I'm never prouder than when an awesome photo I took gets a ton of views and comments on Flickr, and maybe (just maybe) a stranger subscribes to my photostream! It's a nice accomplishment for a part-time pic snapper like myself. I'm not saying I'm Annie Leibovitz in any way, but I've offered up an informative how-to or two of my own to help you take the best snapshots you can and work with what you've got.
Whether you have a digital camera, a Polaroid, a Lomo, or a sweet camera phone, then you've got the potential to take great photos, no experience required. Photography is for everyone, not just those who get paid to do it! Take a look at my photo how-to roundup for a refresher, or to help you take some awesome shots for the first time when you read more
To show you how awesome Cubeecraft is, I knew I had to show rather than tell, so behold my glorious, hand-hewed creation! Cubeecraft provides you with templates that you download and print, then cut out and assemble to make cute, free desk accessories. I chose my fave, Mario, and cutting and putting him together took patience I haven't had since the third grade.
Cubeecrafts don't require glue or tape, although I desperately wanted to cheat and add both around hour two, but I persevered, and only a few obscenities were hurled at my Mario. But look! I did it! Don't let anyone tell you that geeksugar doesn't walk the walk.
Oh, and they recommend that you use craft paper, instead of standard printer paper — sadly, I print first and ask questions later, which is why my guy looks a little special. I still love you Mario!
McDonald's in Japan will be implementing a new e-coupon system where customers can pay for their order by placing their phone on a RFID reader. — Wired
Now with Google Earth, you can check out new environmental layers that are based on future climate change estimates. — Gizmodo
Here's an entertaining Saturday night Wii game to play with friends. . . Beer Pong for the Wii! — Kotaku
Weezer has just released its video for its new single "Pork and Beans", and it's entirely based on YouTube. — CrunchGear
It's giveaway time! Be sure to log in to your TeamSugar account for your chance to win a Wii Fit! — geeksugar
For some visual Friday fun, head on over to Tag Galaxy, where you can browse through Flickr photos in 3D. Just enter a tag, click on the planets with the tag you want to see and click "view photos" and let the site work its magic. Tag Galaxy requires the newer version of the Adobe Flash Player to work and requires some RAM and a good Internet connection, so be patient while the images load. Isn't it glorious?
I hope you didn't feel discouraged about being a girl geek by that article awhile back that reported women find technology jobs boring. Buck up, you — not only do you have geeksugar here at your service, there are plenty of fabulous precedents for you like Google's Marissa Mayer, Lifehacker founder and coder Gina Trapani, and a 19th-century girl geek: Ada Lovelace.
Born in 1815 in London, Ada Lovelace is known as the first programmer. Taught to love mathematics by her mother from a young age, she would later write what was known as the world's first computer program for Charles Babbage's, "analytical engine" — a general purpose, early computer.
To this day, Lovelace is remembered as the first coder and has received a few tributes: the computer language Ada is named for her, her picture is on Microsoft's holographic authenticity stickers, and The British Computer Society awards a medal to female computer science students in her name.
With my first week of the Wii Fit Fitness Challenge under my belt, I've discovered some tricks to get the most out of your workouts with your virtual trainer. But since Wii Fit is so easy to use and follow along with, you really won't have any trouble catching on right away and burning off that fro-yo you had for lunch!
I'm really excited about the new challenges I have been unlocking every day, and hope that some of you who were lucky enough to get your hands on the Wii Fit can participate and share your tips with us as well! Check out my handy Wii Fit tips in the slideshow!
Microsoft's desperation to compete with Google has resulted in them offering to pay you to use their search engine. For using Microsoft's search to find products to buy, users would be reimbursed 2 to 5 percent, if the store were participating, of course. Online retailers like eBay and Home Depot have already signed up for Live Search cashback, as it's called.
I already use eBates, which does pretty much the same as what Live Search cashback will do, and even if I didn't, I wouldn't stop Googling. Two percent of my online purchases - which don't make up that much of my personal search activity anyway - is just not a replacement for the quality of the search results. But what about you? Would you switch to Microsoft search if you were paid?
Vanessa Bruno
Stone Island
Forzieri