Sends (sober!) texts like, “Hey cutie. Your so sexy. We still on for tonight? Can’t wait to see you their.” Cut.
–
In this spirit of Dealbreakers, here’s a column where nonpretentious contributors tell you when to cut your man or your woman.
One of our most creative friends, Mr. Alec Brownstein (sound alert!), has created a video for the Doritos Crash the Superbowl Contest (sound alert!).
If Alec wins, he receives $5 million.
So, nonpretentious readers – assuming that Alec makes it to the finalist rounds (which he will!) – make sure you get your vote on starting January 5th, 2010 and maybe, *just maybe*, Alec will send us some free Doritos.
Like many of you, I went through one of those phases when I swore off TV. For me, it happened in college and it sounded something like this, “Damn the fascist cable companies! Damn the advertisers! Damn consumerism! Let’s read Adbusters or Utne!”
Now, I’m that I’m older and wiser, I can admit that I like television. It’s relaxing and entertaining, even sometimes necessary. (Put down your Foucault Readers and analyze that!).
True, I may be speaking as an addict. (See: Andy Warhol shirt pictured to right.) But, at least, I’m an addict who can associate Target with frugalistas, Diet Coke with simplicity, and Macs with people not as memorable as John Hodgman. 
This fall season I felt like I needed to hire a professional organizer to help me keep track of all of my “stories.” Since I can’t afford a professional organizer, I decided to take one for the team and organize it for all of us. I’ve included a calendar of what I’m watching this fall – until the shows suck – but I’d love to hear if I’ve forgotten anything and/or there’s must-see TV that I’m missing.
Some notes:
If only I had the perfect scent, maybe I’d do my laundry.
Oh wait.
No more excuses.
Well, if my scent wins….
Vote for me! Help me get my laundry done!
As I was researching different writing opportunities¹, I came across the Bellwether Prize. I thought that some of our contributors/readers may be interested in applying. The application process has already started for 2009-2010. Maybe it’s time to start revising your old work?
Will also start posting some writing job opportunities that I find under a new column [Work].
From the website:
The Bellwether Prize consists of a $25,000 cash payment and publication of the winning novel manuscript. Submissions are being accepted between September 1 and October 2, 2009.
Bellwether Prize Information
The Bellwether Prize for Fiction, awarded in even-numbered years, consists of a $25,000 cash payment to the author of the winning manuscript, and guaranteed publication by a major publisher. The author will collect royalties in accordance with a publisher’s contract. The Bellwether Prize is unique; no other major North American endowment or prize for the arts specifically seeks to support a literature of social responsibility. Its intent is to advocate serious literary fiction that addresses issues of social justice and the impact of culture and politics on human relationships. The prize is awarded to a previously unpublished novel representing excellence in this genre.
Other not-as-cool contests/awards: Good Housekeeping is offering a $3,000 prize for the winner of its short story contest, which Jodi Piccoult is judging. Deadline September 15th!
¹If you’re serious about writing competitions/awards, you better bookmark this database provided by Poets & Writer’s. I was impressed even before I saw the “Add to Google Calendar” option, which blew me away. I debated whether this should be a footnote or in the main text – the site itself is worth much more than a footnote! – but I figured that I’d reward anyone who actually reads footnotes.
1. Pick a fistfight over which application is better: Tweetdeck or Tweetie.
2. Insist on prefacing your sentences with “@ [name of the person to whom you are speaking].”
3. Say, “Whoa, you are way cuter in your avatar.”
* Thr33s is a column created by slackers inspired by 5ives. Feel free to post your thr33s.
Like any normal person, I dig through the TED archives when I can’t fall asleep at night.
(Readers, you heard it here first: when you don’t have a television in your bedroom, video apps are the next best thing.)
Which is how I stumbled upon this inspirational gem circa 5 or 6 in the morning…
Seriously, it was like this guy – Alain de Botton – knew me.
Not only did he address my own hatred of snobs – hence, the name of this site (“nonpretentious”) – he also understood my fear of that seemingly innocuous question, “What do you do for a living?”
Plus, it was like he knew my mother, my personal cheerleader and financier. (Yes, Ladies and Gentleman, revisingproust’s mother keeps this operation ticking.)
Listening to him, I felt like a girl with a creative vision, not a fraud or an unemployed lawyer. When I subtracted outside expectations from my definition of success, I felt rejuvenated. …Well, actually, I felt much more calm. And, tired. Really. Tired. (Remember, it was 6 o’clock in the morning.)
I sorta forgot about de Botton until today when I watched “500 Days of Summer.”
As an aspiring architect, Tom Hansen (Joseph Gordon-Levitt) earns a living writing greeting cards. While it’s not a major theme of the movie, the character’s career anxiety is palpable as is his search for happiness. Was I suprised when the camera zoomed in to reveal that the book he was reading was “The Architecture of Happiness” by Alain de Botton? Not surprised. Just motivated to go read something by this guy.
As soon as I came home, I scanned Amazon to find a title that spoke to me. I’m not an architect so I thought I’d find something that matched my own pursuit of happiness.
That’s how I bought, “How Proust Can Change Your Life.” I’ll let you know how it is.
Last week, there were some major revelations about who owns what in the 2.0 world. We decided to summarize what we learned in order to help you keep track of your digital footprint.
What they own: All of your tweets – public or protected
What you own: The ability to protect your tweets from everyone but Twitter (unless Twitter decides to give your updates away)
The good news? 1) Twitter limits access to Hosebird. 2) Whatever is in Twitter’s future, it includes a new Terms of Service and API license. Continue reading…
I’m writing an upcoming post about Dr. Horrible’s Sing-Along Blog and The Guild.
Was wondering if anyone has ever watched them before. If so, I may like to talk to you sometime before Friday.
Here’s the link to the first guild episode too.
No pressure. It’s not homework or anything.
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