GeekSugar

Vogue Wants To Get Digital

GeekSugar — Wed, 30 Apr 2008 09:00:23 PDT

This month's Vogue has more than Iron Woman Gwyneth Paltrow - they have a spread called "Let's Get Digital," that seems to be aimed squarely at me and my geeksugar loyalists! They mix Logitech with Lanvin, iPhones with Armani, Blackberrys and Balenciaga - what I've been striving to do for years: meshing a look that loves fashion as much as technology. Check out the slideshow to see the geek chic intersections!

Online Dating: 5 Ways To Stand Out From The Crowd

YourTango — Thu, 17 May 2012 12:50:50 PDT

We're happy to present this excerpt from one of our favorite sites, YourTango. Today, David Osterczy gives us an excerpt from his new book 101 Online Dating Tips.

Here is a smattering of tips from my latest book, Dating DeMistyfied, 101 Online Dating Tips.

I've left out much of "the meat and potatoes," but left in enough content for you to get an indication of what you will learn from this book. This book was written from 10 years of Internet dating experience, thousands of interviews with both men and women and research garnered from our last five to six Dating DeMistyfied Workshops.

Put great effort into writing your profile. Show passion and humor.

I mean really, if you can't have fun writing a simple online profile, then what sort of person do you suppose that you'll attract? Way back in 2001, I submitted my first profile to Match.com. I had no experience writing profiles but just figured what the hell . . . let's have fun!

I wrote the text on a Sunday night and didn't check my email until Friday night. During the five days I was "away," I received nearly 150 emails from about 120 women. Yes, some wrote me up to three times during that week! I was shocked, but realized that I was on to something!

The point that I'm attempting to make is to be sure that your personality comes through in the profile. If you're silly or funny, then by all means, portray that! If you're really smart and have a lot to say, then say it! If you're sarcastic - in a good way - then allow that to come through. If you're not into writing, like many are not, then just do the best that you can but make sure to come across as you. After all, you are the only one that you really know how to be!

Just have fun folks! Be honest and definitely ask for what you want when describing what you seek in a mate. Write in the same manner as you speak so that each person reading your profile feels that you're talking directly to him or her. After all, that is what we're all here for!

Make sure to upload only the clearest, best and most recent photos.

You'd think that this would be a no brainer, but the more you surf the personals online, the more you'll be shocked at the sheer idiocy of some people and the pictures they submit to dating sites. Photos are your first line of attack, and if they suck, no-one will even read your wonderful, well thought out profile! I'm not telling you that you need to go out and get professional shots taken, but I have friends who have done very well going exactly that route.

Simply put, if you don't have any decent, clear photos of yourself, then grab your digital (you know that you have one!) and grab some friends and spend the day taking lots of photos alone and in groups. It is critically important that you have a variety of pictures. Have some close-ups (head-shots) so that people can see how beautiful your eyes are, some full length shots so they can get an idea of your body type and some group photos so they know that you actually leave the house and can be social.

For the rest of the article, head to YourTango: Online Dating: 5 Ways To Stand Out From The Crowd

Written by David Osterczy for YourTango.

7 Tips to Informing People of Maiden Name Changes

Emily Co — Tue, 08 May 2012 12:53:03 PDT

Keeping or changing your maiden name is such a sensitive topic that it's hard to know when the appropriate time is to inform everyone. Do you tell them all at one go, or would you tell each person separately? Here are a couple of polite ways you can share the news.

Tread carefully with reception announcements. Getting announced when you're coming into your reception is a good way to let people know about changes to your last name. However, if you're planning on keeping your maiden name, Anna Post, the great-great-granddaughter of Emily Post, advises against being announced as Mr. and Mrs. Baker "just because you want to do the classic thing. People will be listening to how you want to be called as a married woman." If you are keeping your maiden name, just have yourself announced as your maiden name.
Include it in the wedding announcement. The wedding announcement is another good place to inform people.
Don't send out an email blast. Post advises against sending out an email blast to let people know whether you're keeping it. However, if people email you individually to ask, it's perfectly fine to respond via email.
Add it to the thank-you notes. When you're sending out the requisite thank-you cards to people who have attended your wedding, include your new last name if you're changing it, or use your maiden name if you're keeping it.
Prewedding chatter. It's probably inevitable that the maiden name question will come up when discussing wedding plans with friends, so that's another organic way of letting your pals know. Post says it's becoming somewhat of a standard discussion during prewedding conversations.

Read on for more.

Feeling Wronged as a Customer? Vent Online to These 6 Sites

Emily Co — Mon, 02 Apr 2012 09:36:11 PDT

One of the things I love about this digital age is that we have more power as consumers, because we now have a public online forum to voice our dissatisfaction. Sometimes you may feel like your complaints are going unheard. Perhaps the firm did not respond to your multiple calls and emails or maybe the customer service rep was just plain rude. As frustrating as it is, we know that the "customer is always right" adage is no longer true for many establishments. But don't worry, there are plenty of places to voice your unhappiness. Here are some of them:

Amazon: If you're unhappy with any product you have received, leave a review on Amazon.com to enlighten other customers. Amazon is the largest online retailer in the US so your review will definitely be seen by many pairs of eyes.
The Consumerist: A bulk of the posts on consumerist.com come from complaints and tips from readers. The blog also scours the news to find other examples of consumers being wronged. Some of the top posts include a customer getting banned from Best Buy after catching the store doing something illegal.
Yelp: Compelling Yelp reviews can really make a difference. I've gotten messages from shop owners thanking me for my positive review and some who requested me to take down a negative one. Remember, you're the one with the upper hand so don't be cowed by store owners who try to threaten you.

For more places to vent, read on.

21 Disposable Products You Can Reuse

Wise Bread — Thu, 29 Mar 2012 09:00:39 PDT

Even when the product is supposedly "disposable," you can always reuse it. Wise Bread shares awesome ways to reuse these 21 disposable products.

It’s said that we live in a disposable society. But the word "disposable" is a misnomer. Disposable is considered throwaway, something you use once and dump, regardless of the life that may be left in it. As a frugal shopper with a concern for the state of our environment, I think that just won’t do.

I often reuse many so-called “onetime-use” items, and I asked friends, family, and colleagues to tell me which disposable items they squeeze more life from. Here’s my list, including some of the surprising ideas I was given.

RELATED: 25 Things to Throw Out Today

1. Butter Wrappers

If you’re like most people, you unwrap your butter, pop the stick into your handy holder, and throw the wrapper away. But wait a second - instead of trashing the wrappers, keep them in a sandwich bag. The next time you need to grease a baking tray or dish, you’ve got something all ready to go.

Read on for more.

31 Days of Spring Cleaning: Convert Paper Notes to Digital

Kelly Schwarze — Thu, 15 Mar 2012 06:02:12 PDT

Neon-colored Post-its all over your workstation certainly may brighten the surroundings, but it's doing nothing for your productivity or organizational skills. Get with the digital jotting and convert the mess of paper stickies ruling your life into neatly organized electronic notes and reminders. Sign up for these apps and websites to stay on your game. And if you really can't let go of the Day-Glo vibe, use their powers for good by crafting a pixelated mural on your wall with the remaining Post-its.

Evernote - Capture an idea online, on your phone, tablet, desktop, basically anywhere, and it will sync with your entire Evernote account. Record in various mediums including voice, photos, texts, you name it.
Simplenote - For collaborating types, choose this app to share brainstorming notes and keep the team spirit going.
Grocery IQ - Build a smart grocery list in this app that will keep you on budget, add more items with the scan of a bar code, organize lists by store, and even download coupons for major savings.
Pinterest - People use Pinterest in all sorts of ways, from a style board to a recipe box. Create boards based on any and every subject on which you've found yourself writing paper notes.
Oh, Don't Forget . . . - You likely keep Post-its around, worried you'll miss an important deadline. Let the magical mind of computers do the worrying for you. Enter a reminder message, and the service will send your cell a text at the time you appointed.

What online source do you use to keep organized?

5 Simple Ways to Dry Nail Polish Faster

Miriam Lacey — Mon, 12 Mar 2012 12:42:00 PDT

There's nothing more annoying than spending half an hour getting your nails just right only to have them ruined the minute you put your hand into your purse or need to itch that place behind your ear. Luckily, there are lots of ways to speed up what can otherwise seem infernally long drying times. To check out our easy fixes, keep reading.

Ellen DeGeneres Tells All With the Women of The Bachelor

Annie Scudder — Wed, 07 Mar 2012 14:55:45 PST

If Ellen DeGeneres was a contestant on The Bachelor, things would get a whole lot funnier. The talk-show host digitally imported herself into the drama-filled Women Tell All special that aired last Monday. In her best sparkly blazer, Ellen took the hot seat from model Courtney across from host Chris Harrison. As the women questioned her motives, Ellen quipped: "I was not here for Ben. I mean let's face it. I was here for the girls." Watch the hilarious clip above.

31 Days of Spring Cleaning: Optimize Your Laptop Battery

Kristy Korcz — Tue, 06 Mar 2012 04:21:59 PST

The first time you get a new gadget (whether it be a laptop, smartphone, or tablet), you pop the box open, fully charge it, and go. Does this phrase describe your charging habits? It's easy to plug-n-play when it comes to your tech, but optimizing your battery the first time you use your new gadget will help keep your battery a top performer. How do you do this? It's easy - first, fully charge the battery, then let it run down completely before fully charging again. Good news is, you can do this even if your gadgets aren't new to help keep batteries running on all cylinders.

Check out the rest of our 31 Days of Spring Cleaning series to get your digital life in order.

How to Handle Sticky Situations at Work

Kiplinger — Mon, 05 Mar 2012 14:06:52 PST

We're thrilled to present this smart Kiplinger story here on Savvy!

Working in corporate America, you're bound to encounter a difficult communication situation or two with your manager - from asking for vacation time during a busy month to letting him know that you're considering jumping ship. Whether you're an entry-level worker or in a more senior position, having to address these types of issues is an inescapable part of office life.

Here are five common scenarios with advice on how to approach them without burning any bridges.

You're Being Recruited by Another Department Head

The situation: You like your current job, but it would be remiss of you not to keep your eyes and ears open for new opportunities that allow you to grow and learn new skills. A manager in another department has taken note of your stellar performance and makes it clear that she'd be more than happy to have you on her team. However, your boss isn't in the loop, and you don't want to offend or anger him. A week goes by, and the pursuing supervisor steps up the pressure: "I'd hire you tomorrow. Shall we talk specifics?" You're interested in listening to what she has to say, but you don't want to burn any bridges. How do you proceed?

What you should do: First, let the manager who's courting you know that you're flattered she's taken note of your work. Next, if you're seriously considering making the move, be very clear in letting this person know that you have an obligation to your current boss. Ask her how she wants to proceed with bringing your manager into the loop. They are peers, and it would be much better for the person pursuing one of his top performers to initiate the conversation.

Read on for more sticky situations.