By Nicole G.

They say the most valuable asset a volunteer can give is their time. Yet in most cases, time is the hardest thing to give. Everyday our lives are moving faster than ever. With the holidays approaching, allotting time between work, friends, family, errands and responsibilities is hard. That’s why Infinite Family has paired technology with charity to make giving back easy.

Infinite Family founder, Amy Stokes, witnessed the devastation caused by HIV and AIDS, while adopting her son in Africa. Realizing how many African children were orphaned and sent off to live without plans their future, she decided to make a change.

As a working mother herself, she realized that many people want to help but just don’t have the time or resources to dedicate to traveling abroad. Infinite Family is an online mentoring service that connects volunteers in foreign countries to at-risk youth in Africa. By participating in the program, these children not only receive much needed mentoring and an adult role model, but also gain essential job seeking computer skills for later in life.

Infinite Family gives these kids hope and guidance.  Volunteers are asked to dedicate only 30 minutes of their time, once a week to chat with their chosen child. Technology is changing the way we see and connect with the world. In this one way, it had definitely done so for the better.

For more information about Infinite Family or to learn about becoming a mentor please visit them online at www.infinitefamily.org

By Nicole G.

There are a lot of reasons to get excited this Thanksgiving. From the roasted turkey to the family bonding, there’s much to be thankful for. Yet for some people, Thanksgiving signifies a holiday of a different kind. A shopping extravaganza! Take Black Friday for instance. While you’re at home enjoying your stuffing and gravy, there are some dedicated souls camped out in front of the local electronics retailer waiting for the clock to strike midnight. One minute past and there are deals to be had! It’s madness to some and a holiday tradition for others. So if you’re not set on the idea of spending Thanksgiving out in the cold, here’s another option. Cyber Monday.

For all you geeks out there that want to shop smart and not hard, cozy up in your favorite computer chair and check it out. Many retailers offer the same deals, if not better ones on the Monday after Turkey day. Coupon codes, discount deals and extreme markdowns can be had from the comfort of your own home. It’s amazing.  Just so you don’t get lost in the fray this Monday, here are some tips to keep your wits about you:

Make a List and Check it Twice – Organization is key. Instead of rushing around at the last minute, trying to remember if you’ve forgotten something, make a list. Keep it by the computer and give it a glance every now and then. Take notes and make revisions. Now is the time. The last thing you want to do at 12:01 Monday morning is try to find that one site with the awesome tea accessories that you found when you were supposed to be studying.

Plan of Attack- Shopping on Cyber Monday is like trying to drink from a fire hose. There are so many good deals out there that it’s easy to get overwhelmed and miss out on the things you actually want.  Before the Monday madness hits, when sites can be slow from the influx of traffic, check your favorite online shops and see what they’re offering. Create a clear picture of what you want so that when the time comes, you have a plan for success.

Budget – Don’t buy something just because it’s on sale. Your justification for buying those $400 shoes at a discount because they’re ’such a good deal’ might temporarily fool your conscience, but not your bank account. Discounts make sane people temporarily crazy. Know your limits and stick to them.

Save Smart – Coupons, coupons, coupons! There’s nothing I hate more than getting a great deal on an item and then finding out that I could have gotten it cheaper. That’s why coupon sites such as Retail Me Not, Ebates and Fatwallet are so helpful. When you’re shopping online already, there’s nothing to stop you from typing in an additional coupon code and bam you’re rewarded with free shipping or an additional 10% off. Even if retailers are offering mind-blowing discounts on an item, there’s still an opportunity for you to save a little more. Don’t pass it up.

Stay Safe - Technology is amazing. These days our cars can park themselves and our phones have better dinner suggestions than my foodie best friend. With this in mind, it’s important to make sure that you’re using a secure internet connection to make your purchases. Online identity theft is on the rise, so it’s smart to keep track of your transactions and use a credit card for payment. Many credit card companies reserve your right to dispute a charge if you don’t receive an item or if there are unauthorized charges on your account. It’s your responsibility to protect your identity, so do it.

With all the opportunities out there to save this season, don’t lose your head. It’s easy to get lost in the rush of things and come out with a lot more or a lot less than you planned. Cyber Monday can be a really great opportunity to score some awesome deals on holiday gifts, all from the privacy of your own home. So if you keep these five simple tips in mind, there’s no need to trade in your comfy sweatpants for a sleeping bag and camp chair on Thanksgiving night.

By Jacquie Benini

‘Twas the night before Comic Con & all through San Diego, the streets were filled with creatures, villains and superheroes huddled together waiting for the doors to open……
If you have never attended Comic-Con you are in for a real treat!! So many men in their leotards and capes, with their masks, light-sabers, green lanterns, force field wands and all that magical crap that transcends the world into a mythical place where unicorns are used to battle evil villains and superheroes save the world time and time again!! And everyone wondered why I go to Comic Con!

There is so much to see and do while you are here from vendors booths with comic books, collectible items and just some weird stuff that even I won’t even pretend to understand!

What I especially enjoy are all of the panels where they discuss some of your favorite tv shows, movies, video games, comics, etc. Seeing or meeting your favorite celebrities who not only come out to partake in the events, but to check it out for themselves, just like us regular folk is really cool….although I am certain they did not have to deal with the poorly designed ticket purchasing site like I did! hey Comic Con, I know an awesome agency that can make that site work for you next year!!

People watching is a favorite past time of mine and WOW, I am never disappointed at Comic Con! This really is a must see event and you must be sure to secure tickets in advance for this spectacle….I promise you will be just as mesmerized as I am!!

May the force be with you…time for me to go inside!!

GEEKS UNITE

Can you imagine leaving the house without your wallet? Technology and social innovation have caused PayPal to predict the end of the wallet but mid decade. What do you think?

PayPal has just hit a new milestone: the payments platform has more than 100 million active accounts.

The news, announced by PayPal President Scott Thompson, also comes with a bold prediction: that by 2015, the wallet will become a thing of the past.

“As the trend toward digital currency continues to gain momentum, we are focused on delivering solutions that are not just new and different, but better than what is currently the norm today,” Thompson said in a blog post.

“We believe that by 2015 digital currency will be accepted everywhere in the U.S. – from your local corner store to Walmart. We will no longer need to carry a wallet.”

To back his assertion, PayPal is launching a new campaign that will challenge five Bay area residents to only use digital currency to pay for all of their purchases — no cash allowed. It’s an intriguing campaign that could become a good marketing cool for the company.

PayPal has been on a tear in recent years, generating more and more of eBay’s total net revenues and profits. The company is expected to facilitate more than $3 billion in mobile transactions this year alone.

The payments company faces some powerful challengers, though. Google recently unveiled its mobile payment solution, Google Wallet, to the world. PayPal has sued the search giant, accusing two of PayPal’s former executives (now with Google) of stealing and sharing trade secrets.

As posted on Mashable