GeekSugar

Alaska Airlines Gets On Board With Mobile Boarding Passes

GeekSugar — Thu, 18 Feb 2010 11:30:19 PST

Taking off for a trip? If you're flying Alaska Airlines, forget printing out your boarding pass to get to your seat - Alaska announced new mobile boarding passes for their tech-savvy passengers earlier today. Check in at home, or on your smartphone, then bookmark your boarding pass page for easy boarding. Airports dotting the Northwest get first dibs on the simplified boarding process, while more will be rolling out over the next year.

Other airlines tested the eTicket waters a few years ago, but with the amount of smartphones in our hands these days, eTicketing and electronic boarding passes will be much easier to use today. Will you (or do you currently) use eTickets or mobile boarding passes when you catch a flight?

Flying with NWA This Holiday Season? Use an E-Boarding Pass!

GeekSugar — Mon, 15 Dec 2008 11:25:49 PST

Earlier this year, Northwest Airlines announced that they would be offering E-Boarding passes to select cities offering nonstop flights.

Wondering how it works? When you check in to your flight on nwa.com, just select the E-Boarding Pass option from the drop down on the "Completing Your Check-In" page. From this page, you will be prompted to enter your cell phone information, and your E-Boarding Pass will then be sent to your phone. Once you get to the gate, you will have to show your screen with the 2D barcode and scan it right there.

So far, people have reported that it works great - minus the TSA part since they usually check your paper boarding pass with your ID as you walk through the security X-Ray Machine - something they'll have to work on improving.

9 Ways to Earn Extra Cash When Money Is Tight

Wise Bread — Thu, 24 May 2012 11:51:58 PDT

I'm sure everyone can do with a little more cash in their wallets. Here are some great suggestions by Wise Bread for you to make extra money.

Even though I'm self-employed full-time, I'm always looking for new and exciting ways to make more money.

Earlier this year, I wrote a Wise Bread post on websites that can help you earn extra cash. More recently, I came across a blog post on Zaarly titled, "10 Ways to Make Money Without a Job." After reviewing the latter post, I thought it was time to revisit the topic and let you in on a few more ways to get paid.

The ideas that Zaarly presents are perfect for the unemployed or those who just want to pad their pockets a little more. In addition, there are moonlighting jobs that I do that I thought you should know about. Thus, if you're without a steady paycheck or you just want to build up a rainy-day stash, here are some of your options.

1. Offer Experiences to Strangers

I recently learned about a new site called Vayable, which allows people with specialized knowledge and talents, local info, and time on their hands to create experiences that others can purchase. It's basically a touring and activity company without the company. Anyone can join the site and set up an experience. For instance, the Kan Brothers offer motorcycle tours of San Francisco - which include helmet rental, a drink at a local hot spot, and a city map - for two to four people at $75 per person. In New York City, Kim G. is offering a personalized painting lesson for groups of two to six for a flat rate of $300; the experience includes acrylic paints; canvas board and supplies; studio space; wine, cheese, and crackers; and Kim’s undivided attention. Consider this tip if you're interested in joining Vayable: Browse the site to see what other people in your area are offering. By creating a unique experience that no one else has established, you have a better chance of getting booked.

Read on for more.

Grey's Anatomy Season Finale Rundown, "Flight"

Becky Kirsch — Fri, 18 May 2012 23:18:05 PDT

It's hard for me to even write this recap because I'm so mad at Grey's Anatomy right now. The death of a major character in the season finale has been teased for weeks, but it's not left until the episode's final moments. In fact, it happens in the first 20 minutes, and once it does, it's hard to focus on anything else.

I'll save my spoilers for below the break, but this is definitely one of the most affecting and frustrating episodes Grey's Anatomy has ever seen, and considering there's been a ferry crash, bomb scares, and a Seattle Grace shooter, that's saying a lot. As Cristina astutely observes, "I don't understand how this keeps happening." There's a lot to go over, like the plane crash, the fate of the residents, and what we'll be wondering about all Summer long, so let's get the depressing party started when you

I hope you're ready for a rant, because I couldn't be more upset about Lexie's death. She's one of the few characters that I've continued to root for and sympathize with over the years, and her will-they-or-won't-they with Mark is one of the biggest reasons I still loved the show this season. Yes, she and Mark got a bittersweet farewell in which he finally confesses his feelings for her, but I just sat there wishing she'd miraculously wake up right up until the final scene. I applaud Shonda Rhimes and the rest of the show's writers for taking big risks that will seriously impact the audience, but right now I feel more like I've been punished for sticking with this show for so long.
You'd think with Lexie's quick death, the rest of the doctors in the crash would be in the clear for the rest of the episode, but that's not so. Meredith and Cristina seem to be OK, but Arizona's got a hideous gash in her leg, Mark's teetering on the brink of death, and Derek may very well lose his hand. For a second I thought we were going to lose Mark too in a sort of Romeo and Juliet move from the writers, but we don't even get closure on what will happen to the current survivors. Which brings us to the next question: how will the surgeons get out of this mess? And will everyone besides Lexie survive?
One doctor we won't be seeing more of is Teddy, who gets a job offer to serve her country again. She passes up the opportunity, and when Owen questions her loyalty, she admits that she's staying to watch over Owen since Cristina is on her way out. Owen then pulls out the trump card and fires Teddy so she'll be forced to leave the hospital. Though she's angry at first, it's clear that she's actually relieved to be leaving the hospital where Henry died. I've always liked having Kim Raver on the show, but Teddy's storyline hit its peak with her marriage to Henry, and has been kind of stale ever since his death. That said, I'm glad the door is still open for her to return.
Both Karev and Jackson decide to leave Seattle Grace for Johns Hopkins and Tulane, respectively. Karev leaves Arizona a voicemail explaining that he needs to see what he's made of without his mentor, while Jackson just seems to want to get away from all of the Seattle Grace drama, April included. As for April, she's hating life because she's not a virgin and she didn't pass her boards, and because Jackson is leaving. So that leaves us with Teddy, Jackson, Karev, and April all flying the coop. If all of these characters (plus Lexie) are really gone for good, there had better be an impressive lineup of new cast members coming in for season nine.
There's one silver lining in this dark cloud of an episode, and that's Bailey's happiness with Ben. She's one of the few characters whose problems seem completely trivial this week (what with her life not being in jeopardy and all). Though Ben is moving to LA, she's agreed to marry him and do a long-distance relationship - and she actually seems pretty content. In a way, it almost feels like this is Bailey's redemption for the trauma she experienced in the season six shooter finale. Not only is she completely uninvolved with the plane crash, but she actually gets a happy ending. At least until she finds out that most of her friends have been in yet another horrific accident.

This season finale definitely ranks high on the scale of shocking finales. Are you as bummed as I am about Lexie's death? Which characters do you think will still be around next season?

The Rise of Weight Watchers in the 1960s

Annie Scudder — Mon, 14 May 2012 11:00:42 PDT

This week on Mad Men's "Dark Shadows" episode, Weight Watchers serves as a type of therapy for Betty Francis, who can definitely use it. Boredom, jealousy, and insecurity dominate Betty's life as a 1960s housewife on her second marriage, and she's turned to bags of Bugles to pass the time. Now determined to lose the weight, the former model turns to a new diet plan gaining popularity with women like her, Weight Watchers. Considering Betty's mother-in-law already tried to push diet pills on her, which contained amphetamines at the time, the group meetings are the responsible approach to weight loss for Betty Francis.

If you think Weight Watchers was a phenomenon of the '80s or remember Duchess Sara Ferguson as its spokeswoman in the '90s, you may have been surprised to see Betty attending meetings way back in the '60s. Jean Nidetch, the founder of Weight Watchers, got the idea for the weight-loss method after struggling herself to lose and keep off weight with diets and pills. Jean, who had weighed as much as 214 pounds, lost 20 with a diet prescribed by the New York City Board of Health, but couldn't keep it off. So in 1961, she decided to hold meetings with other women facing the same issues with weight at her home in Queens, NY. By Oct. 1962, she had lost 72 pounds.

Thanks to her success, Jean's meetings took off, and she went from having them every week to multiple times a day. She soon recruited other group leaders, like the one we saw running Betty Francis's meetings, who had previously lost weight with the program and continued to keep it off. In 1963, Jean and her husband Marty incorporated the business, and by 1965, they exported the franchises to Canada, Puerto Rico, Great Britain, and Israel, with 102 in total. Changes would come in the '70s, with a psychologist coming on and exercise being introduced, and in 1978 the company was purchased for $100 million by another brand featured this season on Mad Men: H.J. Heinz.

In 2010, Weight Watcher's founder published her autobiography, The Jean Nidetch Story: An Autobiography, which came after her 1972 book The Story of Weight Watchers. The autobiography is described as the story of Jean's "personal struggles, rags-to-riches rise, and sunny, can-do attitude." If only Betty had a hint of a sunny disposition. Instead, her all-consuming jealousy is casting dark shadows.

Photo courtesy of AMC

Shaquille O'Neal's Mom Opens Up About Education, Sports, and Keeping Kids Motivated

Yahoo Shine — Mon, 14 May 2012 10:02:33 PDT

We're happy to present this article from one of our favorite sites, Yahoo! Shine:

When basketball star Shaquille O'Neal was still a kid, he knew that he had to get good grades before he could to play sports.

"In our home we had a rule: No pass, no play," his mother, Lucille O'Neal, told Yahoo! Shine in an interview. "If you didn't pass the grade, then you weren't allowed to play the extracurricular activity." That dedication to his studies is still strong: On May 5, the four-time world champion and 15-time All Star player earned his doctorate in education from Barry University in Miami. That's earned, mind you, not honorary. According to The Miami Herald, Shaq, 40, spent the past 4 1/2 years working toward a doctoral degree in organizational learning and leadership with a specialization in human resource development, studying before and after NBA games and between segments as a sports analyst on TV.

Keep reading to hear Lucille's advise for parents.

Grey's Anatomy Rundown, "Migration"

Becky Kirsch — Fri, 11 May 2012 10:42:31 PDT

Usually it's the season finales of Grey's Anatomy that leave us in the lurch, but this week's episode has its very own jaw-dropping cliffhanger. As the residents scramble to figure out whether they will stay in Seattle or move on to greener pastures, every character on the show has something to ruminate on. The party line this week comes from Dr. Webber, who says, "Make sure your ringer's on," as each phone call is another potential career offer.

There are major life changes afoot for the doctors who are staying put too. Mark is at a standstill trying to decide between Lexie and Julia, Owen's love life hangs in the balance as Cristina makes plans, and Bailey is shocked not once but twice by news from Ben. Whatever happens this week, the season finale promises to shake everything up, so basically, all bets are off. Let's get into the nitty-gritty when you

April and Jackson (or should I say Apes and Jack-man?) haven't really discussed their relationship status, though it's not for a lack of trying on Jackson's part. April's too busy drowning her sorrows and taking one brutal phone call after another from hospitals that no longer want her now that she's failed the boards. It's impossible not to feel sorry for her as the rest of the doctors are crowing about their futures, but Owen lays down the biggest blow of all: he tells her that she's no longer welcome at Seattle Grace, which was her last resort. I don't see how they can keep her around next year, unless she pulls off some sort of miraculous feat of strength in the season finale.
Derek's dream house is finally complete, but he's fully ready to put it on the market and get out of town. Though Meredith's waffling about accepting her offer in Boston, Derek's all but packed his bags. Though Meredith uses Lexie as an excuse, it's clear that the real reason she won't commit to leaving is because she wants to be close to Cristina. Derek's absolutely right when he gently tells Meredith that he's the person she should be consulting, not her best friend, but Cristina really drives the point home when she says that Owen, not Meredith, is her "person." Kind of feels like the ending of a Mere and Cristina era, doesn't it?
Speaking of Cristina, she's doing some major backpedaling with Owen now that she's passed her boards. She crawls into bed with him after a drunken night, only to come to her senses and walk out the door minutes later. Later, she gives in to desire and puts the moves on Owen in one of the break rooms, only to burst his happy bubble minutes after by telling him that she's planing on going to Mayo.
Ben has an adorable day of fun planned with Bailey, complete with an amazing-looking breakfast that includes orange juice and croissants. But Bailey is Bailey, and she blows off his schedule of crossword puzzles and sightseeing in favor of going in to work on her day off. Ben goes along with her, but he can't hide his resentment about Bailey choosing to work rather than spend time with him. Bailey's irritated by his constant mentioning of the crossword puzzle and makes a big show of acquiescing and snatching it out of his hands right there in the OR. As soon as I realized what was about to happen, I cringed right along with Derek and Ben: Ben made a special crossword puzzle to ask Bailey to marry him, and Bailey completely destroys the moment. She tries to make it up to him with lingerie and a do-over, but the circumstances have changed just hours later: Ben has gotten a job offer in LA. Ben and Bailey's relationship has been on the upswing, so I can't imagine she'd dump him again. But a Grey's Anatomy without Bailey? Say it ain't so.
Karev thought that his outburst during his boards would be the bane of his career, but it actually had the opposite effect. His test administrators are actually impressed with him and create a new Fellowship position just for him. Karev is floored by the fact that he's so in-demand, and it's actually pretty sweet to see him so surprised instead of egotistical. Webber teaches him to play hardball with both Seattle Grace and Hopkins, but Karev eventually decides to go with Hopkins, which pisses Arizona right off.
Mark admits to Derek that Lexie confessed her feelings for him but also reveals that he responded to her with the ever-popular "Thank you for your candor." He says he doesn't want to be a cheater and wants to make the right decision this time around. I really hope the writers are just building us up to an epic finale reunion, because this wait is really starting to get old.

Of course, the real kicker happens in the final moments of the episode, when it goes from Grey's Anatomy to Lost in the blink of an eye. Most of the doctors are on a plane to Boise, which inexplicably crashes in the middle of the woods, leaving many of the doctors strewn on the ground. It's setting the groundwork for what looks to be yet another heart-wrenching season finale, which promises that one of the doctors won't make it out alive. We already know that most of the principal actors have renewed their contracts, but Lexie and Mark are definitely still in the lurch, as well as Callie and Arizona. And come to think of it, there was that big speech between Callie and Arizona about never leaving each other. Who do you think will die? And who will you miss the most?

You're Fired! 20 Signs That a Pink Slip Is Coming

Wise Bread — Thu, 10 May 2012 10:54:53 PDT

If something feels off at the office, you may want to brace yourself for the worst. Wise Bread shares signs to look for when a pink slip is coming.

There are two types of employees. One has a good idea of what they do, who they are, and what position they play in the company. They are savvy. They know the score. They are under no delusions, and will no doubt leave for another job long before they are ever considered as cannon-fodder.

And then there's the other kind. The guy who could get Gandhi to hate him. The woman who spends most of her day chatting on the phone to friends or doing online shopping. Or the nice chap in sales who is completely oblivious that the recent merger means his job is now obsolete. They all have Ostrich Syndrome. They couldn't see a pink slip coming if it was 8ft tall and glowing in the dark, screaming "you're fired!"

You want to avoid being in that second category at all costs. So I've compiled a handy list. If you can answer yes to THREE or more of these questions, you may want to think about sprucing up your résumé and dry-cleaning your best interview attire.

1. Are you no longer in the loop about, well, anything?

This is a huge telltale sign. Suddenly you're finding out about company news from the cleaning lady or the new girl in accounting. If you were formally in the know about all things business related, but now suffer from "the company's doing what??!" disease, the writing is probably on the wall.

2. Did you recently screw up big-time?

We're not talking a minor faux pas here. Did you lose money on an account that was previously bulletproof? Oh dear. Were you caught having sex on the boss's desk with the boss's spouse? That's probably not a career-enhancing move. Unless you're a real dope, you know if you have screwed up. And if you know, HR knows. It may not be the final nail in your coffin, but it's a nail in the coffin nonetheless.

3. Are people avoiding you at all costs?

Eye contact is difficult to make with someone if you know his or her head's on the chopping block. Small talk is just as tough. It's best just to avoid that person altogether. So if people are no longer doing that fun "stop 'n' chat" in the hall, or the coffee room empties when you arrive, then guess what . . . you may be a marked man or woman.

Read on for more.

Grey's Anatomy Rundown, "Let the Bad Times Roll"

Becky Kirsch — Fri, 04 May 2012 07:11:07 PDT

The boards may have happened on last week's episode of Grey's Anatomy, but this week we get to go inside each of the testing rooms to see what went down. Everyone essentially flips out in their own way: Meredith can't stop puking, Karev misses his first session, April can't stop sweating profusely, and Jackson is distracted by his mother's little tryst with Webber. Cristina's the only one who keeps her cool, but her overconfidence threatens to be her demise. As we learn in the first few minutes of the episode, one of the doctors doesn't pass.

Back in Seattle, Arizona has an upsetting visit from one of her childhood friends, and there's still tension between Teddy and Owen. However, the real excitement comes from a pivotal moment between Lexie and Mark that we've been waiting forever for. Let's break down all the biggest moments when you

In Meredith's room, it's all she can do not to stop throwing up long enough to answer the administrator's questions. She gets an extra boost from a phone call to Derek during one of the test breaks, as he cryptically tells her that the test is a "mirror." The administrators try to get Meredith to abandon ship, but she forges on through - and passes! As if there was any doubt that the Torres method would fail her.
After a hectic cab ride over the Golden Gate Bridge, Karev busts through the doors of his test exam. The only problem is that he's missed his first session, which means there's no room for failure on the second two. The proctors push him to a breaking point about being late, and he ultimately storms out of the room, and in true Karev style, slams his bag to the floor. His outburst doesn't cost him the test though, and he passes.
Cristina's exam consists of her being interrogated by Mr. Feeny, who isn't a fan of her confidence. I was convinced that she would be the one to fail the exam, since it would be an interesting twist on how Cristina's always excelled over the years. I was proved wrong, though: she passes and gets to celebrate with the rest of the crew in the clear.
Jackson's got a double whammy of distractions, since he took April's virginity and caught his mother and Webber in the same hotel room. His mommy issues are the major problem at first; he confronts his mother with some harsh words about her behavior, and later gets irritated when he can hear her administrating a test in the next room. He manages to hold it together well enough though, and has reason to make his mother proud when he learns that he passed.
That leaves April as the last woman standing. Not only does she get all sweaty during her test, but she can't stop hyperventilating and babbling on end. Things get a bit scandalous for her though: she confronts Jackson about their night together, ranting again about her vow to Jesus. But when she starts going over the events of the night before, she and Jackson get hot and bothered and do it right there in the bathroom. The sexual encounter seems to calm both of them down, but April tells the administrators about her sexual awakening and troubled relationship with Jesus instead of answering their questions. Apparently the examiners aren't impressed with her epiphany, and she ultimately fails. I'm hoping this doesn't mean April will be written off the show; though she's a bit annoying, I'm digging her relationship with Jackson.
My favorite moment of the episode is Lexie's adorable love confession to Mark, but let's back up for a second. Over breakfast, Julia casually mentions to Mark that she thinks they should have a kid - and even hints that they don't have much time to mull it over. You'd think Mark would be totally freaked out, but he actually thinks it's a genius idea, and even tells Derek about it. Derek has vacillated when it comes to meddling in Lexie and Mark's relationship, but he goes into big brother mode and tells Lexie straight up what's going on. Lexie panics, but eventually musters the courage to confront Mark and blurt out everything she's been feeling all at once. The moment ends in a Grey's signature standoff when Julia interrupts the situation and Mark is left to choose between them. This has to be a no-brainer, though: as far as I'm concerned, Julia's already out of the picture.

With only two episodes left, we're counting down to what I'm hoping will be another epic season finale. What'd you think of this week's episode?

Grey's Anatomy Rundown, "Moment of Truth"

Becky Kirsch — Fri, 27 Apr 2012 10:29:56 PDT

As the title of this week's episode of Grey's Anatomy suggests, the moment the Seattle Grace residents have been waiting for has finally arrived: the boards. Jackson, Cristina, April, Meredith, and Karev are all gearing up for the big day, but they each have very different obstacles in their way. April is naturally freaking out, Karev can't get his mind off Morgan and Tommy, and Meredith comes down with the stomach flu at the worst possible time.

And then there are the doctors who aren't taking the test: Lexie is still taunted by her feelings for Mark, Teddy and Owen are at each other's throats, and Webber gives himself a break - with the help of Jackson's mom. Let's break down all the highlights of the episode when you

As the big day inches steadily closer, April is panicking more than ever. When she's not crying or snapping at people, she also finds time to accidentally tip off a fellow doctor that she snatched up the job he wanted for next year. Later, the same doctor drunkenly confronts her about the situation and April really loses her cool - she punches the guy out! High on confidence from her moment, she lunges at Jackson and tells him she's ready to lose her virginity. Jackson is actually really sweet about the whole situation, but April is clearly having some regrets immediately after. First, she kicks Jackson out of bed, then she hilariously freaks out about Jesus "hating her." It initially seems like a little sex might be just what April needs to chill out, but now I'm thinking she may have dug her own grave by giving herself yet another issue to agonize over.
While Jackson is busy making a woman out of his best friend, his mom is also getting a little action. Was anyone else a little weirded out by the way Jackson's sex scene is juxtaposed with his mom's? Mrs. Avery runs to Dr. Webber at the test site in San Francisco, and it's not long before she's whipping out all of her moves over dinner. Dr. Webber acquiesces, and they hop into the sack. It all seems well and good - Webber doesn't even seem to be having any regrets about Adele - until Jackson comes knocking on the door looking for his lucky pencil and instead finds the former chief in a bathrobe. Whoops.
One person who isn't getting any is Lexie, though it's not for lack of wanting. With Jackson away, Mark's a little restless around the hospital, so he turns his attention to Lexie. She does her best to try to keep her distance, but she can't help flirting a little. She even comes close to admitting her feelings but stalls when Mark tells her that she and Jackson made a great couple. Poor Lexie ends up literally crying on Derek's shoulder about how much the situation sucks - but I have a feeling it's all leading up to a big season finale reunion. On a related note - when was the last time Mark even mentioned his girlfriend?
With Meredith battling the flu, Cristina comes to her rescue with lots of Gatorade and other reinforcements (behind the safety of a surgical mask and closed door). The two have a heart to heart where Cristina finally opens up about her issues with Owen, but Meredith has a hard time consoling her when Cristina keeps going back and forth about what she wants to do with Owen. I was fully convinced that these two are done, but now it seems like Cristina is warming up to the idea of a reconciliation - what do you think?
Alex has been keeping his distance since his fallout with Morgan, but he can't stay away from her and baby Tommy this week. Arizona basically has to force him onto the shuttle to San Francisco, but even then he continues to call her every hour with ideas. Eventually he can't take any more and hops back on a plane to Seattle, but he's too late. Arizona informs Karev that it's finally over, and he sits with Morgan as she watches Tommy takes his final breaths. After the heartbreaking scene, Arizona convinces Alex that he should try to get back to SF in time for his boards, but in the final moments of the episode, we learn that he doesn't make it.

With only a few episodes to go, it seems like things are finally starting to get juicy on Grey's. Were you surprised about April and Jackson? Which doctors do you think will pass the boards?