Free directory assistance number

In an effort to be more like Shawn, I'm again posting a tip I seriously use almost on a daily basis.

While dialing 411, directory assistance, is a great way to "look up" numbers and addresses without using a phone book or computer, it can be costly. But a while back, Google introduced a new pilot directory assistance number: 1.800.GOOG.411

By dialing 1.800.466.4411 (1.800.GOOG.411), you get the same information you would from 411, but without the fee, and without having to listen to any ads.

If you're not familiar with the typical 411 system, it (and GOOG 411) goes something like this:

1. Dial the directory assistance #.

2. When prompted, state the city and state the company (or person) you are looking for is in.

3. State the business (or person)'s name.

4. Wait for the number, or choose to be connected directly.

Send a text via email

My friend and fellow blogger Shawn often posts cool tips, innovations, and new products that are out there. In fact, her blog is mainly that, and I recommend you visit it.

One of Shawn's recent tips was something I knew about, but when I read it I thought, "What a good idea, Shawn. Letting everyone know about it." So I'm blatantly copying her and doing the same.

You can send free text messages from your email account if you know the recipient's phone carrier. Just type in a phone number before the recipient's correlating address below:

Alltel - @message.alltel.com
AT&T - @txt.att.net
Sprint - @messaging.sprintpcs.com
T-Mobile - @tmomail.net
Verizon Wireless - @vtext.com
Virgin Mobile - @vmobl.com

first semi-real blogspot blog

After blogging for a couple of years on MySpace, I've decided to become a real blogger and start posting these mini-journal entries on blogspot instead of e-mailing the blogs to friends and family who are not on MySpace.

I hope to be as good at for-real blogging as my friends Kristen and Shawn, who do fantastic jobs of updating readers on their worlds and the interesting happenings that go on in them.

So who knows? Maybe I'll post a really real blog really soon!