GeekSugar

Love It or Hate It? Uterus Vase

CasaSugar — Fri, 28 Mar 2008 16:00:07 PDT

The Uterus Vase (email for price) made by The Plug and Stéphanie Rollin is a limited edition of twenty pieces, all lacquer and varnish upon a resin core. I have no words. Do you?

Source

What Would You Do With a Stranger's Camera?

GeekSugar — Fri, 21 Mar 2008 03:30:28 PDT

I love this! Jay Carlson from The Plug decided one day to leave a disposable camera on a bench with a note that read: "Good afternoon, I attached this camera to the bench so you could take pictures. Seriously. So have fun. I'll be back later this evening to pick it up. Love, Jay / The Plug."

And what happened next? As passerby's discovered the camera, many picked it up and took fun photos. And when he returned later that evening, the entire roll was filled with memorable moments from throughout the day.

Here's a peek at some of them below. To see the entire roll, check out Stranger Photos Have Happened!

View 5 Photos ›

Source

Do You Secure Your Furniture to the Wall?

Rebecca M Gruber — Wed, 08 Feb 2012 14:04:44 PST

You've plugged up your outlets and covered the corners of your tables, but have you ensured that your TV is safe for your toddling tot? We're not talking about the programs you choose to show your kids, but the actual device itself.

Yesterday, a 13-month-old Chicago toddler was playing in his apartment when he "tagged" the TV as part of a game. Instantly, the TV fell off of its perch, crushing and killing the child. This was the fourth time in as many months that such an accident has occurred in the area, and it is part of a growing national trend of tipping furniture injuries. The Consumer Product Safety Commission says that "one child dies every two weeks when a TV, furniture, or an appliance falls on him." The solution is easy and inexpensive - tip-over straps and anchors can be purchased for as little as $15.

Best Apps and Tools For Serious Photographers

Kristy Korcz — Sat, 28 Jan 2012 11:21:19 PST

Serious photography requires a serious camera, but that doesn't mean you have to be chained to a laptop or desktop to process them. Paul Pierson, app designer and photo nerd, tossed his laptop aside for six months in order to find out if the iPad and iOS apps could handle a professional photo work flow. He found that the iPad is actually quicker and more efficient in processing photos than the traditional setup of a computer and Photoshop software, not to mention a lot less expensive.

At this year's Macworld, Paul shared some of his favorite tools and apps to help you create a love match between your DSLR and iPad. First tip? Get a Card Reader from Photojojo ($30) so you can get those beautiful images captured on your DSLR to your iPad and, thus, your camera apps. Duh. Also you'll probably want an iPad with lots of storage - 64GB ($700), please.

Load up your iPad with the apps below for professional photographers, and experiment with more than one to create stunning images with less equipment.

Sunseeker ($5) - Helps you find where the sun is, or it will be, with the help of augmented reality. Great for landscape photos.

ioShutter ($70, coming Feb. 12) - Turns your iPhone into an intervalometer. This tool plugs into your iPhone and SLR, allowing you to fire your SLR again and again with the app and help you create beautiful time-lapse sequences.

Ollo Clip ($70) - This clip-on lens gives your iPhone or iPad an advantage with three different lenses built right in - fish-eye, wide angle, and macro.

ACDSee Camera Flash ($1) - Brings out details in underexposed images.

Snapseed ($5) - Won Apple's App of the Year because of its variety of filters, edit tools, and selective adjust tools like edge detection that applies changes to objects within the perimeter.

Ready for more? See the rest of the list after the break.

Kate Middleton Vacations With Her Family in the Caribbean

Katie Henry — Fri, 20 Jan 2012 12:43:18 PST

Kate Middleton joins her family for a sunny Caribbean getaway - People
Chelsea Handler says Reese Witherspoon "is driving me crazy!" - Us Weekly
Jude Law hair plug rumors debunked - Lainey Gossip
Mad Men stars share their favorite episodes - Huffington Post
President Obama breaks into song at NYC's Apollo Theater - D-Listed
Kristen Wiig is quickly becoming Hollywood's It girl - Insider
Vanessa Bryant is getting $75 million and three mansions from Kobe - The Superficial
Olivia Wilde and Jason Sudeikis dine on sushi together - JustJared
Oprah's bodyguards get into a scuffle overseas - Hollywood Reporter
Sofia Vergara cools off on the set of Modern Family- Hollywood Tuna
J Lo reveals her Idol favorite . . . so far! - TooFab
Sh*t New Yorkers say is the latest to go viral - Newser
Russell Brand plans to reveal all in a memoir - Pink Is the New Blog
SNL has seen its fair share of bad musical acts - The Daily Beast
Kristen Stewart kicks major butt in the new SWATH trailer- NextMovie

The Pros and Cons of Being Friends With a Former Crush

TresSugar — Wed, 18 Jan 2012 02:00:20 PST

He used to make you feel weak in the knees, and then suddenly he's your . . . best friend? Whether it's an old crush that's resurfaced or a guy you've recently decided would fit better as a friend, a platonic relationship with someone you used to daydream about can be strange and difficult to navigate. Here are the pros and cons of becoming BFFs with a former crush:

The pros:

You're on his "forever" timeline. Girlfriends will come and go, but you'll be one of the lucky women in his life who lasts. Romantic relationships are special, of course, but one of friendship's major bonuses is its ability to endure. Not only will you be in the loop for major life events, you also won't have to worry about splitting up friends if you eventually break up.
A relationship that's all fun, no complications. Without the drama and pressure of intimacy, you'll be able to enjoy a friendship that's simple, straightforward, and carefree. No breakups, no makeups, and no friendly female competition - just two people who appreciate each other's company.
Single? He'll introduce you to other guys like him. Most men tend to hang out with other men who share the same qualities, so your best friend's social circle can become your dating pool. Plus, he'll be able to filter out the bad ones for you - since he cares about you, he'll be sure to hook you up with only his kindest, most loyal pals.

The cons:

There may still be feelings. (Cue the drama.) If you're single and realize that your crush hasn't quite faded, then you've officially moved out of simple friendship territory and into something messy. Keeping your feelings under wraps might make you crazy, but revealing them could ruin the relationship for good. It goes without saying, but if you're in a relationship and feelings resurface, it's time to step back and reevaluate.
Jealousy issues, part one. If he meets someone, you may start feeling pushed aside or left out - and vice versa. The third wheel problem can be tough to fix, so it's important to keep the communication lines open and be clear about any uncomfortable dynamics.
Jealousy issues, part two. Chances are, as best friends, you have some sort of chemistry - and significant others may start to envy the connection. Even worse? They may start to feel suspicious about the relationship and cause rifts in the friendship. Keep things cordial and build trust by creating separate friendships with each other's love interests.

The bottom line? Friendships between men and women are complicated - especially if you once thought of it as something more. Still that doesn't mean you need to pull the plug on a potential friend connection just because it started as an infatuation. If you stay honest with yourself and each other, friendship with a former crush can be fun and exciting.

What do you think? Ever been friends with a past crush?

Geek Tip: Use a Bowl as a Speaker in a Pinch

Kristy Korcz — Tue, 17 Jan 2012 04:25:09 PST

Forget your portable speakers at home? No problem. If you have a common household item, that is. The geniuses at Real Simple know a thing or two about DIYing and repurposing an old item as something new, but this tip is just too easy.

Use a regular kitchen bowl as a smartphone speaker if you're without a plug-and-play version of your own. The concave shape of the bowl amplifies sound, helping your tunes reach more ears.

Do you have any "so-easy-why-didn't-I-think-of-that" geek tips of your own? Share them with us in the comments!

Flying With a Cold? Survival Tips While in the Air

Heather Dale — Mon, 02 Jan 2012 12:59:20 PST

I started the New Year with a cold that has knocked me right off my feet. I was fine staying home for the midnight countdown, but what I'm not looking forward to is having to board a plane with this bad bug - traveling when you're sick is the worst! If you need to fly and are suffering from a cold, here are some survival tips to help alleviate the annoying symptoms associated with being sick.

Sore throat: Before you get to the airport, gargle with warm salt water using 1/2 teaspoon of salt in one cup of warm water. Once you get to the airport, sip on hot tea or warm water sweetened with honey, which can help soothe an irritated throat. While on the plane, drink plenty of liquids and come prepared with hard candies or throat lozenges, which can be very soothing since they increase saliva production and help keep the throat moist.

Keep reading for more tips.

Buzz Backtrack: The Best and Worst of December Entertainment

BuzzSugar — Sat, 31 Dec 2011 05:30:00 PST

Santa was good to us this month, entertainment-wise, with awesome movies like The Girl With the Dragon Tattoo and fun holiday episodes galore. That said, not everything was a gift; we cringed at movie previews like Rock of Ages and shook our fists at one network that pulled the plug on some of our favorite shows. Take a look back at the highs and lows of the month's entertainment.

Photos courtesy of Sony Pictures and HBO

7 Smart Tax Moves to Make Before the Year's End

Emily Co — Tue, 27 Dec 2011 10:30:46 PST

Now that the year is quickly winding down, you might find yourself with countless to-dos to tackle. Make sure you remember to put some of these tax chores on your list. Kathy Pickering, the executive director of The Tax Institute at H&R Block, shared a couple of smart moves every savvy taxpayer should make before the end of 2011.

Offset capital gains with capital losses: "It has been a roller coaster ride with market fluctuations over the past year, but there is some good news. Taxpayers with a large net capital gain in 2011 could reduce their tax liability by selling stock before Dec. 31 if it would generate a loss. Capital losses don’t just offset capital gains - if capital losses exceed capital gains, up to $3,000 of capital losses can be used to offset ordinary income such as wages."
Claim casualty losses from natural disaster: "The president declared a record-breaking number of federal disasters in 2011 including Hurricane Irene, tornadoes in the Midwest and Texas wildfires. Taxpayers in a federal disaster area who sustained casualty losses (e.g. damaged or loss property) can claim their losses on a tax return for the year the disaster occurred or on the prior year’s return."
Pay it forward: "Those who have not taken full advantage of the American Opportunity Credit should considering paying spring college tuition before Dec. 31 to take advantage of this tax break on their 2011 return. Also, taxpayers can pre-pay their December mortgage payment due in early January or make an additional student loan payment to claim the highest possible interest deduction on a 2011 tax return."

Read on for more smart tax moves.