It’s all the rage

Kindle, it’s everywhere. E-readers are inescapable and aren’t going anywhere.

As a matter of fact they’re multiplying, like bunnies.

Barnes and Noble announced that they’re jumping into the fray and effectively sucker punching Amazon and Sony with their increase in e-book titles. The advocate watch groups are heralding this turn of events.  Increases in competition, lower prices and insures more e-readers all kinds of new toys.

But really, is this a good thing?

Amazon came under fire this week for an Orwellian action, they removed copies of 1984 from owners devices. Without prior notice.  Which brings into question ownership rights.

This would never happen with the old fashion models! it’s illegal to come into a readers sanctuary and remove their prized property.

Along with legal ramifications, what about the cultural ramifications?

James Walcott muses in this months Vanity Fair on ‘cultural snobbery’ and how the up-ward mobility of digitizing is working to erase it.

He comments on the audacity of a women reading a Kindle on the subway, the subway being the natural cultural highway, ” An anonymous block of pixels on a screen, making it impossible to surmise the state of her inner being, erotic proclivities and intellectual caliber.”

On the other-side of the argument, Walcott asks “How can I impress strangers with the gem-like flame of my literary passion if it’s a digitized slate that I am carrying around trying not to get all thumbprinty?”

As a passionate reader and an owner of 426 books, including 1984 and  ( yes I counted and no this doesn’t include all the loaned out copies which could be any where from 20 to 50) all I can say is that it will be a long, long time before you see me without a shiny, hefty book cradled in my arms.

And if you think this makes me a cultural snob, thank you!

It’s Bonafide

Millions of people visit the  Sephora stores across the globe and hundreds of thousands have signed up for their Beauty Insider program, yet how many of them actually log into their beauty banks?

I have no answer.

But, if they don’t they are missing out on a host of neat-o things.

The Beauty Insider program is designed as a points system, as with everything these days, ( I am becoming on of those people) the more money you spend, the more points you get. You can trade these points in for super deluxe samples. And by super deluxe, that can mean a quarter of an ounce right on up to an ounce. Which to most means nothing but to beauty addicts that can be amazing.

This one time, they gave away ounce samples of dr. brandt microdermabrasion, they only sell it in two once jars, for like $85 bucks or something.  Sometimes, it’s worth it and sometimes it’s not. But, It’s not the only perk!

The on-line beauty bank, keeps track of your total points, of course, but it also keeps a history of every purchase you have ever made with them, including samples. So can’t remember what it was you bought, or when you bought, just look it up. Which is always helpful when you have five tubes of mascara and they all have a little scent to them. And a little hint here guys, this is the easy way to surprise her with what she likes!

The next thing this nifty little bank keeps track off is your favorite brands and will inform you when there is something special happening with them. They send out email alerts and not the annoying ones you get all the time, just the select few.

Another aspect that is accounted for is the personal beauty profile.  It keeps track of just what would be expected, skin type and tone, eye color, and hair color. There are even a few stores that have gone high tech and can do an instore consult on colors, skin care, application techniques and upload it all to your beauty profile.

And of course, the final benefit, they save you money. they send email coupons frequently, just received one today. 15% entire purchase in store or online.

Can’t beat that!

How To- Sephora Style

How to write a good Television Show and Effectively Get it Cancelled

Joss Whedon, being himself

Joss and his creations aren’t alone, lets see if any of these others ring any bells. Arrested Development, Dead Like Me, WonderFalls, Studio 60 on Sunset Strip, Veronica Mars, and most recently Life on Mars. All of these shows exemplified talent, creativity, and for a mix of reasons failed.

They were well, with that I mean there was structure, literary even. They had character development, themes, episodic plots, season long plot arch’s driven by a hero’s quest, a mystery in need of answers or a search for self discovery. Also, the language in each show was distinctive. Google should thank Whedon for becoming a verb.

Dialogue wasn’t talking, it was an adventure. Were they serious or joking? Was that subtext? What the characters had to say elevated dialogue to an art, even spawning fans of the shows writers.

Maybe that’s why almost every television show has it’s own writers blog?

Next what made these shows excellent was the creation of worlds that looked like ours, could be ours but in some cases were too fantastic for most to believe. The final ingredient in writing a good T.V show is giving the audience what they need, not what thye want.

Take them on a journey that expands their worldview of life, the universe and everything.

Inspire yourself, imbue it with love and passion, which is what creates a connection and the identification is what makes it good. This is however, as the next four and a half catagories, show is also what gets you tossed from T.V.

1.) Life as Metaphor

Buffy did it. Whedon uses his Angel and Demons as metaphors for the troubles of adolescence. For those who got it, unlocked a rich story full of wise answers to the teenage dilemma. Those who were turned off by the title or seemingly juvenile subject matter missed the joys and heartbreak of watching Buffy Summers and her Scooby Gang literally fight for a world they wanted to live in.

The same could be said for another perky blonde, though her weapon of choice, keen intellect. Veronica Mars didn’t fight literal demons yet she took on the human variety as a private eye in training. Along with her own team of misfits, they also fought injustice while learning life lessons along the way.

2.) Think, think, think (and Believe)

Lost hasn’t been cancelled but it would’ve if the show runners didn’t save themselves with an end in sight or network exes too scared to be pelted with coconuts.

But Lost requires, nay, demands you think! Not only use your noodle, but pay attention! It teaches to notice details because isn’t that what life is all about.

In fact all of these shows require human thought. However 47 minutes once a week has been deemed too much to ask.

3.) Is that a Frying pan or Dead Pan?

The art of deadpan is lost on most people but shows like Arrested development, Studio 60 and Dead Like Me, took it to new heights.

Now for the millions who missed these shows dead pan is a comic art form.

These shows revolved around ‘getting the joke’ but also each used the best tenants of good writing too.

4.) This World isn’t my World ( It’s way more interesting)

Firefly was a ‘space western’. The setting was a post apocalyptic world where everyone was struggling with a new world order. It was funny, sweet, charming, and romantic. It tanked before it even debuted. The two-hour pilot movie aired only after all 12 episodes aired.

Life on Mars, a cop show set in the 1970’s. The twist was that the main character woke up there from 2008, with none of the how’s, what’s or whys. Just as the Characters, their development in movement, the situation and players established it was yanked. Never mind the same show in England is a huge hit.

4 ½.) Subsection on alternate communications with the Lord.

WonderFalls was placed in Niagara Falls where a young woman begins receiving mysterious messages from inanimate objects. It was fresh, quirky and new. It was supposed to be about her quest to find God behind the messages but it got pulled before they could talk.

Another Whedon one, Angel, was one vampires search for redemption. His fight was to save his soul. Did he find redemption? I doubt we will ever know.

There are exceptions to these rules. The Office is one, another is House, M.d. and lets not forget that Grey’s Anatomy started out as a mid season replacement.

But these shows don’t reach beyond the limits of the human imagination and inspire people to long for a better world, life or a better you.

Theme Songs

Daily, weekly, monthly and lifetime theme songs are invaluable, everyone should have one. There’s nothing like having the right song floating through mind on good, bad and indifferent days. Also, there’s more music in the world than just the top 40. Look into it.

Today’s Theme: ” Walking in Memphis” – Marc Cohen

I Have No Life, I Swear

It’s so normal, it’s almost a nothing life. Like, take today for example, normal Wednesday. I was planning on sitting on my porch, finishing some reading before class, which is something I do every morning. However, the last few weeks this has been problematic.

The trouble being the result of new neighbors and their new dog. It’s a mean thing. And loud. For your own sake please don’t try to come with in a block of the block I live.  Unless of course, you want to be attacked.  Attacked full force by every ounce of a five pound chiuaua. What is it with those little things?

Well this morning I couldn’t take it anymore. Every-time I turned a page that dog would bark at me, so I called police. Who called Animal Control.

Once animal control arrived, the silly little dog had curled up next to a stray cat in my lawn… did I mention my neighborhood is like Hemingway’s House? The dog catcher thought it was cute, until the thing started barking. which started the cat hissing.

Oh yeah, it was a rumble.

Then my dogs started barking, who at this point had been sitting on the porch calmly like angels but now their mama was threatened. It was war. Of course all this ruckus got every dog in the neighborhood going and it sounded like a  prison riot with caged animals.

Lo and behold the cops show up, who had previously tussled with this five pound chi-chi before, the day before as a matter of fact. He had impeded a manhunt, but that is another story.

So three policeman, a dog catcher, and me were chasing a snarling, squealing dog that couldn’t have bit your ankles if it tried and did we catch it? No.

I can hear the stupid thing right now.

So again, I say, I swear my life is boring, normal even. I have to say it, just to get through the day.

How to accept change and learn to love the new facebook

Change is good. Our President promotes it. The coke machine still takes it and it’s what makes the world go ‘round.

Adapting to change is one of the most sought after skills today and something no one likes to do. However, everyday things change. Most recently, Facebook, the world’s most popular social networking site came under fire for its newest face-lift. Before that, it was the Pepsi Co.

 

So. How does one go against nature and accept change?

Throw a light on it like the monster in the closet. How do you do that?

Define it. Here we come Wikipedia:  Change 

Ok. It’s defined. Now, what is it?

 

Well it’s different for everyone. According to Dr. James J Messina, on the Live Strong website ( Yes, that live strong) it involves a loss, a break or an altercation to ones lifestyle that challenges, requires or motivates one to reshape, redefine or revalue a relationship, lifestyle or reaction.

 

By now you are either grumbling, “changes sucks, stay the course!” which would suggest one head back over to Wikipedia and search caveman

 

Those still here, its time to examine why. Because lets be honest, changes sucks. It’s scary, exhilarating, confusing, and causes sudden outburst of anger anxiety, avoidance, dread, disappointment and strange excitement.

 

Why in Jesus’ name would anyone chose to jump off the cliff? Change is not easy stuff. People write books and articles about how hard it is. Books, whole books! That just shows how hard it is, so avoid it, right.

WRONG! Unless of course you think, the only good changes were the wheel and fire. Because there are far more benefits than irrational fears for accepting change.

 

The first being growth. Who doesn’t want to be the smartest, know it all, done it first in their group? Not only do you get the distinction of being smart, adventurous, and wise but you also have stronger relationships, personal, social and emotional.  

 

Second, you will have more order and purpose to your life. You’ll have found resources and strengths that you didn’t know were there. Lastly, you will find more energy for desirable activities once you stop plotting against change.

 

But before you go jumping off the cliff of change, lets start small. How about you unjoin the “I hate the new Facebook group” and start to accept the new Facebook and here is how.

 

 

 

Step1: Face book has changed

           

            -Accept it.

Push aside all the emotion about your past relationship and see this change as a chance to move forward the relationship.  The new Facebook is all about you! Remember that, it’s the super significant other. It does all the work, so you don’t have to.

 

That friends, is a positive change.

 

Step 2: Explore the change   

 

The Facebook team has a blog, in the blog they share all the important info pertaining to Facebook.

 

Imagine that.

 

Now part of your accepting and moving on is to read about the redesign. Learn how it was designed for you and your needs. Learn how to use it, and love it.

 

Step 3: Six months later

 

Do you truly see that there has been any major life altering change to your everyday because of this?

 

Now, try this with something that really matters.

 

 

Spring Breaks

It’s Spring Break time! For those actually taking a break, supplies will be required…cheep cheep

Without any jealousy, provided below are the best breaks on your wallet.

And for those of us staying home, don’t fret, virtually every department store on the planet is having a home sale. Think of those days spent on new sheets, with new pillows in bed.

- The stylish carry all tote bag, with 30% off, ‘cause ya know a guy’ (enter DC30 at check out)

- Guys need bags too and Target knows that, the classic duffle bag is so back, it’s on sale.

- The number one forgotten item, the toothbrush, however, this is not your normal toothbrush, it also holds the toothpaste!

- Last but not least, games of amusement, and competition for when all else fails.
PS: For those who over pack:

fog 10.5

My Video tie-in