Trick #1: What Was It Worth in 1982?

The shirking dollar affects all of our wallets and one of the best measures of the average change in our purchasing power is the Consumer Price Index (CPI) that calculates the average price change of goods and services over time.

This neat site provides a little calculator that quickly tells you how prices have changed over the years. Just enter the cost of a product or service in a specific year and, by applying the CPI statistics, you instantly get the cost today.

There is also more useful information about CPI and CPI calculations at this helpful place.

Trick #2: Uninstall with Ease

Want an easy way to uninstall that program you don't want on your computer any more? The Windows standard "Remove Programs" often leaves lots of remnants. This neat program does the job efficiently and comes with a satchel of useful related functions.

There's a cleaver function called "Hunt Mode" that allows you to right click on any application shortcut icon and easily perform many tasks including uninstalling, canceling auto start, and initiating Google related searches.

It's a handy tool with lots of extras; and it's priced right. It's on the house.

Great Place #1: Who Made that Pesky Phone Call?

Did you ever get strange calls from someone who either hangs up, asks questions, tries to sell you questionable products or services or was just plain obnoxious? If you have caller ID you can go to this interesting place, type in the caller's number and access reports from others who have been offended by the same culprits.

This neat place has lots of other search functions and information about telemarketing, harassing calls and the Do Not Call Registry.

Great Place #2: Listen to the Book of your Choice

Say farewell to book tapes and CDs. Now you can choose from over 35,000 titles and download the book of your choice for portable listening anywhere and anytime that suits your fancy.

When you visit this great place you can search for the book by title, author or keyword. Once you find the book of your choice you can listed to a sample narration -- often by the author. You don't have to worry about returning the book on time, or carrying around tapes or CDs. And because these books are digital, you can download your book and listen to it right away.

If you are a reader and don't mind becoming a listener, this great pace is worth checking out.

Published: December 14, 2007

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.