Wealth Inequality and the Haves vs. the Have-Nots
The Business of Fashion recently published an article about the struggle in the luxury business in light of unparalleled economic disparity. And it’s hilarious.
Barbasol Shaving Tips
I love shaving, and I love barbershops. Here in Manhattan, we have a lot of great shops, including Best Barber, my go-to right here in Hell’s Kitchen. Like all good barbershops, they do cuts and shaves.
As I’ve written before, my preferred shave cream is Barbasol, a venerable old affordable classic made right here in the USA. I found myself on their website the other day confirming the existence of a non-aerosol version of their shave cream (It’s confirmed. It exists.), and I came across this great video they produced in 2014 at a barbershop called Old Familiar Barbershop in Columbus, Ohio. The video features shop owner Kenji Prince highlighting how he goes about giving a shave in the fantastic setting of his Old Town East emporium, which also includes haircuts, beard trims, shampoos, shoe shines, marriages and dirty jokes among their services.
The Best Take-Downs of America’s Gun Problem I’ve Ever Seen
As my readers would know, a post like this is not my usual fare. It may put some off or inspire others to ‘set me straight’ in the comments section or even unsubscribe. But in the wake of the mass shooting of 50 members of the LGBT community in Orlando, and the shooting before that, and the one before that, and the one before that, and the one before that, and the one before that… I kinda don’t care.
Anyone who knows me knows how I personally feel about guns (they’re not my thing, you might say). With respect to the issue on a national level, I am in love with these hilarious and poignant articulations put forth brilliantly by Samantha Bee and Jim Jefferies. I have nothing better to add. They’re the best eviscerations of America’s gun problem I’ve ever seen.
The Levi’s 501 Jean: The Garment of the Outlaw
I just stumbled on this mini three-part documentary produced by Levi’s about the 501 Jean. Sure, one might see it as a long commercial for a heritage product, but it is extremely well done and very worthwhile. The history of 501 jeans and what they meant to people and our culture is undeniable, something few (if any) other denim brands can claim. This short documentary was released on YouTube in March in its full 18-minute length or as three separate episodes. As someone who’s worn 501s his whole life, I loved the entire thing. But the chapter that personally resonated with me was Episode 3: Rebellion.
Episode 34: A Morning Reflection on Contentment
In this mini-episode, I take a few under-caffeinated minutes to describe a feeling that comes over me every morning while I have my coffee. The feeling probably occurs to me for about two or three seconds, and it can be summed up in one word: contentment.
5×5: Intervals on Design
I’ll be part of a five-person panel for a special event this coming Wednesday (June 15th) at Rapha in partnership with Design Within Reach. The evening is titled “5×5: INTERVALS ON DESIGN – A design talk for cyclists by designers obsessed with cycling.”
The Understated Elegance of the Grenadine Tie
If someone put a gun to my head and told me I could only wear solid grenadine ties for the rest of my life, I’d manage. Quite well, in fact. Other than silk knit ties, grenadines are my absolute favorites.
Muhammad Ali, American Icon
I can’t really add anything new to the buzz on the internet about Muhammad Ali. As a kid born in 1970, I certainly remember him vividly in our consciousness as a very big celebrity and a HUGE part of the ’70s. Very visible, funny, glamorous, all that. And I, of course, remember his signature title/tagline: The Greatest.
Today, I came across a quote of his that might be the best “how I want to be remembered” quote I have ever read:
“I’d like to be remembered as a black man who won the heavyweight title and who was humorous and who treated everyone right. As a man who never looked down on those who looked up to him and who helped as many of his people as he could – financially and also in their fight for freedom, justice and equality.”
Fantastic.
Beyond that, all else I can share are some of my favorite photos of this dazzling American icon.
David Byrne Radio, June 2016: “Current Events”
If you’re like me, you love David Byrne, the former Talking Heads frontman now solo artist, author, musicologist and prophet of culture and the arts. For years, I used to enjoy David Byrne Radio, which was a monthly updated playlist of fabulous music curated by David himself. It was available for streaming on his own website and through iTunes, where I kept it in a playlist of favorites. Then it disappeared.
A Reader Asks: How to Get Rid of Pit Stains?
A reader named Barry asked: Any advice on getting rid of underarm perspiration stains from white and blue cotton shirts? Thank you.
This is a common one and easily resolved with a few simple steps. It’s important to know that pit stains are not caused by perspiration but by the aluminum in antiperspirant. In the interest of prevention, the first thing to do is to stop using antiperspirant that contains aluminum and switch to a deodorant that doesn’t.