GeekSugar

Website of the Day: The Filter

GeekSugar — Fri, 06 Jun 2008 11:04:36 PDT

My ongoing struggle with Netflix is that it can never really recommend the right movies for me. It tells me that it thinks I'll like flicks I've seen and flicks I know I'll hate, so I usually just ignore that they even try. As for music, I get my recs from word-of-mouth, by friends whose taste I completely trust. The problem with both of those things is that I want constant recommendations for things - I always want to hear about a new band or see a movie I've never heard of.

Newly released, The Filter wants to fill that void. So far, it's been way more adept in telling me things I might like, and the format is ultraappealing - it's clear and simple.

Good for culture vultures, it also lists news and reviews about newly-released movies and music. Now I just need the time to go see these movies and hear this music! One thing at a time.

Love at the Golden Gate Bridge

Annie Scudder — Fri, 25 May 2012 12:05:05 PDT

If you left your heart in San Francisco, it might have had something to do with the Golden Gate Bridge. The iconic span celebrates its 75th anniversary this weekend. Over the years, people from across the world have visited the bridge often sapping shots to capture the magic mix of man-made and natural beauty.

With its grainy and glowing filters, Instagram can make anyone feel nostalgic. Pair that with lovers at the Golden Gate Bridge and you have a recipe for a romantic photo, as you'll see in this slideshow. This weekend, San Francisco will mark the bridge's birthday with various parties and events. To get in on the festivities from wherever you are, take a look at these photos from Instagram showing love at the Golden Gate Bridge.

Expert Shares 3 Ways to Make Your Inbox Less Overwhelming

Emily Co — Fri, 25 May 2012 03:05:36 PDT

It's good to get rid of all the clutter in your life - at home, at work, and even on your computer. Dealing with too many emails can make you overwhelmed and less productive, because weeding through a mess of messages can feel like a herculean task. Organization expert Peter Walsh shared some great tips for better managing your emails:

Archive all your emails: "Bite the bullet: archive-don't delete-archive all of those emails or all of those emails from more than a month ago, and start from scratch today." You can set up an automatic filtering system that will immediately shuttle your emails to the appropriate category. Most email systems have the option, and Walsh favors Hotmail for that function.

Keep your inbox clean: The organizing expert says he's "never had more than 10 or 15 emails in my inbox at any one time." He's able to answer every email he receives by having them automatically categorized.

Set aside time for email: Set up a schedule for your emails. Walsh avoids looking at emails the first hour of his morning and does whatever needs to get done "first up in the day." He then sets aside 90 minutes of uninterrupted time to handle email. "I don’t try to multitask; I think multitasking is a huge myth. Trying to do more than one thing at once, you end up doing nothing well," he says.

3 Ways to Use Facebook's New Camera App

Kelly Schwarze — Thu, 24 May 2012 11:56:59 PDT

The truth is about 96.5 percent of our Facebook experience is spent scrolling through pictures of last weekend's camping trip and Friday's happy hour. Now you can ditch the status updates and cut straight to the photos with the new Facebook iOS Camera app. Introduced today, it's billed as the photo-sharing hub for Facebook users. Separate from the standard iPhone app, we've broken down how to use Camera below.

Browse albums - Get to the goods fast. Once the Camera app is launched, you can browse through friends' photos with a swipe and get a better view with a double-tap of an image.
Edit photos - Crop, edit, and filter photos within the app rather than uploading to a separate editing app, saving to the camera roll, and then uploading to Facebook. We know that tired drill.
Upload multiple images - The time has come to stop spamming your feed with individual mobile uploads at a time. Select two, three, or go crazy with 14 images uploaded at one time.

Does all this sound familiar? With Facebook's Instagram acquisition we've been waiting to see how the social sharing companies join forces - but that moment is still yet to arrive. Facebook says the filters and functions of Camera were built in-house, not using the Instagram resources. So yes, Camera is just one more handy photography app to add to your collection.

Don't Be Shady! How to Choose the Right Sunglasses For Eye Health

Jenny Sugar — Thu, 24 May 2012 01:19:22 PDT

Sunglasses aren't just for complementing your bikini while you lounge on the beach. They're a must for protecting your eyes from UV damage. Sunglasses also shield the eyelids and the skin around your eyes, helping to prevent wrinkles and skin cancer. But before you run out and drop a small fortune on a pair, here are some things to consider.

UV protection is most important: UV rays can damage the eyes causing cataracts, benign growths on the eye's surface, and snow blindness, a temporary and painful sunburn of the eye. As mentioned above, it can also lead to skin cancer around the eye, so make sure your pair guarantees 100 percent UV protection.
Polarized lenses have nothing to do with UV protection: Polarized lenses act as a filter to absorb light waves, which helps to reduce glare that bounces off smooth surfaces like pavement or water. While they're great for offering clearer vision in extreme sun, being labeled "polarized" has nothing to do with how well they protect the eyes.

Keep reading to find out what else to think about when buying sunglasses.

Share Your Home and Decor Inspirations Using Instagram!

Elka Karl — Sat, 19 May 2012 08:00:51 PDT

Have you started using Instagram yet? It's a great way to share photos with your friends - and with us! In a nutshell, Instagram is a free photo-sharing application. You take photos with your iPhone or Android, apply a vintage filter, and then share your snapshots on the service and through other sites, including Facebook, Twitter, and Flickr. This charming bicycle photo is from Choophei's Instagram stream. She shared it with us by tagging it #casasnap.

Want to share photos with us? First, follow CasaSugar on Instagram. Then, when you upload your photos, make sure to tag your photos with #casasnap, and we may feature your snapshots on CasaSugar.

Need help getting started? Check out Instagram's support page for answers on everything from editing your profile to tagging your photos. Or feel free to leave a question below, and we'll help you get started.

Made in the Shade: The Best Sunscreens For Lil Ones

Lisa Horten — Wed, 16 May 2012 14:23:47 PDT

Summer's just around the corner! Before you hit the beach with your kiddie clan, it's important that you know the ins and outs of sunscreen - from the oft-confusing terminology (even the FDA is having a tough time coming to an agreement on the language) to what brands to buy. Here, a guide to decoding the lingo and what bottles, tubes, and sprays are worthy of your beach bag.

Sunscreen 101

Sun Protection Factor (SPF): This refers to the product's ability to block out the sun's rays. It should be prominently displayed on the sunscreen's packaging.
Chemical Sunscreen: Contains special ingredients that act as filters and protects against UVA and UVB rays. Chemical sunscreen takes 15-30 minutes to absorb into the skin.
Physical Sunscreen: Also referred to as sunblock or "chemical-free" sunscreen, these products form a barrier with ingredients like titanium dioxide and zinc oxide to block out rays. Many dermatologists recommend this option for children, as it's less likely to cause irritation or allergic reactions and starts working immediately.
Broad Spectrum: Protects against both UVA and UVB rays (any sunscreen with zinc oxide or titanium dioxide will do this).
For Babies 6 Months and Under: Discuss sunscreen use with your physician. Some pediatricians are completely opposed to the use of sunscreen on newborns, while others advocate a chemical-free product if they're going to be exposed to extensive sun.

Source: Flickr User sunsurfr

Share Your Home and Decor Inspirations Using Instagram!

Elka Karl — Sat, 12 May 2012 08:00:19 PDT

Have you started using Instagram yet? It's a great way to share photos with your friends - and with us! In a nutshell, Instagram is a free photo-sharing application. You take photos with your iPhone or iPad, apply a vintage filter, and then share your snapshots on the service and through other sites including Facebook, Twitter, and Flickr. This photo is from Veronicay's Instagram, which she shared with us by tagging it with #casasnap.

Want to share photos with us? First, follow CasaSugar on Instagram. Then, when you upload your photos, make sure to tag your photos with #casasnap and we may feature your snapshots on CasaSugar as part of our Lovely Little Vignettes community group.

Need help getting started? Check out Instagram's support page for answers on everything from editing your profile to tagging your photos. Or feel free to leave a question below and we'll help you get started.

Teach Your Mom Tech: Instagram

Anna Monette Roberts — Tue, 08 May 2012 12:01:48 PDT

Sharing is caring, so for Mother's Day, show mom you care by introducing her to the photo-sharing wonderland of Instagram. If she's already using an iPhone or Android phone, she'll find Instagram easy to navigate once you've shown her the ropes. Be sure to go over these key features with her, so she can enjoy all that Instagram has to offer.

Download the app: This whole process will go much faster if you just grab the app for her.
Offer a photography lesson: First, show your mom how to take a photo with the Instagram app, and explain what each of the symbols means along the top and bottom bar. Demonstrate how to add or take away borders by tapping the icon in the upper left side of the screen, how to blur parts of the photo, and how to select different filters.
Remember the camera roll: Show your mom how to upload already-taken photos to Instagram, so she can share the backlog of snaps on her phone.
Find her friends: Much of the fun of Instagram is following friends, family, celebrities, or other amazing photographers. Help your mom find friends via her Facebook account or by searching for her favorite celebrities.
Configure social sharing: So that family and friends can enjoy Mom's lovely Instagram photos, show her how to share pics over Facebook and email to friends and family who aren't on social networks.
Foster interaction: Scroll through the home stream and teach her how to like and comment on photos.
Offer subject matter ideas: Give your mom some ideas of what she could capture and share: the family dog, grandkids, fresh flowers, baked goods, or new clothes.
Set privacy settings: While the Instagram community tends to be more open and public than most social media sites, help your mom decide whether or not she wants to make her account private; if she does, her account will be viewable only to her accepted followers.

Source: Instagram Users bexfinch, pastorshaemun, nicolerybnik, and salamandrea

3 Tips For Germ-Free Travel

Fitness Magazine — Tue, 08 May 2012 04:17:50 PDT

We are pumped to share one of our fave stories from Fitness Magazine here on FitSugar!

Whether you're going by boat, plane, train, or automobile, travel bugs are bound to greet you. Here, some cringe-worthy stats on germs and traveling - and tips on how you can take a trip unscathed.

Stay Hydrated

According to the Centers for Disease Control (CDC), the air inside planes has anywhere from 10 to 20 percent humidity, which can dry out mucous membranes and make people more susceptible to germs. Staying hydrated throughout the trip can prevent nasal passages from being irritated, so load up on water and skip the carbonated beverages and booze. "Alcoholic and caffeinated drinks should be followed with water or fruit juice to rehydrate because they are diuretics and can cause water loss," advise Ray Fillmore Garman, MD, MPH, and Susan Spengler, MD, both associate professors with the Department of Preventive Medicine at the University of Kentucky. Sipping on water assists with immune function - and in some cases even helps with jet lag. For longer, international trips pack electrolyte-friendly snacks like GU Energy Chomps, a banana, nuts, or a small bag of fortified cereal to keep drowsiness at bay.

Keep reading for two more healthy travel tips after the break.