Around the Web: Use Responsibly

Cozy Up, Family

Online calendaring is all the rage. But Cozi.com takes it to another level. Completely focused on family management, this site lets you create one central family calendar online. You can select a color code for each person, then view individual schedules or the entire family schedule at once. Plus, you can even sync with the online calendar at your child's school (if they have one) to prevent double-booking and set reminders for text message or email. Plus, Cozi lets you create customizable shopping lists, family journals and even photo collages. It's like an online "home base" for your family.

Twitter...with Photos

I just discovered DailyBooth and I haven't quite figured it out yet. But I've basically determined that it's just like Twitter but with photos. You select people to follow and then you can see the pics that they snap from around the world in real-time. It's not quite as simple as Twitter (since it involves uploading photos and not just typing 140 characters) but it appears to be set up in a very similar format. Though I don't know if it's actually "taken off" yet, it certainly has the potential. I imagine it's pretty cool to follow folks in exotic places and catch a glimpse into their lives from miles away. Yet another cyber-stalking tool the world probably doesn't need...

How Sly Are You?

I've written before about various online tools that allow you to fake an incoming phone call (only to be used in cases of extreme necessity) but Slydial is a new one for me. And again, I share this with you because I know the OfficeArrow audience is mature and won't abuse the power that Slydial offers. Here's the deal: This service allows you to connect straight to someone's voicemail without actually attempting to call them. Imagine the incredibly uncomfortable conversations you could simply avoid by leaving a voicemail. Is it wrong? No, it's just sly.

Optical Disillusion

My boss sent me this game the other day and I guess he was trying to make me feel insecure. I've never performed so badly in any computer game. And it doesn't even SEEM that hard! It's called the Eyeballing Game because it's all about how well you can eyeball geometric shapes and angles. It's challenging, to say the least. And, if you're like me, you won't want to stop until you've perfected your strategy. Of course, there really is no strategy here. It's just a matter of concentration and focus. Enjoy - and don't say I didn't warn you.

OA Retro: Phone Etiquette 101

Just to help ease my mind after providing you all with Slydial, I thought I'd share this oldie but goodie about phone communication. So, while I've given you a sneaky new weapon, I'm also reminding you that good phone skills are a key component of professional success. See? We're balanced here.