GeekSugar

Geeks We Love: Adam Pash of Lifehacker

GeekSugar — Wed, 11 Feb 2009 06:00:46 PST

Continuing on with our Geeks We Love interview series, I'd like to introduce you to Adam Pash, the editor of one of my all-time favorite blogs, Lifehacker. This past January, Adam took over the helm at Lifehacker when Gina Trapani stepped down from her position, and he's been doing an amazing job ever since. Aside from running a site that's filled with more productivity tips, organizational tools, and useful downloads than you can imagine, Adam has also co-authored the book How to Do Everything with Your iPhone and can be found whipping up helpful web applications of his very own.

GS: Lifehacker is one of the most popular blogs on the Internet today. How do you explain the appeal of your "Lifehacks"?

AP: It's no huge secret: Everyone likes doing things better. We cover a lot of stuff every day - often with a tech-heavy slant (everyone also has computers) - aimed at helping our readers streamline their lives. Lifehacker gets really good when we find a great trick for doing something completely banal a thousand times better or more efficiently. Them's the goods.

GS: You just created a useful, printer-friendly website called Printable Checklist. How often do you build online tools like this one that help make your life a little easier? Which ones do you regularly use that you would call favorites?

AP: It's actually a side-hobby I've just started. Over the past year I've been working in my spare time on a much more ambitious music site that I'm hoping to launch in the next few weeks, and in doing so I've significantly improved my HTML, CSS, and JavaScripting skills. So when I had the idea for Printable Checklist (or, rather, when I wished something like it existed), I realized that making it myself wouldn't take all that long. So. . . chances are I'll make more similar one-use web applications in the future. But MixTape.me (the music site) is my real baby.

To learn more about Adam, including some of his favorite gadgets and hobbies,

GS: What are your five "must have" gadgets that you can't seem to live without and why?

AP: Oh boy. Contrary to what one might assume, my personal gear isn't all that impressive - but here goes anyway:

iPhone: There are a lot of improvements I'd like to see from the folks at Cupertino, but I still am gaga about my iPhone. It's an awesome multi-room music remote, music player, mini-app monster, and it's not a bad phone, either.
My Hackintosh: I love Apple gear, but it is ridiculously expensive for my taste. It gets less expensive if you're willing to roll up your sleeves and built your own. I've been using the same Hackintosh for a couple of years, though, and I'm looking and updating my build (and my guide at Lifehacker) very soon.
Xbox 360: I don't do all that much gaming, but currently my 360 is the centerpiece of my home theater. I use it as a DVD player (lame, I know), Windows Media Center extender, and Netflix streamer. I only own two or three games for it, and the only one I ever play is Halo. (I suppose that's also pretty lame).
Logitech Harmony Xbox 360 Remote: It's a universal remote that works really well with the Xbox. It works with other stuff, obviously.
My Linksys Router: This router has served me oh-so-well, both at home and at Lifehacker. I've written about it twice on Lifehacker - once for a guide to installing the open-source router firmware DD-WRT, the other time for a guide to installing the also open-source router firmware Tomato. They're both awesome router upgrades, and their corresponding guides at Lifehacker remain two of our most popular posts of all time.

GS: Would you say your wife is as tech savvy as you are? Are there certain types of posts she inspires you to write?

AP: I hate to say that "the wife's not big on technology," but she's really not. I mean, she's good with computers and all that, but her main interests lie outside technology. She's a big Internet lover, though. She also casts a broader net than I do when she's doing her internetting, so I've gotten a lot of great non-tech ideas from her for Lifehacker - which is very important to the site.

GS: When you're not "geeking-out" so to speak, what are some things you like to do for play?

AP: As bad of an answer to your question as this may be, my main hobby for the last year has been working on my music site. I love music, play guitar, etc., (yeah, okay, I play Rock Band, too). I'm a regular jogger, like hanging out with friends, taking hikes. . . wait, I think I confused my geeksugar and Match.com emails.

Gina Trapani Champions Keyboard Shortcuts, Low Tech Tools

GeekSugar — Thu, 31 Jul 2008 07:30:00 PDT

I might like to feature male tech titans and their ladies, but I know you're more interested in tech girls! Gina Trapani, whose book, Upgrade Your Life which I mentioned a couple of months ago, is a geek girl role model for us all - as a web developer and programmer and editor of Lifehacker.

In an interview with the New York Times, she does a Q&A with advice on what her book and blog is about, and all of it is refreshingly simple. The most basic of her tech advice is to learn keyboard shortcuts to reclaim wasted time going from peripheral to peripheral:

"Moving your hand from keyboard to mouse, double clicking, moving the pointer, putting your hand back - that’s a lot of movement and it’s inefficient versus just hitting the keyboard combinations while your hands are on the keys."

To hear the old-fashioned device Trapani calls "the ultimate tool" just

I like that she is not completely go-go-gadget and appreciates low-tech options - she mentions the most simple of tools: a pen and paper.

"Technology is deeply embedded in my life, but nothing can replace the feel of a pen against paper. . . It’s the ultimate tool. It’s affordable, compatible with everything, widely available."

Source

Read Lifehacker Editor Gina Trapani's New Book!

GeekSugar — Thu, 03 Apr 2008 04:45:35 PDT

Geeky girl, Lifehacker founder and editor Gina Trapani has released a new book full of the kind of tips that has made Lifehacker a phenomenal one-stop Internet shop and me a devotee, called Upgrade Your Life.

I've always appreciated the way Lifehacker has not only made an impact on the geek community by writing awesome extensions (they're perennially in Download of the Day), but the site also gives you ways to hack your real life, away from your computer, with DIYs and simple tips, like the awesome iPod cord detangler trick.

On that note, take some time away from your computer screen, order Upgrade Your Life, and sit down for a great read. In 3-D.

How Long Has That Been In Your Fridge?

YumSugar — Thu, 09 Aug 2007 14:11:39 PDT

You've probably been here before: you're cleaning out the fridge and you get to that open jar of mayonnaise. You wonder how long it's been there, and when you opened it. Then you realize that even if you could remember when you opened it, you wouldn't know if it was still any good. The labels, if they're even there, are often confusing. So what do you do? Well luckily I've got the tip and the answer to help you out. To find out

The folks at ShopSmart were recently on the CBS Early Show and offered some practical advice regarding how long things last once opened.
Here are some of their tips:

Mayonnaise lasts 2 months once opened.
Eggs last 3-5 weeks.
Leftovers should be good for 3-4 days.
Jarred pasta sauce is good for 5 days once opened.

These are just general guidelines, you should just use your best judgement. And as I always say, when in doubt, toss it!

So how do you know how long stuff has been in your fridge? It may sounds ridiculously simple, but all you have to do is label the jars when you open them. Simply put today's date on the labels and then next time, you'll know how long it's been in there. I have a set of adhesive labels that I use, but a set of "Hello My Name Is" stickers could be a lot of fun too.

How about you, do you have any labeling tips?

Source: LifeHacker and CBS News

Image Source and Image Source

Yummy Links: From Red Bean Kit Kats to Tastier Coffee

YumSugar — Tue, 13 Mar 2007 13:59:19 PDT

I obviously need to go to Japan, or have someone in Japan send me a package (hint hint!), because where else am I going to get Red Bean Kit Kat? - Candyblog
Sorry that the rest of you are suffering through winter, but here in San Francisco we've got weather so warm that Shuna's Lemon Sherbet is going to hit the spot. - Bay Area Bites via Eggbeater
Sam over at becks & posh, tackles one of Heidi Swanson's granola recipes. This one looks amazing and simple, give it a go you guys. - Becks & Posh
Table Manners ponders whether or not vegetarians have the right to demand meat-free environments. Sorry veggies, in my opinion, if you demand meat-free environments, your friends are going to stop calling you. - Chow
There's a motion to get more women involved in judging and testing, and since women do most of the buying shouldn't the industry know which wines women want? - Cheap Fun Wines
Since commercial nut butters (like peanut butter) contain extra sugar, salt and shelf-sustainable chemicals, why not make your own homemade nut butter? - The Daily Tiffin
Want better tasting coffee? Clean your coffee maker with vinegar every so often. - lifehacker

Savvy Links: Couponing Advice From Kate Gosselin

Emily Co — Thu, 26 Apr 2012 13:00:37 PDT

Couponing advice from Kate Gosselin - LearnVest
19 uses for empty cereal boxes - Wise Bread
Critical résumé items checklist - Free Money Finance
What to do if you can't afford to pay your credit card bill - Credit Karma
Six steps to rethinking your budget - HuffPost Women
Make small talk less awkward and painful by sharing small details - Lifehacker
When free stuff becomes fee stuff - Bankrate
10 things you didn't know were sexual harassment - The Grindstone
68 ridiculously expensive luxury vehicles, gadgets, and dwellings - Tecca
Dealing with supermarket mystery meat - DailyWorth

Link Time: Stay Away From Spicy Tuna Rolls

Susannah Chen — Mon, 16 Apr 2012 10:22:33 PDT

Yellowfin tuna recall: steer very clear of spicy tuna rolls for now - HuffPost Food
Seven ways to save moolah on home cooking - Yahoo! Shine
McDonald's may soon be a 24-hour operation - BurgerBusiness
Meat-free Monday night: dandelion greens, farro, and a poached egg - Food52
Healthy meals to make in the microwave - The FN Dish
Inside Saveur editor James Oseland's kitchen - Saveur
How to get the garlic smell off your hands - Lifehacker
Giada joins the meatless Monday movement - Devour

Source: Flickr User quinn.anya

How to Avoid Cancellation Fees When Backing Out of a Trip

Emily Co — Wed, 21 Mar 2012 11:52:52 PDT

I'm sure many of you have had to deal with canceling trips in the past. Perhaps you were a little too eager when planning a trip and rushed ahead to purchase tickets and nights at a hotel without giving it careful thought. Or maybe something came up, and you were no longer able to travel. It's definitely a bummer canceling your travel plans, not to mention a hassle and a waste of time and money. Canceling your trip doesn't always mean heavy cancellation fees. Here are a few ways to avoid paying those annoying penalties:

For plane tickets

Pick the right airline. Opt to pick airlines that have a more lenient change or cancellation policy. Southwest is your best bet, as the airline will let you change your flights without incurring fees.
Cancel within 24 hours. There's a new rule (that all airlines have to adhere to) that lets you get all of your money back if you cancel within 24 hours of your booking. The flight also needs to be at least seven days from the time of booking to qualify.
Get refundable fares. If there is a very high chance of your trip falling through, perhaps you should consider getting a refundable fare. Those will obviously be higher priced, but if the cancellation fee will cost more than the difference between a coach ticket and a refundable fare ticket, you might want to get the latter.

For hotel stays

Change the date of your hotel stay. I found this neat little tip on Lifehacker: postpone your arrival date by a few days so you won't get hit with a cancellation fee if you're planning on canceling in less than 24 hours. It's advisable to wait at least a day before canceling, rather than canceling it right away, to make it less obvious.
Talk directly to the hotel. Most of the time, talking to the hotels directly works a lot better than the official hotline of a hotel chain. I've gotten away with penalty-free cancellations, so just talk to the manager of the hotel and let them know your situation. Read my tips on how to talk your way into getting anything you want.

Remember, if you're canceling your trip because of work-related reasons, you can always try asking your employer to expense the cancellation fees on your behalf.

Source: Flickr User Atli Harðarson

6 Ways to Stay Organized When Grocery Shopping

Emily Co — Mon, 20 Feb 2012 14:31:05 PST

Browsing the supermarket aisle is always fun, but doing it week after week can get old, especially if you have other errands to take care of. It's important to be more efficient when shopping for groceries to avoid wasting time and potentially forgetting some grocery essentials. Here are a couple of tips that will help you be more organized:

Keep a list. Lists are always crucial to organization, and just to make sure you don't forget anything or buy unnecessary items, document your weekly grocery needs. There are plenty of ways to do so - you can keep your own Google Doc, a text document, or a simple notepad. There are even free printable grocery lists online that let you check off which groceries you need. A good one to check out is the very detailed Ultimatest grocery list (they even have a vegetarian version).
Use apps. Experiment with grocery shopping apps and consider keeping a running list of groceries on an app like Ziplist, which lets you sync up with lists of other people on your phone for convenience. You can even use discount-seeking apps like Grocery Pal, which shows you what items are on sale, and coupon locator apps like Coupon Sherpa or Yowza!!. The coupon apps will display bar codes, which the cashier can scan to give you the discount.
Time it well. Pick the right time to go grocery shopping. You want to avoid going when there are crowds, because shopping and waiting in line for the cashier may take longer than usual. It's also good to go before the supermarket rush because most items will be in stock; this will prevent you from having to go back if a certain item was not available. The best dates to shop may differ depending on the grocery store, so be sure to observe your supermarket and pick up the crowd patterns. Lifehacker suggests Wednesday night as an ideal time because "many grocery stores release their new sale advertisements that day but also honor the sales items from the previous week." Personally, I like going on Saturday nights to avoid the crowds.

Read after the jump for more grocery organization tips.

Savvy Links: How to Cut Your Grocery Bill By $30

Emily Co — Wed, 18 Jan 2012 10:46:55 PST

How to cut your grocery bill by $30 - All You
The best 10 items to borrow - Wise Bread
Men pay more when women are scarce - HuffPost Women
The ultimate restaurant tipping guide - Real Simple
Office decor: How nice is too nice? - Corporette
Behold the $1.5K business card - Newser
How to plan a cheap road trip with multiple stops - Money Crashers
How to prioritize when everything is important - Lifehacker