This is one of the scariest videos I have ever seen. It could have been you or me or anyone we know who has worked in a big office building. When I used to work for McGraw-Hill, we heard rumors about this person, about the frightening story of one man being trapped in an elevator for an entire weekend. But now I see that it is true.
Ever since my friends and I were stuck in my apartment elevator for 30 minutes, I have avoided that claustrophobic space as often as possible. And that was only half an hour of torture. Or was it fifteen minutes? But forty hours is unthinkable.
I grabbed the video from gawker.com (yes, a guilty pleasure gossip site) but you can read a bit more of the story in the New Yorker. But if you already have a little elevator phobia, just don't read the article. Forget I ever mentioned it. Go watch 30 Rock or something and think about all of the fun one can have in an office building. That is what I'm about to do.
Monday, April 14, 2008
Wednesday, March 26, 2008
Finally, an online game for girls
I love video games and computer games in general. You can rule the world, race and appreciate the physics of a collision, or you can work out some occasional aggression with a realistic shoot 'em up or the less realistic and super cute LEGO® Star Wars.
But no one can deny that these games and virtual worlds can manipulate your senses and affect your real life reactions. I tend to feel pretty emotional when my character is losing a fight. If you've ever played HALO, you might have felt the same unwelcome rush of adrenaline that accompanies the realistic battle. (Halo is on my list of banned games.) Games are also addictive, which either means not everyone should play or that programmers might think about including some built-in timers. But, I don't have an answer for that problem. These are a few reasons why parents should pay some attention to what the kids are playing on their PS3 or xBox late at night.
Now, most of these games are aimed at males. I don't know why. It might be that the marketing surveys discovered that girls get bored more easily. Or more likely, they just don't identify so much with the male characters or scantily clad females that inhabit the majority of the games. I sometimes like to imagine that male characters are just too delicate to run around in a bathing suit, unlike the super strong females. But gaming is still young and perhaps the right game just needs to come along to entertain them. So, I just had to share this new and super fabulous online game with you: Miss Bimbo.
"Become the hottest, coolest most famous bimbo ever !"
And I thought that Barbie dolls were supposed to be bad for a impressionable girls. I'm not making this up so check it out for yourself. Although I haven't played the game, I'm feeling a strange and intense visceral reaction... I might throw up now.
But no one can deny that these games and virtual worlds can manipulate your senses and affect your real life reactions. I tend to feel pretty emotional when my character is losing a fight. If you've ever played HALO, you might have felt the same unwelcome rush of adrenaline that accompanies the realistic battle. (Halo is on my list of banned games.) Games are also addictive, which either means not everyone should play or that programmers might think about including some built-in timers. But, I don't have an answer for that problem. These are a few reasons why parents should pay some attention to what the kids are playing on their PS3 or xBox late at night.
Now, most of these games are aimed at males. I don't know why. It might be that the marketing surveys discovered that girls get bored more easily. Or more likely, they just don't identify so much with the male characters or scantily clad females that inhabit the majority of the games. I sometimes like to imagine that male characters are just too delicate to run around in a bathing suit, unlike the super strong females. But gaming is still young and perhaps the right game just needs to come along to entertain them. So, I just had to share this new and super fabulous online game with you: Miss Bimbo.
"Become the hottest, coolest most famous bimbo ever !"
And I thought that Barbie dolls were supposed to be bad for a impressionable girls. I'm not making this up so check it out for yourself. Although I haven't played the game, I'm feeling a strange and intense visceral reaction... I might throw up now.
Wednesday, March 5, 2008
Food Fight
This video is making the email rounds today. You might want to laugh at first but it's surprisingly thought-provoking.
Thursday, February 28, 2008
Oscar Thoughts...and sharks
The Oscars came and went. As usual, my husband and I avoided all parties and entertainment dedicated to the event. Until I sell a screenplay or star in a movie, I really shouldn't have to be subjected to the marathon of bad song numbers, insider jokes, and back slapping that occurs once a year for 3 hours.
But, that doesn't stop me from watching videos of the odd speeches. Actually this dubbed acceptance speech makes me want to see "There Will Be Blood." Milkshakes, anyone? [Note on the video: This video is no longer available due to a copyright claim by the Academy of Motion Picture Arts and Sciences—so sensitive, aren't they?]
But can you tell me why the silliest "drama" won any prizes? Seriously, "No Country for Old Men" made me laugh out loud. Maybe it's a guy thing. Or a macho American thing. Or a gun-toting nihilist thing that seems to be getting pretty popular in schools and shopping malls all over the country. I might just be angry that "Atonement," a beautiful story about love, regret, classism, and the horrors of war lost out in the Best Picture category.
A good story is difficult to write. I get it. But an entire film about two people who have no motivations whatsoever for their actions? Even the shark in Jaws had a more believable character arc than the characters in this movie- well apart from the hilarious Woody Harrelson.
Why bring up Jaws yet again? I'm glad you asked. Well, I've been a bad blogger and although all three of my readers aren't too worried about it, I feel like I should have mentioned something earlier about Roy Scheider's death on February 10th. He was a great actor and starred in "Jaws" and "The French Connection" (best car chase ever). Very sad but this has been a year of Hollywood funerals.
Anyhow, as much as I protest and vow to skip the Oscars, they still get to me. What can I say? I do love the movies.
But, that doesn't stop me from watching videos of the odd speeches. Actually this dubbed acceptance speech makes me want to see "There Will Be Blood." Milkshakes, anyone? [Note on the video: This video is no longer available due to a copyright claim by the Academy of Motion Picture Arts and Sciences—so sensitive, aren't they?]
But can you tell me why the silliest "drama" won any prizes? Seriously, "No Country for Old Men" made me laugh out loud. Maybe it's a guy thing. Or a macho American thing. Or a gun-toting nihilist thing that seems to be getting pretty popular in schools and shopping malls all over the country. I might just be angry that "Atonement," a beautiful story about love, regret, classism, and the horrors of war lost out in the Best Picture category.
A good story is difficult to write. I get it. But an entire film about two people who have no motivations whatsoever for their actions? Even the shark in Jaws had a more believable character arc than the characters in this movie- well apart from the hilarious Woody Harrelson.
Why bring up Jaws yet again? I'm glad you asked. Well, I've been a bad blogger and although all three of my readers aren't too worried about it, I feel like I should have mentioned something earlier about Roy Scheider's death on February 10th. He was a great actor and starred in "Jaws" and "The French Connection" (best car chase ever). Very sad but this has been a year of Hollywood funerals.
Anyhow, as much as I protest and vow to skip the Oscars, they still get to me. What can I say? I do love the movies.
Thursday, February 14, 2008
Love and Romans
Today is Valentine's Day, the ultimate pink and red Hallmark ™ holiday. First off, I'd have to say it inspires many bitter discussions amongst my New York friends. It is tough enough to be single without everyone rubbing it in your face. As for us couples, we'd like to think that we're more authentic in our love lives. Why should a calendar tell us to exchange silly cards and flowers? And yet, if we miss out on the ritual of this day, then we're deliberately taking the fun out of a harmless and indulgent day.
So, what to do? I might bake something. Nothing says "I love you" like baked goods. Actually saying the words would do it too, but you can't put strawberries on top of words.
The History Channel website gives a remarkably vague explanation for the origins of Valentine's Day. You'd think they would have prepared a reeneactment of some sort. St. Valentine is a mystery, much like the very definition of love. He may have been a Christian martyr who lived and died in Rome during the the 3rd century.
A more entertaining version of the origin of Valentine's day is also described on the site. It could be a Christianized version of the ancient Roman holiday called Lupercalia. The holiday was a fertility festival day dedicated to the Roman god of agriculture. Though ancient Roman customs may seem odd to us now, it was once acceptable to slap women and fields of wheat with bloodsoaked strips of goat hide. I am not making this up- but I can't guarantee that someone else didn't invent the story long before me.
So, Happy Valentine's Day!
So, what to do? I might bake something. Nothing says "I love you" like baked goods. Actually saying the words would do it too, but you can't put strawberries on top of words.
The History Channel website gives a remarkably vague explanation for the origins of Valentine's Day. You'd think they would have prepared a reeneactment of some sort. St. Valentine is a mystery, much like the very definition of love. He may have been a Christian martyr who lived and died in Rome during the the 3rd century.
A more entertaining version of the origin of Valentine's day is also described on the site. It could be a Christianized version of the ancient Roman holiday called Lupercalia. The holiday was a fertility festival day dedicated to the Roman god of agriculture. Though ancient Roman customs may seem odd to us now, it was once acceptable to slap women and fields of wheat with bloodsoaked strips of goat hide. I am not making this up- but I can't guarantee that someone else didn't invent the story long before me.
So, Happy Valentine's Day!
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