How To Meet A Stranger

We wondered if the release of “You’ve Got Mail,” the sequel of sorts to “Sleepless in Seattle” would prompt another bunch of personal ads by people looking for a Meg Ryan or Tom Hanks clone in Seattle. And, after checking the Seattle Weekly, we were relieved to see the restraint being practiced by those Seattle singles.

There was only one in the Dec. 31 issue: “My Life Is a Meg Ryan Movie — Spunky, brunette SJF, 31, indie bookseller, sleepless in you-know-where, believes the best lovers are best friends. Shares Meg’s taste in smart, kind, witty, sophisticated yet goofy leading men. Waiting for one to tell me I’ve got mail.”

Clear those aisles: Not a lot can get in the way of a determined shopper. Other than the butt-brush factor, that is. Research by retail anthropologist Paco Underhill shows women shoppers are far less likely to make a purchase if they are brushed from behind — by a person, a display table, or a piece of merchandise — while examining goods.

Underhill’s finding, backed by extensive video research, suggests retailers should avoid jamming narrow aisles full of merchandise. (From January Wired)

Just an aside: Late-20th-century technology did not produce all of our modern home appliances. According to a new scholarly book by Rachel Maines, more than 50 kinds of vibrators were invented in the last two decades of the 19th century, some with music, others which threw off ultraviolet rays. They beat vacuum cleaners and irons onto the consumer market by more than a decade. They shared shelf space, though, with other newly invented domestic appliances such as electric sewing machines, tea kettles, fans and toasters. (From January Wired)

Fast facts: Of the 500 CEOs of Fortune 500 companies, two are women. Of the top corporate officers in those companies, 83 are women, who earn a median salary of $518,596; 2,184 are men, who earn a median salary of $765,000. (From January Fast Company)

Think about it: While studies show that 70 percent of husbands are unfaithful, 90 percent of married women surveyed by Good Housekeeping magazine said they were not worried that their husbands might be playing around. (From Knight-Ridder)

Women, meat, big trucks, they’re all good things: The editors at Details magazine felt they needed to explain the thinking behind their “Women of the Year” issue. “Women? They’re right up there with fast cars, big trucks, season tickets on the floor, call liquor, filet mignon and Cuban cigars (well, maybe not those) as things we find truly inspiring, mind-expanding and soul-engorging. Damn, they’re probably near the top of the list. Hence, this issue.” (From The Washington Post)