In March I wrote a 3-part blog series on the documentary The September Issue—which is about Anna Wintour, Vogue Magazine Editor-in-Chief—her dogmatic management style and her pervasive influence in the international fashion world. I liked the documentary but didn’t like Ms. Wintour’s over-blown sense of self-importance and off-putting persona. The real star of the documentary [...]
Until I saw this cover of Sports Illustrated I hadn’t paid much attention to Pat Tillman. It’s a great photo—and an even greater story—of both the heroic and horrific kind. Pat Tillman was the NFL player who gave up that career to enlist in the Army in 2002—along with his brother Kevin—as a patriotic [...]
I used to feel compelled to read Chris Brogan’s blog every. I used to consider his information as King of Entrepreneurial High Tech Social Media Stuff valuable. I used to think if I missed a day I might miss “The Answer” as to how to harness the Internet to advance my writing career. I used [...]
Tony Hsieh is a purveyor of happiness. He wants to deliver happiness to those he associates with. No, he’s not a new-age guru or snake oil salesman or televangelist. He’s a highly successful businessman—the CEO of Zappos. And he’s selling HAPPINESS —in the USA! Unbelievable! But true. You must check out his book, Delivering Happiness: [...]
I can’t remember how I originally heard about Geneen Roth, author of the best-seller and Oprah-approved book: Women, Food, and God. She lived in Santa Cruz for awhile (near where I live)—where she began her crusade to help food-obsessed women, along with herself. Geneen now lives in Marin County—same as Anne Lamott, a friend (and [...]
Elsa Schiaparelli (1890-1973), along with Coco Chanel (1883-1971), was the most influential fashion designer from the 1920-40s. Italian born, she moved to Paris and dominated the fashion world. Where as Chanel was a minimalist, Schiap (as she called herself) was flamboyant. Chanel was conservative; Schiaparelli was outrageous. Chanel was famous for a short boxy jacket. [...]
In the May 17, 2010 issue of National Review magazine (the subscription my Dad funds since I wouldn’t pay a nickel for it), James Person gives a fawning review of the book, William F. Buckley, Jr.: The Maker of a Movement, by Lee Edwards. Is it necessary to whip out the sycophantic pencil when the [...]
Lilly Daché (1898-1989) is one of my favorite vintage hat designers. I like her style: bold design, colorful fabrics, ornate detail, and sometimes flowery. I had wanted to read her out-of-print autobiography for some time. But I couldn’t find a copy at an affordable price, which is nowhere near the $100+ internet sellers were asking. [...]
[Part 1 of a 2 Part Series] Anne Lamott spoke to a packed crowd last Friday in Petaluma, CA (forty miles north of San Francisco). The sold-out event at Copperfield’s Bookstore was for a reading of her new novel, Imperfect Birds. But with Anne Lamott, you always get more than just an author reading his/her [...]
[Last in a 4-Part series] Last Friday I was at work—even though it was a paid holiday. What an employee! Actually, I was working on my blogs. At the beginning of each month I map out roughly what topics (about 30) I want to write about—figure out which blog category each topic fits into—and then [...]
