Sometimes you want to provide your e-mail address in a web form to get some information you want -- like a password to a site you would like to visit -- or a report you can use. Or perhaps give it to a new acquaintance. But you don't want it followed by a ton of Spam.

The folks at Mailinator.com have a neat solution. Simply make up an e-mail address to use for just that one time. For example:

AnnInDenver@mailinator.com or
TrumpAndJones@mailinator.com.

Then go to this great site and get the response you are looking for. It's that easy. No sign up or personal information is required and your e-mail and the created address will be deleted automatically after a short time putting an end to any further foolishness.

Great vanishing guard dog. There is no cost to use this canine -- and you don't have to feed it.

Quick and Easy Phone Search

Those folks at Google have more tricks up their sleeves that a pack of prestidigitators performing perplexities with professional precision. Here are two new Google tricks:

Try typing a phone number in the Goggle search box. Up comes every place on the web where this number appears. It's like having a private detective. Similarly, rather than use a yellow page lookup just type the category and the area code in which you would like to search. Example: "theater 617."

Neat tricks.

Protect Your Privacy

The folks at AT&T have come up with a very useful program to help you make some sense out of website privacy policies. They call it their Privacy Bird.

Once you set your privacy preferences this neat program automatically searches for privacy policies at every website you visit and gives you a green light if the site's policies match your personal privacy preferences (and gives the site the red bird if its privacy policy leaves doors open that you would prefer closed.)

Saves a lot of time consuming digging. Valuable service.

Are You A Genius?

We know how smart you are (you read Real Estate CyberTips regularly!), but did you ever wonder if you are a genius?

Emode.com is the place to find out. These folks have some heavy-duty qualifications for determining your IQ score. The short test also informs you of your intellectual category.

Quick, informative, enlightening and no cost great place.

Published: December 2, 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.