Each week we try to give you a little more insight into what technology you might expect to see very shortly.
- Bust
a Rhyme - Moon, June, spoon, swoon -- pretty standard stuff,
huh? If you're in need of something a bit more complex, try searching
at A Zillion Kajillion Rhymes and Clichés. You'll find a pitch for a
more extensive software program, but you can also try the free online
version to both generate rhymes and weed out clichés. It's perfect
for poets, songwriters, speech writers, and students. Spittoon,
doubloon, Brigadoon, jejune!
- Find
Pet-Friendly Lodging - Traveling with rover and fluffy can be
tough; many hotels out there don't accept pets as guests, and
smuggling in your furry, feathered, or scaly friends can be a risky
proposition, at best. To find places where your animal companions can
join in on the fun, go to petswelcome.com. You'll find listings for
pet-positive national chains, charming bed-and-breakfasts, specialty
inns, and even campgrounds. You'll never have to leave your best
friends home again -- unless they mess the car, that is.
- Run
a Background Check - Cyberdating has moved from theory to
actual fact in the past couple of years. If you've met what appears to
be that special someone online, play it safe by checking him or her
out first with the WhoIsHe.com/WhoIsShe.com service. For a flat fee,
the site runs a basic background check on potential cyberpals, so you
can find out if they're lying about their age, marital status, or
criminal record. While snooping into someone's personal life may not
be the most romantic way to initiate a relationship, sometimes it's
better to be safe than sorry.
- Determine Your Life Expectancy - Would you like to know how long you're going to live? If so, you can do one of two things: Either pay a visit to your local palm reader, or play The Longevity Game. At the latter, you can get a prediction of your life span simply by answering some questions about yourself and your living habits. Of course, no Web site can tell you whether you'll live long enough to pay off that credit card balance, but we find this one incredibly useful in that it should goad you into quitting smoking, eating better, and exercising regularly. Now, where's that double bacon cheeseburger?