BuzzSugar

USA to Make "Thank You for Smoking" TV Series

BuzzSugar — Mon, 08 Oct 2007 11:25:46 PDT

So, this is weird.
According to Variety, USA has picked up the rights to create a TV series based on the 2006 movie Thank You for Smoking - which was based on the novel by Christopher Buckley. The TV version will have a different title and will pick up where the movie left off: "Nick Naylor, having kicked some of his more evil lobbyist habits, will use his rhetorical skills to help people more deserving of aid." As USA programming chief Jeff Wachtel puts it, "He'll live somewhere between the morally ambiguous character of the movie and Robin Hood."

Apparently, this has been in the works for a long time.
Wachtel and Smoking author Buckley went to college together and originally Wachtel wanted the novel to be a series on USA but "the challenge was how to make that character live successfully in our network." Writer James Dodson who is spearheading the TV script has apparently solved this problem.

I don't get it.
To me, this seems random and pointless. There's already been a movie based on the novel... how much further can they stretch out this story? And why are they continuing to try? I'm casting a wary eye on this project. What do you think?

Chick-a-Dee: A Smoke Detector For Design Fans

Elka Karl — Thu, 02 Feb 2012 11:47:17 PST

During the New York International Gift Fair this past weekend, bloggers nominated their favorite products, with Evan Orensten from CoolHunting naming the Chick-a-Dee his personal favorite. Designed by artist Louise van der Veld, the Chick-a-Dee smoke detector was developed through a Dutch design contest that aimed to raise raise public awareness of fire hazards in and around the home. Fifty designs were submitted, and the Chick-a-Dee smoke detector emerged as the winner thanks to its innovative, unique design and social relevance.

For design lovers, the Chick-a-Dee provides a smoke detector that's a joy to look at in your home - not a liability. And who can argue with a chirping, rather than beeping and screeching, smoke alarm? At the first sign of smoke, the Chick-a-Dee makes the chick-a-dee-dee call of the bird it's named after, with the call's volume increasing and turning into a loud dee-dee-dee sound if smoke thickens.The Chick-a-Dee comes with a battery with a one-and-a-half-year battery life and a three-year warranty.

You can buy one online for around $79 US, or wait until the product hits the virtual and real US shelves this month.

13 Foods For Freaky Friday

YumSugar — Fri, 13 Jan 2012 14:55:19 PST

In honor of Freaky Friday (today's Friday the 13th!), I thought I'd pull together a list of 13 freaky foods. Even if you don't have triskaidekaphobia (the fear of the number 13), you may be afraid of some of the things on this list. I know there are a bunch of other freaky things out there (how about almost anything Andrew Zimmern eats on his show?), so if you think something's missing, we want to hear it.

#13: Bubble Tea
I personally love this stuff; however, I've known quite a few folks who are freaked out by the tapioca inside of the tea. Come to think of it, I know a lot of people freaked out by tapioca in general . . .
#12: Squid ink pasta
I don't have a problem with this lovely pasta dyed with squid ink, but some find eating black pasta to be just a bit too freaky.
Keep reading to see more freaky foods perfect for Friday the 13th.

What We're Sweet On: A Smoky, Sultry Eye Shadow Palette

Jaime Richards — Fri, 14 Oct 2011 03:05:00 PDT

The great thing about smoky eyes, besides the fact that they add an element of intrigue to any ensemble, is that you can wear them in so many ways. With Smashbox's Smokebox Photo Op Eye Shadow Palette ($42), from its Fall 2011 Girls on Film collection, the possibilities are endless. Pile it on or play it subtle - without spending loads of time in the process - thanks to the shadows' highly pigmented, easy-to-spread formulas.

The set includes six shades that range from light peach (Bliss) to a subtle shimmery, deep charcoal (Blacktop). Peel the label on the back side to uncover two looks (soft smoke and smoldering cat-eye), along with step-by-step tutorials on how to get them. You can even use a QR reader app on your phone to see a video of the brand's pro lead artist, Lori Taylor, demonstrating the looks. Holy smokes, indeed.

The Vampire Diaries "The Birthday": The Good, the Bad, and the Bloody

Shannon Vestal — Fri, 16 Sep 2011 10:00:13 PDT

The Vampire Diaries is back! The series marked its return with a birthday party, a highly anticipated sex scene, and a sadistic new personality for Stefan. While Elena and Damon are left in Mystic Falls, Stefan is off gallivanting as Klaus's puppet, partying it up and dismembering the occasional Southern belle.

While we didn't get to see much heat between Damon and Elena (aside from a jealousy-inducing bubble bath scene), the premiere episode set up and even gave us a cliffhanger and a couple brief moments of emotion. To talk about it all, just check out the good, the bad, and the bloody after the jump

The Secrets Behind Jennifer Aniston's Golden Glow Revealed

Jaime Richards — Wed, 20 Jul 2011 15:48:43 PDT

Jennifer Aniston always looks like she just returned from a fabulous beach vacation, but sometimes the star gets a little help elsewhere to achieve her signature golden glow. For the Horrible Bosses premiere in London earlier today, her sexy luminous look was in part thanks to her longtime makeup artist, Angela Levin, who used St. Tropez's new Gold Illuminator ($23) as her secret weapon. "It's so subtle, but makes all the difference," Levin explains. So to see her expert tips on how you can re-create Jennifer's entire red-carpet makeup palette, just keep reading.

Group Therapy: How Do I Get My Husband to Go to the Doctor?

Tres Community — Sat, 16 Jul 2011 03:05:36 PDT

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

This shouldn't be something I have to crowdsource an answer for, but I need a sounding board for how to get my hubby to see a doctor. I know guys have some innate thing that makes them hate doctors and my guy is a perfect example of this. He's literally not been to a doctor for a single damn thing in over 5 years. Mind you, he's not in perfect health, he just chooses to avoid medical help. He's been smoking since he was 12 (18 years now) and has recently developed a really bad hacking cough that scares the crap out of me. I smoked for 9 years - the last several years I kept asking him to quit with me so I would have the moral support but gave up on waiting for him - and quit on my own last year. He has started thinking more positively of quitting after watching how easily I kicked it with just the patch and peanut butter M&M's, but I fear that he's already got serious concerns that we should monitor if not treat, above and beyond the simple need to get him to quit smoking eventually.

Anyhow, I'm rambling about this . . . the main question is: how can I convince him that he needs to take time out of his schedule and go see the doctor for a physical at the very least? I always get the excuses of "not enough time" or "too expensive" or whatever, and even if I get him to agree to schedule an appointment, he'll either never schedule it or he'll miss/cancel the appointment. It took me 6 freakin' years to get him to get new glasses, I don't want it to take another 10 years to get him to see a doc about potential emphysema, copd, bronchitis, the big C, etc. My grandfather died of lung cancer and emphysema - I don't want to even think about my hubby going through the same thing Grandad did . . .

thanks sugars!

- Biwife

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.

How to Be the Perfect Houseguest

LearnVest — Fri, 15 Jul 2011 00:15:17 PDT

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

At the beach, in the mountains or in the big city, being invited to a friend’s place not only lets us catch up with loved ones but also lets us save on hotels.

Of course, the flip side is that there’s a totally different set of expectations (read: you can’t throw your towels on the floor). If you’re not a master of houseguest etiquette, you might come off as ungrateful and inadvertently ruin your chances of visiting again next year.

We don’t want you to break a long tradition of shacking up at your aunt’s cute beach house every summer, so we’ve put together a guide to being the perfect houseguest.

Be Clear About How Long You Will Stay

Make sure you lock down your visiting dates far in advance with your hosts . . . at their invitation. Don’t ever be vague or hope to stretch out your visit after you arrive. If your BFF says she’ll be busy after Labor Day, book your return ticket to leave a full day before so she has some time to herself.

No Surprises, Please

Never show up unannounced - or, even worse, with a puppy, child, significant other or friend (even if it’s a mutual friend), unless you've cleared it with your host beforehand. You may call it spontaneous and fun . . . your cousin and her husband may call it inconvenient.

Read on to find out how to be the perfect houseguest.

Buckingham Palace Drops More Royal Wedding Details

Susannah Chen — Mon, 18 Apr 2011 11:07:07 PDT

With less than two weeks to go, Buckingham Palace is finalizing details on the royal wedding, including what guests will have to eat and drink. The world already knows what kinds of cake Prince William and Kate Middleton will be cutting into - but what about the rest of the menu?

Following the wedding, 600 guests will head to the palace for a reception where they'll feast on 10,000 some odd canapés, including smoked salmon on beet blinis and quail eggs sprinkled with celery salt. Although the bride and groom will have some say, the majority of the menu will be decided upon by the Queen herself.The bubbly will likely come from Bollinger, the official Champagne of the royal family. That includes the French house's top-of-the-line Vielle Vignes Françaises - given the stamp of approval, as the seal reads, "by appointment of the Queen Elizabeth II, the Royal Majesty" - as well as, some speculate, the small-production Grand Année 1999 vintage. And in traditional fashion, the groom will probably make the first toast to thank the bride's family.

Boy, do I wish I were one of those lucky 600 - but I don't envy the 21 chefs who'll be toiling away at 10,000 canapés come April 29. What do you think of the royal menu?

Update: Turns out all the Bollinger speculation was incorrect. It's been confirmed that Prince William and Kate are bucking tradition and serving nonvintage Pol Roger at the wedding!

Dietitians Dish: How to Feed Your Skin

Guest Writer — Tue, 05 Jul 2011 02:26:10 PDT

The following post was written by the registered dietitians of C & J Nutrition, Stephanie Clarke and Willow Jarosh. We turned to them for their expert advice to answer a FitSugar reader's question on the relationship between diet and skin care.

Hi,
I need some help with my skin and breakouts. Are there any foods you recommend avoiding to decrease acne? Any foods you recommend to improve the quality of my skin overall? Thanks!
- Edible Skin Tricks?

Research is really varied as to how diet may affect acne. You’ll often hear people cite dairy as a cause of acne, but again, research really hasn’t been able to back this up solidly. If you think a specific food might be triggering breakouts, keep a food journal to see if there’s a correlation. According to some researchers, spiked insulin levels from eating too many refined carbs. Sugary, processed foods can cause inflammation in the body (including skin cells) that leads to premature aging and wrinkles. Make sure to choose whole grains and whole grain products, beans, fruit for your carb choices most often.

In general, for the healthiest-looking skin we recommend:

Not smoking and avoiding spending time around smoke and do wear sunscreen/hats when spending time outside.
Eat foods rich in antioxidants – they destroy free radicals – research says vitamin C, E, A (beta carotene), and selenium nourish and protect skin, which can help keep it looking better for longer! (P.S. Retin-A, Renova are high potency vitamin A creams.) Here's more on those vitamins.