GeekSugar

Website Of The Day: Swap Tree

GeekSugar — Tue, 14 Aug 2007 13:30:51 PDT

We all know sharing is caring and we all love free stuff, so the idea behind Swap Tree seems too good to be true.

The site offers a place where you can trade media - be it books, music, DVDs or video games - for other items you want. The service is entirely free of charge, you just list the item you want to trade, wait as Swaptree's algorithms calculating what you're eligible to receive then choose your item. You are then given the choice to print your postage directly from your browser.

The fact that you don't have to make a separate trip to the post office to get postage makes the Swap Tree service easier than eBay or Craigslist and the fact that there is no money exchanged makes the entire process less sketchy. You'll need the UPC or ISBN code that is on the back of every CD, book, video game and DVD so your item can't be all beat up.

To learn how to post your favorite sites to the Website of the Day group, just

I know that this long list looks scary, but trust me, once you get the hang of it, it'll be a snap the second time around.

First of all, join the Website of the Day group
Click "Create and Share!" on the left hand side
Choose "Blog"
Give your photo a Title
Leave the category as "general"
Change the channel to "technology and gadgets"
Add keyword(s) (for example mine for this photo was "Website of the Day")
Click on the "Add Image" link below the "body" box
A popup window will happen - click on "Browse" to find your image on your computer
Once you have the image chosen, click "Submit"
The popup will show you your image, choose size: "normal" - if you want, you can give it a title (which will show up as a caption)
Click "Insert" and the popup will go away
Your "body" box will now have some text in it. Leave it as is. If you want to add some text before the picture telling me why you love the website, do it before the code that has appeared.
Click Submit

So join the Website of the Day group and share information about all of your favorite sites! Yours just might end up on the geeksugar homepage!

There's a Better Way to Get Rid of Your Christmas Tree This Year

Business Insider — Tue, 20 Dec 2011 01:20:33 PST

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

Before you toss that scraggly lump of limbs that used to be your Christmas tree on the side of the road, think about recycling it instead.

Plenty of state sanitation departments have guides for consumers on how to discard unwanted trees for recycling, but environmental site Earth911 has created a search-friendly database to help others track down recycling centers in their areas.

"Earth911 is thrilled to see the momentum building behind treecycling. Not only are we supporting local jobs for Americans, but also the reclamation of a valuable resource," said Earth911 CEO Barry Monheit.

So-called "treecyclers" have gotten a leg up with help from big box retailers like Walmart. The store agreed to work exclusively with growers who pledge to attach a tag with local recycling information on each of the 8 million trees they're estimated to sell this year.

"By partnering with Earth911 and tree growers in support of the Treecycle program, we are able to make a smart and sustainable decision for our business" said Amy Bates, manager of Walmart operations support.

So what happens to all those old trees anyway?

They can be repurposed for a host of uses, from wood chippings used in mulch for community gardens to protective erosion barriers for river deltas and wildlife habitats, according to Earth911.

Some cities rely on treecycling to prep parks and gardens for Spring.

For years, thousands of New Yorkers have taken part in MulchFest, a city government-sponsored event that collected and mulched nearly 17,000 trees last year.

Participants are free to take home chippings for their own homes and the rest of the mulch is used to nourish city gardens, according to New York City Department of Parks & Recreation.

Check out these smart stories on Business Insider:

What Do You Know About Hanukkah Food Traditions?

Susannah Chen — Tue, 20 Dec 2011 04:19:26 PST

December isn't all about cookie swaps, tree trimmings, and Christmas dinners; at sundown tonight, Hanukkah, the eight-day Jewish Festival of Lights, begins. You may be familiar with menorahs and dreidels, but what do you know about the celebration's food traditions? Find out when you take our quiz.

Take the Quiz

25 Truly Wacky White Elephant Gifts

BellaSugar — Wed, 21 Dec 2011 03:00:05 PST

Are you familiar with the "white elephant" gift exchange? It's a veritable tchotchke swap. The premise is that you show up with one totally useless wacky gift, draw numbers to see who goes first, and then let the opening begin. As subsequent participants unwrap their gifts, they can steal away the other's newly acquired goods. (I once obtained one of those sad-looking Charlie Brown Christmas trees this way. Score.) Do you have a white elephant party coming up, or perhaps you merely have friends with goofy senses of humor? Then let the gag gifting begin.

Savvy Links: 19 Household Swaps That Save Money

Emily Co — Wed, 14 Dec 2011 11:44:24 PST

19 household swaps that save money - All You
Ways to save money on hotels for your next vacation - Money Crashers
Facebook posts get educators in hot water - Tecca
More definitive proof that women are good at math - HuffPost Women
How to maximize the value of your frequent flier miles - Wise Bread
Avoiding competitive shopping for fun and profit - Get Rich Slowly
How to get a Christmas tree for less - Bundle
10 college degrees to bank on - Bankrate

4 Toxic Foods That Should Never Cross Your Lips

Prevention — Mon, 05 Dec 2011 03:37:36 PST

We are excited to share one of our fave stories from Prevention here on FitSugar!

Is your food loaded with toxins and chemicals? Here, simple swaps to protect yourself
By Anne Underwood

Clean eating means choosing fruits, vegetables, and meats that are raised, grown, and sold with minimal processing.

Often they're organic, and rarely (if ever) should they contain additives. But in some cases, the methods of today's food producers are neither clean nor sustainable. The result is damage to our health, the environment, or both. So we decided to take a fresh look at food through the eyes of the people who spend their lives uncovering what's safe - or not - to eat. We asked them a simple question: "What foods do you avoid?" Their answers don't necessarily make up a "banned foods" list. But reaching for the suggested alternatives might bring you better health - and peace of mind.

The Best Packaged Foods to Shop For

1. Canned Tomatoes

Fredrick Vom Saal, PhD, an endocrinologist at the University of Missouri who studies bisphenol-A, gives us the scoop:

The problem: The resin linings of tin cans contain bisphenol-A, a synthetic estrogen that has been linked to ailments ranging from reproductive problems to heart disease, diabetes, and obesity. Unfortunately, acidity (a prominent characteristic of tomatoes) causes BPA to leach into your food. Studies show that the BPA in most people's body exceeds the amount that suppresses sperm production or causes chromosomal damage to the eggs of animals. "You can get 50 mcg of BPA per liter out of a tomato can, and that's a level that is going to impact people, particularly the young," says vom Saal. "I won't go near canned tomatoes."

The solution: Choose tomatoes in glass bottles (which do not need resin linings), such as the brands Bionaturae and Coluccio. You can also get several types in Tetra Pak boxes, like Trader Joe's and Pomi.

Budget tip: If your recipe allows, substitute bottled pasta sauce for canned tomatoes. Look for pasta sauces with low sodium and few added ingredients, or you may have to adjust the recipe.

Low-Sodium Alternative Dinner Options

Keep reading to three more foods to avoid.

Brad Pitt Takes a Sexy Break From Studio Time

Lauren Turner — Thu, 17 Feb 2011 13:10:59 PST

Brad Pitt was spotted hanging around outside of an LA studio today. He took a similar smoke break last week, though this time he had a pal and a phone call to keep himself busy. Brad's been rocking the all-black look lately, as he also donned leather during a recent trip out of town. He swapped his bad boy style for a suit at the SAG Awards, and hopefully we'll see more of his red carpet hotness when he starts promoting The Tree of Life ahead of its Spring release.