Garrett Saundry
So watching an episode of Oprah’s Favourite Things this year, a brilliant idea hit me. We need a Webnames version of it. It’s not going to create the frenzy that a free Internet fridge or a HD camcorder will but I do want to see some screaming, some tears and even a fainting spell or two.
I polled the office and everybody mentioned a site or two that they like above all others. Now there were too many sites to have listed in one post, so I’ll break them down. In the battle of the fun stuff vs. the boring stuff, the boring stuff won the first round.
Here are our top picks for sites to go to if you’re looking for resources or information
This site is a repository for unofficial programming language documentation. If you’re having a problem with a pesky line of code or two, you can come here and search for the answer, and if you can’t find it, post your question in their forums. If you want some official documentations, check this site out.
One of my favourite sites is Wikipedia. It’s a gigantic online encyclopedia that has the answers to pretty much any question you can think to ask. I’ve often found myself bleary eyed at 2am reading an article about Monarch Butterfly migration when I originally started out looking for a postal code at 10pm. I sort of compare it to going to Costco to buy some dog food, and coming out with $300 of things you had no clue you needed in the first place.
If you’re looking for news and weather, there are several places you can check out. CBC is always a good place to start, and Google News is another. If you’re looking for the weather, the Weather Office or the Weather Network
If you’re looking for some utilities to make your life easier, why not try yousendit to help you send large email attachments, or PrimoPDF to convert word documents to PDF format without having to purchase a costly PDF writer.
If you’re looking to buy or sell anything locally, Craigslist is for you. You can advertise things as diverse as a moving sale to trying to hire voice talent for the animated feature you’re working on in the basement in your spare time.
If you’re looking to network, then LinkedIn is for you. The purpose of the site is to allow registered users to maintain a list of contact details of people they know and trust in business. The people in the list are called Connections. Users can invite anyone (whether a site user or not) to become a connection. A contact network is built up consisting of their direct connections, the connections of each of their connections (termed second degree connections) and also the connections of second degree connections (termed third degree connections). This can be used to gain an introduction to someone you wish to know through a mutual, trusted contact. (definitions from Wikipedia)
Last but not least we have the Canadian Government. You can get all sorts of useful information here, from passports and travel advisories to income tax and benefits information. A very comprehensive resource.
That is the rundown of useful informational sites that we here at Webnames have to offer. Stay tuned for the next edition of Webnames Favourite Things – The Fun Edition.