By Bruce A. Love
Many of us have favorite web sites that we use periodically. As we find these gems on the Internet, we place them into our "favorites" folder so we can easily locate them for future use. As I looked into my Favorites folder this week, I thought that Mirror readers could benefit from knowing about some of my favorites. Many of the sites in this article are good ones to use if you are in business, but others are just plain fun or useful in other ways. If you are like me, you will enjoy checking out these sites and learning new things.
If you are contemplating starting a business, there are several web sites that will help you get the information you will need to build a successful business. The Pennsylvania Small Business Development Centers web site is a great place to start: www.pasbdc.org/what/resources/statistics.asp. This link goes straight to their demographic and statistics page (a personal favorite). On the side of the page are links to many other useful areas including "Starting and Running a Small Business," "Specialized Management Topics," and other "Government Websites." Our state also has a resource called the Invent PA Network. It is part of the Department of Community and Economic Development. Visit them at www.Inventpa.com. At the Federal level is the United States Small Business Administrations web site (www.sbaonline.sba.gov). Also, do not forget the Internal Revenue Service at www.irs.gov.
www.ThinkExist.com is the best web site for finding quotations. Search by subject, author, keywords, or other criteria to easily locate the perfect quote. The site boasts over 140,000 quotes by over 11,000 authors. ThinkExist also allows you to create a book of favorite quotes as you locate them on their web site. You can even receive daily e-mails with quotes of the day. Impress your friends, family, and boss by quoting these nuggets of wisdom!
If you are looking for a job, there are some very good websites. The state and federal job websites appear to be particularly useful, though I must confess, I have not met anyone who has gotten a job through a web site. The Pennsylvania Career Link advertises "One-stop delivery of career services to job seekers and employers." See www.pacareerlink.state.pa.us. At the Federal level, visit www.usajobs.gov. This site has thousands of jobs available, and their search tools are excellent.
Congress.org is the place to go to find contact information for anyone in any office of government. Search by ZIP code, region, state, or name to find the office for which you need information. In addition to Congress, Senate, and White House contacts, the web site also lists legislation that is being considered by our elected officials. There also are links to the Supreme Court Justices, and every Federal agency!
FamilyDoctor.org is an incredible resource for researching any medical condition. I found that using the Search box is the fastest way to get to the information I needed. This web site is uncluttered and not commercial. Webmd.com is a bit commercial, and has pop-ups, but you may find that their doctor locating tools are very useful.
In a previous article, we described how Snopes.com attempts to validate or disprove various stories we have heard over the years. You may be surprised to discover the truth about some stories! It is always good to be informed, and not be part of the hordes that spread rumors.
Wordsmith.org is an interesting site for word lovers and for anyone wanting to increase their vocabulary. For fun, put your name into their anagram maker and see what phrases are made from it!
SafeKids.com is a great resource for parents of young children who want to ensure that families learn how to make the "Internet and Technology fun, safe, and productive."
If you know of a great web site that you think others would appreciate (and it is more than just a commercial for your business), send it in and we'll let Mirror readers benefit from your suggestions in a future article. Your approved suggestions will also be posted on my web site at www.loveconsulting.com/links.htm. If you are in business and would like to link to our web site, don't hesitate to contact me to arrange for a mutual link!
