Thinking of a new summer hot rod? Wondering what your old car us worth? Use Kelley Blue Book to help you set the price or shop for a new vehicle.
The Wayback Machine (January 28, 2008)
The average lifespan of a web page is 44 -75 days. In 1996, the Internet Archive began archiving the web for a service called the Wayback Machine. Through this site you can view past Web sites in tons of categories for a historical walk through the net.
A Friend In Need (January 26, 2008)
If you've ever had a family member with a long-term or life threatening illness you know it's difficult to keep everyone informed of his/her progress. CarePages makes it easy with free, personal, private Web pages that help family and friends communicate when someone is receiving care.
Read the Classics Anywhere (January 24, 2008)
You can download several classic books from Planet PDF to your computer and read them at your leisure. Take them with you on your laptop or read at home, these books are free and in PDF format so they work on any computer. Some of you will need to download a PDF Reader before you can read these books but don't let that stop you (or scare you). Most computers come with a PDF Reader and if you need to download one you are most likely upgrading what you already have.
College Scholarships (January 22, 2008)
Some are not your typical scholarships. There are scholarships for Tall Students, Short Students, Duck Callers, Twins, Triplets, Lefties, Bowlers, Golf Caddies Redheads, Vegetarians, and Skateboarders. Find traditional and wacky scholarships at Scholarships and FastWeb.
Not Your Typical Juice (January 20, 2008)
Vital Juice Daily is a free, entertaining, uplifting, convenient source for all things healthy and wellthy. Start your day on a healthy note delivered directly to you via email.
Develop Your Own Slogan (January 18, 2008)
A slogan is a short phrase that does a lot of work, quickly. In just a few words, it can convey all sorts of information about your business or product. A memorable slogan can even become part of the culture (a là "Where's the beef?"). A slogan can also be referred to as a memory hook or tag line because it helps people remember you or tags what you do. My slogan is "I'm geeky so you don't have to be . . . "
A good slogan:
Tells your prospects the benefits you offer them.
Shows how you position yourself versus your competitors.
Makes your business memorable to prospective customers.
Slogan (January 16, 2008)
Want a slogan. The Sloganizer will give you a generic basic slogan and it's fun. Plus it can get your own creative juices flowing.
Car of the Year (January 14, 2008)
You voted for Tech car of the year. Now who won? Here are CNET's results . . .
Single Serving Size (January 12, 2008)
The USDA has posted its chart as to what it counts as a serving.
Bread, cereal, rice and pasta
1 slice of bread
1 ounce of ready-to-eat cereal
1/2 cup of cooked cereal, rice, or pasta
Vegetable
1 cup of raw leafy vegetables
1/2 cup of other vegetables, cooked or chopped raw
3/4 cup of vegetable juice
Fruit
1 medium apple, banana, orange
1/2 cup of chopped, cooked, or canned fruit
3/4 cup of fruit juice
Milk, yogurt and cheese
1 cup of milk or yogurt
1.5 ounces of natural cheese
2 ounces of processed cheese
Meat, poultry, fish, dry beans, eggs and nuts
2-3 ounces of cooked lean meat, poultry or fish.
1/2 cup of cooked dry beans or 1 egg counts as 1 ounce of lean meat. 2 tablespoons of peanut butter or 1/3 cup of nuts count as 1 ounce of meat.
Drive Carefully! (January 10, 2008)
Check the conditions of the roads anywhere in the US. Before you drive anywhere, Weather.com can link you to the Department of Transportation Web sites for each of the 50 states and Washington DC. Each state provides a wealth of travel information including problem areas such as weather conditions, and construction zones.
Lost in space . . . and on the ground . . . and in history . . . (January 8, 2008)
There are several map programs free on the web but I've found Google Maps to be the best. Key in your address and you not only find your location but you can grab the screen and move it around to get a perspective of the location. Click satellite view in the upper right corner, or better yet, hybrid view, and see the location first hand - bird's eye view of course.
National Geographic's map machine goes deeper into this whole map thing giving topographic maps, historical maps, and even maps of space. It's definitely worth checking out.
Fitness Club (January 6, 2008)
If you’re looking to join a gym, do your research with friends and family and check out the fitness facility’s complaint record with BBB’s free reliability reports. It’s important to make sure the facilities meet your needs, but it’s equally important for consumers to know that the company can be trusted to be upfront about its plans, its contracts and be competent with its billing process.
The BBB offers the following advice to help you select a fitness facility that best meets your needs.
Check with the BBB first. Not only can you find a list of fitness clubs in our area that are accredited by the BBB, but you can also find out what kind of a track record the company has for keeping customers satisfied.
Determine your fitness goals. What are your fitness goals (build endurance, increase strength, become a better tennis player?) and how will you accomplish them (swimming, weight-training, yoga?). Considering these issues in advance will help you select a facility that is most appropriate for you. If you have a serious health condition, consult with a medical professional when setting your fitness goals.
Consider your budget. Most facilities charge an up-front membership fee to join and a monthly fee thereafter. What amount can you comfortably devote to physical fitness?
Check out the facilities. Visit several different clubs on days and at times that you plan to exercise to see how crowded they are. Do the facilities offer the equipment, classes, amenities (child care, personal trainers) and hours of operation you require? Note the cleanliness and condition of the equipment, work-out area and locker room, as well as staff member availability.
Ask around. Check with friends and family for recommendations. And when visiting fitness clubs, ask members about their experiences – are they satisfied?
Don’t give in to pressure. Many clubs will be offering “New Year’s specials” – walk away from clubs that pressure you to sign a contract on the spot. In fact, take a sample contract home to read it thoroughly.
Read the entire contract. Does it list all services and facilities and the hours of operation? Is everything that the salesperson promised in the contract? What is included in the monthly fee and what’s going to cost you extra? What’s the total cost and payment schedule, including enrollment fees and finance charges?
Know the membership details. How long is the membership term and is there an automatic renewal? Can you go month-to-month? Some facilities give customers several days to reconsider after signing the contract; if so, get it in writing. What are your cancellation rights if you move to another area, are injured, or the club closes or is taken over by new management? Will the unused portion of your membership be refunded, and if so, how and when? These details should all be in the contract.
For more advice from the BBB on finding reliable companies and businesses, start your search with trust at www.bbb.org.
Vote for Tech Car of the Year! (January 4, 2008)
Find out more about CNET's 10 nominees for the 2007 Tech Car of the Year and vote for your favorite. They are also presenting 10 more awards for unique or questionable accomplishments in the car technology arena. Here are the categories:
Pimpin' on a budget
Best tech update for your beater
Coolest new car tech
Most improved cabin tech
Freakiest concept car
Most frustrating interface
Most useless car feature
King of the road
Money is no object
Best car to take you for a ride
Low-Tech Gaming Online (January 2, 2008)
SudokuFun has a speed challenge for you competitive sorts. And for the more geometrically in tuned try this tangram game.