in the news

Governor Sanford — It really didn’t help your image that you “love” the woman. You didn’t always love her. There was a time a while back that you were introduced. Next, well, there were the introductory activities when you might have chosen an alternative behavior.  You’d deserve more sympathy/empathy if you hadn’t revealed that other indiscretions with women are part of your secret resume. I don’t mean to be judgmental, affairs are common, but as a public figure, you open yourself to scrutiny and commentary. You’ve lost your wife, and you’ll lose the Argentinian when the next soul mate comes along. Hello . . . don’t write those sweet nothings in email for crying out loud!

Ruth Madoff — Another who will suffer collateral damage from her husband’s activities. Sad that today they’re seizing their multi-million dollar apartment. This isn’t sarcasm. It makes me feel they way I feel when the Bolsheviks confiscate Dr. Zhivago’s lovely home in the film, crowding his family into one room and burning his (make that “”the People’s) furniture for heat.

Michael Jackson — The Jackson Five never appealed. But I admit that Daughter Dearest gave me Thriller for my birthday last year. I had mentioned  something about liking the music to Thriller. And Beat It. And Billy Jean.  I just listen and and don’t look.

The cleavage rash

I heard an ABC News story on the way to a tennis match that gave me pause. A woman and her attorneys have filed the paperwork for a lawsuit claiming that her Victoria’s Secret bra gave her a rash so bad that it interfered with her sleep.  Apparently the insidious component is FORMALDEHYDE.

In our bras!       Why?

Turns out that many other women have the same complaint, and names are being collected for a class action suit.

As a long-time Vicki’s customer and former employee, I was interested in the story. Luckily for me the offending bras were Secret Embrace and Very Sexy Extreme Me.

I mentioned the story to my partner, who was horrified since she also has a mysterious rash down her side just below where she is embraced secretly by her VS bra. Punky was shocked that she could be allergic to her bra.

Unfortunately, VS kept the bra on the shelves after complaints were made claiming strict quality controls. They naturally knew nothing of formaldehyde-laden padding.  But someone knew. I doubt that it’s a manufacturing by-product.

Caveat emptor applies to underwear!

But we always have the old stand-by, The Miracle Bra. Maybe it also cures rashes.

 

 

 

 

http://abcnews.go.com/GMA/story?id=6225503&page=1

“Downscale?” — a very poor euphemism

Actually it’s probably not meant to be a euphemism at all. Reporters covering the election use the term, I heard it again today, to refer to Clinton’s voters. Downscale? The implications are more than economically negative.

The correct term is “poor. ” Poor, in an economic sense, means not making much money. Cut-offs differ. Still, there should not be any shame or embarrassment in where one falls on the monetary earnings scale. Poor.

But “downscale” adds the conotation of inferiority to the “upscale.” Social inferiority, lack of intellkigence, living in a small, “downscale” town as opposed to an important city. That’s the picture, and a good editor should know better.

And this has nothing to do with politically correct speech. This is plain old demeaning, supercilious, condesending, and rude speech. Those who speak publicly must be responsible in their choice of words that have crept into the language.

BTW, I will not be voting for Clinton, but this term and verbiage like it bother me.