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!

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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?

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Sex and Hare Krishna: Mad Men's Mother Lakshmi Didn't Follow the Rules

Annie Scudder — Mon, 21 May 2012 12:03:03 PDT

This week on Mad Men, we get a visit from Paul Kinsey, who has gone from progressive, pipe-smoking copy editor to confused Hare Krishna devotee. The Hare Krishna movement was founded in NYC in 1966, the year that's coming to a close on this season, and attracted beatniks like Allen Ginsberg and Beatle George Harrison, one of its most famous followers. The International Society for Krishna Consciousness, or the Hare Krishna Movement, as it is officially known, is based on Hindu traditions and got the attention of the city's hippies when it started. Ironically, it did not back free love.

On the episode, Paul Kinsey's Hare Krishna love interest, Mother Lakshmi, decides to seduce Paul's friend and former co-worker, Harry Crane. Showing up at the office, she lets Harry believe that sleeping together is not against the rules of the religion. You can't blame Harry for believing her, since the Hare Krishna meeting he attended had a strong counter-culture vibe. But in fact, "no illicit sex" is one of the four regulative principles of Hare Krishna consciousness.

Sexual contact is only OK between married couples for the purpose of reproduction, and sex is considered the most powerful connection to the material world, a bond Hare Krishnas want to break. The other three rules include: no eating meat, fish, or eggs, no gambling, and no use of intoxicants. Devoted Hare Krishnas would have disapproved of Roger Sterling's acid drop. But, of course, not everyone followed the rules in the '60s and high-profile members like Allen Ginsberg disagreed with the prohibitions.

Vegetarianism and yoga were part of what made Hare Krishna exotic back in the 1960s, while its negative attitudes toward premarital sex were conventional then. Today, things have switched around. Its rule against sex for pleasure seems extreme, thanks to the sexual revolution, while vegetarianism and yoga have gone mainstream.

8 Ways to Make Your Own Career Luck

LearnVest — Wed, 25 Apr 2012 00:15:52 PDT

People often say that you make your own luck, but how do you make your own career luck and get the job of your dreams? LearnVest shares how you can do so.

You sit next to someone on an airplane who later helps you land your dream job.

Your dentist’s daughter is a book editor, and wouldn’t you know it, she’d just love to publish your memoir.

You have a role model in your industry, and your roommate’s fiancé just so happens to be her best friend.

OK, chance doesn’t always work out as we might wish . . . but a few travel apps, a weak economy, and plenty of gumption got us thinking.

Cajoling Lady Luck may be easier than ever, with new services like Planely, a Danish start-up, and Satisfly, a Hong Kong-based start-up. Both apps connect passengers before their flights, so they can see the Facebook profiles of fellow travelers and choose seats by people they’d like to meet. Airlines like Dutch carrier KLM and Malaysia Airlines are getting in on the act with similar services of their own. Sharing and viewing this social media info is, of course, optional all around.

Read on for more.

Instagraming Organizing Trends at Salon Internazionale del Mobile

Guest Writer — Thu, 19 Apr 2012 03:00:15 PDT

One of these years we're hoping to jet off to Milan for Salon Internazionale del Mobile - but 2012 isn't our year. Luckily, we had a correspondent in Milan to trend spot for us. Ginny Snook Scott, Chief Design Officer for California Closets, hit the show floor and is reporting back on the latest finds and trends coming out of this super chic, international furniture fair. With 24 convention halls total at the fair, there’s no shortage of inspiration, new products, people, designers, and wish list items to explore. Given Ginny’s expertise in custom storage design, Ginny reported back on the pieces that inspire her when creating new designs and storage elements for the brand. Take it away, Ginny!

Window Shopping: 10 Cool Items For Whovians

Kristy Korcz — Sun, 25 Mar 2012 14:36:50 PDT

The official Doctor Who Convention is underway in the UK, and while you may not be able to travel to Cardiff to get your own TARDIS set tour, you can outfit your home, bedroom, and office in Doctor Who-related goods wherever you are. We've got shopping on the brain, so take a gander at some of our picks for Whovians in the gallery.

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

In the few moments that Meredith appears in this episode, we see that she and Derek are sharing a bed again, but there's still some tension between them. Derek's none-too-pleased about having a new resident on his staff, and it only makes things worse when Karev makes no attempt to hide his apathy toward neuro. Luckily, Derek's found a solution - building his new deck! He heads out there to deal with his frustrations, and over the course of the episode, offers solace to his friends as well.
Owen's trying to settle into his new job as chief of surgery, but it's not exactly a smooth transition. Getting bogged down in paperwork makes him feel helpless, so he tries getting rid of his office to make himself feel more useful. When that doesn't work, Hunt decides to get his hands dirty - by punching out a big guy who's making a ruckus in the ER. His transgression is fun to watch throughout the episode; it's easy to see that he's uncomfortable being the head honcho in the big office, and much prefers to be down in the trenches taking care of business.
Owen's not the only one having trouble adjusting; Webber is in a state of limbo. His fellow surgeons still see him as the chief that's too good to be roughing it with them, while he just wants to be part of the action. He finds his niche in teaching Jackson and Karev to appreciate what they've got. (Speaking of which, how depressing are the scenes where Webber is talking about Adele?) He does eventually get through to the young whippersnappers, and has Karev finding the "joy" in his surgeries again.
Jackson finally finds a solution to his issues with Mark. Derek sees the potential in Jackson and offers him a surgery in neuro, but Jackson sticks to his guns - and sticks it to Mark, using reverse psychology on him to convince Mark that he deserves to lead a surgery a plastics. Unfortunately, when he hints that he might want to work with Derek, Mark lashes out at his friend for stealing Jackson away.
As for Mark, he's on solo baby-sitting duty while Arizona and Callie are away, which of course, is the time that baby Sofia decides to roll over for the first time (is it just me or did she roll right off the couch?). When Sofia seems too content, Mark automatically assumes that something must be wrong with her. As it turns out, he's just being a good dad, and Sofia's fine. That's not enough to calm Mark down, though; he's been quietly holding a grudge about being passed over for Owen's job. Derek's answer to Mark's problems? He needs to get laid.

What are your thoughts on this week's episode? Did you miss the ladies or was it fun to get a man's perspective for a change? Are you missing Lexie as much as I am (the girl has been gone all season!)? Tell me all about it in the comments.

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.