virtual flower power: e-mail custom bouquet

Yes, Mother's Day is this coming Sunday. Hopefully you've already scheduled flowers to be delivered. However, whether you have or not, check out the website flowers2mail.com. You can create a custom floral arrangement and card, then E-mail them out. There are many different types of vases, flowers, cards, colors and other accessories to choose from, so your arrangement can be for almost any occasion: birthday, good luck, housewarming, marriage/engagement, or just because!

Technorati tags: flowers, mother's day, e-mail card, virtual card

Photo credit: flowers2mail

now that's a quick dry! towel in a tablet

We loved these towel-in-a-tablets called TowTabs. Just add water and the bottlecap-sized tablet expands into a towel! Yes, it's true. Reminds you of those sponge-in-a-gel-capsules we adored as kids, right? These TowTabs are ideal for storing in (dry) places like glove compartments or handbags for a quick and convenient wipe, or even for easier, lighter packing on trips.

Technorati tags: towtabs, towel in a tablet, instant towel, travel, packing

Photo credit: BodyBumps

the not-so-weary traveler: currency exchange tips

As you're making summer vacation plans, remember a key logistic: currency. Check out the tips below on the most efficient ways to get the most bang (or pound or euro or yen) for your dollar. (Also, recall our post on a handy currency exchange calculator here.)

• Pre-pay for big expenses like hotel, flight, etc. as early as you can if you know your currency is trending toward loss of value. That way, you don't lose as much money with the lowering exchange rate.
• Convenience isn't everything! Many currency exchange booths in prime locations (e.g. airports, hotels, tourist hot spots, subway stations, etc.) use the lowest possible exchange rate, plus charge a high commission.
• Beware of bank fees. Exchanging currency with your local bank can be expensive, as they tend to change fairly large fees. Be sure to call and check first before you go this route. However, the good thing about this option is that it's safe, easy, and you tend to get a good rate of exchange.
• Beware of fraud. Always exchange with a reputable source. Online currency exchange systems are particularly suspect. Bottomline: better safe than sorry!
• Credit cards tend to be a good way to go while traveling abroad, as they typically offer the best/truest exchange rates. However, before you leave the country, be sure to call your credit card company and double check all of their policies on international transactions to ensure against any hidden fees. Also, when you use a credit card abroad, many establishments will charge you a premium themselves outside of the credit card company. So be aware!
• ATMs are actually pretty decent while traveling abroad, as long as you use them sparingly (i.e. withdraw a large enough amount that'll last you for a few days and keep it safe). Typically, your bank will charge you a transaction fee per withdrawal AND the ATM will charge you a fee, but the upside is that you'll get a good/true exchange rate.
• Only withdraw as much as you need. Remember, once you return to your home country, you'll have to re-exchange whatever foreign currency you have, losing even more per dollar in the whole process.
• If possible, check the exchange rates yourself daily and keep a record on hand. That way, you'll know how to size up an exchange rate when you come across one. You'll also be more aware of the general trend of your currency. Perhaps it's better to hold out a day before you exchange if your currency is going up, or vice versa.

Technorati tags: currency exchange, exchange rates, travel

Photo credit: Marcus Jump (stock.xchng)

top 10 t-shirt sites

Dress it up. Dress it down. Make a statement or just sport it around. The great thing about new styles of T-shirts are that they can be as fashionable as a button-down shirt (for guys) or a cute top (for gals). Simply pair a nicely designed, good fitting tee with a blazer and nice jeans, et voila! A great, comfortable outfit for almost any occasion. For the best the web has to offer in terms of tees, check out the sites below.

• threadless.com: This site is a constant "open call" for T-shirt design submissions. If your design is chosen, you could even get paid! Very sharp, designy tees.
• bustedtees.com: Sometimes a bit off color, almost always a pop culture reference. This site caters to T-shirts with a bit of humor.
• cafepress.com: An incredibly wide variety of T-shirt designs. You'll find the funny, the cute, the professional, the geeky... Basically, if you ever wondered if there was a T-shirt proclaiming your love of (insert hobby/TV show/political party/etc. here), this site will probably have it.
• spreadshirt.com: You can design your own T-shirt here. Simply type in your text, upload your image, etc.
• despair.com: For the pessimist in us all. Some pretty hilariously negative humor.
• t-shirts.com: The name says it all. A wide variety with fairly simplistic, but solid designs. We particularly like the Novelty section, where you can shop for tees with your favorite old logos (e.g. a 70's-style "Mountain Dew").
• tshirthell.com: Not for the easily offended. Scathing, dark and somewhat offensive humor pervades the designs of these T-shirts.
• 80stees.com: Because we know you want those T-shirts with Rainbow Brite and Thundercats.
• ThinkGeek.com: If you don't find a T-shirt that says "I see dead pixels" hilarious, probably not the site for you.
• bant-shirts.com: Want to make a political statement? These T-shirts can help! They're also printed on organic cotton tees.

Technorati tags: tees, t-shirts, tshirts, tee shirts

Photo credit: flickr

password safety: choose wisely, don't repeat

In the 1995 movie Hackers with Johnny Lee Miller and Angelina Jolie, it is said that the four most commonly used passwords are: love, secret, sex, god. Fast forward 13 years later and many computer users are savvy to those common faux paus, but are not so savvy to the new most common mistake: repeating passwords for various accounts. The USA Today article here states that nearly half of Internet users in a recent survey say they use a universal password for all of their accounts, which can act as a skeleton key for all of your personal information. Stick to the tips below taken from Microsoft's password security tips.

• make it long: The minimum password should be eight characters, but ideally 14 or more. A good tip is to go for a "pass phrase" since many systems support the space bar.
• vary the characters: Use letters, numbers, and even symbols or punctuation marks.
• personalize: Use words/phrases that are easy for you to remember, but difficult for others to guess. NOTE: If you have trouble remembering, you can always jot down your password on paper and keep it in a safe place. Most likely, anyone who comes across it won't know what the password's for. Plus, a piece of paper is actually much harder to obtain nowadays than something saved on a password manager, server, site, drive, etc.
• check the safety rating: Click here for a handy Password Checker. Just type in your password to see how safe it rates!
  

Technorati tags: password safety, choosing a safe password, password, security

widget your way to gauging your gas price

It's no secret that with oil at nearly $120 per barrel, gas prices at local stations have been inflating to record highs. (You know it's bad when you're playing a game with yourself to set a new record high for filling up your tank.) To help you gauge gas gouging, check out the widgets below for your computer's desktop. You simply enter your zip code and the widget lists the cheapest gas station prices within a specified mile radius. (Also, be sure to refer back to our blog post here on how to get the best gas mileage.)

• for Mac users: gas widget
  
• for PC users: automotive.com's widget
  

Technorati tags: gas prices, widgets, cheapest gas, gas price widget

Photo credit: Gas widget

a greener green: eco-friendly lawn care

Keep your lawn green and...green. We loved the website "new american dream" and its pages on keeping up your lawn in as eco-friendly of a way as possible. Interestingly enough, the EPA has a 19-page guide on greening your lawn care, which you can download for free in pdf form by clicking here. Bottomline: it's all about natural solutions to natural problems...and refraining from the mistake of overwatering. Sounds good to us!

Technorati tags: green lawn care, lawn, eco-friendly lawn care

Photo credit: Ernest von Rosen, www.amgmedia.com

alternative vehicles of the (near) future

With gas prices higher than ever, many people are considering a purchase of an alternative fuel vehicle. Mercedes-Benz seems to be leading the pack with the F-Cell it came out with last year, as well as its lithium-ion battery hybrid slated for 2009. Although, General Motors anticipates being the first with a pure electric vehicle using lithium-ion batteries. For more information, see the USA Today article here. To read more about alternative fuels and vehicle models, check out the government's Fuel Economy website here and this more technical fuel comparison chart here. Aside from benefitting the earth, these eco-friendlier vehicles can benefit your wallet. Not only do you save money at the pump, but some states (e.g. Colorado) give a tax credit if you drive an alternative fuel vehicle. All the more incentive to start driving one!

Technorati tags: alternative fuel, hybrid cars, vehicles

Photo credit: blogs.theeagle.com

get what you pay for: "organic" and "natural" products

When you're going through the shelves of your local health and beauty section to find all-natural or organic products, be sure you're getting what you're paying for. Many products out there slap the word "natural" on their packaging, yet may contain a variety of chemicals and carcinogens because there is no regulation by which to use the term "natural" on consumer packaging. Instead of buying into the hype, look for the USDA organic seal (pictured above). In order to bear this seal, the product must go through a rigorous testing process to ensure its contents are organic. Other countries have their own equivalent. Check out the wikipedia article on organic certification here to see them. Another great page to check out is the Organic Consumers Association's Buying Guide for truly organic and natural products. (i.e. They've done your homework for you.)

Technorati tags: organic products, natural products, organic certification

eco-clean car wash

A waterless car wash? Yes, that's right. Lucky Earth car washing services and cleaning products keep your vehicle clean in the most eco-friendly way possible. The service has hybrid vehicle units that visit homes, office buildings, and other complexes to wash your car. Their cleaning products (used in their car washing service and also sold separately online) are free of chemicals (artificial fragrances, dyes, etc.) and are made to be used without the need for any water. Check out their site here for more details.

Technorati tags: waterless wash, car wash, eco-friendly, green car wash

Photo credit: Lucky Earth Car Wash

be down with the earth this week

Tomorrow is Earth Day in the northern hemisphere of the globe for the U.S. and other countries. (Other United Nations countries celebrated on the March equinox.) This week, our blog will bring earth-friendly services and other interesting green tidbits. For today, we thought we'd give you a reminder to be particularly eco-conscious starting this week with a few tips below to begin making earth day every day!

• grocery bags: use reusable grocery bags in lieu of plastic ones at the stores
• clean-up crew: gather together a group to go to your neighborhood park or beach and pick up trash for an hour - amazing how big of a difference it can make!
• carpool or walk: cut down emissions by strolling to your neighborhood market or carpooling with coworkers to the office
• waste less water: cut your showers as short as possible, use recycled water on plants, etc. (Check out 50 ways to save water here.)
• get the kids involved: click here for earth day crafts, games and more

Technorati tags: earth day, eco-friendly, environment

how to deodorize your car

Your grande latte splatters as you miss a near collision. A carton of Chinese take-home leaks. Your chain-smoking friend just has to have a fix as you're on your way to a concert. Bad odors in cars seem to linger...and linger. Check out the list below of various remedies to get rid of a bad odor in your car (most from the Associated Press article here).

• charcoal: Set an open bag in the car to absorb odors. Best part is that you can still grill with them after they absorb the smell.
• fresh coffee grounds: Absorb odors as they dry out. They will leave a faint coffee smell, however. So if you're not into the scent of a freshly brewed cup, this might not be the option for you.
• vinegar: Set a bowl of white vinegar in your car. Obviously, you can only do this one if you don't plan on driving anywhere for awhile. Overnight is best.
• scent cover: Used by hunters to get rid of their "people smell" when out hunting. Not the cheapest solution, however. Available in sporting goods stores and online.
• enzyme cleaner: For organic accidents (e.g. milk, pet stains). Available at pet stores.
• baking soda (sodium bicarbonate) / Borax (sodium borate): Sprinkle generously on the odorous area, let sit, then vacuum. Or, dilute with water and scrub away.

BIG CLEANING TIP:
Always completely air out and dry your car after washing the interior, preferably outside. If you don't, you'll replace any sort of odors you once had with mildewy ones. Also, any vapors drying in your car will only help saturate other parts of the upholstery that may not have been foul-smelling to begin with. Bottomline: clean, then LET DRY!

Technorati tags: how to get rid of car smells, deodorize, cleaning car

Photo credit: thefinalsprint.com, Church & Dwight Co.

how to clean up a broken CFL

When a CFL bulb breaks, a bit of mercury will fall. Down will come debris, toxins and all. How to deal? Check out the Environmental Protection Agency's tips here. See below for a quickie summary of what to do when your CFL shatters.

1. Clear the site of organic material (people, pets, plants) and ventilate the area for at least 15 minutes. Be sure to shut off any air circulation systems (fans, AC, heating).
2. Clean up debris (glass, powder) in three separate steps: 1) the big stuff with stiff paper or cardboard, 2) smaller remaining tidbits with duct tape, 3) all the rest with damp paper towels. Place everything in a glass jar with metal lid or sealed plastic bag.
   Note: Do NOT use a vacuum or broom to clean up the broken bulb on hard surfaces.
3. Immediately place all cleanup materials outside, then wash your hands thoroughly. Check with your local/state government about disposal requirements for your area and follow those guidelines. (Some let you throw it out with the regular trash, others require that you take it to a recycling center.)
   
   Note: If the bulb breaks on carpeting or a rug, follow the steps above, vacuuming instead of wiping with the damp paper towel. Be sure to dispose of the vacuum bag in the same way you dispose of other debris/clean-up materials.

Technorati tags: CFL, mercury cleanup, how to clean up a broken CFL

Photo credit: dbtechno.com

top 10 healthiest restaurants

Eating out? Check out the list below that garnered spots on health.com's list of "America's Healthiest Restaurants." Some of the picks may surprise you, but bear in mind it's all about healthy options to choose from rather than an entirely healthy menu. (We did our best to link the restaurant names below to their nutritional info.)

1. Uno Chicago Grill: totally trans fat-free and gluten-free options
2. Souplantation / Sweet Tomatoes: super fresh veggies
3. Mimi's Cafe: low-carb "Lifestyle Menu"
4. P.F. Chang's: soybean oil, lower sodium, plus nutritional info listed based on entire dish rather than "single serving"
5. Bob Evans: low-carb, low-fat, alternative preparation options (e.g. steamed, baked)
6. Ruby Tuesday: organic greens, hormone-free chicken, trans fat-free oil, all natural lemonades, veggie and turkey burgers
7. Macaroni Grill: "Sensible Fare" menu, whole-wheat pasta substitution available for any dish
8. Chevy's Fresh Mex: fresh ingredients, trans fat-free oils, fresh fish of the day
9. Olive Garden: "Garden Fare" menu, trans fat-free oils, whole-wheat linguine pasta substitution
10. Denny's: "Fit-Fare" menu, complete online nutritional chart with Weight Watchers Food Exchange Values

Technorati tags: restaurants, healthy meals, eating out, nutrition facts

Photo credit: Olive Garden

houseplants for your health

Begin your spring by ushering in indoor plants. Houseplants remove pollutants and toxins in the air, providing a healthier home atmosphere (literally). Keeping plants indoors can also increase humidity levels and decrease dust, thus mitigating minor sore throats and other cold-like symptoms. (If interested, check out the Wikipedia article over the NASA study here.) The Clean Air Council recommends one potted plant per 100 square feet of living space. Check out the list below of plants that are notorious for air filtration.

• Bamboo Palm
• Chinese Evergreen
• English Ivy
• Gerbera Daisy
• Janet Craig
• Marginata
• Mass Cane
• Mother-in-Law's Tongue
• Pot Mum
• Peace Lily (pictured above)
• Warneckii

Technorati tags: houseplants, health, indoor plants, air filter

Photo credit: Emily's Plants

innovation: resealable soda cans

How many times have you passed up a can of soda in favor of a plastic bottle because you knew you wouldn't be able to reseal the can and tote it around with you? Environmentally, aluminum cans make more sense because recycling aluminum is more efficient (in terms of percent yield of usable material after processing) and more cost effective than recycling plastic bottles. Also, most soda cans are a 12 oz. size whereas individual soda bottles are of a 20 oz. size. A larger size means the possibility of excess soda becoming flat later on (and also excess calories). So if you're a fan of the can, but crave the resealability of the bottle, you'll be happy to hear that Coca-Cola has recently purchased rights to the resealable can tab and is currently testing in France with the company's Burn energy drink (see image above).

Technorati tags: soda, resealable, new can, resealable can, coca cola

Photo credit: Coca Cola, Ball Packaging, BBC

fun challenge: could you survive on the moon?

We found this challenge to be fun and interesting. Essentially, you're on the moon and have to get to the other side of it using only the supplies at hand. You can only tote around a certain amount with you, so you have to prioritize the list of supplies. For those of you who took a physics class, this might be a good time to recall your professor's lecture...

Moon Survival Challenge

Technorati tags: moon, survival challenge, physics exercise, quiz

Photo credit: Michelle Meyers, Andrea Rodarte

how to make homemade french fries

Sure, they're not really French, but french fries (A.K.A. frites, A.K.A. chips) are a tasty treat and wonderful side dish for many types of food or ideal as a stand-alone appetizer with various types of dipping sauces. And while many fast food chains and restaurants seem to have the secrets for crispy fries, homemade ones can sometimes come out not-so-crisp. Follow the "double fry" technique below (courtesy of Wish magazine) to get authentic, crispy fries. The only problem we've found with the finished product is loving them too much! Remember portion control...or check out this recipe here from MyRecipes.com to bake your fries instead of deep frying them if you're being extra good.

1. Cut your potatoes into your preferred fry strip. (Hint: The smaller/thinner you can get them, the crispier.) Soak them in water for a few minutes, then drain and dry with paper towels. (The drying prevents splattering when you fry them.)
2. Heat oil in deep fryer or large, deep pot until 325°F. Prepare a baking sheet lined with paper towels.
3. Blanch small batches of the potatoes (small batches are easier to control and cook evenly) for a few minutes until cooked, but not colored. (Hint: Between batches, be sure to let the oil heat back up to 325.) Drain and cool the potatoes on the prepared baking sheet.
4. Raise the oil's temperature to 375°F.
5. Cook the potatoes for the second time (again in small batches) until golden and crispy. Drain on paper towels, then toss with desired seasonings.

Technorati tags: recipes, french fries, frites, homemade fries, fry, side dishes

Photo credit: TheWhiteNoiseRevisited.com

WÜN for the books: biodegradable cutlery

No one likes messing with dishes after a mass get-together, especially if it's an outdoorsy or out-of-home event, like a picnic in the park. Unfortunately, plasticware isn't the best choice for the environment. That's why we loved these wooden utensils from Aspenware called WÜN CUTLERY (pronounced "won"). Way more eco-friendly than plasticware, these disposable utensils can be composted instead of sitting in a landfill somewhere. Plus, they're packaged in recycled paper printed with vegetable-based inks.

Technorati tags: disposable utensils, biodegradable, eco-friendly, green party supplies, picnic

Photo credit: Aspenware

top 10 prophetic sci-fi movies

Popular Mechanics has come out with its list of the ten most prophetic sci-fi movies. We must admit that the list seems pretty sound. Check out the article here for a more in-depth look at what makes these movies relevant to our past, present, and future. Can you think of any other "fictional" movies that have made decent predictions about our society?

1. Gattaca
2. Minority Report
3. The Road Warrior
4. The Truman Show
5. Destination Moon
6. The Running Man
7. Blade Runner
8. Soylent Green
9. Short Circuit
10. 2001: A Space Odyssey

Technorati tags: sci fi, prophetic movies, sci fi movies, science fiction

Photo credit: LegalJuice.com

new trash can sings when you open it!

April Fools! We know not of any singing trash cans. We just thought we'd get into the spirit of April Fools' Day. There have been some not-so-funny April Fools' pranks (e.g. the Storm Worm virus infecting inboxes around the globe) and other more-so-funny ones (e.g. WestJet's claim that they are converting their overhead bins to sleeper cabins and RyanAir's "launch" of pornography on their flights ). We also found this article  interesting on the Top 100 April Fools' Day Hoaxes of All Time. See a list of the top ten below. What are some of the best pranks you've pulled?

1. The Swiss Spaghetti Harvest (1957)
2. Sidd Finch (1985)
3. Instant Color TV (1962)
4. The Taco Liberty Bell (1996)
5. San Serriffe (1977)
6. Nixon for President (1992)
7. Alabama Changes the Value of Pi (1998)
8. The Left-Handed Whopper (1998)
9. Hotheaded Naked Ice Borers (1995)
10. Planetary Alignment Decreases Gravity (1976)

Technorati tags: april fools, pranks, tricks

Photo credit: simplehuman

wardrobe malfunction fixes

We've all had one of those days. A shirt button magically disappears… A strap somehow snaps open… A seam unravels before your very eyes… When wardrobe malfunctions occur, one can do two things: either change into that extra outfit you have stashed in your office drawer or MacGyver your way into a fully functional fashion statement. See below for a few tips on some common malfunctions and their fixes.

• missing top button/catch on waistband: Replace a missing or broken waistband button/catch with a binder clip (see picture above). We've found that the 1 1/4" ones work best.
• run in stocking: A quick dab of nail polish (obviously colorless is best) or hair spray will stop a run.
• sweater snag: Poke the snag through to the other side of the sweater so that the longer portion of the snag is out of sight on the inside. Don't ever cut a snag! It will cause a hole.
• torn seam: Seemingly repair a torn seam with a small safety pin. Just follow the stitching line with the pin and make sure the pin's latch is on the inside of the garment.
• fallen hem: Use packing tape to tack the hem back into place.
• shoe scuffs: Use a Sharpie pen to fill in any discoloring scuffs or scratches.

Aside from general office supplies, keep the following around your desk as a handy kit for wardrobe emergencies:

• safety pins
• clear nail polish
• small sewing kit
• stain remover pen
• extra set of clothes
• small hair straightener (can be used as an iron in certain instances)

Technorati tags: wardrobe malfunction, wardrobe emergencies, quick fixes

Photo credit: Office Depot

great gadgets: digital picture frames

If a picture's worth a thousand words, digital picture frames must be worth several copies of War and Peace. New digital picture frames not only display your digital photos, they also can make them into a slideshow with nifty transitions and MP3 soundtracks, or even play short videos taken with your digital camera. Definitely a step up from the dusty family photo album. (And much easier to switch out all of the pictures!) Check out a few of the sites below to shop for digital photo frames.

• digitalframez.com
• Kodak.com
• RitzCamera.com

Technorati tags: digital frame, photo album, digital photo, slideshow frame

Photo credit: digitalframez.com

good dog! er, robot.

A popular YouTube video is circulating that shows off Boston Dynamic's Big Dog robot. The animalesque robot was developed for the military as a pack mule of sorts. Specifically designed to be able to handle a variety of terrain, one can't help but be amazed at its agility on icy pavement. Check out the Mass High Tech article here and the video here.

Technorati tags: big dog, animal robot, robot

Photo credit: Boston Dynamic

quiz: are you savvy about energy efficiency?

Sure, you turn off the lights when you leave the room. You use reusable bags at the grocery store or reuse the plastic ones you get. Perhaps you even own a hybrid vehicle. However, we challenge you to take this quiz from USA Today on how much you know about saving energy. Once you've completed that, you can check out Ontario Power Authority's website here to get more energy-saving tips.

Technorati tags: energy, efficiency, saving electricity

Photo credit: InkyCircus.com

antioxidants: put those Easter candies to good use

After this Easter weekend, many households (or at least overstocked store shelves) probably have a plethora of chocolate leftovers. While it is true that chocolate has antioxidant properties, not all types of chocolate are created equal. What actually makes chocolate "good" for someone is its flavanol content, which is a phytonutrient with antioxidant and anti-inflammatory properties. Flavanol is relatively low in milk chocolate and highly processed chocolate in comparison to pure cocoa and dark chocolate. Other consumables with flavanols include red wine, apples, cranberries,  and green and black teas. See the Hershey's article here on flavanols and antioxidant properties of chocolate.

Technorati tags: chocolate, antioxidant, flavanols, easter candy

Photo credit: ChocolateWorld.net

SugarSync: how sweet it is

In this teched-out world, it's highly likely that you own more than one Internet-capable device. It seems many use one computer for work, another for home, yet another for travel, probably have an iPhone or other some such device as well. What to do when you want all of your electronic devices updated at the same time? Perhaps, upload your newest batch of digital photos to one device and have all those photos magically appear on all of your other devices almost instantaneously? What you're looking for is a push synchronization service. One we've heard the most about is SugarSync, a service that can sync a myriad of documents and other digital media between PC, Mac, and other Internet-ready devices. You can also view all of your backed-up files remotely from any computer connected online. Read the press release on Yahoo! Finance here.

Technorati tags: sugarsync, push sync, synchronization

Photo credit: Sharpcast

bracketology: march to the madness

It happens every year. Offices, classrooms, households lay victim to the syndrome that is college basketball. The fixation is so great that it has been officially titled "March Madness." The custom is to fill out a bracket, choose the teams you think will win, and see how your results compare to your other maddened friends. (Many bet on how their bracket will fare.) See the links below for more information on this phenom. Be sure to hurry and fill out your bracket now! The first round of games is tonight! Who do you think will take home the National Championship?

• CBS Sportsline
• NCAA Men's Basketball
• BracketContest.com

Technorati tags: bracketology, march madness, basketball, ncaa, tournament

Photo credit: RazorGator.com

best of the worst: healthy fast food

Awhile back, we gave you a few tips on healthy fast fooding (see post here). Now, with swimsuit season a mere few months away already, we decided to consult the AOL article here on the low-cal options available at many of the most popular fast food chains. See a summarized list below. Also, check out DietFacts.com for general nutrition facts on your fast food favorites and the AskMen.com article here on some of the worst, yet most common fast food options available.

McDonald's
quarter pounder without cheese and mayo (410 calories)
asian salad with grilled chicken (300 calories)
fruit-n-yogurt parfait with granola (160 calories)

Subway
6" breakfast western omelet sandwich (400 calories)
veggie delite wrap (400 calories)
6" turkey and ham sub on honey oat (290 calories)

Panera
whole grain bagel with 1 tablespoon reduced fat veggie cream cheese (400 calories)
8 oz. low fat veggie southwest tomato and roasted corn soup (110 calories)
half asiago roast beef sandwich (350 calories)

Taco Bell
tostada fresco style (200 calories)
ranchero chicken soft taco fresco style (170 calories)
gordita supreme beef (310 calories)

Arby's
chicken bacon swiss sandwich (460 calories)
sourdough ham melt (380 calories)
jr. roast beef sandwich (270 calories)

Fazoli's
spaghetti with marinara (450 calories)
slice cheese pizza (270 calories)

Chick-Fil-A
chargrilled chicken sandwich (270 calories)
southwest chargrilled salad (240 calories)
chick-n-strips (290 calories)

Au Bon Pain
vanilla yogurt with granola and blueberries (320 calories)
jamaican black bean soup (240 calories)
half turkey and cranberry chutney sandwich (340 calories)

Technorati tags: fast food, healthy meals, nutrition, diet

Photo credit: AskMen.com

how to win at office politics

One common theory on social power is to simply be as anonymous as possible. The King's Court metaphor is a good one, mentioned in the book, "The 48 Laws of Power" by Robert Greene. Think of it this way: if you are the one to eloquently speak up in the King's court, the King may appreciate you, but the rest of the court will be envious and begin plotting your downfall. If you are the one to nonsensically speak up in the King's court, the King won't take you seriously, yet the rest of the court will find you mildly entertaining and without threat. So, the best thing is to simply say nothing, wait for everyone else to mess up, then be left by default as the only one who hasn't done anything. Clearly, this may not work in every scenario, particularly at the office where opinion counts. Check out the tips below on office politics, inspired from the article here.

• Whatever you say, assume it will be heard by everyone in the office. Thus, choose words wisely at all times! If you say something about someone, pretend he/she is standing right behind you so you're sure not to offend.
• Never reveal your entire strategy to anyone. Don't tell your favorite chum that you're plotting to take over so-and-so's desk/office.
  
• Keep your image as spotless as possible. Sure, that night you spent in jail in college for streaking is a funny story. But it can come back to haunt your image at a later time.
• Keep it business, not personal. No one at the office needs to know details about how your date went the other night. A simple, "Yeah, I had a good weekend, thanks. How was yours?" will suffice nicely.
  
• Stay out of gossip rings as much as you can. It'll take some willpower, and you run the risk of being gossiped about yourself, but the best way to respond when someone's trying to play you against someone else is to simply remain neutral, act mildly surprised at anything negative said, and get back to work.
• Fess up when you screw up. If all of your skeletons are out of the closet, strewn about for all to see, no one has anything to really talk about. Again, as long as you take responsibility for your actions, they can't come back and haunt you at a later time.

Technorati tags: office politics, career, professional etiquette

Photo credit: Keetsa

time to save your daylight!

Reminder! Tomorrow (March 8) is daylight saving time in the United States. At 2 a.m. wherever you are (unless you're in Arizona, Hawaii, Puerto Rico, Virgin Islands, Guam, or American Somoa, which choose not to participate in daylight saving), you "spring forward" to 3 a.m. automatically, thereby "losing" an hour and gaining an hour of daylight in the evenings. If you're curious about how/when other areas of the world address daylight saving, click here.

Technorati tags: daylight saving, spring forward, dst, daylight savings time

be bold at blackjack: learning tools and charts

Unlike slots or poker or roulette, blackjack is a casino game that relies mostly on the player and his/her decisions. To be a truly good blackjack player, you must understand that the game itself rests on rules of probability and can, therefore, be played systematically. And while there is always the counting cards route, unless you're a savant or practice religiously, this option can be a bit daunting for beginners. See above for a handy chart that shows general strategy of play based on probability. Another handy site we liked is HitOrStand.net. An excellent teaching tool, it gives general rules and strategy for blackjack, as well as has a program that tells you how to play with pop-up tips as you play. It rewards you for good strategy rather than winning hands.

Technorati tags: blackjack, gaming, probability, odds

Photo credit: WizardOfOdds.com

efficient tools to calculate delegates

Regardless of what party you belong, keeping tabs on how your political favorite's doing can often be daunting. What with all of the delegate counts per state, PLEO delegates (A.K.A. "superdelegates"), and all the different caucus dates, how can you easily quantify the chances of your contender? Enter Slate's Delegate Calculator, a handy tool where you can enter your (or a poll's) predicted outcomes of the remaining state caucuses to see how near or far your delegate has to go before claiming victory. Another handy tool is the polling page on RealClearPolitics.com. It averages the major political polls to keep you informed on where your candidate stands. If you prefer to do your delegate calculating the old fashioned way, take a gander at the Takumi Keyboard Calculator, which features a computer style keypad and can also connect to your PC via USB if you so choose.

Technorati tags: delegates, election, superdelegates, calculator

Photo credit: Takumi

how to treat a bee sting

See below for our 5-step guide to treating a bee sting. (We consulted the articles at eHow.com.)

1. remove the stinger as soon as possible (The best method is actually scraping a credit card or dull butter knife against your skin in the opposite direction of the stinger entry to pop out the stinger. That way, you don't squeeze the gland full of venom that is attached to the embedded stinger when you pull it out, which would potentially inject more venom into your skin.)
2. wash the site with soap and water or alcohol
3. put an ice pack or cool, wet compress on the inflamed area
4. soothe the inflammation with a paste made from baking soda and water (You can also apply a gentle antibacterial antihistamine like Bactine or Benadryl or apply calamine lotion to help relieve itching and pain.)
5. take a general oral pain reliever like ibuprofen

Remember: some people have severe allergic reactions to stings, sometimes deadly. It is advised that if you experience severe symptoms directly following a sting, or if you are stung on the neck or mouth, seek medical attention immediately! Swelling in these areas may cause suffocation. A very interesting article on stings from West Virginia University can be found here.

Technorati tags: bee sting, sting, how to treat a sting, first aid

Photo credit: PDphoto.org

My Very Exciting Magic Carpet Just Sailed Under Nine Palace Elephants

Last year, many of us lamented when Pluto was denounced as a planet of our solar system. Recently, Pluto was given back a bit of its clout, named as a dwarf planet. However, in order to keep with this new system, Ceres and Eris had to jump onboard as dwarf planets, making the new order of our solar system's primary bodies: Mercury, Venus, Earth, Mars, Ceres, Jupiter, Saturn, Uranus, Neptune, Pluto, Eris. (See more information on NASA's site here.) This development obviously renders the old mnemonic device My Very Educated Mother Just Sent Us Nine Pizzas obsolete. Enter Maryn Smith, a fourth grader who won National Geographic's planetary mnemonic contest with the phrase My Very Exciting Magic Carpet Just Sailed Under Nine Palace Elephants. Read the full article from CNN.com here. Can you think of another phrase?

Technorati tags: planets, mnemonic, solar system

Photo credit: NASA

10 tips on saving when you grocery shop

With all the products on the shelves, the antsy kids, an empty stomach, and your looming dinner deadline, shopping for groceries can be quite a bit of pressure. Keep your cool and follow the tips below to ensure that you're getting your money's worth while at the store. We drew these tips from the Washington Post article here on how to most effectively save at the grocery store. Another tip: take a peak at pack-n-tote.com, a site that specializes in reusable grocery bags (depicted above). Some stores will give you a few cents back when you use your own reusable bag, so you're saving your money while saving the environment.

1. Shop alone. Others (especially kids) can pressure you to buy costly extras.
2. Don't shop hungry. You're always inclined to buy more than you need when you do.
3. Stick to your list, but remain flexible. E.g. If you planned on buying chicken, but see a special on turkey, go with the latter.
4. Shop by unit price. If you look closely at the price tag on the shelves, there's a "unit price" listed for each item. This gives the best basis of comparison for items across brands and package amounts.
5. When you can, buy store brands. It can take some experimenting to ensure the quality and taste are good enough to replace your brand favorites. However, if the store brand varieties are fine, you can save a decent amount.
6. Shop around in the store. Price can vary depending on the location and form of the item. E.g. a whole chunk of cheese from the deli counter can cost less per pound than the pre-sliced form of the same variety in the dairy section. Another great example is juice in a jug versus concentrate.
7. Buy produce in season. If you're craving a fruit or veggie that's not in season, go for the ones pre-packaged in the freezer case. You might even get better quality from those in the freezer since they were most likely picked and packaged in season.
8. Be selective when buying convenience foods. Sure, it takes more effort to skin and mince a clove of garlic rather than buy the jar of pre-minced cloves. Just remember that you sacrifice taste and pay more. There are some items, however, like canned beans, that are easy, fast, and still inexpensive.
9. Look high and low for deals. The costliest items tend to be placed at eye level.
10. Take a calculator to help figure out costs per serving, etc.

Technorati tags: saving money, shop smart, saving on groceries, grocery shopping

Photo credit: pack-n-tote

top baby names of 2007

Not unlike the song "27 Jennifers" by Mike Doughty, when you were at school, most likely some names seemed more popular than others. Naming, like many other social phenomena, is cyclic and reflective of cultural trends. See below for the top male and female baby names of 2007 (which we got from babynames.com and babycenter.com).

FEMALE

• Sophia
• Isabella
• Emma
• Madison
• Ava
• Addison
• Hailey
• Emily
• Kaitlyn
• Olivia
• Abigail
• Cailyn

MALE

• Aiden
• Ethan
• Jacob
• Jaden
• Kaden
• Noah
• Jackson
• Jack
• Logan
• Matthew
• Braden
• Caleb

Technorati tags: names, top 2007 names, most popular names

strike's over, so who's out?

With the writer's strike officially over, Tinseltown is in a frenzy with exactly when all of the shows are coming back (if they even are). Take a look at a summary below of the rumored fates of your favorites. TV Guide has an hourly-updated webpage here that keeps you informed on many shows and the Los Angeles Times had a great grid here arranged by network. A great article over the general aftermath of the strike can be found here.

• 24: Season 7 postponed until January '09.
• 30 Rock: Expected to shoot 5 new episodes to begin airing on April 10.
• Battlestar Galactica: Returns April 4 with first half of 20-episode final season. Production on second half could start as early as March. Airdate for those TBD.
• The Big Bang Theory: Expected to shoot 9 new episodes to begin airing on March 17.
• Big Love: Expected to go into production on Season 3 in the spring. Airdate info is TBD.
• Bionic Woman: Most likely dead.
• Boston Legal: One pre-strike episode remains. Expected to shoot 8 additional episodes to air in April/May.
• Cane: Most likely dead.
• Desperate Housewives: Expected to shoot 7 new episodes to air in April/May.
• Dirty Sexy Money: No new episodes until fall; three remaining pre-strike episodes will undergo some tweaking and kick off fall run.
• ER: Expected to shoot 6 new episodes to begin airing on April 10.
• Grey's Anatomy: Expected to shoot 5 new episodes to air in April/May.
• Heroes: No new episodes expected until fall.
• House: Expected to shoot 4 new episodes to begin airing in its new Monday time slot on April 28.
• Law & Order SVU: Expected to shoot 5 new episodes to begin airing on April 15.
• Lost: Five pre-strike episodes remain. Expected to shoot 5 additional episodes to air in April/May.
• The Office: Expected to shoot 6 new episodes to begin airing on April 10.
• Saturday Night Live: Returns Feb. 23 with Tina Fey as host.
• Smallville: Three remaining pre-strike episodes will air March 13, 20 and 27. Expected to shoot 5 additional episodes to begin airing on April 17.
• Terminator: The Sarah Connor Chronicles: Three pre-strike episodes remain. Future beyond that TBD.

Technorati tags: tv shows, writers strike, returning episodes

Photo credit: NBC

omg, text terms r gr8!

Whether texting, instant messaging, or writing an E-mail, the bottom line is brevity. See below for a list of text abbreviations and acronyms we often use. Check out Netlingo for more exhaustive lists.

• 2moro = tomorrow
• 2nite = tonight
• afk = away from keyboard
• aim = aol instant messenger
• aka = also known as
• asap = as soon as possible
• bc = because
• b4 = before
• bf = best friend / boyfriend
• bff = best friend forever
• brb = be right back
• btw = by the way
• eod = end of day
• fb = facebook
• fyi = for your information
• gf = girlfriend
• gr8 = great
• gtg = got to go
• ho = hold on
• h8 u = hate you
• i<3u = I love you
• idk = I don't know
• im = instant message
• imo = in my opinion
• iou = I owe you
• irl = in real life
• jk = joking
• k = okay
• l8r = later
• lol = laugh out loud
• myob = mind your own business
• nm = nevermind
• np = no problem
• oic = oh, I see
• omg = oh my God
• otd = out the door
• pda = public display of affection / personal data assistant
• pov = point of view
• rotfl = rolling on the floor laughing
• tba = to be announced
• tbd = to be determined
• thx = thanks
• tlc = tender loving care
• tot = totally off topic
• ttfn = ta ta for now
• ttyl = talk to you later
• tyvm = thank you very much

Technorati tags: texting, acronyms, abbreviations, chatting

happy february 14th! (hey, it's not JUST v-day...)

Ah, February 14. For those of us with significant others, it's a day for expressing exactly how much you appreciate and care for him/her. (See Valentine's Day.) For those of us without significant others, it's still an excellent day to express to those most important to us how great we think they are. (At the very least, this requires an e-card.) However, we understand that for a few out there, this is a day that seems wrought with way too much PDA to handle. To endulge this latter group, we've listed out a few other significant things that make this day memorable (besides roses, chocolates, and stuffed teddy bears).

• Lupercalia: a very ancient, possibly pre-Roman pastoral festival, observed on February 13 through February 15 to avert evil spirits and purify the city, releasing health and fertility.
• Trifon Zarezan (Wine Grower's Day) in Bulgaria
• Ballantine's Day in Norway
• Arizona (1912, 48th) and Oregon (1859, 33rd) are admitted as states
• 1899: Voting machines are approved by the U.S. Congress for use in federal elections.
• St. Valentine's Day Massacre (1929): Seven people, six of them gangster rivals of Al Capone's gang, are murdered in Chicago, Illinois.
• 1989: The first of 24 satellites of the Global Positioning System are placed into orbit.
• 1924: The International Business Machines Corporation (IBM) is founded.

Technorati tags: february 14, fun facts, trivia, valentine's day

Photo credit: 1800flowers

custom candies: how sweet they are

With V-Day just around the corner, who doesn't love those candy hearts with short and sweet nothings written on them? With the sites below, you can customize a variety of candy to say virtually anything (within the character limit, of course). You can choose to pers