Betterness by Kawika Holbrook

Wildfires Strike Too Close for Comfort

My fiancee is trapped in San Diego as wildfires threaten 30,000 more homes in Southern California. While more than a dozen people have died, hundreds of thousands of acres have burnt, and scores are homeless, I'm just worried about Jenny. Her cell phone battery has died. Her plane is delayed at lease 24 hours. And we missed visiting my grandmother. Health, home, family, friends -- not much more matters. Come home safely, sweetie. I love you.

Miso Selfish

The New York Times dishes on a dictatorial corporate lawyer unhappy with a recent takeout sushi order. He asked a paralegal to research other nearby raw fish options. The result spanned three pages, included eight footnotes and two exhibits (menus). The juiciest part? The paralegal's grammatically tortured conclusion: "I would hope you find the report helpful in choosing the restaurant from which your dinner will be ordered on a going-forward basis." (via Slate)

Commercial Success

I don’t agree with his review of the new Sprint commercial, but Ad Age’s Bob Garfield succinctly states what a commercial in 2003 is expected to do: “It must capture your attention, hold it and be memorable without abrasiveness, dishonesty or disrespect. It must explain the product benefits, or at least advance the brand image. And it must be crafted around the sensibilities of the target audience.”

The Good Wife's Guide

“A good wife knows her place,” and other marriage tips from the stellar May 13, 1995 issue of Housekeeping Monthly. Click the scanned image to enlarge such wisdom as: “Arrange his pillow and offer to take off his shoes.” “Speak in a low, soothing and pleasant voice.” “Catering for his comfort will provide you with immense personal satisfaction.” “Don’t ask him questions about his actions or question his judgment.” “Remember, he is the master of the house and as such will always exercise his will with fairness and truthfulness. You have no right to question him.”

eSeduction

On the serial acquisition of gadgets: "There's the theoretical life you live and the actual life you live," said one man. He was hoping the camera would bridge the gap between theory and reality. In reality, the people profiled bought products that were either too complicated or not compelling enough to remember to use.

Ten Things Radical about the Weblog Form in Journalism

What's radical about the weblog form in journalism? Jay Rosen, press critic and NYU media professor, enumerates the differences weblogs present to journalists and readers.

The Color of Money

I'm eager to pick up my first new greenback with peach highlights. I too want to be "safer, smarter and more secure." The note will be followed by a new $50 bill in 2004 and a new $100 bills in 2005. Decisions on new designs for the $5 and $10 bills are still under consideration. No new $2 and $1 bills are planned.

Maui No Ka Oi

I'm leaving for Maui tomorrow morning. One week. I want to travel light, relax on the beach, and drink like a fish. Instead, I have to pack heavy (gifts and champagne for a wedding, a CPAP machine for obstructive sleep apnea, and excess amounts of footwear). If the equivalent of LASIK surgery was availble for my air passages, I spend it. (Even the smallest CPAP in the world is a bulky eyesore. That's better than a nose snore, I suppose.) Instead, I'll concentrate on choosing a few fun activities. Chris' Bike Adventures was fun the two times I went in the 90s. Lahaina was a fun tourist trap. I've never driven the road to Hana or seen the Iao Needle at Iao Valley State Park. Whatever happens, I'm looking forward to a week's respite.

Notes

Returned from the New Warrior training with a better understanding of myself, and a little less tolerance for mental and physical flab. Been reading a magazine a day. Every article. Time, Fortune, The Atlantic, Consumer Reports, and others. The impact of the articles was ephemeral, however. I want to blog each one to remember why I liked it at the time; however, the task still seems to laborious. Finding it on the webpage, quoting the lines that moved me, linking artfully. It takes more time than I've wanted to spend. I think blogging will still be a good back-up brain (not to mention a mental workout) for me.