Series 2, Article 3
Remember when you had to
…take classes to learn to Hula?
…buy a cookbook to get a recipe for lasagna?
…look at a map to figure out how to get somewhere?
…buy a new lamp because you couldn’t fix the old one?
There have always been millions of people who know how to do millions of things…..and now, because of the World Wide Web, millions of people have shared their knowledge on a million subjects in easy step-by-step instructions. The possibilities of what you can learn for FREE is endless if you just know where to look.
For you Techy-types, CNET has information on everything from car technology to digital photography. They are the Electronic How-To Wizards regarding Phones, Computers, Tablets, iPods, Home Theaters, Cameras, Cars, etc.
eHow is a treasure trove of “How To” information. Look up any Recipe, get Party Tips and learn about Wines. Learn how to Landscape, Grow a Garden or Decorate your House. Get step-by-step instructions on how to Repair any Appliance or how to become Energy Efficient. Receive Fashion, Makeup, Hair and Skin Tips. Learn about Budgeting, getting a Loan, getting Insurance or Selling a House. Get Career Tips, Financial Advice or Advice on how to Start a Business. And get Parenting Tips, Health Tips and Exercise Routines.
WikiHow is “The World’s Colla-borative How-To Manual”. These “How-To’s” cover everything from Hobbies, Pets, Relationships and even “How to Call in Sick when you just Need a Day Off.”
Instructables is also a community driven How-To site. There are hundreds of catagories like, Sports and Survival, Magic Tricks and Guitar Lessons, How to Make a Robot, Program your Cell Phone or Make a Compost Bin.
HowStuffWorks is owned by Discovery Communications, who also owns the Discovery Channel, Animal Planet, and Consumer Guide. This site gives you great explanations of a wide variety of subjects.
Make Magazine is a fascinating site full of handy DIY projects and How-To guides from “important” technology to eclectic subjects like How to make a Catapult or a Giant Bubble Generator.
Whether you’re looking for help on how to reformat a hard drive, organize your notes, stop procrastinating so much, you can probably find it at Lifehacker. There are fascinating articles on things like Which Items you should always Buy Generic, Should you use Premium Gas in your Car, or How to Ask for a Raise.
The Wired How To Wiki is a site full of technology tutorials that help you figure out how to do it yourself.
Blend In in a Foreign Country, Earthquake-Proof your Wine Cellar, Survive a Kidnapping, Make your Blog Popular, or Pick a Lock.
Good Luck and Have Fun!