In the spirit of keeping everything tangle-free today (see our new use of the day) comes this idea via Unplggd about how to keep your earbuds from getting tangled in your purse or gym bag. Simply use the basic knot you’d use to make friendship bracelets to wrap the main cord and each of the individual earbud cords. To make them […]
more about: technology
When Smart Phones Make You Act Dumb
We all have figured out by now that we’re not supposed to answer a cell phone in a restaurant. Or at the movies. Or in the delivery room while the obstetrician is yelling, “Push.” But at the office? We’re still making gaffes. Cell phones are ringing in conference rooms. We’re texting away during meetings. We’re cradling our mobile devices in […]
Anonymous Online
Debate: Is it important to protect people’s rights to comment anonymously online? Or should commenters use their real names? Both sides make good arguments, as you can see from this week’s “Sunday Dialog” in the New York Times. Reasons to Require Names: 1. Cyberbullies. Anonymous comments are more likely to be “hate-filled and inflammatory.” 2. Responsibility. Sites that allow comments have the right […]
Would You Rather Interact With a Human or a Machine?
This morning on the way to work I had to stop at the bank to deposit a check. I do not—ever—deposit checks by ATM, mostly because I don’t want to learn how to do it. (I know, I know: A trained monkey could probably learn how to deposit a check in the ATM in all of 7 minutes. But I […]
A Wine Tasting Diary Can Help You Know What To Buy
I’m not sure if it’s commonplace in the rest of the country, but in the Mid-Atlantic wine is a form of gratuity among friends. If your neighbor lets you borrow his lawn mower, you give it back to him with a full tank of gasoline and a bottle of wine. If your friends invite you over for dinner and tell […]
Heading Out for a Jog? Not Without My Callet!
It’s rare that something comes along that truly thrills me. But when it does, it’s usually something that’s small but GENIUS. Enter the Callet. It’s small, it’s genius—it actually solves a problem. At the risk of sounding a bit too enthusiastic: I’m in love. It’s a simple, gel-like case for your smart phone (iPhone or Blackberry compatible at this point) […]
Are You Ignoring My Facebook Friend Request?
This week’s etiquette dilemma: “It has been several months since I have made a friend request or two on Facebook that have yet to be answered,” writes a reader named JenniferBeck. “I know them on a very casual acquaintance level, but don’t believe that either of them would be highly restricting their friend requests,” she writes. “I can see their […]
Put Your Computer to Sleep
To save energy, set your computer to sleep mode after 20 to 30 minutes of inactivity (or a shorter amount of time if you take frequent breaks from your desk). Most computers manufactured in the past five years use 95 percent less energy in sleep mode than when simply inactive. How do you keep your electronic devices from sucking energy?
9 Things You Can’t Do Without Electricity
Having spending a mere 24 hours without electricity after Hurricane Irene blew through town, I have a newfound appreciation for all things AC/DC. (We were at my parents’ house in suburban NJ, but hightailed it back to our apartment in NYC as soon as the storm passed.) As knuckle-headed as it sounds, I don’t think I was really aware of […]
