Esquire

Despite my recent lack of blog posting, I have actually been writing letters to the editor. These are some I’ve sent out lately …

In response to the Time Magazine 100 Most Influential People issue, and THIS article in particular, I wrote:

Dear Editor:

I am fascinated by Nicholas Christakis, one of your picks for the Time 100. If his observation is correct, that happiness or despair can spread from person to person, then perhaps more of the world’s resources should be spent keeping Kevin Bacon happy. If he becomes depressed, then it’s curtains for all of us.

What I really wanted to write about was how as influential as many of the Time 100 may be, I, a fairly educated reader, have never heard of most of them … and what are the implications of that. But Joel Stein beat me to it. I love Joel Stein.

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Because I was buying GQ, I felt obligated to buy Esquire as well. The May 2009 issue was all about how to be a man. An XY chromosome combo isn’t enough in their book. My letter was in response to THIS article which recounts all the manly things manly men do.

Dear Editor:

I hope Tom Chiarella realizes that if you replace the word “man” with the word “woman” his article works almost equally well. For example, “A woman looks out for those around her.” “A woman owns up.” “A woman doesn’t point out that she did the dishes.” “A woman has had enough liquor in her life that she can order a drink without sounding breathless.” I’m guessing that with the exception of having kung fu fantasies, Chiarella’s ideal woman has all the qualities of his ideal man, but with more curves and softer skin.

Amen!