GeekSugar

Flickr Caved in to Protesters Donut Demands

GeekSugar — Thu, 17 Apr 2008 03:00:22 PDT

Here's the lowdown: recently, Flickr rolled out a new video feature that allows pro members to upload 90 second videos to their pages. This move sparked a heap of "No Video on Flickr" protest groups demanding that Flickr disassemble the feature in fear that the beloved site would become a Jr. YouTube. But knowing nerds all too well, where there are protestors, there will be mockery.

Flash forward: a "non-protest," protest group calling themselves "We Demand Donuts" isn't interested in taking Flickr video hostage, they just want free donuts. Insisting that Flickr buy them all free doughnuts – and subsequently making a mockery of the video protest groups – if they get 20,000 members to join hands for their donut demands. And surprisingly enough, Flickr obliged:

"While you have not yet reached your goal of 20K members, we at FlickrHQ have heard of your noble efforts and seek to answer your cries for justice."

Unfortunately, it seems that not everyone got the free donut goodness, since the "Donut Day" festivities took place yesterday in San Francisco only. So I'm curious, did anyone from SF get his or her free donut on yesterday?

Source

Rotary Phones - the Latest in Photo Booth Technology

Kelly Schwarze — Wed, 25 Apr 2012 07:17:02 PDT

In the days of cell phones and video chat, there's not much of a reason to keep a rotary telephone around other than its vintage good looks. A new project called the Rotobooth is repurposing those antique devices of yore in a way that is so 2012: a text message-sending photo booth.

Rotobooth users dial their mobile numbers the old-school way with long winds around the rotary phone located below the camera lens. Creators of Rotobooth hacked the phone with an Arduino microcontroller, so that once a photo is taken, it's sent to Flickr, and the user then receives a text message link to that photo on whatever number was dialed on the rotary phone.

This retro take on a modern digital photo booth was actually part of a hacking session at Twilio, a cloud-based texting company, and was used to send text message photo links to those smiling for the Rotobooth camera. Go, hackers!

Photo: Flickr User mauxfaux

How-To: Have a Super Mario-Themed Wedding

GeekSugar — Sat, 14 Apr 2012 08:30:32 PDT

More than anything else, your wedding should reflect your personality. Whether that happens to include a retro vibe, country feel, or come packed with geeky touches, it's all about you and your partner. Take for example, these genius centerpieces I came across on Flickr that show off one couple's commitment to gaming. The Super Mario Bros Super Star, Piranha Plant, and Fire Flower centerpieces could add a geeky touch to any wedding, but when combined with other SMB elements, can totally show off your Mario love, and take your wedding into geek overdrive.

Especially made from Etsy seller SketchCustoms circa 2010, crafty geeks could attempt to DIY their own - and save a few bucks in the process - by using construction paper, some Styrofoam (or even better, floral foam, since you can reuse it for homemade flower arrangements, or donate to your local flower shop later), and some elbow grease.

View 5 Photos ›

Want to see other ways you can geek out your wedding with Super Mario-themes? Of course you do! Just keep reading.

Happy National Pet Day! 13 Ways to Save Bucks on Fido

Emily Co — Wed, 11 Apr 2012 13:47:58 PDT

The cost of raising a dog is extremely high. In fact, if you look at rates to fly with your dog on airplanes, it's sometimes almost equivalent to what we humans are paying for a plane ticket. And it all adds up - you end up spending a never-ending amount of cash on toys, crates, flea medication, checkups, and the list goes on. However, many think the high costs of raising a dog are totally worth it. To reduce the costs of what you think is a necessary expense, here are some tips on saving money on your new dog:

Adopt a Doggie: If you're not too picky about the breeds, getting your dog from a shelter is cheaper than spending over a thousand for a purebred puppy from a breeder. Further, many of the pets have already been vaccinated and spayed or neutered, which will definitely save you money in vet bills.
Pick a Responsible Breeder: If you have your heart set on a pooch from a breeder, make sure you do your homework lest you end up with a sick dog from a puppy mill. Do research online to see what qualities a responsible breeder has, and go take a look at the dog and inspect the environment it's being raised in. Ask for references from sources like the breeder's vet, ask to see the dog's parents (if they are around) and quiz her on how she raises her dogs. Here are more questions to ask a prospective breeder.
Costco For Pets or Buy Online: Check to see if there is a warehouse superstore for pet supplies in your area. For example, Pet Club in the Bay Area gives great discounts if you buy in bulk - great for buying items in bulk such as urine pads, cleaning solvent, and poop bags. Another option is to see if you can find better deals online - Four Paws wee wee pads are available on Amazon at a 55 percent discount, so be sure to look around online for great bargains.
Neuter or Spay at the ASPCA: Spaying or neutering your dog can be extremely pricey. Check out your local ASPCA for cheaper prices on the surgery. To compare prices, I called a local vet that quoted me a hefty $800 for a small breed puppy, while the ASPCA in San Francisco quoted me $225. However, after asking around, my friend told me about an even better deal at another ASPCA, located a little further away in Oakland, CA, which charged $100 to spay/neuter. Be sure to check out the prices of the different clinics, even if they are under the same organization. The local Humane Society clinics were even cheaper so you might want to check out their prices as well. Lesson to learn: always shop around for pet health services.
Housebreak Your Dog: If you train your dog to "go" outside of your house, you don't have to waste money buying expensive pee pads and you'll be using less cleaning solvent for the messes that accidentally spill from the pad to the floor.

For more tips to saving on Fido, read after the jump.

22 Cheap Ways to Treat Yourself

Emily Co — Sat, 10 Mar 2012 00:15:30 PST

You've worked hard this whole week, so it's time to sit back, relax, and enjoy the weekend! Give yourself a treat this weekend to feel rejuvenated and to make yourself feel good. Don't worry, treating yourself doesn't always mean pricey massages at the spa or weekend getaways. Here are plenty of wallet-friendly suggestions:

Relive your Charlie and the Chocolate Factory memories and treat yourself to a bar of chocolate. Remember how Charlie savored each Willy Wonka chocolate bar? Eat yours in the same manner and relish every bite.
Buy yourself a steak and cook it. It's much cheaper than going to a steak house! Eat it while drinking a glass of affordable red wine.
Grab a few friends and go on a picnic in a nearby park.
Watch reality show reruns or shows saved on your DVR with a bowl of chocolate ice cream.
Explore a museum you've never been to.
Reread your favorite book (maybe The Hunger Games?).
Go to your local coffee shop and try a new coffee flavor. Bring your laptop with you and catch up with friends and relatives over email.

Read on for more.

10 Bad Habits of Tech Users (and How to Break Them)

Kristy Korcz — Fri, 02 Mar 2012 10:49:44 PST

As we get overwhelmed with work, kids, school, extracurricular activities, and social events, it's easy to forget about the maintenance and health of our tech . . . and ourselves. Since Spring is the time to refresh your home, it's also the perfect time to refresh your habits where your tech is concerned. Are you guilty of these 10 bad habits? Find out what they are, and how to turn things around below!

Working in poor ergonomic conditions - Sitting for hours in front of your computer - whether you're at an office or working from home - is bad enough, but throw in the poorly positioned monitor, a chair that's not supporting your back, and a desk that's too small for your stature, and you have a cocktail for body aches and pains. Check with your HR department to see what kinds of ergonomic assessment services are available to you so you can get your desk in tip-top shape. Working from home? No sweat - let this Osha ergonomic evaluation checklist help you set up a healthy home office.
Letting your tech get dirty and grimy - Your tech is pretty disgusting. Sixteen percent of phones have feces on them, while home keyboards hold 60 times more germs than a public toilet seat. Make a habit of cleaning your tech once a day, or even once a week with proper cleaning agents to cut down on viruses and bacteria that could make you sick.
Obsessing over your phone at improper times - We've grown quite accustomed to our smartphones helping us in our everyday lives, but they can easily drive a rift between you and your friends, family members, and fellow earth-dwellers at large. Keep your phone off the dinner table, don't chat in the bathroom stall or the gym, and keep your voice down when having a conversation on the bus. You know, just use common sense.

See the rest of the list after the jump.

Do You Share Your Breastfeeding Photos?

Rebecca M Gruber — Wed, 29 Feb 2012 08:32:18 PST

A picture's worth a thousand words, but mama may have more than 1,000 words to say if her breastfeeding pictures are used inappropriately. The intimate act is one that many new families like to record for posterity - in fact, 57 percent of LilSugar readers have taken breastfeeding photos of themselves. It's what they do with them afterward that may be cause for concern.

We all know about the controversy surrounding breastfeeding pictures on Facebook, but with the popularity of photo-sharing sites like Instagram and Pinterest, there are new concerns about the use of photos that depict nursing babies. A new post on the site of Best For Babes - the nonprofit breastfeeding advocacy group - interviews a mom whose instructional breastfeeding video was stolen by pornographers and spliced in with sex-act scenes. To make matters worse, the filmmakers used both the mom's and baby's names in their "movies." It has taken her more than two years to have the videos removed from various sites.

Though this case is extreme, it certainly isn't the only one out there.

Source: Flickr User christyscherrer

Lil Links: Putting an End to Sibling Rivalry

LilSugar — Wed, 22 Feb 2012 07:16:05 PST

Put an end to sibling rivalry - Parenting
A 3-year-old's viral video lands him a role in an Adam Sandler movie - The Stir
Jessica Simpson goes shopping at a baby boutique in LA - Celebrity Baby Scoop
Kourtney Kardashian is expecting a baby girl - Celebrity Baby Blog
Handling competition between grandparents - FitPregnancy
Why having a dog can lead to a healthier pregnancy - The Bump
How Reese Witherspoon juggles family and career - Momformation
Six kids books on first-time experiences - Real Simple
How to get more involved at your kids' school - Yahoo! Shine

Source: Flickr User bubbabyte

Winter Running Woe: Numb Toes

Jenny Sugar — Wed, 01 Feb 2012 14:02:06 PST

If you'd rather skip a run than hit the treadmill, then there's no doubt you're continuing with your outdoor runs even through this brisk and snowy Winter weather. That doesn't mean you're not dealing with some discomfort along the way. I've given you some tips on how to beat burning lungs, but if it's your feet that are bothering you, here are some ways to avoid numb toes.

First, consider your socks. You can't get away with wearing the same thin, ankle-length wicking socks you sported in the warmer months. Splurge on some thicker knee-highs; socks made of wool will keep your feet warm and dry. Be sure your socks aren't too tight as that can cut off circulation (go up a size to be sure). You can also try compression socks to improve circulation in your feet and legs.

If you're already wearing thicker socks, you'll probably want to go up half a size in your sneaks to accommodate the extra fabric. If you don't, the snug fit of your shoe might be the sole cause of your tingling feeling. Choose sneakers designed for colder, wetter weather (think waterproof Gore-tex) to protect your toes from the snow. Tie your shoes slightly looser because as you warm up, your feet will swell, and too-tight laces can cause that annoying numb sensation.

Continue reading for more tips on avoiding numb feet.

Hang Out With the President Next Week on Google+

Kelly Schwarze — Wed, 25 Jan 2012 04:22:13 PST

Last night President Obama shared his State of the Union address and is now giving the American public their chance to chime in by taking questions on Jan. 30 at 5:30 p.m. EST in the first ever White House Google+ Hangout.

Through Jan. 28 at midnight EST, submit your own questions on the state of the nation to the White House YouTube page and vote on those you find most important for the president to answer. Several people who submit questions will be selected to join the video Hangout and interact with the president live. Since only 10 attendees are able to participate directly in the Hangout, the rest of us will just be watching the 45-minute live video feed of the president discussing the top-rated questions from the public.

The official Google+ White House page is the president's latest push in an integrated social media presence as his staffers also recently set up an Instagram account (@barackobama) in preparation for the 2012 campaign.

Source: The White House Flickr