Kath sent me an email about this today, and it turns out to be true…click on the sender’s name for her blog.  Do they do this on the packaging here?

An open letter to Procter & Gamble.  PC Magazine’s top letter by email in 2009:

Dear Mr. Thatcher,

I have been a loyal user of your ‘Always’ maxi pads for over 20 years and I appreciate many of their features. Why, without the LeakGuard Core or Dri-Weave absorbency, I’d probably never go horseback riding or salsa dancing, and I’d certainly steer clear of running up and down the beach in tight, white shorts.

But my favorite feature has to be your revolutionary Flexi-Wings. Kudos on being the only company smart enough to realize how crucial it is that maxi pads be aerodynamic I can’t tell you how safe and secure I feel each month knowing there’s a little F-16 in my pants.

Have you ever had a menstrual period, Mr. Thatcher? I’m guessing you haven’t. Well, my time of the month is starting right now.  As I type, I can already feel hormonal forces violently surging through my body. Just a few minutes from now, my body will adjust and I’ll be transformed into what my husband likes to call ‘an inbred hillbilly with knife skills.’

Isn’t the human body amazing?

As Brand Manager in the Feminine-Hygiene Division, you’ve no doubt seen quite a bit of research on what exactly happens during your customer’s monthly visits from ‘Aunt Flo’. Therefore, you must know about the bloating, puffiness, and cramping we endure, and about our intense mood swings, crying jags, and out-of-control behavior. You surely realize it’s a tough time for most women.

The point is, sir, you of all people must realize that  America  is just crawling with homicidal maniacs in Capri pants… Which brings me to the reason for my letter. Last month, while in the throes of cramping so painful I wanted to reach inside my body and yank out my uterus, I opened an Always maxi-pad, and there, printed on the adhesive backing, were these words: ‘Have a Happy Period.’

Are you f—— kidding me? What I mean is, does any part of your tiny middle-manager brain really think happiness – actual smiling, laughing happiness, is possible during a menstrual period? Did anything mentioned above sound the least bit pleasurable? Well, did it, James?  FYI, unless you’re some kind of sick S&M freak, there will never be anything ‘happy’ about a day in which you have to jack yourself up on Motrin and Kahlua and lock yourself in your house just so you don’t march down to the local Walgreen’s armed with a hunting rifle and a sketchy plan to end your life in a blaze of glory.

For the love of God, pull your head out, man! If you have to slap a moronic message on a maxi pad, wouldn’t it make more sense to say something that’s actually pertinent, like ‘Put down the Hammer’ or ‘Vehicular Manslaughter is Wrong’.

Sir, please inform your Accounting Department that, effective immediately, there will be an $8 drop in monthly profits, for I have chosen to take my maxi-pad business elsewhere. And though I will certainly miss your Flex-Wings, I will not for one minute miss your brand of condescending bullsh!t. And that’s a promise I will keep.

Always. . …

Wendi Aarons
Austin,  TX

I love adventuring with Ewan McGregor and Charley Boorman.

They did it first in Long Way Round, where they rode across Europe to the US.  This time, they ride from Scotland to Cape Town.

Two guys on big road bikes riding through Africa.  The pyramids, the dessert, the bush, Central Africa, Savannah Africa.  These boys have a glorious adventure, connecting with Africa as much as possible.

Sleeping in tents, riding on dirt roads, falling over on sandy roads, riding with armed bodyguards through the troubled states.

They have a small support team with them, and it’s essentially a boy’s own adventure, except when Ewan’s wife Eve, joins them for 10 days on her bike.

It’s a fabulous series in so many ways:  seeing bits of Africa; vicariously adventuring through these two; armchair traveling; enjoying the company of Ewan and Charley.  You don’t have to know anything about bikes to enjoy this:  just the spirit of adventure, and a curiosity about the world is required.

They do hive off to go show us what they’re passing: be it gorillas in the Congo, hippo in the Okavango, or the skulls of those massacred during the Rwandan genocide.

It’s fun, charming, informative: don’t miss it.  And yes, I teared up at the end.

It’s on its second run on Nat Geo Adventure at 1.30am Mon to Fri, so set your PVRs. (10 episodes)  Please check the latest schedule before you set your PVR…the info isn’t very clear on the Nat Geo published schedule.

At last, the gorgeous Maggie Q gets her big break.

She’s in the starring role in the new CW network series Nikita.

I don’t know when it’s coming our way, but initial reviews have been good.  (update:  First episode now available on MioTV’s Season Pass)

Maggie looks fab (so that’s at least half the job done), she does her own stunts and holds her own.   Although all the promotional visuals focus on her -- ahem -- hotness, reviews so far have not found the series vapid.

Watching the trailer I’m not so convinced…but let’s hope the series gets given a chance to grow and develop over time and doesn’t get cancelled early.  The best series take 2 or 3 seasons to really flesh out, if they survive past the first cut.  I so hope it has good writers and a strong cast.

It’s an action-spy-girl adventure series, sometimes likened to Alias.  Plus of course, lots of opportunity to showcase Maggie’s killer looks.

Let’s hope it does really well.  Go Asian (almost) girl!

Yippee!  It’s Art Walk time!

16 galleries are participating in a one day event tomorrow, 4 September.  You get to dip into each gallery and see a fabulous range of art, including a Wallasse Ting Retrospective at the Wetterling Teo Gallery.

"Woman with Parrot", Walasse Ting

There’ll be talks and previews, and a feast for your very lucky eyes.

No, you don’t have to walk it, you can drive.  And yes, it’s free!

Deng Xinli's work will be at the Linda Gallery

Find out more here and I’ll be seeing you there!