Toasters, Whisks and Smartphones: A Conversation With Game of Thrones’ Kristian Nairn
Toasters and smartphones probably aren’t the first things that come to mind when you think of Hodor the gentle giant from HBO’s blockbuster series Game of Thrones. But Kristian Nairn, the Irish actor behind the laconic stable boy in George R.R. Martin’s cutthroat world of Westeros, stays seriously plugged in when he’s offscreen. Sure, he relies on tech to juggle the hectic lifestyle of an actor and professional DJ — but despite not being much of a cook, he’s also seriously addicted to kitchen gadgets.
“Why do I have three espresso machines?” he moaned melodramatically in an interview with Tecca earlier this spring. “Why? I know there’s an old Indian proverb saying the white man has a hole in his soul. Obviously, mine is shaped like a toaster.”
If it’s something of a stretch to picture the 7-foot Nairn surrounded by toasters and whisks, then perhaps it’s easier to imagine the star fielding calls from his agent on one phone while checking up on a friend in the United States with another. Nairn carries both an HTC Evo 3D and an iPhone 4S to keep up with the demands of being associated with a blockbuster TV series.
Editors and content clients, please email me for a full clip of this exclusive interview.
11 Common Money Mistakes People Make in Their 40s
Your 40s represent a unique period in your financial life. You’re older, wiser and well-established, but there are still a few things you have yet to figure out — like how to afford your children’s college education and where you’re going to retire.
Though you might feel settled, becoming complacent could impact your financial well-being. Don’t fall prey to these common money mistakes that people often make in their 40s.
Read the full article at GOBankingRates and Huffington Post.
Thick as Air: Small Ways to Fight Air Pollution
When Wendy Smith and her family moved to Dallas from Surrey, England, in 2001, respiratory issues weren’t on their radar. Yet Smith, her husband and her son sniffled and snorted their way through thick, seasonal mucous their first few years stateside. It was probably allergens, Smith surmises — that and poor air quality.
“We live in a very dense area,” says the North Dallas mom. “The air quality with the heat is thick.”
For the Smiths, the change brought challenges for lungs that were used to the bracing British country air. During the years just before the family moved here, Dallas-Fort Worth experienced some of the ugliest ozone levels in the nation.
Experts say the best way to avoid health problems is to steer clear of outdoor activity on high ozone days. Follow the color-coded Air Quality Index, which tells you how polluted the air is and how likely it is to affect you and your family.
Read the full article at DallasChild.
Personal Finance
Managing money made simple.
Huffington Post: 11 common money mistakes people make in their 40s
MSN Money: 32 brands with lifetime warranties
PenFed’s Your Money: Superhero money matters everyone can relate to
GOBankingRates: 10 celebrity millionaires on their favorite school subjects
PenFed’s Your Money: Should you finance that with a home equity line of credit?
FindTheHome: The most valuable cities in America
Parenting & Family
Hot topics for today’s families.
Thrive: Your Child’s Educational Rights
DallasChild: The story of us: Why knowing their families helps children know themselves
GOBankingRates: How to save on dorm room essentials at IKEA, Target and Walmart
Digital Trends: How social media is influencing college applicants
GOBankingRates: The couponing guide for shoppers who don’t want to look cheap
Health & Wellness
From investigative features to nuts-and-boltsy service articles.
TIME and Techlicious: The best websites to help you fall asleep
DallasChild: Thick as air: Small ways you can fight the big problem of pollution in North Texas
DallasChild: Nitpicking: The lousy truth about head lice
Green & Holistic Living
Trends and advice for holistic living.
GrabWorthy: How to find nontoxic nail polish
SuperEco, Blue Toad: Handwashing by the numbers
GrabWorthy: Top tips for brewing loose-leaf tea
Interviews & Profiles
Remarkable people, from the famous to the unknown.
Engadget: Why the NFL’s Chris Kluwe will always be @ChrisWarcraft on Twitter
Engadget: Author Cory Doctorow on gold farming
Engadget: I didn’t know he plays World of Warcraft!
Gaming
The computer gaming lifestyle, especially gaming for kids.
Engadget: The student’s guide to balancing real life, good grades and video games
Engadget: The video gamer’s guide to time management
Digital Lifestyles
Tech industry and consumer tech.
Digital Trends: Why are one third of Americans turning their backs on high-speed internet?
USA Today: Best party gadgets for New Year’s
Digital Trends: When should you upgrade your operating system?
GrabWorthy: 2 tracking tools for frequent flyer families
GrabWorthy: 5 tech-worthy backpacks to take back to school
Additional clips are available upon request from lisa@lisapoisso.com.