Carol Oates, Julie Gregory, Kenny Lofton, Walt Whitman
Posted in books | 15 Comments »
January 16th, 2009
Dear Sars,
My husband and I need help with a hair product dilemma. We have both used Aveda Elixir for years to manage hair that is fine, straight and flyaway (his) and thick, curly and frizzy (mine). We're both extremely smell-sensitive and headache-prone, and Elixir did a fantastic job of taming both problems without being greasy or sticky, and with the major added benefit of having a reeeeaaally mild scent.
Aveda recently discontinued Elixir, and we're having an extremely difficult time finding comparable product(s) that don't smell like perfume or chemicals. Do you and/or your readers have any suggestions that could help us?
I can only afford to buy $100 bottles of Elixir on eBay for so long…
Dear Afford,
And AB Chao jumps in here in three…two…
Okay, my first suggestion is to call Aveda or visit one of their department-store counters, and ask for the most similar product. A counterperson will probably give you a small sample, and if the product doesn't work for you, no harm done — you can just try something the readers propose, which is my second suggestion.
Readers, we need a hair product similar to Aveda Elixir, unscented or mildly scented. Preferably you'll have some familiarity with the Elixir so that you can speak to what's similar about the product you recommend; thanks.
Posted in Ask The Readers, Vine, health and beauty | 23 Comments »
January 15th, 2009
From what I see right now on NY1, Circle Line boats have come to the crash site to pull survivors from the water. That's US Airways 1549 out of LGA bound for Charlotte.
Hope everyone's okay out there. Everybody, call your families.
ETA: Sounds like everyone got off the plane. Well done, pilots and Circle Line/rescue personnel.
Posted in city living, news | 33 Comments »
January 14th, 2009
Hi Sars,
Long-time reader, first-time writer. I could really use a relatively unbiased perspective on this one.
I think my husband drinks too much. I'm not an expert on these things, but I think it's bordering on a problem, if it isn't one already. However, given that he's a well-employed professional, and he's not drinking during the workday, and he's a gregarious drunk, so not causing social problems, and he's usually drinking at home, so not causing legal problems, it's hard for me to figure out how torqued about it I'm allowed to get.
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Posted in Vine, boys (and girls), health and beauty, retail, the fam | 45 Comments »
January 13th, 2009
Sadie The Cat-Tormenting Tomato.
Anticlimactic, kind of, because the padding in the tomato suit radically reduces the risk of injury, but I said I'd do it, so: done.
And I'd like to tell you my apartment isn't ordinarily that messy, but it totally is.
(ETA: The audio is not entirely SFW.)
Tags: fat cats, grievous bodily harm, orange cats
Posted in feline fun times | 23 Comments »
January 13th, 2009
Awww. The tsar is doing very well; his thyroid is back to functioning at normal levels, and he's even put on some weight. Thanks for the update, Leila and Matt.
Tags: Nikolai, orange cats
Posted in feline fun times, friends | 23 Comments »
January 12th, 2009
I've begun the annual Sprint To The Oscars movie-watching turbo-download; I considered not doing it this year, especially when Entertainment Weekly's list of movies I should see before the ceremony made it clear that 1) of the 25 essential films, I'd seen only a fraction, and 2) I'd have to endure both The Curious Case of Benjamin Button and Australia, neither of which I have even the faintest interest in.
But I've decided to go for it, which is why I watched The Visitor on On Demand last night, and that movie is probably going to make the entire enterprise worthwhile.
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Posted in movies | 27 Comments »
January 9th, 2009
Those bastards at Proctor & Gamble have discontinued my deodorant.
No more for the Secret Platinum Soft Solid. I tried their new product the "Flawless" and it's ill-named. It never quite, I don't know, dries like the Platinum Soft Solid did, so I walk around all day with this creaminess feeling in my armpits. Yick.
And it's not as "unscented" as my old unscented was. And it doesn't ward off the BO as well. And, when I wash my pits it balls up before I scrub it off, which is just flat-out weird.
FYI, I sent the angry email to P&G and they confirmed that they're discontinuing the entire Platinum line. So if that's what you use and like, stock up now.
Meanwhile, I'm looking for recommendations for something like what I used to use, but from a different brand. I don't want something that takes too long to dry after application, and I want "unscented" to really mean without scent. Oh, and it should keep me from being stinky.
My coworkers and I all thank you.
Amy
Dear Amy,
This isn't really on-topic, but next time, write a physical letter and mail it. It may not get the product reinstated, but it does tend to get you freebies, or at least coupons. I know how grannyish that sounds, but companies will try to retain your goodwill by responding to complaints in that way.
I've used the Secret Invisible Solid for so long that I really don't have any alternatives to suggest (and their "unscented" does have a scent; it isn't bothersome to me, but everyone's different with that stuff).
Readers, anyone had to switch from Secret's Platinum Soft Solid and found another brand they like?
Posted in Ask The Readers, Vine, health and beauty | 90 Comments »
January 7th, 2009
Hello Sars,
I write about the lovely Robert, who is not actually our landlord, but the legal caretaker for our absentee landlord's buildings and tenants (absentee landlord lives in Europe). I lived with three wonderful roommates in a pretty nice flat in Boston for one year. Things started getting annoying as soon as we filled out the rental application, and have now reached their climax. I will elaborate as briefly as I can.
When we arrived at the place, we found it a mess. The previous tenants not only didn't patch up the holes in the walls, they left a bunch of heavy furniture there, as well. Also, the things we had requested be fixed (missing floor tiles, missing window screens, broken screen door, broken glass on our deck door, rotting windowsill in shower, broken power outlet, one roommate's bedroom door wouldn't shut, etc. ) hadn't even been touched.
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Posted in Vine, etiquette, friendships, kids, roommates, workplace | 50 Comments »
