GeekSugar

US Congress Launches Their Own YouTube Channels

GeekSugar — Wed, 14 Jan 2009 02:00:33 PST

Taking their cue from Barack Obama's high-tech campaign that won him the presidency, the US Senate and the House of Representatives have launched their own YouTube channels in order to connect with the American public. Although past restrictions have prevented government officials from posing on outside websites, the rules have quickly changed to catch up with the online population.

Not only will the Senate's Official YouTube page bring you messages straight from your senator's office, but you'll also catch some behind the scenes tidbits, like which senators entered into a friendly wager on the Florida Gator/Ohio Buckeye game, and which one had to pay up in push-ups. As for the House of Representatives, they like to stay a little more low key - you can get your burning questions answered from the Reps themselves, and find out how many friends Ohio Representative Tim Ryan has on his Facebook page. That's right, he's on Facebook.

Gabrielle Giffords Says an Emotional Goodbye to Congress

Annie Scudder — Wed, 25 Jan 2012 10:25:39 PST

Today officially marked Gabrielle Giffords last day in Congress. The Arizona Democrat resigned from the House of Representatives to focus on her recovery after she was shot in the head more than a year ago. Republicans and Democrats alike praised Gabby, today. Nancy Pelosi thanked Gabby for bringing "the word dignity to new heights by her courage. On the House floor, colleagues tried to hold back tears, while tributing Gabby, who received a standing ovation as she handed her letter of resignation to Speaker John Boehner. In the letter, Gabby wrote: "I will recover and will return, and we will work together again, for Arizona and for all Americans." As for the Republican Speaker, he appeared to be crying openly as he held Gabby's hand.

Gabby decided to step down so she can dedicate herself fully to her recovery. Only a few months ago, Gabby gave her first televised interview with her supportive husband, US astronaut Mark Kelly, by her side. As Gabby struggled a bit with her words, viewers could see her resilience as she explained she wouldn't return to political life until she was "better." Over the last year, Gabby and her husband Mark have inspired us with their positive outlook. We wish her the best. See photos of Gabrielle Giffords saying goodbye to Congress today.

Kristen Bell and Don Cheadle Talk About Their Dirty Talk on House of Lies

Shannon Vestal — Fri, 13 Jan 2012 03:05:00 PST

Showtime's midseason comedy House of Lies has all the elements of a bold cable series: lots of drama, foul-mouthed characters, and sex, sex, sex. The show is about the consultants of firm Galweather & Stearn, who are committed to doing whatever it takes to make their clients happy - even if that means compromising their morals. Stars Don Cheadle, Kristen Bell, and Ben Schwartz joined showrunners at the Winter TCA to talk about their new show and morally ambiguous characters.

Bell acknowledged that the role of Jeannie is "more provocative than anything [she's] ever done," especially in comparison to her previous TV role on Veronica Mars. When she was asked if she was enjoying the "naughty talk" on the show, she went for shock value and exclaimed that she was "f*ckin' enjoying the hell out if it!" More seriously, she said that as Jeannie, "sometimes I have a potty mouth," and added that "it's nice to not to have those limitations."
Cheadle said that the decision to do a TV series wasn't out of the ordinary for him, because he wants to "spread [his] wings, so to speak," though he assured the audience that he was still making films. As for his character of Marty, who heads up the firm, Cheadle let us know that there's a good reason viewers might not be able to put their finger on the character: "he's asking himself that same question, who's the real me?" Cheadle said Marty will deal with that identity crisis this entire season, and "chart his crash and burn mentality."
My favorite part of the panel was when someone referenced star Ben Schwartz's Parks and Recreation character Jean Ralphio. In response to whether Jean Ralphio would hire the firm to represent Entertainment 720, Schwartz said he would definitely figure out a way to afford Galweather & Stearn: "Oh, he'll get the money again." Also, Schwartz thinks Jean Ralphio would love the characters on House of Lies, saying "I think if Jean Ralphio met Marty he would do anything to be friends with him," and he would also "want to fall in love with Kristen and bring her home." The cast laughed about a House of Lies/Parks and Recreation intersection, with Schwartz saying that "it would be a very interesting mix to see those two worlds collide."

6 Questions to Find the Best City For Generation Y

Kiplinger — Mon, 28 Nov 2011 03:05:51 PST

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

As young adults, many of us enjoy a unique time in our lives when we can relocate wherever we like. We’re often free from any significant ties, such as kids or a mortgage, that can tether us to a certain location. Plus, with the technological advances of the past decade, we need not fear losing touch with family and friends; we can stay connected with the touch of a button - regardless of distance.

So when the world is your oyster, how do you decide in which part to settle? Here are six questions to ask when figuring out which city is best for you:

Will I find good work there?

In today's tough market, Generation Y has had a particularly difficult time finding and keeping a job: While the job market struggles to regain its footing, with the national unemployment rate at 9.5% as of June, 25- to 34-year-olds suffer joblessness at a 10.3% rate, and 20- to 24-year-olds are unemployed at a staggering 15.3% rate. But some areas have held up better against the recession. Austin, Tex., Salt Lake City and Washington, D.C., for example, have experienced lower unemployment than the rest of the country.

Jobs in certain industries are more prevalent in some areas. For example, if you’re interested in politics, the nation’s capital is the obvious choice. Or if you aspire to “make it work” as fashion’s next hot designer, the Big Apple might suit you best. If you have no particular trade in mind yet, look to big cities with opportunities in a wide range of fields. (For career ideas that promise a bright future, see 13 Careers for the Next Decade.)

Read on for more.

Female Firsts on the Road to Gender Equality

TresSugar — Mon, 07 Nov 2011 10:00:00 PST

On Nov. 7, 1916, Jeannette Rankin became the first woman elected to US Congress when she won a seat in the House of Representatives as a Republican from Montana. Jeannette was a pacifist, and only a month into her term she cast the sole vote against the resolution for the United States to enter World War I. In honor of the 95th anniversary of this brave woman's legacy, let's take a look at other women who went against the odds to pave the way for gender equality.

Paul Walker Talks About Being Shirtless and "Accidentally Sexy"

Annie Tomlin — Wed, 12 Oct 2011 08:05:40 PDT

Forgive us for stating the obvious, but Paul Walker is a good-looking man. This is no surprise to anyone who's seen his blue eyes in films like The Fast and the Furious, and the sight of him running shirtless in the new Davidoff Cool Water ad campaign just drives the point home. But if Walker, 38, is even remotely aware of his sex symbol status, he definitely doesn't let on. While talking with him in Malibu recently, we found him to be a completely down-to-earth guy. He loves to surf, calls Budweiser one of his favorite beers, and geeks out over Audubon field guide apps - and he just happens to be the new face of one of the world's best-selling men's fragrances, too. Read on for the interview.

Big Miracle Set Visit: Drew Barrymore and John Krasinski on Not Freezing to Death in Alaska and Their "Once in a Lifetime" Gig

Becky Kirsch — Tue, 04 Oct 2011 15:58:47 PDT

Drew Barrymore and John Krasinski braved the Arctic temperatures of Alaska for their new movie, Big Miracle. Barrymore, Krasinski, and their costars weren't the only ones who experienced the frosty temperatures up north, though. I visited the icy set last year during filming, where I chatted with the cast (which also includes Kristen Bell, Ted Danson, and Dermot Mulroney), watched a scene being shot against the gorgeous Alaskan backdrop, and sampled the most delicious hot chocolate I've ever had.

The film (formerly titled Everybody Loves Whales) is based on the sensational true story of three California whales that were trapped in the Arctic Circle in 1988, and how the event went from being a local news report to a national effort to set them free. Leading the charge is Adam (Krasinski), a struggling reporter who thinks he's hit the big time when he initially discovers the whales. In no time, his activist ex girlfriend Rachel (Barrymore) heads to Alaska to lend a hand and make her voice heard. It all snowballs from there (pun intended), and eventually the cause spans from the residents of Barrow, AK all the way to the White House.

The cast joked about their dependence on disposable hand and feet warmers (or "hotties" as Barrymore prefers to call them), talked about why they loved the interconnecting storylines (you can just think of this movie as the Love Actually of the whale genre), but more than anything else, they seemed to genuinely love their fellow cast members. Here's what Krasinski and Barrymore had to say about making the film:

What drew you to the role?
John Krasinski: For me, the opportunity to play a whale is a once in a lifetime gig. And to actually play a human and a whale at the same time. . .No, I was immediately drawn to the project. First because of Drew, I knew that Drew was going to be a part of it and I have always wanted to work with her in a very, very, very major way. When you read the script it's one of those movies that hits this pocket of very unique and special project. There's a little bit of romance, little bit of comedy, little bit of drama, and it doesn't really fit into any certain realm that people are used to. And in doing that, it becomes this amalgam of really, really special story telling. And the fact that all of it's true is incredible. I was just blown away by a bunch of people coming together for whales, and then realizing there's so much more to be said.

Drew Barrymore: I love collective experiences and I think it's very good to make films that are personal to you, and you know what they are, but I think it's for certain types of people, and you know the people that you're making it for. There aren't a lot of films that you got to make that are very diverse and for a large group of people. We all want to be a part of something that makes us believe that good things happen in the world. And that people actually put aside their agendas and came together on something that was really extraordinary. The fact that there is levity to the really weighty, cool, important message that's in this movie makes it not medicine. It's just a beautiful story and incredible things happen. And because it's true, we know that it happened, it gives us that hope that we need in life. I need this kind of hope in life. I need movies like this.

To see what they had to say about staying warm and standing up for a cause, just keep reading.

A Chic, Hip Bedroom Retreat For Busy and Stylish Parents

Elka Karl — Thu, 29 Sep 2011 05:00:06 PDT

Erin, who blogs at Skoots and Cuddles and whose bedroom we featured earlier this week, is one of those moms who seems to do it all. When she isn't parenting three kids and working as a graphic designer, she's updating her blog on her latest home decorating and improvement projects. She's been decorating her master bedroom, and though she notes that she's not quite finished, she was happy to share photos of the cool space with CasaSugar readers. Check out some of Erin's thoughts about decorating her master bedroom!

Where she finds inspiration: "I love interior design and am an avid magazine and blog reader. I find inspiration for decorating my house in anything I find beautiful . . . a piece of art, a chandelier, a rug or even an paint color. Every room in my house starts with a single item that I love, then I build the room from there."

Her focal point and inspiration for the master bedroom: "In the case of my master bedroom, I created the room around the artwork above my bed from Focus Line Art's Etsy shop. I loved the contemporary color combinations paired with the rustic tree rings. After purchasing the artwork, I gradually picked out paint colors, furniture, curtains, and bedding."

Keep reading for more tips from Erin!

Kathryn Ireland Talks Joining Million Dollar Decorators and Her Design Life in LA

Julia Walsh — Thu, 16 Jun 2011 14:00:00 PDT

This week, I had the opportunity to chat with interior designer Kathryn Ireland, a cast member of Bravo's hit new reality show Million Dollar Decorators, about her career, clients, shopping routine, decorating advice, and experience on the series. Check out the first part of our interview below!CasaSugar: So how did you get involved in Million Dollar Decorators?

Kathryn Ireland: I was a guest judge on that show with Margaret Russell, Top Design, and I met with someone from Bravo and a girlfriend of mine, Brittany Lovett, brought up the idea to Bravo to have a decorating show with kind of an ensemble cast. And actually originally, it was three of us, and I happened to be the only one that ended up doing it. So I’ve kind of been there from the beginning.

I’ve also done a show in England called Design Wars, where I was on the air every day for a month making over a house that was actually a competition. I was representing England, and there were five other countries, and we all had to make over an identical house, kind of in the style of our country. So I’m pretty comfortable with being in front of the camera.

CS: How is balancing the show with your client base and your day-in and day-out workload?

KI: It’s juggling! I didn’t take my usual Summer holidays off, and I’ve got the kids, and even though they’re older, they still need parenting. Probably even more so now than when they were younger. So, you know, it was challenging, but ultimately it was really fun.

I was only interested in doing a show that was going to be amusing. I think too many of these shows are just dull, and I am more interested in entertainment than anything else. And I think the idea of this ensemble cast was very well cast, because I think we’re all incredibly different and we work well together, and I think it’s a good mix of characters.

Continue reading for the rest of the interview!

Texas Wants to Ban Groping as a Prerequisite For Air Travel

Annie Scudder — Wed, 15 Jun 2011 11:03:01 PDT

Ever since full-body scans became the norm at most US airports last Fall, I've opted for the extensive pat down instead. The thought of someone seeing under my clothes doesn't bother me as much as the potential radiation risks amplified by regular exposure to the scanners. And while the pat down is intrusive and slightly embarrassing, especially when they go inside the top of your pants, I guess I feel relieved that I have an option to avoid the scanner.

The Texas House of Representatives doesn't think we should have to pick between two intrusive evils. Last month it approved a bill that would ban any pat down that "touches the anus, sexual organ, buttocks, or breast of another person including through the clothing, or touches the other person in a manner that would be offensive to a reasonable person." There's also a parallel bill that would ban scanners that allow people to be seen naked. The bill has stalled in the state senate after federal officials threatened to shut down any flights out of Texas due to security concerns.

Today the Republican sponsor of the bill David Simpson defended it in the New York Times. Find out what he said when you keep reading.