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Showing posts with label Holidays. Show all posts
Showing posts with label Holidays. Show all posts

A Very Special Christmas Warning From the NSA

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The National Security Agency has a very special warning for Americans celebrating Christmas this year: There's a spy on the loose and he'll be climbing down your chimney this Wednesday.
But most importantly, the NSA is relying on you to help catch him. Typical lazy government.

How to Optimize Your E-Commerce Website for Holiday Shoppers

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ShopBlack Friday, Small Business Saturday and Cyber Monday 2013 have come and gone, but the holiday shopping season has only just begun. Over the next several weeks, U.S. shoppers will be checking off their lists, and according to Shop.org, they'll be spending a projected $82 billion online this holiday season. If you're an e-commerce retailer, it's in your best interest to keep your website in tip-top shape this month.
Small e-commerce businesses, in particular, stand to gain a lot by putting themselves out there and competing with the bigger retailers during this peak selling season. Debbi Lechner, vice president of marketing for Web.com, suggested that small businesses improve their website right away in order to maximize sales.
"We know that small business owners are strapped from both a time and resource standpoint, but they want to get the most out of this busy holiday season online," she said.
SEE ALSO: How to Start an Online Business
Lechner offered the following tips for optimizing your e-commerce website for increased holiday sales:
Feature special offers and discounts on your website. Make sure that your holiday offers are featured prominently on your home page. Update your website's images, keywords and search engine optimization to help shoppers find your business in search results.
Share your holiday offers on social media. You should frequently post your special offers to your top social media sites, such as Facebook, Twitter and Pinterest. Linking your posts back to your website will promote calls and orders, and drive more traffic to your website. You will also see increased awareness and followers of your social channels when customers share your offers with their friends.
Consider pay-per-click advertising. Pay-per-click advertising is the fastest way to drive prospective customers to your website to learn about your special deals and offers. You can advertise on Google, Bing, Facebook, Twitter and more, and target your advertising on these sites to better reach your local customers. To do this, edit your existing messaging into short advertising phrases and test your responses. Make sure you measure your results to maximize your budget.
Make sure your website is mobile-optimized. Today, more and more consumers use theirmobile device when considering a purchase. Be sure to provide your prospects and customers with a good online experience, regardless of whether they are browsing via a smartphone, tablet or PC.
Be ready with your customer support. Holiday shoppers want a positive customer experience. Make your contact details easy to find on all pages of your website. You may want to consider adding temporary help to answer the additional calls, if you think you will need it. A simple answering service can ensure you don't miss a call and lets customers know you plan to get back to them quickly.

The 12 Worst Things About Going Home for the Holidays

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Grumpy-40

 Heading home for the holidays is super exciting. You imagine your sweet parents, their delicious food and your furball cat will be waiting at home, ready to greet you.
It isn't until you're actually home that the minor irritation sets in. And it isn't until the family holiday party that that irritation turns into a full-blown meltdown in the downstairs bathroom.
We share your pain. Take this list of the worst things about being home for the holidays as a token of our solidarity.

  • 1. Three words: Twin. Size. Bed.

    Twin-size-bed
    IMAGE: TUMBLR, SANGUEPOETICO

  • 2. Your mom bursting into your room at 8 a.m. to ask what you want for dinner.

    Bert-and-ernie
    IMAGE: TUMBLR, 4GIFS

  • 3. Awkwardly catching up with your parents' neighbors.

    Homer
    IMAGE: TUMBLR, LARLAR1588

  • 4. Running into people from high school at the supermarket and forcing small talk.

    Britney
    IMAGE: TUMBLR, WE-ARE-EACH-OTHER

  • 5. Perpetually needing a blanket because your parents keep the house at 10 degrees below zero.

    Blankets
    IMAGE: IMGUR, IMGUR, EMIKE93309

  • 6. Your dad harshly judging your taste in television...

    Real-housewives
    IMAGE: TUMBLR, REALITYTVGIFS

  • 7. ...even though all he wants to watch are CBS sitcoms.

    Gag
    IMAGE: TUMBLR, MISCGIFS

  • 8. Your parents asking, "Where are you going?" whenever you put on your coat.

    Mind-ya-business
    IMAGE: TUMBLR, GIFS-FOR-THE-MASSES

  • 9. Stumbling home from the bar and realizing that there are no greasy food places open after 9 p.m.

    Pizza

  • 10. Raiding the fridge only to realize that your parents have adopted a sugar-free, fat-free, delicious-free diet.

    No-food
    IMAGE: TUMBLR, GIFHUMOR

  • 11. Needing to get absolutely sloshed at the family party.

    Drinking
    IMAGE: TUMBLR, GIF-DATABASE

  • 12. Family members judging you for getting sloshed at said party.

    Deal-with-it

Coasters Express Your 4 Most Basic Emotions

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CoastersProduct Name: Chat Coasters
Price: $14.90
Who would like this?: Netspeak nuts with brand new coffee tables.
Brazilian design company Meninos has unlocked the secret to the entirety of human emotion, which can be distilled into four distinct expressions: OMG, LOL, WTF and FAIL.
Their set of four colorful, rubberized coasters expresses the essence of human communication in the Internet age while also protecting your coffee table from rings and stains. They're washable, flexible and lightweight, making them a great stocking stuffer for the holiday season.
Chat Coasters
Image: Meninos
And they're thought provoking: What expression best sums up the tale of Oedipus Rex? WTF, of course. The deaths of Romeo and Juliet? Epic fail. The ongoing saga of Toronto mayor Rob Ford? That's a great big LOL.
Seriously, think about it. Falling in love is really just one beautiful OMG moment when you realize you're smitten. WTF is a versatile expression of confusion, anger and disbelief — and in its abbreviated form it's profanity-free. And Schadenfreude is really just the pleasure you take in watching others fail.
Chat Coasters
Image: Meninos
You can get creative with these coasters, too. Use them to spark epic debates on the nature of netspeak or the origin of "Fail" as a standalone term. Subtly hint to a houseguest that her "hip" new hairdo isn't doing her any favors by assigning her the "WTF" coaster. Hold them up next to your mouth like a text bubble in Instagram snaps for super-serious social commentary. The stratosphere's the limit.
Meninos offers a range of whimsical, "fun and functional" items for tech enthusiasts such asGame Pad coasters and a strangely adorable Pulp Fiction pillow.
All of Meninos's items cost $50 or less — most are even under $20 — so you can buy them as gifts, or just stock up for yourself, guilt-free.

Cubebot Is a Puzzle for Kids and Adults Alike

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Cubebot-thumbnailProduct Name: Cubebot Puzzle
Price: $28
Who would like this?: Kids ages 12 and up, or people who want to add some fun to their desk
In a holiday market filled with figurines and ever-popular Transformers toys, parents may be looking for a less violent and more imaginative toy to put in their kid's stocking. Look no further than the Cubebot Puzzle — a cute little robot that is sure to make anyone's day, no matter what age.
Made by Areaware, this wooden sculpture comes in a small box, is folded up into a 3.5-inch cube and, with a little maneuvering, becomes a 9.5 by 13.5-inch robot companion.
What works well about Cubebot Puzzle is that the toy has a great range of movable joints and thus has a wide range of poses and motions. It is great for playtime since there are no harsh chemicals or paints used — every part of the robot is made with sanded cherry wood. The joints are held together with resilient, tear-proof elastic that is sure to hold even during the roughest play and is hidden in the joints of the robot, so it's not a choking hazard.
It is easy to pack up Cubebot and take it on the go — just fold it back into a cube and pack it away in a purse, briefcase or backpack. It even costs the same as many Transformers action figures, but without the complex, breakable pieces or the insanely complex instructions it takes to turn them back into a car.
wooden robot box
Image: Flickr, Sebastian Sälzle
For those in an office setting, the Cubebot Puzzle makes for a great conversation starter and easy desk art. Because of its simplistic design, it looks less like a toy and more like a minimalist work of art. Its range of poses allows for a new intricate position every day which makes for a good distraction from rigorous (or tedious) work, though not too distracting. It's also great for company Secret Santas or gift exchanges since it's a non-gendered item and can be used for a number of purposes.
There are also different types of Cubebot Puzzles. There are the Cubebot micros and the small Cubebot that are available in blue, green, orange, red, pink, violet, yellow and multi-colored. You can also opt for the Cubebot Guthrie or Cubebot Julien, as well.
So whether you're buying a toy to inspire imagination and experimentation for a child, or just looking for the perfect stocking stuffer for an adult in your life, the Cubebot Puzzle is sure to delight and amaze whomever you decide to give it to this holiday season. You might even be tempted to buy one for yourself.

These 24 Santas Are More Extreme Than You

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136035368_10

Riding a Motorcycle

If your first thought was that Santa joined a naughty biker gang, know that these biking santas are collecting money for "La Cabaude," a French charity that distributes toys and candy.94323710_10

Riding a Motorcycle

You can find Santa doing the same in Zurich as well.95481509_10

White Water Rafting

Other preferred modes of transport over the sleigh include: white water rafts.174276392_10

Bumping Cars

And bumper cars.156652640_10

Sack Racing

The Santa Winter Games in Gällivare, Sweden, are a sort of Santa Claus Olympics, where jolly red giants compete in events like "Porridge-eating" and a dance-off.107625807_10

Bungee Jumping

In Kuta, Bali, Santa Claus takes a break from delivering toys and jumps off a cliff.158623114_10

Surfing

Should anyone be surprised that when in Los Angeles, Santa likes to surf?158629526_10

Teaching Kids to Surf

Well, you might be surprised to learn that he also teaches lessons.452737029_10

Running Five Kilometers

The rumors of Santa being a large, fat man are largely untrue. Here, as you can see, he is clearly quite fit.457499283_10

Being a Penguin

BREAKING: Santa is actually a penguin.457507707_10

Penguins

He also feeds penguins. Who, according to the previous photo, are also him.158708036_10

Penguins

The penguins have gathered around a tree, in which Santa's likeness appears.
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Penguins

This is getting too meta.78200161_10

Riding Rollercoasters

Santa also likes roller coasters...78644754_10

Waterskiing

...and waterskiing.94323008_10

Touring Baghdad

He supports the troops.84061820_10

Skydiving

In Sydney, Santa dives out of a plane and lands in the ocean...454745371_10

Swimming with Fish

Where he joins a school of fish...457499409_10

Training Dolphins

Then, bursting out of the water in Tokyo...457817417_10

Cleaning Windows

he... cleans windows?94373230_10

Curling

When back in the cold weather, Santa likes to play curling.94930521_10

Playing Soccer

He's not very good at some sports.158716004_10

Performing with the Chicago Bulls

But he's great at others.158710163_10

Diving into Barcelona's Old Harbour

So, if you happen to be out there in the big world and see Santa doing something crazy – don't hesitate. Dive right in and join him!
If you live in New York or one of 320 other naughty cities, you probably already know that Santa Claus doesn't exactly fit neatly into his own preferred list.
But hey, the man has a stressful job, having to deliver toys and candy to all the good little boys and girls of a seven-billion-strong planet and what-not. Toss in 364 vacation days a year, and we think anyone might get a little rowdy. The important thing here is to do as Santa says, not as Santa does.
SEE ALSO: How to Track Santa Online
Of course, there are more productive ways to blow off some steam than participating in seedy bar crawls and public brawls. We’ve found some Santas who know how to properly unwind without losing any of the extremity that makes the jolly man so spontaneous and fun.

Which Gaming Console Tops Your Holiday Wish List?

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Video-game-controllers-640
For hardcore gamers and casual players alike, a new video gaming console can be the perfect holiday gift. But given the slew of options this year, it can be tough to decide on a system.
Which console is on your wish list this year? Are you hoping for a new one like the Xbox One or PlayStation 4 — or perhaps a portable option like Playstation Vita or Nintendo 3DS?

Weather Delays Travel, But Not Holiday Cheer

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Weather Delays Travel, But Not Holiday Cheer



It's that "most wonderful" time of year again: travel delays. The snow is falling and instead of snuggling up in front of a fire (or your Netflix account), you're stuck feeling like a Grinch in the middle of an airport.
But that wasn't the case for these guys, who were struck with boredom while waiting for their postponed flight home. Denver-based a capella group Face Vocal Band decided to take their misfortune as an opportunity to spread some holiday cheer.

7 Tech Habits to Adopt for the New Year

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7 Tech Habits to Adopt for the New YearTech-habits-security

1. Update Security Software Often

We all emit that groan of despair when our computers need to update their software, but in reality, it's necessary to keep them running.
If you don't update your security software frequently, it's easier to get malware or trojan horses that could steal your information and harm your computer. Most programs will schedule updates, but making it a part of your routine is helpful. Set aside 10 minutes on a less busy day to update the definitions while you wait for that pizza you ordered or before you brush your teeth.
 Harddrive

2. Schedule Back-Ups to an External Hard Drive

Let's be honest, backing up your hard drive is the last thing on your to-do list. The only thing that seems to jog your memory is when your computer refuses to turn on, and you realize you haven't backed anything up for six months -- too little, too late.
Like the security software update, make it a part of your routine. Set aside some time while watching Netflix or reading news online. If you use services such as Time Machine, you can schedule updates, but otherwise you'll have to do manually.Password

3. Stop Reusing Passwords

It's easy to fall into the habit of using the same generic password for all of your online profiles and pages, especially since writing them down is ill-advised. But having the same password for every account can put your entire online presence at risk, since a person only needs to guess correctly once to access them all.
Create passwords with numbers, letters and symbols to add diversity, and use a random password generator for a unique combination. If remembering them all is too much work, use one of these password tools.Wifi

4. Use Secure Wi-Fi Networks

The Wi-Fi from the local coffee shop, public park or bookstore seems safe enough -- but if you see a network with a dubious name (like "Free Public Wi-Fi") that doesn't require a password, you're better safe than sorry. Even if you're using a network you can trust, there are some best practices you should adopt: Use the secure browsing extension, turn off sharing and change your settings so you don't automatically log into Wi-Fi hotspots. Facebook-settings

5. Stay Up-to-Date on Your Privacy Settings

Technology is all about change, so whenever a social network undergoes a major update, the privacy settings may have also changed. This means that your once-hidden and private profile could be out in the open for others to see.
Check your own settings regularly, keep an eye out for major site changes or news of a settings update, and learn how to hide your profile again.Cracked-iphone

6. Stop Throwing Out Busted Tech

Not only is trashing your tech terrible for the environment, it's potentially dangerous for you. Old tech can still retain important information, so whoever picks up your old computer off the curb might able to grab sensitive information you thought you erased ages ago.
A much better alternative is to recycle your products. It's less convenient, but there are plenty of resources to help you.Inbox-zero

7. Keep the Clutter Off Your Computer

It's common to let emails accumulate in your inbox or leave files on your desktop. But there will come a point in time when you'll have to find key content hidden among the mess, and it will be significantly harder to find.
With some good, old-fashioned organization skills, it's possible to maintain a clutter-free digital life. For emails, answer or delete messages as soon as you can, sort them so you can find important ones faster and download productivity plugins. Save files to appropriate folders when you first create them, and delete duplicates or old files whenever you see them.


Tech habits can be particularly tough to break, especially when you interact with multiple digital interfaces everyday. But just because your bad habits are ingrained into your daily device routine, that doesn't mean they're excusable.
The beginning of a new year is the perfect time to make a change for the better in your digital day-to-day. The most important — and, perhaps, daunting — question is where to start.

 While it may not cover every tech vice currently in practice, this roundup discusses some of the most prominent and easiest to remedy. Whether you're nipping a bad habit in the bud concerning your smartphone, tablet or laptop, here are seven tech habits it's time to break in 2014.

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