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Buzz Gift Guide: The Coolest Coworker

BuzzSugar — Tue, 09 Dec 2008 06:30:34 PST

Welcome back to my Buzz Gift Guide series for all the entertainment lovers in your life. Yesterday I thought up some stocking stuffer ideas and today I'm covering some of my favorite folks: Coworkers!

When I first spotted this "cassette tape" tape dispenser, I was immediately smitten, and I think a music-loving office mate might be, too.

Most things related to The Colbert Report crack me up and this dry erase board that lets people know whether or not they're "on notice" is hilarious (the list is started for you with things like "black hole at center of galaxy"). It's a good one for that coworker who sends you video clips of the show all the time.

Have a fan of The Office in your office? This kit is fun and will allow them to "Dunderize" their cube. And for the work buddies who love to quote Office Space, they can avoid a case of the Mondays with Milton's red stapler.

Finally, I read a great book titled Then We Came to the End back in June for my Buzz Book Club and although the subject matter (layoffs at an advertising agency) probably hits close to home for folks this year, it's not exactly depressing. In fact, I think it provides some comedic relief to a tense and difficult topic. It's a worthwhile recommendation for the bookworms in the office.

A few more ideas below, so scroll on through!

Then We Came to the End by Joshua Ferris ($11.19)	The Tape Dispenser ($25.00)
Swingline Collectors Edition 747 Rio Red Business Stapler ($17.99 )	The Colbert Report: You're On Notice Dry Erase Board ($11.99)
The Office Dunderize Your Cube ($28.00)	Whatever It Takes Mug - David Bowie ($19.99)

Check out HolidaySugar for all of our holiday coverage and gift guides.

Buzz Book Club: Then We Came to the End, The End

BuzzSugar — Fri, 27 Jun 2008 09:30:08 PDT

Welcome back Buzz Book Club readers! This week my June selection, Then We Came to the End, came to an end - and what an ending it was! This final section combined things that I'm frightened of (scary clowns) with a little bit of hope and some sharp final insights into the fear, apathy, and intimacy that make up modern work life. Plus, this was hands-down the funniest section of the book despite (or because of?) how twisted it was.

If you're new to the Book Club, this is how it goes: Every week I'll suggest chapters to complete by the next post. In these weekly Book Club posts, I'll posit a few questions to prompt discussion in the comments section.

After the jump you'll find some questions that struck me as I read this section.

And stay tuned for the announcement of my July book club selection!

To discuss the final section of Then We Came to the End

Tom really falls apart in this section, and yet what he does (shooting people with a paintball gun) is sort of hilarious. His conversation with Joe in jail seems like a pivotal moment: Tom tried so hard to be apart from the group by being outrageous, and it landed him in a bad spot; Joe, meanwhile, also stood apart from the group but just by being his normal self. What do you think is the book's ultimate message about group-think, individuality, and the workplace?
In this section, we learn the fates of most of the characters - Benny and Marcia are engaged, Jim is now a boss, etc. Which surprised you, and which seemed perfectly in line with what you were expecting?
Speaking of the characters: The book starts with the word "we" and ends with the words "you and me" - and we still don't know the identity of either the "you" or the "me." And yet, I feel like I know the character of the narrator so well. What do you make of that choice?
There's so much that's poignant about Hank's scenes at the end of the book, from the fact that none of his old coworkers remember him to the revelation that his book includes the chapter about Lynn that we read earlier. I found this to be moving and brilliant on Ferris' part. What did you think?
I could totally see this working as a movie (with the right director, perhaps). Could you see this being adapted for film? Who could you see playing Karen Woo, Benny, Joe Pope, Genevieve, Lynn Mason, Tom and the others?

Buzz Book Club: Then We Came to the End, Section Three

BuzzSugar — Fri, 20 Jun 2008 09:30:16 PDT

Welcome back Buzz Book Club readers! This week my June selection, Then We Came to the End, continues to be a potent mix of hilarious insights into the American working life and sad moments of souls being crushed. It's easy to see why this has been such a critically successful book: The tone is so spot-on.

Here's a recap of how the Book Club goes if you're new: Every week I'll suggest chapters to complete by the next post (which, in this case, will go up every Friday in June). In these weekly Book Club posts, I'll posit a few questions to prompt discussion in the comments section.

Of course, you are always welcome to read beyond the weekly chapters, but please don't spoil anything in the comments! After the jump you'll find some questions that struck me as I read this section.

The next assignment: Finish the book! We'll discuss the end next Friday, June 27.

To discuss the third part of Then We Came to the End (in which we read the chapter titled "The Thing to Do and the Place to Be" and the first two chapters of the section called "Returns and Departures."),

In "The Thing to Do and the Place to Be," the narration suddenly switches from the collective "we" of the office workers to the mind of Lynn Mason. Why do you think Ferris wanted to tell Lynn's story in that way? Did the change in style work for you?
By this point, it's pretty clear that the book is far more character-driven than plot-driven. Some action does happen (Yop tossing the chair into the river, etc.), but for the most part, it takes a backseat to the new things we're learning about the characters. Are there particular characters whose stories are keeping you engaged with the book? Are you having a hard time caring about any of them?
This section taught us a lot about Joe, especially through his story about why he strives not to be a part of any group. Do you think that helps or hinders him in his office relations? And do you think, as Genevieve says, that "everybody's part of a group"?
I was struck by this passage: "Even with the best of intentions, it was impossible not to offend one another. We fretted over the many insignificant exchanges we found ourselves in from day to day . . . and next we knew, we had offended someone with an offhand and innocent remark." That seemed to sum up so much of the overly polite but subtext-laden conversation that takes place in offices everywhere. Could you relate to that - from your office work or otherwise?
As we are easing into the final section of the book, do you have any theories or ideas about what the title, Then We Came to the End, might mean?

Buzz Book Club: Then We Came to the End, Section Two

BuzzSugar — Fri, 13 Jun 2008 08:30:51 PDT

Welcome back Buzz Book Club readers! This week, my June selection, Then We Came to the End, took a turn for the dark. At the start of the book, I spent most of my time laughing, but in this section, I found myself doing a lot more cringing. If last week I thought it was "equal parts devastating and hilarious," this part was a bit more devastating - but I'm still completely hooked on the story.

Of course, you are always welcome to read beyond the weekly chapters, but please don't spoil anything in the comments! After the jump you'll find some questions that struck me as I read this section.

The next assignment: Read the chapter titled "The Thing to Do and the Place to Be" and the first two chapters of the section called "Returns and Departures." We'll discuss this section next Friday, June 20.

To discuss the second part of Then We Came to the End (in which we read to the end of the section titled "You Don't Know What's In My Heart"),

This section had a lot of disheartening things in it - from the way Tom talked to Marilynn in the hospital to the horrid things someone is doing to Joe Pope. The first week, I laughed maybe 85 percent of the time and cringed the other 15 percent; this week, the ratio was nearly reversed. Did you find this section more awkward, or were you still chuckling?
The characters seem like insatiable gossips, so obsessed with knowing everything about the details of everyone's lives. But as we saw numerous times - from Carl's depression to Janine's lunchtime trips to the McDonald's - knowing a lot about someone is not the same as knowing them. Why do you think the characters need to know so much about people they might not care much about on any real level? And have you been in situations similar to that?
On a similar note, why do you think the "we" characters are so obsessed with picking apart Lynn and Joe (who, for the most part, seem relatively sane and well-adjusted)? Is it just an attempt to pick out weaknesses with anyone in a position of power?
The characters get worked up not just about people but about things - like the serial numbers on the chairs. What do you think is behind that obsession? Have you ever encountered similar obsessions in your office lives?

Buzz Book Club: Then We Came to the End, Section One

BuzzSugar — Fri, 06 Jun 2008 07:30:07 PDT

Welcome back Buzz Book Club readers! I'm really loving (and relating to!) my June selection, Then We Came to the End. Author Joshua Ferris' observations about working life in America are so sharp, and I'm really impressed with his ability to capture the essence of this world that most of us know so well. I'm finding it equal parts devastating and hilarious, which makes for a read I hate to put down.

Of course, you are always welcome to read beyond the weekly chapters, but please don't spoil anything in the comments! After the jump you'll find some questions that struck me as I read this section.

The next assignment: Read from the start of chapter three until the completion of the section titled "You Don't Know What's In my Heart." (Stop before you read the chapter titled "The Thing to Do and the Place to Be" - that will be part of the following assignment.) We'll chat about this second section a week from today, Friday, June 13.

To discuss the first section of Then We Came to the End (in which we read from the start of the book until the end of chapter two of the section titled "You Don't Know What's In my Heart"),

First of all, how are you taking to the first person plural narration of the story (otherwise known as the "we" voice)? Do you find it at all jarring? Or did it make sense to you right off the bat? Have been at all preoccupied with trying to figure out who is, or is not, part of the “we”? Or do you think that’s utterly beside the point?
Already, there is so much to relate to in this book. I found this passage captured a certain mindset I'm certainly familiar with: "We believed that downturns had been rendered obsolete by the ingenious technology of the new economy. We thought ourselves immune from things like plant closings in Iowa and Nebraska, where remote Americans struggled against falling-in roofs and credit card debt." What about you? What passages so far nailed the way your office works or the way you view your job?
The book has a lot of obvious similarities to other office-related literature, film, etc. (The Office and Douglas Coupland books come to mind for me), but one thing that stands out is that the characters actually do like their jobs, at least sometimes. The “we” narrator reminds us in the midst of stories of corporate power trips and sushi rolls on walls that most of the time, the work is fulfilling and they’re happy to put in long hours to get something done. Is that a more accurate representation of work in the 21st century than the paper-pushing drudgery of something like The Office? Which work situation do you relate to more - or is yours somewhere in between?
It's probably fair to describe Tom Mota as "disturbed," but regardless, I can't help but crack up at his crazy antics. He's just so ridiculous! Which characters so far are you really enjoying, and why?

Buzz Book Club: Then We Came to the End

BuzzSugar — Fri, 30 May 2008 12:45:13 PDT

Hello Buzz Book Club readers! Between covering the ins and outs of the Sex and the City movie and reading Four Blondes as my last book club selection, I'm a little spent on the fabulous lives of women in New York City.

And while I'm excited for summertime, the truth is that many of us are stuck in an office during these sunny days. So, I thought a fun way to get us through the doldrums of gazing longingly out the window would be to commiserate with a hilarious book about life on the cubicle farm.

Introducing my June selection: Then We Came to the End: A Novel by Joshua Ferris.

The book has received all kinds of buzz and critical acclaim, so I've been excited to read it. Stephen King called it "hilarious" and the New York Times named it one of the best books of 2007.

For those of you new to my book club format, here's how it works: I'll announce a new book each month. Every week I'll suggest chapters to complete by the next post (which, in this case, will go up every Friday in June). In these weekly Book Club posts, I'll posit a few discussion-provoking questions for you to respond to in the comments section.

To find out what Then We Came to the End is all about and to get the first assignment,

read more. The synopsis for Then We Came to the End reads: "It's 2001. The dot-com bubble has burst and rolling layoffs have hit an unnamed Chicago advertising firm sending employees into an escalating siege mentality as their numbers dwindle. As a parade of employees depart, bankers boxes filled with their personal effects, those left behind raid their fallen comrades' offices, sifting through the detritus for the errant desk lamp or Aeron chair. Written with confidence in the tricky-to-pull-off first-person plural, the collective fishbowl perspective of the 'we' voice nails the dynamics of cubicle culture - the deadlines, the gossip, the elaborate pranks to break the boredom, the joy of discovering free food in the breakroom. Arch, achingly funny, and surprisingly heartfelt, it's a view of how your work becomes a symbiotic part of your life. A dysfunctional family of misfits forced together and fondly remembered as it falls apart. Praised as 'the Catch-22 of the business world' and 'The Office meets Kafka,' I'm happy to report that Joshua Ferris's brilliant debut lives up to every ounce of pre-publication hype and instantly became one of my favorite books of the year." (Brad Thomas Parsons) The first assignment: Read from the start of the story until the end of chapter two of the section titled, "You Don't Know What's In my Heart." We'll chat about this first section a week from today, June 6.

Design Inspiration: Francis Ford Coppola Bernalda Hotel in Wall Street Journal Magazine

Stylelist Home — Tue, 31 Jan 2012 10:26:45 PST

I'm happy to present a post from one of my favorite sites, Stylelist Home.

Allow us to dream a little this week. Ever since we flipped through the latest issue of Wall Street Journal Magazine, which hit newsstands this weekend, we've been thinking (a lot) about filmmaker Francis Ford Coppola's new hotel/family home/palazzo. And we say the place is all of the above because it seems to basically serve as a home for the Coppola family when they're there but doubles as a very luxurious boutique hotel.

Located in the Southern Italian (and totally obscure) town called Bernalda, this hotel is Coppola's fifth, and as is with his movies, he went all out. Not only did Coppola recruit the famous designer Jacques Grange to help with the interiors, he also tapped his sons and filmmaker daughter Sofia to pitch in on the hotel's design. They each got to design a room, and the end result is basically a series of spaces that look like really lavish movie sets, naturally. Nonetheless, it wasn't an easy project given that the original structure dates from 1870. "This was a restoration project, but the idea was to restore it with a younger, summer feeling, hence the wicker furniture and the palette, which is so modern and fresh," says Grange.

And we can definitely see what Grange is referring to, especially in the bedroom that he designed with Sofia Coppola (shown, above). Inspiration for the room came from another nearby villa, and both Grange's impeccable style and Sofia's feminine touch are apparent in there, from the trellis patterns on the wall to the pastel-color checkered floor. Of course, we also found there to be a bit of Marie Antoinette grandeur in Sofia's bedroom.

To read the full article and see more photos of the Coppola family's palazzo hotel, head over to Wall Street Journal Magazine. And let us know in comments below what you think of Sofia's bedroom and the hotel.

The Help's Win, Love For 30 Rock and Modern Family, a Scorsese Drinking Game - Highlights From the SAG Awards!

Allie Merriam — Mon, 30 Jan 2012 08:22:03 PST

Michelle Williams was the first presenter at this evening's SAG Awards, handing the outstanding supporting actor statue to Christopher Plummer from Beginners. Octavia Spencer took home the corresponding statue for her work in The Help.

On the TV end, Alec Baldwin squealed with delight when he was named best actor in a comedic series, and an especially stunned Betty White, from Hot in Cleveland, dedicated her prize to her leading ladies Wendie Malick, Valerie Bertinelli, and Jane Leeves. The child actors from Modern Family, Ariel Winter, Rico Rodriguez, and Nolan Gould, got a chance to take the podium when their series won outstanding cast in a comedy. Miniseries accolades went to two absent stars, Kate Winslet for Mildred Pierce and Paul Giamatti for Too Big to Fail.

Bridesmaids' Maya Rudolph, Kristin Wiig, and Melissa McCarthy brought some comedic relief when onstage introducing their film as a contender in the best ensemble category. The trio came to the stage armed with vodka, beer, and champagne, and introduced a drinking game based around the word "Scorsese." Jessica Lange then followed up on her Golden Globes win with another victory in the category of best dramatic actress on a TV series for American Horror Story. Steve Buscemi won an Actor for his leading role on HBO's Boardwalk Empire. TV ensemble in a drama honors went to Steve's whole cast, giving him an additional opportunity to invoke his producer Martin Scorsese's name as an excuse for a drink.

There was a slight upset in the best actor in a film category - The Artist's Jean Dujardin beat out Leonardo DiCaprio, Brad Pitt, Demián Bichir, and George Clooney. Viola Davis claimed the best female actor in a motion picture for The Help, and beamed from the stage in her Marchesa gown. Further acclaim went to the cast of Viola's movie, with their Actor statues being handed off by none other than Brad Pitt. We've rounded up the full list of 2012 SAG Award winners, and make sure to check out all the action from celebrities on the SAGs red carpet!

"My Ex Gave His First Born a Name I Picked Out"

Tres Community — Wed, 25 Jan 2012 03:05:00 PST

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

My ex and I dated for two years, during which we had two miscarriages. Since I'm a typical woman, I did have a few names in mind that I really liked, which I shared with him, as we had already come close to having a baby. I want to emphasize that I was the one that picked out the baby names, he simply agreed to them.

We broke up March of 2011, and it was really hard on me. In April and May, I continued to casually see him in hopes that we would get back together, but since it never happened, I decided to instead take a summer-long vacation across the country to give myself some space. Throughout June, he was calling me like crazy wanting to get back together. It seemed like whenever one of us wanted to get back together, the other one didn't. We ended up staying out of touch in July and August for this reason.

In September, he came back into the picture and we casually started seeing each other again. We saw each other maybe once or twice a week, nothing extreme. Once December rolled around, he started to contact me with a lot more frequency. He passed by my job frequently, posted Facebook statuses about missing me, invited me to outings with his family, cooked me dinner, sent me e-mails several times a day and wanted to talk on the phone a lot. I honestly was very confused.

This past Friday, through Facebook, I find out that he had a baby. I was very hurt, especially considering that he got this girl pregnant approximately a month after we originally broke up. I feel used and stupid because he deceived me and hid this from me for the past nine months, during which he tried to get back together several times and we still remained intimate.

I'm entirely confused as to why he would give his new daughter a name (both first and middle) that I had picked out for our future kids. Isn't this an insult to both me and his baby's mother? Why would he do that? I wouldn't have been bothered with it if we hadn't had any pregnancies in our relationship, but we did. And we referred to the two separate pregnancies by the unique names that I had chosen. I'm not upset, I'm simply in shock. I feel like this is a huge no-no, and I can't help but think that he's always going to think of me when he hears his daughter's name. Please help clarify this situation for me.

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.

George Clooney Reveals an On-Set Injury and Talks Politics at Critics' Choice

Lindsay Miller — Thu, 12 Jan 2012 19:47:16 PST

A dapper George Clooney snapped up the best actor honor at the Critics' Choice Awards tonight before stopping to talk about The Descendants and his take on politics with reporters. George weighed in on his slightly dorky wardrobe in the film and an on-set injury he said he hadn't revealed until now. He also shared a sweet moment with his friend Viola Davis, who won best actress, as they hugged and posed for pictures together backstage.

On his on-set injury: "Amara, who is the younger child, had never been on a set before, and she went behind me, one day when were sitting in Kauai, so we're out in the middle of nowhere, and took her hand and smacked me on top of the head, because that's what she does. And it was funny, but it broke my two front teeth and I had to go shoot. So I had to go get Krazy Glue and take my pieces of my teeth and glue them in to finish the shot. And Alexander [Payne, the director] came in and saw me gluing my teeth in and made some joke about the fact that I really was from Kentucky."

On his wardrobe in The Descendants "That was almost ending all masculinity, the minute you pulled the khakis up about there, and the Hawaiian shirt tucked in down to there."

On the moment he realized the movie resonated with people: "The first time we showed it to . . . a critical audience and the first time we understood and heard people laughing. Because the funniest thing is, when you're doing it, there are a few moments in the film that we knew were going to be funny, but there were a lot of moments . . . that weren't necessarily there as the actors. The actors didn't know. So it was nice to hear some of the laughter, because that really set up some of the really rough stuff later."

On what he would do if he were president: "OK, I'm going to get right on that, because that seems like such a fun job, doesn't it? There's not much I could do there. There are very smart people around - much smarter than me - doing the best they can."

On using his fame for good causes: "As someone who's not in politics . . . I find that it's very helpful to find one or two specific things to educate yourself about and try to exploit that as much as you can. Exploit your fame or whatever that is to focus on that . . . I find that for people in my position that get an awful lot of attention - a lot of attention - it's nice to be able to refocus that on people who can't get any attention."