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Well, its a sad day in the Aamoth household: Im thinking of getting rid of the 15-year-old Asus netbook thats been collecting dust in the corner of my office. Its sitting atop the Vizio laptop I bought in 2012. Yes: Vizio, the TV company. They made laptops for a hot minute. Ive got dozens of other relics stacked atop each other as well. I can safely say Ill never use them again. Dont be like me. Holding on to outdated computers, forgotten MP3 players, or Obama-era smartphones isn’t just about accumulating junk. These devices often contain valuable materials that can be recycled, and their improper disposal can harm the environment. So, as you embark on your own spring cleaning spree, consider these excellent online resources to help you give away or recycle your old computers, gadgets, and other outdated tech responsibly. Facebook Marketplace: easy, local gifting They say one persons trash is another persons treasure. And youre not even giving away trashyouve got gadgets! Facebook Marketplace can be a great place to buy stuff nearby, but its “Free Stuff” section is an even better way to get rid of things you dont need anymore but arent sure have any real monetary value. Simply snap a few photos, write a brief description of the item and its condition, and select the “Free” option. People in your area who are looking for items will see your post and can message you directly to arrange pickup. It’s a convenient way to quickly rehome items and clear out space without much hassle. Best Buy: convenient, (mostly) free recycling Sometimes, your tech is just too old, broken, or niche to be useful to someone else. In these cases, responsible recycling can be a frustrating ordeal. Tech retailing kingpin Best Buy offers a comprehensive in-store recycling program for a wide range of electronics, regardless of where you bought them. Most items can be recycled for free, and you can drop off up to three items per day. Theres even a mail-in service if you dont have a Best Buy location nearby. Its not free, but it sure is convenient: Boxes run $23 to $30 and include a UPS label, tape, and instructions. Earth911: local recycling hub For a comprehensive guide to local recycling options, Earth911 is an invaluable resource. This website provides a searchable database of recycling centers across the United States. You can input the type of item you want to recycle (e.g., “computers,” “cellphones”) and your zip code, and it will generate a list of nearby facilities that accept those materials. The site also has a ton of helpful content about recycling, upcycling, and other sustainability topics. A few helpful tips Here are some things to consider before giving away or recycling your old technology. Back up your data: Before you do anything else, ensure all your personal data is backed up to an external hard drive or cloud service. Wipe your device(s): If possible, perform a factory reset to completely eradicate all personal information from your devices. Check your items condition: If you’re giving something away, make sure it’s in working order and clean, or be very clear in your listing that its for repair or parts only.
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Start spreading the news: Theater’s biggest night is happening this evening (Sunday, June 8, 2025) in the Big Apple. The 78th Tony Awards will showcase this seasons best theatrical moments, from revivals to new works, from 8 to 11 p.m. ET. Let’s catch up on all the drama and how to stream the event live as the curtain rises at Radio City Music Hall. Who is nominated? Three musicals are tied for most Tony nominations this year. Buena Vista Social Club is inspired by real life events and tells the story of the four musicians in Havana, Cuba, who continue to play music despite a turbulent political climate. The Korean musical Maybe Happy Ending tells the futuristic story of two lonely abandoned helper bots who manage to find connection despite isolation. TikTok sound-bite sensation Death Becomes Her is based on the 1992 Robert Zemeckis movie of the same name. Meanwhile, two plays boast seven nominations each. Kimberly Belflowers play John Proctor Is the Villain takes a fresh look at Arthur Millers classic play The Crucible and the historic Salem witch trials. Jez Butterworths The Hills of California centers on the estranged Webb sisters who reunite to care for their aging mother and are forced to face past family secrets and traumas. Cole Escolas comedy Oh, Mary!, a farcical portrayal of Mary Todd Lincoln, boasts five nominations. On the musical revival sides of things, it is a tight race between Sunset Blvd and Gypsy. Many critics believe the winner of Best Performance by an Actress in a Leading Role in a Musical category is between Nicole Scherzinger and Audra McDonald. You can see the full list of nominees here. Who is hosting? Movie Elphaba herself Cynthia Erivo will host the festivities this year. She has her very own Tony for her work as Celie in the 2016 revival of The Color Purple. Fans are eager to see the conclusion of Wicked later this year, so maybe this will tide them over. Brian Stokes Mitchells smooth voice will help keep things moving as he is serving as the offstage announcer. Who is presenting? Many theater greats will help present awards. These include Aaron Tveit, Adam Lambert, Allison Janney, Ariana DeBose, Danielle Brooks, Kelli OHara, Kristin Chenoweth, LaTanya Richardson Jackson, Lea Michele, Lea Salonga, Lin-Manuel Miranda, Renée Elise Goldsberry, Sara Bareilles, and Sarah Paulson to name a few. Who is performing? Its tradition (cue Fiddler on the Roof ) for nominated musicals and revivals to perform at the ceremony. This means that beyond the ones already mentioned, you can expect performances from Dead Outlaw, Operation Mincemeat: A New Musical, Floyd Collins, Gypsy, Pirates! The Penzance Musical, Sunset Blvd, Just In Time, and Real Women Have Curves. Beyond the present, Broadway loves to celebrate its past successes. Its almost as if history has its eyes on the industry. Lin-Manuel Miranda, Leslie Odom Jr., Christopher Jackson, Jonathan Groff, Ariana DeBose, Daveed Diggs, Phillipa Soo, and many other original cast members will reunite to celebrate the 10th anniversary of Hamiltons Broadway debut at the Richard Rodgers Theatre. This special performance is not to be missed. What special Tony Award moments can audiences expect? Two new special awards have already been announced. The musicians in the band of Buena Vista Social Club will receive special awards as will the technical effects of Stranger Things: The First Shadow. Harvey Fierstein will be presented the 2025 Special Tony Award for Lifetime Achievement in the Theatre. His impressive resume includes work as an actor and writer on projects ranging from La Cage aux Folles to Newsies. The 2025 Isabelle Stevenson Tony Award will be presented to Celia Keenan-Bolger for her offstage advocacy work. She has championed many important causes, such as hunger, same-sex-marriage rights, and arts education. She also works as an end-of-life doula, helping the late Broadway star Gavin Creel transition peacefully at the end of his life. How can I watch or stream the 2025 Tony Awards? Traditional cable subscribers can catch every kick ball change on the CBS broadcast network beginning at 8 p.m. If you have an over-the-air antenna, you can also watch it for free without cable. If streaming is more your style, the ceremony is also available on Paramount+, which also allows you to stream it on a computer or via its mobile apps. Several other live-TV streaming services also carry CBS, such as: YouTube TV Hulu + Live TV DirecTV Stream Just make sure to double check regional availability. If you just cant get enough Broadway action, tune into Pluto TV early for the pre-show The Tony Awards: Act One, hosted by Darren Criss and Renée Elise Goldsberry, which begins at 6:40-8:00 p.m. ET.
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Retirement planning is typically framed around full-time employment. 401(k)s or pension plans are attractive benefits for people in the corporate world. Those people can open their monthly statements and watch their retirement accounts grow steadily over time. But for the 16.8 million people in the U.S. who are self-employed (myself included), retirement planning looks different. Over the past two years, 1.4 million people have turned to self-employment. Whether thats due to layoffs, voluntary quitting, or other reasons, the number is steadily increasingand there arent a lot of resources available for people trying to figure out retirement planning on their own. While retirement is not something self-employed people can ignore, the whole concept of ending work on a certain date and drawing money from your retirement accounts may not be what some people have in mind. {"blockType":"creator-network-promo","data":{"mediaUrl":"https:\/\/images.fastcompany.com\/image\/upload\/f_webp,q_auto,c_fit\/wp-cms-2\/2025\/04\/workbetter-logo.png","headline":"Work Better","description":"Thoughts on the future of work, career pivots, and why work shouldn't suck, by Anna Burgess Yang. To learn more visit workbetter.media.","substackDomain":"https:\/\/www.workbetter.media","colorTheme":"salmon","redirectUrl":""}} The traditional retirement model doesnt apply If youre self-employed, you know a lot of factors can make retirement savings tricky. Your income is irregular, you forego a 401(k) plans employer match, and the process to make contributions might be more manual. When I first became self-employed a few years ago, retirement was something I started thinking about in the first year. However, I also spent more than 15 years working in the banking industry, so it was no surprise that finances were on my mind. I had to research a solo 401(k), figure out how to open the account, and start making contributions when I could. But as Ive watched my little self-employed 401(k) grow over the years, Ive also wondered: Am I even working toward the same retirement goal I had when I was working a corporate job? Or have my financial needs in retirement changed? Redefining a retirement lifestyle Ive known many people in my life who have literally counted the days until retirement. They couldnt wait to stop working. By contrast, many self-employed people love their workespecially creatives. Its an integral part of their identities. Im a freelance writer, so does retirement mean I . . . stop writing? Its hard to imagine. Retirement feels like a fuzzy concept. As self-employed people look into the future, retirement might look less like a full stop and more like a slow down or akin to selective work. It may include passion projects, consulting, or mentoringbut not giving up work altogether. With this in mind, the retirement calculation is different. Rather than assuming you have zero income during retirement, you instead consider that youd have less income. Planning for an undefined ending You wont have an office retirement party. No one will give you an engraved watch or clock celebrating your years of service with a company. (But, by all means, get yourself a gift!) Without a particular end date in mind, think instead of how you might step backand at what age? Its important to intentionally plan what you want your next chapters to look like. Retirement for the self-employed requires more self-direction, but you also get to define your own path. You already did that once, when you started your own business. You can do that again as you plan for retirement. {"blockType":"creator-network-promo","data":{"mediaUrl":"https:\/\/images.fastcompany.com\/image\/upload\/f_webp,q_auto,c_fit\/wp-cms-2\/2025\/04\/workbetter-logo.png","headline":"Work Better","description":"Thoughts on the future of work, career pivots, and why work shouldn't suck, by Anna Burgess Yang. To learn more visit workbetter.media.","substackDomain":"https:\/\/www.workbetter.media","colorTheme":"salmon","redirectUrl":""}}
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