Life Hackery

You know all of those helpful kitchen-related suggestions that old-timers are so willing to share with the younger generations? These little tips and tricks might be called “kitchen hacks” these days, but they’re still the same good old nuggets of wisdom that they always were. As with any old wives’ tale, hack, or tip, your mileage may vary. Some of these gems have been around for several lifetimes - and according to most grandmas, they really work.

LifeHack.org is a great site for life hacks and general hackery. They have really outdone themselves, though, in 2008 … pick the one that’s right for you and jump straight to the article!

The first one is perhaps the most general … advice on letting go. This is, perhaps, the most overlooked part of starting a new year. Most people consider what their new goals are and how to achieve them but it is arguably equally important to know how to let go of guilt, revenge, resentment and other negative emotions that can be a barrier to moving on.

The second is more specific … advice on writing out goals. A lot of people consider the specific goals they want to accomplish in the new year such as losing weight, spending more time with family and so on. However, it can also be useful to write out a more general mission statement about the core goals, states of mind and other basics. Arguably, this kind of list should come first!

Finally, here is some very specific advice for using a blog to accomplish goals. There are a lot of reasons to become a blogger, and not just to get out thoughts or make money. Rewards can include: developing yourself as a writer, networking and creating a living portfolio of your work. Blogging isn’t for everyone, but more and more people are attaching blogs to their businesses, hobbies and lives.

When it comes to useful software, iGoogle is at the same time very well-known and very often overlooked. iGoogle - Google’s customizable home page - isn’t a completely original idea; instead, it builds on the home-page concept made popular by services like Netvibes.

What is different about iGoogle is its ability to be customized and personalized. It doesn’t just let you customize the content - it begs to be customized. You can make multiple tabs, name them, and fill them with whatever gadgets appeal to you. Weather, time, to-do, favorite videos, RSS feeds, news headlines, a weight tracker, daily vocabulary word…the list goes on and on. Between Google-made gadgets and those made by users, the list will only keep expanding.

Why is this important for you? This is one of the best free organizational software tools we’ve seen in a while. It can help you keep your personally important information all in one place so that you’re not visiting multiple sites and getting distracted every morning - simply sit down and catch up via your iGoogle home page. You can even write little notes for yourself about things that need to be done that day.

The header on your iGoogle page is a scene that you choose from a list, and it changes as the time of day changes. The themes also display seasons, and some even have cute Easter eggs if you watch closely.

iGoogle may not change your life, but if it can make you just a little more organized or prevent internet wandering long enough for you to do what you need to do, then your day will have been improved just a little. Not only will it keep you on track - it’s just plain fun to use and pretty to look at. What more could you ask for in a home page?

Not long ago, having a television in your home was almost a requirement for every American family. Now, many households are giving up the TV (or just the cable) for various reasons. Some want to save money, some are unhappy with the quality of programming, and still others want to avoid the constant barrage of commercial advertisements.

If you are interested in giving up your TV (or your cable subscription) but you have a few shows that you just can’t stand to miss, there are several options for you. Some are free, some are not, but all are legal alternative ways to enjoy TV.

1. Netflix. Yes, it seems cliche to put Netflix at the top of the list. The fact is, though, that their services are affordable, reliable, and now provide streaming video from the site.

2. Worldwide Media Project. A site providing streaming video stations from around the world. It gives users the ability to suggest new stations. The selection is somewhat limited at this point, but the site has great potential.

3. Fancast. A great site that offers full-length TV shows, movie clips, and trailers.

4. MyEasyTV. Over 3000 internet TV channels.

5. Surf The Channel. A website that scours the internet to bring you the best in internet TV. The best part: they refer all would-be donations to Cancer Research because “they need the cash.” Aww.

6. Network TV websites. Many networks offer online versions of their first-run shows right after they air on TV.

7. Joost. Ah, Joost. The internet community is at odds over this free TV site - you either love it or you hate it. Joost is the lovechild of Kazaa and Skype, and will soon be bringing you shows from several major networks.

There are many more out there, so let us know - how do you get your free TV fix?

If you work primarily from your computer (or computers) you’ve no doubt got a huge number of papers, files, notes, and various pieces of information that you need to store. If you’re like most people, you spend way too much time trying to locate and organize everything so that it’s readily available but not in your way.

If you collaborate with others on projects, the problem of file storage gets even more complicated. Everyone working on the project needs real-time access to the files.

Online file storage solutions are the perfect way to keep everything you need within easy access, even when you work from a different location or computer. Here (in no particular order) are ten of the best ways to organize, store, and share your files online.

1. Basecamp. This online collaboration tool allows you to set different permissions for users on different projects and define milestones and to-do lists.

2. GoDaddy. Featuring plans from $7/year to $20/year, GoDaddy is basically an online network drive that lets you store up to 2,000 MB.

3. Box. There are options for individuals, businesses, and enterprises to store, share, and collaborate.

4. MediaMax. Store music, photos, videos, and files. Get 25 MB free, or sign up for a paid account for up to 100 GB of storage.

5. AllMyData. Unlimited storage for one price, or get 1 GB for free.

6. Scribd. Free unlimited storage for files. Also, publish, share, and embed your files anywhere.

7. Savefile. A free and simple service offering uploads of up to 60 MB. This is a great way to share files without resorting to emailing them.

8. iStorage. Pricier than the rest, but iStorage offers a multi-layer support system for uploading, storing, and sharing files.

9. FileSend. Simple, uncomplicated, and free file sending up to 120 MB.

10. OmniDrive. With a wealth of features and a friendly interface, OmniDrive offers 1 GB on free accounts and unlimited storage on Pro accounts.