Credits:
Blog: Hueseries.com
Makeup: Emily Cheng Emilycheng.ca
Photography: Guciophotography.com
from Weddings - The Huffington Post http://ift.tt/UncbaU
via IFTTT
Monday, 21 July 2014
Hue Series: How To Get Bold And Bright Lips
Credits:
Blog: Hueseries.com
Makeup: Emily Cheng Emilycheng.ca
Photography: Guciophotography.com
from Weddings - The Huffington Post http://ift.tt/UncbaU
via IFTTT
Hot Mic Moments Are Nothing New
Most communications professionals in politics have a story to tell about the time their boss was caught - or nearly caught - on a live microphone. We have leapt across tables, knocked over podiums, or grabbed a principal's lapel to muffle a microphone when realizing that an unscripted moment was about to occur.
It is ironic that for an industry so often criticized for canned talking points, it is a significant faux pas for U.S. politicians to be caught with a "hot mic." Yet when the moment happens, members of the media are also quick to create a process story out of the blunder.
Carly Fiorina, who ran as the GOP candidate to unseat incumbent Senator Barbara Boxer in 2010, was behind in the polls when she got caught on a hot mic making fun of Boxer's hair. While it was possible to point to the incident as evidence that Fiorina was both careless and catty, the gaffe did not do anything to change the discourse around the election. That didn't stop cable television hosts from highlighting it. Rather than focus on differences in the platforms of the candidates, pundits spent more than a few media cycles poking fun at the candidate and at a race that could now be more easily dismissed as a cat fight among two women.
Democrats have had their fair share of hot mic moments as well. In fact, TIME has compiled a list of the "Top 10 Hot Mic Moments" in history, including President Obama's comments, prior to a television interview, regarding Kanye West's misbehavior at the 2009 MTV Video Music Awards ("He's a jackass") and Vice President Biden's remarks at the announcement of passage of the president's healthcare legislation ("This is a big f_____ deal").
Game changers? No. Embarrassing? Sure. But instead of a process story about an unforced error that did not affect any substantive narrative, don't we deserve to have the media focus on substance?
For example, this weekend Secretary of State John Kerry taped interviews on all five major Sunday morning shows to discuss the ongoing turmoil between Israel and Hamas among other topics - important issues affecting our international security and policy that deserve serious debate and consideration. But when Secretary Kerry was caught on a hot mic having a conversation with a staffer as the Fox News Sunday cameras were gearing up, the pundits directed their attention elsewhere.
In commenting on the ongoing assaults, Kerry was overheard saying, "It's a hell of a pinpoint operation," as his aide comments that, "It's escalating significantly."
Anchor Chris Wallace called the hot mic comments an "extraordinary moment of diplomacy." Really? The secretary commenting on innocent civilians being caught in the crossfire might be significant if he hadn't said it before, but there is nothing Kerry said in the hot mic moment that he didn't say on camera on Fox. Or Face the Nation. Or Meet the Press. Or in any of the press he has done over the past several days. But that didn't stop more than a dozen news organizations from posting independent stories about the "gaffe" within a few hours of the taping.
Process stories about a hot mic moment in which nothing was said that differed from on the record comments. What a waste.
There are hot mic moments that matter, and there are hot mic moments that serious reporters should leave for Jon Stewart and Stephen Colbert. When Congressman Michael Grimm threatened NY1 reporter Michael Scotto after an interview about the president's 2014 State of the Union address turned to local topics, it was relevant. The altercation not only gave voters insight into Grimm's character, it foreshadowed the campaign finance probe for which he has now been indicted.
But pieces focused on chit-chat about hairstyles, pop culture and a few curse words? "Breaking" news segments about a diplomat speaking to a staff member in the face of serious global crises about the urgency that he is moments away from saying on air? We should all find something better to do with our weekend.
from Media - The Huffington Post http://ift.tt/1nbsV08
via IFTTT
It is ironic that for an industry so often criticized for canned talking points, it is a significant faux pas for U.S. politicians to be caught with a "hot mic." Yet when the moment happens, members of the media are also quick to create a process story out of the blunder.
Carly Fiorina, who ran as the GOP candidate to unseat incumbent Senator Barbara Boxer in 2010, was behind in the polls when she got caught on a hot mic making fun of Boxer's hair. While it was possible to point to the incident as evidence that Fiorina was both careless and catty, the gaffe did not do anything to change the discourse around the election. That didn't stop cable television hosts from highlighting it. Rather than focus on differences in the platforms of the candidates, pundits spent more than a few media cycles poking fun at the candidate and at a race that could now be more easily dismissed as a cat fight among two women.
Democrats have had their fair share of hot mic moments as well. In fact, TIME has compiled a list of the "Top 10 Hot Mic Moments" in history, including President Obama's comments, prior to a television interview, regarding Kanye West's misbehavior at the 2009 MTV Video Music Awards ("He's a jackass") and Vice President Biden's remarks at the announcement of passage of the president's healthcare legislation ("This is a big f_____ deal").
Game changers? No. Embarrassing? Sure. But instead of a process story about an unforced error that did not affect any substantive narrative, don't we deserve to have the media focus on substance?
For example, this weekend Secretary of State John Kerry taped interviews on all five major Sunday morning shows to discuss the ongoing turmoil between Israel and Hamas among other topics - important issues affecting our international security and policy that deserve serious debate and consideration. But when Secretary Kerry was caught on a hot mic having a conversation with a staffer as the Fox News Sunday cameras were gearing up, the pundits directed their attention elsewhere.
In commenting on the ongoing assaults, Kerry was overheard saying, "It's a hell of a pinpoint operation," as his aide comments that, "It's escalating significantly."
Anchor Chris Wallace called the hot mic comments an "extraordinary moment of diplomacy." Really? The secretary commenting on innocent civilians being caught in the crossfire might be significant if he hadn't said it before, but there is nothing Kerry said in the hot mic moment that he didn't say on camera on Fox. Or Face the Nation. Or Meet the Press. Or in any of the press he has done over the past several days. But that didn't stop more than a dozen news organizations from posting independent stories about the "gaffe" within a few hours of the taping.
Process stories about a hot mic moment in which nothing was said that differed from on the record comments. What a waste.
There are hot mic moments that matter, and there are hot mic moments that serious reporters should leave for Jon Stewart and Stephen Colbert. When Congressman Michael Grimm threatened NY1 reporter Michael Scotto after an interview about the president's 2014 State of the Union address turned to local topics, it was relevant. The altercation not only gave voters insight into Grimm's character, it foreshadowed the campaign finance probe for which he has now been indicted.
But pieces focused on chit-chat about hairstyles, pop culture and a few curse words? "Breaking" news segments about a diplomat speaking to a staff member in the face of serious global crises about the urgency that he is moments away from saying on air? We should all find something better to do with our weekend.
from Media - The Huffington Post http://ift.tt/1nbsV08
via IFTTT
Committee To Protect Journalists Calls For 'Immediate Reversal' Of Thai Junta's Media Crackdown
The Committee to Protect Journalists expressed its outrage on Monday over the Thai military's new crackdown on press, Internet and social media freedom.
The committee called for an "immediate reversal" of the Thai junta's latest order for increased media control. The National Council for Peace and Order issued an edict on Friday that prohibits any form of media criticism of the junta, its policies or operations. Any news outlet that goes against these restrictions can reportedly be shut down by Thai military and police officials. A coup d'etat in May left the military in control of Thailand's government.
"This overbroad order against any media criticism represents an open invitation for state authorities to arbitrarily abuse their powers in suppressing the media," CPJ's Southeast Asia representative Shawn Crispin said. "If junta leader General Prayuth Chan-ocha was genuine about his stated intention of reforming politics and restoring democracy, his junta would promote, not curb, press and Internet freedoms."
Phansasiri Kularb, a journalism lecturer at Chulalongkorn University in Bangkok, told the AP that Chan-ocha "said on his televised program, repeatedly since the coup, to urge those who disagreed with his views to open up their mind and talk, but this announcement says the opposite."
The edict also bans any media interviews of anyone, including scholars and former civil servants, whose opinions could create "conflict" or tensions with the junta.
CPJ noted the case of Thanapol Eawsakul, editor and founder of Fah Diew Gahn, who was detained by the military in July over criticisms he made on Facebook. Journalists expressed their concerns and fears on Saturday about the Thai military government's tightening grip.
"This is basically a gag order," co-founder of Thai Netizen Network Sarinee Achavanuntakul told the AP. "I think it is very dangerous and, to me, it signals that the coup makers may not have a clear idea of who the enemies are."
from Media - The Huffington Post http://ift.tt/WrP2Wx
via IFTTT
The committee called for an "immediate reversal" of the Thai junta's latest order for increased media control. The National Council for Peace and Order issued an edict on Friday that prohibits any form of media criticism of the junta, its policies or operations. Any news outlet that goes against these restrictions can reportedly be shut down by Thai military and police officials. A coup d'etat in May left the military in control of Thailand's government.
"This overbroad order against any media criticism represents an open invitation for state authorities to arbitrarily abuse their powers in suppressing the media," CPJ's Southeast Asia representative Shawn Crispin said. "If junta leader General Prayuth Chan-ocha was genuine about his stated intention of reforming politics and restoring democracy, his junta would promote, not curb, press and Internet freedoms."
Phansasiri Kularb, a journalism lecturer at Chulalongkorn University in Bangkok, told the AP that Chan-ocha "said on his televised program, repeatedly since the coup, to urge those who disagreed with his views to open up their mind and talk, but this announcement says the opposite."
The edict also bans any media interviews of anyone, including scholars and former civil servants, whose opinions could create "conflict" or tensions with the junta.
CPJ noted the case of Thanapol Eawsakul, editor and founder of Fah Diew Gahn, who was detained by the military in July over criticisms he made on Facebook. Journalists expressed their concerns and fears on Saturday about the Thai military government's tightening grip.
"This is basically a gag order," co-founder of Thai Netizen Network Sarinee Achavanuntakul told the AP. "I think it is very dangerous and, to me, it signals that the coup makers may not have a clear idea of who the enemies are."
from Media - The Huffington Post http://ift.tt/WrP2Wx
via IFTTT
Lea Michele And Her New Boyfriend Heat Up Italy With PDA
Lea Michele's vacation in Italy just got hotter — and POPSUGAR has the exclusive pictures! The Glee actress had a picture-perfect Saturday with her boyfriend, Matthew Paetz, with whom she shared several passionate kisses.
You Betcha 'Fargo' And 'Louie' Got Renewed By FX
FX CEO John Landgraf has announced that the network will pick up new seasons of both "Louie" and "Fargo."
The seven-episode fifth season of Louis C.K.'s comedy series will premiere in Spring 2015, while the ten-episode second season of "Fargo" will feature a new storyline, a new time period and an all-new cast.
(This is a developing story.)
The seven-episode fifth season of Louis C.K.'s comedy series will premiere in Spring 2015, while the ten-episode second season of "Fargo" will feature a new storyline, a new time period and an all-new cast.
(This is a developing story.)
Bill Murray's Newest Character Is A Great Addition To The Greatest Comedic Roster Ever. See For Yourself.
Bill Murray means more to you than you may realize.
With the arrival of the trailer for his new "dramedy," St.Vincent, it looks like the comedic genius is set to carve out another character who will live on in cinema history as a great one. Between the smoking, drinking and complete disregard for those around him, his Vincent de Van Nuys seems like a perfect vessel for all that we love about Murray. Add to the mix that his main foil will be a 10-year-old kid who needs a little guidance and the stage is set for some dialogue that will get its due through the iconic presence of a Hollywood legend. And a legend he is.
Over the past 40 years, Bill Murray has treated us to more amazing characters than most actors will ever do in a lifetime. Saturday Night Live was a the jumping-off point, but he landed in a pile of money as he continued his brand of loveable schmuck humour in big Hollywood comedies. One look at this list and you will be scouring Netflix for as many of these golden oldies as you can find. I challenge you to find another actor who has a repertoire like this guy. Don't take me up on it. Just take a look at these:
11. Herman Blume - Rushmore (check out the clip)
10. Jon Bosley - Charlie's Angels (check out the clip)
9. Phil - Groundhog Day (check out the clip)
8. Frank Cross - Scrooged (check out the clip)
7. Ernie McCracken - Kingpin (check out the clip)
6. Bob Harris - Lost In Translation (check out the clip)
5. John - Stripes (check out the clip)
4. Tripper - Meatballs (check out the clip)
3. Carl Spackler - Caddyshack (check out the clip)
2. Frank Milo - Mad Dog & Glory (check out the clip)
1. Peter Venkman - Ghostbusters (check out the clip)
Check out the original article on AskMen to see all the clips of Bill Murray's best flicks.
Related links:
10 Classic Movie Moments Better Than Anything In Theaters Right Now
Megan Fox + 9 Other Women Michael Bay Added To Our Desktop Wallpapers
Top 5 Things We Learned From The Karate Kid
With the arrival of the trailer for his new "dramedy," St.Vincent, it looks like the comedic genius is set to carve out another character who will live on in cinema history as a great one. Between the smoking, drinking and complete disregard for those around him, his Vincent de Van Nuys seems like a perfect vessel for all that we love about Murray. Add to the mix that his main foil will be a 10-year-old kid who needs a little guidance and the stage is set for some dialogue that will get its due through the iconic presence of a Hollywood legend. And a legend he is.
Over the past 40 years, Bill Murray has treated us to more amazing characters than most actors will ever do in a lifetime. Saturday Night Live was a the jumping-off point, but he landed in a pile of money as he continued his brand of loveable schmuck humour in big Hollywood comedies. One look at this list and you will be scouring Netflix for as many of these golden oldies as you can find. I challenge you to find another actor who has a repertoire like this guy. Don't take me up on it. Just take a look at these:
11. Herman Blume - Rushmore (check out the clip)
10. Jon Bosley - Charlie's Angels (check out the clip)
9. Phil - Groundhog Day (check out the clip)
8. Frank Cross - Scrooged (check out the clip)
7. Ernie McCracken - Kingpin (check out the clip)
6. Bob Harris - Lost In Translation (check out the clip)
5. John - Stripes (check out the clip)
4. Tripper - Meatballs (check out the clip)
3. Carl Spackler - Caddyshack (check out the clip)
2. Frank Milo - Mad Dog & Glory (check out the clip)
1. Peter Venkman - Ghostbusters (check out the clip)
Check out the original article on AskMen to see all the clips of Bill Murray's best flicks.
Related links:
10 Classic Movie Moments Better Than Anything In Theaters Right Now
Megan Fox + 9 Other Women Michael Bay Added To Our Desktop Wallpapers
Top 5 Things We Learned From The Karate Kid
Celebrity Collector: Luis Figueroa
Photo Credit: John Skalicky
Luis Figueroa is not a face you quickly forget. You might recognize him from the Broadway musicals "42nd Street" or "Wicked." He has also worked on numerous commercials for brands such as Coke Zero, Bank of America, US Army, etc. Recently he was cast in Akiva Goldsman's film, Winter's Tale. I have a feeling we are going to see a lot more of this actor in the near future.
When he's not acting, he has another passion; cooking. I'm not going to lie. I don't like to cook. Baking tasty treats...yes. Cooking..not so much. Alas, if I was to spy this guy in the meat department of the grocery store, I might be inspired.
One can only assume with a collection of cookbooks, the kitchen is your favorite place to be. Tell me more.
I can't think of any other place in a home I would rather be. I love kitchens. My kitchen or anyone else's for that matter. I have so many memories that stem from them. From my grandmother cooking when I was little, to prepping Christmas dinner, to my hot plate and microwave in my first NY apartment. I have laughed, I have cried, I have eaten and drank way too much. It's the place where meals are created. How often have you smelled something or tasted something in a kitchen and had it take you back to a specific place, and time? That's the power of a kitchen. It inspires life.
Who or what inspired your interest in cookbooks?
About 10 years ago I was working on Broadway. I met a friend after our matinees for a sensible Sunday cupcake at Magnolia bakery. The line was immense, not to mention they were closing, so we didn't even make the cut off. For whatever reason, we decided we should make our own cupcakes. We headed to a bookstore in the neighborhood and picked up the"Magnolia Bakery Book," got to my place and threw everything in a food processor. Not my best, but I was inspired to try again, and again, and again.
My family thinks of me as a cupcake connoisseur now. Baking led to actual meals and then to hosting dinner parties. The better I got the more complex the books became. Then came the magazine subscriptions and eventually I developed this collection of books and magazines with enough recipes to not have the same meal for a couple of years. I have my go to recipes and a ton of which I have yet to explore. That's the beauty of them. Every time I open a book something new and exciting can arise from it.
Ironically, I used to own a cupcake bakery. Lots of people can cook, but can't necessarily bake and vice versa. Apparently, you have mastered both! Has your passion for cooking turned you into a utensil or cookware collector?
I would like to say no, I don't collect anything else. The cookbooks are enough. I have tons of them here in LA, back in NY, and even some at my mom's house in DC. But I tend to also buy/collect useless kitchen items. Different recipes call for different tools. Zesters, measuring cups, rolling pins, cake pans of all shapes and sizes, sifters, cheese cloths, pots, pans, knives, the list goes on and on. I tend to get up sold easily so I do have a variety of items that I haven't used, some which are still in their original packaging. I'm sure at some point a recipe will call for them, so it's best to be prepared. If you collect cookbooks you have to have the tools to back them up, no?
When asking someone out on a date, do you take them out to eat, or do you pull out one of your favorite cookbooks and make something fabulous?
I love to eat out. So first date, absolutely restaurant it is. When I need to seal the deal, that's when I will cook. I have go to recipes for such occasions, but those are my secret weapons...
--------
Look out Curtis Stone... If you tire of films and the theater, I'm sure the Food Network would have something for you!!
Figueroa is in the upcoming film, "And So It Goes" with Michael Douglas and Diane Keaton. In theaters July 25th!
Follow him:
Twitter @Luisalicious
Instagram @Luisafig
Robert Downey Jr. Tops Forbes' List Of Highest Paid Actors Yet Again
Earning an estimated $75 million, Robert Downey Jr. has topped Forbes' ranking of highest paid actors for the second year in a row.
As Entertainment Weekly notes, this is all the more impressive considering Downey Jr. released only one movie over the course of the year in question (June 2013 to June 2014). Jon Favreau's "Chef" was a "charming treat," but Forbes notes that the majority of Downey Jr.'s earnings come from backend payments off "Iron Man 3," which grossed over $1.2 billion worldwide in 2013.
Downey Jr. is followed by Dwayne Johnson, at $52 million, who has spent the year making movies like the upcoming "Hercules" and "San Andreas." Next on the list are Bradley Cooper ($46 million), Leonardo DiCaprio ($39 million) and Chris Hemsworth ($37 million).
Tom Cruise (who topped the list in 2012) is conspicuously missing, and it does seem that the combined net worth of this list has dropped off a quite bit from where it stood last year, but what's a hundred million dollars here or there between A-list stars?
Check out the full ranking over at Forbes, and remember the tally for next year starts today.
As Entertainment Weekly notes, this is all the more impressive considering Downey Jr. released only one movie over the course of the year in question (June 2013 to June 2014). Jon Favreau's "Chef" was a "charming treat," but Forbes notes that the majority of Downey Jr.'s earnings come from backend payments off "Iron Man 3," which grossed over $1.2 billion worldwide in 2013.
Downey Jr. is followed by Dwayne Johnson, at $52 million, who has spent the year making movies like the upcoming "Hercules" and "San Andreas." Next on the list are Bradley Cooper ($46 million), Leonardo DiCaprio ($39 million) and Chris Hemsworth ($37 million).
Tom Cruise (who topped the list in 2012) is conspicuously missing, and it does seem that the combined net worth of this list has dropped off a quite bit from where it stood last year, but what's a hundred million dollars here or there between A-list stars?
Check out the full ranking over at Forbes, and remember the tally for next year starts today.
Gay Wedding
Behind every wedding you can find a story. The story of this wedding joining two men, Jonathan and Jeff, occurring later this month, begins three generations back, with my older sister Florence, Jonathan's grandmother. She has not lived to attend the wedding and there's no betting that she would even were she alive.
Florence's son Arden, Jonathan's dad, was married and fathered Jonathan, later separating from his wife Anita and entering a gay life with a male partner, Dru. Florence, who grew up in Texas as I did, married young and moved to Colorado where she lived the rest of her life. She had three children, Arden the eldest. Her pride in his not minor accomplishments was marred by a refusal to accept that his marriage ended and he took on a new lifestyle. (Knowledge that our mother accepted my homosexuality seemed to have no currency.) When Arden called from California and said that Dru was there, she asked, "Who is that?"
She may have viewed the story as tragic, but it fell short; all parties ended up fine. There's a close friendship today even between Arden and Anita, his former wife, Jonathan's mother. Only my sister got left out.
And now Arden and Anita's son, my great nephew, found a mate to whom he will be married. "I knew we were right for each other as soon as we met," Jonathan has said. That's heaven smiling broadly down. I wonder what my sister would think if she knew how it has played out -- that her only grandchild whom she loved were soon to marry another man. Would she open her heart to give blessing to something unheard of in her lifetime? I hope so.
In a few days, therefore, a wedding will take place between two men, one in his thirties, the other in his twenties, both smart and successful, or soon-to-be -- an event remarkable today in his lack of remarkability.
Here's where Uncle Stanley comes in. Jonathan and Jeff's wedding joining a long line of such events I've attended or been part of, the question arises of finding a gift. I've got a lot of practice there and normally don't find it a challenge, but here it is, since these two men rank high among the world's most exacting in their tastes.
Allow me at this place to mention that since I've never been the headliner in a wedding, I've yet to be the recipient of a wedding gift (or one for Father's Day, either). I mention this minor injustice that could be remedied if ever were created an Uncle's Day, where I might do nicely.
Besides finding a gift, there's the matter of dress for the wedding reception. The invitation calls for "Cocktail Attire," which I'd like to interpret as offering considerable leeway. I may not agonize over this, but I probably will. Actually, I needn't, since there will be a lot of smarter outfits and smarter looking people to draw attention more than I do or whatever I wear.
Parenthetically, I've noticed that although plenty of gay weddings are taking place these days, there remain couples who live together without its leading to marriage. Then, I know a few instances where two men decided to be married having a tax advantage in mind. That seemed to me pretty unromantic, but I suppose I might do something similar. I've been accused to wanting the honeymoon without the marriage.
Anyway, right now I'm pondering what gift for Jonathan and Jeff would bring sparkle to their eyes. Would a second cat work?
Along the way, I look forward to when the world recognizes that it's past time to pay respect to uncles with an annual Uncle's Day.
Stanley Ely dissects some good and bad of family life in his new book, Life Up Close, a Memoir in paperback and E-book.
from Weddings - The Huffington Post http://ift.tt/1yQYrVw
via IFTTT
Florence's son Arden, Jonathan's dad, was married and fathered Jonathan, later separating from his wife Anita and entering a gay life with a male partner, Dru. Florence, who grew up in Texas as I did, married young and moved to Colorado where she lived the rest of her life. She had three children, Arden the eldest. Her pride in his not minor accomplishments was marred by a refusal to accept that his marriage ended and he took on a new lifestyle. (Knowledge that our mother accepted my homosexuality seemed to have no currency.) When Arden called from California and said that Dru was there, she asked, "Who is that?"
She may have viewed the story as tragic, but it fell short; all parties ended up fine. There's a close friendship today even between Arden and Anita, his former wife, Jonathan's mother. Only my sister got left out.
And now Arden and Anita's son, my great nephew, found a mate to whom he will be married. "I knew we were right for each other as soon as we met," Jonathan has said. That's heaven smiling broadly down. I wonder what my sister would think if she knew how it has played out -- that her only grandchild whom she loved were soon to marry another man. Would she open her heart to give blessing to something unheard of in her lifetime? I hope so.
In a few days, therefore, a wedding will take place between two men, one in his thirties, the other in his twenties, both smart and successful, or soon-to-be -- an event remarkable today in his lack of remarkability.
Here's where Uncle Stanley comes in. Jonathan and Jeff's wedding joining a long line of such events I've attended or been part of, the question arises of finding a gift. I've got a lot of practice there and normally don't find it a challenge, but here it is, since these two men rank high among the world's most exacting in their tastes.
Allow me at this place to mention that since I've never been the headliner in a wedding, I've yet to be the recipient of a wedding gift (or one for Father's Day, either). I mention this minor injustice that could be remedied if ever were created an Uncle's Day, where I might do nicely.
Besides finding a gift, there's the matter of dress for the wedding reception. The invitation calls for "Cocktail Attire," which I'd like to interpret as offering considerable leeway. I may not agonize over this, but I probably will. Actually, I needn't, since there will be a lot of smarter outfits and smarter looking people to draw attention more than I do or whatever I wear.
Parenthetically, I've noticed that although plenty of gay weddings are taking place these days, there remain couples who live together without its leading to marriage. Then, I know a few instances where two men decided to be married having a tax advantage in mind. That seemed to me pretty unromantic, but I suppose I might do something similar. I've been accused to wanting the honeymoon without the marriage.
Anyway, right now I'm pondering what gift for Jonathan and Jeff would bring sparkle to their eyes. Would a second cat work?
Along the way, I look forward to when the world recognizes that it's past time to pay respect to uncles with an annual Uncle's Day.
Stanley Ely dissects some good and bad of family life in his new book, Life Up Close, a Memoir in paperback and E-book.
from Weddings - The Huffington Post http://ift.tt/1yQYrVw
via IFTTT
Climate Change Gets More Air Time On Some TV News Shows
WASHINGTON -– So far, 2014 has seen a renewed interest in climate change on the Sunday morning political talk shows. In just the first six months of this year, the major newscasts have featured more coverage of climate change than they did in the four previous years combined, according to a new Media Matters analysis.
Media Matters puts together regular reports on broadcast coverage of climate change, and its recent studies have found a shocking shortage of stories on the subject. While the last report found more coverage in 2013 than in 2012, it was still down from the peak in coverage that happened in 2009.
But 2014 has been a busy year for climate stories. In March, a new report from the Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change warned of the threats that climate change poses to economies, food supplies and human security globally. In May, federal agencies released an assessment of climate threats here in the United States. And in June, the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency released the first-ever limits on planet-warming greenhouse gases from existing power plants, which produce nearly 40 percent of domestic emissions.
Among the Sunday shows, ABC's "This Week," CBS' "Face The Nation," NBC's "Meet The Press," and Fox's "Fox News Sunday" have had a total of 65 minutes of climate change coverage so far this year -– which is the same amount they had in 2010, 2011, 2012 and 2013 combined.
"Meet The Press" had the most coverage, with 21 minutes spent on the issue.
The report notes, however, that part of this coverage came in a debate format, in which television personality Bill Nye "The Science Guy" took on Rep. Marsha Blackburn (R-Tenn.), who doesn't think climate change is a real problem. Though host David Gregory led the segment by affirming climate science, Media Matters argues that the debate format in the show "misinformed audiences … with false balance."
"Face The Nation" had 18 minutes of climate programing and "This Week" had 16 minutes. "Fox News Sunday" had one segment on climate change, but the featured guests included George Will and others who, like him, dismiss the reality of climate change. "Fox News Sunday" was also the only show that did not include any climate scientists in its coverage.
The increased coverage comes after a push from senators to improve reporting on climate change in Sunday shows and nightly news. Media Matters reports that coverage on nightly news, however, has not increased so far in 2014.
from Media - The Huffington Post http://ift.tt/1rjPAJn
via IFTTT
Media Matters puts together regular reports on broadcast coverage of climate change, and its recent studies have found a shocking shortage of stories on the subject. While the last report found more coverage in 2013 than in 2012, it was still down from the peak in coverage that happened in 2009.
But 2014 has been a busy year for climate stories. In March, a new report from the Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change warned of the threats that climate change poses to economies, food supplies and human security globally. In May, federal agencies released an assessment of climate threats here in the United States. And in June, the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency released the first-ever limits on planet-warming greenhouse gases from existing power plants, which produce nearly 40 percent of domestic emissions.
Among the Sunday shows, ABC's "This Week," CBS' "Face The Nation," NBC's "Meet The Press," and Fox's "Fox News Sunday" have had a total of 65 minutes of climate change coverage so far this year -– which is the same amount they had in 2010, 2011, 2012 and 2013 combined.
"Meet The Press" had the most coverage, with 21 minutes spent on the issue.
The report notes, however, that part of this coverage came in a debate format, in which television personality Bill Nye "The Science Guy" took on Rep. Marsha Blackburn (R-Tenn.), who doesn't think climate change is a real problem. Though host David Gregory led the segment by affirming climate science, Media Matters argues that the debate format in the show "misinformed audiences … with false balance."
"Face The Nation" had 18 minutes of climate programing and "This Week" had 16 minutes. "Fox News Sunday" had one segment on climate change, but the featured guests included George Will and others who, like him, dismiss the reality of climate change. "Fox News Sunday" was also the only show that did not include any climate scientists in its coverage.
The increased coverage comes after a push from senators to improve reporting on climate change in Sunday shows and nightly news. Media Matters reports that coverage on nightly news, however, has not increased so far in 2014.
from Media - The Huffington Post http://ift.tt/1rjPAJn
via IFTTT
BBC Must Increase Number Of Women On Air, Trust Says
The BBC Trust's annual report draws out a clear proposal to "improve the representation of women on air."
The report, which outlines the news organizations priorities for 2014/2015, said that the BBC must address the "gender imbalance" in the content being produced and called on management to develop "a co-ordinated plan."
"We want the BBC to make measurable progress in reflecting better the diversity of the UK population in the BBC’s workforce and its output, in particular increasing the number of women on air," the report read.
The Guardian's John Plunkett pointed out that the BBC Trust's demand -- which it first stated last December -- comes after consistent criticism and repeated requests for more women.
The BBC Trust stated that all efforts to bring more women on air would be part of a "wider diversity strategy" to represent and serve all audiences. The report noted that there had been attempts to address the gender inequality issue in the past, such as an initiative to ensure that 50 percent of BBC local radio stations have a female breakfast presenter.
A recent study by the Women's Media Center illustrates this gender problem in one chart, highlighting that the news is anchored by a man about 60 percent of the time.
(h/t: Poynter)
from Media - The Huffington Post http://ift.tt/1lmEPQN
via IFTTT
The report, which outlines the news organizations priorities for 2014/2015, said that the BBC must address the "gender imbalance" in the content being produced and called on management to develop "a co-ordinated plan."
"We want the BBC to make measurable progress in reflecting better the diversity of the UK population in the BBC’s workforce and its output, in particular increasing the number of women on air," the report read.
The Guardian's John Plunkett pointed out that the BBC Trust's demand -- which it first stated last December -- comes after consistent criticism and repeated requests for more women.
The BBC Trust stated that all efforts to bring more women on air would be part of a "wider diversity strategy" to represent and serve all audiences. The report noted that there had been attempts to address the gender inequality issue in the past, such as an initiative to ensure that 50 percent of BBC local radio stations have a female breakfast presenter.
A recent study by the Women's Media Center illustrates this gender problem in one chart, highlighting that the news is anchored by a man about 60 percent of the time.
(h/t: Poynter)
from Media - The Huffington Post http://ift.tt/1lmEPQN
via IFTTT
Manchester City land in Kansas for US pre-season tour as they prepare to defend Premier League title
Pellegrini and his Manchester City squad jetted in to Kansas Airport on Monday, ahead of their four-match tour of the US, which includes games against AC Milan and Liverpool.
Steven Gerrard quit England with a heavy heart... but he deserved to go out on his own terms and Liverpool will reap benefit
DOMINIC KING: To appreciate what playing for England meant to Steven Gerrard, let us to take you back to early November 2012 and the place where it all began for him.
Liverpool train at Harvard University as Loic Remy flies out to America for medical
Liverpool trained at Harvard University on Monday with Loic Remy on his way out to the US to join his future team-mates. The Reds have agreed a fee of around £8million with QPR for the France international.
Grandpa Surprises Everyone With Age-Defying Dance Moves, Proves You're Only As Old As You Feel
When this elderly man's song comes on, nothing can hold him back.
Not only does he cut a rug so fiercely that he has to throw off his canes, but see around the 1:50 mark how this stud muffin dances with not one, but two ladies. It just goes to show that age is a state of mind, and you're never too old to bust some serious moves.
Get it, grandpa!
h/t PetFlow
Like Us On Facebook
Follow Us On Twitter
from Weddings - The Huffington Post http://ift.tt/1sFumb1
via IFTTT
Not only does he cut a rug so fiercely that he has to throw off his canes, but see around the 1:50 mark how this stud muffin dances with not one, but two ladies. It just goes to show that age is a state of mind, and you're never too old to bust some serious moves.
Get it, grandpa!
h/t PetFlow
from Weddings - The Huffington Post http://ift.tt/1sFumb1
via IFTTT
Did Fox and MLB Snub Tony Gwynn at All-Star Game Because of Chewing Tobacco?
Hall-of-Famer Tony Gwynn was conspicuously not mentioned at the 2014 Major League Baseball All-Star Game. Could it be because later in his life, Gwynn was critical of chewing tobacco, blaming it for the cancerous tumors that eventually took his life?
Mark Townsend of Big League Stew with Yahoo Sports reported that Fox Sports and Major League Baseball issued a joint statement about the non-mention of Gwynn.
Hollywood knows how to handle such tributes. They take a minute or two to show a quick video of all actors, directors, producers, etc. in the midst of their Oscars celebration every year. Why can't MLB? Why, during their three or more hour game, couldn't they have taken a minute to mention those names?
You know that if New York Yankees Shortstop Derek Jeter had perished in a car crash a few weeks before the game that somebody might have said something. Nobody would have said "Well, we want to be fair to Frank Cashen, so we won't mention Jeter."
Maybe there's a reason the silence was deafening.
Before he died, the San Diego Padres star became very vocal about how much trouble chewing tobacco caused him. Cindy Boren with the Washington Post noted that Gwynn "believed that his lengthy habit of using smokeless tobacco was to blame for cancer of the mouth and salivary glands that took his life."
And Fox Sports and Major League Baseball occasionally wag their finger at smokeless tobacco, but neither wants their advertising revenue to "dip."
Photo taken by the author.
High school baseball teams have banned chewing tobacco. College baseball bans chewing tobacco. The minor leagues do too. But MLB doesn't, according to the Boston Globe . Sure they said teams shouldn't make it available in clubhouses, and shouldn't chomp chaw during interviews.
Major League Baseball has a long connection to smokeless tobacco. Chewing tobacco companies used to provide free samples to teams. Baseball cards and bullpens owe their origin to chewing tobacco. Acknowledging Gwynn's death and why it happened might actually lead for calls to ban the substance in MLB.
As for Fox, the network also has an ambivalent relationship with chewing tobacco.
When Gwynn's death was announced and chewing tobacco was cited as a reason by everyone else, a Fox Sports article written by Loren Grush said "But does the science back up the claim? When it comes to the origins of most cancers, many experts are hesitant to attribute the development of tumors to one cause in particular." The article goes on to say there's a possible association between tobacco and such cancers, but it leaves enough of a "maybe." Other articles on the subject are far more clear about the deadly dangers of the chewing tobacco.
Fox has chided lawmakers for calling for bans on smokeless tobacco. Another Fox Sports article says that slugger Josh Hamilton ended his slump when he went back to chewing tobacco. And there's Fox pundit Sarah Palin, who went in front of the NRA to denounce New York City Mayor Michael Bloomberg's tobacco billboard bans, pulling out a can of chewing tobacco to the crowd cheers.
Perhaps Fox and MLB didn't want to mention Gwynn during the game because it might have led to increased calls to ban smokeless tobacco. And that would rile up players, conservatives, and chewing tobacco companies.
John A. Tures is a professor of political science at LaGrange College in LaGrange, Ga. He can be reached at jtures@lagrange.edu.
from Media - The Huffington Post http://ift.tt/1zXLdb4
via IFTTT
Mark Townsend of Big League Stew with Yahoo Sports reported that Fox Sports and Major League Baseball issued a joint statement about the non-mention of Gwynn.
We are deeply saddened by the loss of Hall of Famer Tony Gwynn, an extraordinary individual whose memory we have honored in numerous ways in recent weeks. The Baseball family has sadly lost a number of people this year - including Hall of Famer Ralph Kiner, Frank Cashen, and former All-Stars Jerry Coleman, Jim Fregosi and Don Zimmer - and did not want to slight anyone by singling out one individual.
Hollywood knows how to handle such tributes. They take a minute or two to show a quick video of all actors, directors, producers, etc. in the midst of their Oscars celebration every year. Why can't MLB? Why, during their three or more hour game, couldn't they have taken a minute to mention those names?
You know that if New York Yankees Shortstop Derek Jeter had perished in a car crash a few weeks before the game that somebody might have said something. Nobody would have said "Well, we want to be fair to Frank Cashen, so we won't mention Jeter."
Maybe there's a reason the silence was deafening.
Before he died, the San Diego Padres star became very vocal about how much trouble chewing tobacco caused him. Cindy Boren with the Washington Post noted that Gwynn "believed that his lengthy habit of using smokeless tobacco was to blame for cancer of the mouth and salivary glands that took his life."
And Fox Sports and Major League Baseball occasionally wag their finger at smokeless tobacco, but neither wants their advertising revenue to "dip."
Photo taken by the author.
High school baseball teams have banned chewing tobacco. College baseball bans chewing tobacco. The minor leagues do too. But MLB doesn't, according to the Boston Globe . Sure they said teams shouldn't make it available in clubhouses, and shouldn't chomp chaw during interviews.
Major League Baseball has a long connection to smokeless tobacco. Chewing tobacco companies used to provide free samples to teams. Baseball cards and bullpens owe their origin to chewing tobacco. Acknowledging Gwynn's death and why it happened might actually lead for calls to ban the substance in MLB.
As for Fox, the network also has an ambivalent relationship with chewing tobacco.
When Gwynn's death was announced and chewing tobacco was cited as a reason by everyone else, a Fox Sports article written by Loren Grush said "But does the science back up the claim? When it comes to the origins of most cancers, many experts are hesitant to attribute the development of tumors to one cause in particular." The article goes on to say there's a possible association between tobacco and such cancers, but it leaves enough of a "maybe." Other articles on the subject are far more clear about the deadly dangers of the chewing tobacco.
Fox has chided lawmakers for calling for bans on smokeless tobacco. Another Fox Sports article says that slugger Josh Hamilton ended his slump when he went back to chewing tobacco. And there's Fox pundit Sarah Palin, who went in front of the NRA to denounce New York City Mayor Michael Bloomberg's tobacco billboard bans, pulling out a can of chewing tobacco to the crowd cheers.
Perhaps Fox and MLB didn't want to mention Gwynn during the game because it might have led to increased calls to ban smokeless tobacco. And that would rile up players, conservatives, and chewing tobacco companies.
John A. Tures is a professor of political science at LaGrange College in LaGrange, Ga. He can be reached at jtures@lagrange.edu.
from Media - The Huffington Post http://ift.tt/1zXLdb4
via IFTTT
This Is Why You Should Proofread A College Diploma (PHOTO)
There's a reason proofreading exists.
And apparently, its pitfalls are all too real for this guy, whose diploma from the University of California-Berkley hung on his wall for six years before he noticed a rather unfortunate typo. Or at least, six years before he finally posted it to reddit for all of us to enjoy.
"It has been hanging on our wall like that for years and my wife noticed it when we were packing to move," the redditor who posted the photo wrote.
The opportunities for (dirty) puns here are endless, so we'll leave those up to you -- but we definitely didn't know there was a degree in that particular field.
[h/t Total Frat Move]
from Media - The Huffington Post http://ift.tt/1lmvc4O
via IFTTT
And apparently, its pitfalls are all too real for this guy, whose diploma from the University of California-Berkley hung on his wall for six years before he noticed a rather unfortunate typo. Or at least, six years before he finally posted it to reddit for all of us to enjoy.
"It has been hanging on our wall like that for years and my wife noticed it when we were packing to move," the redditor who posted the photo wrote.
The opportunities for (dirty) puns here are endless, so we'll leave those up to you -- but we definitely didn't know there was a degree in that particular field.
[h/t Total Frat Move]
from Media - The Huffington Post http://ift.tt/1lmvc4O
via IFTTT
Storytelling Returns to Marketing
What do every great movie, book and marketing campaign have in common? The answer: a great story. Now this may seem like an old mantra, but as Internet marketing dominated our agendas in recent years, we focused our energy heavily (and a bit too much in my opinion) on keywords, tags, short-form posts, tweets, etc. While it's OK to be brief in your communications, we can't let our story suffer because of the medium. And with the continued fragmentation of media, we need to return to telling stories because it sets our message apart and helps our meaning ring clear amid the noise in the marketplace of attention.
Part of the beauty of the Internet is that it democratized marketing. Anyone can write a blog which is easily searchable and findable. We can make our own videos which can "go viral" and reach millions of eyeballs. The Internet is the world's biggest "open for business" sign and has profoundly changed how we market. But as the Web has found its way as a tool, it also influenced how we communicate. For a period of time, we were blasting out as much information as we could to build awareness -- and the story suffered. Every SEO company would write "press releases" which said virtually nothing and distribute them to "article farm" websites that published them. No story, no message, just keywords and gobbledygook which somehow improved search results. The smart folks at Google figured it out and have since implemented ongoing changes which favor, yep you guessed it, original, meaningful content.
We need to return to telling our stories and engaging our audience with interesting information. The good news is you need not develop thousands of pieces of content, but you must be smarter about what you are distributing.
I have been noodling over this topic for a while but a couple pieces of communications caught my attention in the past week which are prime examples of the power of storytelling. The first was LeBron James' "essay" in Sports Illustrated . I found it to be a strong piece of PR communications that explained James' position in a way that was believable and authentic. That piece has been analyzed to death in the past week, so I'm not going to get into the details about it -- but I liked it.
The second is an exceptional article written this week by Chip Bergh, CEO of Levi Strauss & Co., who generated a ton of buzz back in May when he suggested that you should never wash your jeans. The story was picked up by news outlets across the country including Good Morning America. While the buzz has little depth, the response published this week tells a real story.
ABC News | ABC Sports News
In an essay that first appeared on LinkedIn as The Dirty Jeans Manifesto , Berg goes into detail about how jeans ought to be washed (infrequently, by hand, in cold water and dried on a line) but also seizes the opportunity to talk about sustainability. Now, jeans that are never washed and last for years meet a lot of my sustainability tests, but Berg also explained how Levi's has dug deep into this issue - and because it was part of a compelling story, I listened. Here's a little bit of it:
The piece goes on to explain what Levi's has done to reduce water consumption in its manufacturing process and also how the company offers guidance to consumers on how to reduce their carbon footprint -- by washing jeans the way Berg professes. He says he washes them himself and that his wife can attest.
By weaving the sustainability message into the story about how often one should wash your jeans, Berg made a lot of people aware of the company's positioning. Before the other day, I never thought for a second about the sustainability of my favorite skinny jeans, but it's now on my radar -- though I don't think I have ever worn any brand other than Levi's.
Berg posted his "manifesto" on LinkedIn, and it was later published on The Huffington Post . The story drove it to wider circulation.
Of course, writing something compelling and posting it on LinkedIn doesn't guarantee it will get viral legs, but that's where professional communications comes into play. Specific tactics are best left for another article, but primarily we need to look at all options, paid and otherwise, to get our "stories" in front of larger audiences. More on that soon.
Have you seen examples of great storytelling lately? And how often do you wash your jeans?
from Media - The Huffington Post http://ift.tt/1zXL9Z1
via IFTTT
Part of the beauty of the Internet is that it democratized marketing. Anyone can write a blog which is easily searchable and findable. We can make our own videos which can "go viral" and reach millions of eyeballs. The Internet is the world's biggest "open for business" sign and has profoundly changed how we market. But as the Web has found its way as a tool, it also influenced how we communicate. For a period of time, we were blasting out as much information as we could to build awareness -- and the story suffered. Every SEO company would write "press releases" which said virtually nothing and distribute them to "article farm" websites that published them. No story, no message, just keywords and gobbledygook which somehow improved search results. The smart folks at Google figured it out and have since implemented ongoing changes which favor, yep you guessed it, original, meaningful content.
We need to return to telling our stories and engaging our audience with interesting information. The good news is you need not develop thousands of pieces of content, but you must be smarter about what you are distributing.
I have been noodling over this topic for a while but a couple pieces of communications caught my attention in the past week which are prime examples of the power of storytelling. The first was LeBron James' "essay" in Sports Illustrated . I found it to be a strong piece of PR communications that explained James' position in a way that was believable and authentic. That piece has been analyzed to death in the past week, so I'm not going to get into the details about it -- but I liked it.
The second is an exceptional article written this week by Chip Bergh, CEO of Levi Strauss & Co., who generated a ton of buzz back in May when he suggested that you should never wash your jeans. The story was picked up by news outlets across the country including Good Morning America. While the buzz has little depth, the response published this week tells a real story.
ABC News | ABC Sports News
In an essay that first appeared on LinkedIn as The Dirty Jeans Manifesto , Berg goes into detail about how jeans ought to be washed (infrequently, by hand, in cold water and dried on a line) but also seizes the opportunity to talk about sustainability. Now, jeans that are never washed and last for years meet a lot of my sustainability tests, but Berg also explained how Levi's has dug deep into this issue - and because it was part of a compelling story, I listened. Here's a little bit of it:
...In 2007, [Levi's] conducted an extensive "lifecycle assessment" of a pair of jeans to understand the carbon footprint of one pair of jeans and just how much water and energy a pair of jeans "consumes" in its lifetime, from "cradle" (growing the cotton) to "grave" (recycling, reuse, or worst case, to a landfill).
... An average pair of jeans consumes roughly 3,500 liters of water - and that is after only two years of use, washing the jeans once a week. Nearly half of the total water consumption, or 1,600 liters, is the consumer throwing the jeans in the washing machine. That's equivalent to 6,700 glasses of drinking water!
The piece goes on to explain what Levi's has done to reduce water consumption in its manufacturing process and also how the company offers guidance to consumers on how to reduce their carbon footprint -- by washing jeans the way Berg professes. He says he washes them himself and that his wife can attest.
By weaving the sustainability message into the story about how often one should wash your jeans, Berg made a lot of people aware of the company's positioning. Before the other day, I never thought for a second about the sustainability of my favorite skinny jeans, but it's now on my radar -- though I don't think I have ever worn any brand other than Levi's.
Berg posted his "manifesto" on LinkedIn, and it was later published on The Huffington Post . The story drove it to wider circulation.
Of course, writing something compelling and posting it on LinkedIn doesn't guarantee it will get viral legs, but that's where professional communications comes into play. Specific tactics are best left for another article, but primarily we need to look at all options, paid and otherwise, to get our "stories" in front of larger audiences. More on that soon.
Have you seen examples of great storytelling lately? And how often do you wash your jeans?
from Media - The Huffington Post http://ift.tt/1zXL9Z1
via IFTTT
CNN Shows Us How NOT To Cover MH17 Crash
There are right times to use a pun on the news and well, there are wrong times.
Monday morning was the latter for CNN's Chris Cuomo, who was reporting live from the site where Malaysia Airlines Flight 17 crashed last week. Cuomo asked Congressman Mike Rogers (R-MI) to “shoot down” the possibility that missiles launched by Ukrainian forces could have downed MH17. He quickly realized his own gaffe, adding, “Excuse the pun.”
(h/t Mediaite)
from Media - The Huffington Post http://ift.tt/1lmv9Ww
via IFTTT
Monday morning was the latter for CNN's Chris Cuomo, who was reporting live from the site where Malaysia Airlines Flight 17 crashed last week. Cuomo asked Congressman Mike Rogers (R-MI) to “shoot down” the possibility that missiles launched by Ukrainian forces could have downed MH17. He quickly realized his own gaffe, adding, “Excuse the pun.”
(h/t Mediaite)
from Media - The Huffington Post http://ift.tt/1lmv9Ww
via IFTTT
Wayne Rooney favourite to be next England captain with Joe Hart and Gary Cahill also in contention
Bookmakers have already installed Wayne Rooney as favourite to be England’s next captain in the wake of Steven Gerrard’s international retirement. As if they had much choice.
Subscribe to:
Posts (Atom)