Trick #1: A Butler to Read You the News

How about a butler to read the news to you each morning? This software converts any text you highlight on the web into spoken words so you can listen to text instead of reading from the screen. And as long as this neat software is running all you need do is press the program hot button on your keyboard to hear any selected text.

This neat little program can also read you your e-mail, your word documents -- in short any text you can see on your screen in just about any program. It will also convert text into an MP3 or WAV audio file, so you can listen later after downloading to your iPod or burning it onto a CD.

Good stuff and the price is right -- it's on the house.

Trick #2: Family Tree Geni

How'd you like to build a family tree and get your relatives to do most of the work?

This is a new genealogy site with a new attitude. Instead of making you do all the work, the site allows you to invite in relatives, who use their knowledge of the family history, and let them fill in their information. It looks like when everyone gets through doing their bit we'll end up with a huge consolidated family tree of the world.

And like many other noble causes there is no cost to use this neat service.

Great Place #1: Never Forget a Thing

This is a simple and easy to use tool that really works. Just go to this great place, enter your cell number and a text reminder. Then schedule the time you would like it delivered and Shazam -- your cell phone will alert you right on time.

You can set up birthday reminders for the rest of the year and get your "to do" reminders right on schedule. You can also use this little web service to remind others about an event at a specific date and time. Its uses are only limited by your imagination.

The simplicity of this program will remind you of Google and there is no cost to use this one trick pony.

Great Place #2: Find Local Events Fast

Want to find out what's going on around town? Then this is a great place to start. You can search by date, zip code, insert a mileage radius and select the type of event such as Arts & Crafts, Community, Business & Tech, Dance, Fairs & Festivals, Food & Dining, Music, Performing Arts, Sports & Outdoors or Visual Arts.

In addition you can add your event and it will be picked up here and at any applicable media partner where it will also appear locally on the web and in print.

There are lots of additional bells and whistles here. Nice resource.