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Dr. Seuss’ ‘The Lorax’ nabbed the top spot at the box office this weekend (garnering $70.7 million — the best opening of the year so far — and becoming the best debut ever for a non-sequel animated film! Although the movie didn’t... Read the rest of this post

We expect workers and students will experience a massive dip in productivity next month… (Nope, not because of the March Madness tournament, but because of an all-new Angry Birds game. This time, the flustered fowl are flinging themselves... Read the rest of this post

Beliebers can now get Justin in a bottle (with the launch of his new perfume, a fruity scent — tinted purple, of course — called Someday. Cuz, Justin says, “the way a girl smells is important to a guy!” Hmmm, will Selena Gomez... Read the rest of this post

Weird Al’s parody (of Lady Gaga’s “Born This Way” is spot-on. Too bad the diva doesn’t have a sense of humor — she apparently did not sanction the parody for Weird Al’s next album, despite his plan to donate... Read the rest of this post

On SNL this weekend, Miley Cyrus (cracked wise about the Disney School Of Acting and nailed Justin Bieber’s swagger. She proved her comedic timing, but more important, she made a statement about being a grown-up. In her opening skit, she... Read the rest of this post

Are you Team Steinfeld? Team Lawrence? (Or Team Somebody New? Hailee Steinfeld leads the poll to star in “Hunger Games,” though finding an “unknown” to embody the role of Katniss might be pretty stellar. In other YA news,... Read the rest of this post

First the good news, about my lovely weekend, which began with my traditional Friday night dinner with friends, which one calls our Shicker Shabbat (shicker being Yiddish for drunkard). We were joined by two interlopers, I mean non-regulars, and it was very fun. I am lucky to have great friends.


Saturday, another friend and I embarked on a quest for beautiful yarns for knitting, which led us to the world's greatest uber-yarn store, Webs, in Northampton, Mass, which was hosting its annual tent sale. The place was a madhouse, but I came home with yarn for three new projects, and the idea to knit an entire room - a rug, curtain, and pillows. At some point. After I finish with the damned rewrite, for the very last time.


And of course last night, I watched my man, the star of the movie version of my novel, host SNL for his 15th time. For more information on this topic, see my posts of October 31st and March 27th.


And then, today. After reading the paper and taking my 16-year-old son driving, I settled into my backyard hammock to read the entire revised manuscript, checking for flow, but also for what Amy, my book daughter, asked me to look closely at, especially her caution that ""There shouldn't be anything in the book - absolutely nothing - that doesn't relate to [heroine's} overarching goal..." I have SO MUCH trouble with this, and I'm frankly totally confused. I have scenes that I think illuminate character, or complicate lives, but that absolutely do not relate to her overarching goal. Removing those scenes just doesn't feel right.


I have done most of what Amy suggested, and the book is truly richer for it. It moves more quickly, has more dramatic tension. But here's the bottom line. I have lost all perspective on this work. I simply can't judge it any more.


I've decided to wait and see if Amy is able to read it again in June. If not, I'm definitely planning to make a small foray into the marketplace, i.e. send it out to just a couple of agents and see if I get any nibbles. If not, it'll be a sign it needs more work. I just don't know....


I am feeling tortured. Guess it goes with the territory.

By now you've heard (and quite possibly seen) that last weekend Facebook put Betty White on SNL. The results? A huge ratings success, the likes of which the long-suffering sketch series hadn't seen since election season circa 2008. Not surprisingly,... Read the rest of this post

Today we continue our steady stream of Year In Review coverage with Youth Advisory Board members Alyx Steadman and Lauren Williams who share their respective picks for the best and worst moments on television this year, both from the teen-targeted... Read the rest of this post