BuzzSugar

What to Netflix: New DVD Tuesday

BuzzSugar — Tue, 12 May 2009 07:30:16 PDT

All of the new DVD releases hit stores (and Netflix) on Tuesdays. So each week in What to Netflix: New DVD Tuesday, I sort through the best of the batch and tell you what to add to your queue.

Taken
I never got around to seeing Taken when it was in theaters, so I'm glad it's out on DVD. The movie stars Liam Neeson as a former spy whose daughter (Maggie Grace) is kidnapped while vacationing with a friend in Paris. The kidnappers work for human traffickers, which gives the plot an even creepier twist.

Special features include an extended cut audio commentary by director Pierre Morel, cinematographer Michel Abramowicz and car stunt supervisor Michel Julienne, and a making-of featurette.

56%

Two more up next so

read more. Underworld: Rise of the Lycans I'm intrigued by this prequel to the first two Underworld films that explains the origins of the big feud between the Vampires and the Lycans. The story follows Sonja (Rhona Mitra) and Lucian (Michael Sheen) who lead the Lycans in a battle against the Vampire king Viktor (Bill Nighy - love that guy). While it's not a critical darling or anything (see the splat below), it looks action-packed and fantastically fun. Special features include a script-to-screen featurette, a piece about creating the look of Underworld: Rise of the Lycans, and a music video. 32%
Passengers This curious little movie starring Anne Hathaway and Patrick Wilson only played in 125 theaters for like, a minute. Which is strange because sure, it looks so-so but both of those stars are hot right now, and plenty of mediocre movies play in theaters for awhile. I hope some of you check it out and let me know what you think. The plot description from Netflix: "When therapist Claire Summers (Anne Hathaway) starts working with the surviving passengers of a plane crash, she discovers that their account of the tragedy differs significantly from the airline's official, sanitized version. As she digs for the truth, the survivors suddenly begin to vanish, and Claire finds herself swept into a dark world of intrigue and conspiracy." Special features include deleted scenes, and director and cast commentary. 23%

Movie Preview: Anne Hathaway in Passengers

BuzzSugar — Fri, 05 Sep 2008 15:30:53 PDT

This first trailer for a new thriller called Passengers starring Anne Hathaway and directed by Rodrigo García (who wrote episodes of In Treatment and has directed shows including Six Feet Under) is puzzling for several reasons. For one thing I haven't heard all that much about it, even though it opens next month. For another, it's difficult to understand what specifically this is about.

Here's the plot as IMDB understands it: "After a plane crash, a young therapist, Claire (Anne Hathaway), is assigned by her mentor (Andre Braugher) to counsel the flight's five survivors. When they share their recollections of the incident - which some say include an explosion that the airline claims never happened - Claire is intrigued by Eric (Patrick Wilson), the most secretive of the passengers."

In the preview there is talk of special gifts that the survivors suddenly have and other worlds and stuff like that. I really like the cast, and the premise gives me chills, but there is something kind of off about it. It's almost cheesy, actually, though it also reminds me a little of that show The Nine, which I liked even if nobody else did.

Passengers opens Oct. 24. To check out the trailer for yourself,

Brilliant or Baffling: San Francisco Airport Opens Yoga Room

Emily Co — Fri, 27 Jan 2012 00:15:26 PST

If you ever happen to stop by the San Francisco Airport, you might want to check out its new yoga room, which officially opened yesterday. The room, available from 4:30 a.m. to 12:30 a.m., is located in SFO's newly renovated Terminal 2, and only passengers will get to try it out - it's stationed past the security checkpoint. If yoga is not your thing and you still want to meditate, check out the Berman reflection room, which is a "center for quiet self-reflection and meditation."

What do you think of this new perk?

Consumers Now Get a Full Refund on Airline Tickets If Cancellation Is Within 24 Hours

Emily Co — Tue, 24 Jan 2012 14:24:45 PST

Hooray for air travel rights! Airline passengers can celebrate the new regulations by the U.S. Department of Transportation, which take effect today. Some of these include:

Getting a full refund on all airline tickets if you cancel within 24 hours of making the reservation as long as the departure date is at least one week away.
Holding a reservation without payment.
Passengers have to be notified immediately of cancellations and delays longer than half an hour.
Ticket prices "generally" can't be increased after they are bought (this regulation is pretty vague, but hopefully it'll offer some protection).
Baggage fees must be disclosed when customers book a flight.
Mandatory taxes and fees have to be included in airfares displayed in advertisements.

I think the full refund of airline tickets is a huge bonus and will save lots of people money in the long run. Further, some of these new rules will definitely cut down on a lot of needless discussions with customer service reps! Which regulation are you the most excited about?

6 Digital Etiquette Tips For 2012

Kelly Schwarze — Fri, 20 Jan 2012 06:30:55 PST

There's still time to break the bad habits of 2011 and kick off the year with a fresh take on the tech etiquette that may be driving your co-workers crazy and even have consequences to your health. Be a considerate digital user in 2012 by breaking these six technology habits.

Walking or driving while texting - we've seen the ad campaigns warning against distracted driving, but it seems every time we're on the highway, we pass a driver glancing at their phones instead of the road. The same goes for the busy city street pavements you pound during lunch for exercise. If you're texting or otherwise fiddling with your phone while walking, not only are you likely to be walking slow and annoying other pedestrians, your distracted movements may keep you from seeing an upcoming intersection, a clear recipe for disaster. Put the phone away for a few minutes and take in the scenery of the street.
Loud cell phone chats on the bus - the commute to and from work is rarely the highlight of an average day, but we're all in this together. Be kind to the other passengers and leave the loud stories of last night's date or the boss's attitude for when you get home.
TMI overload - your friends love keeping up with your life adventures via Facebook and Twitter, really they do! It's junior's potty adventures or how takeout leftovers made you feel today that gets people hovering their cursor over the Unsubscribe button. Play it safe and avoid talk of bodily functions on social networks.

See the rest of the tech etiquette tips to keep in mind for 2012 after the jump.

High-Tech Navigation Soars on Virgin America Planes

Kelly Schwarze — Thu, 15 Dec 2011 04:30:49 PST

The FAA's announcement that American Airlines pilots can use iPads in the cockpit at all times in flight, including takeoff and landing, is just one example of how airlines are evolving with technology. Virgin America, an airline known for tech partnerships like gate-side Chromebook rentals, also makes sure the people flying the planes have the latest gear as well.

During a recent press trip on the airline's inaugural flight to Puerto Vallarta, the staff showed off the geeky details of the Airbus A320 that make it one of the industry's most state-of-the-art birds. The A320 planes all lack the steering wheel, or "yoke" as it's actually called, that most people have come to expect to see when imagining how planes work, with Airbus instead opting to design a joystick steering mechanism reflective of the video games popular in the '80s at the time it was first created. Geek factor aside, the side-stick control is a practical option, as it gives pilots a more comfortable in-flight experience and the option for a pull-out tray just like cabin passengers.

It may not be an iPad, but the gadget of choice for Virgin America pilots is the NavAero tPad, which serves as an Electronic Flight Bag, replacing the heavy and cumbersome paperwork and maps that pilots once carried constantly. The EFBs are the navigation tools for a crew of the 21st Century.

Peep another angle of Virgin America's side-stick and tablet-powered cabin after the break.

The Most-Overlooked Tax Deductions

Kiplinger — Mon, 05 Dec 2011 16:50:44 PST

We're thrilled to present this smart Kiplinger story here on Savvy!

Every year, the IRS dutifully reports the most common blunders that taxpayers make on their returns. And every year, at or near the top of the “oops” list is forgetting to enter their Social Security number at the top of the tax form - or making a mistake when entering those nine digits.

But think about it for a minute: Do you think that’s the most common mistake . . . or simply the easiest to notice?

One thing we know for sure is that the opportunity to make mistakes is almost unlimited, and missed deductions can be the most costly. About 45 million of us itemize on our 1040s - claiming more than $1 trillion worth of deductions. That’s right: $1,000,000,000,000, a number rarely spoken out loud until Congress started tying itself up in knots trying to deal with the budget deficit and national debt.

Another 92 million taxpayers claim about $700 billion worth using standard deductions - and some of you who take the easy way out probably shortchange yourselves. (If you turned 65 in 2011, remember that you now deserve a bigger standard deduction than the younger folks.)

Yes, friends, tax time is a dangerous time. It’s all too easy to miss a trick and pay too much. Years ago, the fellow who ran the IRS at the time told Kiplinger's Personal Finance magazine that he figured millions of taxpayers overpay their taxes every year by overlooking just one of the money-savers listed below

How to Stay Calm and Savvy When Your Flight's Been Canceled

Leta Shy — Wed, 23 Nov 2011 11:14:15 PST

If you're a traveler, it's never too early to have a game plan in case something unexpected happens, whether it's a canceled flight or a completely shut down airport. I asked Heather Dickson, acting publisher of the Lonely Planet guidebooks, for advice on what to do if you find yourself in these situations happen to you.

On what you should do if your flight's been canceled: "Stay calm, check your ticket contract and get in touch with your airline. All airlines have plans if flights are canceled, but policies can differ from carrier to carrier. Knowing what your ticket contract says can help you obtain the best result for your canceled flight."

On what to do if your airport has shut down: "When airports close, flights are either canceled or diverted to a nearby airport. If you are diverted then it's generally carrier policy to ensure flight connection to your final destination. In either case it's important for travelers to build more time into their journey, have a back-up plan and continue to check in with the airline. Many airlines offer mobile notification services, which give you early notice on the status of your flight and airport closures. Signing up for this service can save you time at the airport."

Read on for more of Heather's advice.

Bert and Ernie Tell You How to Get to Sesame Street and Everywhere Else

Rebecca M Gruber — Mon, 14 Nov 2011 08:33:06 PST

Guess who knows how to get to Sesame Street? Given Bert and Ernie's new job, it's a safe bet that they know their way around town. The Sesame Street duo are the latest to lend their voices to TomTom navigation system, making a traffic jam a lot more fun for everyone in the car.

For $13, parents can download the popular characters' voices to help them navigate their way anywhere from grandma's house to the local gymnastics class, adding a lil humor to the ride, such as, "U-turn ahead, Bert. Just me turn? All of us Bert." Take a look at a clip of the characters trying to record for the system and tell us, are they a fun distraction for antsy passengers or a headache waiting to happen for mom?

TSA Agent Finds Packed Sex Toy, Writes Gross Sexual Note

Tara Sharp — Tue, 25 Oct 2011 11:19:00 PDT

Blogger Jill Filipovic discovered a sexual note from a TSA agent in her luggage after the agent came across a vibrator in her bag. She tweeted the image of the note that said "get your freak on girl," saying, "Just unpacked my suitcase and found this note from TSA. Guess they discovered a 'personal item' in my bag. Wow."

While at first Jill thought the note was funny, she still calls it "wildly inappropriate" and plans on filing a complaint with the TSA. She said, "I hope they do see the complaint, they'll look into it and remind their staff that going through people's personal belongings is a responsibility that should be treated with some modicum of professionalism."

Best case scenario it was a fellow female agent reassuring the passenger to not be embarrassed about traveling with a sex toy, but more likely it's something much more ick-inducing. What would you do if that happened to you? Do you think it's funny or a serious violation of privacy? Read the note below.