BuzzSugar

The Office Convention: A Few Highlights

BuzzSugar — Mon, 29 Oct 2007 16:01:23 PDT

Oh, how I wish I could have been in Scranton over the weekend for The Office convention! About 3,000 people bought tickets for the event, and others came by just to check out the scene. Many of the show's writers, including executive producer Greg Daniels, were in attendance, as was most of the supporting cast (though the big four - Steve Carell, Rainn Wilson, Jenna Fischer and John Krasinski - weren't there).

It's a good thing that Office fans are a tech-savvy bunch, because there are tons of photos, videos and stories from the weekend online. Here are a few of my favorites:

Here's a video of Al Roker hosting the Today Show live from Scranton.
Check out local band The Scrantones playing the show's theme song - with Creed on guitar!
Office Tally has a ton of coverage, including footage from the writers' panel.
The Scranton paper reports that writers have finally discovered a few Pennsylvania treats including Yuengling beer and the Boscov's department store.
Pop Candy has some great video highlights, including scenes from the look-alike contest and Office Olympics.

Were any of you there? If so, share your stories in the comments below!

Source

The Office Convention Just Keeps Getting Cooler

BuzzSugar — Mon, 15 Oct 2007 10:30:54 PDT

Have you booked your tickets to Scranton yet? The Office Convention is now less than two weeks away, and the lineup of visiting guests is making this event a must-attend for serious Dunder Mifflin-heads.

As of today, almost the entire supporting cast of is scheduled to attend the Oct. 26-28 events, from Creed Bratton to Angela Kinsey to Mindy Kaling (Kelly). Executive producer Greg Daniels will also be in attendance, bringing with him writers Paul Lieberstein (Toby) and Craig Robinson (Darryl). So far, it's not looking like any of the big four (Steve Carell, Jenna Fischer, Rainn Wilson, John Krasinski) will make the trip - but who needs them when you've got Bob Vance, Vance Refrigeration?

The organizers have put together a truly inspired schedule of events, including a live Today Show broadcast with Al Roker, a character look-alike contest, the Office Olympics, and, yes, a Casino Night. Tickets range from $25 ("the intern") to $250 ("corporate"), with varying numbers of events, cast appearances and VIP parties included in each.

So, who's going to be Buzz's Electric City correspondent for the weekend?

Source

8 Life Lessons Learned From CES 2012

Kristy Korcz — Thu, 12 Jan 2012 13:31:59 PST

This year's CES didn't just teach us about gadget trends and the future of the industry - it also taught us a few things that we'll remember in our everyday lives as well. Here, we offer up a few tips to take with you on your next journey to a big tech conference, or to keep in the back of your mind for life. Trust me: our pain is your gain!

Get plenty of sleep. Between long hours on the show floor and various industry parties (and afterparties), there's a good reason we'd love to see siesta lounges at CES. But if you can't nap during the day, be sure to get enough shut eye at night. This is true even for the real world, where you've got emails, shows, and news to catch up on. Put away the laptop at a decent hour and get your beauty rest. You'll wake up refreshed and ready to take on the day's to-do list.
Carry water. Downing coffee, cocktails, and Diet Cokes, coupled with the dry weather in the desert, and filtered air in the hotels and casinos can cause dehydration fast. Keep a bottle of water on you at all times. This not only keeps your skin fresh, lips hydrated, and head clear, but it'll keep you from overheating due to thirst.
Wear good shoes. Did I mention how much we walked at CES? Seriously, the biggest expo I've ever seen, it spans the Las Vegas Convention Center and surrounding hotels. It's not hard to walk six miles in a single day. Multiply that by three or four days, and you've got yourself a good workout. Dress your feet appropriately for CES, and everyday life, since it can save your back later down the road.
Get in the lunch line early. Hungry bloggers line up to get their lunches far before the 11:30 a.m. call time. Although we never saw a shortage of food, who wants to wait in another line when you're tired and hungry? This is another way to say "eat your lunch." Skipping meals can lead to headaches and crankiness, symptoms you don't want to experience when you're in a fast-paced and crowded space or in your office.

Check out the rest of the list when you read more.

11 Sure-Fire Ways to Save on Last-Minute Trips

Emily Co — Thu, 10 Nov 2011 13:10:42 PST

If you haven't booked your Thanksgiving trip, you better get going. Fees are going up and up, and it doesn't seem like they're about to drop. Since there are going to be fewer travelers this year and airlines have cut thousands of seats this holiday season, ticket prices are expected to be six to 12 percent higher than last year. Here are some ways you can still save as a last-minute traveler:

Be realistic: Keep in mind that tickets are going to be more expensive, so don't keep hoping that you'll be able to get tickets for the same price you got last year. Factor in the six to 12 percent increase in costs.
Act fast: Don't hold off on booking and keep telling yourself that it's going to go down. If you see a good deal, just book it before it rises - you're out of time. I've made that mistake before and the prices just kept rising, so I had to change my travel plans. If you're willing to risk it, use the fare predictor on Bing Travel to give you an idea of whether the ticket price is about to rise or fall.
Use your points: When prices are inflated, it's the perfect time to use the reward points you've accumulated. Play around with the points you have in every account to see which one gets you a better deal. You can often combine points and cash to get the flight, hotel, or car you want. Remember that you don't always get a better deal when you're redeeming items in the same category. Sometimes you can get a great rental car deal with mileage points or a flight with hotel reward points. To better organize your points, be sure to sign up for Award Wallet. It's a site that'll help you view all your rewards in one place.
Ask for points: Another idea is to ask a family member or a good pal to donate some points to you to help you out. Depending on the program, the process can be quite lengthy or old school - the donor might have to go directly to a mortar and brick office to book on your behalf or they might also be charged a fee for transferring points. Offer to cover the fee to compensate them for giving you a hand.

Read on for more ways to save.

Grey's Anatomy Rundown, "What Is It About Men"

Becky Kirsch — Fri, 07 Oct 2011 08:06:57 PDT

Let's hear it for the boys! The ladies of Seattle Grace are MIA, allowing this week's episode of Grey's Anatomy to focus solely on the menfolk. Each of the male surgeons is dealing with some feelings of anger, whether it be in their career or personal life - but, as the episode tells us, that doesn't mean they want to talk about it. Ultimately, Derek signs up all of his colleagues for his house-building anger management program, and helps the guys hammer out their problems. Literally.

There are bromance troubles brewing with the patients too, as the latest disaster to hit Seattle involves a freak accident at a local comic book convention. You know what that means: zombie nurses, hobbits, and Game of Thrones references abound. It's one of the more comical episodes we've seen in awhile, which is a refreshing change of pace. Let's break it down when you

Let's Name All the Romantic Comedy Clichés We Can Think Of

Shannon Vestal — Wed, 28 Sep 2011 11:47:07 PDT

This week, The Office star Mindy Kaling took on romantic comedies for The New Yorker, both declaring her love for the genre and criticizing some common clichés, like the portrayal of the heroine as a beautiful klutz, or as an "ethereal weirdo." She's right on, and as if on cue, the second New Year's Eve trailer dropped, with its own spate of rom-com conventions. Since many of us are guilty of loving bad movies despite their formulas and predictability, I want you to name as many romantic comedy clichés you can think of. Here are a couple to get you started: the opposites who are obviously meant for each other (The Proposal) or the beautiful woman in love with the guy who somehow doesn't notice her, despite her aforementioned good looks (27 Dresses). Your turn: name as many clichés as you can, whether they annoy you, please you, or remind you what kind of movie you're watching.

Which Postal Service Has the Best Prices?

Emily Co — Wed, 07 Sep 2011 03:05:05 PDT

The United States Postal Service is in dire straits and may be forced to close this Winter if Congress doesn't take emergency action, reports the New York Times. The financial troubles of the USPS have been dragging on for some time now, but it's about to come to a head - the agency can't pay off a $5.5 billion payment meant for retirees' future health care that's due this month and is facing a possible bankruptcy.

Just like many businesses, the postal service's revenue is being threatened by the digital age. People are sending less items through conventional mail and relying on the Internet to communicate with each other. Another contributing factor to its money troubles is the "decades of contractual promises made to unionized workers, including no-layoff clauses, are increasing the post office’s costs."

With all this happening, I'm sure a lot of consumers are interested to know if the other delivery service can match up to the USPS. Here's a quick price comparison of the three postal services when mailing a one, five, 10, and 15-pound standard overnight package from San Francisco to Chicago:

Weight (in pounds)	USPS	FedEx	UPS
1	$31.60	$54.86	$57.79
5	$49.70	$77.67	$80.50
10	$73.30	$107.30	$110
15	$91.90	$136	$138.58

Although prices vary by factors such as type of package and the distance it's going to travel, USPS generally is the cheaper bet, especially for letters and packages that are lighter than two pounds. If USPS were to file for bankruptcy and start shutting more and more of its offices, it would be a loss for consumers. How often do you go to the post office?

Does Your Beauty Routine Prevent You From Working Out?

Leta Shy — Fri, 26 Aug 2011 11:22:29 PDT

Some women wash and go, but others take their time to get ready. Those post-workout long beauty routines are a reason why some women don't exercise, says the US surgeon general, Dr. Regina M. Benjamin.

Dr. Benjamin recently spoke at a hair convention to try to encourage women to stop using their beauty routines as an excuse to skip exercise. "Oftentimes you get women saying, 'I can't exercise today because I don't want to sweat my hair back or get my hair wet," she said. "When you're starting to exercise, you look for reasons not to, and sometimes the hair is one of those reasons." Her message to women concerned? Your health is more important than your beauty routine, so stop worrying about the threat of a bad hair day.

Many women spend a lot of time on their beauty routine, whether it's applying the perfect amount of makeup or making sure every hair is in place. For me, early morning or midday workouts mean taking that extra step to make sure I've de-frizzed, blow-dried, and hairsprayed my way to an office-presentable look. So instead, I usually go after work - I can power through a sweaty workout and go home (and shower there if I have any evening plans). While I don't skip a workout because of my temperamental hair, I definitely think about it when I am scheduling when to exercise, and I can understand how frustrating post-gym hair can be. If you can relate, our beauty tips for getting in and out of the gym quickly may help!

How about you; does your beauty routine ever prevent you from working out?

Apples Top This Year's Dirty Dozen List

Susannah Chen — Mon, 13 Jun 2011 15:15:59 PDT

Could an apple a day mean more, not fewer, trips to the doctor's office? The Environmental Working Group (EWG) released its annual Dirty Dozen and Clean 15 lists today, and the report shows that apples are among the most pesticide-laden fruits on the market.

According to the environmentalist group, apples - the country's most popular fruit after bananas - have the highest composite levels of pesticides of any produce. Although most of the pesticide amounts found were within guidelines that federal regulators consider OK to eat, EWG found pesticide residue in 98 percent of the country's conventionally grown apples. Also topping that list? Celery, strawberries, peaches, and blueberries. Cilantro, which was tested for the first time since the program's inception, featured at least 30 unapproved pesticides.

More reassuring is the Clean 15, EWG's list of produce with the lowest levels of pesticides. Those include skinned fruit and vegetables such as onions, corn, pineapples, avocado, and watermelon; sweet peas, kiwi, and grapefruit are also on the list. You can download both comprehensive lists on EWG's website.

I've always questioned the need to buy organic berries, but at this moment, they seem well worth the potential price. Are you concerned about pesticides in your produce? If so, what do you make sure to buy organic?

The Lincoln Lawyer: Hop In

Lauren Bradshaw — Fri, 18 Mar 2011 03:05:00 PDT

After films like Ghosts of Girlfriends Past, Surfer Dude, and Fool's Gold, Matthew McConaughey hasn't exactly had the best track record as of late. So can a movie about a money-grubbing lawyer with a license plate that reads "NTGUILTY" actually be the way to break his pattern of bad movies? The answer is yes: The Lincoln Lawyer is an entertaining thriller that does more than put the actor's charm on display.

Based on the novel by Michael Connelly, the film centers on Mick Haller (McConaughey), a smooth-talking criminal attorney who's a hustler to his core. He represents the underbelly of LA - bikers, prostitutes, druggies - and his methods of doing business are anything but conventional. Instead of an office, Mick prefers to work from his car (a Lincoln town car per the title) where he wheels and deals. As one character remarks, Mick would've done pretty well for himself on the streets; he knows whose palm to grease to get what he wants whether it's a photographer with valuable video or a local cop. That may make Mick sound like a two-dimensional sleazeball and sometimes he is, but there's also more to him than meets the eye.

Find out more about why the film is worth seeing when you

read more. Mick has run into his share of shady lowlifes over the years, but perhaps none has ever frightened him as much as his latest client, Louis Roulet (Ryan Phillippe). A playboy with deep pockets, Louis has been convicted of assault after being arrested in a beaten-up prostitute's apartment with blood on his hands. He swears he's innocent, and Mick believes him - at first. But after inconsistencies crop up in Louis's story, Mick starts to question the man he's dealing with and his own conscience. That's the thing about Mick; even though he represents some scumbags, he's actually kind of a good guy himself. The father to a young daughter, he's still on good terms with his ex-wife (Marisa Tomei) and his friendship with his detective (William H. Macy) is surprisingly sweet amidst their sarcastic back-and-forth banter. Mick is a likable character thanks to the script, but it's McConaughey who really makes him work. From the opening scene when he flashes his white smile at the camera to when he's staring down Louis in fury, McConaughey embodies Mick's range of emotions and elevates what's essentially a popcorn flick. The rest of the actors turn in solid performances as well. Tomei plays tough but vulnerable, and Phillippe runs the gamut from a stuck-up but silly brat to downright psychotic. There's a surprising amount of humor for a legal thriller, but some of the laughs are unintentional as a result of the dialogue. Mick is supposed to be a slick guy, and the script wants to knock you over the head to remind you of this fact, but in most cases, McConaughey pulls it off. With his Southern drawl delivery, he's still delightful to watch - and he doesn't even have to take off his shirt.