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The Digital Smiley Face Turns 25 Today : )

GeekSugar — Wed, 19 Sep 2007 09:00:37 PDT

Can you believe that the cute little smiley emoticon which we've all grown to love turns 25 today? According to The New York Times, on Sept. 19, 1982, professor Scott E. Fahlman was the first to use the three infamous keystrokes-a colon followed by a hyphen and a parenthesis, to create a horizontal smiley face in a computer. He used it during a discussion about the limitations of online humor.

And from that, the smiley face was born as a way for computer users to convey a positive feeling and gesture through digital means. The : ) symbol has since been transformed into a yellow bubble smile like the one shown here for use in IM's and emails.

Thanks to TeamSugar cageyme for letting us know about this momentous day!

Behind the Scenes at Sundance: Portrait Gallery

BuzzSugar — Tue, 23 Jan 2007 06:00:58 PST

One of my favorite things about the Sundance Film Festival is the portrait studio. Between schmoozing and talking up their movies, the casts of each film pose for a series of casual yet artful shots that are inexplicably fun to look at. Maybe there's just something about seeing people like Sienna Miller and Steve Buscemi, who star together in Interview, mugging like they're old friends.

I've collected my favorite pics so far from the festival films, including Smiley Face starring Anna Faris, Mandy Moore's Dedication, The Nines starring Elle Fanning and Ryan Reynolds, Year of the Dog with Molly Shannon and Peter Sarsgaard, John Cusack in Grace is Gone, Waitress with Keri Russell, and the awesome young cast of The Good Life (pictured above). To see the rest of the portraits,

View 36 Photos ›

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2007 Sundance Film Festival: Comedies

BuzzSugar — Fri, 19 Jan 2007 05:34:47 PST

The Sundance Film Festival kicked off on Thursday in Park City, Utah. It's tough to underestimate the significance of Sundance, since the awards handed out and the subsequent buzz have helped to make many now-mainstream films successful, including Clerks, Memento, Murderball, and Hustle and Flow. I did some research to find out what films look the most promising and thought I'd share what look to be this year's stand-out projects. For today's installment, I'll focus on the must-see comedies.

Smiley Face
Starring The Office's John Krasinski (the beloved Jim Halpert), Anna Faris, and Adam Brody, Smiley Face looks like it will become popular with the same crowd that so warmly embraced Napoleon Dynamite. Faris plays an actress whose day goes in an interesting direction when she accidentally consumes her roommate's pot cupcakes.

Three more, so

read more Waitress Keri Russell is at the heart of this Southern small-town film, playing diner waitress Jenna who bakes pies and then gives them endearing names. Unhappily married, she tries to come to terms with her new-found pregnancy when a new man comes to town, turning her little ol' life upside down.
The Ten The cast of MTV's sketch show "The State" have been very productive since the show went off the air, churning out Wet Hot American Summer, Reno 911! and "The Michael Showalter Showalter." This year several of the cast members are going to Sundance with The Ten, a film that intersects ten different stories, each having to do with one of the ten commandments. The cast list features some of my favorite actors: Rob Corddry, Paul Rudd, and Gretchen Mol, as well as big names like Jessica Alba, Adam Brody, and Winona Ryder, so there's someone for everyone in this film.
Broken English The darling of the independent movie industry, Parker Posey gets to play yet another quirky lady in this romantic comedy. Written and directed by Zoe Cassavetes, Broken English tells the story of thirty-something Nora (Posey), whose mother loves to remind her of all she doesn't have: a good job, and the "perfect marriage" enjoyed by Nora's best friend Audrey. Enter an intriguing, oddball Frenchman. A crazy-Posey/crazy-Frenchman love affair? Sounds like a sure bet to me.

A Dash of Sparkle and Glitter at CES

Kelly Schwarze — Wed, 11 Jan 2012 19:23:58 PST

CES is a tech conference, not a disco, but we certainly saw enough shimmering gadget accessories to have us temporarily seeing double (and dancing). Gone is the customized crystal craze of years past, and in its place are mass-produced phone and tablet covers that are anything but subtle.

Want your iPhone to wear a sparkling smiley face and a 3D crystal bow? Boom, done. Along with a teddy bear on a field of crystals and an ombre sunset. Take a look at the products that twinkled in our eye and purchasing information in the gallery, because a phone's life is too short for a plain case.

How to Self-Motivate in 5 Steps

SavvySugar — Tue, 27 Dec 2011 05:15:05 PST

Whether or not the new year means a whole new you, following these tips for self-motivation can definitely lead to a more productive you in 2012. Tackle to-dos and breeze through your schedule with these simple steps:

Plan ahead. It seems like a no-brainer, but creating a to-do list for tomorrow's chores is a crucial part of productivity. Begin by writing a detailed list of individual tasks, then outline an agenda with specific time blocks assigned to each project. Next, decide which items you need to help you complete the list: a sheet of stamps to mail those holiday cards or a packed gym bag for your trainer session, for instance. Gather the necessities ahead of time to make sure your morning runs smoothly.
Be an early operator. Finish the most frustrating projects early in the morning to put yourself in productive mode and get the main stressors out of the way. Feeling accomplished acts as a major mood-booster, and positivity plays a key role in self-motivation.
Keep yourself accountable. To avoid that "I'll just do it tomorrow" moment, set up calendar alerts on your phone or laptop to remind you of your errands. Having to face the notification will force you to think twice. Likewise, tell a friend or family member what you plan to get done. That way, you'll feel a healthy dose of guilt if you consider copping out of your responsibilities.
Fashion a reward system. Gold stars, smiley face stickers, a manicure at your favorite salon - whatever it is, choose a gift for yourself that aligns with your larger goals. If you're hoping to save money, for example, then you probably shouldn't shell out for a new dress to reward yourself. Remember that the size and nature of the reward doesn't matter - simply knowing that there is a reward will be enough to keep you chugging along.
Multitask when you can. Sometimes trying to take care of too many things at once can backfire, resulting in poor performance or half-finished assignments. Still, there are certainly instances when you can add more to your plate, so try to combine jobs - like catching up with your best friend while grocery shopping - to save time and energy.

Do You Use Smiley Faces in Professional Emails?

Emily Co — Fri, 29 Jul 2011 13:04:57 PDT

People generally think emoticons are a professional no-no, but I think it depends on your industry and relationship with the contact. The occasional smiley face could work sometimes when you're trying to soften a sentence or expressing gratitude and enthusiasm. However, it's a good idea to use the happy emoticon sparingly and not plaster it all over your emails. It might just be me, but I think the other emoticons, such as the sad or frowny face, are slightly more unprofessional.

What about you - do you use smiley faces in professional emails?

Group Therapy: How Do I Deal With Girl Crushing on My Boyfriend?

Tres Community — Thu, 20 Oct 2011 03:05:00 PDT

This question is from a Group Therapy post in our TrèsSugar Community. Add your advice in the comments!

So I recently found out that some girl at his school has a crush on him. I saw her text him when he was checking his messages in front of me, and they were laced with cutesy smiley faces and what not. I was obviously upset that he never mentioned this to me, and his reason was that it was because it's not important and that there was nothing to worry about. I have never met his friends either, and when I ask why he never asks me to hang out with them, his reason is that all they do is drink and talk about school. This really pissed me off. And now all I am seeing are red flags. I feel like he never voluntarily shares information about school unless I ask him a bunch of questions. Are there certain expectations that we should communicate to our significant others if they know someone has a crush on them? What should I do?

Have a dilemma of your own? Post it anonymously to Group Therapy for advice, and check out what else is happening in the TrèsSugar Community.

7 Tips to Prevent Turning Off a Professional Contact

Emily Co — Wed, 14 Sep 2011 13:53:02 PDT

When you're trying to establish a professional relationship with someone, it's very easy to turn a stranger off with professional no-nos. You can get away with a lot more once you develop a deeper relationship with the person and when you get a better feel of how that person works. Take heed of these rules when you're communicating with someone professionally:

Try not to contact them after work hours unless it's asked of you: If the other party did not suggest a time to talk after work hours, don't call them or email them after 6 or 7 p.m. unless it's an emergency or if the nature of your job requires you to contact them at night. There's nothing more frustrating than getting a 10 p.m. call to talk about work when it isn't urgent. Many of us like to clock out when work ends, so talking about job-related items can bring back unwanted memories of the daily grind.
Leave their personal accounts alone: Don't contact them about work through their personal email, cell phone, Facebook, or chat when they haven't given you leave to do so. Most people don't like to mix their personal and professional lives, so don't corner them into doing it. However, if they engage you first through these accounts, it is OK to reply to them.
Keep the punctuations and smiley faces to a minimum: When you don't know someone, it's a bit odd to add five exclamation marks at the end of the sentence and say things like "thank you a million times!" Don't overwhelm people before getting to know them. Being overenthusiastic can also come off as being insincere. Ease them into it.
Give them time to reply: If you haven't heard back from someone, don't start bombarding them with emails, texts, and voicemail messages all in one day. Give them a little leeway and wait for them to reply you and try again the next day or even the next week if you have the time to wait.
If they say no, don't push it: If they decline you, don't rephrase the same question and ask it again. The answer is no! Instead give them time to mull it over, present the issue again at a later date, and change the terms to better suit them. The more you push them, the more they'll withdraw. Remember, you can't badger someone into agreeing.
Don't backtrack: Plan what you're going to say and offer carefully. Don't say something, then backtrack and change your words. It's always better to start the relationship off slow because you can then decide how you want to progress based on the results you're seeing.
Remember that their time is precious: Their time is very valuable, so carefully pick what kind of communication works best. Emails are generally less disruptive so if you can convey your message via email, opt for that form of communication first.

Happy Birthday to Michelle Williams - See Her 31 Happiest Photos!

PopSugar — Fri, 09 Sep 2011 15:29:17 PDT

Michelle Williams turns 31 today, and we're highlighting some of her happiest personal and professional moments in celebration. She made it big on TV in the '90s with a role on Dawson's Creek, and has since gone on to star in numerous films like Brokeback Mountain, Blue Valentine, and many more. It was through work that Michelle met BFF Busy Philipps and her longtime love Heath Ledger, and now she's often spotted hanging with her daughter, Matilda, in their Brooklyn neighborhood. New love Cary Kukunaga is currently the one lighting up Michelle's face. So happy birthday to Michelle, and click through to see all her smiley shots!

Ryan Reynolds Jokes About His Awkward Sex Scene With Olivia Wilde

PopSugar — Tue, 02 Aug 2011 10:58:07 PDT

Ryan Reynolds visited The Tonight Show last night to chat all about his new movie The Change-Up. He spoke about working alongside his costar Olivia Wilde, touching on a sex scene they shared. Things got more awkward than usual thanks to a pair of pasties Olivia decorated with smiley faces - check out Ryan's silly story below.