The ZIP Code Look-Up and City/State/ZIP Code Association are free services provided by the USPS to assist the public with their addressing needs. These services are being updated and reviewed daily for more accurate retrieval data. Some large metropolitan areas require the entry of a best guess 5-digit ZIP code to retrieve the most accurate ZIP+4. For more information on ZIP Codes please call the toll free ZIP Code Information number at 800-275-8777.
Ask Jeeves a question. This is a search engine for questions on anything. Try to stump him.
Q. What is the difference between RDRAM and DDR? I am looking at computers, and the salesperson touted an expensive machine with RDRAM.
A. RDRAM and DDR are types of random access memory. RDRAM is made under license to Rambus, and it can run as fast as 1200 megahertz (MHz). DDR (double data rate) is an evolutionary development of an older memory design. It basically massages the data twice, hence the word double.
DDR runs as fast as 400MHz.
All things being equal, RDRAM should have quite an edge. This is negated to some degree by RDRAM's higher latency, which means it is slower to push data out the door.
Many other things can affect the speed at which computers work. Those include microprocessors, chipsets, and hard drives. Video chips can be a big bottleneck. So although memory is important, it is not the only thing to worry about.
The amount of memory you have is probably more important for general computing than the type. Although Microsoft says you can get by with 64 megabytes of RAM with Windows XP, you really need more. I recommend 256MB minimum. In my own computers, I run 512MB. That handles everything I throw at it.
Many top-end computers use RDRAM. However, I recently built a cutting- edge machine with 400MHz DDR. That computer is very fast. But for the machines here in the office that are used for heavy audio and video editing, I made sure RDRAM was installed.
If you are doing a lot of audio or photography work, or video editing, you should specify RDRAM. Otherwise, DDR should be fine. I assume you'll be using Windows XP, so insist on at least 256MB of RAM.
Q. Is there a way to address envelopes in Word without having to open the program? Can I copy an icon to the desktop? I use Word to address so many envelopes and opening the program takes so much time.
A. You can easily do this by creating an address template in Word. Then you can save it to your desktop. When you need to address an envelope, double-click the template. Enter the address in the template and print it, just as you would any document.
To create the template, open Word. Then, click tools>Letters and Mailings>Envelopes and Labels. Enter your return address. If this will be a general template, enter yourself as the addressee.
That will show you where to put the real address when you use the template. If you have regular correspondents, you can make specific templates for them.
After the addresses are entered, click Add to Document. That will create the template. Now, check to be sure it works on an envelope.
Put an envelope in the printer. On the template, click File>Print.
When you're satisfied, click File>Save As. Name it Address Template.
In the Save In box at the top, click the down arrow. At the top of the list, find Desktop. Click that. Then click Save. The template will be on the desktop. To use it, double-click the icon.
If you prefer, there are a number of shareware programs that would open more quickly than Word. Try Star Envelope Printer Pro (http://www.starre.com/envelope.html, $15), Envelope Printer (http://www.sorcerersoftware.com/envelope.htm, $15) and Easy Mail
(http://www.homeplansoftware.com/, $34.95). These programs are all shareware. Download them and try them out before you buy.
For Mac, try Snail Mail (http://www.nixanz.com, free). Also, check out Addressix (http://a-sharp.com/addressix/addressix.html, $13). Addressix is shareware.
Animal farm Greeting Cards
I love sending and receiving e-mail cards. Today's site doesn't have your normal cartoon cards. All of the cards here feature animals.
They're funny, adorable and bound to brighten up someone's day.
There's an assortment of cards here for any occasion -- birthday,
romance, thank you, etc. So, if you know someone who loves a critter,
check out this site.
TO VISIT THIS SITE, GO HERE:
http://www.crittercards.com/
Get the online deals
Promotional codes are distributed by the retailers. People who are regular customers of these stores get the codes by e-mail or regular mail. But even if you are not a regular customer, you can still get the code. You just need to know where to look.
There are several web sites that do nothing but accumulate and list promotional codes that you can use when shopping online.
Some sites that I use to get the codes are:
Jump on Deals - http://jumpondeals.com
Current Codes -- http://www.currentcodes.com
Naughty Codes -- http://www.naughtycodes.com
Deal Hunting -- http://www.dealhunting.com
Cool Savings -- http://www.coolsavings.com
Once you get the code, there is a place during the checkout process to enter it. Type in the code and your total amount due is automatically adjusted. This is a secret only the Internet power users like you know!
AND NOW FOR TODAY'S SITE... Recording a cassette to CD
Q. I have a cassette tape of conversations in the late 1960s. I would like to record it onto a CD. How can I do this?
A. This is relatively easy to do at home. You need to run a cable from your cassette player or your tuner to your computer. You can buy one of these cables for a few bucks at your local Radio Shack or electronics store. Use the line out port on the player or tuner. Connect to the Line In port on your computer.
You will also need software to capture the sound. I suggest you use Audacity. It is relatively simple to create a WAV file from your tape. And plus Audacity is free at: http://audacity.sourceforge.net/
You can then burn the WAV file to a CD. Your CD should have software to do that. Or you can use Windows Media Player, which is part of Windows.
If you plan to store the file on your computer or e-mail it, you might want to compress it. WAV files are very large. You can convert yours to an MP3, which will be much smaller. Audacity has a plug-in which will allow it to create MP3 files. Instructions are on its Web site. Or you can use DB PowerAMP, an excellent conversion tool. It's available free at: http://www.dbpoweramp.com/
There are many programs that will play MP3s, including Windows Media Player.
AND NOW FOR TODAY'S SITE... What's the number?
I've found another fun and addictive game. It's called Da' Numba. The object is to clear the playing field of numbered tiles. Find
combinations of the tiles that add up to "Da' Numba."
The more tiles you use to make Da' Numba, the more points you score.
You have 90 seconds to find as many combinations as possible.
It requires only simple mathematic skills, but it's very challenging.
TO VISIT THIS SITE, GO HERE:
http://www.kewlbox.com/games/game.cfm?gameId=103
How about pictures. Would you like to see pictures here?? We can do it. Just send them to me and I will put them on a page.
AltaVista Maps 
