Site of the Week - FiLife Stackers

Introducing... FiLife – your financial guide made simple.

Stackers is a section of FiLife, joined with the Wall Street Journal, where you can compare your debt to other Americans. You just enter an amount and it will calculate what percent of Americans have more debt than you. So, don’t feel so bad; some people are worse off than you. Apparently, 68% of Americans have more student loan debt than me. Not so bad, huh. You can refine your search to people in a certain age range, state and city.



After you’re done making yourself feel better, there are articles to help you manage your cash flow and even plan for the future. Look into disability insurance, 401K, and/or life insurance. There’s even an article on how to ask for the most difficult thing in your career: a raise.

You can also read up on a variety of financial topics, ask questions and even find great deals on credit card offers, financial software, savings accounts, rates, etc. I learned from “How to Buy a Car” that getting a car loan from a credit union or bank instead of the dealership can ease the car buying process a hell of a lot. That way you’re only focusing on the total price of the car instead of that and the lack of financing options. The first time I went car shopping, I realized 0% financing is only offered to people with “glorious” credit looking to finance their payments over 3 years. I was neither. I ended up leaving without a car and was glad. I’d would’ve hating driving something I wasn’t in love with for a price I wasn’t too happy with either.

Start 2009 off right by working to be financially independent and debt free. Found an article on the site worth talking about? Leave a comment.
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Now playing: Moon Phase - Neko Mimi Mode (Opening)
via FoxyTunes

Exploring Old Haunts

NYC was pretty fun today, despite the foggy, chilly weather. However, I think I'll stay away from trains and subways on a Saturday after Christmas. They was jam-packed. You were lucky if you got a seat before your next stop.

We ate at the ever so popular Fridays at Penn Station, then headed off to the MoMA. I was surprised to see works from Picasso, Kandinsky and Matisse there. I always assumed the pieces they had on display were artists from the 80s, 90s and now. Anyhow, they had tons of abstract paintings which I love and a whole floor devoted to architecture and design. It was mostly funky chairs and tables. The Joan Miro pieces were really fascinating. They were from the 20s and 30s. It was a collection of collage (not with newspapers and magazines), canvasses that had objects attached to them and unusual metal and wood sculptures. (FYI, Joan is a guy. Don't worry, I got that wrong, too.) We were all art-out by that point and had to skip a few floors.

Then we were off to Chinatown. We stopped in this little cafe called "Teariffic" which sold a variety of teas, smoothies and a few snacks to munch on. I don't think it was the same one I had been to a few years back, but it was just as good. If you ever visit Chinatown in NYC, stop by this place (51 Mott Street off of Canal) and try their bubble tea (tea with tapioca pearls). They're chewy and delicious, unless you don't like tapioca or tea. I had the Coconut Milk Black Tea with spring rolls on the side and it really hit the spot. It's a tight space with these small benches to sit on at the tables. The drinks are only a couple of bucks, but "Teariffic" can get pretty crowded and the service could be more organized or speedy. Right across the street is this Asian candy shop to please your sweet tooth.

All in all it was a great and productive day. Though, I wish my feet weren't so sore :(
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Now playing: Disney - Journey To The Past
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Ho Ho Ho...

Merry Christmas and Happy Holidays! Here's a treat from Revolutionary Girl Utena. Also, here's a funny vid if your holidays weren't so jolly.

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Now playing: Utena - Dance Wheel Revolution (Rinbu Revolution)
via FoxyTunes

Tunes Tuesday - Anime Christmas Mix

This week’s Tunes Tuesday is going to be slightly off-beat. If you’re tired of the same old Christmas songs and you’re looking for something different to play during parties or what have you, then here are a few I give to you. They are all in Japanese and sung by voice actors/actresses or bands from some of my favorite anime shows. You’ll catch a few familiar English lyrics here and there. Click the song title for full lyrics. Enjoy…

Silver Bells by Coming Century - Inuyasha
It’s a Japanese holiday rap version of Silver Bells :) In Inuyasha, a dog demon and the reincarnated priestess Kikyo work together to find the shards of a sacred jewel. Of course, there are bumps along the way and new allies/enemies to meet.

Yorokobi no Carol (Joyful Carol) - Card Captor Sakura
The title is self-explanatory. This song sung by Junko Iwao, the Japanese voice actress of the character Tomoyo Tomoeda, and her Tomoeda choir. Sakura Kinomoto was your average middle school girl until she accidentally freed the powerful Clow Cards from their book. Now she has to collect them all before they wreak havoc on her town.

Jingle Bells – Tenchi Muyo!
Sung by the entire voice acting cast: Kikuchi Masami (Tenchi), Yokoyama Chisa (Princess Sasami), Takada Yumi (Princess Ayeka), Orikasa Ai (Ryoko), Mizutani Yuko (Mihoshi), and Kobayashi Yuko (Washu). Everything was going okay for Tenchi Masaki until he awoke the space pirate Ryoko from a cave at his father's shrine. Now his life is turned upside down and 2 alien princesses, a galaxy space police officer and a 20,000 year old scientist wanna come along for the ride.

Sailor Moon Christmas plus Orgel version – Sailor Moon
This song has the cast of Sailor Moon describing the Christmas party they’re putting together. From the games they’ll play to the champagne bubbles (though they’re supposed to be in high school) to the HOT turkey being carried. Serena Tsukino was your average (hmm, there seems to be a theme) school girl, until she crossed paths with a magical cat who helped her discovery she is "Sailor Moon" the champion of love and justice. now she and her friends must battle the forces of the Negaverse and their Junior High woes. Here's my fansite (under construction). There are tons more Sailor Moon sites in the links section.

I'll be compiling anime fan sites, so if you have one drop me a line.

MERRY CHRISTMAS, HAPPY HOLIDAY, HAPPY KWANZAA, HAPPY CHANUKAH and MERRY WINTER SOLSTICE EVERYONE!
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Now playing: Sailor Moon - Christmas Orgel
via FoxyTunes

Site of the Week - HubSpot

The next site of the week spot goes to... HubSpot.com

HubSpot is a great site, mostly aimed at businesses, that helps people to better market their websites. I first heard of it from PC Mag’s “Best Of in 2007”. The main thing that pulled me in was their Website Grader. You enter in your site’s url and an email address. Then, in a few moments you receive an email with a grade (ranging from 1 to 100) and the criteria used to measure your site.

I tried it with my portfolio site and was surprised to receive a 5 of 100. ☹ I thought surely I’d have something in the 60s or so. So, I looked through the report to see where I was lacking. Apparently, I didn’t have enough meta tags for my website, a summary, ALT text for images, a blog, and my domain was expiring in less than a year among other things. And here I thought I was all done with my site after I designed it and pieces it together with HTML code. Nope, there was more work to be done if I wanted more people stopping by for a visit.

FYI - For those who don't speak HTML lingo, a meta tag is a variety of elements in your site HTML that describe what it is to search engines. The most useful one is probably the keywords. You enter a list of keywords that relate to your site. Then when someone uses Yahoo! or googles some of the keywords, your site should appear in the list of results. The better the list, the more chances your site will appear.

They also have a Free Internet Marketing Kit for downloading. It includes an hour long video seminar on the dos and don’t of website redesign as well as a short Q&A part. It also has a PDF version that summarizes the video, and has tips and resources to keep in mind. There are various other tips, resources, webinars, etc. that even bloggers and Myspace page owners can use to help them. The main purpose of it all is to gain new viewers to your site without losing the ones you already have.

Try it out and see how your website ranks. Leave a comment and compare grades.
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Now playing: Saikano - Sayonara (Piano Version)
via FoxyTunes

Tech Thurs - Mandun Solar Charger

Mandun Solar Charger

I brought this online from cellphoneshop.net. I wasn’t sure it was going to work but I was curious to see a solar panel in action. I think I paid about $25 for it. A bit of an investment. I'm not usually that loose with my money. The item came with a variety of connection pieces to charge anything from a digital camera to an mp3 player and also a phone. There are two ways to charge the panel: You can use the wall charger or place the panel in direct sunlight. I used the wall charge method.

After it was fully charger, I tossed it somewhere and forgot about it for a couple of months. Then when I broke my phone I had to use my old one. Thank goodness I didn't have it recycled just yet. However, I couldn’t find the charger that came with it. So, I yanked out the solar panel, found the connecting piece and hooked it up. To my surprise, not only was it still charged, it began to power up my phone. Essentially, it’s a universal charger if you have a problem finding the right cord or your phone dies on the road. If your phone or device has a unique charge port, then it probably won’t have the part. All in all, it’s a great device for someone who loses their charger, travels a lot or goes camping and can’t be too far from modern conveniences.

Have you tried this device or something similar that used a solar panel? How’d you like it? Leave a comment :)
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Now playing: Natasha Bedingfield - Pocket Full Of Sunshine
via FoxyTunes

Saving Some Green!

Times are hard these days. Although gas prices have gone down, it may not last for long. Sales are everywhere. Every company and stores are fighting for your attention and money, but their prices and even shipping haven’t done much to pique my curiosity. Though, I have been eying this Nikon digital camera, but that’s for another time. Anyway, here are some green ideas to help tie down those dollar bills flying outta your wallet.

1. Replace your light bulbs with energy efficient bulbs (compact fluorescent light bulb). They have 60-watt bulbs that use only 30-watt energy. The only slight drawback is that there is a 2 second delay when you turn it on and it may not be as bright as you need, but I don’t even notice.

2. Ask for a Belkin's Conserve Surge Protector this Christmas. This hot "green" item kills those “Phantom Power”. You know, those electronics that suck energy from your home even though they’re turned off or on standby. J&R Music/Computer World and Amazon.com has ‘em for $38.28.

3. Sign up for store free rewards programs. You shop there, so you may as well get points and money back for it. JC Penney, NY&Co and even Best Buy has 'em.

4. Quit smoking. I know, I know. It easier said than done, but there are tons of programs to help. Plus, if you buy a pack a week, you’ll have over $30 a month to spend elsewhere. Plus plus, you’ll lower your CO2 emission.

5. Cut out those extra fees. Stop paying for those things you don’t use or even want like a magazine subscription, gym membership, etc. Shop at sites that offer free shipping or that will send your item to the store for pickup (free shipping for those who don’t need their items right away). Some payment service will charge a 3% fee for using your credit card. Well,… don’t ☺. Find other alternatives like using your checking account routing or paying by check.

Do you have some easy money saving tips? Drop a comment today!
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Now playing: Alvin & the Chipmunks - Witch Doctor (Remix)
via FoxyTunes

Site of the Week

This week Site of the Week is “The Meatrix”. It’s a Flash animated spoof of The Matrix that talks about knowing where your meat and animal products come from and how it’s handled. The main character is a little piggy named Leo who believes where he lives is a nice, big farm where he can run around and frolic all day. That is until Chickity and Moopheus open his eyes to the conditions he and other barnyard animals are actually living in.

Unlike the extreme tactics of PETA sponsored sites that try to shock and disgust you into giving up eating delicious animals forever, this site educates the viewer on things like the benefits of buying from local farms, and the repercussions of companies using shortcuts and unhealthy practices to get you the lowest prices on meat and dairy products while increasing their profits. In actuality, only the companies are benefiting from it and it’s just not worth it. Everyone is hurt by their methods from neighboring town, to the factory workers, animals and even consumers. There’s also a link to a site called Sustainable Table. This site can help you search for stores that sell products from local farms, learn healthy recipes, as well as educational programs and projects. If you live in central or southern NJ, that shouldn’t be too hard.

If you do live near the Trenton area, check out this place called Halo Farms. They sell all sorts of dairy aisle products including ice cream and yogurt. Not to mention their supply of juices including apple cider, bread and snacks. The milk there not only tastes better, it lasts longer. ☺

If there’s anything to learn from the site it’s this:
1. Try to search for products (milk, eggs, etc.) that say “Antibiotic free” on their labels.
2. Eating healthy is good for you but maybe not your wallet.
3. If you have questions about how a company raises its animals, email them. They might actually send you an answer and maybe even some coupons.

And if you do decide to give up meat for good, make sure you get all the missing nutrients such as protein, niacin, and Vitamin A & B12 from other foods.

Tunes Tuesday - This Is the Worst Christmas Ever!

This weeks Tunes Tuesday is “This is the Worst Christmas Ever!” by Sufjan Stevens. It’s a holiday folk song to kind of go with the season. Not every holiday comes with happy family memories, gifts under the Christmas tree or Menorah, and joyous tales of old Saint Nick. Remember, some people are forced to spend this time dealing with bizarre family members. Makes you wanna down a whole bottle of your aunt’s spiked eggnog.

Any who, I came upon this artist a long while back on a newsblog. After some researching, I found this song. If you don’t listen to the words you might think it’s just another Christmas song. However, lyrics like “Shoveling snow in the driveway”, “Our father yells, throwing the gifts in the wood stove” and “My sister runs away, taking her books to the schoolyard” prove otherwise. I’m sure someone out there can relate.

This song comes from Stevens’ Michigan album that was released back in the summer of 2003. The Michigan native himself began writing his debut solo album while attending school at Hope College. He plays a variety of instruments including the piano, guitar, drums, banjo, oboe, and English horn. Sufjan, which I found out means “comes with a sword” in Persian, is currently working on his 50 States Project. He intends to write an album for each of the 50 U.S. states though some people wonder if he’ll be committed enough to finish his project. He’s already completed his home state and Illinois. Keep your ear to the ground, ‘cause he just may write his next album about the state you live in (Cross your fingers New Jerseyans).

If you like this song (for either the lyrics or music) then you might also like “Romulus”. It’s a nice, lilting tune that talks about being ashamed and embarrassed by family.

If you’ve had a crappy holiday, leave a comment. Let others know they’re not the only ones dreading the months of November and December.

FYI – the Tunes Tuesday and Tech Thursdays will be every other week alternating. So next week will be a tech review.

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Now playing: Sufjan Stevens - Romulus
via FoxyTunes
Now playing: Sufjan Stevens - That Was the Worst Christmas Ever!
via FoxyTunes

Site of the Week - Pandora Radio

Today’s Site of the Week is... Pandora Radio. Pandora came out some years back (8 years to be exact). It’s awesome an online radio site. What separates Pandora from Yahoo Music or other music sites, is that it’s main purpose is to find songs you might like based on a song or artist you searched for. Let’s say you type in Hikaru Utada (yes, you can even search for Jpop artist), the program might play a song of hers and then based on an algorithm it’ll find you songs similar to hers. There are about 400 different musical characteristics it uses to determine the what to play next.

Then as more songs play you can rate them. Click on the thumbs up if you like, and they’ll send you more songs like that, or click on the thumbs down and they remove that song from your list. You can create and save various stations by artists, song or genre and share them with friends. You can also listen to your stations on phone if you have AT&T or Sprint. It doesn't stop there. You can also find other people who have similar stations and leave them notes and buy saved songs from Amazon or iTunes (or Limewire if you're me). Unlike the mythical tale of Pandora's box, this site opens a whole world of new music to you. It’s a great way to refresh your music library if you’re tired of listening to the same song over and over. Pandora – a great way to discover new music.

So, have you tried Pandora? Did ya enjoy the experience?

In the Doghouse :(

I just have to comment on this. Apparently, JC Penney's has this online ad helping to push the sale of their jewelry. It's start off with some guy with a 1950s mentality who thinks buying his wife a dual bag vacuum is the best gift ever. She then, completely disappointed, punishes him by placing him in "The Doghouse" where other hopeless idiots end up. Even after the husband admits he realizes the gift wasn't that romantic, he still doesn't understand why he's there. In the end, one guy gets out by buyiing his love jewelry.

The phrase "Diamonds are a girls best friend" has always irked me. I've never really been one for jewelry. Mainly because I can only wear one necklace at a time, earrings end up hurting my ears, I always lose my rings, and bracelets ride up my skinny arms. I think I would have loved the gift the one guy thought was a good idea - he had extra RAM for a computer installed with a note that said "Thanks for the memories". It's cute and very thoughtful. The main reason I had to buy a new comp was because I didn't have enough RAM for the applications I needed. Give me a 8 megapixel digital SLR camera, a 16 gb mp3 player, or even a blu-ray dvd player any day.

You don't need to wait for your birthday or holiday to know you're dating an insensitive prick. Trust that the signs are all around you. When you go out to eat, he picks at your plate w/o sharing his, comments on your clothes, size, eating habits, your hot sister, etc.

So, what have we learned from this publicity flub:

1. Stay away from stereotypes like this. Even after all these years men are still clueless and women are mean and materialistic.

2. Be thought this holiday season. Get people things they 'want' not necessarily what they need.

3. In this economy, don't "gift" yourself into debt. Do it Secret Santa style this holiday. Then email a list of items to the group. That way they know what you want and get what you like.

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Now playing: The Hazards - Gay Boyfriend
via FoxyTunes