By Alisa Miller

Social sites have grown in number and variety in the past years and many now offer opportunities for students and professionals to network in a serious manner. Whether you are preparing for your first job or making a change with an established career, connecting with others in your field will not only help you get started, but be an enhancement for your career as you continue to grow. These 50 social sites provide a chance for you to find others through professional networking sites, meet others in your field, find employment, and more.

Professional Sites

These social networks provide opportunities for finding and nurturing professional business relationships whether you are in marketing or academia.

1. LinkedIn. This popular social site connects professionals who are seeking opportunities for networking, client-building, employment, and more.
2. academia.edu. With such illustrious members as Stephen Hawking and Noam Chomsky, this social site provides an excellent place for those in academia to keep track of developments in their field while networking.
3. Networking for Professionals. Join NFP for some serious professional networking that not only includes online connections, but face-to-face opportunities in several cities across the US.
4. Ecademy. Business people can search for jobs, network, and connect with others at this site. You can upgrade (for a fee) to the BlackStar membership for extra benefits.
5. Ziggs. Market yourself, find employment, meet other professionals, and more on this site that is specifically meant to help you "organize and connect in a professional way."
6. NetParty. This site provides an opportunity for young professionals to network both professionally and socially at organized functions in several cities in the US.
7. Ryze. Participate in quality business networking with Ryze where you can see and be seen in the business world through profiles, bios, groups, and much more.
8. iKarma. Build your professional reputation with a presence on iKarma. Customers rate their experience doing business with you and leave comments on your profile. Others can then check out your reputation.
9. XING. This global networking site allows you to find and make professional business contacts as well as participate in employment searches.

Finance Sites

Check out these social sites to learn about finances, stock market, and the economy or just to connect with others to get great tips and ideas to help your money grow.

10. Financial News @ Tip’d. For those interested in finance and investment, Tip’d offers news, tips, articles, and more to it’s community. Members then votes for which content goes on the homepage. Members are welcome to submit articles from their own blogs as well.
11. Zopa. This social finance company works to connect its members who are seeking loans with credit unions who offer low-interest rates. Zopa also has sites for Italy, UK, and Japan.
12. Prosper. Based on a principle similar to eBay, this site allows member-borrowers to create a listing and set the interest rate they are seeking, then lenders participate in an auction to fund the loan. In addition to typical criteria such as credit scores, lenders can consider personal stories, references from friends and family, and group affiliations of the borrowers.
13. Minyanville Financial Infotainment. Join this financial social network to meet other investors, learn about smart investing strategies, read articles, participate in forums, and read blogs.
14. My.WallSt.net. Learn about investing with this social site that helps beginners find out about stocks, trading, and more.
15. MarketWatch Community. Members here can create profiles to help connect with others, then share information, news, tips, and more on this social networking site that is a part of Dow Jones.
16. Wesabe. Learn to manage your money while connecting with others with the same financial needs. This community offers both online tools as well as the experience of others to help you reach your financial goals.

Science Sites

Scientists of any ilk can find a group to call their own with these sites that range from life sciences to nanoscience to engineering.

17. The Research Cooperative. This international, not-for-profit group works to connect science researchers, writers, editors, and translators. Members have their own page as well as access to groups, blogs, and more.
18. sciencestage.com. Teachers, students, and professional scientists will all appreciate this social site that promotes academic research, teaching, and learning.
19. nanopaprika.eu. This international community is specifically for those interested in nanoscience. Members can join specific groups, read or post on blogs, participate in chats, and more.
20. Lab Spaces. Scientists can connect with this social network that offers specific categories for biological scientists, physical scientists, environment, space, and technology. Read blogs and submit your own articles, too.
21. Nature Network. This global community of scientists can connect through member profiles, forums, groups, and blogs. If you are in Boston or London, you will appreciate the city hubs available too (with more cities to be added soon).
22. BiomedExperts. Biomedical researchers can come together on this social site designed specifically to promote collaborative research and development in the field. Researchers with at least 3 papers published in PubMed over the past 10 years qualify for an expert profile.
23. SciLink. Not only can scientists network and stay on top of the latest news at this social site, there is also a job board for those seeking employment.
24. LabRoots. A social network for scientists of all fields, including mathematics, engineering, and computer science, this site offers opportunities for networking, employment, and collaborative learning.

Health and Medicine Sites

Whether you are in med school, are a practicing physician, or a patient, there are social sites to help you connect and expand your network.

25. SocialMD. Whether you are a med student, resident, or physician, you can connect with others on this site. Those in school will find the study groups and study aids of benefit.
26. Ozmosis. Physicians can participate in peer-to-peer networking for sharing information, learning about recent developments, and more.
27. SurgyTec. Surgeons can share their knowledge on this social site that includes videos of procedures and forums to keep surgeons and students up-to-date with the latest techniques and developments in the field.
28. PatientsLikeMe. Patients looking to connect with others facing similar diagnoses or health issues will welcome this community. The emphasis here is information sharing between patients, physicians, pharmaceutical companies, and medical device companies.
29. Healtheva. This organization is for physicians and researchers who are interested in research, paper collaboration, and start-up opportunities.
30. TiroMed. This social networking site is designed specifically for med students and physicians who want to "research and learn, and connect with others" in the same field.
31. The Student Doctor Network. Med students can connect with others through the blogs and forums as well as find plenty of articles that offer information and support.

Social Sites

With a vision beyond the flash and glitz of some social sites, these sites promote social networking with a more focused approach.

32. Care2. For those looking to combine social networking with supporting the environment and those who campaign for the environment, this site offers opportunities to make the most of both.
33. Gather. Come together with friends, family, and colleagues through this social site that strives to provide more down-to-earth connections than some of the other social networking sites.
34. FriendFeed. From videos to news articles to web pages, share what you find interesting with friends and family at this simple, streamlined social networking site.
35. Plaxo. Stay in touch with family, friends, and business contacts with this social networking site. You can also share all the items such as photos, blog posts, and tweets you’ve posted from a variety of other sites right here.
36. tweako. For those interested in computing and technology, this social network site will provide information as well as social contacts.
37. Pixel Groovy. If you want to find the best resources and tutorials for computer usage, this site relies on member rating for what information makes it to the home page. Find help with Photoshop, Flash, Ruby on Rails, and more that you can know will be quality information.
38. The Whole 9. Artists can connect with others, post portfolios, and find something to do in a specific geographic location with this networking community for the artistic types.
39. Green Friends. Whether vegetarianism or environmental consciousness is your thing, this site that is part dating and part social networking will help you connect with others equally devoted to the cause.
40. eons. A popular social network for Baby Boomers, eons offers plenty of ways to connect with others through profiles, groups, blogs, videos, and photos.
41. ReZoom. This social network that looks beyond age offers articles on music, activities, going green, money, and more, as well as ways to find and stay connected with friends and family.
42. Multiply. This site features media sharing for those who want to connect with people they really know. Create your own website, a social calendar, and more to help you keep in touch.
43. Maple and Leek. For those 50+, this community is one of adventure and entrepreneurial spirit. Connect with like-minded people at this site for friendship as well as professional connections.

Employment Sites

Whether you are looking for employment or want to stay connected with some of the top job seekers to staff your company, these employment sites will help you meet your networking goals.

44. YorZ. This site allows professionals looking for employment to connect with employers. Job seekers can join groups by university, professional interest, and by company.
45. Guru.com. Freelancers can create profiles here that employers can search. Employers can also post their projects and freelancers then participate in a bidding process to be awarded the project.
46. Monster. This popular site is a great place for job seekers and employers to come together. Not only can you find a job, but the resources here will help you do it professionally and efficiently.
47. CareerBuilder.com. Another popular career site, job seekers and employers shouldn’t pass up this opportunity for connecting.
48. CollegeRecruiter.com. Recent graduates or students looking for internships will love this site where thousands of opportunities await as well as many job search resources.
49. GoFreelance. Freelancers and those looking to hire freelancers will both find this site helpful. From writing to web design to programming and technical projects, there are opportunities for many different types of freelancers.
50. Sologig. Contractors, freelancers, and consultants can find employment at this site that allows job seekers to post their resumes and employers to post their projects.

Posted in Job Search, Web Tools -- No Comments

By Laura Milligan

Despite the many wifi spots that are popping up all around airports, coffee shops and even whole neighborhoods, it’s sometimes hard to find a free, secure and stable connection. For many freelancers, business travelers and other professionals who have to spend time out of their office or on the road, Adobe AIR is a great solution for maximizing productivity, even if you don’t have an Internet connection. Read on for 100 of the best apps that will increase your productivity with Adobe AIR.

Social Apps

Use these apps when you want shortcuts or offline solutions to Digg, Twitter, Facebook and more.

1. SocialAddict: Facebook, FriendFeed, MySpace and Twitter are some of the services supported by this desktop tool, which lets you load mobile pages "for easy access."
2. Twibble: This Twitter app comes with six icons, lets you see Twitter timelines and see the location of other Tweets.
3. DiggTop: Check Digg posts 10 at a time with this tool.
4. Toro Twitter AIR client: This popular Twitter client comes with an integrated search and tabs for recent, public, friends, replies and search.
5. RAPTR Client: This gaming app can be accessed offline.
6. SedThink: This application currently supports Facebook, Twitter, Hi5, Feed readers and Thai stock tracking, all in one interface.
7. Apprise: With this tool you can share and streamline stories from AIM, Twitter, Facebook, MySpace and even your e-mail in 16 different languages.
8. Zebr: View and manage Facebook from your desktop.
9. Moderator - Wordpress comment moderator in AIR: Moderate your Wordpress comments offline with this tool.
10. Mini Digg: Read and digg stories from your desktop with Mini Digg.
11. Lifestream.fm: Keep up with your lifestream.fm friends offline with this tool.
12. @eventtrack: Stay connected to world events even if you don’t have an Internet connection with this app.
13. DeskTube: Search and watch YouTube videos with this app.

Shopping and E-Commerce

Whether you’re selling your own products online or you just want to keep track of your bid on eBay, try out these tools.

14. Level Four Storefront: Manage your Flash e-commerce shopping cart with this tool.
15. TheSlurps eBay "Browse your Photo" Desktop Widget: Search eBay offline with this personalized widget.
16. Yahoo Desktop Search Widget: Search Yahoo! with this tool.
17. Cheapo: Get alerts on special online deals from different sites with Cheapo.
18. Allurent Desktop Connection and Anthropologie: "Valued customers" can shop Anthropologie from their desktop with Allurent.
19. eBay Desktop: This app features one-click search filters, alerts, history and more.
20. CL Desktop: Craigslist shoppers can use this app to view product photos, descriptions and search results.

Multimedia

From Flickr to YouTube to Picasa to Pandora, all of these apps offer desktop solutions for remote and offline management.

21. Picasa Image Browser: This browser lets you view public images from Picasa.
22. Doppelganger: Download, drag and drop online videos with Doppelganger.
23. DestroyFlickr: Manage Flickr with the app that actually features "really good online documentation with screenshots."
24. Pandora - Music on AIR: This desktop app is for U.S. users only.
25. Finetune: This customizable music tool lets you search for new artists and music, create your own playlist and more.
26. uvLayer: Upload videos, and use AIM, GTalk or Facebook to manipulate and share videos with friends.
27. Chorducopia: Songwriters who have either PCs or Macs can get recommendations for picking chords with this app.
28. Thumbfall: Conduct image searches supported by Google, FriendFeed, FFFound, Yahoo and more with Thumbfall.
29. Bookmash: This popular app can be used on Windows, Macs and Linux to watch, share and upload videos, music, photos, social searches, news and RSS.
30. Podcast Player: You can play pre-loaded podcasts from Buzz Out Load, New.com Tech News and Slate Daily with this app.
31. Splasup Light: Edit your digital photos with this app.
32. Flaivor: This app uses RSS to stream entertainment videos to your desktop.
33. MYMediaPlayer: This tool may actually hurt your productivity, but it’s a lot of fun. You can watch videos and online TV shows easily.
34. Adobe Media Player: This is the offline version of Adobe Media Player, which lets you download Internet TV and videos.

Web Developer and Design

These apps are great for web developers and web designers who want to work from their desktop and manage their files.

35. Google Analytics: This reporting app is great for bloggers and web developers who don’t always have an online connection.
36. Font-picker: Web designers use this tool to help them decide which of their saved fonts are the best match for whatever they’re doing.
37. Snippely: With this app, you can organize your code and text bits more efficiently.
38. WebSnapshot: Manage thumbnail, browser and full-page images to save and resize.
39. JavaScript Special Effects: If you like to use JavaScript, then take a look at this free app.
40. SnurlIt: Make long URLs short and manageable with SnurlIt.
41. Dot3D: View images in 3D, including JPG, PNG, GIP, BMP and ICO files.
42. Shrink-O-Matic: Resize photos with a drag and drop interface.
43. designview: designview is a great app for designers who like using Flex Builder Design View.
44. Icon Generator: Create CS# or Web 2.0 icons in just three steps.
45. JavaScript Style Switch: Play around with different designs without having to change HTML codes.
46. SearchCoders Dashboard: Connect with other web developers with this Flex-related app.
47. Pixus: Preview your designs without having to switch back to low-res views.
48. .merlin: .merlin finds and organizes all of your saved fonts.

Business Tools

Here you’ll find a great list of apps that work for the busy business professional, including calculators, stock analysis and more.

49. Klok: Use this time tracking tool when you’re trying to fit in extra projects at off times.
50. NASDAQ Market Replay: Those who track the NASDAQ and NYSE will love this replay and analysis app.
51. Timeloc: Timeloc is another time tracker that is great for freelancers and contract workers.
52. Scientific Calculator: Access a scientific calculator for your business and financial equations with this app.
53. VAT Calculator: This calculator can calculate VAT inclusive and exclusive values.
54. Jipingmi Pro: If you’re in the market for Chinese real estate, use this tool.
55. [G]OneTime: [G]OneTime is another time tracking tool.
56. Ora Time and Expense: This app helps you manage expense reports, invoices and timesheets.
57. Point of Sale Software (POS): Retailers and store owners can use this tool to get "a better overview of your business, your employees and your customers." Get updates daily.
58. Google Calendar Invoice Creator: Clock your billable hours and generate HTML or text invoices with this tool.

Contacts and Communication

Manage all of your instant messages and e-mails safely and efficiently with these tools.

59. Universal Inbox: This tool "gives you control over how you store your digital assets," including e-mail, files, Twitter messages and more.
60. AIR iPhone: This early-stage iPhone app manages contacts and the web browser.
61. TokBox: This video calling app is free to use.
62. GMDesk: Manage your Gmail account offline using this app.
63. AS iYahooCheck v2: Check your Yahoo ID status and your friends’ statuses with this app.
64. NEWZDOG: Stay connected to news updates with this searchable app.
65. Multilingual Soft Keyboards: This is a great tool for those who work internationally.
66. SimpleClass2: Teachers and students can check grades and stay connected wherever they are with SimpleClass2.
67. Pronto!: Pronto! is a secure interfact that includes IM, e-mail, groupware, voice and chat.
68. LG Phone: The Adobe AIR app for LG Phone lets you "call people from your Ribbit account."

Apps for Cubicle Dwellers

Adobe AIR is a fun platform for those who are stuck in their cubicles all day and want to waste time under the radar.

69. CrazyCam: This Adobe AIR app lets you turn regular photos into ridiculous images by playing around with 33 different effects.
70. dock_clock: Count the seconds until your workday ends with this clock.
71. StudioCloud Clothing Assistant: Play around with outfits and even send your saved looks to friends.
72. Pizza Hut: Privately order yourself a pizza from Pizza Hut.
73. FansBuzz Desktop: Catch up on football news with this app.
74. Fotobooth: Add effects to your webcam and play around with silly images with this app.

Time Management and Productivity

Below are a host of tools designed to boost your productivity.

75. Remember the Milk Notifier: The Adobe AIR version of this web-based to-do list makes for maximum productivity.
76. AgileTracker: This easy-to-read app clearly displays task reports and time tracking charts. Agile Agenda users can sync up their task lists with this app too.
77. Doominow To-Do list: Check out this very easy to-do list manager.
78. Google Reader AIR app: Google Reader addicts work offline thanks to this app.
79. Snackr: Quickly browse your RSS feeds with this app, which pulls random items and runs them across your screen.
80. Desktop Alarm Clock Widget: This "unobtrusive" alarm clock can deliver messages automatically.
81. MiniTask: MiniTask is another simple to-do list manager for Adobe AIR.
82. RTM Notifier: This app automatically checks your Remember the Milk tasks and reminds you when deadlines approach.
83. JabeAbzar’S Clock: Stay on track when you download this analog desktop clock.
84. compuccino time track: This time tracker syncs up with Basecamp.

Apps That Make Your Life Easier

From a map app to a back up tool, these apps are designed to save you time and stress.

85. Websnapshot: Take snapshots of different web pages with this drag and drop tool, so you can work offline.
86. BackIt archive tool: Use this app to back up files and folders to a USB drive.
87. myHomeCache Visual Inventory: This offline home inventory software app is updated weekly.
88. JavaScript Quadratic Equation Calculator: If you need to solve quadratic equations, download this app to make things go faster.
89. PMT Mortgage Calculator: Use this app to help you organize your monthly payments to your mortgage.
90. EarthBrowser: EarthBrowser is similar to Google Earth. Click on different parts of the globe to retrieve data for that area.
91. WebKut: Cut screen shots and capture web pages to work offline.
92. Passpack Desktop: If you have trouble remembering all of your passwords, let this app manage them for you.
93. Net Cost to Buy: This app is another real estate tool that figures out your net cost per square feet for different commercial properties.
94. Oxy Reminder: This smart app reminds you to get up and stretch every 2 hours.

Managing Teams

These apps are great for team managers.

95. Timeslide: Add notifications into your apps whenever you post to your blog or a new IM pops up.
96. Employee Directory: Search for employee data and information on your desktop.
97. Salesbuilder: This app features data synchronization and direct chart manipulation.

Miscellaneous

These two apps round out our list of awesome Adobe AIR apps.

98. StockQ: Get stock quotes delivered to your desktop.
99. Netbook: Access the Project Gutenberg Library offline.

Posted in Office Tips, Productivity -- No Comments

By Laura Milligan

Even if you like your job, or can at least put up with your job, you probably have those moments when you feel like taking up smoking just for an excuse to free yourself from cubicle fever for a few minutes. For the sake of your sanity (and health), we’re arming you with 100 fun, random, challenging and even educational and productive websites that will keep your mind engaged and distracted from your miserable nine to five.

Gaming

You don’t have to take your lunch break at Dave and Buster’s to enjoy a little game time during the day. Check out these sites to meet up with other players, play card games, arcade games and more.

1. OnlineFreeGaming.com: You’ll find arcade games, sports games, shooting practice, racing games and a lot more on this site.
2. Pogo.com: You’ll find traditional games like Chess and Bingo on this site, as well as arcades, card games, puzzles and more.
3. OnlineGames.net: From cooking games like Fish Fry and Food Memory to dress up games featuring couples and date-worthy outfits, this site has a lot to choose from.
4. Massive Online Gaming: Interact with other players on this site, which features games, panels and forums.
5. World of Warcraft: This immensely popular game allows you to play with other gamers.
6. MSN Games: For a slightly more subtle gaming experience, visit MSN’s site and switch back and forth to the news or main page when your boss walks by.
7. PlayStation: Online games from PlayStation include NBA Live09 and MaddenNFL09.
8. GamblingPlanet.org: Get into the world of online gambling, but be careful about office rules.
9. Pop Cap: Access free games or pay to download games on this site.
10. FreeArade.com: This site has more than just arcade games. You can also practice shooting, do puzzles, hook up with other players, get into strategy games and more.
11. The Office Solitaire: Flip cards to find faces of Jim, Dwight and your other Office allies.
12. OfficeGameSpot.com: Play free Flash games here to kill time at work.

Trivia

From traditional Greek mythology to obscure celebrities, test your knowledge with these trivia games and questions.

13. FunTrivia.com: Quiz categories include literature, movies, religion, people, sci/tech, sports, TV, video games, celebrities and more.
14. Thinks.com Trivia: Learn about Greek mythology, name derivations and opera composers when you play the trivia games on this site.
15. Celebrity Trivia Game About Obscure Celebrities: If you think you know a lot about celebrities, try this game.
16. Free Trivia Questions, Answers and Facts: Get answers to trivia questions about history, sports, birds, animals, science and travel.

Educational Sites

Just because you’re bored at work doesn’t mean that you aren’t craving some kind of intellectual stimulation. Visit these sites to learn something new that you actually care about.

17. Discovery GameCentral: Play games and watch videos on the Discovery Channel website to learn about history, the Earth, animals, crime and more.
18. Nobel Prize Educational Games: Some of these games are more for kids, but you’ll learn about science, economics and even nuclear weapons.
19. Library of Congress Digital Collections and Services: Access audio-visual materials and view online exhibitions from the Library of Congress without leaving your desk.
20. The History Channel: Watch videos, play games and even shop at History.com.
21. BBC: Listen to radio and watch BBC TV stations in different languages to get news from another perspective.

DIY, Arts and Crafts

Your boss might get a little suspicious if you whip out the construction paper and glue gun, but these online DIY projects and websites are very under-the-radar.

22. CafePress: Design your own t-shirts, pet items and promotional gifts here.
23. CraftMall.com: Buy and sell crafts on this site, from antiques to clocks to household items to clothing.
24. BobVila.com: Get a head start on your home improvement projects when you watch videos, read instructional guides, browse home plans and try out the 3D design tools from Bob Vila.
25. DIY Online: Become a member of this site to swap ideas with other members, ask questions, plan out your project and more.
26. smallblueprinter: Design blueprints for homes and gardens with the 3D tools offered here.
27. MyInteractiveGarden.com: This social media site features news, a plant list, advice for gardening, product reviews, multimedia and more.

TV

If you’re behind on your favorite shows, catch up at work by tuning into these online TV stations.

28. ABC: Watch full episodes of shows like Grey’s Anatomy, Desperate Housewives, Jimmy Kimmel Live and Brothers and Sisters. ABC also hosts its own community and encourages viewers to send in questions and comments about news shows and more.
29. wwitv: Watch over 2800 channels on this site, via live shows or on-demand programming.
30. Beeline TV: Visit this site to access TV channels in Arabic, Catalan, Korean, Polish, Dutch and a lot more.
31. ChannelChooser: This online TV portal lets you pick categories like youth, music, information, games, sports, movies, reality and more, then directs you to different shows in that category.
32. PBS: Play games, participate in the community sections, watch videos and more on PBS.
33. Mediahopper.com: Watch TV streams from around the world here.

Virtual Worlds

Perfect for simulation and gaming, these virtual worlds can suck up your time like no other site can.

34. Dunder Mifflin: Visit the online division of Dunder Mifflin for games, missions and more.
35. SecondLife: Create your own virtual world to let off steam, learn something new or meet other individuals in a safe, creative space.
36. SimCity Societies: Become a member to build and manage your own city in SimCity.
37. Virtual MTV: Create your own avatar to play games and live the life of your favorite MTV characters and celebrities on VMTV.

Puzzles, Quizzes and Brain Teasers

Challenge yourself with Sudoku or the New York Times Crossword, and you’ll be glued to your screen all day long.

38. Cool Quiz: Do puzzles, answer trivia, and even make your own quizzes here.
39. Web Sudoku: Play the highly addictive game here, where you can adjust the difficulty level between easy, medium, hard and evil.
40. New York Times Crossword and Games: Subscribe to these crosswords or get one free crossword a week to give your brain a real workout.
41. Brainfall: You’ll soon be addicted to these fun quizzes about lifestyle, celebrities, love and relationships, and trivia.
42. 3SmartCubes: Is it time for a new job? A new boyfriend? Learn a little more about yourself when you take these quizzes.
43. Quibblo: Quibblo is a quiz network that lets you take and make quizzes, set up a profile and rate other quizzes.
44. Tickle: The Tickle network has loads of quizzes, from the frivolous to the insightful.
45. JigZone: Solve jigsaw puzzles here.
46. BrainBashers: You can find logic games, illusions, puzzles, Sudoku and other games on BrainBashers.
47. edHelper: Make your own puzzles with the tools at edHelper.

Music and Media

From uploading and marketing your own music to channeling your inner artiste, these interactive sites bring out your creative side and can help you relax.

48. YouTube: Film your office pranks and upload them to YouTube.
49. podsafe Music Network: Submit your own music, share tunes and listen to podcasts here.
50. Last.fm: This popular site lets you listen to songs for free (for a limited time), watch videos, browse events in your area and more.
51. Flickr: Mange your photos online to pass time at work or browse photos from other users for inspiration.
52. Flotones: This social site lets you browse songs, artists, reviews and albums, as well as submit your own tracks.
53. SnapPages: Edit pages, upload photos and manage events with this easy website creation tool.
54. Juke Box Alive: JBA lets you upload your own music and listen to other uploads and tunes for free.
55. Google Video: Browse videos or upload your own on Google’s video site.
56. Guitar Master: When your boss is out of the office, play Guitar Master (sort of like Guitar Hero) from this site.
57. ArtPad: Indulge in your own art therapy when you paint on ArtPad. You can also save your projects and browse others’ creations.
58. USTREAM: Watch shows and video streams then chat with other users on this interactive broadcasting site.

Business Tools

Since you’re already wearing a suit and sitting at a desk, why not work on your own business? These sites and tools are easy-to-use, interactive and fun.

59. Calculators, Planners and Worksheet: Fidelity’s toolkit looks professional, so you can trick your boss into thinking you’re doing real work.
60. Hoover Web Templates: Access business and personal website templates here to get started on your blog or personal business site.
61. FOX Business Tools: Manage your finances, learn about real estate, retirement and insurance savings and more with all of these tools.
62. Bplans.com: This site features over 500 sample business plans. Browse free plans for easy access.
63. Minority Business Development Agency Interactive Web Portal: The MBDA business development tools are free and include a new business checklist, e-commerce FAQ, and a lot more.

Open Content

Submit your own content to these sites to fuel the discussion or share your expertise with the public.

64. Wikipedia: When you’re really bored or out of work, set aside some time to edit Wikipedia entries or add a new one.
65. Open Clip Art Library: Create an account to submit your own art and access free-to-use projects.
66. Open-Site: Become a volunteer editor with this free encyclopedia to give you a chance to read and write about your favorite subjects.
67. Open Directory Project: Become an editor for the dmoz open directory project.
68. Open Source Movies: Upload your movies into this open database and watch videos made by others.
69. The WebKit Open Source Project: If you’re good at web development, you can contribute to this project, which evaluates website compatibility and manages an open source web browser engine.

Mindless but Amazing

When you’re really bored or fed up with your work, head to these totally mindless and random sites for games and more.

70. TV Land Red Carpet Date: Which TV Land character will you be matched up with when you play this game?
71. TicketStumbler: TicketStumbler isn’t totally mindless: it stumbles the Web to find the best deals on sports tickets for the NFL, MLB, NHL, NBA and NCAA football.
72. BaronBob: Get lost browsing or shopping for random gifts on this site, including gag gifts for the office.
73. Retroland: If you’re obsessed with retro anything, you’ll love playing around on this site, where you can watch videos, play games, read trivia and more.
74. iFoods.tv: Plan out what your dinner by browsing recipes, watching cooking videos and submitting your own.
75. Celebrity Plastic Surgery: If you need to distance yourself from the stress of your job for a few minutes, this is the way to do it. Match the celebrity to his or her old body part, before plastic surgery.

Trip Planners

Whether you’re planning a real vacation or just a fake trip to keep your spirits up while you’re at work, check out these interactive trip planners and guides

76. Tripadvisor: Play around with this site to submit reviews of hotels and other travel-related stuff. You can also talk with other travelers on the forum, submit photos and more.
77. Lonely Planet: The website edition of the guidebook series features a forum, blog, videos, photos, stories, tips and more.
78. Travellerspoint Travel Community: Head to the forums for real tips and advice from vacationers. You can also read travel blogs, browse photos and get information on hotels and hostels.
79. Virtual Tourist: This member-driven site includes travel guides for destinations around the world, so you can imagine yourself far away from the office grind.
80. Fodor’s: Plan your next trip at Fodors.com and visit the forums for tips from real travelers.
81. iGuide: This interactive map will show you photos and travel information for places like Chile, San Francisco, France, China, Spain and more.

Social Media

Social media is a fantastic way to waste time and forget your office existence. Try out these sites that will introduce you to people in your area, ask you to rate and review stories, manage and share your online interests and more.

82. Digg: Read, rate, review and submit news stories on Digg.
83. de.licio.us: This popular social bookmarking tool lets you submit your own stuff as well as review stories from other members.
84. Meetup: Join a club and plan a happy hour event or party while you’re still at work using Meetup.
85. Reddit: Reddit is another social ranking site that posts top news stories.
86. Ning: Invite co-workers, happy hour friends, family members or anyone else to become a member of your very own social media network hosted by Ning.
87. Facebook: Facebook is one of the ultimate social media networks that you can play around with for hours.
88. Adium: Adium isn’t exactly a social media outlet, but it promotes online connections through its instant messaging client.
89. StumbleUpon: Set up an account to share your favorite sites and videos and to rank web pages.
90. FriendFeed: Create an account to manage discussions and invite your friends to debate with you, share media and information and broaden your horizons.
91. yelp: Offer up your reviews of shopping, dining, lodging, health and beauty, and other services and products in your area and in many other cities. You can also browse others’ suggestions for advice on travel and things to do.
92. LinkedIn: A lot of business professionals make contact over LinkedIn, so you don’t have to feel so guilty spending your time here while you’re on the clock.

Dissing the Office

These websites may not take you out of the cube, but they’ll help you relieve some of the frustration of being stuck inside one all day.

93. Paintball Office: Trash your office the safe way by playing this game.
94. Voodoo Boss: Turn your boss into a voodoo doll with this online game.
95. Work Hate: Play around on this blog that’s dedicated to people who hate going to work.
96. Office Diversions: Submit an office diversion or play existing ones, like brain twisters, Google Maps Gone Wrong and more.

Taking Care of Business

Your business. Get ahead on errands and planning your weekend with these sites.

97. GasBuddy.com: Find the cheapest gas in your area by visiting this site. You can also sign up to be a gas spotter and submit stations with low prices.
98. Schmap!!: Map out your next shopping trip or plan a trip to another city using these interactive maps. Cities that have maps on Schmap!! include Montreal, Prague, New York, Las Vegas, Miami, San Francisco and Vienna.
99. Ta-da Lists: Mange your to-do lists and shopping lists when you log on to this site.
100. Interactive Shopping List: ChefMom’s interactive grocery list lets you check items and make notes for each category. Categories include deli, dairy, bakery, frozen foods and more.

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By Kelly Kilpatrick

There’s a popular adage that says, “God couldn’t be everywhere at the same time, that’s why he made moms”. How true, I used to think, cause my mother was always there when I needed her, even for the most trivial things. Then one fine day, she announced her decision to take up a job; we kids had all grown up and left the nest, she was lonely at home and this position allowed her to make use of her time fruitfully.  

At first it felt strange when I got to mom’s place to find the door locked, a feeling that slowly gave way to a slight hurt and anger. How come mom was not there when I needed her? But this selfish thought vanished the moment I saw what a changed person she had become, just a week after she had taken charge of her life and decided to live rather than just exist.  

I realized I had almost been a victim to the prejudice that blinds most of us – that moms are meant to stay home and look after the kids and cook and clean for dads; if not, they’re not good mothers. Au contraire, I do beg to differ now. Here’s how working moms affect their children in positive ways:  

• Children learn to be independent and think and act for themselves without being spoon fed at all times.
• Working moms are good role models for their daughters and sons – daughters because they will grow up wanting to be like mom and achieve the kind of success that she has, and sons because they grow up respecting women and their need to achieve self-satisfaction rather than just act as caregivers for the rest of the family.
• Mothers who work have more self esteem since they feel a sense of accomplishment with what they’ve done with their lives. This makes them happier people to be around. Moms who stay at home tend to get exasperated with the kids’ constant presence and their naughtiness, a situation that leads to yelling and screaming and lots of stress and tension.

Mothers who work are successful in all aspects of life when they stay involved in their children’s lives no matter how hectic work life is. It helps when fathers are supportive and responsibilities are shared rather than dumped on mothers’ slender shoulders. Providing your kids a wonderful childhood means juggling both work and home in a successful balancing act – it’s not easy, but with time and effort, it can be done.

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By Kelly Kilpatrick

Being a successful manager requires a good combination of knowledge, skill, and finesse.  In the struggle to make sure everything runs smoothly and profitably, it can be easy to get caught up in the day-to-day pressures one has to face.  Taking care of business is the manager’s raison d’être, so keep these things in mind as you start each work day. 

1. Be proactive.  Don’t wait for things to fall apart before you decide to take care of them.  If you see something on the horizon that might be problematic, nip it in the bud.  Proactive managers earn respect for their abilities, reactive managers demand respect for their title.

2. Resolve problems quickly.  Of course, you won’t be able to see every problem coming, but as soon as one arises, you must take care of it quickly and equitably.  Whether it has to do with employees or clients, no one likes to wait around for the resolution.  Look at the facts and do what is right for everyone involved.

3. Lead by example.  When managing, you should be able to handle job and workload of anyone beneath you.  More than likely, this is true; however, it is important that your employees know that you can do what they do as well.  Every once in a while, roll up your sleeves and help out your staff.  They will know that you care and respect the fact that you want to be involved.  This is not to say that you shouldn’t delegate workload—you definitely should, but showing them that you can do exactly what is expected of them says a lot about you and your company.

4. Let your presence be known.  Don’t fall into the trap of arriving late and leaving early.  If you are starting to do that, look back at number three.  Your employees should know when you’re there and feel your presence even when you’re not physically in the building.  Your place of business should run the same whether you are there or not.  If it doesn’t, you need to make sure you are there a lot more.

5. Maintain a positive working environment.  Employees and management perform better when the workplace is a positive environment.  Negativity is something that can grow like a cancer in any business if allowed to fester.  Learn how to give constructive criticism without demoralizing your staff.  Make sure that issues that are hurting morale are quickly resolved and encourage positive players within the ranks.  A positive, productive workplace will be better for all involved in a variety of ways.

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By Kelly Kilpatrick

Zoho’s Office Suite offers a virtual powerhouse of tools for business people, students, and casual users. With solutions for projects, invoicing, forms, and so much more, Zoho is truly a dynamic resource. Read on for a list of a number of different tips and resources for making this excellent asset even more useful.

Tips

Here you’ll find a variety of tips for making Zoho’s tools work better.

1. Sign in with your Yahoo! or Google ID: You don’t need to create a new account to use Zoho-just use a Yahoo! or Google account that you may already have.
2. Add an interactive poll to your blog: Using Zoho Polls, you can put an interactive poll just about anywhere.
3. Keep track of document versions and history: Zoho Writer offers the feature of document versioning and history, so you can stay on top of how your documents evolve.
4. Switch between Zoho, Open Office, and Microsoft Office: Zoho offers compatibility with most popular office suites.
5. Use VBA macros in Zoho Sheet: Zoho Sheet offers the feature of Visual Basic scripting.
6. Keep track of actions with feeds: Stay on top of your Zoho documents, collaboration, and sharing by following your Zoho feeds.
7. Integrate between a number of different tools: One of the reasons Zoho is so wonderful is its collection of different tools that can all work together, so be sure you’re taking advantage of this feature.
8. Get reminders about pending tasks: Zoho has a feature that allows you to set reminders about tasks and milestones through your home page.
9. Embed interactive spreadsheets into HTML: With Zoho Sheets, you’ll be able to put an interactive spreadsheet in an HTML webpage.
10. Work offline: You can take Zoho offline, so you can do your work even when you don’t have an Internet connection.
11. Add comments: Allow discussions and collaborations on Zoho Writer documents by using the "Add Comment" feature.
12. Add a table of contents to your documents: Using special characters, you can create a table of contents in Zoho Writer.
13. Create and export timesheets: Zoho Project makes it easy to set up timesheets and export them in a variety of ways.
14. Create a useful web form: Zoho Creator’s WYSIWYG form designer offers lots of custom fields, including a file upload feature.
15. Directly email documents within Zoho: Zoho Writer offers a feature that allows you to email to different service providers like Yahoo!, Gmail, and MSN.
16. Efficiently track time: With the timesheet feature, tracking time in Zoho Projects is as easy as clicking on a clock.
17. Give a remote presentation: Zoho Show offers the option to give presentations in real-time using the Remote feature.
18. Offer trouble ticket support: Zoho CRM supports a web to case feature that you can embed into your website.
19. View tasks by dependency: The Dependency View feature on Zoho Projects makes it easy to sort your tasks by start date and S.No.
20. Integrate Zoho with your Central Document Repository: Using Zoho’s Remote API, you can automatically upload documents to your intranet’s central repository.
21. Create customized web links in Writer: You can add web links to Writer documents that can go to web pages, email messages, and more.
22. Be a power searcher: You can search your Zoho projects based on tags, file extensions, and more. Additionally, you can see image previews, thumbnails, and list views.
23. Use templates: Zoho Writer offers a variety of different pre loaded templates for job seekers, students, business people, and other users.
24. Convert files into .docx: Using Zoho, you can convert a variety of files into the new Word 2007 .docx format.
25. Customize email encoding: Zoho Projects has the option to change email encoding as well as time formats.
26. Create permalinked documents: Upload your documents to Zoho Viewer, and your document will be published at a web page address that can be shared, linked, and embedded. The feature also allows you to track how many times the document has been viewed.
27. Use task list templates: Zoho Projects has task list templates, so you can save time by reusing them for serveral different projects.
28. Embed objects in Writer: In Zoho Writer, you can embed slideshows, videos, spreadsheets, and more.
29. Back up your Google Docs on your local machine: Zoho offers a feature that will let you bring all of your Google Docs into Zoho, and subsequently mass export them into your local computer.
30. Monitor your used disk space: Zoho Projects makes it easy to find out exactly how much disk space you’re using for different projects.

Tools

Make use of these tools to make your Zoho experience even more productive and useful.

31. Plug-In for MS Office: With this plugin, you’ll be able to save your Office documents to Zoho, and vice versa.
32. Zoho QuickRead: Zoho QuickRead makes it easy to open documents and other files in Zoho while in your Firefox browser.
33. Huddle: Use this web based collaboration app to share your Zoho documents in a really organized and useful way.
34. iZoho: Get Zoho on your iPhone using Zoho Mobile.
35. Zoho Notebook Helper: Using this Firefox extension, you can aggregate content from the web and store it in your Zoho Notebook.
36. Open IT Online: The Open IT Online Firefox add on will allow you to open Zoho documents within your browser.
37. File Den: File Den integrates with Zoho, so you’ll be able to edit your documents within your File Den account.
38. Zoho Creator Mobile: Access your database apps from your mobile phone with this tool.
39. Zoho CRM Plugin for MS Outlook: Use this plugin with Outlook, and you’ll be able to integrate your email system with Zoho’s CRM tool.
40. Approver: You can embed a Zoho Show presentation into Approver.com documents.
41. G.ho.st: With this online operating system, you can use Zoho tools within the system, as well as get 3GB of free storage for your files.
42. Google Indic Transliteration: With this translation tool, you can translate text in Zoho within your Firefox browser.
43. Zoodle: Manage your Oodle real estate feed in Zoho Creator with this tool.
44. myDataBus: On myDataBus, you can edit documents within the system using Zoho.
45. Zoho Mobile: Use this mobile edition of Zoho on your Windows Mobile device.
46. Flixn: Use Flixn with Zoho to get audio and video recording capabilities in Zoho tools.
47. Kearen: Kearen makes it easy to use Zoho Sheet as data for their Dashboard application.
48. Zoho for Facebook: Use this Facebook app to have access to your Zoho files within Facebook.
49. EchoSign: Create your contracts, proposals, and other important documents in Zoho Writer, and get them digitally approved using EchoSign.
50. DigitalBucket: This online storage system makes it easy for you to open, edit, and save Zoho documents within their application.
51. OmniDrive: Using the Zoho API, OmniDrive offers integration with Zoho files.
52. Zoho QuickRead for Internet Explorer: If you’d like to be able to open Zoho files within Internet Explorer, be sure to download this extension.
53. Box.net: Through the OpenBox service on Box.net, you’ll be able to use Zoho files within the Box.net system.
54. Zoho Storage API: Use Zoho’s Storage API to manipulate data in different Zoho services.
55. Zoho Remote API: Using Zoho’s Remote API, you’ll be able to use Zoho services within third party applications.
56. RunMyProcess: RunMyProcess offers Zoho integration for easy workflow and functionality.
57. BubblesHQ: BubblesHQ will take your browser-based Zoho tools and make them perform more like a desktop application.
58. eyeOS: This online desktop system easily integrates with the Zoho suite of tools.
59. SteekR: Using SteekR, you can edit Zoho Writer documents and save them to your SteekR drive.
60. Zoho Docs: If you’ve found that you have a hard time keeping track of all of your Zoho files, get them organized in Zoho Docs.
61. Entrepreneur Assist: These tools from Entrepreneur are powered by Zoho and will work with the tools in the Zoho suite.
62. Syncplicity: Syncplicity allows you to synchronize your Zoho documents between your desktop and their web application.

Resources

These are excellent resources for finding tips, tricks, and even more resources relating to Zoho tools.

63. Zoho Forums: Zoho has an active forum for tips, tricks, and more related to the Zoho suite.
64. Keyboard shortcuts available in Zoho Writer: This resource offers a list of keyboard shortcuts that you can use to make your work in Zoho Writer easier.
65. Zoho Wiki Tips & Tricks: This wiki explains embedding, removing links, and more.
66. Zoho Blogs: On Zoho’s blogs, you’ll find lots of helpful information for using their tools.
67. Zoho Small Business Tips & Tricks: Here you’ll find a few hints for making Zoho Small Business work better.

Tutorials

These tutorials offer detailed explanations of how you can make use of Zoho’s many features.

68. Sharing Options in Zoho: Follow this tutorial to find out how to share options through Zoho.
69. Zoho Writer Goes Offline-Video Tutorial: Here you’ll learn how to access and edit your Zoho Writer documents offline.
70. Export/Backup Options in Zoho: Learn how to back up and export your Zoho Office data in a variety of different tools with this resource.
71. Provide Remote Assistance with Zoho Meeting: Using Zoho Meeting, you can troubleshoot a problem remotely.
72. Project and CRM workaround: Here you’ll learn how to use a workaround for Project Management & CRM.
73. Zoho Writer Tutorial: This tutorial will explain the important features of Zoho Writer.
74. How to make a custom quotation: Here you’ll learn a variety of tricks for customizing Zoho CRM quotations.
75. Setting up Task Dependency: This tutorial offers directions for setting up task dependency in Zoho Small Business.
76. How to print envelope labels from Zoho CRM: Find out how to take advantage of Zoho CRM’s ability to print directly from the Contacts view.
77. Managing Leads by Product Report: This Zoho CRM tutorial will explain organization based on product reports.
78. Zoho Projects: Change Logo and Powered By Logo: Better brand your Zoho Projects workspace by adding your own logo.
79. Cloning or duplicating an invoice: This guide offers a way to duplicate invoices easily.
80. Shortcut to add user to an Organization: Follow this quick tutorial to find out how to quickly add a user to an organization in Zoho Projects.
81. Managing Dashboard Folders: This tutorial will explain how to manage dashboard folders with access privileges.
82. Tutorial: How to create a password dialog: Password protect the editing of records in Zoho Creator using this simple method.
83. Zoho Business Tutorial: This video explains some of the most important points of Zoho Business.
84. How to add your company logo in print layouts: You can embed your logo in printable views of quotes and other documents using the detail in this guide.
85. How to schedule leads: Learn about scheduling leads for follow up with this useful guide.
86. Zoho Wiki Tutorial: This presentaton offers a good explanation for using Zoho Wiki.
87. Insert Custom Stylesheets in Writer Document: With this tutorial, you’ll learn how to add CSS to your documents.
88. How to customize Zoho Wiki’s navigation bar and sidebar: This tutorial explains how to change Zoho Wiki’s CSS to customize your wiki’s bars.
89. Zoho CRM Home Page Customization: This video explains how you can customize your Zoho CRM home page.
90. Linking to other Zoho products from the wiki: This tutorial discusses embedding Zoho elements into Zoho Wiki.
91. Can Projects be Re-Arranged?: Learn how to reorder your Zoho Projects with this tutorial.
92. Tutorial: How to create a password dialog: This tutorial will show you how to password protect editing of records in Zoho Creator.

Articles

These articles provide insightful thoughts about making use of Zoho tools.

93. Sharing PowerPoint Presenatations on the Web: Can Zoho Show Take on Slideshare?: Check out this guide to learn about some of the good and bad features of Zoho Show.
94. Uses of Zoho Creator: This article explains how you can put Zoho Creator to work for you.
95. Zoho Writer’s New Features Trump Other Online Word Processors: Find out why Zoho Writer is a superior tool in this article.
96. Archiving a Project: Here you’ll learn how to archive a project for long term preservation and future reference.
97. How Zoho Creator Can Help My On and Offline Business: Read this article to find out how you can put Zoho to work for your business.
98. Zoho People: Manage Your Company’s HR Needs from the Web: This article explains the appeal behind one of Zoho’s newest tools, Zoho People.
99. Creativity in Communication: This article explains how you can use Zoho CRM to better communicate with your customers.
100. Zoho Notebook vs OneNote and Google Notebook: Find out how Zoho Notebook stacks up against the competition with this guide.

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