Lost....

People! Lost's season premiere is Wednesday, October 4th! Although I have had my ups and downs with Lost, I still think it's worth watching-if only to find out what happens to Jack, Sawyer and Kate in the hands of The Others. Also, I hope they get the chance to smack Michael around. The season premiere of Battlestar Galactica s two later-Edward James Olmos says it will a very dark season-I thought it couldn't get much darker, but as this season will be about the humans being part of an occupied territory in which they will use suicide bombers and such (Iraq, anyone?) I have no reason to doubt that it will be very dark indeed. And I loved Olmos's quote in Entertainment Weekly about how he had never done sci fi and hadn't really thought of doing it, but he would do it forever with a part like this.

Don't forget to watch!

Project Runway

Tim Gunn of project Runway did a Q and Q on line with the WashingtonPost.com and it was great-here it is...I didn't want to pick on him for a recnet quote about how gay men have a gene that gives them better taste and style than other people, because I know some gay men who I consider lacking in both....and I think he's the best dressed man I've ever seen. Also, he recommends Banana Republic, so you know I love him.

Fashion's New Shape
Tim GunnChair of Fashion Design at Parsons The New School for DesignMonday, September 25, 2006; 11:00 AM
talks about the new shape of fashion and what to expect from here on in.
Chair of Fashion Design at Parsons The New School for Design Tim Gunn answered your questions about fashion's new look for fall.
Tim Gunn: Good morning everyone! I'm delighted to be back on washingtonpost.com to answer your questions. There are lots of them, so please be patient with me over the next hour.
Carry on!
Tim
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Bethesda, Md.:
I'm not one to spend more on my wardrobe than on my rent. What stores do you recommend for high fashion without the high price?
Tim Gunn: I'm with you! I, too, can't afford the high-priced spread. Banana Republic, Club Monaco, Anthropologies, and private label designs at major department stores (Macy's, Saks, Bloomingdale's) are great options.
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Bethesda, Md.:
I know it's a cliche, but what do you see as the three most important features of a good piece of fashion design? Or is it all a matter of this year's trend?
Tim Gunn: If it were a cliche, then we'd all know the answer! For me, good fashion design has to evoke innovation (without being a joke), be great-looking, and be wearable. Other than those three factors, the sky's the limit!
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Alexandria, Va.:
As a Washington, D.C. native, how would you rate the fashion industry here?
Tim Gunn: I haven't been to D.C. for eons. I look forward to my trip to the Corcoran on October 5. I'll check out the fashion scene!
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Toledo, Ohio:
Hi Tim! I'm a big fan of yours and Project Runway! I've been interested in fashion for a while, and would like to start dabbling a little in design. I was wondering if you could give some tips to those who are a novice in fashion design.
Tim Gunn: Wonderful! I believe that it's very important to get to know people with whom you can have a substantive dialogue about design and its development. In addition, read everything about fashion that you can get your hands on. A palpable point of view is what makes a designer, so you need to be confident about yours.
_______________________
Ankle Boots:
Tim, What do you think of the ankle boots trend? I'm undecided. One minute I think I'll go buy some and the next minute I change my mind. If it helps, I'm 24, slender, and my style is sort of funky-preppy. Thanks! You're the best!
Tim Gunn: From your description, you were born to wear an ankle boot! Find one that suits your style and works with most of your wardrobe.
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Arlington, Va.:
Hey, Tim - love the show. What trends are you seeing for the guys this fall and winter, other than shade upon shade of gray??
Tim Gunn: For us guys, the skinny suit is in, but it's not for everyone. Personally, I tried one on, recently, and looked like Pee Wee Herman.
Camel is a great "new" color -- coats, sweaters, scarves.
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Cleveland, Ohio:
For those of us on a more modest income, can you name a few wallet-friendly stores/collections that you feel are comparable to/fall in line with higher end designers? I know you've featured Banana Republic and INC on Project Runway, any others in the same price range? How about less expensive shoe lines?
Tim Gunn: Add Club Monaco and Anthropologie to your list. And try Steve Madden for shoes.
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Washington, D.C.:
How important is the personality of the designer? I know it must play into their creativity a lot. Does it play into the decisions of who is "in" or "out" on Project Runway?
Tim Gunn: Although personalities can't be discounted, the judges only examine the work on the runway when making their decisions. Truly.
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Charlotte, N.C.:
My daughter is a high school student and is interested in going to design school. Can you recommend a good one in the Southeast and what does she need to be doing now to get prepared?
Tim Gunn: I'm delighted that your daughter in interested in a design career. I suggest that you contact the National Association of Schools of Art and Design (NASAD) in Reston, VA for a directory of design schools. Each school will have different requirements, so visit their website and view their catalog. But most will require a portfolio of art and design work.
_______________________
Washington, D.C.:
Tim, You are my favorite person from "Project Runway," really the highlight of the show for me. You seem like such a genuinely kind person. How are you dealing with your more wide-spread fame now that the show's a big hit?
Tim Gunn: Thank you! I'm enjoying every minute of this great ride, because I know that it will end just as quickly as it began.
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Not understanding High Fashion:
How did Jeffrey win the second of the Paris challenges? It looked to me like his model was being eaten by an aggressive picnic tablecloth.
Tim Gunn: My refrain this season pertains to your question: "It's a matter of taste." For the judges, that is!
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Los Gatos, Calif.:
I consider myself quite thin (size 0) but the new skinny jeans look horrible on me and seem to accentuate the hips, stomach area and are horribly unflattering. Can anyone wear this style? Is this a trend that is here to stay?
Tim Gunn: Don't give up! I suggest that you try other brands. I find that the fit of jeans can be worlds apart from brand to brand. If you can find the right fit, skinny jeans can be very flattering.
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Arlington, Va.:
Good morning, Mr. Gunn. As a 39 year-old woman, I'm curious about this no-hosiery/bare legs trend with skirts, even in winter. I know my legs are less than perfect and it seems that if I wear a suit with no stockings, I look like a small child playing dress-up. It seems that stockings really are necessary for a more polished look, and obviously the hosiery companies are not going out of business any time soon, so I'm not alone in my view. And they help keep my legs a bit warmer in the cold weather. Can you demystify this trend for me? Thank you and have a good day.
Tim Gunn: I hear you! I, too, am mystified by this trend. It's not particularly attractive and it's impractical in cold weather. Basically, it underscores my view that we can wear whatever we want and get away with it. Just be confident about being who you are and dressing for that person.
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Arlington, Va.:
Tim, In what is, to me, a particularly distressing trend, I have seen many women (and quite a few men) wearing crocs in public. Is this truly acceptable? Is there some sort of fashion clearinghouse which decides on a whim that actions which would normally result in ostracization are instead cool and accepted? Tim, please offer your advice.
Tim Gunn: Ohhhhh... May I respond by merely saying, "I hate crocs. May they please go away."
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Bethesda, Md.:
Ok...please settle this debate. What color shoes should a man wear with a navy suit?
Tim Gunn: I say black. Does anyone want a debate?
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Philipsburg, Mont.:
I currently work in Montana, where, needless to say, fashion is not the high priority. I will be leaving Montana and an organization that did not value professional dress and will be joining the real world sometime soon. I have no idea what the current trends are and am wondering what are the best options for someone hoping to re-join the real world in a professional setting? Also, are there any staple pieces that I should have to start off with?
Tim Gunn: Staples are only good if they truly suit our lifestyle. I suggest that you go search fashion websites and see what looks appeal to you. Most retail sites have a "What's new" section that will give you an idea about the latest in their line. But rest assured that there there's something appropriate for everyone out there.
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Washington, D.C.:
You always appear so gracious to press and fans alike: however, have you found the level of your fame difficult to manage?
Tim Gunn: I'm having the best time of my life. I love the fans of the show and am thrilled when they want to say "Hello!" If I become a diva, then I hope someone shoots me!
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Philadelphia, Pa.:
Tim, in light of the multitude of knockoffs available today, do you think that fashion should be copyrighted?
Tim Gunn: This is the question of the century! As of now, clothing cannot be copyrighted. I speculate that we'll see some industry advocating in Congress. But if copyrighting is enacted, then I shudder at the prospect of zillions of cases of litigation!
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Fairfax, Va.:
How important is the body of work from a designer as created on the show? I wonder because I was not happy to see Allison leave for what seemed like one mistake but to see Vincent stay on after multiple bad garments.
Tim Gunn: I am in total agreement with you about the elimination of Alison. Although the judges can't help but conjure each designer's previous work, they remain focused on what is before them, only. Still, if I had been voting, Vincent would have been gone!
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London, U.K.:
Hi Tim, Greetings from "across the pond" and thanks for chatting with us today. I recently moved from our shared hometown of Washington, D.C. to go to grad school in London. Am sorely missing "Runway," but keeping up on it through your great pod casts. I've noticed that Leggings are EVERYWHERE in London (along with wide belts and ballet flats). What are your thoughts on this trend? How/why is it back? Also wondering if you know anything about "Project Catwalk," Britain's version of the show hosted by Elizabeth Hurley? Thanks so much. Carry on!
Tim Gunn: I hope you're enjoying London. What a great city! Leggings are everywhere, indeed. Personally, I'm not crazy about them, but they can look great with the right look, a tunic, for instance, or a long cardigan. Just don't try to dress them up!
As with most things in fashion, we recycle. Leggings were big in the 80's, so 20 years later A typical recycling period) we revisit them.
I've never seen Project Catwalk, but hope to some day.
Carry on!
_______________________
Navy suit shoes:
I think both black and brown work, provided the brown is a darker/redder shade. I wear both, particularly because I'm just starting out and only have two decent suits.
Tim Gunn: Agreed. Cordovan works.
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Bethesda, Md.:
Tim, Love you on PR--you are a sea of calm and reason in the hectic drama! My question: do you think it is ever feasible for a man to wear fur? It's so comfortable and warm, but doesn't seem stylish. What can designers do?
Tim Gunn: Thank you for your kind words. Frankly, I think that fur on a man is difficult to pull off. If it's the warmth you're after, then I'd go with a fur-lined coat -- it won't show.
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Alexandria, Va/:
As a plus-sized person, the Project Runway episode on dressing real women appealed to me. What do design schools do to ensure that graduates have the skills to dress real people, and not just small-sized models? As Vincent pointed out, in the end it is real people who will be buying clothes.
Tim Gunn: I'm so glad you asked this important question. We stress this issue at Parsons and hope that our graduates will help blaze a trail in this area. The larger-than-size-4 market is robust and is in need to good designers.
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Arlington, Va.:
Do the judges ever ask your opinion on the clothes, or is your role to be more of someone who can point the way, but not hand the contestants a map?
Tim Gunn: I say with impunity that I do not interact with the judges, other than to say "hello." I bring far too much baggage to the table to be a responsible judge -- thankfully!
My relationship with the designers is to be a mentor; that is, to offer guidance without telling them what to do. I love my role and take it very seriously.
_______________________
Yonkers, N.Y.:
Hi Tim! There's a lot of emphasis on innovation on "Project Runway." However, looking at pictures of the lines from Fashion Week, sometimes the clothes look more clownish and outlandish than innovative to me. What do you consider more important overall in fashion: wearability and beauty or innovation?
Tim Gunn: Excellent question. When it comes to Fashion (capital "F"), I make innovation an equal partner with wearability and beauty, because without it, fashion is merely clothes. However, how much innovation is the critical factor. When there's too much, bring on the circus!
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Short in Boston:
Hi, Tim -- what is your take as to why the vast majority of designers ignore the existence of short women? You'd think that with half the women in the country 5'4" or less, they'd be more interested in making a buck off of us. Even the New York Times noted a month or two ago that Bloomingdales and Saks were planning on discontinuing carrying petites.
Tim Gunn: I was shocked by this, too! I trust that other retailers will see this egregious mistake as being an opportunity. You cannot be ignored!
_______________________
Washington, D.C.:
Tim, You're the Man. I've got a wear a suit to work every day and I try not to look like an android (in the standard edition navy suit, white shirt and red tie). Any tips, from shirtsleeves to shoes?
Tim Gunn: I understand the "android" question, because I ask myself the same thing. Try some striped shirts, even just a hint of a stripe if that's an issue. And why not venture out into more tie options. Regarding shoes, I believe that the sleeker the silhouette, the better -- no tassels and fringes for me. Shirtsleeves? If you like a French cuff, then try some novelty cufflinks. But whatever you do, keep the shirtsleeves long.
_______________________
Alexandria, Va.:
How long does the competition last? From the time the designers check into Atlas to the time the final three (or four) leave Atlas to start working on their collections for Fashion Week?
Tim Gunn: We tape for 32 consecutive days -- no breaks! We're all done in by the end, including me!
_______________________
Devil wears Prada:
There was a terrific scene in the film where Meryl Streep's character lectures Anne Hathaway's about the color choice of her sweater. she maintains that if it weren't for fashion designers and critics, clothing manufacturers wouldn't have the guidance needed to fashion their collections. What can you say about this?
Tim Gunn: I believe that this is quite true. If the manufacturers led the discussion, then we'd have clothes, but not fashion.
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Washington, D.C.:
Hi Tim! Before I get to my question, I have to say that I absolutely adore you! I've been following the whole banning of the ultra-skinny model that is taking place in some countries and thought that the issue might go away until I saw that Giorgio Armani weighed in it. What are your thoughts about this issue?
Tim Gunn: Thank you for the kind words. Regarding Madrid Fashion Week and the banning if skinny models, I believe that it's just a reactionary extreme of its own. Why can't we strike a happy medium? With this issue become parallel to boxing; that is, will models have to weigh-in before walking the runway? I'm not in favor of eating disorders, of course. Let's get serious about this matter.
_______________________
From the fashion desert:
Tim, from your involvement with "Project Runway," do you get any sense that the show is helping bring a wider audience and broader appreciation to fashion and the fashion industry? I know that this year, as a new fan of the show, I was far more aware of Fashion Week than ever before.
Tim Gunn: Although fashion has surely become inextricable from our culture, there is demonstrable evidence that Project Runway has succeeded in making fashion accessible to a wider audience. Additionally, it has helped demystify the fashion process and made viewers excited about it. Fashion Design enrollments have risen in schools nation-wide, and there were more designers participating in Olympus Fashion week than ever before. I'm thrilled about this!
_______________________
Re: no hosiery trend:
The Post's fashion columnist, Robin Givhan, says no hose is okay in summer when it's hot! Is this a real no-no? I started wearing skirts in the summer when I found out.
Tim Gunn: I don't disagree. In hot weather, no hose is fine. I'm all in favor of options, providing they're carefully considered.
_______________________
Men's fashion:
Curious as to why there is not a challenge for designing for men?
Tim Gunn: Good question. Basically, it's the time factor. Most menswear is tailored and tailoring takes a lot of it
_______________________
Plymouth, Mich.:
Has Project Runway been accepted within the fashion industry itself? Is it taken seriously amongst the big name designers?
Tim Gunn: Fortunately, the show has been fully embraced and even celebrated by the fashion industry. Witness our guest judges this year and you'll know that big names love to be part of the show -- Diane von Furstenberg, Francisco Costa, Vera Wang, Zac Posen among them.
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Stuttgart, Germany: We always see you wear what's black and gray and white. What is your favorite color to look at? (Please! Don't say black or gray or white!)
Tim Gunn: I'd love to say "black," but I won't. Promise. My favorite color is the sandstone in the buildings of Bath, England. I painted my apartment that very same color.
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Richmond, Va.: Tim, I admire your sense of classic style -- you consistently look great on Project Runway, and you are so funny too. I have a truly burning question for you about all the interesting and different shapes in women's fashion -- the oversized tops, bubble skirts (not the Angela variety, though!) and leggings. It seems like we've always been told to keep proportion in mind -- wide-legged pants for those of us larger in the hips, etc. So, how do we incorporate these fashions that take us in a completely different direction -- without looking like cows in the process?
Tim Gunn: Thank you for your kind words. You are quite right to pay attention to proportion. It's a key element to a successful wardrobe. Another key element is fit. Most people wear clothing that is too big or too small for them. And "oversized" is the downfall for most of us. We have to be careful that we don't look like we're slipcovered!
_______________________
Silver Spring, Md.: Mr. Gunn, You always seemed to be well-turned-out on the show. Do you wear your own clothing, or are you "styled?" What would you say is the one essential piece in a man's wardrobe?
Tim Gunn: Thank you for the kind words. I wear my own clothing on the show. My wardrobe is enhanced by pieces from INC (Macy's private label), because they sponsor the show, but it's completely up to me as to how I use them.
The one essential in a man's wardrobe is a good suit. It doesn't have to be expensive. It just has to fit properly.
_______________________
Boston, Mass.:
Hi Tim! I have a question about the recent "Couture" episode of Project Runway. Both you and the judges deemed Kayne's garment outlandish and "too much," yet from looking at the couture lines of houses such as Christian Dior, there seems to be no limit as to what a designer can do as long as it has a "vision." Can you explain the intent of the Couture challenge and the problems with Kayne's design?
Tim Gunn: The intent of the "Couture" challenge was to give the designers a taste of Parisian traditions in fashion. They were to use some couture techniques in the construction of their design.
Regarding Kayne, there are many people who loved his garment. I was put off by the evidence of the boning, because I felt that seeing it undermined the elegance that he wanted to achieve. Regarding the entire dress, I also felt that there was simply too much going on -- beads, lacing, ombred fabric, egads! But I understand your point. Compared to John Galiano, Kayne looked tame!
_______________________
Lincoln University, Pa.:
Tim, have you considered what makes your reality show such a success and so appealing (even to sports loving-, fashion retarded-men like myself) compared to others; for example, there is a reality cooking show which isn't nearly as compelling as Project Runway.
Tim Gunn: Good question. I believe that Project Runway's success has everything to do with having real designers do what they do and having an audience that can form an opinion about fashion by simply watching it. With cooking, you can't smell or taste the food, so how to you really weigh in on a judgement?
_______________________
Fairfax, Va.
Hi Tim. I love you on "Project Runway." I hope you can provide some advice so I can "make it work." I'm a 28-year-old male, 5'9" and a little overweight, and most of the clothes I see in men's fashion magazines and store ads do not look good on me. Is there anything I should add to my wardrobe for winter or spring?
Tim Gunn: No matter what size or shape we are, we all face this conundrum, or we should! Fit and proportion are key factors. Try things on and have them tailored if necessary. Avoid a fit that is too big or too small. The former ins the usual culprit. Just be mindful of how you look in certain items and you'll look great.
_______________________
Washington, D.C.:
I love you Tim Gunn!!! I'm constantly amazed at your advice on PR. You seem to always see the broader picture -- before even the designers do. Speaking of the broader picture, how important is the "theme" of a designer's line? Can it be a well-produced line if all the designs are separate and different? In high fashion runways, do the designers always have a theme?
Tim Gunn: Although it's not necessary for a designer's line to have a theme, it does need to be cohesive. The customer wants to be able to mix and match within the line, so if the items are too disparate, that can't happen.
_______________________
Aberdeen, S.D.:
Tim, I'm very interested in fashion as a career, but as a writer, not a designer. Is it necessary for me to attend a fashion school after college?
Tim Gunn: I'm delighted to learn that you're interested in fashion writing. We need more good writers! It's not at all necessary that you attend school for fashion, but do make certain that you learn about the process of creating and developing fashion. Good luck.
_______________________
Tim Gunn: Thank you, everyone! This has been great fun for me. I hope it's been useful and a little informative for you.
I hope to be back, again, sometime soon.
Carry on!
Tim
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Editor's Note: washingtonpost.com moderators retain editorial control over Live Online discussions and choose the most relevant questions for guests and hosts; guests and hosts can decline to answer questions. washingtonpost.com is not responsible for any content posted by third parties.

Fox News

Battlestar Galactica

Battlestar Galactica is on the cover of Entertainment Weekly this week! Finally! For a magazine that always gave props to The X-Files when it really was a cult show and not that many people were watching it AND it was the best show on TV-well, I kept wondering why they would occasionally mention it, but never give it the kudos it deserved. people-this IS the best show on TV right now. You will not find a show on TV that will cover politics, religion, life, death, courage, loyalty and selflessness (and often in the same episode). This show will have you questioning what it means to be human-and which is better, human or Cylon? The Cylons don't kill each argue-they all get along and want the same thing. But is that good or bad? The humans fight each other, beleive in different gods and don't really respect what other people believe-but they will fight to the death to survive-even in the face of odds so bad that you can't think about them, even in the face of a traitor (Baltar, what is wrong with you?) who has no problem selling out the human race for his own selfish reasons, even in the face of having to fight a guerilla war with no weapons, no planes and just a few guns. To watch this show is to question just about everything you think you know about, well, everything. some people are uncomfoatable with that-what if a TV show can make you think differently about war? About religion? About duty and loyalty? That can be scary, having your beliefs challenged and this show does that in almost every single episode.

Season premiere October 6 on Sci-Fi-don't miss the best show on TV-and I haven't even gone into the beauty and depth of all the performances-how do they do that every week?

Hollywood

This is some good gossip from a poll from Radar magazine (I think this is it's 3rd incarnation, but I could be wrong about that)..but the poll is hilarious. Whe knew that people still couldn't get over Mike Ovitz's bullying tactics from the 80's?

http://www.radaronline.com/features/2006/09/hollywood_poll.php

Quote of the Day, Washington edition

This is from Gawker, but it's about Washington, so it counts...

The Nation takes on the Washington Times: "The vast majority of people who read it don't realize that this paper is in bed with bigots and white supremacists." Funny, we thought that the vast majority of people who read it were bigots and white supremacists. [Nation]

Heh heh...exactly...

Today's News

And here's the important news of the day...

As per E!OnLine

Saturday Night Live parting ways with Horatio Sanz, Chris Parnell and Finesse Mitchell, NBC confirmed Wednesday. The 32nd season of the show kicks off Sept. 30, with host Dane Cook, musical guest The Killers and...whoever else is left.

I thought this was amazing...

Sky News is reporting Top Gear's Richard Hammond was:
"...reportedly driving a jet-powered Vampire car when it overturned. Mr Hammond was said to have been reaching speeds of up to 280mph as the accident happened."
The Vampire, sponsored by the Swedish company Thule, weighs 2,200 lbs, is 30 feet long and drinks 7-10 gallons of fuel per mile (depending on the speed). The jet-car accelerates from 0 to 272 mph in six seconds and is powered by a Rolls Royce Orpheus jet engine and is theoretically capable of 370mph. The Vampire holds the "Outright British Land Speed Record" with a blistering fast 300.3mph. Sky News continues with some first hand accounts of the accident after the jump.
"Firefighter Dave Ogden, who witnessed the crash, told Sky News that the 36-year-old presenter was able to speak as he was taken out of the wreckage of the car.
Inspector Mike Thompson, of North Yorkshire Police, said officers were dealing with the incident at the airfield northeast of York where the filming was taking place.
He said: "At 5.45pm this evening we received a report via the fire service of a male person trapped in what was described as an overturned jet car which had been driven on the airfield.
"The male occupant has received serious injuries and has been airlifted to hospital at Leeds."

And this was hilarious...

Lessons in keeping the missus busy, from the LA Times, Monday, September 18:
[Rupert Murdoch's wife Wendi] Deng's effect on Murdoch also should not be underestimated. After News Corp. purchased DirecTV in 2003, Deng, who is of Chinese descent, hired feng shui experts to rid the El Segundo headquarters of bad vibes. Murdoch had installed a new president, but the feng shui experts considered his office overlooking the ocean and the mountains unlucky, given his date of birth. So he was moved to an office with a view of a parking garage and a sewage treatment plant. The chief financial officer was forced to give up an office with an adjoining bathroom because the feng shui experts concluded that DirecTV's profit, which had been negligible, was being sucked down the toilet.
From the Financial Times, today:
"We have to make MySpace a very Chinese site," Mr Murdoch said at a media conference organised by Goldman Sachs. "I have sent my wife across there because she understands the language."
News Corp. Plans MySpace In China [FT]

That's all for now!

Dick Francis

I said I read other genres besides science fiction, and mysteries is one of them. Dick Francis is a master of the genre-and one of my favorite writers of mysteries of all time. I first started reading his books in the 70's, when I was forced to, because it seemed there was nothing else to read in the house at the time. It was the summer, I was in middle school and staying up late every night-watching TV and reading-I had read my favorite books and hadn't gone to the bookstore or the library...what to do? I had avoided Francis because the whole idea of mysteries set in the world of horse racing just turned me off. Why would I want to read those? And despite urgings from my sister and my Mom, I avoided them until that summer. I read one out of sheer desperation and...well, let's say I devoured every single one I could find and then forced a relative to take me to either the store or the library (probably the library because I don't think I had enough money for a book-comic books, yes but not paperbacks), in order to get the ones we didn't have. I have to laugh because my brother did the same thing when I talked him into reading Francis the next year-he did not want to read them (and endorsement from our Mother and sister was not a selling point for him), but I talked him into it and I like to think he's trusted me (sort of) ever since. And my sister's recommendations aren't THAT bad (I don't trust my Mom-anyone who tries to get me to read some of the stuff she read really doesn't know my taste. I'll take her word on non-fiction and that's it). But my sister pressed Michael Connelly on me-another author whose books I had to read all of once I read one-so her taste isn't bad-she just can't seem to read anything but mysteries and I can't limit myself to that. But Francis's books are great-tightly plotted and suspenseful with memorable villains and heroes-they're great. Not all of them are set in the horse racing world (which Francis knows well, due to winning many races as a jockey himself), there are several set in many different worlds-the last one had glass blowing play a major part. But the books set in the horse world are wonderful and really showcase his talent for not only getting into the heads of the protagonists, but the villains as well. I heard he said that he wasn't going to write any more after his wife of many years died, as she was the one who did a lot of research for him, so I was really happy to see this new book, especially as it features Sid Halley, a jockey turned sleuth featured in one Francis's best books, Whip Hand.
Go on-pick one up...you won't be sorry. And read a Michael Connelly book with Harry Bosch in it while you're at it.

No, I don't have any to lend you except for this latest one, sorry...go ask my Mom-I think she's kept them all.

Project Runway

I just have to say how happy I am the Laura won the last challenge (and her dress WAS cute). I liked Kayne but like Nina Garcia, I wondered about the taste level. He made some beautiful dresses but he didn't deserve to be with the rest. And bringing back Angela and Vincent? Oh please! At least they proved that they deserved to be aufed because I hated both their outfits-although if the skirt on Vincent's dress had been longer, it would have been nice. And what was Jeffrey thinking? Who would wear that poufy top, short skirt and leggings to a cocktail party? Granted, I live in a conservative city, but it was too much. And as usual, Michael's dress was really nice-looked great and the presentation was impeccable. He, Laura and Jeffrey will be the final three as Uli keeps making the same dress dress-her only exception was the couture challenge dress (and it was lovely) and then she regressed.

We'll see what happens....

Charles Stross with a Bit of Neal Stephenson Who Deserves His Own Post

So, I read Singularity Sky by Charles Stross over the weekend. If you don't like science fiction, you should stop reading here, but it was a great book. I like Stross a lot-The Atrocity Archive was really good, a mixture of the occult, science and maybe some alternate universe stuff thrown in-I spent much of it wondering if Stross had read Cryptonomicron by Neal Stephenson (another great book). I had to laugh when I read the Afterword, in which he says most of his friends asked him the same thing, but in fact, he had not and did not read it until he had finished writing The Atrocity Archive. Singularity Sky is not as light-hearted as Atrocity (as light-hearted as a book can be in dealing with evil demons killing everyone in sight and an alternate universe being trying to take over this world) but it showcases Stross's strength-which is that he makes you think. My friend Yayha (and he and my friend Dave both gave me this book) said that he likes Stross because he writes about ideas and I have to agree with him. There aren't many writers out there who have an actual idea, which to me is different than an alternate universe plot. An alternate universe merely poses "what if" and goes from there. The characters have to grow and adjust and the plot is usually about that-characters dealing with the adjustment. But Stross has an idea-and the characters don't just have to adjust, they have to think-and you have to think too. You can read Stross's books purely for enjoyment-they are well written and he has a slightly twisted sense of humor which can be pretty funny-but you'd be missing the point.
In Singularity Sky, a "singularity" has taken people from all over Earth and deposited them on other planets, where they have to fend for themselves. The Eschaton is the being that did this and it is not God, but it's not too happy about how one planet in particular has turned into a totalitarian regime, keeping the peasants in their places and saying "no" to most technology because it would help the peasants. So what happens when the being called Festival shows up and starts giving the peasants all they want? The results are sad and frightening-and it makes you think about what happens when those who have nothing are given the opportunity for everything. Do they want to be young? Do they want personal augmentation? Tremendous houses and the chance to destroy their oppressors? They want all that and more, so much so that a local enemy decides they must implement Causality Violation, thereby circumventing the rules of space and time. Again, you can view this as an adventure, which it is, but think about a society that needs to keep it's own people down so much that they are willing to commit this act, which if they aren't careful will bring total destruction on them-and they come pretty close to it. And there are several funny/sad/odd bits scattered throughout-the Nobleman who wants to be young again and turns into an eight year old boy-and wants some friends to share his adventures. He gets a rabbit the same size he is, a hegehog, a raven and he is terrified all the time-this changed world is no place for a small boy. Or the Critics whose purpose seems to be to show the people that they are unthinking idiots (which they are) but they way they go about it and how they view the humans (as unconscious zombies)...there are several different layers to this book and each one is interesting and thought-provoking. There's a sequel called Iron Sunrise and I'm looking forward to it-there's also a sequel to The Atrocity Archive called The Jennifer File and I'm looking forward to that as well.

I hate what you're wearing

This may have to become a regular post here, because every day I see someone wearing something that could be really nice and then they destroy it with something bizarre and hideous. Last week it was a woman wearing a lovely gray tweed suit and a nice black coat over it-nice shoes as well. And she was also wearing a white silk scarf that was so long it swept the ground-and she only had it slung around her neck, not in an elaboate knot or anything-it was bizarre and asking for trouble if she tripped on it or got it caught in just about anything. And today I saw a woman wearing a nice two-piece skirt ensemble. The colors were fall-dark purple, a trace of black, a trace of white. It was drapey and swingy-it was nice. Until I looked down and saw that she was wearing white stockings and white wedge pumps with it-it was painful to look at. I keep saying that women in Washington are getting better dressed and realizing that you CAN be well dressed and smart and people just keep shooting that down-the getting better dressed part, anyway.

Chuck Klosterman

When my friend Lindsey recommended this book to me (okay, she pressed it on me and said I had to read it because I was one of the three people she knew who would actually get it), I was skeptical. First, anyone who is called "voice of his generation" usually strikes me as pretentious as hell (Bret Easton Ellis, anyone?). Secondly, the guy works for Spin and I always thought Spin was for people who weren't good enough to get jobs at Rolling Stone. And finally, in this book, he's going on a road trip to look at sites where musicians died-either by their own hand or otherwise-and he brought 600 CDs with him. At my best, I could never match this guy for musical passion-although his usual gig IS writing about music. Also, he's about 10 years younger than I am, so I really wasn't sure I wanted to hear about his lazy-ass slacker generation.

Fine. I was wrong. Every time I thought he was unbearably pretentious (all those CDs! The purpose of the trip! He loves KISS!) he wrote something that forced me rethink my position. His discussion about Kafka with the 19-year old waitress at Cracker Barrel is amazing-do we dream the way we dream because of books, movies and television? Have they changed our perspective? How would things be different if we didn't have television and how has it changed our perpective on time in our dreams? She may not have known who the Allman Brothers were, but she knew Kafkaesque better than he did. And there were parts that were not only insightful but laugh out loud funny-the differences between pot people and coke people (the pot people go to unpopular bars, drink Miller High Life and go home to get high about the time the coke people go out to their semi-gay dance bars and try to meet members of Interpol in hopes of getting better coke and doing it in better bathrooms). And just when I thought this book was entertaining and funny-it actually made me think about why people like to do coke, which is not something I've ever really cared about-his line that coke "makes you more popular but less likable" was on target. His depiction of "every conversation I've ever had every time I've ever gone to Los Angeles for any reason whatsoever" gave voice to why I really don't like LA and made me laugh as well. But what really made me think was the description of his relationships with the women in his life. Is he in love with them? Are they in love with him? Does his loving them make him less loveable to them? Can it get worse? I know complicated lives and his was complicated, even to me. And the part about how people fall in love with the idea of the person and after having conversations in our head with them that are in no way real so the person can't live up to what you want because they aren't that person really hit home.
He was really very insightful in many ways (don't miss the part about Christian movies and how they have a completely different perspective on life and how you may need to die to save your friends) and that surprised me-I don't know why, but it did.

So, I liked it. Go read it, it won't take long....

Fashion and Politics

Robin Givhan, the Washington Post's Fashion reporter had a great article today about fashion, men, women and politics-it was great.

Here's a link.

http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/content/article/2006/09/07/AR2006090701485.html

The Third Man and The Illusionist

I watched two good movies over the weekend-and oddly enough, both were set in Vienna, albeit about 50 years apart. The first was The Illusionist. I don't know why I wanted to see it-I like Edward Norton but I'm not a huge fan of his and the same goes for Paul Giamatti ( I swear I'm one of the few people who was less than thrilled with Sideways). Jessica Biel is on some show I would never watch and Rufus Sewell gives me the wig. And it looked to be some sort of romance in turn-of-the century Vienna and that is the sort of movie I usually give a very wide berth to-I think they're hard to do well and I usually find them sort of silly-and yet I wanted to see this movie. I have to say it was worth it-Edward Norton was mesmerizing-I couldn't take my eyes off of him. He's not great-looking and doesn't have a very prepossing demeanor but he was fascinating to watch. He plays the illusionist of the title, who falls in love as a young man with an equally young Duchess-who is forcibly separated from him. They meet again several years later-do they fall in love? Does her creepy fiance (Sewell, giving me the wig again) kill her? Is Edward Norton really summoning her spirit or is it all a trick? Will Paul Giamatti figure the whole thing out? I didn't think the plot was too hard to figure out, if you're paying attention-whenever I see a movie like this, I keep hearing Deep Throat say "follow the money"-meaning that if you pay attention to what's important the ending will not be a surprise-but it was worth the trip to get there.

I also saw The Third Man-set in Vienna shortly after the end of WWII. The city is in ruins and Hollie Martins, writer of westerns, has come to visit his old friend, Harry Lime, who has offered him a job. But Harry has died in a car accident and nobody is looking into it too closely except for Hollie, who

A) Doesn't have anything else to do and is baffled as to why no one really cares about his friend. Joseph Cotten, an actor I usually don't care for, does a great job of playing the befuddled American who can't speak any of the languages and is lost on the European Continent and

B) the British police (Vienna at this time was divided into sectors, British, American, Russian, French) who are VERY interested in Harry Lime and in what his friend Hollie Martins is doing in Vienna.

Hollie meets several of Harry's friends (and they are a motley crew) and business associates, along with Harry's girlfriend. He also has several run-ins with various refugees around Vienna-usually asking for money or needing a place to sleep-and in true noir fashion, these encounters are filmed from Hollie's point of view-meaning that if they speak a language other than English, he has no idea what anyone is saying-and neither does the audience. As Hollie finds out more and more about Harry, the less and less he likes him. And when he finds out why the police are so interested (Harry had an intern at a local hospital stealing penicillin, Harry would dilutes it and sell it on the black market with awful results) he is extremely unhappy. But Harry is dead, isn't he? Hollie is leaving Harry's girlfriend's apartment when he happens to look at a darkened doorway, which is then briefly illuminated by the opening of a shutter, high up across the street. This is one of the best scenes in the movie-the brief cut to the doorway, the shutter opening and the cut back to doorway with the light slanting on Orson Welles' face-for it is he who the elusive Harry Lime. He stands there for a few seconds, smiling/smirking at Hollie-and then he's gone. Was it really him? They dig up his grave to find the intern in it, so it seems Harry is very much alive and the manhunt is on. Will Hollie betray his friend and help the police? Will he help his friend and tell him the police are after him? He actually does both (along with falling for Harry's girl) after an excruciating, tension-filled chase in the Vienna sewers. This scene may have been shot in 1949, but it's more exciting than just about any action movie done in the past few years.
I don't want to give awy the ending, let's just say that it was perfect for this movie-beautiful and ambiguous.