One of the biggest challenges currently facing the music industry is how to make money. Lucky for you, that means there is tons of free music out there. No longer bound by record needles and eight-tracks, the rise of the internet means new music is always at your fingertips. Even when you're keeping it legal by streaming or only downloading free tracks, there's a whole treasure trove of music just waiting to be discovered.

Many little kids dream about changing the world, then grow up to realize it's a pretty expensive undertaking and get discouraged. The rise of apps like Facebook Causes and success of MoveOn.org are manifestations of the continued optimism of our generation. Without getting too hippy-dippy, people still believe in their own power to effect change. And, as the economy "recesses," more and more visionaries and far sighted organizations want to involve you without bankrupting you. Harnessing the power of the net and big business partnerships, these groups are now providing opportunities for reasonably priced, small effort social action. Saving the world from the couch sounds good to us.

Life is a roller coaster; sometimes you want to laugh and other times you want to cry. The miracle of the internet connects us to people from all over the world who want to share their experiences with you in words or pictures. Whether high art or mass cultural collage, visual images have immense power. The following are a few sites that have captured our attention and kept us coming back for more. We here at RFB won't assume whether these pics and stories will make you feel sad, less alone, or the ever-popular schadenfreude. Chuckle, sob, roll your eyes, whatever. And, being a bum, you might find some time on your hands to contribute. Do it. Everyone wants to know about your pain.

Chances are that anyone affiliating as a Jew will be eating Matzah tonight at a special Passover dinner called a seder. Matzah is known in Hebrew as "poor man's bread", a concept you and your ramen predilection know well. Passover celebrates the Jews' release from slavery in Egypt, and escape from oppression in general. If you're still kicking after going through some hard times, this is the holiday for you. If you've got a job, make sure to prep yourself so that if anyone asks why you're leaving work so early you can turn and say "I have to get to my seder. Thanks." Even if you don't need the excuse, now you can pretend to be in the know.

Our freeloading selves know that the free tv bonanza can't last forever, but we wanna take advantage of it while we can. Cable cut? Can't afford the digital box adapter? Don't sweat it. There are plenty of online sites that will have your favorite shows ready and waiting.

Though LA hasn't had to cope with the brutal winter storms that slammed most of the Eastern Seaboard, Angelenos are starting to sniff spring in the air. And nothing says Spring like vegetables and flowers poking through the ground, especially following the research of Pollan and Kingsolver. You might live in an apartment and winter might be ideal planting time, but the magic of LA is that you can still manage to grow your own mini-crops. It's not the victory garden of the '50s or the back-to-the-land of the '70s, this is the broke-as-a-joke, fresh-food-loving, earth-friendly garden of today.

The 82nd Annual Academy Awards are this Sunday evening, and if we know anything about LA, chances are you'll be watching it. But why just watch it when you can experience it? The best place to be on Oscar night is in the Kodak Theater. You're probably not special enough to be there. Instead, you can sit on the bleachers with the plebeians. Only problem is if you're just finding out about this now, it's already too late. Looks like you'll be stuck at home. But there's hope! Here's how to make your Oscars night a real party.

Most Americans probably haven't heard of Purim, with the exception of those who saw Christopher Guest's has-its-moments-but-is-otherwise-forgettable For Your Consideration. This year falling on Saturday night and Sunday, Purim is the Jewish holiday celebrating the Jews' escape from destruction at the hands of the evil Haman in the ancient Persian Empire. As an American, and moreover as an Angelino, there's really no reason that you too can't celebrate this holiday even if you're not a Member of the Tribe. Because when was the last time you didn't party on Cinco de Mayo/St. Paddy's Day/Oktoberfest/what-have-you?

As Will & Grace so wisely pointed out, everyone likes game night. We hope that's true because game night is fun and pretty darn cheap. Ring up a few friends, pop some popcorn, and dust off the games sitting in your closet. If you managed to get rid of all childhood relics, we've got a few suggestions for restocking your fun pantry.

So it’s another Saturday night and you're still tired from the week before. It sure would be nice to go and relax at the movies, but a $14 ticket and $7 popcorn just don't fit in the budget. Surprise, surprise…we have a couple of lower cost alternatives. All can, of course, be easily implemented from the comfort of your couch.