NY Times grapples with grammar gripes

A Data By Any Other Name?

I just discovered an interesting department of the online NY Times that deals with grammar and usage gripes sent in by readers. Some of the Times stylebook usages get under the skin of readers who either favor AP or learned certain usages in school long ago and can't let go of them.

Let's face it: fashions in word usage change. See some of the Times' current usages here.

How consumers shop today - cautiously.

Bling is Dead. Long live the Bling.

Here's an excellent article on how consumers are thinking and shopping today. The culture of, "I want it, so I can afford it if I charge it" is dead. Bling is dead, or at least immoral, according to the article. I never could afford bling in the first place, so I've been shopping Marshall's, Dollar General and thrift stores for years. I mean, why pay full price for anything, when everything is always on sale or available for a dollar?

Lots of people like to shop, but these days, before they arrive at the checkout, they put back some of the stuff they picked out. Kind of like a sport fisherman returning the fish he catches to the lake. They've had the pleasure of the quest, but they'd rather keep that $7.99 in their pockets to buy groceries rather than have that really cool cashmere sweater on unbelievable Final Clearance.

Folks, you can't eat a cashmere sweater. Or the de luxe image it projects. Which presents a challenge for marketers who trade on image, rather than utility. If you can buy a couple of pounds of nice fish with your last few shekels, why would you buy a sweater instead?

Don't get me wrong: I'm no fan of the Sham-Wow and other 800-number items, but heck, at least the DO something, e.g., the Sham-Wow. It soaks up liquid like a demon. But your cashmere sweater just looks cool. Sure, it'll soak up a spill, but then you have to have it dry-cleaned.

Cost matters today, more than ever. Even the (recently) rich are hurting. They're hiding their faces while shopping at consignment shops (or even -- horrors! -- thrift shops). Let's face facts: unemployment is headed toward the highest rate since 1997 -- around 9.5%. Middle-class Americans are showing up at food pantries. So if you have expensive stuff, don't flaunt it. At least put a sign on it saying, "Purchased before the economic crisis." You'll be safer that way.

But you know what? Even if you are economically challenged, you can look like a million for considerably less by using a little imagination. You can chance upon nearly new designer fashions for a trifle at thrift or consignment stores. A friend of mine purchased a 100% cashmere winter coat at a thrift shop. The only problem was that it was a foot or two too long. The coat cost $10.00. A tailor shortened it for $35.00. Total cost: $45.00 for a beautiful camel-colored cashmere coat. A bargain! and it looks terrific on her.

Be imaginative. Shop smart. It's the fashion, dear.

Geico's lizard seeks to reassure in new campaign

The Gecko and the Financial Wizard

The one thing Americans want and need the most right now is reassurance. That's what Geico tries to convey in a new series of TV spots featuring the lovable lizard and The Boss, who has some questionable ideas as to how to go about it. The print campaign, more serious in tone (well, sorta), invokes the name of Warren Buffett to show how stable Geico is.

EXCERPT from NY Times story:

In advertisements appearing in newspapers and magazines, the gecko wears horn-rimmed glasses. “Presenting a straightforward and serious talk about the nation’s third-largest car insurance company,” the headline on one print ad reads. “From a spokesman who’s not wearing any pants.”

That ad, about halfway down in the text, describes Geico as “a financially stable company that’s here for the long run” and “a wholly-owned subsidiary of Warren Buffett’s Berkshire Hathaway Inc.”

Click the link and see videos of a couple of the gecko TV spots. Reminds me of a campaign I proposed to a bank client over a period of two or three years, always unsuccessfully, can't think why. The ads would feature an iguana. He would become the Geico gecko of this bank. So the ads would say, "I guana get a checking account at (bank)." Or "I guana get an auto loan at (bank)." Or "I guana get a great CD rate at (bank)." The last time I mentioned it, the client got red in the face and told me, through clenched teeth, "Don't ever talk to me about iguanas again." No sense of humor.

That bank got bought by another bank, but I still think it might have been the other way around, if only the client had listened to my iguana idea.

Lizards watch the Oscars, too.

Oscar Schmoscar!

My friend here, Louis Lizard, relaxed with a drink while taking in the spectacle and excitement of the Oscar show last night.

As usual, however, he was disappointed that no reptiles were nominated. He gets steamed that pandas, dogs, even machines who can't talk get nominated, but not a single anole. Better luck next year, Louis.

Oscars: I apologize for not having faith in Hugh Jackman

Wow! This guy is good! Not only handsome, but also a terrific dancer and singer. And that smile! Okay, it's clear that I'm head over heels for him. Let's move on.

"Slumdog Millionaire" won Best Picture, to almost no one's surprise, though "Milk" had its partisans, too. Sean Penn won Best Actor for "Milk," beating out Mickey Rourke, of "Wrestler" comeback fame, who had won all the minor awards shows leading up to the Oscars in recent weeks. A comeback story is always compelling. But at the Oscars, often it isn't the brilliant newcomer or comeback king who wins -- it's the actor who has earned the respect of his or her fellow actors. And Mickey, good start, but you've got a ways to go on that count.

The most amazing thing about the show this year was the set. The rounded stage of the Kodak Theater glittered with thousands of crystals strung from the proscenium, above a floor of intersecting circles that changed color. The most gorgeous set I've ever seen at the Oscars.

Another great innovation this year was that groups of previous Oscar winners, young and not-so-young, came onstage to speak words of praise to the acting nominees before the winner was announced. Among the star introducers were Sir Ben Kingsley, Eva St. Marie, Sophia Loren, and Adrien Brody. By the way, Sophia at 72 still is going strong, but that dress -- heavens! a nightmare of mustard-colored ruffles. Time to have your glasses checked, dear.

Nearly all of the nominees wore wonderfully simple, elegant gowns. One diagonal strap was a dramatic look on many of them. Kate Winslet, Best Actress winner, wore an iron-gray satin dress that was sleek and sophisticated, with a Grace Kelly-like hairdo to match.

To read more, in case you missed the show (What a pity!), go here. You can see some pictures of Sean, Kate and Penelope. Also, Heath Ledger's parents and sister, who accepted his Oscar for Best Supporting Actor for "The Dark Knight." Lots more pictures here.

Oscar Picks for 2008

It's beginning to look a lot like Oscar time, with everyone abuzz with speculations about what picture, director, actor and actress will be voted the best for 2008.

Well, truthfully, they're more ayawn than abuzz this year. Most of the pictures are dark, which people don't like much, especially in a down economy. And it looks as if "Slumdog Millionaire," the one with a happy ending, will sweep the show. So where's the excitement?

TIME's Richard Corliss makes his picks here. Oh my, if Jon Stewart could see his Best Picture choice! See what you think.

Paintbrush! Free program from SourceForge.net

Paintbrush 2.0.0

If you're looking for a free, simple paint program for Mac, but the mere mention of the word "Microsoft" gives you the yips, try Paintbrush.

Paintbrush is a Cocoa-based paint program for Mac OS X, similar to Microsoft Paint and MacPaint. It's from SourceForge.net. It's pretty simple, fun to fool around with, and best of all, it's FREE!

My son in Shanghai sent me the link. He said that though the program is simple, he's seen some pretty awesome art that was created with it. Try your hand! In practically no time, I drew a formless abstract thing and a series of intersecting teal-colored ovoid shapes. WOW. Art world, here I come!