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READY REFERENCE

Read E-Book Classics

Nothing promotes the Net's "information wants to be free" philosophy quite like Project Gutenberg. The site offers free downloads of more than 6000 electronic books in ASCII format, an eclectic selection ranging from fairy tales of the Brothers Grimm to the writings of Winston Churchill and William Shakespeare. A worldwide network of mirror sites ensures you'll get your downloads quickly.

Make an International Phone Call

Type in the country you're calling from and the country you wish to reach at the EmbassyWorld search engine site, and it will tell you what you need to dial to place that call. The site also links to 700 residential and business phone directories, with the relevant directories listed on the results page.

Calculate Postage

Don't go postal over long lines at the post office. Avoid the crowds and the window that closes just as you reach the head of the queue by calculating postal rates (including overseas mailings), looking up zip codes, or purchasing stamps--by going to the Postal Service's site. Stamps arrive in three to five business days with a $1 fee for shipping and handling. You can also preorder commemorative stamps before they're available at post offices.

Research Public Records

Every state has different rules about what records the public can access. The www.searchsystems.net site offers links to thousands of records, categorized by geographical region and subject. You can find links to records about foreclosures, professional state licenses, property reports, missing-person databases, and college alumni lists, among others.

Sort Out Valid Health Concerns

Some pretty far-fetched stuff can make its way into your in-box, so check the facts before you join the rumor mill. The CDC's list of hoaxes can help you determine what you should take note of and what you should ignore. Poisonous perfume samples sent through the mail? That's just a hoax. Ditto those reports about tainted Coca-Cola and Pepsi.

Take the Guesswork Out of Foreign Postal Addresses

Postal conventions vary widely from country to country. Wondering if you should place the street number before the apartment number, or vice versa when you're mailing a package to Italy? The Columbia Univerisity site's guide to international postal addresses sorts out confusing postal rules, codes, and abbreviations.