'Side by Side' on PBS: Digital vs Film

Alyssa Rosenberg over at ThinkProgress has a nice write-up on a PBS documentary I'm going to check out called Side by Side. It compares the merits of film vs digital photography, the strengths and weaknesses of each. Very interesting!

I've always shot on digital because I didn't go to a proper film school, and all we had were little handy cams available. It certainly made learning how to shoot and edit much easier and simpler than had I worked with film, but of course the product wasn't as great (though, to be honest, are any film school products that great?). As a viewer, though, there's such a beauty in 35mm that (at least as of yet) cannot be achieved with digital, and similarly, there is an ease and flexibility with digital that cannot be achieved in film.

Mindy Kaling: On High School

I love these quotes about high school, cherry-picked from Mindy Kaling's amahzing (RIP Happy Endings! Not related to Kaling but I thought I should mention it because it still makes me sad) book, Is Everyone Hanging Out Without Me? which, admittedly, is the question I asked myself most in high school, and almost-most today. Clearly, I am much improved.

Apologizing, Ask Amy

Amy's advice here is heartfelt, a little heartbreaking, and utterly true. Apologizing is a difficult skill that takes humility, vulnerability, and courage to learn.



I wish someone had given me great advice on such a difficult subject in frank and honest terms like this when I was younger, but I'll gladly take it now, too!

[via Videogum]

Maurice Sendak: Chicken Soup with Rest

Acclaimed author and all-around incredible person, Maurice Sendak, passed away at age 83 today. I can only assume that he's In the Night Kitchen now, dreaming and going on adventures with his dog Jennie and all his other friends who passed away before him. What a happy reunion they're having today.

Numerous blogs have covered his death with videos and tributes and quotes. Here are the links to the ones that have helped me remember this humble truth-teller today:

Maurice Sendak, Author of Splendid Nightmares, Dies at 83, NY Times

Bill Moyers: My Time with Maurice Sendak, HuffPo

Wild Things: Drawings, Quotes, and Memories from Maurice Sendak, Gawker

Remembering Maurice Sendak, ThinkProgress

'Where the Wild Things Are' Author Maurice Sendak Has Died at 83, /Film

Safe journey, Maurice. I hope there is a hot bowl of soup waiting for you when you arrive.

Artful Stew: ENGAGED!!

OMGosh the ring!! Isn't it beautiful?

Since most of my readers are my good friends, you probably already know that your very own Artful Stew got engaged last week!!!

Isn't it exciting!?

I couldn't be happier. My fiance is the most wonderful man in the world. So wonderful that he's the one who bought me my Harry Potter ebook collection the day it was released as my early birthday present! It doesn't get any better than that! We're not sure when or where the wedding will be yet, but we're thrilled that we're going to spend the rest of our lives together. Also, saying "my fiance" is a ton of fun!

He proposed at the Brooklyn Botanic Gardens on the first seventy-degree day in NYC. Absolutely perfect. Here are some flower photos to show you how lovely it was:

We spent all last week eating at wonderful restaurants around the city - seven places we had never tried before - including DB Bistro Moderne (using a gift card), Eataly, Chikalicious, Locanda Verde, Buvette, Ciano, Northern Spy Co (best kale salad!), the Spotted Pig, and our favorite place to celebrate, Harry's Cafe and Steak. Unfortunately, our favorite waiter wasn't there to share the news, but we're going to email him and make sure we return on a day he's working so we can celebrate with him. After all, he's been there for most of our anniversary and birthday dinners! Plus, we got some engagement cupcakes from Magnolia, just for good measure.

Below are some fun food photos, too. Enjoy!

Delicious chicken and fancy fries at DB Bistro

Desserts from Locanda Verde

Formerly a sundae at Harry's

His burger and my salad at the Spotted Pig

OMGosh engagement cupcakes!

Pixar: Grow Some Gals

John August pointed out this thoughtful response to Pixar's "Brave" trailer by blogger Theresa Couchman:

"It would’ve been nice if a studio that’s known for creative and original storytelling had decided to do something more interesting with their first female protagonist (in SIXTEEN YEARS) than make her…a princess. Who’s cool because she’s good at “boy” stuff...


Sadly, “girl struggles against restrictive society” is still a very relevant theme, but it would be awfully nice to see a story about a regular person who has adventures and, oh yeah, also happens to be female. And who maybe likes to read or do needlepoint instead of or in addition to kicking ass, because there is nothing wrong with those kinds of things."

I don't usually criticize Pixar (this is the lady who wrote her entire thesis on "WALL-E" and did VERY well, thank you very much!), but they (like all major media companies) do have a woman problem. Even though some of their female characters have been well-developed (Jessie in Toy Story 2, Eve in WALL-E for example), they have never featured a female protagonist, and some of their stories are so blatantly boy-centric it's just gross (Cars - WHY??).

John points out that, "Studios grumble that boys won’t go to see movies featuring female protagonists, and I think this is why: the trailer shows a frustrated daughter rather than an adventurer." 


I agree with Theresa and John. It really is past time that our female protagonists be protagonists that happen to be female, that go on adventures and journeys that use their feminine as well as masculine traits without belittling either. 

Why IS all the Pink Stuff for Girls? We Want to Play with Superheroes, too!

This girl has the toy industry all figured out, and she's not going to take it anymore!



Good for her! Riley's a budding young feminist who will not be tricked by stupid advertising ploys. If only all kids were as sharp and critical of the toy industry and marketing in general (I know I wasn't at her age), and if only all parents were as open and considerate as her father (or whoever the voice behind the camera is). Maybe kids these days are simply more critical of advertising - that would be great!

[via Neatorama]

The 10th Anniversary

Here are few videos and links from the anniversary memorials today.

Paul Simon sings "The Sound of Silence" in New York.

Bill Clinton speaks about the sacrifice of the citizens on United 93.

A Place to Love Dogs remembers the service dogs who helped the day of and in days afterwards.

And Dan Meth created a video of all the cameos the World Trade Center made in films throughout the years.

Twin Tower Cameos from Dan Meth on Vimeo.


The Atlantic consolidated speeches by President Obama and President Bush, as well.

As of now, the memorial at the World Trade Center is too crowded to get a close look, but I'd like to see it in a few days, when the crowds clear, especially the crowds of "Truthers" protesting outside. The hundreds of servicemen and women in the area has been comforting, though. It's incredible that they all came out on this day. Security has certainly been stepped up for today, as well, with police helicopters patrolling above and at least one or two policemen and women on each corner.

Yesterday, I went to a baby shower with several coworkers. We talked about where we were when it happened and how we felt. Several were living in New York at the time, some just starting classes, others debating whether to stay in the city or move to the suburbs. They said that it took years to readjust after September 11, 2001. They said they've a rush of that same panic and fear whenever we've had another close call - like the attempted Times Square bombing last year - or even when several blocks are closed suddenly and unexpectedly.

I moved to New York four years after it happened, when the city was more or less back on its feet. I moved to the Financial District eight years after it happened. I feel very close to this city and to the event, much closer than in 2001. I've been here for over six years, after all. However, I know that as much as I sympathize with my coworkers, friends, and family who were here, I can never feel what they felt. I can only hope that it doesn't happen again, and that they never have to feel that panic, fear, or sadness that they felt ten years ago ever again.

The Good Side of Life

This mini-documentary, "Alice Dancing under the Gallows" is incredible. It really made me happy, and I hope it makes you happy, too. Sometimes it all is about perspective...

Bill Murray, is there anything you can't do?

Just in case you haven't read comedy wonderlord Bill Murray's GQ interview, here it is. You're welcome.

Smart Girls at the Party!

If you guys haven't seen Amy Poehler's series "Smart Girls Out at the Party" do yourself a favor and check it out! It's hilarious, heartwarming, and inspirational all in bite-sized 5 minute doses! Also, my new thing is to mix metaphors I guess. Hooray!

The series is really fun, silly, and inspires young women to be themselves and strive to succeed by following their passions. Heck, it even inspires me! I'm totally going to follow my passions... once I figure out what they are, that is. Tonight it seems to be eating cupcakes and writing blog posts, but there could be new horizons in the future.

Plus, SMATP (pronounced SMATt-pah!) makes me super jealous of Amy Poehler's amazing life (who else creates an awesome webseries with her best friends and at the end there's a dance party with all the stars of Parks and Rec? I don't even understand how brilliant that is). I'm also jealous of her two Production Assistants - can I have that job, please? I'll do twice the work for zero the pay!

I'm even jealous of the bright ladies she interviews, but then I remember that the children are our future and more importantly are the ones who will take care of me when I'm old via technology and stem-cell-grown kidneys so then I'm just happy for them. It's gonna be great!

Anyway, here's a clip of Amy and her friends plugging their website, which is, again, right here! Go to it, enjoy it, and let me know what you think! Here's hoping one day that we can all be the Smart Girls at Amy Poehler's SMATP Parties (unless you're a guy, in which case I hope you're still a guy unless you decided to switch but that's entirely up to you and I'm totally supportive either way.). K BYE!

Find more videos like this on Smart Girls at the Party

Seriously, How Can You Not Want One?

Come on, My Boyfriend, how can you not want a Goldendoodle? They're adorable and practically a Golden Retriever but without the hassle of shedding! (For more pictures of Macy here, check out The Daily Puppy's Grown-Up Puppy section)

Seriously, get on the boat, because we're totally getting one once we have a big backyard (which, considering we live in New York, will probably be in 20 years).

I'll wait.

We Need All Kinds of Minds!

Listen to Temple Grandin's TED talk and you will be a better person for it. She's great. If you haven't seen the new movie about her, "Temple Grandin," watch it. You won't regret it. Enjoy!

State of the Union 2010

Before everybody comes over and rains on my parade with their spin and "he did too much but not enough," I'm just going to come out and say it - that was a great State of the Union address.

He discussed and elaborated on everything I wanted him to. He made proposals which I found strong. He was tough on his adversaries and his predecessor, but still found the moral high ground to admit his own setbacks. He called on the Democrats to (for Jeebus' sake) get things done (HEALTHCARE PLEASE!). He called on the Republicans to stop blocking every piece of legislation that comes through the door. He called on Congress to man up. He even knocked the Supreme Court for being corporatist d-bags. And all the while, he still talked about how he and Congress could work together to make America better for us now and for generations to come.

Because while our President may not be perfect, he's trying so hard to make things better for all of us and you just know that he will not give up until he does; that's why I admire the guy.

Well, that and because the looks exchanged between him and Michelle tonight made me blush by just how crazy in love with each other they are. They nearly beat me and my bf for Best Couple Ever (nearly!).

So just take a night, America, to lay down your critical, cynical arms, and embrace the fact that this is our guy and we can get it right just this once. Please. For me?

The Voice in the Vent

As I sit in my room chilling out after an extensive (but overall rewarding) job interview, the Voice in the Vent (male, mid-30s, unknown sexual orientation) is

1) Singing a song, I believe of his own writing, a capella
2) Ranting about a JFK conspiracy
3) Noting, as though it's obvious, that it's Kristin Chenoweth's birthday today
4) Noting the stock market (apparently the Dow is up)
5) Robots.

If you will recall, this is the same (unemployed? Odd-houred employed? Home-employed?) guy who was singing Wicked the other week. I want to know - what does this guy do? And who is he on the phone with?

*Update, he just said, "Don't ask about my sexual orientation, Judy" and started singing again, this time while on the phone.

Happy News

A brief pause in the exciting world of TV Development:

My co-intern*: Ugh, it's really getting terrible in Iran.
Me: Yeah, it's horrible.
Co-Intern: Oh, and did I show you these pictures from the France crash? Apparently they were taken while the plane was in the air
Me: No, why would I want to see those? Why do you only read the sad news?
Co-Intern: News is mostly depressing. What do you read?
Me: Happy news.
Co-Intern: Happy news?
Me: Yeah, like the NY Science Times... or the Daily Puppy.
(*My co-intern is not an unhappy guy. It's totally legit that most of the news is depressing)

... Annnnnnd back to work.

I will say, though, that finding the Happy News is a skill. I might just have to create a blog of only happy news. So whenever someone needs cheering up - bam! There it is. Happy news from all around the globe.

Sample articles: Missing people being found, puppies being found, green buildings being built, green cars doing well on the market, a new scientific discovery, cures for illnesses, developing nations getting the help they need to make it, etc etc

Things the DJ Might Have Said Late Night:

1) Who was born in 1987!? Or just the 80s in general!? Shout!
2) Who likes 80s music!? Who likes 90s music?! Who likes music!? Let's listen to some music!!
3) Who's graduating!? Make some noise!
4) Whose birthday is this month!? What! What!
5) Who likes milk!? Yeah!
6) Gotta chicken in your mouth!? Hey!
7) Can do the who-da-what-ho?! Ye-Yeah!
8) You see your best friend? You see your girlfriend? Since 9th grade? Give 'em a squeeze! Bring 'em in close! Just like that, ladies! Don't stop now! MmHmm!
9) Who likes this song?! Make some noise! I'm just gonna keep talking over this song now! Yeah! Let's all sing along to this song that I'm speaking over! What! What!
10) Who drives a carpool?! Cool!
11) Kittens jumbalaya! Ok!

Conversation Etiquette

Acceptable:

Friend 1: Wow, you are so much shorter than me!
Friend 2: Wow, you are so much more of a douche-face than me!
Pleasant laughs and playful punches among all.

Not Acceptable:

Friend 3*: Wow, you are so much shorter than me!
Friend 4: Wow, you are so much more of a douche-face than me!
Pleasant laugh by 4, blank stare by 3.

*Friend 3 has a social disorder where s/he cannot understand social cues, like playful sarcasm.

Not cool, Friend 4, not cool.