Poirot, Marple, Herald & Linden... a good read

Wow! Intriguing people... a lively setting and a story full of surprising twists and turns.

Reminiscent of my favorite Christie mysteries growing up.

Unexpected developments that all some how add up to an anxious glimpse at several intriguing parts of 1980's Los Angeles life, including peeling back the corner on an aloof, and oft-rumored underworld-ly  Korean community. 

Janis' wit and celebration of language makes it a smile-inducing read.


Reminds me of my favorite Agatha Christie novels of my youth but in a contemporary setting with people I might know and places I have been...

Compelling. Keeps you reading until the last sentence.

Check it out!

HA! Design Pretense...

Had a little handcrafted artisanal throw-up this morning...

But THIS is hilarious!  Spot on.

Food Pretense

Now - this is a rich category - to be sure...

Food pretense will require a longer examination in the future.  But - in this category - my dear friend, brilliant designer and the original bitter foodie, Tracy Holman shared this imaginary 

group of pretentious grocery signs full of whimsy!

HA!

 

A couple of things...

So - I've been delinquent.  Not just to myself - but to my readers.  I share my thoughts, opinions, ideas here.  I have been both prolific and silent from time to time.  I've noticed in many areas of my life that I've been coasting lately.  That's just not okay.

I am going to try to re-commit to this creative outlet with more regularity.  I have a nearly complete feature about a recent day trip to the unexpected agricultural city of Bakersfield.  Look for "Bako Bits" soon.

In addition - this will mark a new passion point for me.  I have recently become increasingly aware and weary of some notable trends and growing behaviors.

I am the first to dig new and fancy and fun things.  I am right there with food trends and unusual looks.  But - it feels like, with alarming rapidity, that all of this is getting wrapped up in [here's the word that will drive my crusade] pretense.

PRETENSE:
pre·tense  

/ˈprēˌtens/

Noun An attempt to make something that is not the case appear true. A false display of feelings, attitudes, or intentions.

Synonyms pretence - pretension - pretext - sham - excuse

The underlined really hits the nail on the head.

It's this gross display of pretentious behavior that's been gnawing at me...

PRETENTIOUS:
pre·ten·tious 
/priˈtenCHəs/

Adjective Attempting to impress by affecting greater importance, talent, culture, etc., than is actually possessed.

Synonyms showy SO - I am going to call out patterns and examples that we all encounter in every day life.  Behaviors and attitudes not necessarily based on fact or reality - but designed, sometimes, to make "others" feel like less.  Not okay.  Not going to go unnoticed. Stay tuned!

The right way to do things...

For every greedy casino curmudgeon, cracked out combover or whiner hawking pizza, pay attention... This is how an ethical, patriotic American business leader behaves. 

Oh and he's more successful than you, too...