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Just as a quick note, I’ve renamed the “Wednesday Weekly” posts to “Wednesday Reads.”  I think the newer title fits a little better.

One of the articles I highlight in today’s post is about Google’s Picasa using facial recognition software.  It’s definitely a cool and useful concept but it makes you wonder what will be next?  Will camera come installed with such software and will they automatically “tag” your pictures as soon as you take them?  The tech world never ceases to amaze me.  Now, onto the articles.

• Didn’t think it could get much better?  Google’s Picasa Web Albums are now able to incorporate facial recognition tools.
• If you hate paying an absorbent amount of money for event tickets, you should try TicketFlow.
• The world is getting closer to having a free education system – and the most premiere universities are leading the way.
• Social networking can be out of control sometimes but these 20 tips from MakeUseOf can really help out.
• Here is one way to save money: take the “Quit Shopping” challenge.
• Summer can be a stressful time for recent college graduates.  If you just graduated, you may want to check out this resource for landing on your feet.

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I came across a lot of great articles/websites this week but the few below are the gems out of the group.  Enjoy!

• If you’re struggling with creating or sticking to your budget, check out these two links: Make Your Budget Successful and Control Your Income and Expenses.
• Didn’t think that you could have a money-free weekend?  Try again.
• Being productive isn’t easy so try out these 5 tips to get started in the right direction.
• What’s the Cost? is a great website to try and find out how much you’re exactly going to pay on many interest-related items.
• Tired of using Ticketmaster to get your event tickets?  Look no further than these four great alternatives.
• I think we all need to write better notes so you should definitely check out these 50 ways to improve your note taking.
• If you don’t think that you have enough time to be productive, check out these 10 ways to be productive in 10 minutes.

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Ah, finally.  It’s been a long time since I have published a “Wednesday Weekly” and it’s good to be back into blogging.  As I was on my sabbatical, I realized that I often become too wordy, especially in my posts that are intended to be short.  So, that being said, my Wednesday Weekly posts will consist of various articles I’ve found helpful, summarized in one sentence.  The less I say, the better the article will be.

• Nutrition Toolbox is a great resource to investigate the nutrition facts of practically any food you’re eating, including various fast food selections.
• Rob Lieber at the  New York Times wrote an interesting article on taking a “Fiscal Health Day.”
• TipNut is a great website to find tips on pretty much anything, including homemade recipes for cleaning supplies and other expensive chemicals.
• Want to save money?  Quit shopping.
• It’s actually fairly simple to get “truly free” stuff.
• If you often have a problem with finding the cheapest price for an item online, you should try Milo.
• When the going gets tough in the corporate world, the tough know how to promote.

Have you stumbled across any good blogs, websites, or articles this past week?  If so, share them with us in the comments!

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Once again, I’m sorry for the late post of the Wednesday Weekly.  School and work have been pretty hectic this week and I didn’t get a chance to get everything organized like I wanted.  Here are a few of the articles that peaked my interest this week.

• It’s a tough time financially for a lot of people, especially since unemployment continued to climb in March.  Wired Magazine asked it’s readers if the recession could be used as a bargaining chip to save you some money.  There are some pretty interesting responses and thoughts.  (Wired)
• Although it’s been around for awhile, the excitement over Google Health is starting to ramp up.  The site allows you to store all of your medical information and records online in an easy-to-use interface that is secure.  MakeUseOf created a nice article giving an overview of the site and its features.  (MakeUseOf)
• A lot of folks would like to become better in certain areas and “round out” their expertise, whether its relating to technology, cooking, or books.  Trent of The Simple Dollar wrote a nice article on how to become a Jack of All Trades.  There are some good tips contained within and its a good starting point for anyone interested in expanding their abilities.  (The Simple Dollar)
• Teens can be hit especially hard by the recession, mostly because companies want to give jobs to experienced workers and not someone who is new to the field.  MakeUseOf recognized this and created a great article on how teens can make money online.  Plus, their tips are useful for adults too!  (MakeUseOf)
• Criticism.  The word just sounds bad.  Well, it doesn’t have to be negative.  Criticism can be a good thing, especially when you accept it with the correct mindset.  If you need to get better at handling criticism, check out this article that gives some tips on handling it positively.  (CopyBlogger)
• Comsumer Reports did an awesome article on ways to save at the supermarket.  If you incorporate the tips listed into your weekly shopping trip, you could save a load of money throughout the year. (Consumer Reports)
• Bad customer service is pretty inevitable.  On the other hand, there are some ways that you can prevent bad customer service and turn it into a positive interaction.  Money Smart Life gives eight tips to improve your bad customer service experiences.  (Money Smart Life)
• A lot of people have misconceptions about money.  It’s a concept that changes throughout life and needs to be mastered early to reap the rewards of positive money management.  Check out this article on three misconceptions about moneythat could really lead you down the wrong path.  (Stepcase Lifehack)

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Happy belated April Fools to everyone.  I apologize for not posting my weekly links on the normal day but I was pretty bogged down yesterday.  Nonetheless, I’ve decided to post them today.  Enjoy!

• FatWallet has just gotten better.  The website now has an integrated coupon search for their readers to enjoy.  I would definitely check it out each time you make an online purpose.  It will definitely keep more money in your pocket.  (Lifehacker)
• There are tons of diet and weight loss methods but most of them rarely work.  Check out what Dumb Little Man did to lose 70 pounds.  He offers some great tips and pointers for anyone who is trying to lose weight or just become healthier.  (Dumb Little Man)
• Ah, Facebook.  You either love it or hate it.  It can be used as a great “stalking” tool but the new design can be a bit overwhelming at times.  Mashable takes care of this with an awesome article about navigating and customizing the new Facebook.  (Mashable)  Editor’s Note:  If you like Mashable, they just released an iPhone app.  Check it out!
• Believe it or not, I think learning is fun.  Learning at your own pace and at your leisure is the best, though.  If you’re interested in learning more about any topic, check out this list of 10 places to go for your free online education.  There are some great resources listed and I’m keeping this article on my list for the summer.  (Lifehacker)
• I’m going to cut to the chase here…I would love for you to share my blog and my blog posts with other people.  Figure out how to do that by reading this article on sharing content.  Thanks.  (Mashable)
• Craigslist is probably one of the most popular websites out there and you can find a ton of great stuff at great bargains.  However, Craigslist can feel a bit limiting at times.  If you want to expand your Craigslist skills, try using these 5 tools that MakeUseOf highlighted this week.  (MakeUseOf)
• There are some great ideas floating around in the comments section of a Lifehacker article asking readers what isn’t worth paying for during a recession.  User generated tips are some of the best!  (Lifehacker)
• Just a heads up: April is National Financial Literacy Month so I’m going to be writing a lot of financial articles (more than normal) and sharing a lot of financial blog posts this month.  Check out the article to find out more.  (Generation X Finance)
• Summer is almost here and you know what that means?  Vacation time!  Vacations can often be painfully expensive but if you do your research, you can definitely save.  Get Rich Slowly has a few resources that you can check out before you decide to book your upcoming vacation.  (Get Rich Slowly)
• Since I’ve started working out and eating healthier, I have found a great interest in articles that highlight healthy eating.  This article lets readers know what to eat in order to reduce your size around the waistline.  (No, “nothing” is not the answer…)  (Yahoo! Health)

What interesting articles have you read this week?  Share them with everyone in the comments section!

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I have a lot of catching up to do on my RSS feeds but I have read a few articles this week that have peaked my interest.  Here they are…

• J.D. from Get Rich Slowly reviewed an article from This Old House that details 50 money saving ideas to do around the house.  There are some great ideas on this list and is a must read for any home owner!
•  A lot of people don’t know how their daily lives affect their brain and how well they think.  Best Online Colleges released a list of 50 ways to improve your brain’s performance.  If you’re looking to get more accomplished at work, home, or school, this would be a great place to start!
• I think we’d all like to get a better deal on what we buy, whether it’s something small or something large.  Lifehacker released a list of 10 tips to get a better deal no matter what you’re buying.  There are some great pointers on the list that I will definitely put into action.
• One of the greatest feelings is when you buy something on the cheap, especially during a big sale.  SmartMoney.com highlighted the best time to buy certain items, including airplane tickets and computers.  If you’ve been wanting something, you may learn to hold off for a few more days to get it at a reduced rate.
• Want to learn more about your finances and the economy?  Check out this list of free online finance courses, most of which are brought to you from leading universities across the country.

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I found a lot of great articles this week to fill my time.  Below are some of the best articles I found.  Enjoy them!

• Always want to know some “best practices” that others have benefited from?  Look no further.  Google manages an awesome website where you can give a tip and take a tip.  There are tons of tips on here for almost anything and is a great place to look if you are looking to improve anything. (Which we all should…)
  

  Yes, this is an Abe Lincoln face made with Scrabble tiles and board

• The Simple Dollar highlights a few ways to grow a big, healthy emergency fund by doing a few things a bit different each day.  If you are interested in growing your savings/emergency fund, this would be a great place to get some more information.
• We all need a reminder from time to time of how we shouldmanage our money compared to how we actually do.  Take a look at Get Rich Slowly’s “25 Financial Rules of Thumb” if you are interested in getting things back on track financially.
• Going away for Spring Break this year?  Check out this list of Spring Break money savers from Money Smart Life.
• It always frustrates me to find that my favorite board games are not available online.  It’s a good thing that MakeUseOf is now going to save me some hassle in the future.  Check out their article detailing some locations for Monopoly, Scrabble, Risk, and much more!

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I’ve had the pleasure of reading a lot of great articles over the past week.  Here are a few of the best…Enjoy!

• Leo Babauta of Zen Habits addresses the issue of “Can’t Get No Satisfaction” Syndrome and includes 10 ways to overcome it.  For those of you who are struggling with being content right now in your life, this is a great read.
• I think we all struggle with getting out of bed in the morning, even if you’re a morning person or just got  12 hours of sleep the night before.  Geekdad from Wired.com create a list of 10 things to help you get out of bed in the morning.  There are some great ideas on this list…I’ll just have to try them!
• My Two Dollars provides a list of tools and resources you can use online in order to save some dough!  The article covers ways to nab free shipping, how to find the lowest price online without having to search 40 different sites, and much more.
• J.D. from Get Rich Slowly outlines a few essential money-managing skills during the tough economy.  If you’re interested in managing your money better, especially now, this is a great place to start or to expand your knowledge a bit more.
• We all have a list, whether its hand written or mental, of things that we need to get done.  Well, here is a list a of 7 tricks that you can use to spice up your to-do list.

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I found a lot of interesting articles this week and have listed a few of the best below…Enjoy!

• MakeUseOf.com posted an article on 5 video how-to websites that don’t confuse you even more.  If you’re interested in learning more about any topic, check out their post and the sites they’ve reviewed.
• Bonanzle is one of the hottest online marketplaces now, combining eBay with social networking.  Bonanzle’s mission is to be “the simplest marketplace online, with an upbeat community that makes buying and selling fun again.”
• Like to read magazines?  Save some dough and read them online using Google Books.  Simply type in the magazine you wish to take a look at and you’ll be able to see the current issue and past issues.  The selection isn’t astounding quite yet but it will only get better over time.
• Blogger Chris Brogan came up with a list of 57 websites and tools to take a look at while you’re surfing the Internet.  The topics range from learning to finance.  There are some great resources here.
• Tired of getting horrible customer service?  Read this article about Twitter and the business world to find out how you may be able to improve a majority of your customer service experiences.

If you’re interested in receiving articles such as those highlighted above on a day-to-day basis, subscribe to the RSS feeds of MakeUseOf.com and Mashable.com.  If you need an RSS reader, try Google Reader for free.

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I’ve been doing a lot of scouring this week for useful articles and websites. Here is a summary of what I’ve found…

• If you’re interested in finding some interesting freeware for your Windows-based computer, check out this list of 51 essential and free pieces of software for your computer.
• Copyblogger.com has a great article on how to get people to say “yes” to you no matter the situation.  The article covers six methods and could be very useful to sales people and those who are looking to have more influence on their peers.
• If you’ve recently begun using RSS feeds or have no idea what to subscribe to, use this nifty website, SuggestRSS, to figure out what would be most interesting for you.
• TIME recently released a list of the 25 best financial blogs to read.  Unfortunately ericalpin.com did not make the list but the websites listed are definitely very useful.
• The new semester is beginning to college students and there are a lot of programs and resources that can help a student make it through in an easy, less stressed fashion.  Online College has released a list of 69 tools that can help students both in the classroom and out of the classroom.
• Lifehack.org recently posted an article on killing your clutter in 5 minutes.  Since we all have some sort of clutter lying around, I thought we could all benefit from this article.

Enjoy!

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