There is nothing better for saving time than a good shortcut. Shortcut keys provide us an easier and quicker way to use our software programs.

The big problem has always been remembering, or saving, all of the shortcuts for the many programs we use. Just when you need one, the program manual or slip of paper with your notes have vanished like a taxi in a rainstorm. All of these problems will go away when you visit computerhope.com's shortcut heaven where you can find answers to all your shortcut questions along with shortcut lists for just about any computer chore.

Save this -- you'll use it often!

Search the web your way

How would you like a web search system that combines the power of Google, the memory and matching capabilities of Amazon and an almost unlimited number of specialized database sources? There's even more magic in the great free service at A9.com. With it you can create a new powerful/flexible search and data collection management experience.

This subsidiary of Amazon has given you plenty of unique tools here. You can drag and drop any item into the search box. In addition, with the memory feature, you can use a diary enabling you to take notes on any webpage and reference the notes whenever you visit that page on any computer you use.

Even though it is in Beta at this writing, this is a must see tool. And the price is right -- zip!

World-wide appreciation rates

Guess what country outpaced the United States real estate appreciation by over 5 percentage points last year? Was it South Africa? Maybe Hong Kong? Spain or New Zealand?

Appreciation in the US ran a healthy 10.5 percent with some areas running well ahead of that. However, as reported at this great resource, the US ran 8th in real estate appreciation. And the answer to the question above is -- (Drum Roll) -- ALL of them!. South Africa weighed in with a whopping 27.8 percent with Hong Kong at 21.6 percent, Spain 17.2 percent and New Zealand with 16.4 percent.

You'll also find lots of other valuable world wide real estate information and resources at researchworldwide.com.

Track down those phone calls

How many times have you scratched your head trying to figure out a strange-looking phone number someone gave you -- or that you wrote down from a magazine?

Fonefinder.com fills a niche by providing a place where you can find the geographic location of any phone number in the world. You type in a phone number, and it will give you the city, state, country, a flag, map, and links to the area. You can also type in a city name and find the country code, area code, and prefix for the given city.

Nice information to have on hand!

Published: May 3, 2005

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.