"Bring it back again, play my track again." -Rihanna
Declutter by digitizing those stacks of old records, VHS tapes, and snapshots
Revive your records: Ion Audio's LP Dock ($250, ion-audio.com) looks like a record player. But plug in your iPod or PC, and the turntable spins the tracks on your LPs into digital files and stores them on your MP3 player or computer. Rather have someone else do the work? Send your platters to the pros at Reclaim Media (reclaimmedia.com), who for about $10 per record will transfer your vinyl to MP3s or CDs and then mail back the whole shebang.
Convert your cassettes: Want "Let's Get Physical" to get digital? Save your Olivia Newton-John tapes and your money with a DIY solution: Insert your cassette into any old tape player, plug one end of a stereo cable (ask the punk at RadioShack to point it out) into its headphone jack, and plug the other end into the microphone jack on your laptop or desktop. Then hit play on the tape player and record in a free audio program, such as Audacity (download it at audacity.sourceforge.net) or GarageBand (standard equipment on most new Macs).
Preserve your pics: Snapshots can't bring back fond memories when they're stuffed in a Nine West box under your bed. Transfer photos, negatives, and slides into your computer with the Epson Perfection V500 scanner ($250, epson.com), which automatically corrects problems like scratches and restores color to faded photos. (Bonus: It works as an all-purpose scanner, too.) Or hire ScanDigital (from 48 cents per photo, scandigital.com). They'll save the results on a disc and post them to an online gallery so you can reminisce and share with family and friends at the click of a mouse. And yes, they mail your precious dinosaurs, er, originals back.
Make over your movies: If you've still got a VCR in storage or on your TV console (really?!), just connect the Pinnacle Video Transfer ($130, pinnaclesys.com)--a black box about the size of a deck of cards--to your VCR and your MP3 player or other hard drive. Press play on the VCR and record on the gadget and it starts converting your movies to MPEG-3-quality video (in non–geek speak: really freaking good). You can outsource this task, too, either by sending tapes to YesVideo (about $30/tape, yesvideo.com) or dropping them off at one of its partner stores, such as Costco or Walgreens.
Trade moldy media for new electronics: Send your old CDs and DVDs with the original cases and booklets to feedyourplayer.com's South Carolina office, and they'll put the collection's perceived value toward an electronic item of your choice--from iPods to flatscreen TVs. You can get a shiny new 8 GB iPod Touch for 150 CDs.
AND...Recycle your old electronics responsibly. Check out Earth911.com and MyGreenElectronics.com to make sure you are recycling with a reputable dealer.
Friday, September 19
Cool v Warm Skin Tone
"I should tell you I'm feelin'' yo skin tone, You lookin'' just like a precious gem stone." -Lil Wayne
Ok, so here's the scoop. I can never remember this so I thought I'd put it somewhere I will always be able to find it, as will you. Cool v warm skin tone.
Look at the veins on the inside of your wrist: If they're blue, skin is cool and pale pinks will look great. If they're more green, skin is warm, so peaches and nudes will look pretty!
Ok, so here's the scoop. I can never remember this so I thought I'd put it somewhere I will always be able to find it, as will you. Cool v warm skin tone.
Look at the veins on the inside of your wrist: If they're blue, skin is cool and pale pinks will look great. If they're more green, skin is warm, so peaches and nudes will look pretty!
A Bit of Give and Take
"You want it, I got it." -T.I.
Freecycle: Join communities working toward landfill extinction. Post things you don't need and scroll for stuff you don't have. Membership is free, as is everything on the site.
Swaporamarama: Where old clothes become art. Join up, trade unloved duds and learn from local artists how to make them hip.
Throwplace: Do good without having to do much work. List items you want to "throw" to any U.S. or international charities; interested recipients can contact you about pickup.
Freecycle: Join communities working toward landfill extinction. Post things you don't need and scroll for stuff you don't have. Membership is free, as is everything on the site.
Swaporamarama: Where old clothes become art. Join up, trade unloved duds and learn from local artists how to make them hip.
Throwplace: Do good without having to do much work. List items you want to "throw" to any U.S. or international charities; interested recipients can contact you about pickup.
Grass Is Greener
"But the grass was much greener on the other side." -Marques Houston
Want steak without guilt? Go against the grain-fed beef sources
eatwild.com: A state-by-state directory of more than 800 pasture-based farms, including farms that ship meat if you can’t find any in your area.
eatwellguide.org: An online directory of thousands of family farms, restaurants, and stores selling sustainably-produced meat, dairy, and eggs. Grass feeding isn’t required for all outlets listed (though many do), so check descriptions.
chefscollaborative.org: Search for restaurants or producers offering sustainable foods, including grass-fed meats, in your area.
americangrassfed.org: The website of the American Grassfed Association, it lists all of the organization’s member farmers by state and types of meat or milk they produce.
grasslandbeef.com: The U.S. Wellness Meats online store offers 55 different cuts of grass-fed meat.
americangrassfedbeef.com: This site offers a monthly buying club that lets you choose which types of beef they mail and credits your 12th month free.
lacensebeef.com: A recipe section includes suggestions by their master chef to make the most of your buy.
tallgrassbeef.com: The online store sells combo packs for special events—everything from a brand-your-own steaks party pack to a summertime grill pack.
Want steak without guilt? Go against the grain-fed beef sources
eatwild.com: A state-by-state directory of more than 800 pasture-based farms, including farms that ship meat if you can’t find any in your area.
eatwellguide.org: An online directory of thousands of family farms, restaurants, and stores selling sustainably-produced meat, dairy, and eggs. Grass feeding isn’t required for all outlets listed (though many do), so check descriptions.
chefscollaborative.org: Search for restaurants or producers offering sustainable foods, including grass-fed meats, in your area.
americangrassfed.org: The website of the American Grassfed Association, it lists all of the organization’s member farmers by state and types of meat or milk they produce.
grasslandbeef.com: The U.S. Wellness Meats online store offers 55 different cuts of grass-fed meat.
americangrassfedbeef.com: This site offers a monthly buying club that lets you choose which types of beef they mail and credits your 12th month free.
lacensebeef.com: A recipe section includes suggestions by their master chef to make the most of your buy.
tallgrassbeef.com: The online store sells combo packs for special events—everything from a brand-your-own steaks party pack to a summertime grill pack.
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