GeekSugar

Website of the Day: Taxi Me

GeekSugar — Thu, 11 Sep 2008 13:02:27 PDT

I've come across a few different cab-fare prediction sites, but Taxi Me takes the cake in terms of design, usability, and accuracy. All you have to do is type in your starting and ending addresses and Taxi Me will show you a map of the route that will most likely be taken and an estimate price of how much it will cost you. Unfortunately, you can't input business names just yet.

Do you have a favorite website you want to share with us? Submit your faves to our Website of the Day group! To learn how, just

read more. 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 the pink "Share" menu on the top left side of the page.
Choose "Blog" and “Regular Post.”
Give your story a “Title.”
Fill in the “Body” with a link to your favorite website and the reasons why you love it.
Click “Next."
Choose the audience for your story to “Website of the Day” in the drop-down menu
Add keyword(s) (for example mine for this photo was "Website of the Day").
Change channel to “Technology and Gadgets.”
Fill in tag field with relevant tags.
Click “I’m done” to submit content.

Khloé Kardashian Odom Tells Us Women and Girls Shouldn't Be Shy About Their Bodies

Annie Scudder — Fri, 10 Feb 2012 14:00:01 PST

While Kris Jenner is making headlines for promoting a very adult product - arousal oils to be exact - her daughter Khloé Kardashian Odom is appealing to a younger audience. Khloé has teamed up again with U by Kotex, the eccentric line of pads and tampons for young women. Khloé told me that she loves that the line is "trying to destroy the old-fashioned belief that we have to be so discreet" and that it also supports the charity Girls for a Change. During fashion week, a fleet of branded U by Kotex taxis will be picking people up at Lincoln Center and in the Meatpacking District, and donating up to $100,000 to the charity. I chatted with Khloé, and she opened up about the awkward years in the Kardashian household, as well as her move to Dallas for love. Keep reading to find out all about it!

TrèsSugar: Why did you team up with U by Kotex?
Khloé Kardashian Odom: I love their packaging, the neon colors, the black boxes, they're trying to make everything so chic, and fun, and vibrant, like it's OK. Especially if you're in high school and you're pulling out one of those tampons or maxi pads, it's not as embarrassing. I love being able to let women, and especially younger women, know that it's OK to talk about this and to ask questions.

TS: Would this message have appealed to you when you were younger?
KKO: I am so thankful that I had older sisters, because I had a really tough time in school. I was always bullied in school. If it wasn't for my older sisters always making me feel like everything was OK and being able to ask them questions, I don't really know how I would have gotten through those years. I love that this brand is almost like an older sister but on a larger scheme. They're letting everyone know that this is what happens to everybody and it's awkward for everyone.

TS: So who did your older sisters talk to? Did your mom fill that role?
KKO: Kourtney told me that she didn't even tell my mom she got her period for the first year and a half. She said she told her friend and her friend just told her what to do. To me, I find that so weird. But that's Kourtney. Kim was always very open about it, but I think Kim got hers first, and I think Kourtney got jealous. Kids are weird! I don't get what that jealousy is. I'm like, "Honey, please. Be grateful that you don't have it." It's so funny that I'm 27, and my sisters are 16 and 14. I'm not so much older than them, but the comfort in talking about your bodies grows so much.

TS: Do you have an awkward or funny memory from that time?

Find out Khloé's answer, as well as the scoop on Dallas, when you keep reading.

George Clooney Jokes About Gosling's Globes No Show: "You Know What You Do in Thailand."

Molly Goodson — Sun, 15 Jan 2012 20:43:39 PST

George Clooney brought his charming smile, sense of humor, and girlfriend Stacy Keibler backstage to the press room after winning best actor in a drama at the Golden Globes in LA this evening. His The Descendants also took home best dramatic picture, so it was a triumphant night for George. In between his typical funny quips and jokes, George chatted about going up against his friend Brad Pitt this award season and what he thinks fellow nominee Ryan Gosling is getting up to in Thailand. Check it out:

On any award season rivalry or wagers with Brad: I’ll tell you quite honestly: the truth of the matter is, Brad is my friend. I've never felt competition with him. I've only felt a great deal of friendship and support from him and for him. We don’t wager. We don’t bet. We just look at each other and slap each other on the back and wish each other the best because he's a friend.

On why people connect to this film: Alexander Payne knows how to tell a story. It's a coming-of-age film for a 50-year-old. A lot of us have dealt with issues or people like that. I have people coming up to me all the time. I think it touches a lot of people like that.

On Ryan Gosling being a no-show: He's in Thailand or something, and you know what you do in Thailand. He wrote me a nice email this morning and I found out that he wasn’t able to be here. It happens, you gotta work. He's gotta make a living, he's a struggling actor.

On adopting dogs: I've always had dogs. I've almost always had them out of the pound. Seems like a good place. They have a lot of them. It brings me a lot of joy to do it and they seem like the happiest dogs in the game. I only have one, but he eats for, like, four.

On the honor of being nominated: Both of these films [The Ides of March and The Descendants] being nominated, was three years of work and three years of things that mattered to me. What I really remember and what I do this for is filmmaking. I love being a part of film. I know film history. In 1976 there was All the President's Men, Bound for Glory, Network, Taxi Driver and there was Rocky, which won. But I remember all five of those films. The acknowledgement is unbelievably nice and complimentary, but that’s not why I do it.

Memorable moments from tonight's Globes: Here’s two moments that really struck me: I am in awe of Sidney Poitier. When he walks out on stage and he’s there to present, and he gets the longest standing ovation, earned, I found that to be very emotional to everyone in the audience. And the other is Jane Fonda in that dress. My god. She looked great, didn’t she?

On Ricky's hosting: I thought he did a great job. I think tonight was a much tougher gig because there's so much build-up to it. It's almost like how rough can you go at that point. I thought he handled tonight like a proper good host, again. It was fun. People were expecting a lot of trash talk. He did what he does, and he does it well. He makes me laugh.

On Mitt Romney's anti-gay stance: Well I’m not much concerned until there is an actual nominee, but I think it’s the wrong side of history. I think everyone understand it's the last leg of the civil rights issue. It's certainly not the wedge issue it was in 2004.

Real Mom Gift Guide: All Jessica Shyba Wants For the Holidays Is . . .

Rebecca M Gruber — Thu, 08 Dec 2011 10:04:24 PST

We've got mamas on the mind this holiday season! When mom's done doing the holiday shopping for everyone on her list, we're sure there are still a few items on there that she wants for herself.

Jessica Shyba is the woman behind Momma's Gone City, a blog chronicling her daily life with two tots since moving from the Bay Area to New York City so her husband could attend dental school. Since becoming a city mama, she's learned - and written about - the ins and outs of public transportation, the beauty of living in small spaces, and the unexpected adventures of day-to-day life. She welcomed her third child last night (almost in the taxi on the way to the hospital) but shared a few things she's hoping to unwrap later this month.

An iPad 2 ($500): It's about time that our family has one of these brilliant devices. My kids will love it and benefit from it, and I would like something that I can slip into the diaper bag easily so that I can work on the go.
Keurig ($134): I am the only one in the house that drinks coffee and hot beverages, so the large coffeemaker is wasteful and time-consuming, especially when you wash it every single day! With this new baby, I know that a yummy, hot apple cider will be a nice treat for me during his overnight feedings.
Epiphanie "Lyric" Camera Bag. ($155): Just this week I purchased a new SLR camera and two new lenses - something I've been wanting and saving up for, for a while now. I just need a gorgeous new bag to carry it in as well. I rarely leave home without a camera, and this particular one will be able to accommodate a few diapers and wipes as well.
A session or three at The Braid Bar at the John Barrett Salon in Bergdorf's: This is the prettiest, low-maintenance hair style I have found, and this salon does an amazing job at braiding hair! I would love to treat myself to an appointment, especially when I know that showers will be few and far between in the very near future!
Tali Gilette's Mama Necklace, 14k Gold ($525): The perfect push prize, holiday gift, and everyday memento of the most important aspect of my life: motherhood.

Tori Spelling's Pregnant Thought of the Day

Tori Spelling — Tue, 11 Oct 2011 08:34:27 PDT

We're excited to bring you a new post from mother and actress Tori Spelling! Every other week we're bringing you the best parenting and lifestyle advice from ediTORIal by Tori Spelling, which is Tori's daily blog about everything from food and fashion to parenting and relationships. This week Tori shares one of her pregnant thoughts of the day.

"A big exhale and a belly clutch goes a long way in a crowded elevator."

Recently, I posted the above pregnant thought of the day on Facebook and Twitter, and I am loving your responses!

Here are some of my faves:

From Alora: "Awesome! I loved saying 'Oh' when the baby would move and people freaking out thinking I was in labor!"

From Andrea: "I'm due Nov. 16 and noticed if I just lean forward on the kitchen counter or hold my lower back at work, people start to care that I might be overworked!"

From Vanessa: "I went to NYC with my mom when I was seven months preggo, and we were waiting in an extremely long line for a taxi, so I just sort of bent over a little and rubbed my enormous belly, and we were moved to the front of the line. Funniest part was that it wasn’t even intentional – the baby kicked me, and it hurt me enough to make me lean forward!"

Here’s one more pregnant thought I had recently: "Feeling life move inside of you is like a constant hug. You are never alone."

All my preggo ladies! What are your pregnant thoughts? Whether they are funny or sentimental, I'd love to hear them! Share them in the comments below.

More great stories from ToriSpelling.com:
How to Decorate a Room Over Time
True Confessions: Worst Date of My Life
How to Style a Turban

Labor Day Travel: Golden Rules For Houseguests and Hosts

Guest Writer — Thu, 01 Sep 2011 05:00:39 PDT

Editor’s note: The following guest post was written by Robert Reid, the US travel editor for Lonely Planet.

This will be my final blog post for you all! And this is your last chance to download any of our 15 free mini-guides off our website so go now and collect them all before they go away on September 5th.

Since this weekend is Labor Day, I’m sure many of you already have your travel plans set. Thus, I won’t give you new suggestions for where to go but rather give some advice that you can perhaps use this weekend, and for years to come.

With rising airfares, hotel costs, and gas prices, people fortunate (and unfortunate) enough to live in destination-friendly places often get a double-dose of cousins and friends dropping by to set up camp for a few days, or more.

But being a good host or guest isn't easy, so how do you make sure you're still friends at the end of the stay, and maybe even have plans for doing it all again next year? We need rules! So, we polled the Lonely Planet staff, and came up with a set of rules for hosts and house guests alike.

Lonely Planet co-founder Tony Wheeler was one of the first to offer a rule for house guests: "The oldest line is still the best - guests and fish begin to smell after three days. Or, like fish, guests should go off after three days." There you have it - Rule #1: Three days max, even for family. If you're staying longer, get a hotel.

A general rule everyone should follow: have fun, but remember to play fair.

For house guests:

If you borrow your hosts' car, fill up the tank.
Contribute to food: assist in shopping or offer money for groceries. Or replace things like milk and toilet paper as they are used. If you have dietary restrictions, bring your own food. Do the dishes. Or take your hosts out to dinner.
Send a hand-written thank you note. It's a nice touch.

Read on for more house guest rules.

Guillermo del Toro Believes "Very, Very Strongly" in Don't Be Afraid of the Dark

Allie Merriam — Wed, 24 Aug 2011 08:00:00 PDT

Guillermo del Toro is the force behind this weekend's Don't Be Afraid of the Dark, and he recently spoke about his involvement with the Katie Holmes and Guy Pearce film during a NYC press day. Troy Nixey directed the scary movie, with del Toro operating behind the scenes as a producer and "presenter." Del Toro discussed what his duties included and how he stuck to his original vision for the picture. He also revealed his favorite movies, admiration for the young actress Bailee Madison, and how he thinks perpetuating the weak-females-in-horror-movies cliche is immoral.

On their film having an R rating despite little sex or profanity: "We shot the movie carefully - no profanity, no sex - and it’s not graphic at all. There’s not a single moment when you see anything gory, but when we asked the MPA, 'What would it need to change?' they said, 'The whole movie. It’s too intense . . . it’s intensity with a child.' And frankly, at that point, they said something really nice! They said, 'Why ruin a perfectly good R-rated movie?' Which I thought was very nice coming from them. So we wore it as a badge of honor."
On working with Bailee: "I think the term 'child actor' is a mistake. They're either actors, or they're not; whatever they are, at any age. If a kid is a real actor, he’s a thrill."
On attaching his name to a movie, despite not directing it: "I only presented three movies, one in Spain and The Orphanage internationally, and this is the third time. I only do it when - (a) I am introducing a filmmaker to the world, but (b) I endorse and say I believe in this movie very, very strongly. For whatever reason, it’s a more risky proposition in one way, but it’s one that I believe needs to continue to support first-time filmmakers. . . . I only do it when I fully believe I was involved in the product in a way that is meaningful."
On his favorite movies: "When DVDs came out I made a solemn promise to my wife that I’m just going to get my 10 favorite movies - which are really 7,000 movies. But instinctively, which may change tomorrow, I’d say Frankenstein, Bride of Frankenstein, Erich von Stroheim’s Greed, Charlie Chaplin’s City Lights, Taxi Driver, Blade Runner, Beauty and the Beast. It’s almost impossible to make this list. I’d say all Chaplin and Hitchcock . . . it’s impossible. It’s a horrible dilemma."

To read what Guillermo said about the movie's 10-year development period, the importance of storytelling, and female protagonists in horror films, just

Why Cabbies Prefer Cash Payments

Emily Co — Tue, 23 Aug 2011 00:15:24 PDT

I've been in many cabs in which the driver wouldn't let me get in until he was sure that I had cash. Many times you'll hear the excuse that their credit card-processing machine isn't working and cabbies might persistently push you to go to an ATM and pay them with cash.

Although you may think you have a right as a customer to pay with the most convenient form of payment, know that the reason why taxi drivers don't want to charge your card is because many cab companies charge them a fee for using the machines. A few months ago, hundreds of cabbies protested at the San Francisco City Hall saying that the five percent fee for processing the credit cards is too high. Factor in high gas prices and low incomes, and it makes a tough job even harder.

Every time I know I'm going to cab it, I always make sure to have some cash on me and I try to make it as convenient as I can for both the cabdriver and me. After all, if the cabbie gets upset over a credit-card payment, not only does it cause me unnecessary stress, but it can also disrupt my plans if he decides not to take me to my destination.

I know everyone probably has their own opinion on this, so I'm wondering if you think it's your right to pay with a credit card or if you think every passenger should make an effort to carry cash?

A Day in the Life of Andrew Freeman

YumSugar — Fri, 05 Aug 2011 13:55:19 PDT

The third annual SF Chefs, San Francisco's very own food festival, is taking place this weekend. We caught up with the mastermind behind SF Chefs, Andrew Freeman. Here's what the public relations authority did yesterday, Thursday, Aug. 4.

6:30 a.m.: I woke up and I have two little Yorkie princesses, Daisy and Tulep, so I had to take them out. We went for our morning walk and got our heads together about what was coming in the day ahead. I went back home and got them ready to be shipped to the dog sitter for the weekend.

9 a.m.: I got to the office and started making conference calls. I checked in with festival clients and was making sure everyone's ready for the big day.

10 a.m.: There was a walk through at the tents in Union Square. The key players were there: Dominic Phillips, the GGRA [Golden Gate Restaurant Association], all my team. Everyone has been absolutely incredible to work with! We walked around and went through where the ribbon cutting ceremony was happening. Basically where everything that is going to be going on for the weekend, we went over.

11:30 a.m.: I raced back to the office to do a conference call with Martin Yan and his team about the opening of his restaurant in early 2012.

Keep reading for the rest of Andrew's exciting day.

Savvy Community: When Did You Decide to Leave Your Job?

Savvy Community — Tue, 10 May 2011 03:05:00 PDT

An anonymous Savvy Community member shares her job woes with the Ask Savvy group. Weigh in with your thoughts in the comments below.

So, lately I feel depressed and underappreciated and I don't bother about having a raise.

I wake up and dress whatever I happen to see in my closet, and I don't care about choosing clothes (I am not such a person in real life). These eight hours seem to me like 80, and I take every chance I can get to not to go to work, to stay home and do silly things or go to gym. I spend my salary over taxis and I don't remember over what else. I've been working here for two and a half years, but I only have good relations with one employee. I can't concentrate and I don't want to.

Have you been there before? Should I leave my job?

Ask anything career or budget-related - well almost anything - by posting your questions in the Ask Savvy group, and readers and I will weigh in to support you.