Tuesday, June 29, 2010

Learning from VP Biden

I doubt anyone would ever call VP Biden elegant. Why? Because he has impulse control problem to say the least. To make the comments he did to the custard shop owner (and the open mike comment after health care passed and ....)

He shows his ego, and lack of concern for others. He also demonstrates he doesn't understand there is a professional time and a personal time. What is scary is that he probably doesn't care what people thinking of him and as a person "serving the public" to not care how people perceive him and not care if he offends people shows his personality.

Elegance is to live your life - Your life. Not to tell other how to live theirs.

That shop owner has ever right to think his taxes are to high and there is the VP of the US in front of you. Well why not tell him your thoughts? As the VP of the US your comments mean something. To denigrate a citizen because he didn't agree with you is so unprofessional. And to not apologize. This man just gave him a commodity, the VP did say thank you, but when that owner made his comment, which he has the right to do, the VP could have easily replied, "That's an issue bigger then us here and now" Simple! No one offended, and no sound bites. But Mr. Biden shows he really thinks much to much of himself. He took that man's comment as a personal offense. The VP was not in a bar with friends he was representing the US. He showed he has little respect for himself or the office he holds..

As the VP he really has little power or little control over taxes and we all know it. But what he does have control over, he refuses to exercise that power. The power to control you tongue, the power to make others feel good.


We can learn from examples - even bad examples.

Thursday, June 24, 2010

Adios, Architectural Digest

I have been a subscriber to AD for a long time. AD and Town and Country are the only magainzes I subscribe to.

In the last few years the articles have become less interesting and more pop culture. What really was the final straw for me were the celebrities adorning the front cover month after month after month and then using those covers to sell subscriptions you get a clear picture of their "vision".
Yet another magazine taking the easy way out. I dont care about those people. How about the architects that made the vision a reality, how much space in the article to the get? And truly do we have to have the celebrity in every shot. There were the yearly specials, the before and after and the spot light on architects and designers. But this magazine over the last year or so has turned into something more of an interior designers magazine. To find a floor plan printed in the magazine made you fell like you should go an by a lottery ticket because this was your lucky day. I use to love to sit and page thru the magazine and savory the images and articles. But AD is really no different then the other magazines on the stands. And when T&C has the same type of writing and articles that AD has then why have two of the same coming into the house? And with T&C at least I have fashion. But AD, T&C might not be to far behind you. Seems their new editor is a man - I will give him a few months to see his direction, but I am tired of men telling women what we should look like, what we should ware and what we should like. T&C had female editor with female sensibilities. But like I said I will reserve judgement, for a few months.

So I will not be renewing my subscription, no matter how many 'urgent" mailers I get. When AD gets back to Architecture and its design I happily subscribe again, but in our current environment were thinking is look down upon and everything must be light and candy-like not instructive, informative and useful it will be a long wait so I wont hold my breathe.