Sunday, December 14, 2008

Quick Trip to the California Coast


It is pretty incredible that the tenth most popular article today on the New York Times front page is about a tiny little town in Northern California. It is even more incredible that the same tiny little town, a "Utopia by the Sea," is so close to my heart. There are few places on the California coast that remain as unspoiled yet are still so comfortably livable as this small town. If you ever have the chance to travel to The Sea Ranch, you will not be disappointed by its beauty. Enjoy the article!

Wednesday, December 03, 2008

Make Marshmallows, Not War

Hammacher Schlemmer not only wins a prize for the hardest catalog to pronounce, but also for some of the most random products for purchase. Although I was initially a bit annoyed that I received the catalog (one among so many I never asked for and thought I had stopped) in the end it has brought me some giggles on a day when I have been under the weather. From the $100 Star Wars Nutcracker Set to the Rotating Dual Disco Ball, I just have to wonder who buys this stuff, particularly in these hard economic times. The catalog is not without useful products, but they are often of the type you did not realize you needed until you suddenly had to have it (although I can forever do without anything Thomas Kinkade.)

The most fantastic item in the catalog? The 40 Foot Marshmallow Blaster, which includes a carrying case to take your marshmallow games on the road! This pump-gun should not be confused, of course, with the Marshmallow Shooter, Bazooka or Shooting Shortbow. Choose your preferred size marshmallow and recruit an army! I have to admit, as much as I wonder who came up with this idea, I can imagine a family having some holiday fun with these shooters! I know my family would have. In fact, I just might have to order some...

Monday, December 01, 2008

Boho: No-GO

I was happy to finally come across a print version of Boho magazine in San Francisco over the weekend, but my pleasure was short lived. I may be hyper-critical, but I had much higher expectations of this allegedly eco-conscious magazine with a "new american spirit." While the paper may be recycled, the magazine itself is lacking in useful content.

The fashion, for the most part, is lacking in environmentally friendly clothing, and, well, is just plain weird. There are a few exceptions that are quite beautiful, but these pieces are far outweighed by hippie clothes with no hints of modernity. The best part of the magazine is an article about Teens for Safe Cosmetics, a wonderful activist group. Unfortunately, other articles in the magazine seem to forget the aims of this group, on one page suggesting products that contain harmful ingredients, on another advocating semi-permanent lash enhancements. I'm sure that glue is not the healthiest thing in the world! The gift guide is so-so, but I'm sure it is blown out of the water by other magazines like Plenty.

I guess I just see no reason why this magazine needs to be printed. It is so hard to tell the content from the (too frequent) advertisements, they would probably do just as well staying online. I will not be purchasing this magazine again, and sadly, this issue is going right into the recycle bin.