MAY 2008: FROM THE EDITOR
Spring, Botox in the air
When the weather turns sunny it puts us in the mood to freshen
up.
We’re constantly evolving the magazine, and in this
issue we’re rearranging a bit of furniture. The state
indicators, compiled by our whiz research editor Brandon
Sawyer, and the state employment report are long-time fixtures
in the magazine, delivering insightful statewide statistics
about where the economy is headed. Why hide them in the back of
the book? So we’re moving those two important snapshots
to the front, alongside our rotating economists and Deal Watch
to create a cohesive four-page report about the state
we’re in.
Also, for the past year John Mitchell, Tom Potiowsky and Eric
Fruits have been holding down the fort on the state’s
economic issues, and next month we’ll add two well-known
and widely quoted contributors to the lineup.
In June, Joe Cortright joins the magazine. Cortright is an
economist with Impresa, a Portland consulting firm, and is the
chief economic analyst for the Oregon Business Plan. One of
Cortright’s signature studies is titled “The Young
and the Restless,” about the migrating creative class.
Tim Duy, adjunct assistant professor at the University of
Oregon and director of the Oregon Economic Forum, joins us in
July. Duy also is author of the University of Oregon Index of
Economic Indicators and the Central Oregon Business Index.
That’s five economists with five perspectives to help
sort through an increasingly complex landscape.
Then there’s the personal freshening up. I received an
email a few weeks ago touting the need to “Recession
proof your face!” The reasoning: In a down economy, the
last thing you want is to look down. The Beverly Hills
Institute of Aesthetic and Reconstructive Surgery noted that
attractive people earn more and “looking your best may
not only help you socially, but also economically.”
(I’m waiting for the “Deflation proof your
derierre!” email.)
I decided not to take it personally that it was sent directly
to me, and called the institute’s Dr. Richard Fleming,
who commiserated with me about this emphasis on good looks.
“But appearance does count,” he said. “We
don’t respect age in this society.” He noted that
he is seeing more women and men coming in from all parts of the
corporate world to have work done to remain competitive
—“even accounting!”
I sent Dr. Fleming this column picture to get a rehab estimate
on what it would take to get me back in the youth game. He
reviewed my picture and called me back with the diagnosis:
I’m not in bad enough shape yet for the full $30K
facelift, but (isn’t there always a but?) …
“Your brow is in great position, and on your jaw line and
neck, it doesn’t look like there’s too much
sagging.” But! “I would remove the extra skin
above the eyelids,” he said. “Just doing the eyes
would make a huge difference.” Then he recommended we
shoot a bit of Botox in the brow creases, add a little fat
filler to the lower eyelid and in the commas alongside my
mouth, and hallelujah! For around $4,000 I can respectably walk
the streets again with my more attractive colleagues. (He noted
that getting rid of the salt in the pepper hair would also
help. )
But as I pencil this out, recovering that investment in a new
job or a pay raise because of my more competitive face could
take years. Instead, I’ve decided turn off the overhead
lights and buy that $1.99 stick of undereye concealer. And
maybe I’ll move more furniture. That always seems to
help.
