Family

Most will miss my sister's comment to the Ups and Downs piece:

wow sometimes it's so clear to me why we're related-- i loved kolbert's article too! and russo! and bonfire! and i also write to companies telling them they suck -- i've scored chocolate (aero), shampoo and conditioner, and vouchers for the train.

aw, brudder.

For the record, when I was 11, I had a homework assignment that consisted of writing a proper letter to a corporation. I wrote the WWF and complained about two of their characters - The Beveryly Brothers, heels (villains) who were supposed to be gay. I was inspired by a segment I heard on As It Happens, which followed a performance in Vancouver. I wrote that it was offensive, but I never stopped watching.

Social justice! Cranky letters to customer service! All in the family!