Tracker Tom's Internet Safari

A Long Hiatus....

2008-05-28T15:57:00.000-07:00

Hi,

Thanks for visiting this Web site. As you can tell, I've not added any addtional web site recommendations in some time. There just doesn't seem to be that big of an interest in my blog as of late.

I've redirected my energy into writing my first fiction novel. The Clovis Chronicles has just been published! Please visit www.ClovisBooks.com to learn all about this very first book in a brand new series. By the way, there are a number of entertaining short videos on the Web site.

Kindest regards,
Tom DiFrancesca III
"Tracker Tom"

Wonderful Wonders....

2007-09-09T17:27:00.000-07:00

I've previously written about 360 degree panoramic views that are available on the Internet, I'm gonna' write more about that now. I just found yet another really great Web site that offers not only views of 7 wonders of the world, but a whole lot of other interesting places as well.

Strap on your seat belt and hold on tight, then click here to start your adventure!

Are you a history buff?

2007-09-02T15:48:00.001-07:00

If you are a teacher, a home-schooler, or a history buff, then you need to check out the "History Buff" Web site. It is chock full of great historical facts and history lessons.

Help promote a band and make money!

2007-09-02T15:42:00.000-07:00

If you are into music and you'd like to help "undiscovered" bands make it big, then you need to check out the "Sell-a-Band" Web site. I'm really impressed with the unique concept of the service. In a nutshell, you explore the site and find a band that impresses you. You make a very small investment in their future and then help promote them. In return, you can earn money off of the sale of their music.

Join a Group - Start a Group....

2007-08-20T16:58:00.000-07:00

It's possible through the "Group-o-Matic" Web site.

Here's the description that's on the site:

"Group-O-Matic helps local groups & clubs start, get members, and schedule events. Our service is free, private, and simple. "

I did a quick check for my area and so far no one is using the service yet. Give it time though, I can see some real potential for its use.

Creativity Enhancer....

2007-08-15T17:40:00.000-07:00

Have you been struggling lately to come up with yet another innovative product or service? Have you found your creative energy deficient of late? Well, don't give up, there's hope for you yet.

Click here to access the "Idea Generator".

Press a button and a series of three words will appear in combination with each other. Keep whichever words seem interesting to you and then cycle through various words to replace those that you don't like. Believe me, it sounds much more complicated than it really is - try it!

Build up your DVD collection.....

2007-08-13T17:48:00.000-07:00

If you are trying to build up your DVD collection, you need to find ways to do it as cheaply as possible (and not break the law). Click here for a great list of suggested ways to accomplish your goal.

Online Snooping.....

2007-08-12T13:19:00.000-07:00

On one hand, it's real nice to be able to just jump onto the Internet and quickly track down an old classmate or a long lost uncle. But on the other hand, as the amount of personal information being uploaded to the Web increases, just how much of that info about us do we really want available? Click here to read a Time Magazine article about the subject.

Help for Staying Healthy....

2007-08-10T11:09:00.000-07:00

There are a lot of health related resources available on the Internet. Sifting through thousands of Web sites is big task though. Click here to view a listing of the top 20 health related sites.

It's a great list!

Videos Galore....

2007-08-08T13:32:00.000-07:00

It seems to me, that in the past year or so, almost weekly - a new video streaming Web site pops up. It's hard to keep track of them all. Some sites work great and some, well - they might work great sometimes.

Also, depending on the bandwidth of your Internet connection, some sites work much better than others. Here's another site to check out, it's called "LikeVid". Supposedly, the site offers 381 channels of entertainment. I've not really bothered to try and count all of them, but there are a lot of channels there.

Give the site a shot, you just might find something special to watch there.

Keeping Track of the World....

2007-08-04T13:28:00.000-07:00

How many times have you found yourself wondering about the exact time of sunset for the spot that your at? Or maybe, you're real nosey like me and are curious about the times for sunset, dawn and dusk in other locations. Well, click here and you'll never be lacking in that information again!

Breaking News....

2007-07-22T17:30:00.001-07:00

I'll be on a brief hiatus for the next 10 days. After that, I will begin making regular postings once again. I appreciate your continued support, encouragement, and patronage!

Do you own a boat?

2007-07-16T15:49:00.000-07:00

If you do, and it's the kind that you can put on a trailer and tow it from place to place, then you'll probably want to check out the "Boat Launch Locator" site. You'll find information on more than 25,000 boat launch locations and the database is growing quickly.

Hit the road and hit the water!

The Clovis Chronicles Project

2007-07-13T18:48:00.000-07:00

I'm working on my first fiction novel and I've started posting portions to the Internet. Click here to learn more. You're invited to make comments and suggestions.

Do you own a digital camera?

2007-07-10T08:03:00.001-07:00

Ownership of those devices is getting more and more common. If you do own a digital camera, then you should check out the "PhotonHead" Web site. There is more free information there about digital cameras and photography than you can shake a stick at. You owe it to yourself to make sure that you get the very best images out of your camera.

More on "Hot Keys"

2007-07-07T08:55:00.000-07:00

Another one of my favorite keyboard combinations is:

CTRL+N

This key combo immediately opens up a new browser window. A lot of folks don't realize that they can open multiple browser windows and use them simultaneously. I hardly ever surf the Web without at least three windows. Some pages/sites take longer to load than others and so while one or two pages are loading, I'm reading the content on another page.

Do you oftentimes find yourself straining to read the small text on a Web page? I know I do. Now, this little tip isn't really a "hot key", but it's close. After a page loads, hold down the CTRL key on your keyboard and at the same time scroll the little wheel that is located on your mouse. When you scroll one direction, the text should get larger. Scroll the other direction, the text gets smaller. Simply use this technique to adjust the font size to whatever is the most comfortable for you.

Hot Keys....

2007-07-06T15:54:00.000-07:00

As you may well know, most of the programs that run under the Windows operating system can be navigated with "hot keys". "Hot Keys" are a combination of key strokes that perform the same operation as a mouse click.

Why is that important?

Sometimes, it's actually more convenient to just tap a few keys than it is to take your hands off of the keyboard, place your hand on the mouse, move the cursor over the desired spot, and then to click on it.

I frequently utilize "hot keys" while navigating the Internet with Internet Explorer.

Here are my favorite:

ALT+D = This key combo takes you directly to the Address bar where you can quickly type in Web address.

CTRL+ENTER = I love this one. Let's say I want to go to the homepage for Yahoo. I jump up to the Address bar (using the first combo above), then I simply type in "yahoo" (no quote marks please), as soon as I finish typing "yahoo", I press the and keys at the same time. Magically, the "www." and the ".com" are added to the "yahoo", and I'm taken directly to the http://www.yahoo.com/ Web site.

I think you ought to go play with these two key combinations for awhile. I'll post some more tomorrow!

Virtual Views

2007-07-03T20:01:00.000-07:00

Here's something a little different. It's a listing of the top 18 most beautiful city skylines in the world. Of course, there are pictures offered up also. Click here to check out the list.

The Dangers of E-Cards....

2007-06-30T14:33:00.000-07:00

Who would have thought that digital greeting cards would become dangerous? But, leave it up to some twisted individuals to give it a try. Just today, sitting in my e-mail inbox was a message, and the subject line read:

"You've received a greeting postcard from a neighbour!"

I immediately became suspicious because normally, when someone sends me an e-card, their name is listed in the email and I recognize it. The second red flag for me was the fact that the link provided for me to click on to view the card, was not the AmericanGreetings.com Web site address. No, instead of that domain name, there were a series of numbers (an I.P. address). I often see the same type of Internet addresses as links in bogus messages pretending to be from e-Bay.

After a quick search at Google, I found a lot of information on fake e-cards and of the potential damage that they can do to our computers. I suggest that you do your own search and learn as much as you can about the subject. Not just for yourself mind you, but for those you come into contact with often. You can click here to read a short article on the subject at the Trend Micro Web site.

Be careful and be diligent!

Take a Little Trip...

2007-06-28T19:05:00.000-07:00

On a cruise ship that is and use the "Cruisemates" Web site to explore all of your options and to get the best deal. And by the way, I'm not being paid to mention the site.

A Different Type of Search Engine...

2007-06-27T08:02:00.000-07:00

It's called "Pixsy" and the claim is that it searches through millions of Web sites, blogs, and RSS feeds for photos and videos. Time magazine listed the service in its "Top 50 Coolest Web Sites" of 2006.

A Different Kind of Search Engine....

2007-06-26T17:54:00.000-07:00

Try "Accoona", if for anything but a nice break from Google. Take a look at what other new search engines are doing once in awhile. It can give you a different perspective at times.

With Accoona, you get some nice search targeting features right up front at the beginning of your search.

It's worth a peak at I'm tellin' you.

Everything Coast Guard....

2007-06-23T18:46:00.001-07:00

The first site that you should check out is "PostCoastie.com" - it's a sister site to this one and I'm the editor of it as well.

The second site is "The Coast Guard Channel" which provides access to short videos, documentaries, and written stories - all related to the U.S. Coast Guard.

Why do I care? I'm a veteran of that service. Why should you care? 'Cause it's the best darn branch of the military services that's why. Not that I'm prejudice about the subject or anything like that.

If you have any friends or family members who are associated with the Coast Guard, would you please let them know about the two sites listed above? I'd sure appreciate it!

Nuthin' Like Free Software...

2007-06-21T12:41:00.001-07:00

It's called "Freeware" and there's lots of it available on the Internet. Click here for a site that lists the some of the best free software available. The site also provides a link to each particular program.

Mapping out Terrorism....

2007-06-18T15:29:00.000-07:00

Check out the "Global Incident Map", I did and I was very impressed with the magnitude of information that it provides. The site is updated every fifteen minutes or so and one can keep abreast of possible outbreaks of terrorism worldwide.

Out of this World Images....

2007-06-16T10:24:00.001-07:00

All free and all beautiful. Thanks to the folks at NASA.

The "Astronomy Picture of the Day" Web site is really great. Click on the link once a day and be presented with a new Space related image. But there is also a lot more to the site than that. In fact, by using either the "Archive" or "Search" links, one can view hundreds upon hundreds of images.

Have fun Space explorers!

Easy E-mail Access

2007-06-12T07:09:00.001-07:00

For most folks, checking their email when they are away from home is pretty easy these days. Almost all of the big Internet access providers provide a Web based log in page. Well, for a lot of folks though, who still use local ISP's, checking e-mail remotely an be a problem.

Not really.

Not if they know about the "Mail2Web" site.

As long as one has Internet access, be it anywhere in the world, all they have to do is jump over to that site and then type in their email address and password. Once that's done, quick and easy access to their e-mail is right before them.

Pretty nifty I say.

Volcano Watch....

2007-06-10T14:31:00.000-07:00

Here's an interesting fact. The state of Alaska has a volcano monitoring program whereby scientists utilize Web cams to keep an eye out for possible volcanic activity.

If you ever get really, really bored and feel like standing "volcano watch" sometime, click here and you can participate also!

Become a Google Master in 20 easy steps....

2007-06-07T16:33:00.000-07:00

Yes my friend, you heard me right. Now step on up to the front here and listen to closely. Did you realize that although Google is probably the best darn search engine on the Web, there is a lot that you can do to greatly reduce the number of results that you are presented with? Wouldn't it be nice to only be presented with the results that contain exactly the data that you are looking for?

No more wading through hundreds of links just to find what you are looking for would be nice wouldn't it?

Well ladies and gentlemen, your days of needless wading are almost over. Click here to access a list of search tips that will make your time at the Google Web site much more productive.

Test your "Net I.Q."...

2007-06-06T19:40:00.000-07:00

If you are still pretty new to the Web, click here and take the "Net I.Q." test. The test results will indicate to you the areas in which you need to progress. Now I know, some folks look at the Internet only as an entertainment venue, but could you imagine if a person actually knew how to use it for other purposes?

Take a little trip....

2007-06-02T07:54:00.000-07:00

Back to the 1980's that is and check out some great images of people using computers of that era.

Click here and have fun!

Ever wanted to be a mad scientist?

2007-05-31T12:42:00.001-07:00

Then the "Mad Sci Network" is for you!

It's actually a science Web site for kids but I found some pretty darn interesting things on the site - things that just might interest other adults also.

If you like to learn new things, you ought to check out the site with your kid(s) or just for yourself!

Cute is still okay....

2007-05-29T11:17:00.000-07:00

Believe it or not, cute is still in.

Although much of what we tend to come across on the Internet anymore is harsh, crash, rude, and offensive - there are still Web sites out there that still maintain a modicum of decency.

The Cute Project site is one of them.

Most of the "cute" images are of animals, very young animals.

Check it out, and get your infusion of "cute" for the week!

Remembering the Sugar Shack....

2007-05-25T16:26:00.000-07:00

Anyone reading this old enough to remember the 60's super hit song "Sugar Shack"?

I sure remember it and everytime I hear it playing on an oldies channel I get goose bumps. Why the goose bumps you may be wondering? Because I once lived in the same town where that song was produced and I have met the lead singer and founding member of the Fireballs, George Tomsco, a couple of times now.

The Fireballs formed in Raton, New Mexico in the late 1950's. In the 60's, they recorded "Sugar Shack" and several other hits at Norman Petty Studios in Clovis, New Mexico. Can you believe that George and some of the other original members of the band are still performing nationally as the Fireballs?

If you'd like to pick up a copy of a really great compilition CD entitled "The Fireballs - Clovis Classics" hop on ove and order it from Amazon.com - you'll be glad that you did!

By the way, the late great Buddy Holly also recorded his top hit "Peggy Sue" and several other great songs in the same studio in Clovis.

A major gift from the folks at Ancestry.com...

2007-05-24T12:45:00.000-07:00

Available now and right up until June 6, 2007 - which is the anniversary of "D-Day", is absolutely free access to over 90 million U.S. war records.

Pretty incredible right?

If you are into researching your family tree then this is a very unique opportunity to glean additional information at no cost.

If you don't have an account with Ancestry.com, then you'll need to set one up - it is painless and free. The first time you attempt to view an online document at the site, you will be prompted to download a small viewer program - you will need to do just that.

In just a few minutes time I discovered quite a bit of previously unknown information about some of my ancestors - I'm going back to the site now to finish what I started.

See you there!

Free art....

2007-05-23T19:47:00.000-07:00

If you are in need of some graphic art images to use for personal or educational use, please check out the "StockVault". The site provides a large number of free images for download and they also offer various subscription services.

All in all the site is a very useful resource!

Stalking AOL?

2007-05-23T19:22:00.000-07:00

I've just stumbled upon a very strange and unique Web site.

The "AOL Stalker" site allows folks to view the types of Internet searches being performed by AOL subscribers. It's sorta' tacky but very interesting. No one is personally identified while they are conducting a search.

Another unique aspect is that in some cases, the search results that were presented to the searcher and then clicked on by that individual - are also presented for public viewing.

You just never know what's gonna' pop up on the Internet these days.

Are you booming baby?

2007-05-21T12:03:00.000-07:00

If you are a "baby boomer" like me, then you are quickly approaching your fifties and there just ain't no stoppin' the train!

Time sure has flown hasn't it?

Anyway, I've found a great Web site for folks our age - it's chock full of great information that will help us transition into the "third age". In fact, that is the name of the site - "ThirdAge".

I reckon you just oughta' check it out for yourself.

Baffled by Balderdash?

2007-05-19T09:32:00.000-07:00

That's one of the questions asked on the homepage of the "The Word Detective" Web site.

Have you ever wondered how a word or an expression got its start? I know I have. Well, our wondering is over, for all of the answers can be found on that site. The information provided is based on a series of newspaper columns which are all archived for easy access.

If you don't want to read all of the columns, you can click here and immediately access an index of words and expressions that have been previously written about.

All in all, "The Word Detective" Web site is very informative and educational.

Was your fad bad?

2007-05-17T20:23:00.000-07:00

Find out by visiting the "Bad Fad Museum" Web site.

Be warned though, nothing is sacred and nothing is safe from ridicule. I mean, how could anyone find something wrong with leisure suits?

Come on, give me a break!

In the mood to do some wallpapering?

2007-05-17T19:38:00.001-07:00

Windows wallpaper that is....

I've just visited the "Social Wallpapering" Web site and downloaded some really awesome images of space to use as my desktop wallpaper. The images on the site aren't limited to outer space though, but you'll have to go check the site out for yourself to find out what's there.

Explore Google

2007-05-16T09:16:00.000-07:00

The folks at Google have been busy these past few years.

Besides a great search engine, there are many other services and tools that most people just don't know about. Well, that is all about to change. Click here to visit the "Simply Google" Web site and there you will find, presented in a very organized manner, everything that Google has to offer.

A Virtual Reference Desk....

2007-05-14T14:16:00.000-07:00

Books, images, documents, maps - you name it, it's all on the "Virtual Reference Desk" Web site. I can't imagine another site that has more to offer in regards to reference material. One could sure save a lot of gasoline, time, and energy by utilizing the Internet instead of driving to the local library.

Not that I have any thing at all against libraries mind you!

Virtual Tours....

2007-05-12T10:25:00.000-07:00

If you've never viewed panoramic images on the Internet you've really missed a treat. If you have viewed them, you may not know about the "Urban75" Web site.

Taking virtual tours of exotic locations around the world is a whole lot of fun!

You need to know about this Web site....

2007-05-11T20:50:00.000-07:00

But all of the heavily financed anti-consumer activists groups won't be happy!

The Center for Consumer Freedom maintains the "Activist Cash" Web site which provides detailed information about the sources from which these groups get their funding - you'll be surprised to find out what some of those sources are and to see how the site tracks more than $800 million in resources.

A Different Kind of Search Engine

2007-05-11T20:39:00.000-07:00

I've just "discovered" the Clusty search engine and it works really well.

The name of the site is based on the fact that when one performs a search, the results presented are clustered together by how they are related to each other.

Bottom line - it means that a person could probably find what they are looking for a little quicker and an little more efficiently if they used Clusty on a regular basis!

A Different Way to Enjoy Music....

2007-05-09T08:37:00.000-07:00

I've just discovered the "Music Mesh" Web site, it is different to say the least. If you type in the name of a musician or group, you will be presented with an animated image of at least one of the album covers but connected to the image there will be other covers that represent artists and musicians of similar music styles.

Whenever you click on one of the albums represented, at track list will appear. Click on one of the songs in the track list and a video will begin playing. The video, one of several provided, will contain the song. Apparently, MusicMesh scours the YouTube Web site and indexes any video it finds that contains a soundtrack.

Once you've visited the site, you'll have a much better understanding of how it works. So, please check it out.

Swap your books don't shelf them!

2007-05-07T14:57:00.000-07:00

That's the concept of the "Bookins" Web site.

For a flat fee of $3.99 you can print out a postage label and mail an unwanted book to the folks at Bookins, in return they will send you a book that you have been wanting to read. Books are awarded points depending on their popularity and so the more popular the books are that you mail in, the more points you earn and the more books you receive back.

Sounds fair to me, and it sure beats ordering books at retail prices through an online bookstore and then paying an additional shipping charge. Plus, it beats the heck out of driving around town and using up valuable gasoline trying to find the best deal on a book.

One Minute Films

2007-05-07T14:22:00.000-07:00

The challenge, to make a video that runs no longer than 60 seconds yet makes a powerful impact on the viewer.

The concept blows me away!

Click here to learn more and to view some really great "films".

Easing Electronic Overload....

2007-05-04T19:33:00.000-07:00

Did you realize that the tons and tons of old computers, monitors, and electronic gear that we throw away will never ever deteriorate? America's landfills are are well - pardon the pun, filling up. The old adage that "someones trash is another man's treasure" still holds true today.

With that in mind, check out the "ThrowPlace" Web site. It is a site dedicated to keep old electronic equipment "alive" and useful. Joining the service is free, and everything on the site is given away freely. The only cost involved is that for shipping an item to it's new destination which is covered by the receiver.

I believe the site could be a very invaluable source, especially for non-profits and charities which are always trying to find ways to stretch resources.

Time to cut the fat....

2007-05-03T12:22:00.000-07:00

If you hadn't already realized it - Spring is upon us.

It's now time for shorts, bathing suits, and lighter more fat bulge revealing clothing - YUK! I prefer winter clothing myself, it covers things up nicely and I don't feel so self-conscious. But darn it, it's just too hot for the summer and everybody would just look at me funny anyway.

Here is something that might help us, CNN has just posted some really useful tips on how to loose weight quickly and easily.

Click here and get thin!

Staying connected....

2007-04-30T08:37:00.000-07:00

If you are a heavy I.M. user and oftentimes, because of various annolying reasons, find yourself unable to access your favorite program such as Yahoo Messenger, MSN, etc. - you are in luck! Using any computer in the world that has Internet access, surf your way over to the "eBuddy" Web site, choose the messaging service(s) that you use (yes, you can access multiple services at once), log into each account and suddenly presented before you, will be a Web version of your favorite programs.

Now how's that for convenience? I'd say on the "Nifty" scale the site ranks around a 9 out of 10!

Digging a little deeper....

2007-04-28T07:46:00.000-07:00

While watching television or a movie have you ever wondered about what kind of a life a celebrity may have had growing up? Or maybe a famous politician, or an industry mogul? Well if you have, there is a pretty good chance that you can read their biography online.

Wanna' take a guess where?

Check out "The Biography Channel" on the Internet. The site claims to have over 20,000 biographies available for reading.

I think that is pretty darn impressive don't you?

Cool Tools....

2007-04-25T12:05:00.000-07:00

Telephone related tools that is - tools that will help you quickly track down an area code, telephone number, or a mailing address.

By utilizing the free services of "White Pages.com", one can access a great deal of information:

Find an Area Code or find out where an area codes originates - click here

Type in a telephone number and find out the address that it is assigned to - click here

Enter an address and look-up the telephone number for that location - click here

All in all, a great bunch of useful services and the best part is that they are all free!

Thinking about 9/11

2007-04-24T15:32:00.000-07:00

Did you know that there is a digital archive of 9/11?

Click here to access all types of content that provides documentation of the events on that horrific date.

You can also submit your own content!

Test your I.Q. here...

2007-04-23T20:09:00.000-07:00

Have you ever had an overwhelming desire to test your I.Q. or your personality?

If you have, then by all means click here to fulfill that urge. There are a lot of different kinds of tests at the site so if you like tests, well by golly - you are in for a treat!

Take a Look @ One Look...

2007-04-21T14:00:00.000-07:00

In most cases, when I need to quickly look up a definition of word, I utilize either Google.com or Dictionary.com - both sites work really well.

But, if you are like me, you like multiple options.

Here's a new one: OneLook.com - the site accesses over 960 different dictionaries that cover various fields such as medicine, technology, business, and art just to name a very few.

There is a lot of knowledge packed within the pages of the OneLook Web site, and to think, every bit of it is accessible absolutely free for the taking!

Newspaper Cornucopia...

2007-04-20T16:04:00.000-07:00

I don't know about you but I have lived in a LOT of places all over the country. Occasionally I get a hankerin' to see what is going on in some of my old stomping grounds. I figure the best way to do that is to read the online version of the local newspaper for the particular city or town that I'm interested in.

That is where Newspapers.com comes in handy - very handy.

Not only does the site provide an extensive listing of all online newspapers in the U.S., it does a pretty darn good job of providing links to overseas periodicals as well.

Bored? Visit the Library for Crying out Loud!

2007-04-20T16:00:00.000-07:00

The "Internet Public Library" that is - a site started by one college and now maintained by another. You can do keyword searches or look up information by category.

It's the kind of site that you visit when you've run out of links to click on and Web addresses to type and you just want to explore the Web for awhile more.

You never know what useful and important information you just might dig up at the Internet Public Library.

Be quiet though and don't disturb the others!

How Things Work....

2007-04-18T09:58:00.000-07:00

I've just stumbled across a Web site that explains how things work - all different kinds of things. The site is sponsored by a university in Virginia and contains lots of great information. You just never know when you just might be able to use what you've learned from the site.

It might even help you win your next game of Trivial Pursuit!

Click here to get smart.

Keepin' Kids Safe...

2007-04-16T09:58:00.000-07:00

If you've got kids and you allow them access to the Internet, then you will need to constantly educate yourself on ways to protect them. The folks at CNET have put together some very good information on the subject, click here to access it.

Stay alert, be vigilant, and don't be afraid to use the word "No".

The Power of the Internet...

2007-04-16T09:13:00.000-07:00

Lately, I've been receiving calls on my cell phone from a company that claims that I've won a ton of prizes. I politely decline to participate in whatever it is they are REALLY trying to sell me but they continue to call me back occasionally anyway.

Well, this morning I missed their call (how sad) but instead of the standard "Caller Unknown" identification that normally was associated with call, an actual telephone number showed up on the Caller I.D.

I quickly jumped over to Google and typed in the telephone number. Unfortunately though, the number is unlisted. There is some good news anway - there were at least a half-dozen references to that telephone number in various blogs and forums. I learned the name of the company, and that it was located in the Tampa area of Florida. More importantly I learned that if I were call the number back and quickly hit the "2" on my telephone keypad, I would be afforded the opportunity to have my telephone number removed from their calling list automatically.

I hesitantly made the call, I went through the automated process which seemed to work without a hitch, now I'm looking forward to a future without any more calls from that company - that is, IF they keep their word and don't really call me back.

I'm not holding my breath!

New Google Feature....

2007-04-14T07:36:00.000-07:00

Did you know that you can now simply type a telephone number into the Google search box and receive back information regarding that telephone number? Besides the name and address, a link is also provided to a map of the physical location.

Now I know, a lot of folks will feel like that an ability for a total stranger to perform such a search is an invasion of privacy and that Google has no right to provide such information - yet, there are at least a half a dozen Web sites that have provided "reverse look-up" on the Internet for the past decade.

The only way to provide a high degree of anonymity when it comes to telephone numbers is to make sure you've got an unlisted number and that my friends is no absolute guarantee.

Disposable E-mail....

2007-04-12T14:37:00.000-07:00

Now I know you are probably wondering why in the world would anyone need a disposable email account.

But take just a minute and think about it.

How many times have you been at a Web site that required you to provide an email address before it would allow you to have access to information that you wanted or needed?

A lot of times right?

And how many times, after providing your email address, did the amount of SPAM you received begin to quickly increase?

See any connection there?

From now on, quickly jump over to the "Guerrilla Mail" Web site. Within seconds receive a temporary email address that is good for about 15 minutes, do what you need to do, and then go on about your business.

No fuss, no muss, and no cost!

Getting back to normal....

2007-04-10T15:11:00.000-07:00

Well, I'm back - finally.

I've been on a brief hiatus so to speak. If you didn't already know, I am a full-time college student (at 48 years of age). For spring break I decided to rent a car and drive over 4,000 miles in 10 days.

I was successful.

My wife and I explored parts of New Mexico and Colorado that we had never visited before. We think maybe we found our litt.e piece of heaven and it's located just south of Durango, Colorado.

It was during that traveling time that I also decided to greatly reduce my online exploration. I pretty much limited my access to checking the weather, road conditions, and email.

I think sometimes we need a break from technology. There are times that I feel like my brain is on overload and it is being constantly flooded with new data.

Do you ever feel that way?

Anyway, I'm gonna' start making frequent posts again - maybe 4 or 5 posts a week if I can.

I'm constantly searching for interesting, entertaining, and educational Web sites that I can share with my readers.

Enjoy Spring!

Everyone Loves Freebies!

2007-03-30T08:39:00.000-07:00

You know, for just about every piece of software that is available commercially, there is a counterpart program that can do almost the very same thing and the software is free.

Don't believe me?

Click here to access 101 free programs, the list has been compiled by PC World Magazine. And to think, those 101 selections are just the tip of the iceberg!

Gettin' the facts fast....

2007-03-26T12:36:00.000-07:00

My wife left Indiana a few weeks ago to go visit with some of our kids and grand kids who live in New Mexico. Wouldn't you know it, but this past Friday night, an EF2 tornado hit the small town of Clovis, New Mexico - the same exact place that my wife and family members are located!

I was only able to speak with my wife on Friday night, for just a few moments on her cell phone, so you can imagine my anxiety in wanting to find out more about what was going on. We don't have cable television here at "PondRun" so being able to flip around the channels was out of the question.

The Internet saved the day though!

Within just an hour or so after the tornado struck, news stories started popping up on the Lubbock Avalanche Journal Web site. I then started checking the newspaper Web sites for the Albuquerque and Amarillo newspaper sites also. Within another few hours, I found a video on YouTube.com that captured the tornado just before it struck Clovis. A little while later, a friend of mine in Clovis sent me pictures that she had just taken with her digital camera.

By morning, all of the major online news sites such as CNN and FoxNews had articles about the massive destruction that took place in New Mexico.

Almost instantaneous information at our fingertips!

Let's meet up at the KinCafe!

2007-03-26T12:28:00.000-07:00

I've written about social network sites in the past, they are the "hot" thing right now. Most of the sites are not very user friendly, nor are they very family friendly either. It seems to me that most of those sites have adult oriented ads on them, ads that I don't particularly want my grandchildren viewing.

I just recently learned about the "KinCafe" Web site and thought I'd check it out. KinCafe is a social network for families and by the looks of it, a very "safe" place for family members to network together.

It's private, it's secure, and best of all - it's free.

I was able to sign-up for a free account and start building a page within just a few minutes. Soon, I plan on inviting all of my family members to join me in building our network. My family is spread out all over the United States and KinCafe is going to help us stay "connected" in more ways than one.

Please, check out the site and give it a try. You won't be disappointed!

Microsoft/AOL Giveaways...

2007-03-23T09:05:00.000-07:00

Today, for what feels like the billionth time in the past 10 years, I received yet another forwarded email from someone telling me not to miss out on receiving money from Microsoft & AOL.

It's a hoax friends!

The Microsoft/AOL Giveaway is a hoax which has been circulating on the Internet since around 1997. I've seen just about every variation that you can imagine - free vacations, new clothes, etc.

You can visit the "Urban Legends" Web site and read about the hoax by clicking on this link:

http://www.snopes.com/inboxer/nothing/microsoft-aol.asp

Whenever you receive an email that seems a little far-fetched, I'll just about guarantee that there will be information about it at the "Urban Legends" site.

Court Jesters...

2007-03-21T08:52:00.000-07:00

I never knew courtroom trials could be so entertaining until I found this Web site. It contains partial transcripts of proceedings and you won't believe the outrageous questions and responses contained within them.

Have fun!

Evolutionary Mice....

2007-03-19T09:11:00.000-07:00

Not the rodent type but the computer kind.

If you click here you will be able to view a pictorial history of the computer mouse with a brief background for each image.

It is very educational!

Use the Watchdog...

2007-03-18T12:23:00.000-07:00

Almost daily now, we hear or read about the increase in sex offenses all over the country. It also seems like of late that a higher percentage of the sex crimes are being committed against this nation's children.

It's a travesty that requires increased vigilance by all of us.

That is where the "Watchdog" Web site comes in. It is probably the best online sex offender database service in existence. When it comes to Web pages and software, simplicity is best and it cannot be any simpler or easier to type in your home address and then to be presented with a map that indicates the locations of registered sex offenders in your area.

A legend on the left side of the map indicates what each symbol represents. For example, a small red square shows the location of an offender's home. If you click on the square itself, another window will pop-up (you may have to turn off your pop-up stopping program temporarily) and that window will provide you with a picture of the offender, their name, and a list of their prior convictions.

Now I know, some people feel that having access to this kind of information is very intrusive - I can see their point. But, I am more in favor of protecting innocent children than I am worrying about the "rights" of people who have a history of sexually abusing others - especially the little ones.

If you are a parent, a grandparent, a husband, or you truly care about the well being of your neighbors, you will want to explore the "Watchdog" Web site.

Say it on anything!

2007-03-17T08:08:00.000-07:00

I found a Web site that is quite unique. I'm not exactly sure what to do with the things that I create at the site, but the gears in my brain are turning.

Not only can you generate an image with customized text such as you see here, you can do the same thing with a church sign, cassette tape, record album, and so much more.

The best and the worst....

2007-03-15T14:45:00.000-07:00

Television commercials that is -most are "local" not national ads but still quite entertaining. Hey, it's a great site to kill time at while dinner is cooking!

Click here to explore the site.

Just for fun....

2007-03-15T14:33:00.000-07:00

Click here to view a small collection of photographs displaying cars in "unusual" circumstances. The images will make you smile and be glad that you aren't in any of the pictures!

Meebo helps you stay connected....

2007-03-14T11:31:00.000-07:00

Have you ever found yourself away from your very own computer for an extended period of time and having a real craving to chat with some of your friends and family?

In a lot of cases, you just might have access to another person's computer but they may not have the I.M. program installed that you need to utilize. Or, in some cases such as public library computers and such, the system may not allow a person to use an I.M. program whatsoever.

Have the folks at "MEEBO" got a great solution for you! Just hop on over to the their Web site and the first thing you will see is a means to log into AOL Instant Messenger, Yahoo Messenger, Google Talk, or MSN - all individually. Just type in your user name and password and a small window will pop up with the appropriate interface - which is totally Web based, which means most networks/computer set-ups will not balk at it.

If you are the type of person who uses multiple message programs, all you need to do is sign-up for a free MEEBO account. Once the account has been established all you need to do is enter the information for all of your different accounts. From that point on, whenever you into your MEEBO account, an interface will pop-up that will allow you to communicate with all of your contacts from multiple types of chat programs.

Now, how cool is that?

It's Tax Time....

2007-03-12T15:24:00.000-07:00

Are you still trying to decide exactly how to file your taxes this year?

I've got one simple solution for you and it is H&R Block's "TaxCut Online" service. This is the third year in row that I have used their services and it has worked out great every time. I really don't think it could be any easier to file my taxes, to make sure that I'm getting the best advice, to file electronically, and to receive my refund automatically into my bank account within two weeks of filing.

It's that simple and that easy.

And no, I'm not getting paid to promote "TaxCut Online", I'm just a big fan! By the way, if you use the "Basic" service like I do, it will cost you less than ten bucks - now THAT is a deal!

Music to your ears...

2007-03-08T18:11:00.000-08:00

I love music, all kinds of music.

I also know that there are lots of folks like me in the world. So, with that in mind I'm going to tell you about "Dismuke's Virtual Talking Machine". The Web site contains Real Audio versions of 100's of vintage phonograph recordings which even include old radio shows. The time frame of the recordings runs from 1900 to 1939. The music genres covered are jazz, dance band, swing, ragtime, and even opera. There is also a section for World War I & II era music.

You can listen to the music online or you can download the files separately and play them on your computer.

Happy listening.

For those with eclectic tastes...

2007-03-07T19:22:00.000-08:00

Are you tired of buying all of your "stuff" from mega-stores that resell mass produced - absolutely identical items - to you and everyone else in the world? Would you like to purchase handmade art creations or jewelry? Well, if you answered "yes" to any of my questions, then you should check out "Etsy" - it is a fabulous Web site that offers very unique hand-crafted items.

I love the way the Web site has been designed and it works very, very well. I think this is one site that you could maybe spend just as much time at as you do at e-Bay.

Is that really possible?

And - if you are an artisan, the "Etsy" Web site allows you to promote and sell your wears on their site. Please, go check it all out, right now - before you forget about it!

Keepin' an eye on the south...

2007-03-06T20:33:00.000-08:00

South Pole that is - click here to view a live Web cam and to learn all about the U.S. Antarctic Program. Lots of interesting stuff on the site. Did you know that counting the wind chill factor, it's about 100 degrees below zero (F) right now?

Makes our 10 degrees here on Pond Run seem nice and toasty!

And now for something a little different....

2007-03-05T09:54:00.000-08:00

If you are in the age group of say 13 to 25, you will probably find the "HomeStarRunner" Web site very, very amusing. The site and its content is the brainchild of a couple of really warped guys who started the site while in college. These days, the site receives 200,000 visitors a month! It's made up mostly of animations - pretty funny animations.

Now, me - at the age of 48, I don't find the animations THAT funny, but my 13 year old grandson Hector finds them hilarious! Apparently so do many, many other people. From the content that I have viewed - at the insistence of my grandson, I have yet to find anything that is not "family friendly", it could be there, but I nor my wife have witnessed it.

SO, if you have a slightly warped sense of humor and you like animation, give "HomeStarRunner" a try.

Take a free tour of NYC...

2007-03-05T09:50:00.000-08:00

I've always been fascinated with the "Big Apple", especially the early 1900's version. You can imagine my joyous surprise today when I came across a wonderful slide show of early 1900's NYC images at the "New Yorker" Web site. The focus of the images is on the many bridges in that city but there are a variety of other images included also.

Click here to view the slide show.

Live Internet Television....

2007-03-04T19:10:00.000-08:00

It seems like lately there are more and more Web sites offering access to television stations that are now broadcasting over the Internet. Click here to access one of those new sites. I found the interface very easy to navigate and the quality of the video outstanding. Unfortunately for me, I have a pretty slow Internet connection so the video stopped periodically. If you've got DSL or cable Internet though, you should be quite satisfied with your "reception".

I find it absolutely fascinating that I can view television programing from around the world at the click of my mouse and for no more cost than my Internet connection.

The History of Video Games...

2007-03-04T18:51:00.000-08:00

PBS has created a Web site that provides an in depth look at the history of video games. It's interactive time line starts at 1952 which surprised even me. You can click here to access the site and learn all you ever wanted to about the subject.

Another Great Source of E-books....

2007-03-04T18:46:00.000-08:00

I've mentioned e-books in the past and of their growing popularity. I've even provided some great Web addresses from which to download files or to read online. Now I've got another address to add: FullBooks.com - it claims to provide the content for thousands of books. Check it out for yourself, you just might be able to save some money or a trip to the library.

The Scoop on Daylight Savings Time...

2007-03-04T18:43:00.000-08:00

If you didn't already know it, most of the folks in this country will be setting their clocks one hour ahead this coming Sunday. Daylight Savings Time is upon us earlier than normal this year. If you'd like to learn more about DST click here and you'll find a very interesting article on the subject.

Raising a Ruckus....

2007-03-02T19:29:00.000-08:00

If you are a college student with an official ".edu" email address, you are automatically eligible for a free membership to "Ruckus" - a music download site. The site claims to have over 2 million songs available for download and there is absolultely no charge for the service whatsoever as long as you have a ".edu" email address.

Lucky for me, I just happen to be enrolled in collge full-time at the moment! I checked out the site and it looks totally legit. They make their money through advertising that is on the site and embedded in the "Ruckus Player" that I downloaded to my PC. By the way, the music that is downloaded is only meant to be played on a PC, not on an MP3 or other device, or burned to CD. It's part of the user agreement that you either accept or don't accept.

To me, it's a pretty nice thing to have. I downloaded a couple of Norah Jones and Bonnie Raitt CD's this afternoon and then listened to them contently. The quality was great and the Ruckus Player was easy to use.

The site mentioned that after I leave college, I'll be able to contine to use the service for $8.99 a month.

Sometimes it's okay to stumble....

2007-03-01T12:42:00.000-08:00

Lately, it seems like almost every week, I'm reading about yet another new online video Web site. This week hasn't been any different but different is what the "StumbleUpon" site is all about. About as close as you'll get at the moment to "channel surfing" on the Internet is what you will get at "StumbleUpon".

What the site does is record your viewing preferences and your favorite subjects and then it creates a link that allows you to "surf" through videos that might interest you. While watching a video, you can click on either the "Thumbs Up" or "Thumbs Down" buttons and "StumbleUpon" will become customized to your tastes.

This is one Web site that I'll be visiting often!

Helping familes to get Cozi...

2007-02-28T15:34:00.000-08:00

I'm sure by now you've experienced first hand or read about the "MySpace" phenomenon. Well, the folks behind "Cozi Central" have created a new social networking tool for families. I'm talking here about families that are still together under one roof. The service provides great features such as a shared family calendar, shopping lists, quick messages, and photo collages.

If you'd like to coordinate family activities and little easier and keep in touch a little better, then "Cozi Central" just might be the place to start.

"Find and Share Automotive Knowledge"

2007-02-27T14:43:00.000-08:00

That's the slogan for the new CarGurus.com Web site launched this past January. The site includes user reveiws, rants, raves, and forums. Also, if you are interested in a particular type of vehicle, you will be presented with links to related Internet videos.

The site is still a little rough around the edges but all in all it delivers what is promises.

"City folks just don't get it!"

2007-02-26T19:52:00.000-08:00

Now first of all let me make it perfectly clear, I don't lurk around online dating sites okay? I'm a very happily married man and have no intentions whatsoever in finding a new wife.

Now that that is clear, let me tell you about a fairly new dating site that is quickly growing in popularity. It started out as a way of connecting single people who are in the farming business with each other but it has grown way beyond that now. Here is a quote from the Web site creator himself:

"I'm Jerry Miller, founder of FarmersOnly.com. There are basically two groups in America. Group one: their lives revolve around four dollar cups of coffee, taxi cabs, blue suits, high heels, conference rooms and getting ahead at all costs in the corporate world. If you fall into this group you're probably on the wrong online dating site. Group two: they enjoy blue skies, wide open spaces, raising animals, appreciating nature and truly understand the meaning of Southern hospitality, even if they don't live in the South. This group makes up America's Heartland. This is not a geographic area, this is a slice of America with good old fashioned traditional values, values that were never lost by the farmer."

I believe that I've now provided enough information about this service that you should be able to quickly decide if it just might be something for you.

Good luck!

Something called "Internet"...

2007-02-25T19:34:00.000-08:00

Click here to watch a video posted on the YouTube Web site.

The 1993 video is a short documentary on a new "thing" called "Internet" and of its growing popularity.

How familiar with the Internet were you in 1993?

Me? I was just starting to read about it in some computer magazines that I subscribed to back then. For me, dial-up access didn't arrive till mid-1994 or so.

A Biblio-What?

2007-02-25T19:23:00.000-08:00

If you are a student or a writer, knowing how to type up a bibliography is an important thing. If you find yourself typing up lots of bibliographies then click here and let the World Wide Web do some of that work for you.

All that is required is the book ISBN number and then the user just selects which style (MLA, APA, etc.) to have the citation created.

It's all very simple.

Something new at Weather.com

2007-02-25T19:17:00.000-08:00

I don't know about you but I usually visit Weather.com a couple of times a day. The site is very informative and well designed. A new feature has just been added and I'm pretty darn impressed with it. Click here to see a new interactive map that is now available. While viewing the map you can grab it and move it around to a specific region of the country, you can also zoom in and out and then select various features to overlay on top of the map.

It won't do you any good for me to go on and on about the Weather.com map, you'll just have to go check it out for yourself!

Amazing Earth Facts...

2007-02-24T19:40:00.000-08:00

101 of them to be exact.

The folks at Space.com have gone all out to provide a very entertaining and very informative article about the planet that we all call "home".

Well, most of us do that is....

For those who love to write....

2007-02-23T21:28:00.000-08:00

Click here to read 12 writing tips from George Orwell. In case you didn't know, Orwell was the author of 1984 and some other significant works.

Take "TypoHound" for a walk...

2007-02-23T21:11:00.000-08:00

If you are like me, occasionally you'll drop by e-Bay and search for a few items that you might be interested in. I just recently learned that a great number of e-bay listings get totally overlooked for one simple reason - there are misspellings in the item title listing.

So, if you are searching for a particular brand of item and unfortunately if a fella' (or lady) has posted exactly what you wanted for a fantastic price YET misspelled the brand name - you are outta' luck my friend.

Well, you used to be out of luck.

Now we've all got "TypoHound" to the rescue!

Visit the site, type in the brand name (correctly) and this awesome service will search e-Bay for every possible way of misspelling the name, then it will provide a link to the search results at e-Bay for all of the misspelled listings. You just might find a really spectacular deal!

Pretty cool don't ya' think?

Unless it's gonna' make you spend more money at e-Bay than you should and your spouse is gonna' get even madder at you and....

Well, I'm off to Zamzar....

2007-02-21T08:04:00.000-08:00

No, it's not some exotic locale - it's a Web site. A Web site that offers a really awesome free service. Now for you who are not very Internet or computer savvy, I may be going just a little too deep, but please bear with me if you will.

There are times in every one's Internet/computer related life that they will probably need to have a computer file converted. Be it one music format into another, or maybe a Microsoft Publisher file converted into an Adobe PDF file, etc. - it's bound to happen eventually, I can guarantee it.

That's where "Zamzar" comes in handy. You simply go to the Web site, upload the file that you want to convert (very easily may I say so myself), select which type of file you want it converted into, and then provide your email address.

After the conversion is complete, you will receive an email providing you with a link to download the new file from.

It's that easy.

No strings attached, no charges, and the folks at Zamzar promise to never give away or sell your email address to a third-party, nor do they keep a copy of your uploaded files (they simply wouldn't have enough space to store everything!).

So go ahead, get converted!

Do you doodle?

2007-02-21T07:58:00.000-08:00

I've found a Web site that lets you doodle online and then remarkably your creation instantly becomes three-dimensional. By utilizing the arrow keys on your keyboard, you can rotate the object plus tilt it up and down at different angles. You can thank the folks at "Squid Soup" for offering such a service.

Sure, it's a time-killer but it is lots of fun!

If you don't have the latest version of Shockwave installed, you'll be prompted to download it - that's okay, it's perfectly safe to do so.

Go see Lulu...

2007-02-20T19:23:00.000-08:00

You've heard of "YouTube" - probably hundreds of times by now. You've probably heard of several other online video sites as well.

Here is another one, it's called "Lulu TV".

The service is hosted by a great publishing company, you can learn about all of their services by clicking here.

One of the unique aspects about Lulu TV is that folks who upload content to the Web site can actually earn money. The more popular a video is, that is the more times it is watched - the more money that is paid to the person who posted the work.