Tip of the Day: Advanced Google Search

Have you ever found yourself searching for information on a website, but to no avail, you can't seem to find it?  Perhaps the site has poor navigation, or even worse, a terrible search engine. Don't fret...you can let Google do the work for you.

Perform your normal Google search, but add a "site:[website name without the www.]" to your search string.  This instructs Google to search only that site for those keywords.

Here are some examples (these would be typed exactly into google):

minnesota tax form site:irs.gov

dog sledding site:iamonthedotcom.blogspot.com

store locations site:ikea.com

Try it out...it's saved me lots of times.

Tip of the Week

Do you struggle with pulling aluminum foil or plastic wrap out of the container?  Did you know that just about all major & store brand containers feature tabs at the end that you can push in -- so the roll spins around them, and stays in place when you try to rip off your portion?

Such a simple design, and so helpful.  Why doesn't more of the world know about these?  Or was I the only one left in the dark for all these years?  (Apparently not)

iTunes Tip

I just discovered my favorite new iTunes "trick".

Want to filter your music by Album, Artist, or Genre?

Simply option-click (sorry, I don't know the PC version, probably Ctrl-Click?) on the little arrows that show up next to the item you'd like to filter, and voila.  Filter complete.

Don't Reduce. Refuse

I wrote a blog post about a year ago explaining how you could opt out of receiving pre-approved credit card offers in the mail. This very same topic came up the other day, and I realized for the first time that the opt-out worked beautifully. Not only does it keep junk out of my mailbox, but it reduces waste too.

Check it out.

Photo Tip of the Day

Aperture controls your flash, shutter speed controls ambient light.

And don't forget it.

Another Word to the Wise

With the purchase of my new cell phone comes a new service contract with Cingular. I purchased it online, and selected the option to "port" over my existing number to my new carrier.

Great, right? Well, yes, minus this weekend and next few days while I wait for my phone to be delivered. I didn't realize they would port my number instantly. So that means when I tried to use my phone Friday night it told me I wasn't an authorized Sprint subscriber. And when people have tried to call me, they get a "voicemail not configured yet" message.

So my words of advice: if you're going to switch over cell phone carriers and keep your same number, buy your new phone from the store.

But perhaps what is more sad is how disconnected I feel. What if someone wanted to call me? What if someone wanted to play soccer? What if someone was throwing a party in my honor and I couldn't be reached to make it? I just know all of my fans out there are having a nervous breakdown because they can't reach me. Right? Anyone? Buehler?

Tip O' the Day

Ever have a window open on your computer that is somewhat off-screen, and you can't move it because your mouse can't reach the title bar? That happened to me today, and I found this tip to help out:

1. Hold down Alt + Spacebar
2. Press the M key
3. Use the arrow keys to relocate the window (or move your mouse)
4. Press the Enter key when you have the window in the desired location