Google is a very efficient Internet search engine.  I can't overstate how useful I find this site for retrieving information from the WWW.  If you take the time to use some of the advanced search features you can search the web with almost laser like precision.  I use Google's web site more than any other site � perhaps more than all other web sites combined.  I strongly recommend the Google toolbar which allows you to search the WWW, with even greater ease, directly from your browser's menu bar. 

I also recommend the translate tool, which does an excellent job of quickly translating several languages (I remember when you had to pay for this kind of software).  Despite the increase of advertisements, Google has retained a clean and simple interface that makes finding things on the web a breeze. 

Plaxo

Plaxo allows you to manage your contact information online.  More importantly Plaxo allows your contacts to update their own information.  The best feature of Plaxo is it ability to integrate directly with your Microsoft Outlook email program. 

Here how it works:  You download the free Plaxo software.  Plaxo then sends an email to all of the contacts in your address book requesting updated information.  The immediate benefit is that you can see, through nice little icons, which email address are invalid, who has provided updated information and who is also a Plaxo member .  Bad email addresses can be easily removed from your address book.  The contact information of other Plaxo members is automatically updated in your address book whenever they update their own information.  If you key contact information into the Plaxo web site it is automatically updated in your outlook address book and vice versa.  This program has made the task of managing my contacts much easier.

The only disadvantage is that a lot of people ignore the Plaxo email requesting updated information, thinking it is spam or not wanting to be bothered.   I felt the same way.  However, after getting so many requests for updates I decided to check Plaxo out.  I've been hooked ever since.  Now when I get a request for an update, I just forward my Plaxo card

If you have a digital camera and don't use a web site like ofoto you are not reaping the full benefits of digital photography.  ofoto allows you to upload all of your digital photographs, organize them into convenient albums and share the photos with others.  You can order prints, enlargements and even get your photographs framed via ofoto.  ofoto is fast and easy to use.  Check out photos from one of AALBC.com's literary salons featuring Colin Channer http://www.ofoto.com/I.jsp?c=hgeq7si.xgq3c1u&x=0&y=-80xxoy

Evite

Evite is a very popular tool for sending electronic invitations for events.  With Evite you can email an invitation to a couple hundred people and track their responses.  You are also able to keep track of events, to which you have been "Evited", using the calendaring software Evite provides.  You can also transfer the event information to your Outlook calander   Check out the Evite that was send to invite people to an AALBC.com literary salon featuring Kenji Jasper http://www.evite.com/pages/invite/viewInvite.jsp?event=ZNQOODBDHGZCLBPBVAOX

Amazon is perhaps the premier seller of books on the net.  Years ago AALBC.com discovered it made much more sense, financially, to have Amazon fulfill our book orders rather than fulfilling the orders ourselves.  Amazon pays as much as 15% commissions on books sales.  Amazon also provides a product feed which allow you to set up a virtual store.  Check out our Hip-Hop Book Club Best Selling Books: http://hiphopbookclub.com/bestsellaz.htm 

Amazon has not stopped at books they are selling almost everything else online.  Amazon is a good site to for comparison shopping as they fulfill orders for many other vendors as well.  My only complaint about Amazon is that they seem to be doing too much and are losing some of their focus. 

Alexa Internet, Inc.

Want to see how much traffic a web site is getting?  Check out Alexa.  Well Alexa is not going to give you a web site's exact statistics, however they are a good site for obtaining relative or indicative information on how web site is doing, in terms of traffic, relative to other web sites.  The information is very useful in judging the relative popularity of a web site.

See how popular AALBC.com is: http://www.alexa.com/data/details/?url=aalbc.com.

SideStep - the traveler's search engine

Sidestep is a really useful search engine for checking ticket prices from many of the major airlines with one simple search.  Once the results are returned you select which flight you would like to take and you are transferred to the airline's web site to complete your order.  The biggest advantage is the ability to comparison shop. 

Again, Sidestep is a search engine so it behaves very differently than a travel agency site like Expedia.com, Travelocity or Orbitz.  For example one of the biggest differences is Airlines like JetBlue, Southwest Airlines and Independence air do not sell through travel agency sites.  On a recent trip to Florida with my family I was able to find and book a flight outbound to Ft Lauderdale on Jet Blue with a return from Orlando on Song, for four people, at the times I wanted.  I was even able to select the seats I wanted.

SideStep requires that you download software to your computer.  I found the software to be easy to install and unobtrusive. 

If you have an interest in learning more about personal technology, including computers, PDA's, digital cameras and more, Walter Mossberg is required reading.  The advantage of Mossberg is that he writes for people that are not technically savvy and who do not have high end technical requirements.  Mossberg writes for the average person. 

I actually read the print version of Mossberg's columns in the Wall Street Journal.  However all of his articles, columns, Q&A emails are archived on the Wall Street Journal's web site.

Spy Sweeper

Actually Spy Sweeper is not a web site, but software that I highly recommend for any Windows PC that connects to the internet.  Spy Sweeper finds and removes spyware, adware, popups and other annoying software that can modify your browser's settings by adding menu bars, changing your default homepage, tracking which sites you visit, or any number of other annoying things that slow or snoop on your Internet browsing..

If left unchecked, "spyware" can literarily render your browser unusable especially for an older, less powerful computer.  I downloaded Spy Sweeper and installed it on all of my computers.  My youngest daughter's computer was taken over by so much adware that she simply could not use her browser.  Each time she launched internet explorer, there were about 10 different pop-pops, each pop up that was closed spawned another  � it was a mess.  The free version of Spy Sweeper removed all of this "hacker garbage" from her computer and the improvement in performance was remarkable.

Note:  Spy Sweeper is not antivirus software.  If you have a Windows PC you will need antivirus software too.  The initial software download of Spy Sweeper is free, however a yearly subscription costs $29.95 a year.  I learned about Spy Sweeper from Walt Mossberg's Column (see above).

PayPal
http://www.paypal.com
PayPal allows you to accept credit card payments on-line without the expense of establishing a traditional merchant account.  PayPal makes it very easy to sell products or services online.  You enter the product or service information and PayPal does the rest. You can be notified via email when orders are placed.  The funds are immediately available and can be transferred to your bank's checking account, or you can chose to keep your funds in the interest bearing PayPal account.

Once the order is placed the customer's mailing addresses is verified.  You can even print a UPS shipping label or packing slip with the click of a mouse.  At tax time, PayPal allows you to export your data into a spreadsheet or even a program like QuickBooks.  If you sign up for the PayPal debt card each purchase you make earns you cash back.  It is like getting a discount on everything your buy.

PayPal makes it possible for AALBC.com to sell low margin items, like books, and still turn a profit.