There was a time when I used to enjoy reading Newsweek. Then came the rise of 24-hour news channels and internet news sites, all providing stunning visuals and breaking news in real time. Weekly news magazines like Newsweek quickly became outdated dinosaurs The only way for Newsweek to compete and try to stay relevant was to offer in-depth, thoughtful analysis. But, with the rise of political blogs, they lost even more ground.
Now, the folks at Newsweek are just plain desperate.
Their latest cover poses the question: "Why Are Obama's Critics So Dumb?" Since when did elitist name-calling become a substitute for well-researched journalism? The editors at Newsweek are not even trying to pretend that they're a legitimate source of news anymore. I can't decide if it's more sad than pathetic.
This cover story is just the latest in a long line of questionable choices made by the Newsweek editorial board. They've taken heat in the past year for their gleefully unflattering covers of Tea Party favorites Michelle Bachmann and Sarah Palin, but those weren't the worst of it.
For me, the most egregious "jump the shark" moment for Newsweek came when they photoshopped a 14-years-dead-and-gone Princess Diana, digitally aged to appear 50 years old and walking alongside her son's soon-to-be wife, Kate Middleton. A new low that even the sleaziest tabloids have not attempted. Disgusting.
It was a blatant ploy to exploit the late Princess Diana's enduring popularity as a taken-too-soon icon. Almost a decade and a half after her death, Newsweek still couldn't resist going to the well one more time, disregarding the unseemly fact that it was the media's unhealthy obsession with capturing Diana's image that led to her tragic death.
12 Haziran 2012 Salı
Newsweek's Downward Spiral Continues
Spotting a Fake PayPal Email -- Don't be fooled!
I received an email today that was structured to look as though it came from PayPal.
Here's a screen shot (click on the photo to see it larger):
Fortunately, I've heard enough warnings about "phishing" emails to be on the lookout for messages like this one, that try to trick recipients into clicking on bogus links that will harm your computer and/or attempt to trick you into giving a 3rd party website your PayPal password and account info.
A few tip offs that this one was a fake:
-- It wasn't sent just to me, but to "undisclosed recipients"
-- They did not address me by my first and last name anywhere in the email
-- The return address appears to be from "Service@PayPal.com", but if you click "Show More" for the Sender, the full email address is revealed as noreply@netlogmail.com
-- If you hover over the links embedded in the email, you'll see that they won't take you to a secure page on the PayPal website. Instead, they direct you to another website entirely--one that will likely harm your computer the minute you click the link.
What really annoys me about this email is that they have the nerve to include "helpful" information on how to avoid fraud--and the link they provide to show you their Security Tips takes you right to the same bogus website as all of the other links.
If you receive an email like this, and you aren't sure whether or not it is from the real PayPal site, follow these simple steps:
1. DO NOT CLICK ON ANY OF THE LINKS IN THE EMAIL
2. Forward the email to spoof@paypal.com Don't send the email as an attachment, and don't change the Subject line....just forward it to PayPal and they will contact you as to whether or not the email is legit or a spoof/scam.
3. Delete the email
You can read more about how to avoid Phishing scams at the real PayPal site HERE
6 Haziran 2012 Çarşamba
The 2012 Special Tony Honorees
This year, the Tony Awards will honor 2 former Tony winners and the union that represents them.
The Isabelle Stevenson Award will be given to 2-time Tony-winner Bernadette Peters. The legendary actress will not be receiving this award for a performance, but for years of dedication to creating and promoting Broadway Barks. Her charity, co-founded with Mary Tyler Moore, raises money and awareness for finding homes for pets (mostly cats and dogs) left at New York's animal shelters. Instead of putting these cuties down, happy families all over the city are now happier because of their new found pets. Since its inception, Broadway Barks! has held an annual event in Shubert Alley joining the animal rescue and the Broadway communities, and Ms. Peters has written two children's books (Broadway Barks! and Stella is a Star) whose proceeds go to this worthy cause. The award is given to an "individual from the theatre community who has made a substantial contribution of volunteered time and effort on behalf of one or more humanitarian, social service or charitable organizations, regardless of whether such organizations relate to the theatre."
Ms. Peters has worked tirelessly for a variety of theatre-related charities including Broadway Cares/Equity Fights AIDS and the Actors Fund of America. She has lent her name and clout to a variety of causes. Her stage career is a part of Broadway legend, starting with her debut in the 1959 revival of The Most Happy Fella, through ground-breaking performances in Sunday in the Park with George, Mack and Mabel and Tony-winning turns in Song and Dance and Annie Get Your Gun, and most recently, starring in revivals of Gypsy, A Little Night Music and Follies.
This year's Special Tony Awards will be given to Tony-winner Hugh Jackman (The Boy from Oz), not for his SRO one-man show Hugh Jackman: Back on Broadway, but for his consistent presence in the theatre community, be it on stage (A Steady Rain), as a three time host of the Tony Awards, or as a one-man fundraising machine. Each time he has appeared on Broadway, he has single-handedly raised millions for Broadway Cares/Equity Fights AIDS, literally selling the shirt off his back for charity. When he is on Broadway, there are three things you can count on: he never misses a performance, he gives 100% in each show, and that he will do whatever it takes to raise impressive amounts of money on behalf of those who can't. 
The other Special Tony Award will be given to the Actors Equity Association on the occasion this month of the start of its 100th year in service to the professional actors and stage managers across the country. This is third time this organization has been so honored. In 1948 (when it was known as The Experimental Theatre, Inc.) and 1974, AEA was given Special Tony Honors.
Congratulations to all of the special honorees! The Tony Awards are this Sunday, June 10th!
Jeff3.277@jkstheatrescene (Twitter); jkstheatrescene@yahoo.com (email); Comment below (Blogger)
Looking ahead in 2012
I've never been a fan of New Year's Resolutions. While it's admirable--and probably advisable--to periodically take stock of one's life and consider those things you'd like to change, I think people put way too much pressure on themselves come January 1st. They start the year full of hope and promise and excitement, and within a week or so when their resolve has left them, they end up disappointed in themselves, and feeling worse than they did before.
Using New Year's Resolutions as a vehicle for total transformation doesn't tend to pan out, in my experience. However, I do think there's value in mapping out goals for the coming year: a "to do" list always seems more manageable, especially when you have an entire year to accomplish it.
Here's my list of things I'm looking forward to this year. Some of them will be a challenge to achieve, others are already planned out and--barring any unforseen glitches--will surely happen, and others may not come to fruition at all.
I'm ready to embark on the journey that will be 2012, and grateful for each new day that I'm given an opportunity to experience life, regardless of the outcome.
Goals for 2012 -- in no particular order
Work less
Write more
Find a vacation house in Florida
Travel to Alaska for the first time
Declutter
Organize photos & computer files
Meditate
Nurture the spiritual
Don't sweat the small stuff--particularly career-related angst
Brush up on my Spanish skills
Try 3 foods I've never had before
Count to 10 before reacting
End each day with a prayer of thanks
I'm Not Really A Waitress
I treated myself to a pedicure today, and went with one of my all-time favorite shades: I'm Not Really A Waitress by OPI. It's the company's biggest selling polish, and for good reason: it's the perfect shade of red with a nice shimmer to it. Even my husband noticed. Not too shabby!
It's back to school tomorrow for my high schooler and middle schooler, after a long Christmas break. They're less than thrilled, as you might imagine, but I'm looking forward to getting back into our usual routine.
Newsweek's Downward Spiral Continues
There was a time when I used to enjoy reading Newsweek. Then came the rise of 24-hour news channels and internet news sites, all providing stunning visuals and breaking news in real time. Weekly news magazines like Newsweek quickly became outdated dinosaurs The only way for Newsweek to compete and try to stay relevant was to offer in-depth, thoughtful analysis. But, with the rise of political blogs, they lost even more ground.Now, the folks at Newsweek are just plain desperate.
Their latest cover poses the question: "Why Are Obama's Critics So Dumb?" Since when did elitist name-calling become a substitute for well-researched journalism? The editors at Newsweek are not even trying to pretend that they're a legitimate source of news anymore. I can't decide if it's more sad than pathetic.
This cover story is just the latest in a long line of questionable choices made by the Newsweek editorial board. They've taken heat in the past year for their gleefully unflattering covers of Tea Party favorites Michelle Bachmann and Sarah Palin, but those weren't the worst of it.For me, the most egregious "jump the shark" moment for Newsweek came when they photoshopped a 14-years-dead-and-gone Princess Diana, digitally aged to appear 50 years old and walking alongside her son's soon-to-be wife, Kate Middleton. A new low that even the sleaziest tabloids have not attempted. Disgusting.
It was a blatant ploy to exploit the late Princess Diana's enduring popularity as a taken-too-soon icon. Almost a decade and a half after her death, Newsweek still couldn't resist going to the well one more time, disregarding the unseemly fact that it was the media's unhealthy obsession with capturing Diana's image that led to her tragic death.
Spotting a Fake PayPal Email -- Don't be fooled!
I received an email today that was structured to look as though it came from PayPal.
Here's a screen shot (click on the photo to see it larger):
Fortunately, I've heard enough warnings about "phishing" emails to be on the lookout for messages like this one, that try to trick recipients into clicking on bogus links that will harm your computer and/or attempt to trick you into giving a 3rd party website your PayPal password and account info.
A few tip offs that this one was a fake:
-- It wasn't sent just to me, but to "undisclosed recipients"
-- They did not address me by my first and last name anywhere in the email
-- The return address appears to be from "Service@PayPal.com", but if you click "Show More" for the Sender, the full email address is revealed as noreply@netlogmail.com
-- If you hover over the links embedded in the email, you'll see that they won't take you to a secure page on the PayPal website. Instead, they direct you to another website entirely--one that will likely harm your computer the minute you click the link.
What really annoys me about this email is that they have the nerve to include "helpful" information on how to avoid fraud--and the link they provide to show you their Security Tips takes you right to the same bogus website as all of the other links.
If you receive an email like this, and you aren't sure whether or not it is from the real PayPal site, follow these simple steps:
1. DO NOT CLICK ON ANY OF THE LINKS IN THE EMAIL
2. Forward the email to spoof@paypal.com Don't send the email as an attachment, and don't change the Subject line....just forward it to PayPal and they will contact you as to whether or not the email is legit or a spoof/scam.
3. Delete the email
You can read more about how to avoid Phishing scams at the real PayPal site HERE