GeekSugar

Sprint Jumps On the Unlimited Calling Plan Train

GeekSugar — Thu, 28 Feb 2008 12:05:44 PST

Shortly after Verizon announced its unlimited flat-rate phone plans (with the cheapest being $99), every other major network jumped on board by offering their own "unlimited plan". Well Sprint has decided to offer a super competitive $99 plan which includes unlimited voice, text messages, data, Sprint Music, Sprint TV, GPS, Group Connect and Direct Connect. The "Simply Everything" is available starting today to both CDMA and iDEN customers as well as new and existing subscribers.

Create Your Own Phone Plan With Sonopia

GeekSugar — Thu, 05 Apr 2007 15:10:46 PDT

I'm still trying to wrap my head around this new phone service, but from what I've learned, it sounds ingenious. Sonopia is a new mobile and web experience that allows people to build their own phone plans according to their interests and start selling them to others. You can also create a personal profile to share with friends online and on the phone.

The actual Sonopia service is run by Verizon and Vodaphone. Oddly enough, Sonopia takes care of all the grunt work- including passing out headsets, sending out monthly bills, and dealing with basic customer service. The person who creates the phone plan takes care of the customers and the revenue.

It's free, has fairly easy set up and doesn't require you to sign up to your own mobile service. As I said, interesting but, I'll have to do a bit more research on this one! What do you think?

5 Perks of Dating a Geek

Annie Scudder — Sun, 20 May 2012 09:23:22 PDT

Facebook founder Mark Zuckerberg married longtime girlfriend Priscilla Chan last night in a surprise ceremony in his backyard. Priscilla, who just finished med school last week, has been dating Mark for almost a decade, after they met at Harvard. The Social Network makes the case that computer nerd Mark created Facebook to help him get chicks. But if all women knew that dating a technology lover comes with so many perks, they wouldn't need to be convinced. And in reality, Mark and Priscilla have been together since before he released "The Facebook." Here are five reasons to seek out a geeky guy.

They're genuine: There's a good chance a geek has spent more time playing video games than practicing his game. And if he's used to being the dating underdog, he'll likely appreciate having you in his life.
They set up your electronics: Can't get your WiFi to work? Dream of an awesome entertainment setup but frightened by cords? Find a guy that looks at setting up electronics as a form of entertainment itself.
They fix your computers: Your time spent waiting in line at the Genius Bar or on the phone with technical support will drop drastically. And if they can't fix it, they know someone who can.
They expand your knowledge: If you think of the Internet as a series of tubes, spending time with a computer nerd can make technology seem like less of a mystery. And if they have a thing for nonfiction books, they'll probably share what they've learned.
They can find anything on the Internet: Geeks can call on their superior online research skills when you're planning a vacation or looking for a new restaurant for date night. How romantic!

Anything to add, geek lovers?

Source: Facebook user Priscilla Chan

6 Tips For Dealing With Debt Collectors

Emily Co — Thu, 17 May 2012 03:05:48 PDT

If your bill is long past its due date, then expect the debt collectors to come a-knockin'. Hiding from them and pretending they don't exist is not a good solution; it will only aggravate the problem and make things worse. Dealing with the issue head-on might help you catch a break. Here are a couple tips for dealing with those dreaded debt collectors:

Know your rights. As consumers, we are protected under the Fair Debt Collection Practices Act against harassment from debt collectors. There are certain things they aren't supposed to do, such as calling before 8 a.m. or after 9 p.m., using abusive language, and repeatedly bothering you with multiple calls.

Talk to them. Don't avoid them. Pick up the phone, start talking, and address the bills you need to pay. Ignoring them may give them grounds to file a lawsuit.

Dispute it. If you don't owe the money, then it is within your rights to send a letter to the collector up to 30 days after you've received notice. In the letter, you should state that you don't think the debt is yours and that they should stop contacting you.

Document it. Take a lot of notes and ask for their permission to record the conversation (in some states, it's illegal to record someone without asking) and start taping on your end. Whether they consent to recording or not, write down the date and time of the call, the representative you spoke to, and the content of your discussion.

Negotiate. If you do owe the debt but can't afford to pay the full amount, then ask if they would be willing to forgive part of it or to set up some sort of payment plan. Before settling the debt, says Natalie Lohrenz, director of counseling at the Consumer Credit Counseling Service of Orange County, consider "first, that a debt usually must be significantly delinquent before a creditor will even consider settling, after your credit has already been negatively affected" and "second, that a settled debt will appear more negative on your credit report than a paid-in-full debt if special arrangements are not made to the contrary."

Get it in writing. Once you have hammered out terms you're satisfied with, get it in writing, either by "them sending you something on their letterhead or you writing it out and sending it to them for a signature," says Lohrenz. If you pay a settlement before you have it in writing, then "you've lost all your bargaining power." That's because debt collectors can backtrack and claim that they never agreed to settling.

Office Weight-Loss Tip: Set Up an Eating Schedule

Jenny Sugar — Wed, 16 May 2012 11:21:07 PDT

Busy nine-to-fivers have schedules that don't leave much wiggle room for anything but work. Getting wrapped up in a project often leads to skipped snacks and meals. A growling stomach, headache, and fuzzy brain make you realize you should have eaten lunch an hour ago, and since you're famished, you reach for the first (and probably not-so-healthy) food you can get your hungry hands on. Prevent work weight gain and keep your productivity levels high by setting up a schedule for snacks and meals. After having breakfast at home, here's a basic schedule you can follow once you reach the office.

9:30: Morning snack
12:00: Lunch
3:30: Afternoon snack

Be sure to eat breakfast a couple hours before your morning snack and dinner a couple hours after your afternoon snack. Adjust the schedule to meet your needs and stick to it. (It may help to set up reminders on your computer or phone so you don't forget.) Before heading to work, prepare healthy snacks - like these 150-calorie DIY snack packs - and lunches -here are some tasty vegetarian sandwiches - so you can avoid grabbing greasy fast food or that homemade brownie your co-worker brought in. An eating schedule may seem a little too rigid (or like you're back in elementary school), but planning ahead is the best way to keep you on the healthy eating path.

Source: Flickr User SweetOnVeg

A Simple Guide to Writing Your Own Wedding Vows

Laura Marie Given — Tue, 15 May 2012 04:00:14 PDT

Choosing to write your own wedding vows can make for a special, personalized ceremony - but it can also mean late nights spent agonizing over each and every line. Your wedding vows are some of the most meaningful words you'll ever say, so it's important to take your time and consider all the possibilities. To make things a bit easier for you, we've come up with a few simple, helpful ideas that will streamline the process.

Set Guidelines:

Decide early on whether you'd prefer to write your vows together or individually. Another option? You can write an opening or closing line together, then personalize the rest of the vows separately.
If you plan to write them individually, agree on a proper length. Depending on the length of your ceremony, you should aim to speak for around 30 seconds to one minute each.
Consider the reading options. Are you good at memorization? Are you worried that your nerves will get the best of you? Ask yourselves if you'd like to memorize your vows or repeat them after your officiant.

Plan Ahead:

To stay sane, don't wait until the last minute. Several months before the big day, start a brainstorm list on your phone or in a notebook so that you can jot down ideas as they come to you.
Be on the lookout for phrases, quotes, or special moments you may want to include. Check out sample vows online to get an idea of which style and content appeals most to you. A poem? A list? A few simple sentences?

Gather Inspiration:

Step back and consider your relationship: its past, the present, and what you hope for the future. Jot down some special memories and funny anecdotes, then list the qualities you love most in your fiancé.
To get in the writing zone, reread your favorite quotes, poems, or even novels. Don't be afraid to deviate from the norm, either. Personal vows can be as traditional or as unconventional as you'd like, so get creative and let yourself think outside the box.

Edit, Edit, Edit:

Remember that you're writing wedding vows - a promise, not a flowery speech - so you should get to the heart of what you want to say. Be thoughtful and concise, and do your best to make every word count.
Worried about the length? Look to traditional vows as a guideline, then read your own vows aloud to see where you may be able to cut.

Did you write your own wedding vows? Share any tips in the comments below!

Photo by Orchard Cove Photography via Style Me Pretty

Grey's Anatomy Rundown, "Migration"

Becky Kirsch — Fri, 11 May 2012 10:42:31 PDT

Usually it's the season finales of Grey's Anatomy that leave us in the lurch, but this week's episode has its very own jaw-dropping cliffhanger. As the residents scramble to figure out whether they will stay in Seattle or move on to greener pastures, every character on the show has something to ruminate on. The party line this week comes from Dr. Webber, who says, "Make sure your ringer's on," as each phone call is another potential career offer.

There are major life changes afoot for the doctors who are staying put too. Mark is at a standstill trying to decide between Lexie and Julia, Owen's love life hangs in the balance as Cristina makes plans, and Bailey is shocked not once but twice by news from Ben. Whatever happens this week, the season finale promises to shake everything up, so basically, all bets are off. Let's get into the nitty-gritty when you

April and Jackson (or should I say Apes and Jack-man?) haven't really discussed their relationship status, though it's not for a lack of trying on Jackson's part. April's too busy drowning her sorrows and taking one brutal phone call after another from hospitals that no longer want her now that she's failed the boards. It's impossible not to feel sorry for her as the rest of the doctors are crowing about their futures, but Owen lays down the biggest blow of all: he tells her that she's no longer welcome at Seattle Grace, which was her last resort. I don't see how they can keep her around next year, unless she pulls off some sort of miraculous feat of strength in the season finale.
Derek's dream house is finally complete, but he's fully ready to put it on the market and get out of town. Though Meredith's waffling about accepting her offer in Boston, Derek's all but packed his bags. Though Meredith uses Lexie as an excuse, it's clear that the real reason she won't commit to leaving is because she wants to be close to Cristina. Derek's absolutely right when he gently tells Meredith that he's the person she should be consulting, not her best friend, but Cristina really drives the point home when she says that Owen, not Meredith, is her "person." Kind of feels like the ending of a Mere and Cristina era, doesn't it?
Speaking of Cristina, she's doing some major backpedaling with Owen now that she's passed her boards. She crawls into bed with him after a drunken night, only to come to her senses and walk out the door minutes later. Later, she gives in to desire and puts the moves on Owen in one of the break rooms, only to burst his happy bubble minutes after by telling him that she's planing on going to Mayo.
Ben has an adorable day of fun planned with Bailey, complete with an amazing-looking breakfast that includes orange juice and croissants. But Bailey is Bailey, and she blows off his schedule of crossword puzzles and sightseeing in favor of going in to work on her day off. Ben goes along with her, but he can't hide his resentment about Bailey choosing to work rather than spend time with him. Bailey's irritated by his constant mentioning of the crossword puzzle and makes a big show of acquiescing and snatching it out of his hands right there in the OR. As soon as I realized what was about to happen, I cringed right along with Derek and Ben: Ben made a special crossword puzzle to ask Bailey to marry him, and Bailey completely destroys the moment. She tries to make it up to him with lingerie and a do-over, but the circumstances have changed just hours later: Ben has gotten a job offer in LA. Ben and Bailey's relationship has been on the upswing, so I can't imagine she'd dump him again. But a Grey's Anatomy without Bailey? Say it ain't so.
Karev thought that his outburst during his boards would be the bane of his career, but it actually had the opposite effect. His test administrators are actually impressed with him and create a new Fellowship position just for him. Karev is floored by the fact that he's so in-demand, and it's actually pretty sweet to see him so surprised instead of egotistical. Webber teaches him to play hardball with both Seattle Grace and Hopkins, but Karev eventually decides to go with Hopkins, which pisses Arizona right off.
Mark admits to Derek that Lexie confessed her feelings for him but also reveals that he responded to her with the ever-popular "Thank you for your candor." He says he doesn't want to be a cheater and wants to make the right decision this time around. I really hope the writers are just building us up to an epic finale reunion, because this wait is really starting to get old.

Of course, the real kicker happens in the final moments of the episode, when it goes from Grey's Anatomy to Lost in the blink of an eye. Most of the doctors are on a plane to Boise, which inexplicably crashes in the middle of the woods, leaving many of the doctors strewn on the ground. It's setting the groundwork for what looks to be yet another heart-wrenching season finale, which promises that one of the doctors won't make it out alive. We already know that most of the principal actors have renewed their contracts, but Lexie and Mark are definitely still in the lurch, as well as Callie and Arizona. And come to think of it, there was that big speech between Callie and Arizona about never leaving each other. Who do you think will die? And who will you miss the most?

You're Fired! 20 Signs That a Pink Slip Is Coming

Wise Bread — Thu, 10 May 2012 10:54:53 PDT

If something feels off at the office, you may want to brace yourself for the worst. Wise Bread shares signs to look for when a pink slip is coming.

There are two types of employees. One has a good idea of what they do, who they are, and what position they play in the company. They are savvy. They know the score. They are under no delusions, and will no doubt leave for another job long before they are ever considered as cannon-fodder.

And then there's the other kind. The guy who could get Gandhi to hate him. The woman who spends most of her day chatting on the phone to friends or doing online shopping. Or the nice chap in sales who is completely oblivious that the recent merger means his job is now obsolete. They all have Ostrich Syndrome. They couldn't see a pink slip coming if it was 8ft tall and glowing in the dark, screaming "you're fired!"

You want to avoid being in that second category at all costs. So I've compiled a handy list. If you can answer yes to THREE or more of these questions, you may want to think about sprucing up your résumé and dry-cleaning your best interview attire.

1. Are you no longer in the loop about, well, anything?

This is a huge telltale sign. Suddenly you're finding out about company news from the cleaning lady or the new girl in accounting. If you were formally in the know about all things business related, but now suffer from "the company's doing what??!" disease, the writing is probably on the wall.

2. Did you recently screw up big-time?

We're not talking a minor faux pas here. Did you lose money on an account that was previously bulletproof? Oh dear. Were you caught having sex on the boss's desk with the boss's spouse? That's probably not a career-enhancing move. Unless you're a real dope, you know if you have screwed up. And if you know, HR knows. It may not be the final nail in your coffin, but it's a nail in the coffin nonetheless.

3. Are people avoiding you at all costs?

Eye contact is difficult to make with someone if you know his or her head's on the chopping block. Small talk is just as tough. It's best just to avoid that person altogether. So if people are no longer doing that fun "stop 'n' chat" in the hall, or the coffee room empties when you arrive, then guess what . . . you may be a marked man or woman.

Read on for more.

It's All About You, Mom! 6 Mother's Day Indulgences That You Most Definitely Deserve

Lisa Horten — Wed, 09 May 2012 11:56:42 PDT

Since Mother's Day should be all about you, we suggest that this year, you take advantage of the holiday and spoil yourself silly. That doesn't have to mean going on a giant shopping spree or treating yourself to a full day at the spa. Instead, take stock of the little things in life that you don't think you get enough of and ask your family to indulge you in just one or two of them. While we're sure you've got your own "wish list," here are a few fun ideas to get you started:

Phone a Friend: When's the last time you had an hour-long, laugh-out-loud conversation with a long-distance friend or family member? If you've got lil ones running around, chances are, it's been awhile. Ask your husband to hold down the fort, shut the door, and dial away.
Schedule a One-on-One Date . . . With Your Child: Whether you're a mom of one or four, we're willing to bet that you don't get as much quality one-on-one time with each of your kids as you'd like. Think of something special that you (and your child) would really enjoy doing and plan a date . . . or two, or three, or four . . .
Schedule a One-on-One Date . . . With Your Husband: Breakfast in bed with the kiddos is a great way to kick off Mother's Day . . . and adults-only dinner and drinks is the perfect way to end it!
Spend an Hour Alone: Think back to your preparent days and remember what you miss most. Prior to being a mom, did having an hour to kill mean treating yourself to a pedicure? A back massage? Window shopping? Indulge yourself for an hour, and you'll still be able to enjoy the rest of the day with your family.
Be Lazy: Whether it means sleeping in, ordering your choice of takeout for dinner, or letting a day go by without making the beds, take advantage of a "free pass" to be (just a tiny bit) irresponsible.
Reassume Your Role as Child: Even though you're all grown up, someone out there still thinks of you as her little girl. Borrow one of these ideas and start a new mother-daughter tradition with your mom.

Sources: Flickr User Damien, Thinkstock

When and When Not to Use a Travel Agent to Save Money

LearnVest — Wed, 09 May 2012 12:02:20 PDT

Will using a travel agent help you save money for your upcoming trip? LearnVest has the answer.

Are travel agents back?

This question, posed by The New York Times, got us thinking. According to the piece, nearly one in three leisure travel agencies is hiring, and in 2011 travel agencies experienced a second consecutive year of growth; in fact, their bookings accounted for a third of the $284 billion US travel market.

Silly us, we thought travel agents had become passé.

But if the travel agent business is thriving, we started wondering - is there something to this? Could using an old-school travel agent actually save us money on travel?

To find out, we consulted Barbara Vong, a travel agent with Wright Travel Agency, the 2011 winner of the Best of the Best Globe Award from Travel Impressions.

Globe Award From Travel Impressions.

The first thing we learned? Travel agents usually don't charge customers for their services! Their payment actually comes through the hotels and wholesalers, meaning that we can simply tap into a free service. That also means using a travel agent should never be more expensive than booking by yourself online . . . and these are experts well-versed in where to find the best deals.

Of course, booking your flights in 30 seconds with a few clicks sounds a lot easier than playing phone tag with a live person, so it pays to know when a travel agent can help the most, and when you might as well DIY it. Vong let us in on the best times to call an agent, and some money-saving travel tips she's picked up in her line of work:

Use a Travel Agent If . . .

You're Traveling With a Group

For group bookings that involve coordinating travel for multiple people, it's always easier to use a travel agent, says Vong. “I just had a bride call me because one of the groomsmen booked his own trip through a discount travel site, and he wanted to add someone to the room,” says Vong. "The customer service representative from the travel site he used told him they couldn't do it, but they were probably just being lazy. This is a great example of when you’d rather hand the responsibility of changing that booking to a travel agent, rather than trying to fix it on your own."

Read on for more.