Jacobs Wally's blog: "I love life"

“It made me like McCain a little more,” said Judith France, 62, of Thornville, Ohio. “They always say he was a maverick, and this made me think, well, he really is. He went all the way to Alaska — there aren’t that many people up there, they don’t have that many electoral votes — and he picked this person. I know people will say she’s inexperienced. But she’s been a governor for 20 months. That’s more experience than Obama has.” Ms. France-Kremin, 36, who lives nearby in Dublin, an affluent suburb of Columbus, likewise has qualms about the seasoning of Mr. Obama, a first-term United States senator after eight years as a state senator. But she also strongly favors abortion rights, and Ms. Palin — more prominently than Mr. McCain — does not. “That sealed my decision,” said Ms. France-Kremin, who added that she would no longer consider voting for Mr. McCain. At offices, plant floors, stores and parks across America, voters who had barely started hashing over Mr. Obama’s acceptance speech Thursday night at the Democrats’ convention were beginning a new national conversation about Mr. McCain’s unexpected decision to put the first woman on a major party national ticket since Geraldine A. Ferraro was the Democratic vice-presidential choice of Walter F. Mondale in 1984. The choice is playing out in complicated ways, judging from interviews with dozens of women nationwide. Some, particularly women leaning toward a Republican ticket or who share Ms. Palin’s staunch anti-abortion views, see it as a winning choice that they can happily embrace. But others, particularly the undecided women Mr. McCain is trying to reach, say this is the wrong woman, lacking experience and on the wrong side of the issues, like abortion, the Iraq war and the environment, that matter most to them. Some Clinton stalwarts took offense, saying they felt as if Mr. McCain had decided that, for women disappointed that they could not vote for Mrs. Clinton, any woman would do. “It’s an insult,” said Jan Roller, a Clinton delegate from Cleveland, as she arrived home from the convention. “You have to be qualified for the job.” Darlene Pace, a 65-year-old corporate accountant and independent voter from southeastern Pennsylvania — which, like Ohio, is an election battleground — voted for Mrs. Clinton in the Democratic primary last April. Weeks ago, Mrs. Pace told a caller for a New York Times/CBS News poll that she was undecided about whether to vote for Mr. Obama or Mr. McCain. It would depend on their vice-presidential picks, she said then. “So I was very disappointed” to learn of Mr. McCain’s choice, Mrs. Pace said Friday, hours after the selection of Ms. Palin was announced. “No one in my office has any idea about her, and the only comment I’m hearing, which is not good, is that ‘she’s a woman and that’s why she was picked.’?” Still, while Mrs. Pace says she now leans toward Mr. Obama, she is withholding judgment until she has watched the Republican convention this week. But some Republican-leaning women immediately showed new enthusiasm for a Republican ticket that badly needed it, given the energy of Obama supporters. Shopping at a suburban mall in Michigan on Friday, Cathy Gates, 40, a registered Republican and a mother of two who calls herself a “football mom,” said that the Palin pick was “a big risk” but that it “makes me feel a little better” about voting for Mr. McCain. “She does appeal to me,” Ms. Gates said. “You would feel she has the same values as you. Having a child with Down syndrome, and being the governor, and she calls herself a hockey mom. I was impressed. She’s very pretty and seems very smart. I hope it works out.” Some Democratic-leaning women, as well, welcomed Mr. McCain’s barrier-breaking choice as some consolation after their dashed hopes of having a woman at the top of the ticket. “I wish the Democratic Party had the courage” to pick a woman, said Kimberly Myers, a retired transit worker in Pittsburgh who supported Mrs. Clinton in Pennsylvania’s primary and said she now planned to vote for Mr. McCain. Ms. Myers said she also saw a bonus in the choice of Ms. Palin: “The fact that she’s a working mom will send a message to America that you don’t have to choose children over career.” But many saw her as intrinsically unfit, an obscure governor from the faraway 49th state, with no national standing and no experience on the foreign stage. referrence:www.sterlingtiffany.com

That Census report gives a snapshot of the economic status of American families in 2007 — that is, before the financial crisis started dragging the economy down and the unemployment rate up. It’s a given that 2008 will look much worse, so last year was as good as it will get in the Bush years. Yet working-age Americans had significantly lower median income in 2007 than they did in 2000. (The elderly, whose income is supported by Social Security — the program the Bush administration tried to kill — saw modest gains.) Meanwhile, poverty was up, and health insurance — especially the employment-based insurance on which most middle-class Americans depend — was down. But Republicans, very much including John McCain and his advisers, don’t believe there’s a problem. Former Senator Phil Gramm made headlines, and stepped down as co-chairman of the McCain campaign, after he described America as a “nation of whiners.” But how different was that remark, really, from Mr. McCain’s own declaration that “there’s been great progress economically” — progress that’s mysteriously invisible in the actual data — during the Bush years? And Mr. Gramm, by all accounts, remains a key economic adviser to Mr. McCain. Last week John Goodman, an influential figure in Republican health care circles, explained that we shouldn’t worry about the growing number of Americans without health insurance, because there’s no such thing as being uninsured. After all, you can always get treatment at an emergency room. And Mr. Goodman — he’s the president of the National Center for Policy Analysis, an important conservative think tank, and is often described as the “father of health savings accounts,” a central feature of the Bush administration’s health policy — wants the next president to issue an executive order prohibiting the Census Bureau from classifying anyone as uninsured. “Voilà!” he says. “Problem solved.” The truth, of course, is that visiting the emergency room in a medical crisis is no substitute for regular care. Furthermore, while a hospital will treat you whether or not you can pay, it will also bill you — and the bill won’t be waived unless you’re destitute. As a result, uninsured working Americans avoid visiting emergency rooms if at all possible, because they’re terrified by the potential cost: medical expenses are one of the prime causes of personal bankruptcy. Mr. Goodman has in the past, including in an op-ed for The Wall Street Journal, described himself as an adviser to the McCain campaign on health policy. The campaign now claims that he is not, in fact, an adviser. But it’s a good bet that Mr. McCain’s inner circle shares Mr. Goodman’s views. You see, Mr. Goodman’s assertion that lack of health insurance is no problem precisely echoed what President Bush said a year ago: “I mean, people have access to health care in America. After all, you just go to an emergency room.” That’s because both men — like Mr. Gramm — were just saying in public what modern Republicans say when they talk to each other. Despite attempts to feign sympathy, the leaders of today’s G.O.P. fundamentally feel that Americans complaining about their economic and health care difficulties are, well, just a bunch of whiners. And that, ultimately, even more than their policy proposals, is what defines the difference between the parties. It’s true that elected Democrats are often too cautious — and too beholden to major donors — to be as progressive as the party’s activists would like. But even in the face of a Republican Congress, Mr. Clinton succeeded in pushing forward policies, like the State Children’s Health Insurance Program, that did a lot to help working families. And what one sees on the other side is a total lack of empathy for and understanding of the problems working Americans face. Mr. Clinton, famously, felt our pain. Republicans, manifestly, don’t. And it’s hard to fix a problem if you don’t even think it exists. referrence:www.sterlingtiffany.com

Studying autumn's looks requires learning - or re-learning - some fashion terms; many of which happen to begin with a P. Parure: a jewellery set comprised of a matching necklace and cuffs - the perfect thing to spark up a plain dress or top. But never with earrings. Pointy stilettos: these are what make curvy dresses look new. And they're an elegant step away from the recent stompin' orthopaedics. Pencil skirts: a critical drop in the hemline to two inches below the knee has taken place; a crucial difference to last year's thigh-flashing skirts and dresses. You can wear boots with this look, but the pointy shoe tweaks the hip-hugging narrow skirt (perhaps part of a dress) to a stunningly sexy Fifties silhouette. Peacoats: these double-breasted jackets are timeless, transitional pieces to wear through the seasons. They complement the new, long-line dresses and wide or skinny trousers, and they do casual with jeans. Peg-tops: these pleat-front trousers are at their most extreme in the Eighties', banana-shaped versions. In others, they are simple slouch pants. Peplum: a panel that juts out at the hip on a nipped-waist jacket or dress. The doublet-like detail of the jacket is part of the cool goth sub-theme; on a dress, it becomes a minimal "pannier" (a side hoop). Reference: www.sterlingtiffany.com

1 The fresh-water swim There is nothing more invigorating than plunging into fresh water. Kate Rew, the founder of the Outdoor Swimming Society and author of Wild Swim: The Best Places to Swim Outdoors in Britain, says, 'Swimming outside makes people feel childlike - in a good way. It puts you right in the present and you somehow emerge without any worries.' The OSS runs technique clinics throughout the year and fun (if freezing) events like its 'December dip'. Why not jump in and join them? The water's lovely… 2 The delivered-to-your-door diet We all know the theory of how to drop the pounds, but the practice can be tricky. No excuses when you get all your meals, plus two snacks, delivered to your door daily. Quite how you can enjoy treats such as chocolate mousse (alongside main courses like Goan coconut chicken) and still only be on 1,300 calories - our tester's daily calorie allowance - is anyone's guess. But you feel full and stand to lose up to 2lbs a week. 3 The wardrobe rehaul A personal stylist is not just for celebrities - post-baby mums and older women who feel they've lost the knack of dressing stylishly have benefited from the sage advice of Noni Ware. A former shopping editor at Harpers Bazaar, she edits your wardrobe in a friendly, non-judgemental way - uncannily sussing the outfits you feel great in and slinging those that are past it. Then she scours London for the replacements, getting you to try styles or shops you would never have thought of. She sticks to your budget and regular customers can be text-messaged when she spots just the right thing. 4 The haute-couture facial You might have to fight off film stars to get an appointment with Linda Meredith, but gosh it is worth it. The approach is holistic but hard-core: your complexion will be visibly clearer, your skin plumped and lifted. Prepare yourself for showers of compliments. 5 The body-sculpting class Claudia Schiffer takes Tenpilates classes, which made us keen to try them, too. The Australian physiotherapist David Higgins opened the first Tenpilates studio in London last year, and it's staffed exclusively by physio and sports-science graduates. They teach Higgins' high-intensity version of pilates, especially tailored to the female body, so you get rapid weight-loss and vastly improved muscle tone and flexibility. Best of all, though, you leave feeling happy and energised. Reference: www.sterlingtiffany.com

When eye make-up needs to be dramatic and glamorous, a liquid eyeliner that is colour-intensive, gives good coverage and clings well is essential. But because its application demands some practice, many women shy away from it. But have no fear! The new liquid eyeliner, Glide & Define, from Max Factor makes short work of those well known problems once and for all. There’s no longer a brush that can splay or even drip! That’s because Glide & Define’s new felt applicator stays perfectly in shape and guarantees a precisely drawn, even lid line from the first to the last application. Every look is possible from the more classic look of Audrey Hepburn in “Breakfast at Tiffany’s”, to Marilyn Monroe’s seductive pin-up look, right through to the trashy Amy Winehouse look. Those who are used to a more expressive lid line can intensify the look through repeated applications. It’s best for beginners to first try with a single, discreet eyelid line Reference: www.sterlingtifffany.com

1. Opt for a monochromatic outfit. 2. Add contrast color or texture with a blazer, cardigan or overshirt. 3. Leave the blazer or cardigan unbuttoned for maximum vertical lines. 4. Any stripes on the garment should be vertical. 5. Choose scarves tied loosely with long, vertical dangling ends. 6. Match pantyhose hue to skirt or pant and shoe color. 7. Avoid big belts, which can cut you in half visually. 8. Use long necklaces or pendants and avoid chokers. 9. Wear skirts that are longer than they are wide. 10. Choose shoes with at least an inch heel: the taller the better. 11. Elongate the neck with V-necks. Tips: 1. Monochromatic doesn't have to mean boring. Mix textures to keep the look interesting (i.e. knits with leather) 2. If you are petite (5'3" or under) make sure you scale everything down : smaller prints, pockets, etc. so they don't overpower your figure. 3. Don't make the mistake of going for all long pieces. Go for contrasting proportions. Mix a longer jacket with a shorter skirt, shorter jacket with pants, etc. Reference: www.sterlingtiffany.com 1.

It was the Geeks vs. the Freaks Thursday night at Vanity Fair’s party at the Democratic National Convention. The Freaks at the Exdo Event Center? The Vanity Fair Hollywood types, from Susan Sarandon and Matthew Modine to “Devil Wears Prada” star Anne Hathaway, who was getting intense attention from Maroon 5 front man Adam Levine. Hathaway is only recently single after breaking up with her indicted boyfriend Raffaello Follieri, accused of committing fraud on a number of counts concerning his alleged spending of other people’s money. Levine, who’s cut a wide swath through female celebdom after two hit albums, may be just the medicine to help the “Princess Diaries” star forget her “court”-ship. The party, which looked like a Vanity Fair event in its glossy elegance, also addressed the Geek squad. For the first time in the mag’s history, the hosts featured a video room where guests played Nintendo Wii. There was also — gasp! — a karaoke area where the game "Guitar Hero" blared classic-rock hits. Almost needless to say, the Hollywood crowd didn’t participate in those events. Most of them, including Gloria Reuben of “ER” fame and Alan Cumming of “Cabaret,” stuck close to a small bar oasis in one of the many little private rooms. The video game participants tended to be pale, thin, "Napoleon Dynamite" types who looked like the heaviest weights they’d ever lifted were not those at a private gym but the kind you’d find in a long row of computer processors. Hathaway told, by the way, that she was nervous that a quote of hers this week wasn’t received the way she intended. I thought it was kind of brilliant. She said she was initially “afraid” of Barack Obama, but eventually came to admire him and want him to be president. The “fear" was because she’d felt burned in the past by politicians she’d liked. Reference: www.sterlingtiffany.com

Designers are saying that more is more, but it's easier said than done. Here's how to add a bit of glitz without overdosing on the trend. 1. Start by incorporating small embellished items, such as a handbag, into your wardrobe. 2. Make sure the embellishment is scaled to your figure: paillettes or huge sequins may overwhelm petite figures. 3. Large, intricate jewelry looks best with streamlined, simple clothing. 4. In general, embellishment such as sequins, embroidery, trims and studs look classier on basic colors like black or white. 5. Make sure embellishment is used on or near a body part you want to call attention to: it draws the eye to it. 6. For maximum impact, wear just one embellished item at a time. Tips: 1. Like most things in fashion, this is a fad. If you hate it, skip it. 2. Embellished items look dressier than plain ones, so save them for special occasions. 3. Embellishment makes items more difficult to care for -- beaded fringe fall off, embroidery gets pulls, etc. -- so account for high maintenance. Reference: www.sterlingtiffany.com

My husband of 27 years and I are divorcing; he left me for a woman young enough to be our daughter. He is bringing her to our beach club, where he gropes and fondles her like an adolescent. It’s disgusting and humiliating for our children and me. I asked him to take his tramp elsewhere, but he refused. What should I do? G. F., Manhattan You mean before or after you take him to the cleaners? Sometimes people go off the rails. How else can we explain your husband’s terrible behavior — or John Edwards’s recently disclosed dalliance, or his hair for that matter? And when they do go off track, I say: Stand back! Since your husband could take his girlfriend to any number of places, his behavior seems intended to humiliate you, or impress those other codgers at the club who fantasize about robbing the cradle themselves. The more you protest, the creepier his behavior will probably become. I would steer clear of the club until your divorce comes through. Unless there are extenuating circumstances that you haven’t mentioned — a prenup maybe, or an attempt to murder your husband in his sleep — I’m assuming the club membership, as well as the house and most of the larger bank accounts, will soon be yours anyway. He’s a Teenage Texter My 13-year-old son has just started going out with girls. I think he comes on too strong. First he’ll call, then text, then call again to see if she’s gotten the text. I suspect the girls find all this communication annoying, but my son doesn’t seem to take the hint. When one stops responding, he just moves on to the next girl. I’d like to tell him to take it slower, but my wife thinks we should stay out of it. What do you think? A. B., Manhattan The innocence of your question makes me suspect you’ve not yet had the pleasure of watching your flesh-and-blood storm up the stairs, screaming, “I hate you!” at the top of his lungs, then slamming the bedroom door behind him. Part of me thinks you should speak with your son about phone etiquette — the same way you taught him to shake hands when introduced. But the 13-year-old boy in me keeps rising up to remind me that this isn’t really about the telephone. It’s about your son’s burgeoning romantic life. I would stay out of it — unless you really liked “Portnoy’s Complaint.” Nothing you say will overcome your son’s strong impulse to reach out (again and again) to the object of his affection. He’ll keep calling and texting until his pride grows as wounded as his ardor is bold — which could take several years, a number of girls and a calming of the hormonal waters. Interference by you will only make you a handy target for his rage. If you simply must weigh in, I would incorporate a story of your own excessive behavior in the throes of adolescence. It might be good for bonding. And a pith helmet couldn’t hurt. LOL! :) In the last few years, I’ve received e-mail messages from a new friend or someone I’ve begun dating, and noticed their reliance on the dreaded emoticon, with its winks and happy faces. I find this a terrible turnoff. How do I politely tell someone to respect my literacy?L. K. Oh, smarty pants! Unless your initials stand for “Lil’ Kim” — out of prison and clearly able to take care of herself — the world is about 10 times more likely to knock you down than it is to wink at you. So can you try to appreciate the sentiment behind those moronic smiley faces? Emoticons can be annoying — as are lame acronyms (LOL!) and alphanumeric combinations (gr8!). But your friends are trying to humanize their chilly computer screens and cellphones, where we do so much of our writing these days. They’re also a little lazy and probably underestimating your ability to interpret written English. No need to say anything. Just steer clear of the winks and crudely drawn facial expressions yourself. After a few volleys, when they see they’re the only ones playing, they’ll probably dial it back. If not, how would you feel about inventing your own emoticon — perhaps a smirking face spitting in disgust? Belching Boss My boss frequently belches and sneezes on my desk without covering her mouth or using a tissue. I don’t say a word. What can I say to make it stop? Anonymous “Pass the Purell, please!” Before you say anything to your boss, be sure she can take constructive criticism. If so, toss her a Kleenex the next time she sneezes on you, and let her know she is welcome to use them. The belching should stop, as well. If not, buy yourself a box of Surgigloves until you find yourself another gig. referrence:www.sterlingtiffany.com

Jack A. Weil, a garter salesman, breezed into Denver in 1928 in a new Chrysler Roadster to start a new life. He exceeded his hopes and became a king of cowboy couture — almost certainly the first to put snaps on Western shirts (17 on a shirt), and most likely the first to produce bolo ties commercially. His Rockmount Ranch Wear Mfg. Company has sold millions of shirts, including at least one shipment to Antarctica, since it started in 1946. Clark Gable wore one in “The Misfits” with Marilyn Monroe, and Heath Ledger’s shirt in “Brokeback Mountain” — plaid fabric, diamond snaps and saw-tooth pockets — was Style No. 69-39. Until Wednesday, when he died at 107 in Denver, Mr. Weil was still chief executive of the company he founded and, until just before his death, came to work daily. He was regularly called the oldest chief executive still working. Known as Papa Jack, Mr. Weil said he owed his longevity to quitting smoking at 60 (after starting at 40), drinking at 90 and eating red meat at 100. He did have a medicinal shot of Jack Daniels twice a week . In announcing the death, his grandson, Steve Weil, Rockmount’s president, said Mr. Weil was to Western shirts what Henry Ford was to cars, and, indeed, the global spread of cowboy style owes much to him. The shirt — tailored close to the body, with “yokes” that seem to broaden the shoulders of cowpokes and city slickers alike and often with distinctive “smile” pockets — offers more than snaps. But snaps matter, not least to cowboys who are not handy at sewing. They break loose easily if the shirt is caught on a hostile horn. (They also offer a dramatic way to bare one’s chest, but that might be another story.) Jack Arnold Weil was born on March 28, 1901, in Evansville, Ind., where his father, Abraham, had come to avoid being impressed into the Prussian army in the Franco-Prussian War. Jack and his brother, Edgar, delivered newspapers, outdoing other youths by using a horse and buggy, not bicycles. In World War I, young Jack inspected dungarees for shipment to the Navy. Mr. Weil took a job selling garters and suspenders, first in the Midwest, then in a territory sprawling from El Paso to Canada. He fell instantly in love with the Rocky Mountains and moved to Denver, where he put up a new-fangled neon sign that flashed “Garters.” He joined Phillip Miller in a company that later became Miller Stockman, another celebrated brand of Western clothes. It was called the Stockman Farmer Supply Company. “The first thing I did was get rid of the farmer,” Mr. Weil told Denver Westward in 2001. For the rest of his life, he sold the romance of the cowboy. Mr. Weil was a crafty promoter. In Cheyenne, Wyo., he persuaded the Chamber of Commerce that it would be a great idea for everybody to dress Western for the Frontier Days rodeo; fines for failing to do so went to charity. Of course, Mr. Weil gave a deal on the clothes. In 1946, Mr. Weil formed Rockmount, an abbreviation of Rocky Mountains. With the metal shortages of World War II over, he made diamond-shaped metal snaps, often with mother-of-pearl covers, the basis for his new business. Before long, Rockmount was selling Western fashion from belts to blouses. Various accounts say Mr. Weil either invented the modern bolo tie (a necktie made of cord with a decorative slide), or named it. Both assertions are questionable. But Rockmount’s claims to have been the leader in mass-producing them seem widely accepted. Mr. Weil still had his shirts made in America long after his competitors moved overseas; he also refused to favor big chains like Wal-Mart over his traditional customers. “I never wanted to be the richest man in the cemetery,” he said. His wife of 64 years, the former Beatrice Baum, died in 1990, and their son, Jack B., died this January. Mr. Weil is survived by his daughter, Jane Romberg, of Steamboat Springs, Colo.; five grandchildren; and 10 great-grandchildren. Mr. Weil was a creature of habit, driving an old Dodge. But he could not understand why people would collect old Western shirts. He was aghast when his grandson Steve excitedly called to say he had found an original Rockmount shirt and that the dealer had accepted two new shirts for it. “What?” Jack exclaimed. “You traded two perfectly good new shirts for an old one we sold for three dollars 40 years ago?” referrence:www.sterlingtiffany.com