The Amazon Echo is a cool device but it does cost a pretty penny, and you might want to kick the tires beforehand. Luckily there’s now a way to chat with Alexa, the virtual assistant behind the device, in your web browser. Hey Alexa, do you think I’m going to have a case of the Mondays tomorrow?

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No one likes the idea of not being paid for their time and effort, but there is a case to be made for working for free. Maybe you gain experience and build your resume. Maybe you get exposure. It’s tricky, though, and author Seth Godin suggests a few important questions when deciding whether or not to work for free.

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I was momentarily proud of myself the year I grew peas: I tended them for weeks, harvested a big basket full of pods, sat down to shell them...and only ended up with enough for a small side dish. As much as I loved the peas, that was a lot of work for very little payoff.

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Asking for a raise can be tricky. You have to approach the conversation in the right way, and as Lee E. Miller, co-author of A Woman’s Guide to Successful Negotiating points out, that means you probably want to leave out the word “fair.”

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Nothing is more refreshing on a hot day than a big, cold pitcher of boozy punch, whether it’s a normal punch, or you just made an extra big version of your favorite cocktail. Give your drink a little depth and surprising complexity with a couple dashes of bitters.

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