Last fall I went to the Gap outlet in Wrentham in search of a pair of moderately-priced-hanging-around-in-the-house jeans. From junior high to post-college I was practially naked if a Gap label was not proudly displayed across my chest, rear pocket, or inside tag. Grabbing my usual size, I was a bit shocked when I could barely pull them over my thighs. Thinking it was just a fluke, I grabbed the next biggest size, reasoning that size is just a number, right? When the size up from that (we're now 4 sizes bigger from my usual size) would barely zipper, I was pretty irritated. At least irritated enough to march down to Nordstrom and pay retail for another brand.
When the Queen Dee reported a similar incident, I did an informal straw poll (ok, I casually asked Nay and LK) and concluded that the apparel industry is simply out to get us. First the stores changed standard American sizing models on us to make us all a size smaller (eg: Abercrombie and Fitch). Then along came Britney Spears and the era of low slung jeans, which 99.9% of us had absolutely no right to wear, and made most of a size bigger. Now the industry is moving towards waist measurements (eg: a size 28 is a size 8) but don't be fooled: a size 27 at Lucky does not equal a size 27 at Citizens. Since they're using standard inches to create these sizes, I'm not sure how that's even possible.
Thanks to the wild popularity of low slung jeans in the early millenium (cringe...), jeans designers have almost universally shorted the inseam on all styles. Although most of us don't want to wear jeans with waists that start at our boobs (unless you're my granny - she's down with it), I'm getting a little tired of wearing jeans with a waist that's just low enough to qualify as plumber's garb. While I could simply wear a belt, I choose not to and therefore have to be pretty careful when leaning over to pick something up. It's kind of annoying since jeans are supposed to be a worry-free, casual choice of trousers.
To add insult to injury I can't even order a pair of jeans online because I have no idea what the sizes mean anymore. Even if I find a particular brand I like, the chances are that the size I order, even if it's the same size I'm currently wearing, probably won't fit. I long for the days of khakis, as there is currently no joy in jeans-ville.
Tuesday, April 29, 2008
Thursday, April 24, 2008
My Official Song of Summer
Ok, it's not quite Gnarls Barkley but it's a fun (and pretty political) song for summer. Check it out - the Flobots:
Monday, April 21, 2008
XOXO, Pahkcah02
I'm not sure how it happened; perhaps it was when I caught myself humming along with Peter Bjorn during the first scene of the series premiere. Ever since My So Called Life was axed in '95, I've made a conscious effort to steer 100 miles clear of the angst-teen-drama-genre. However, after receiving the seal of approval from my television guru (Mark Perigard from the Boston Herlad), I caved and set the DVR to record Gossip Girl on the CW.
It tooks weeks after the season premiered for me to be bored enough to even watch GG. My level of curiousity gradually increased - now I'm completely hooked. After weeks of Gossip Girl hiatus, tonight we are finally going to find out how Blair, Serena, and the rest of the Upper East Side gang is holding up. I'm getting giddy already.
It tooks weeks after the season premiered for me to be bored enough to even watch GG. My level of curiousity gradually increased - now I'm completely hooked. After weeks of Gossip Girl hiatus, tonight we are finally going to find out how Blair, Serena, and the rest of the Upper East Side gang is holding up. I'm getting giddy already.
Wednesday, April 9, 2008
1943 Guide to Hiring Women
The following is an excerpt from the July 1943 issue of Transportation Magazine.
This was written for male supervisors of women in the work force during World War II.
Eleven Tips on Getting More Efficiency Out of Women Employees: There's no longer any question whether transit companies should hire women for jobs formerly held by men. The draft and manpower shortage has settled that point. The important things now are to select the most efficient women available and how to use them to the best advantage.
Here are eleven helpful tips on the subject from Western Properties:
1. Pick young married women. They usually have more of a sense of responsibility than their unmarried sisters, they're less likely to be flirtatious, they need the work or they wouldn't be doing it, they still have the pep and interest to work hard and to deal with the public efficiently.
2. When you have to use older women, try to get ones who have worked outside the home at some point in their lives. Older women who have never contacted the public have a hard time adapting themselves and are inclined to be cantankerous and fussy. It's always well to impress upon older women the importance of friendliness and courtesy.
3. General experience indicates that "husky" girls - those who are just a little on the heavy side - are more even tempered and efficient than their underweight sisters.
4. Retain a physician to give each woman you hire a special physical examination - one covering female conditions. This step not only protects the property against the possibilities of lawsuit, but reveals whether the employee-to-be has any female weaknesses which would make her mentally or physically unfit for the job.
5. Stress at the outset the importance of time the fact that a minute or two lost here and there makes serious inroads on schedule. Until this point is gotten across, service is likely to be slowed up.
6. Give the female employee a definite day-long schedule of duties so that they'll keep busy without bothering the management for instructions every few minutes. Numerous properties say that women make excellent workers when they have their jobs cut out for them, but that they lack initiative in finding work themselves.
7. Whenever possible, let the inside employee change from one job to another at some time during the day. Women are inclined to be less nervous and happier with change.
8. Give every girl an adequate number of rest periods during the day. You have to make some allowances for feminine psychology. A girl has more confidence and is more efficient if she can keep her hair tidied, apply fresh lipstick and wash her hands several times a day.
9. Be tactful when issuing instructions or in making criticisms. Women are often sensitive; they can't shrug off harsh words the way men do. Never ridicule a woman - it breaks her spirit and cuts off her efficiency.
10. Be reasonably considerate about using strong language around women. Even though a girl's husband or father may swear vociferously, she'll grow to dislike a place of business where she hears too much of this.
11. Get enough size variety in operator's uniforms so that each girl can have a proper fit. This point can't be stressed too much in keeping women happy.
This was written for male supervisors of women in the work force during World War II.
Eleven Tips on Getting More Efficiency Out of Women Employees: There's no longer any question whether transit companies should hire women for jobs formerly held by men. The draft and manpower shortage has settled that point. The important things now are to select the most efficient women available and how to use them to the best advantage.
Here are eleven helpful tips on the subject from Western Properties:
1. Pick young married women. They usually have more of a sense of responsibility than their unmarried sisters, they're less likely to be flirtatious, they need the work or they wouldn't be doing it, they still have the pep and interest to work hard and to deal with the public efficiently.
2. When you have to use older women, try to get ones who have worked outside the home at some point in their lives. Older women who have never contacted the public have a hard time adapting themselves and are inclined to be cantankerous and fussy. It's always well to impress upon older women the importance of friendliness and courtesy.
3. General experience indicates that "husky" girls - those who are just a little on the heavy side - are more even tempered and efficient than their underweight sisters.
4. Retain a physician to give each woman you hire a special physical examination - one covering female conditions. This step not only protects the property against the possibilities of lawsuit, but reveals whether the employee-to-be has any female weaknesses which would make her mentally or physically unfit for the job.
5. Stress at the outset the importance of time the fact that a minute or two lost here and there makes serious inroads on schedule. Until this point is gotten across, service is likely to be slowed up.
6. Give the female employee a definite day-long schedule of duties so that they'll keep busy without bothering the management for instructions every few minutes. Numerous properties say that women make excellent workers when they have their jobs cut out for them, but that they lack initiative in finding work themselves.
7. Whenever possible, let the inside employee change from one job to another at some time during the day. Women are inclined to be less nervous and happier with change.
8. Give every girl an adequate number of rest periods during the day. You have to make some allowances for feminine psychology. A girl has more confidence and is more efficient if she can keep her hair tidied, apply fresh lipstick and wash her hands several times a day.
9. Be tactful when issuing instructions or in making criticisms. Women are often sensitive; they can't shrug off harsh words the way men do. Never ridicule a woman - it breaks her spirit and cuts off her efficiency.
10. Be reasonably considerate about using strong language around women. Even though a girl's husband or father may swear vociferously, she'll grow to dislike a place of business where she hears too much of this.
11. Get enough size variety in operator's uniforms so that each girl can have a proper fit. This point can't be stressed too much in keeping women happy.
Tuesday, April 8, 2008
Even Better than On-Demand
I was recently advised to check out hulu.com, a website offering hundreds of streamed movies and television episodes. Aside from catching up on episodes of the Office and SNL, you can daytrip back in time by catching up with old seasons of Jerry Springer, Doogie Howser MD, and Chicago Hope. The shows do break every 10 minutes for a 15-30 second commercial, a miniscule annoyance considering that it's a free site.
Most IT directors haven't found out about it yet so if you're lucky, it may be a great way to kill some time at work :).
Most IT directors haven't found out about it yet so if you're lucky, it may be a great way to kill some time at work :).
Friday, April 4, 2008
Spotted: the Cadillac Deval
Spotted last night at the Braintree Sheraton: Governor Patrick's 2007 Cadillac Deville (parked illegally in a handicapped spot). The Herald was pretty harsh on the Gov when it was discovered that his state sponsored vehicle would cost the taxpayers almost $700 a month. However, all of those haters out there have obviously never spied Governor Patrick's ride - it's pretty freaking spectacular. I mean, if I had $700 a month to blow on a lease payment and had to drive American I'd definitely go for the larger than life Caddy with all the bells and whistles.
Here's a question for you: when Governor Patrick raises the gas tax, do you think that he'll feel the pinch or does he have a tax-payer sponsored gas card? As sweet as the Deville is, I doubt it's very good on gas mileage.
Here's a question for you: when Governor Patrick raises the gas tax, do you think that he'll feel the pinch or does he have a tax-payer sponsored gas card? As sweet as the Deville is, I doubt it's very good on gas mileage.
Thursday, April 3, 2008
Beer (because it's cheaper than therapy)
I've always enjoyed a frosty glass full of beer, but truth be told I rarely go to the package store to buy it. Unless I'm having beer guzzling friends over, I'll generally only drink it at a bar since it seems to go well with nachos and sports. However, if you're a regular beer drinker and you've been to the store lately you've probably felt sticker shock when buying your favorite six-pack.
Apparently there's a world-wide hops shortage which has jacked the price of beer up almost 50% in the last few months. That six-pack of Sam Adams that used to set me back about a buck a beer now costs about $9 at my local packie. In a down economy, beer sales always increase so this hop supply-and-demand issue is ill-timed to say the least.
Of course if you've walked through the aisles of Blanchards you've probably noticed that there are no lack of beer options available, with prices varying wildly depending on the type of beverage you prefer. Mainstream brands like Budweiser are still towing the line price-wise while specialty craft brands are taking a real beating. The world is certainly full of Darwinism and beer giants Anheuser-Busch, Coors, etc. are swallowing up the hops while leaving nothing for the craft or home brewer.
Of course in a free society you have a real choice when it comes to buying beer. One option is to switch to a less-expensive brand, especially if it's as enjoyable as your favorite premium brew (not likely). The second option is to buy in bulk by executing the pahkcah02 economic principle of "the more you drink the more you save". Instead of buying a six-pack of Sam Adams for $9, go to BJ's and get a case for $22. Maybe you don't need a whole case right away, but if you and your friends aren't capable of drinking 24 beers before they go bad (generally six months) then you've obviously learned nothing from reading this blog.
BTW, if you're not a beer drinker, the buying in bulk principle generally works for wine and hard liquor as well. Check out the price of a fifth versus buying a handle: generally you'll get twice the alcohol for only a couple of bucks more.
There you have it - a whole blog about beer. There's absolutely only one thing on my mind right now: GO UMASS! BEAT OHIO STATE!!!
Apparently there's a world-wide hops shortage which has jacked the price of beer up almost 50% in the last few months. That six-pack of Sam Adams that used to set me back about a buck a beer now costs about $9 at my local packie. In a down economy, beer sales always increase so this hop supply-and-demand issue is ill-timed to say the least.
Of course if you've walked through the aisles of Blanchards you've probably noticed that there are no lack of beer options available, with prices varying wildly depending on the type of beverage you prefer. Mainstream brands like Budweiser are still towing the line price-wise while specialty craft brands are taking a real beating. The world is certainly full of Darwinism and beer giants Anheuser-Busch, Coors, etc. are swallowing up the hops while leaving nothing for the craft or home brewer.
Of course in a free society you have a real choice when it comes to buying beer. One option is to switch to a less-expensive brand, especially if it's as enjoyable as your favorite premium brew (not likely). The second option is to buy in bulk by executing the pahkcah02 economic principle of "the more you drink the more you save". Instead of buying a six-pack of Sam Adams for $9, go to BJ's and get a case for $22. Maybe you don't need a whole case right away, but if you and your friends aren't capable of drinking 24 beers before they go bad (generally six months) then you've obviously learned nothing from reading this blog.
BTW, if you're not a beer drinker, the buying in bulk principle generally works for wine and hard liquor as well. Check out the price of a fifth versus buying a handle: generally you'll get twice the alcohol for only a couple of bucks more.
There you have it - a whole blog about beer. There's absolutely only one thing on my mind right now: GO UMASS! BEAT OHIO STATE!!!
Subscribe to:
Posts (Atom)
