For a long time, the only way to pay your fare on many Maryland public transit systems was cash. A few years ago, Maryland MTA introduced a new payment method called CharmCard. CharmCard is a reloadable, stored value payment card which allows you to prepay your fares, and then use an electronic pass on buses, subway, light rail, and more. At first, the only way to add value to these cards was to use a Ticket Vending Machine (TVM) at a major transit station or on a bus using cash.
Recently, however, Maryland MTA introduced a system to accept credit card payments online to reload CharmCards. This means now you can pay your fare with a debit or credit card before you ever leave your house, then just tap and go on your preferred transit method. The first thing you will need to do is obtain your CharmCard, which is sold at select retailers throughout Maryland and online at www.mtamaryland.com . Once you have your CharmCard, you will need to register it online at the same website. Now, you are ready to reload your card online.
Login to your account and click "Add Value or Passes." From here, you will be able to select any monthly or weekly MTA passes that you would like to buy. You can also choose to add a set dollar amount to your CharmCard instead of buying a pass. This is a good option if you are a casual user of the Maryland public transit system. From this page, you can also select whether or not you would like to automatically reload your CharmCard when it drops below a certain balance.
Once you have selected the appropriate transit fare options, you are ready to check out. The Maryland MTA accepts all major credit cards as payment on their website. Once you have made your payment, your stored value or pass product is ready to be loaded to your card. It is important to note that this loading process does not happen automatically--in order for your value to be loaded, you must tap your CharmCard on a bus or a metro faregate within 30 days. Once you tap your card, your online purchase will be automatically added and ready to use.
By following these simple steps, you can load your CharmCard with money or passes online, bypassing the lines at the ticket vending machines and allowing you to get on transit quicker and easier than ever before!
Friday, July 25, 2014
Can I Use a Straight Talk SIM Card in my T-Mobile Google Nexus 5 Phone?
A couple of months ago, I simultaneously dropped my Verizon cell phone in the toilet and shattered the screen at the same time. It sucked. This incident, however, put me in the market for a new smartphone. If you know anything about me, you know that I'm REALLY into my electronic gadgets and I'm always up-to-date on the latest phones, so I pretty much immediately knew that I wanted to get the Google Nexus 5 Android smartphone.
The Nexus 5 is the latest in Google's smartphone lineup, and you can buy it unlocked directly from the Google Play Store for $349. A good deal, but more money than I could afford to shell out at one time. I decided to search to see if I could get the Google Nexus 5 directly from one of the major cell phone carriers in order to get a subsidized price, and I settled on T-Mobile.
T-Mobile sent me the Google Nexus 5 with no money down, and a small monthly payment would be added to my regular cell phone bill until I paid off the phone and owned it outright. I will wait to get into the whole story in another blog post, but let's just say T-Mobile ROYALLY screwed up my account from the get-go, and after hours upon hours upon hours of trying to fix the issue on the phone with customer service, I finally ended up getting a credit for the purchase price of my phone and cancelled my T-Mobile service.
So now, I was left with a perfectly good Google Nexus 5 phone from T-Mobile without any service. I needed to find a SIM card in order to get my data and voice services working again. At first, I thought I would be locked into getting a SIM card compatible with the T-Mobile network, but after doing some internet research, I found out that ALL Google Nexus 5 phones are unlocked regardless of who you purchase them from, so now I could get a T-Mobile SIM card or an AT&T SIM card...either one would work in my Nexus 5.
Ultimately, I went to Walmart and bought an AT&T-compatible SIM card from Straight Talk wireless. I've found that, in my area, the AT&T network is MUCH better than the T-Mobile network, and I was happy that my Nexus 5 could accept a SIM card for either carrier. My Straight Talk wireless SIM card works absolutely perfectly in my Google Nexus 5, and I am able to get data, voice, texting, and even picture messaging on my Nexus phone with no issues. At $45 for an unlimited Straight Talk plan, I am literally paying half of what I was with Verizon, and I have an awesome phone that I love. Even though my experience with T-Mobile was abysmal, in the end, all is well that ends well I suppose.
The Nexus 5 is the latest in Google's smartphone lineup, and you can buy it unlocked directly from the Google Play Store for $349. A good deal, but more money than I could afford to shell out at one time. I decided to search to see if I could get the Google Nexus 5 directly from one of the major cell phone carriers in order to get a subsidized price, and I settled on T-Mobile.
T-Mobile sent me the Google Nexus 5 with no money down, and a small monthly payment would be added to my regular cell phone bill until I paid off the phone and owned it outright. I will wait to get into the whole story in another blog post, but let's just say T-Mobile ROYALLY screwed up my account from the get-go, and after hours upon hours upon hours of trying to fix the issue on the phone with customer service, I finally ended up getting a credit for the purchase price of my phone and cancelled my T-Mobile service.
So now, I was left with a perfectly good Google Nexus 5 phone from T-Mobile without any service. I needed to find a SIM card in order to get my data and voice services working again. At first, I thought I would be locked into getting a SIM card compatible with the T-Mobile network, but after doing some internet research, I found out that ALL Google Nexus 5 phones are unlocked regardless of who you purchase them from, so now I could get a T-Mobile SIM card or an AT&T SIM card...either one would work in my Nexus 5.
Ultimately, I went to Walmart and bought an AT&T-compatible SIM card from Straight Talk wireless. I've found that, in my area, the AT&T network is MUCH better than the T-Mobile network, and I was happy that my Nexus 5 could accept a SIM card for either carrier. My Straight Talk wireless SIM card works absolutely perfectly in my Google Nexus 5, and I am able to get data, voice, texting, and even picture messaging on my Nexus phone with no issues. At $45 for an unlimited Straight Talk plan, I am literally paying half of what I was with Verizon, and I have an awesome phone that I love. Even though my experience with T-Mobile was abysmal, in the end, all is well that ends well I suppose.
The Weekend's Almost Here!
It's Friday! Yay! After years and years of working retail & restaurant jobs where weekend work was required, I'm finally in a new job that gives me my weekends free. I'm so excited about that.
Right now, I'm a temp office worker at the corporate headquarters of a national clothing retailer. I work in the marketing department. It sounds so glamorous. In actuality they pay me to do something that a computer program could easily do. I mindlessly click around in database software all day long. The highlight of my work day is when I get to print some letters and stuff some envelopes. Unfortunately, the "fun work" only takes up an hour or two each week.
At first, it was really hard to get through the work day. But as time goes on, I guess I'm getting more and more comfortable with not having a lot of "real" work to do. It makes things pretty stress-free. Makes taking time off work not such a big deal. And it gives me time to work on the Borden's Bylines blog and connect with my readers.
So TGIF! What are your plans for the weekend? I'm going to be taking it easy. Doing a little house cleaning. Maybe trying to go on a date. And getting things organized with my AVON business. Nothing too exciting, but it sure beats the drudgery of the office.
Right now, I'm a temp office worker at the corporate headquarters of a national clothing retailer. I work in the marketing department. It sounds so glamorous. In actuality they pay me to do something that a computer program could easily do. I mindlessly click around in database software all day long. The highlight of my work day is when I get to print some letters and stuff some envelopes. Unfortunately, the "fun work" only takes up an hour or two each week.
At first, it was really hard to get through the work day. But as time goes on, I guess I'm getting more and more comfortable with not having a lot of "real" work to do. It makes things pretty stress-free. Makes taking time off work not such a big deal. And it gives me time to work on the Borden's Bylines blog and connect with my readers.
So TGIF! What are your plans for the weekend? I'm going to be taking it easy. Doing a little house cleaning. Maybe trying to go on a date. And getting things organized with my AVON business. Nothing too exciting, but it sure beats the drudgery of the office.
Thursday, July 24, 2014
39DollarGlasses.Com: Quality Glasses and Great Service
I have always been pretty good at taking care of my glasses, but I recently had an incident where I sat on my eyeglasses and broke them. I wore my contact lenses during the day, but I knew I would need to replace my glasses because I couldn't wear my contacts all the time. I didn't have a lot of money to spend on replacement glasses, so I began to search for websites that offered cheaper glasses than LensCrafters or Pearle Vision.
I came across an advertisement for a website called 39DollarGlasses.com . As the name suggests, the website offers complete pairs of glasses for just $39. I was surprised at the number of different frame choices which were available at the thirty-nine dollar price point. It wasn't just one or two styles, but a complete collection with literally dozens of choices.
I found some glasses that I liked so I decided to take a chance and place on order. I found a coupon code for $15 off 39DollarGlasses.com's already low prices, so the total price for my glasses, including shipping, was $27.98. You can't beat a deal like that-- the same pair of glasses would easily cost $150 at LensCrafters. The ordering process was straightforward--I just had to enter some numbers off of my prescription from my optometrist, and I was all set. My glasses arrived several days earlier than promised, which I was extremely pleased about.
I was surprised at the extremely high quality of the glasses and the packaging. The glasses were packed inside of a soft fabric pouch, which was placed inside a hard protective case. The glasses were sturdy and well-constructed--the prescription was exactly what I had ordered and the frames fit my face very well. I was also surprised to find a complimentary glasses screwdriver and micro-fiber cleaning cloth inside the box from 39DollarGlasses.com. Given the price I paid for the glasses, I definitely was not expecting these extras.
In the weeks since, I have continued to be very pleased with my 39DollarGlasses.com purchase. I receive compliments on my new glasses regularly, and people can't believe it when I tell them what a great deal I got on the glasses. I couldn't be happier with my purchase and I would definitely recommend 39DollarGlasses.com to anyone. With coupon codes available, these glasses are so affordable that you can get a few pairs to have on hand to suit your mood or as quick replacement glasses when needed. If you need a cheap pair of glasses, this is a website you should definitely check out.
**NOTE: Per FTC Disclosure Requirements: This is NOT a paid review. No money, free products, or consideration of any kind was received in connection with this post.
I came across an advertisement for a website called 39DollarGlasses.com . As the name suggests, the website offers complete pairs of glasses for just $39. I was surprised at the number of different frame choices which were available at the thirty-nine dollar price point. It wasn't just one or two styles, but a complete collection with literally dozens of choices.
I found some glasses that I liked so I decided to take a chance and place on order. I found a coupon code for $15 off 39DollarGlasses.com's already low prices, so the total price for my glasses, including shipping, was $27.98. You can't beat a deal like that-- the same pair of glasses would easily cost $150 at LensCrafters. The ordering process was straightforward--I just had to enter some numbers off of my prescription from my optometrist, and I was all set. My glasses arrived several days earlier than promised, which I was extremely pleased about.
I was surprised at the extremely high quality of the glasses and the packaging. The glasses were packed inside of a soft fabric pouch, which was placed inside a hard protective case. The glasses were sturdy and well-constructed--the prescription was exactly what I had ordered and the frames fit my face very well. I was also surprised to find a complimentary glasses screwdriver and micro-fiber cleaning cloth inside the box from 39DollarGlasses.com. Given the price I paid for the glasses, I definitely was not expecting these extras.
In the weeks since, I have continued to be very pleased with my 39DollarGlasses.com purchase. I receive compliments on my new glasses regularly, and people can't believe it when I tell them what a great deal I got on the glasses. I couldn't be happier with my purchase and I would definitely recommend 39DollarGlasses.com to anyone. With coupon codes available, these glasses are so affordable that you can get a few pairs to have on hand to suit your mood or as quick replacement glasses when needed. If you need a cheap pair of glasses, this is a website you should definitely check out.
Who is Robert Borden?
To those of you who know me in real life, you know that my name is not "Robert Borden." It's a pseudonym I use for my online writing. I'm not really trying to keep my identity a big secret though...if you click around enough I am quite certain the discerning reader will be able to ascertain my true identity.
But, I'd like to make it harder than just typing in my real name to find every single thing I've written online pretty much. Potential employers and absolute strangers, for example. Plus, I think that the name Robert Borden has a nice ring to it.
Initially, I began using the name Robert Borden when I wrote for the Associated Content website, which later became Yahoo Voices. Some of what I wrote for Yahoo I didn't want associated with me personally, so I thought it was best to create an "online persona." Within a year, Robert Borden became one of the top contributors to Yahoo Voices, with my articles receiving over 3,000,000 page views cumulatively.
Ultimately, I know a pseudonym for my blog doesn't 100% protect my privacy by any extent of the imagination. But, putting that additional layer of privacy there makes me feel better about really sharing openly and honestly online, which is what I want to do with this blog.
But, I'd like to make it harder than just typing in my real name to find every single thing I've written online pretty much. Potential employers and absolute strangers, for example. Plus, I think that the name Robert Borden has a nice ring to it.
Initially, I began using the name Robert Borden when I wrote for the Associated Content website, which later became Yahoo Voices. Some of what I wrote for Yahoo I didn't want associated with me personally, so I thought it was best to create an "online persona." Within a year, Robert Borden became one of the top contributors to Yahoo Voices, with my articles receiving over 3,000,000 page views cumulatively.
Ultimately, I know a pseudonym for my blog doesn't 100% protect my privacy by any extent of the imagination. But, putting that additional layer of privacy there makes me feel better about really sharing openly and honestly online, which is what I want to do with this blog.
Name Change & New Content
As many of you know, my main experience with writing for the internet has been through a website called "Associated Content," which was later bought by Yahoo! and turned into the Yahoo Voices website. For over 7 years, some of my very best writing resided on the Yahoo Voices website, and I literally made thousands and thousands of dollars just by writing about the things I love most.
Unfortunately, last month Yahoo announced they would be shutting down the Yahoo Voices website for good. This was quite the shock to me....I had always counted on Yahoo Voices to be sort of a steady writing gig for as long as I needed it. Sadly, all good things must come to an end I suppose.
All of the writing I did for Yahoo, however, is STILL really good stuff that people want to read. But it needs a new home. Luckily for you, you've found it. Over the next several months, the very best of the writing I did for Yahoo will be transferred to THIS blog where it will be available to anyone who is searching for it.
Because it is a lot of content, the direction of this blog is changing somewhat. In order to reflect the new nature of this website, I have changed the name of this blog to "Bordens Bylines" and registered my very own domain, http://www.bordensbylines.com.
This mix of a personal blog along with my semi-professional writing is new to me, but hopefully something that will be enjoyable to my readers. Keep your eyes open for lots of new original content along with some of the best content I've produced for other websites over the years. Be sure to follow the Borden's Bylines blog using your favorite RSS reader or by using the "Subscribe By E-mail" gadget on the right sidebar of this site.
Unfortunately, last month Yahoo announced they would be shutting down the Yahoo Voices website for good. This was quite the shock to me....I had always counted on Yahoo Voices to be sort of a steady writing gig for as long as I needed it. Sadly, all good things must come to an end I suppose.
All of the writing I did for Yahoo, however, is STILL really good stuff that people want to read. But it needs a new home. Luckily for you, you've found it. Over the next several months, the very best of the writing I did for Yahoo will be transferred to THIS blog where it will be available to anyone who is searching for it.
Because it is a lot of content, the direction of this blog is changing somewhat. In order to reflect the new nature of this website, I have changed the name of this blog to "Bordens Bylines" and registered my very own domain, http://www.bordensbylines.com.
This mix of a personal blog along with my semi-professional writing is new to me, but hopefully something that will be enjoyable to my readers. Keep your eyes open for lots of new original content along with some of the best content I've produced for other websites over the years. Be sure to follow the Borden's Bylines blog using your favorite RSS reader or by using the "Subscribe By E-mail" gadget on the right sidebar of this site.
Using Goo Gone to Remove Spilled Candle Wax
Spilled candle wax is one of the messiest, hardest substances to clean up. The wax is hot when it is spilled, allowing it to penetrate carpet fibers and fabric surfaces, but when it cools it hardens, making it extremely hard to remove. I have been in the candle business for many years, first working at a retail candle store at the mall, and then selling candles as a direct sales consultant for years after that. During my candle career, suffice it to say, I spilled a lot of wax that needed cleaning up.
Many people will tell you to use a hot iron over a dry towel to clean up spilled wax, but I've found that this often re-melts the wax and drives it deeper into the carpet or fabric. Other people suggest using an ice cube to freeze the wax, but I've never had any success using this method at all. Fortunately, I have found one thing that seems to work without fail.
Goo Gone is a cleaning product, widely available at grocery and "big box" stores, which is made to remove adhesive material from surfaces. Goo Gone is very cheap at just a few dollars per bottle. People commonly use Goo Gone to remove price stickers and window adhesives. What most people don't know, however, is that Goo Gone can also be used to remove spilled candle wax from carpets and fabrics.
First, you'll want to apply a small amount of the Goo Gone product to an inconspicuous area of the carpet or fabric to test for colorfastness. Once you are sure Goo Gone is safe to use on your fabric, just apply the product liberally to the waxy area and then wait for the product to work. Usually 20 to 30 minutes is enough time for the Goo Gone to work on the wax. After waiting, you will find that the wax has obtained a tacky consistency.
Once the wax is tacky, it is easy to remove it from the surface of the fabric using a knife, blade, or other straight, sharp object. The wax should all stick together in one clump, making clean-up a breeze. In all my years selling candles, I have never found a method better than Goo Gone to clean up spilled wax. If you have a waxy mess on your hands, head to your local store and give this common cleaning product a try.
**NOTE: Per FTC Disclosure Requirements: This is NOT a paid review. No money, free products, or consideration of any kind was received in connection with this post.
Many people will tell you to use a hot iron over a dry towel to clean up spilled wax, but I've found that this often re-melts the wax and drives it deeper into the carpet or fabric. Other people suggest using an ice cube to freeze the wax, but I've never had any success using this method at all. Fortunately, I have found one thing that seems to work without fail.
Goo Gone is a cleaning product, widely available at grocery and "big box" stores, which is made to remove adhesive material from surfaces. Goo Gone is very cheap at just a few dollars per bottle. People commonly use Goo Gone to remove price stickers and window adhesives. What most people don't know, however, is that Goo Gone can also be used to remove spilled candle wax from carpets and fabrics.
First, you'll want to apply a small amount of the Goo Gone product to an inconspicuous area of the carpet or fabric to test for colorfastness. Once you are sure Goo Gone is safe to use on your fabric, just apply the product liberally to the waxy area and then wait for the product to work. Usually 20 to 30 minutes is enough time for the Goo Gone to work on the wax. After waiting, you will find that the wax has obtained a tacky consistency.
Once the wax is tacky, it is easy to remove it from the surface of the fabric using a knife, blade, or other straight, sharp object. The wax should all stick together in one clump, making clean-up a breeze. In all my years selling candles, I have never found a method better than Goo Gone to clean up spilled wax. If you have a waxy mess on your hands, head to your local store and give this common cleaning product a try.
**NOTE: Per FTC Disclosure Requirements: This is NOT a paid review. No money, free products, or consideration of any kind was received in connection with this post.
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