The New Look Notice a change? No, not our hair... but look up. Yep, right there: the new name. Yesterday we were "On the Web," but that really didn't say much. What isn't on the Web these days? We needed a name that would actually tell you, dear reader, what this daily tidbit is all about. And what is it about? It's about discovery. Serendipity. Weird, nerdy, kooky, and obscure things you've never heard of before. We tried on names to highlight our research, like Sleuth and Dig, our diversity of topics (Foo, Tangent), and our love for the exchange of ideas (Cafe, Bazaar). We brainstormed until we were loopy (DUDE! X-Treme Web Factz!!) and kept going (Professor Yahoo!'s Museum of Serendipitous Discoveries and Wacky Factual Tidbits). We kept searching for that spark of inspiration, that name that reveals how each article we write is really just a tiny ember to ignite further exploration... and there it was: The Spark. If it sparks your interest, you can learn more. If not... well, come back later. There will be a new Spark tomorrow. Suggested Sites... What Brand Are You? - ridiculous re-branding name generator from The Design Conspiracy. Company Name Etymologies - how real companies got their names. Humorous Name Generators - we could have called ourselves Berilac Deepdelver, Cybernetic Oracle, Wailing Demus, Webon Fosun, or Kissable Huggie-Eyes, but they all sounded too serious.

Directory categories: Names, Product Naming, Baby Names, Marketing and Advertising

Archived under: Business, Internet, Marketing, Names

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Frolicking millennials in Just My Luck Look out Gen Xers: A new generation is dominating the economy. Born between 1980 and 2000, they are called Millennials, Echo Boomers, Generation Y, or Nexters. Being almost a third of the U.S. population, they are a primary target of marketing campaigns and are the burgeoning workplace replacements for retiring baby boomers. Demographers and marketers are working tirelessly to generalize their distinctive traits. Tech-savvy and socially competent, Millennials are stereotyped as multitaskers who exuberantly engage in political and social communities more than their predecessors. Characterized as shopoholics and personalization fanatics, they are guiding the direction of technology and the design of everything from cars to wine labels. Whether you flow with the millennial mainstream or not, this generation is in the limelight and making its mark. Suggested Sites... Ypulse - daily news and commentary about Generation Y for media and marketing professionals. Millennials Rising - two historians discuss the expectations and trends of Millennials. Generations at Work: Managing Millennials - examines the Millennial Generation in the workplace.

Directory categories: Generation Y, Cultures and Groups, Demography

Archived under: Demographics, Society and Culture

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Uma Thurman It used to be à la mode to saunter outside in jean shorts or shimmy downtown in a baggy dress thingy. But thanks to the Internet and digital cameras, the world has become a tad safer from the onslaught of fashion faux pas. Sites like the brilliant Go Fug Yourself and the delicious You Knit What?? lambast celebrities and crafty mavens for their audacity and bad fashion decisions. From never-to-be-tolerated leggings to stringy sweaters, no wayward wardrobe choice goes unanswered. You can save yourself from certain embarrassment by turning to the ever growing collection of fashion and style blogs that serve up the latest trends in shoes, purses, and makeup. As for us, if see you us in a cat sweater or jean shorts, let us know before you post the photos to your blog. Suggested Sites... Closet Therapy - ranting and raving about new fashion trends. Lipstick is my Crack - so much about makeup. The Purse Blog - a daily dose of purses and bags. Manolo's Shoe Blog - all those fancy shoes. JCReport - provides a peek inside global fashion trends.

Directory categories: Fashion Blogs, Fashion, Gossip

Archived under: Blogs, Celebrities, Fashion, Society and Culture

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Al Franken on the Hope and Freedom Tour 2005 (USO photo by Owen Franken) Imagine a festival that could bring Kid Rock, Henry Rollins, Wayne Newton, Ludacris, Ted Nugent, and Al Franken together. It seems an unlikely gig, but United Service Organizations has been uniting diverse acts since World War II, when the USO was founded to boost military morale. Back then, the troops were entertained by stars like Bing Crosby, the Andrews Sisters, Humphrey Bogart, and, most famously, Bob Hope. In the Korean War, Marilyn Monroe perked soldiers' morale along with Debbie Reynolds, Groucho Marx... and Bob Hope. A decade later in Vietnam, USO centers opened in combat zones for the first time, but that didn't stop stars like Raquel Welch, John Wayne, and, naturally, Bob Hope. In Desert Storm, GIs found some relief from the heat and dust with the help of Steve Martin, Brooke Shields, and -- you guessed it -- Bob Hope. Today, our troops might be without Mr. Hope, but they may have a bit more cheer thanks to the USO and stars like Robin Williams, Toby Keith, Bruce Willis, and Jessica Simpson. Suggested Sites... The USO: Hope for America Exhibit - the history of Camp Shows and USO performers. 100 Reasons to Toast Bob Hope - USA Today feature raises 100 glasses to Hope on his 100th birthday. Patriotic Festival - Virginia Beach's Memorial Day weekend USO festival, featuring The Four Tops, Carrie Underwood, and Sinbad.

Directory categories: U.S. Military Organizations, Bob Hope, Veterans, Support the Troops

Archived under: Bob Hope, Dead Celebrities, Entertainment, Marilyn Monroe, Military, WWII, War

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Joseph McCarthy During the red scare of the 1950s, select names in Hollywood were subpoenaed before Thomas J. Parnell and his House Un-American Activities Committee. These writers and directors, called The Hollywood Ten, were believed to be members of the American Communist Party. Though they claimed First Amendment protection, the group was ultimately imprisoned. The focus on Hollywood socialites continued, but, following the Hollywood Ten, many chose to take the Fifth and were spared conviction. To combat negative stigma, the Screen Actors Guild forced its members to take vows against communism to avoid being blacklisted. The Screenwriters Guild authorized the removal of screen credit for all unwilling to clear their name before Congress. Many of those blacklisted tried to keep working under pseudonyms on low-budget crime and caper films. The rampant paranoia of the times seeped into the film noir style of these genre films. To blacklisted outsiders, their dark cinematography, fatalistic outlook, and general feeling of alienation simply reflected the political and social landscape of the McCarthy era. Suggested Sites... The Waldorf Conference - a play reenacting the meeting that began the Hollywood blacklist. 10 Shades of Noir - take a close look at ten different films from the classic period of film noir. Hollywood Blacklist Movie Trivia - take this quiz and test your Hollywood blacklist trivia knowledge.

Directory categories: Hollywood Blacklist, House Un-American Activities Committee, McCarthyism

Archived under: Actors, American History, Entertainment, Filmmaking, History, Movies, Politics

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