Oh, SmAlbany!

Muffin Tops at Crossgates: Today's Times Union has a feature story on the "muffin-top" - the sultry combination of a female wearing low-rise, hip-hugging jeans and a little bit too much mid-section flab. That combination results in the look sported in the picture at right, which was formerly simply called "ugly." The article interviews researchers at various universities for their take on the matter, and that disappointed me. I got all the research I needed during my visit to Crossgates yesterday. The TU could have done some field research and landed a dozen interviews in 5 minutes. A few other highlights from my trek out to Guilderland:

1) Given the recent focus on teen-related problems at Crossgates, I can't imagine the mall is thrilled with the way Spencer Gifts has decorated the outside of their new space. The exterior of the store is faux brick with graffitti sprayed on it. And it extends around the bend of the store (out of sight of the storefront) to the point where some shoppers must be thinking that someone just tagged the mall. Very amusing.

2) I was asked to do one of those "quick test" surveys, where they pay you $5 to watch some commericals and report what you think. As a social science student, I was simply aghast at their research methodology. I won't bore you with the details, but let's just say that there's no way they are getting results with any external validity. I didn't say anything, though. I enjoyed the commericals and I bought a pretzel with the money.

P.S. Alert reader J.M. writes in to note that the TU basically ripped this story off from a Daily News story from this past summer. It's always fun when the local papers run features based on three-month old "Daily Dish" columns. Yeah, TU!

This entry was posted on Tuesday, October 25, 2005 at 8:58 AM. You can skip to the end and leave a response.