Among the many things Canada has introduced to America (or been responsible for, depending on your tastes) are an appreciation for hockey, maple syrup, Bryan Adams and Celine Dion. A recent integration of Canadian culture has been the clever portmanteau, “staycation.”
The term was coined by Canadian comedian Brent Butt, and refers to the act of, basically, vacationing in your own backyard.
The Apple iPhone has been out for over a month now, but it still seems as though every week there is some news article updating consumers of the benefits or disadvantages of owning another Steve Jobs tech toy. Is the iPhone 3G worth the hassle?
A barrage of customer complaints on the latest Apple gadget have included dropped calls, slow or no connections and crashing servers. There have already been several software updates on this latest iPhone, as the device has had several bugs. The last 2.0.2 update fixed some, while it did nothing for others and even broke a few.
At last, someone has finally thought of grandma when designing computer comfort accessories. No longer will she shake in the frigid cold while either hitting up her MySpace account or buying vinyls on EBay.
Yet another line has been crossed when it comes to ridiculous gadgets. USB plugs have been converted to electrical outlets for powering coffee warmers, slippers, gloves and even kneepads. Now this… I wanna know who gave the go-ahead on the USB shawl.
We may soon have to upgrade to 56-port usb hubs to accommodate all these wonderful little inventions. I mean, when you’re reaching for your memory stick at work and realize your shawl and leg warmers are taking up all your ports, is it really worth it to suffer the cold for those few minutes?
I guess what really upsets me is that this shawl isn’t Bluetooth compatible. Maybe we have that to look forward to in the 2.0 version…
I’m one of those weird people that likes to go back-to-school shopping. Maybe it’s the opportunity to buy more pens, of which I have plenty already. Or it’s the way everything is organized — meticulously organized in rows like classroom chairs. Here’s a roundup of some great sites to check out for back-to-school supplies, from the cute to the cheap and beyond.
Paper is sooooo last semester. Get with the times and buy a laptop for studying, emailing, playing and the rest. The 15-inch Sony Vaio NR430 is well priced at $699, with an appealing design, high battery life and great performance.
Nowadays the rich and famous are spending top dollar making their mansions more energy-efficient, their cars more fuel-efficient, and their overall image a bit more green. Over the past few years, environmentalism has developed into more than a fad and awareness has contributed to a one trillion dollar market. While celebrities and other more affluent individuals have access to the more expensive of these technologies, the average person can’t afford a complete home makeover to make their home a bit more sustainable.
Our generation is not exactly all that politically active. Sure, we have protests, but we must admit that we are all a bit more apathetic than we should be. We care more about our celebrities than our politicians, who are turning into celebrities. At any rate, now is the time to take action! Get involved! Get political! With the Democratic and Republican National Conventions coming up soon, it’s a good idea to become acclimated on how these candidates differ in their policies on…EVERYTHING.
Here’s a quick roundup of some informative, witty and laugh-out-loud funny sites on the web, along with a video featuring a certain celeb’s endorsement for…well, you’ll see.
CNN is a reputable news resource and has been tracking every move of the presidential candidates in its Political Ticker. The Washington Post is another reliable news source, especially for its political coverage. Of course, for those who want the news and some newsworthy jokes, both The Daily Show and The Colbert Reporthave been doing their damndest to make fun of this election.
Wonkette tends to point out the asinine within the political world, while President 2008 covers anything and everything going on with the election. Thingsyoungerthanjohnmcain.com. John McCain is old, but this blog points out just HOW old. And Obamamessiah.com pokes fun at the media’s obsession over the presumptive Democratic nominee.
Part-Time Work in Film Helps Pay While You’re Having Fun
A friend of mine recently threw off the shackles of her mundane, rat-race job in Corporate America without really looking for a backup job. When she inquired whether I thought it was a waste of time for her to work as an extra on film sets, I was surprised. Of course, she’s not an actress, or one of those girls who thinks she’s an actress, or a part-time model who really just wants to break into “the biz.” My surprise, however, came from how she thought it would be a waste of time.
Working as an extra on films, commercials, music videos and TV shows part-time is a great learning experience and a really fun way to earn extra money. What most people don’t realize is that working in the entertainment industry is, by and large, excruciatingly boring. All that razzmatazz on Entourage is just a cover-up, and most people have Turtle’s job, or work as an assistant to someone else. However, if you are hellbent on making it in Tinseltown, working as an extra is a good launching pad and a good way to see for yourself how a movie set actually functions.
Movie Extras for Part-Time Work and Play
Overall, the work is pretty simple: stand there, wait, stand there some more, shout a bit, keep standing. Like I said, bo-ring. The fun part comes from the people you meet and the physical experience of being on a movie set — that’s not something everyone can lay claim to. Best of all, this is the only kind of work in acting that is truly steady. There is always a need for extras, so you can work as much or as little as you like.
If you are unsure about a career in acting in films but never took an actual acting class, this is a good way to see what goes on behind the film. For the rest of us, this is an easy paying gig that pays upward of $100 a day to just stand, walk or fill up space. Sign up with a casting agency so you know when shoots are taking place, or look on Craigs List, but be careful it’s not a, ahem, more adult kind of set.Of course, this is the kind of job meant for people in Southern California and the L.A. area, but New Yorkers, Chicagoans and other major urbanites should be able to find listings for extra work without any problem. Bring a book and a deck of cards to keep you and any new friends you meet entertained while the crew takes breaks. Then start bragging to everyone about how much of a jerk Natalie Portman really is (just kidding, Natalie, you know we love you and your sweet self).
At last, someone has finally thought of grandma when designing computer comfort accessories. No longer will she shake in the frigid cold while either hitting up her MySpace account or buying vinyls on EBay.
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