Omnivorous Surfer

Ever need to know that someone actually opened the email message you sent? Most web-based email providers don't have a return receipt feature, and some don't allow you to run messages through a local client like Outlook or Thunderbird. In looking for an easy solution to that problem for #2 son this evening, I found SpyPig.

"SpyPig is a simple email tracking system that sends you a notification by email when the recipient opens your message. It works with virtually all modern email programs: Outlook, Eudora, Yahoo Email, Gmail, Hotmail, AOL Email and many others." Nothing to install, no registration required, and of course, it's FREE.

I checked it out and found that it is simple and it works. Get your message ready first. Then go to SpyPig and enter your email address and the message title. SpyPig will use that to create an image for you to paste somewhere in your message. Don't worry, you don't have to use a picture of a pig...though you could if you wanted to; one of the options is a blank image. I tried it and found that it worked like a charm.

The one requirement that could cause it to fail is that both the sender and receiver must use HTML email, not plain text or rich text format.

Have more opportunity at your computer than elsewhere to read? If you could get a "daily dose" of a book, just enough for one day at a time, would that make it easier for you to read a book? If so, DailyLit might be just right for you. A wide variety of authors and titles are available to choose from for FREE. Your selection will be delivered in installments via email on your choice of a daily, weekday, or Monday-Wednesday-Friday schedule. You can add books to a To Read list so that when you complete one book, the delivery of the next one will begin.

I have used this in the past, but two of the offerings mentioned in my most recent newsletter have drawn me back:
a 16-lesson Berlitz Spanish course, available through May 1
Murders in the Rue Morgue, in honor of Edgar Allan Poe's January birthday

I think I should be able to read these in Mobipocket Reader.

Ever see an Internet shorthand or text message shorthand  ;-) that you didn't recognize? Well, there's help for those of us who don't use these to communicate all the time. The dictionary on NetLingo also includes words and acronyms in the following categories: business, hardware, software, technology, programming, organizations, and technical. The book NetLingo: The Internet Dictionary is available, but who wants a static reference these days when a dynamic one is available. Besides, you'll probably be on the Internet when you need it.

There are also a widget to add to your iGoogle page, if you use one, which lets you type in the shorthand to retrieve its meaning; an iPhone app; and other tools.

These are sites which generate an e-mail address that will expire, good to have for some sites which require you to register. There are several, but the one I have used is mint email . Visiting the site generates a random email address which is automatically copied to your clipboard. The site will keep the address active for 4 hours; leave the window open and it will automatically update to show you any mail that comes to the email address. You can also return to the URL to see any messages that have been delivered if you close the window. There is even a robot that will automatically verify the email address for most websites, so you don't have to click on the URL link to verify it. Pretty cool!
There are other sites which will keep an address active for longer than 4 hours, but this one works well for me.

GetResponse (http://www.getresponse.com/) is an autoresponder. I have used it to set up tech tips to be emailed on a predefined (by me) schedule to those who request to receive them. On the current home page, click on Pricing and choose Free to set up a free account. Works fine with no limitations or expiration, but the messages include some advertising. None were ever found objectionable when I used it at school.