Favorite Online Tools

[tetrimbath]

What online tools do you like that 1) you'd recommend to others, 2) you use regularly, and 3) that don't have a massive corporation (and marketing campaign) behind them?

I want to bring exposure to the good work so many people do, particularly if they aren't getting enough credit, er, accolades. (I'm trying to avoid credit in so many ways. Time to use the thesaurus.)

I'll probably add them to the financialintegrity.org (http://www.financialintegrity.org/index.php?title=Main_Page) "Tools and Examples (http://www.financialintegrity.org/index.php?title=Tools_and_Examples)" page.

[iris lily]

Well, more often than not, I will skim a Wikipedia article even though I know the information is from uncredited amateurs and it may be inaccurate, but it gives me the quick overview of whatever I'm looking for. It truly is the People's Information Source with all that comes with that.

ah, for financials? haha, here's a little bitty one: I use Google to run my math calculations. Did you know that you can type math problems into a Google search box and it will calculate for you? I've only tried the simple stuff, multiplicaiton and division, but I wonder if it does more advanced problems.

[razz]

I like/use the dictionary sites, snopes

[Gardenarian]

I like "Let Simon Decide" (http://www.letsimondecide.com/), a decision making tool.

The way it works is kind of ingenious; you enter your priorities, goals, and values, then ask a question. You are asked a lot of questions that help determine what decision will be most in line with what you ultimately want from your life, and it comes out with an answer.

Sometimes just going through the process helps me come up with alternative ideas I wouldn't have considered. And if you don't like the answer that is provided, that is useful information too. (Like when you flip a coin to decide, and you say "Shoot, I was hoping for tails!" Well, then you have your decision.)
But, I have found it pretty darn accurate. Maybe too corporate for your list, but a good tool.


"Sprout Robot" (http://sproutrobot.com/about) is a little buggy, but a still, a useful gardening tool. It tells you when to plant what in your garden.

The "Environmental Working Group" (EWG (http://www.ewg.org/)) has a site that I use a lot to determine the toxicity of personal products (shampoo, lotions, etc.) They have a lot of other helpful information on their site as well.

I find "Wunderground" (http://www.wunderground.com/) to be more accurate than weather.com, though it also has a lot of ads. Maybe someone can suggest a better weather forecasting site?

[Gardenarian]

Oh, I also like "Goodreads." (http://www.goodreads.com/) My favorite feature is that they email me upcoming books by my favorite authors, so I can put holds on them at the library.

[Selah]

I really like Lumosity.com for free (or paid, if you want more games, bells and whistles) brain training games.