Have YOU Heard of 800-GOOG-411?

I always seem to find out about cool stuff well after everyone else. I am a low-tech, day-late, dollar-short kind of guy. For the longest time, I thought TiVO was a salad dressing. I was also under the impression that an iPod was a newly discovered antioxidant plant material.
Needless to say, I eventually found out what all these things are--like a year later. That's why I wasn't surprised to discover that I am one of the last people in my circle of friends to find out about what's called 800-GOOG-411.
What is it? Well, 800-GOOG-411 is a free phone information system, just like good old Pac Bell's 411, but better. I love Google! They're coming up with great new things all the time, and the best thing is--they're usually free. What an amazing company Google is.
Basically, 800-GOOG-411 allows you to find phone numbers and addresses. But, the best thing about it is that you can also search for types of businesses.
So, if you want to locate a strip club in Antioch, all you have to do is say the city name and then say "strip clubs." Then it gives you the top 8 in the category (some place named "Good Time Girls" is number one, for those who are interested.)
You can find places by city name, zip code, or even cross streets. So, it's ideal if you're traveling out of town and don't know the area.
But, the best thing is--it's free. Every time you call the standard 411, the phone comapny charges you anywhere between fifty cents to more than a dollar, so you can save a ton of money with 800-GOOG-411 if you call 411 a lot, like I do.
Plus, half the time 411 operators give you the wrong number, which means you have to go back and bitch at them until they give you a credit, which can take months to appear on your bill.
Hats off to Google for once again making our lives a little easier...and less expensive. Now if we can just persuade Chevron to start giving away free gas!
For more information about this great service, check out Google's blog.