The Left Lane
Say hello to Shelby
Furby, yesteryear's toy, now has a mate — Shelby.
Shelby is a talking, animatronic clam with moving eyes, mouth, antennae and shell — and with 70 percent more vocabulary (275 words) than Furby. She also speaks three times as many phrases (1,000) and can converse in English or in her own jargon, Shelbish. Because she lives in a shell, she can clam up if she's sleeping or scared. She made her pre-Easter debut at FAO Schwarz in New York this week and likely will be a hot number by Christmas. K B Toys and Toys-R-Us stores don't know when Shelby will reach the Islands. Retails for $24.99.
— Wayne Harada
Coming on strong
Is somebody in your office driving you crazy with their too-strong cologne? Here's ammo to build your case: As much as 30 percent of the public reports some sensitivity to chemicals, including fragrances, says the University of Texas Health Sciences Center in San Antonio. And a study by the Louisiana State Medical Center says one in five asthma attacks is a result of exposure to perfume, which can also cause rhinitis, sinusitis, migraine headaches, skin irritations and chemical sensitivity.
Buying a small air filter for your office may help reduce allergies, as will asking co-workers to cut down on the perfume, although that's riskier to office peace. Or ask your supervisor or human resources rep to deal with it. "It comes down to a question of respect, and wearing excessive perfume . . . is not a sign of respect," said Rebecca Hastings of the Society for Human Resource Management.
CD to sing about
One night a few weeks ago, Shirley Sypert was haunted by a dream. In the vision, Isabella Yim-Mortier, a Kahala woman who was stabbed to death last month, was crying with worry for her young son. Sypert awoke knowing what would be the mission of her new family CD, "Fresh Start": helping to raise money for the trust fund of the boy, Etienne Kaala Yim, 8, and other families in need.
Whether the album will turn into a major source of charitable contributions remains to be seen, but it's uplifting music for keiki, full of positive-minded tunes ("I've got those wanna be, gonna be happy, I got to be happy blues / I've got the ocean to surround me and the sun up above, and I don't even have to wear shoes!") created by Sypert, who is director of Vocal & Dance Expressions, and a music and performing arts teacher. The songs are designed to build self-esteem and family interaction, and feature the voices of Hawai'i performers ages 6 to 24, including two of Sypert's three children, one of whom is local stage veteran Jonathan Clarke Sypert. Find the CD at Harry's Music and Hawai'i Collectors, or call 737-9497.
— Esme Infante Nii
Pull out those polos
In the cyclical world of fashion, even perennials occasionally get a new turn in the spotlight. Such is the case with the polo shirt, which is being hailed as a hot fashion item for spring and summer.
Fashion mavens are touting them as part of the resurgence of preppieness; Macy's West recently ran full-page newspaper advertisements announcing the "reinvented" Ralph Lauren polo with "a new slimmer fit."
