GeekSugar

Naughty or Nice? Facebook Limits Santa's Friends

GeekSugar — Thu, 18 Sep 2008 04:00:54 -0700

Used to be, if you wanted to be Santa's friend, you'd be a good little girl or boy during the year and he would reward you come Christmas time. But hey, those are the old ways of the world! Now if you want to be Santa's friend, you just have to add him on Facebook. But unfortunately for Santa, there's a limit to how friendly you can really be.

The actual Santa Claus (his real and legit name) who runs an advocacy group for neglected and abused children, has added all of his allotted 5000 friends since he opened his account a few months ago, and is kinda peeved that he can't add more:

"It's hard for me to believe that Facebook would want to disappoint that many folks who might enjoy being Santa's friends. I'm not selling anything; so, I don't understand the problem."

To learn more about Facebook's friend limit, just read more.

Although this isn't the first time Facebook's friend limit has been challenged, and has said previously that the limit would be lifted, I don't think it's at the top of their priority list. Their view? No one really has 5000 friends. Is Facebook the new Grinch? They better watch out and think twice, or they could find themselves on Santa's "Naughty" list come December!

Source

"Friends" Software Teaches English in China

GeekSugar — Thu, 01 Nov 2007 10:00:46 -0700

While I was living in England, I'd meet people from all over the world who said that American television helped them learn English. Thanks to YumSugar and her recent travels to China, I've realized that this is literally the case - with the help of Monica, Chandler, Phoebe, Ross and Rachel that is. Yum took this pic in a bookstore in Beijing, which displays the Friends English workbook and Friends computer program. The software shows the actual episodes on the left of the screen, with the English and Chinese translations to the right. I wonder if you could also use it to learn how to say "How you doing?" in Chinese?

Are You Facebook Friends With Your Exes?

GeekSugar — Mon, 23 Nov 2009 15:44:00 -0800

An essay in this week's New York Times hit close to home. The author, mourning the breakup of a long-term relationship, used Facebook to keep up with what his ex was doing. I've covered this topic before in Tech Dating 101 posts; from using Facebook to get to know a potential date to how and when to change your relationship status. I've even offered my advice for how to cut an ex out of your digital life. He was pretty distraught over the breakup, but still couldn't resist the occasional peek at her page:

"Every once in a while, when I was feeling particularly pathetic, I would log on to her Facebook page and listlessly click through the photos of a life that was, somewhat disappointingly, continuing without me."

While I still feel it's best to avoid an ex on Facebook, especially after a tough breakup, actually pulling the trigger to delete an ex from your list of friends is tough.

GeekSugar's Gift Guide For Newlyweds

GeekSugar — Wed, 25 Nov 2009 13:04:10 -0800

They may have just gotten married and opened a ton of wedding presents, but that doesn't mean newly married friends won't appreciate an exciting gift to open under the tree. Without a registry to go to for help, holiday gifting may be a little trickier, but it's made easier with my suggestions for gifts for the newlywed couple.

I've chosen gadgets to help make their new lives as a couple a little easier. From a robot that helps with housework to a GPS that minimizes fighting over directions, these holiday goodies are sure to please your favorite twosome.

Submit Your Cool Captures to Win a CanvasPop Print!

GeekSugar — Mon, 23 Nov 2009 01:00:55 -0800

Say cheese! You know those stunning photos I've been asking you to submit in GeekSugar's Cool Capture Group? Well, now when you upload your favorite photos to the group, you are automatically entered in our Cool Capture contest with CanvasPop! Every two weeks we'll be rounding up 10 of our favorite photo entries, and polling you to see which one you like the best. The entry with the most votes will get her winning photo printed on one of CanvasPop's high quality canvases! I've already told you how cool CanvasPop is, so just imagine - your photo could soon be a piece of artwork on your living room, kitchen, or bedroom wall!

To get started, create a PopSugar Account or login to your account. Then join the Cool Capture group and share your image, the model of camera used to take the photo, and a little about the image - let us know why you decided to take that specific shot! Here's a detailed guide to posting questions or posts to groups if you are new to the PopSugar Community.

Remember, you must be logged into your PopSugar Community account to be entered. If you are not already a member, register now. Check out the full list of rules here. Tell your friends about this fun contest here.

Cool Capture: Photography Class Collection From ladyisadorable

Geek Community — Sun, 22 Nov 2009 10:13:05 -0800

Reader ladyisadorable recently added some stunning shots to the Cool Capture group:

I love the repetition of the lamp posts in this picture. I just wish that I had backed up more so the top of the lamp hadn't been cut off. This was taken at the University of Georgia. I used to live in Athens and my friends and I would wander around campus even though we weren't in college and just hang out. This was taken with a Vivitar v3800n.

View the rest of ladyisadorable's Photography 1 class photos in her Cool Capture slideshow.

Do you have a photo you absolutely love? Create a PopSugar Account or login to your account. Then join the Cool Capture group and share your image, the model of camera used to take the photo, and a little about the image or moment you captured and it could be featured on GeekSugar. Here's a detailed guide to posting questions or posts to groups if you are new to the PopSugar Community.

Geotagging For Twitter Is Here

GeekSugar — Fri, 20 Nov 2009 13:26:36 -0800

People have been buzzing about Twitter's upcoming geotagging feature for a while, and now the feature is finally here. The function is available through the API only, which means geotagging will not be available through Twitter.com. Although it will be available through Twitter clients like Birdfeed for the iPhone, Seesmic Web for your desktop, and Twidroid for Android phones, which are already supporting the new feature.

If you use one of the clients that supports geotagging, your location will be revealed with your tweets - exciting functionality for reporting breaking news, finding out what's going on near you, or just adding context to tweets from friends. Because it's an API, the functionality is only limited to developers' imaginations, so it'll be exciting to see what they come up with!

One final note (since I'm generally wary of programs that disclose my location), you have to turn on geotagging functionality when using any of these programs, so there's no chance of accidentally disclosing information you don't want anyone to see.

Geek Tip: Make and Share Lists Online

GeekSugar — Thu, 19 Nov 2009 14:00:56 -0800

Now is the perfect time for me to introduce you to Listography - it's going to become so helpful when you're shopping for holiday gifts. The question "What do you want for Christmas?" is so five years ago when you have a network of family on Listography, since it lets you create your own wish lists and share with your friends online. No more tracking down that toy robot for your cousin Nate; since he's got an online list, he can share what he wants, and where to buy it.

But even after the holidays, Listography can be helpful when planning vacations, moves, or tackling that bucket list, which you can access from anywhere online.

Geek Tip: Silence Status Update-Addicted Friends on Facebook

GeekSugar — Thu, 02 Jul 2009 07:33:22 -0700

I know you know what I'm talking about. Everyone has one, that Facebook friend who will not stop with the constant stream of Facebook status updates. Maybe you accepted a friend request from a girl you knew in high school to be nice, only to be bombarded about her child's every giggle, coo, and poop. Or there's the friend who's bored at work and needs to let you know whenever he desires a soy latte.

Creating groups is one way, but I find that time-consuming. Nope, my best friend for sanity on Facebook is the Hide button. To use it, just hover over the chatty offender's status update. The "Hide" button shows up to the right, and when you click it, it'll say, "Hide (friend's name)."

After clicking that, none of that friend's status updates will show up in your news feed again, and they remain your friend without knowing that you don't know their every move.

How to Stop Getting Facebook Friend Suggestion Emails

GeekSugar — Wed, 24 Jun 2009 09:05:13 -0700

Thankfully when I jumped on the Facebook train, I didn't do the whole "import people from my email contact list." And now, I don't get inundated with emails from Facebook, making suggestions about who I should FB "befriend." When my friend asked me WTF was going on with all of these spammy friend request emails, I knew it had to be happening with others - and it sure is.

When Facebook scans your email contact list for friends, it makes note of the friends you add and don't add. You see, the people you don't add stay in Facebook's system and will come back to haunt you later - exes, your backstabbing high school enemy, old bosses. Facebook will then continually remind you about these people with their "Facebook Friend Suggestion Emails."

To remove these contacts and any trace of them on Facebook, just log in to your account and go here. Done and done.

BTW, the t-shirt is from Zazzle if you're digging it.