Free 3D Software

Google is giving away a free version of SketchUp. This free 3D software package comes after Google acquired @Last Software last month. SketchUp will allow users to create 3D models of houses and many other 3D applications and also offers a plug-in of Google Earth (so you can get satellite views of specific locations). Google also will offer a service to store your 3D images online and share them with others called 3D Warehouse. I think this is a really cool free 3D software so people can experiment, share their designs and create cool new applications. Plus I love the fact that it's free!

Stock Blogs

AOL and Weblogs have lauched a new site called BloggingStocks.com. Blogs which discuss stocks and stock performance will be offered on the site -- blogs about only specific high-profile companies (such as Microsoft, Apple, Google, WalMart and Time Warner) will be included.

Save Money on Gas

Okay -- I normally don't get interested in new companies because I'm so busy with what I'm involved in right now. But I did come across this new business model to save money on gas -- increase fuel efficiency, create less pollution, and save money. So I thought I'd share. I think gas prices are outrageous! Prices are getting worse and worse.

The company is a new MLM opportunity -- so if you love networking and want to save money on gas, this is a great thing. If you don't love networking but want to save money on gas -- then you're just like me. :-)

Anyway, check out the marketing website -- Save Money on Gas -- and learn how you can have better emissions on your car, get better gas mileage, save the environment, save money, and perhaps earn some money as well.

Yahoo Turns PC into DVR

Yahoo has just launched a beta version of free software (Yahoo Go) which will allow you to connect your PC to a TV video/audio input connections and then the computer can record and play back recorded TV shows. You can also play DVDs, music, and show photos on your TV that you have on your computer. Really cool technology. Now they just need to add the ability to call your computer from your cell phone or PDA to determine what to record.

Slowing Down to Do What Matters Most

"Anything worth doing is worth doing well should be altered to say, 'Many things are not worth doing at all, and many things are not worth doing well because they're not worth the time it takes to do them well.' Only a few things are worth the best energies that we have. The most important decisions we have to make every day is whether we are using our time to feed our souls, contribute to those around us in a meaningful ways, and live true to our deepest values."

This quote comes from a really great article about how we are always so busy, that we never really feel satisfied. It is something I've been dealing with myself lately -- having too much to do and feeling a level of stress that is not healthy. There are so many of us in the same situation -- so I wanted to share the article with you. Slowing Down to Do What Matters Most. Enjoy it!

JokeBox - Online Jokes, Videos

If you like humor and have ever laughed out loud at some video you got online -- the creators of JibJab (most likely the source of the video) has created a new online comedy social network called JokeBox. Members can post jokes, photos, audio and video files. I haven't seen it myself and hope you can filter out results so you don't get any of the crude or tasteless stuff, but think it's a great idea.

Educational Online Searching

In the past I think it's been a struggle to find actual academic information online because of the huge amount of information available. However educational online searching has now become easier. Microsoft recently launched a beta version of Windows Live Academic -- which will compete with Google Scholar -- allowing users to search exclusively through academic information. Right now the Microsoft product focuses on computer science, electrical engineering and physics, and is only available in 7 countries.

It will be interesting to see how students, researchers and teachers can benefit from this new product, and see how well it takes off.

Google Patents Voice Search

Google now has a patent which covers a "voice interface for a search engine". Apparently the search will provide results from a voice search query. Ken Fisher (from Slashdot) writes that "voice recognition could possibly power Google's mobile search right into competition with local 411 services."

Best Web Hosting

I've used a lot of web hosting companies in my time, and the best web hosting company I have found is called Blue Host. They offer a huge amount of space, lots of bandwidth, support for ASP, PHP etc, as well as good customer support. Their service is reliable and I think they are one of the best web hosting companies out there. If you have had great success with a specific web hosting company, I'd love to hear about it. I have over 100 domains and I'm always looking for the best web hosting companies.

Anyway, just thought I'd share. Right now they have a deal where you can get a free domain name with your hosting package. Click on the link below to check it out.

Free Domain With $6.95 Hosting Package

VOIP (Voice-over Internet Protocol)

Have any of you used VOIP (Voice-over internet protocol) -- like Skype? It is supposed to be really good and cheaper than regular phone service. But I wonder if it works as good. Also since VOIP is the new thing, I'm not sure how it works being away from home, or if you have to be connected to the internet/computer at home. I tried Skype last year but that was when it was just starting and VOIP hadn't really taken off yet. Anyway, I'd be interested in knowing if you've used VOIP and what your experience has been.

TV Shows on the Web

ABC TV is going to offer some TV shows on the web. Beginning in May, "Desperate Housewives", "Lost", as well as some other top shows will be available on the web for free (during a 2-month trial period.) Some shows such as "Commander in Chief," and the whole season of "Alias" will be available on ABC.com. The only drawback is that there will be ads embedded into the shows and there is no way to skip or fast-forward through the ads (at least not yet) -- but I'm sure someone will come up with some way to get around them.

This is good news for all fans who may have misses an episode and can't wait for the reruns.

New DELL XPS Computers

Well, we've purchased several new development computers from DELL. It has been a very easy set up process and I'm looking forward to the additional speed we will get from these new systems. I love the flat panel monitor (which was a free bonus with the purchase of a new DELL XPS computer.) I've always had good luck with my DELL Dimension computer systems in the past and hope these new systems will serve us well.

Click on this link and find out the current DELL XPS sales and promotions. Dell XPS experience

I do wish I could find a better solution to all of the cords and cables. It seems that either they get all tangled, get in the way, look horrible, or if I get them to look nice there is no easy way to make changes to the system. Does anyone have any suggestions on a good way to deal with all of the cords?

Tax Season

Well it's tax season again. I can't believe how quickly the deadline is arriving. I told myself that this year I'd get my taxes done early and then not have to stress. But here it is again and it's getting down to the wire.

The problem is that I have 8 months of receipts that I have to file before getting started on my taxes. I've been so busy this past year that I got behind and although I keep all my receipts -- they are in a big box and now I get to go and enter them into Quicken. I've written on them so it's good that I don't have to remember what they were for (business, etc.) -- however it is very time consuming.

Anyway, to all of the rest of you who are busy this tax season trying to catch up, at least we're in it together. :-) And to those of you who have filed and already have your refunds -- I hope to be one of you next year.

Google Page Rank

I haven't seen this issue before but our site Directory.net keeps jumping back and forth between a 3 and a 7 Page Rank. I'm not sure why that is happening. Whether or not it is a cache problem or if the page rank is actually changing. Have any of you seen this problem before?