Sell Off Old Gadgets with Ease with Gazelle.com

Gazelle.com, a Boston-based company, bills itself as an environmentally friendly and lucrative way to discard old electronics (functional and otherwise). The company will actually pay you for unwanted cell phones, video game systems, iPods, and the like. Read more

Learn About Hybrid Cars and Fuel Cell Technology at the Ongoing SciCafe Series

We’re all about promoting the geeky, and since geek is the new chic, those pasttimes once deemed “socially unacceptable” have become the norm and are popping up everywhere.  Tis the case for the continuing science lecture series at the American Museum of Natural History, SciCafe. Read more

Naked Apartments: Giving Renters the Power to Find the Perfect NYC Apartments

Every time I have to search for an apartment I get this huge rush that washes over me as if I was 5 years old all over again and got into a brand new bag of Oreo’s. But just like that sugar high, apartment searching is fun for about 15 minutes and then you want to throw your laptop out the window with every Craigslist posting that swears you can live on the UES for $500 a month. Read more

Real New Yorkers: Using Social Media to Tap into the Job Market

Kristin Davie spent months unemployed after graduating from her New York college in May of 2009 and now is back out on the job hunt once again.

Even though Kristin has made the wise choice of living with her parents while working in New York City, she had to spend nearly $300 a month just on transportation costs alone, in addition to student loans and the costs of owning a car. Once she found herself unemployed yet again, Kristin took another look at her expenses and cut back wherever she could.

“Instead of buying $5 cups of coffee at Starbucks, I make my own,” explained Kristin. “I run around the block instead of paying for a gym membership and I volunteer to be the designated driver rather than opening a tab at the bar.”

With the support of her parents, Kristin was able to come up with a budget that worked with her and was even able to get some input from her parents on the decision. Cutting back mostly on entertainment and dining out costs, Kristin has also made the choice to not own a credit card.

“I’ve never owned a credit card – the damage I could inflict literally frightens me and I have no plans to get one for now,” said Kristin.

The thought of not owning a credit card may actually have others frightened, but Kristin insists that only spending what she has and staying organized has worked the best for her financially.

Kristin’s finances may be under control while she’s looking for a job, but the one thing that concerns her the most is living without health insurance. Unsure of how she’ll deal without insurance, Kristin, like so many other unemployed New Yorkers, is left “crossing my fingers in the meantime.”

Being no stranger to the unemployed life, Kristin loves to offer up advice to any New Yorkers who are recently employed. The biggest aspect of her job search? Social media.

“I’ve found Twitter to be a great asset in the job search and perhaps the most powerful networking tool available to job-seekers today,” said Kristin.

Other social networks she spends most of her job searching on include Mediabistro, Linkup and Ning networks like the 405 Club. Kristin believes that job-seekers should turn themselves into social media experts by looking out for popular sites such as foursquare and taking advantage of them to aid in the job search.

“There are countless platforms that job-seekers can become familiar with to aid them in their search,” said Kristin. “It won’t be long before foursquare and other applications are household names like Twitter [and] job-seekers should jump on the bandwagon before it takes off without them.”

While foursquare may not seem like a place for job-seekers, Kristin explains that it is important in today’s economy for each professional to create a brand to stand out.

“Job-seekers should think of themselves as a personal brand and be prepared to actively engage employers,” said Kristin. “The most dynamic and proactive users will have the most success.”

Besides branding, social media can also help keep you sane while searching the same job boards day after day. Blogging has helped Kristin a lot during her time as an unemployed New Yorker, and she’s  been able to do more than just “rant.”

“It’s comforting to know that I’m not alone and I enjoy knowing others read my blog and feel the same way,” said Kristin. “[Plus] blogging has also opened up a lot of doors for me, whether through additional writing opportunities or invitations to interview.”

For job-seekers, the best part of using social media is that most of it is free of charge. Anyone can search Twitter, Facebook, LinkedIn, etc. for no charge at all, while still staying ahead of the game.

“A solid understanding of social media is extremely sought after in the market today,” said Kristin. “Job-seekers would do well to start a blog of their own and develop Twitter lists tailored to their industry [as] a great place to start!”

To learn more about this social media obsessed PR professional, catch up with Kristin on her blog here : http://capandgowncountdown.wordpress.com/

5 Confusing Unemployment Questions Answered

So you’re jobless.  Laid-off.  Maybe you even effed up and got fired, but hey, it’s a recession — just say you were laid off anyway. Or maybe you’re currently employed, in which case, consider yourself blessed and read this anyway since losing a job at any minute is always a possibility.  Read more

5 Fun Things to do in NYC for $5 or Less

The 5 for $5 is a recurring series that highlights some awesome things you can do for $5 or less in NYC.  In past editions, we’ve covered live improv shows, drag queen hosted poetry nights, and gallery talks at NYC museums.  This edition, though, we bring you a little more grit with live music, pseudo-educational lectures, and booze-induced movie marathons.  Enjoy.

1.  Spelling bee at Pete´s Candy Store

Not only is this event free, but if you place first, you´ll come out with a $20 bar tab.  Every Monday, fully grown adults stand on stage and try to outspell each other in progressively more difficult rounds.  The more timid or dyslexic can enjoy it from the sidelines.  Sign-up starts at 7:00pm and the competition begins a half hour later.

2.  “Movie Bowl” at Brooklyn Bowl

Watching movies at bars is not unlike watching sports at bars:  the camaraderie of collective enjoyment is as rewarding as the thing being watched.  Not only is the film free, but with pints at $2, you can knock back a couple or be absolutely out of control and go $1 over budget for a third.

3.  Percussion Weekend

If you think there aren’t all sorts of deep thoughts running through a vacant-eyed drummer’s head, you´ve probably never been schooled in ´Percussion Philosophy,´ one of numerous seminars and musical events on the bill for ‘Percussion Weekend’ starting Feb. 19.  Sponsored by NYU and the Percussive Arts Society, the festival kicks off (wait, is that a percussion pun?) with an under-29 snare drum competition on Friday evening, and continues until Sunday.  100% free.

4.  “Adult Ed” lecture series

For $5, enjoy this quirky “useless lecture series” at Union Hall in Park Slope.  Past themes have included “Technology for Good, Evil, and Otherwise”; the next one will discuss “Animal Minds, Animal Bodies” (sample lecture: “Why You Want a Monkey: The Psychology of Primates Owning Primates.”)  Held on intermittent Tuesday evenings; check the website (adult-ed.net) for the full calendar.

5.  Barge Music

What’s cooler than hearing great music performed on a stationary barge in the East River?  That’s right, nothing.  Maybe you’re skeptical now, but when you watch the glittering Manhattan skyline in the boat’s big bay window bob up and down in rhythm, you’ll know what I mean.  “Barge Music” holds at least one free show each month (the next one is on March 27 at 1pm)  The program is unannounced beforehand, but consider the surprise part of the fun.  The barge is located at Fulton Ferry Landing under the Brooklyn Bridge.

Free Short Stacks at IHOP

It’s that time again.  National Pancake Day is upon us and on Tuesday, February 23rd, score a free short stack of buttermilk pancakes at IHOP between 7am to 10pm.  If you don’t know the drill by now, here it is: Read more

Learning a Language for No Money Down

I have this crazy theory where one day in the not-too-near future we´ll all go around with chips in our brains that will enable us to automatically translate spoken foreign languages. Imagine how different walking down Canal Street is going to be! But until then, we´re stuck learning the old-fashioned way – or in the case of language-learning software, the not-so-old fashioned way. Many such programs on the market are inaccessibly expensive, but Mango Languages – available for free in New York Public Libraries – provides a worthy alternative.

Mango is sleek, efficient, and comprehensive. At first glance, its range of languages and lessons is daunting, but then again, tackling a foreign tongue usually is. Currently, it offers a ‘Complete’ version (designed for long-term mastery of a language) in nine languages and a ‘Basic’ edition (recommended for those who need a ‘just get by’ crash course) for twenty-two different dialects (including some rather obscure ones.) Since I´ve always wanted to learn it, I took the Russian version of Mango Complete for a spin. The software progresses logically over a span of 100 lessons, using mock conversations and hypothetical settings as a basis for instruction.  In this case, it starts with “Introductions” and concludes with “At the Pharmacy, Part III.”  (Evidently, buying aspirin represents the highest level of Slavic linguistic skills. This lesson also teaches how to say, “You may get dressed now,” which is a phrase that may be useful in more places than just the pharmacy.)

Anyway, back to the point: within each lesson are several dozen instructional “slides.” Mango sometimes lingers too long on simple points, but the software lets you move forward and back at your own pace, so it shouldn’t be much of a problem for rapid learners. While the teaching method is mostly verbal, crisp, clear audio pronunciations and narrations of English text accompanying the slides are a welcome addition, especially when it comes to oral pronunciation, one of the biggest hurdles of independent language study.

Visually, Mango is rather Spartan. There are no pictorial aids or graphic adornments; the interface is more like a series of hyperlinked, audio-programmed flash cards. Which is to say, it´s a thorough method for acquiring language skills, but it’s probably best for the highly self-motivated.

Mango Basic is more visually striking. This helps compensate for the occasional tedium of language study, but in this case, there´s no time to lapse into tedium. The Basic lessons are decidedly to the point, offering brief instruction in the all-important “Greetings” and the ever-useful “Do you speak English?”

Mango, to its credit, recognizes the intertwining of language and culture and tries to prevent its students from setting out into, say, Pakistan making all sorts of awkward or life-periling faux pas. Succinct cultural lessons – when to say what, how to address whom, etc. – are smoothly integrated into the slides.

The software might be short on bells and whistles (considering the complexity of mastering a second language, this is not necessarily a drawback) but it’s thorough, and those with patience  will probably find it eminently useful.  One thing Mango lacks (along with all language-learning software) is the ability to dialogue.  But in New York, Babel city that it is, there’s plenty of opportunity outside the library.  Now head down to Brighton Beach and get naked in a pharmacy.

Photo credit:  dogmadic via Stock Xchng

Four Amazing and Money Saving iPhone Apps!

5 Financially Savvy Steps to Popping ‘The Question’

Getting hitched can make your bank account bleed Benjamins.

The hemorrhage begins with the proposal, as you seek the most unexpected and exciting way to ask your intended if he or she is willing to take the plunge. Billboards, JumboTrons and banners towed by a Cessna are all popular approaches to popping the question. (Cliché, yes, but popular nonetheless.) And they can leave you broke before you say “I do.”

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