Out, out, darned telemarketer.

A while back we wrote about a gadget that zaps telemarketers (May 2002). Now some smart privacy defenders have come up with a simple way to accomplish the same thing without paying the $40-$50 dollar cost to buy the zapping gadget that fools telemarketers autodialing equipment by emitting the ascending three-note special-information tone you hear before, "We're sorry, the number you have reached has been disconnected."

The previously free secret workaround is to replicate this tone and simply record it into your answering device and is all laid out at this magic place, Laser.com. If you just want the tone without the explanation you can download it at the aforementioned link.

Now you can sit back and zap the telemarketers. And without the need to spend some serious bucks -- you'll have them in your pocket while you enjoy the silence!

Shorten Links

Here's another neat trick! Makeashorterlink.com provides a simple free service that solves a common problem.

When you locate a page on the web with an address that is too long to comfortably paste into an email or other document, you can use this free service to generate a shorter, simpler address that will take folks to the same Internet spot.

Be sure to check out an option allows you to set up the system so it skips a semi-annoying transition page, which shows the full URL when you follow the new shortened link. By selecting this option, web travelers will be sent transparently through to their destination without interruption.

Always fly in the best seat

Ever get stuck on a flight with a seat that won't recline? Could you use some extra legroom? Do you have a long flight coming up and want a quiet, comfortable seat? Next time before you book your flight check out this great place that bills itself as THE source for airplane seat information.

Seatguru.com rates seats on all American, Continental, Delta, Northwest, United, and US Airways flights and assign a seat desirability rating including such layout detail as pitch, width, laptop power outlets, reclineabilty, and location.

If you need some more unique flight information, check Airlinemeals.net to see what you will be eating on the flight!

Bring visitors to your site

What do the Smithsonian Institution, US Congress, real estate agents, mortgage lenders, dating services and job banks have in common? They use this simple service to get visitors back to your Internet site with one click right from their own desktop!

These folks provide you with a set up that gives your visitors the power to place your company logo on their Windows Desktop, and Start Menu. Your visitors can then click on your logo at any time -- right from their Desktop -- and are automatically taken directly back to your site. And that's the power of this product it uses the visitors own Windows Desktop which is extremely valuable marketing real estate!

Not free as are many Internet services we review here but well worth the modest cost when weighed against the ability it gives you to keep bringing then back home!

Published: January 6, 2003

Use of this article without permission is a violation of federal copyright laws.

John M. "Jack" Peckham is the Executive Director of REcyber.com (the Real Estate CyberSpace Society). In that capacity he oversees the development and delivery of the latest up to the minute Real Estate Cyberspace tools, strategies, networking structures and services that the Society provides its members to leverage their effectiveness, visibility, professionalism and earnings. As host of Real Estate CyberSpace Radio, he provides over 40 hours of programming to help listeners integrate the power of the Internet into their daily business lives. He is the author of several real estate books published by Prentice Hall and Harcourt Brace Jovanovich including his latest Master Guide to Income Property Brokerage from Wiley Publishing. A columnist for the Boston Herald for nine years, his syndicated columns have appeared in over 100 papers nationwide. Jack loves to sell real estate has been involved directly in the sale of over one billion dollars in Real Estate. Today he sells in his jeans and fuzzy slippers as a one-man shop and has closed over $40,000,000 in sales on the Internet recently in 20% of his working time. The balance he spends directing the affairs of the 10,000 member Real Estate CyberSpace Society. The Society awards the RECS (Real Estate CyberSpace Specialist) Designation to members based on the current criteria. He served as Chairman of the Strategic Planning Committee for the National Association of Realtors (NAR), is a Past President of the Massachusetts Association of Realtors and has been honored as the Massachusetts State Realtor of the Year. You can reach Jack at or by calling 617-523-4441.