Given the state of the economy and all that's going on this time of year, you might find these six websites useful, either to save time and/or money, or simply to provide amusement when you're sitting around with family or friends:
FanSnap: FanSnap is a FREE live event ticket search engine that has appeared on several "best web site" lists. It claims to provide accurate ticket search results from StubHub and other leading ticket providers. I recently tested it looking for tickets for
Eric Clapton & Roger Daltrey at the N.O. Arena on March 6th. If nothing else, the site gives you a range of prevaling prices. Tickets for sale on eBay, however, give me pause, just like when I see them offered on
Craig's List. When in doubt, check private sellers with
SuspectedScammers.com. You can also compare ticket prices with
NoFeesTickets.com.
GetHuman: If you find automated telephone attendants frustrating ("Press '1' for Sales; '2' for Tech Support; '3' to dial by name, etc."), this site is for you! It specializes in providing telephone numbers to reach a live person at hundreds of companies.
Google Trends: Search engines keep track of the words or phrases people use to find information, which is why you hear about some celebrity or public figure being ranked #1. Nevertheless, hot topics come and go, so whenever I have the time, I like to check Google Trends. If something interesting is happening, it appears there quickly. The
trend tool is easy to use, and the rankings are updated every hour or so. [
Google Hot Trends ]
Qik: This free app allows you to use the built-in camera in your smart phone or cellphone to share live video via the Web. [
List of Supported Handsets ] Video can either be uploaded as a live feed or as a stored recording, configured for a public or private audience. You can also post videos on Facebook or share them via Twitter. Qik is pretty cool, but make sure your smartphone has an unlimited data plan, or you might wind up with a big monthly bill.
Retrevo: Contemplating an expensive consumer electronics purchase? Retrevo uses artificial intelligence to provide comprehensive, unbiased, up-to-date product information. The site is a one-stop shop for expert reviews, owner reviews, manuals, brochures, technical specs and other information. The site even charts the current stage of the product's life cycle, so you can avoid buying a model that is about to be replaced, and the
Retrevo Value Map compares factors other than price to help you determine which is the best deal overall.
WolframAlpha: This computational knowledge engine has a learning curve, but its ability to combine facts, like the date of your birth and the city where you were born, is impressive. Want to know the height of One Shell Square or the overall dimensions of the Crescent City Connection? No problem. My favorite search, however, is "given name <name>," which graphs the popularity of the name on a timeline, along with its overall popularity ranking and the average age of individuals in the U.S. with that name. Never was it more obvious what impact movie stars, sports figures, and other celebrities have when it comes to our naming our children. If you're a Hollywood film buff, try 'Tab,' 'Gene,' 'Marilyn,' then compare 'Brooke,' 'Blake,' or 'Alexis.' Which names are on the rise? The
U.S. Social Security Administration says 'Noah,' 'Abagail,' 'Isabella,' and 'Chloe' are among the most popular.
