The Very Male-Dominated Video Gaming Industry

So, it all boils down to who spent more hours playing video games when they were young. Just because the males of this planet played video games more often in their adolescence than their female counterparts, the L.A. Times report it was an easy step to make a career out of this preoccupation. The result: more men are reaping the rewards of having a work-of-play career in the lucrative industry.

Women are so marginalized in the world of video-games development and design, barely reaching 20% of the industry's workforce. Out of this measly number, only 3% are programmers!

A former industry executive opines that motherhood inhibits serious female candidates, although studies show that there is a rising trend in women playing the video gaming industry's game, preferring to hunch over the consoles and accepting this job as a viable career opportunity.

Source Los Angeles Times

Bambi Tops Saddest Movie Poll

What movie wrung out the most bucketful of tears from moviegoers? A recent online poll revealed that Walt Disney’s Bambi is the best “tear-jerker” film ever, putting the most number of lumps in many throats, so to speak. The cartoon shaped many generation’s views because of the simple yet powerful story and graphics, and even Paul McCartney admits he owes his no-to-hunting attitude from that scene in the movie when Bambi’s mother was shot.

Ghost, the emotional story of a murdered husband (Patrick Swayze) and his love for his wife (Demi Moore) transcending death itself, came in closely at second. Here are the other movies that made it to the list of tales of sadness:

• The Lion King: Disney’s take on losing parents and relationships.


• Titanic: Class issues, love issues, life-or-death issues, Celine Dion, take your pick.


• Philadelphia: Tom Hanks touches your heart as an HIV-positive lawyer.


• Beaches: The ultimate tale of female bonding, this had 10% of respondents sobbing.


• E.T.: this sci-fi classic leads you down sadness lane for a boy and his alien friend.


• Watership Down: a simple animated film on survival and friendship, rabbit style.

Source Daily Telegraph (UK)

The Commoner Who Could Be Queen

She is the basis of what photographers call the “Middletonmania” phenomenon, the eerie similarity to how paparazzi hounded the late Princess Diana. That this girl from the nowhere village of Bucklebury in Berkshire could be the center of so much press coverage is due primarily to the fact that she is possibly destined to be the next Queen of England.

Vicky Ward of the Vanity Fair thinks Kate Middleton has the poise and grit to overcome intrigues and controversies and make it to the English throne. This grandchild of a store-clerk and a builder has a fascinating personality belying her commoner status and, perhaps, fit for queen ship. Prince William seems to think so, as he remains by her side from their college days' friendship, to a top-secret relationship, and now to tabloid material. Throughout all this, Ward says Middleton is poised, cool and in control. Despite their 2007 sojourn to splitsville, she was shrewd as to manipulate the situation to be a temporary one, “She knew that by giving him time and space she could probably get him back, and she did so by being very clever, stepping out at his favorite clubs, looking glamorous and fabulous,” a gossip columnist says.

Source Vanity Fair

Photo from Alpha/Landov.

Last Chance for Rare Dictionary Words

A campaign of sorts is now going on to save 24 rarely used words from fading into oblivion. Language aficionados are steaming over plans to exclude forever from the new edition of the Collins English Dictionary words like exuviate (shed) and oppugnant (combative). The dictionary reasons that these words are so rarely used that if these words do not reappear in the dictionary’s English database by January, they will be deleted.

Politicians actually started incorporating these words in their speeches, using the word niddering (cowardly) and calignosity (dim). A British poet intends to use the word skirr (bird's wings humming sound) in a new poem. Joining in enthusiastic word-saving efforts is the Times of London launching a voting poll to their readers.

Some high-fallutin' words mean actually as they sound, such as embrangle (to confuse) and fubsy (short and stout). There are a couple that attracted some fans for being gen-Xish: roborant (tending to fortify) and nitid (bright).

Source Time

(Dave Bradley Photography / Getty)

Mediterranean Diet is Life Friendly

Jetting off to the fabled Mediterranean region maybe too much for your budget, but Mediterranean-style of eating can make you live longer, according to Dr. Peter Libby in the New York Times. A comprehensive study of the Mediterranean diet convinced the good doctor that the unique way they prepare their foods has immense health benefits. This diet consists of fruits, vegetables, fish, the ever faithful olive oil and red wine. These makes for great recipes which are low in fat and more satisfying.

The research also shows that the diet lowers the chances of Parkinson’s and Alzheimer’s, and prevents heart problems and the big C. It is a diet that is easy on the palate, one that can be habit-forming.

Source New York Times

(Photo by Ed Alcock for The New York Times)