SoYouWanna find answers? This Web site has 'em! August 6, 2000   By JIM BROOKS Web sites offering ``how-to'' advice seem to multiplying rapidly these days. In past columns, I've mentioned the ever-popular www.About.com series of web sites, which feature literally dozens of experts hosting sites devoted to hundreds of unique areas of interest. An additional player in the ``how-to'' field doesn't have all the answers, but you'll be surprised what the site actually can offer. SoYouWanna.com claims to be the place that ``teaches you how to do all the things nobody taught you in school.'' They aren't making an idle boast, either. SYW is, as the site claims, ``life explained.'' You can learn how to shoot pool, open a bank account, play chess, be a paralegal, find out how to be a movie extra or ask even how to ask the big boss for a raise. The site's variety makes it entertaining to simply browse the categories and the how-to answers. You can browse the content by category, or alphabetically, whichever you prefer. You may wish to sign up for a free newsletter to keep abreast of new content on the site. The quality of the advice appears credible, too. For example, in the SYW entry for ``Ask for a raise,'' (the first place I was drawn for information) the first step listed is ``Make sure you deserve it.'' Not a bad start, indeed. The answers are sometimes a little tongue-in-cheek, but overall you'll be both informed and entertained. That alone makes this site more useful than most on the Web! Point your Web browser to www.SoYouWanna.com. SECRET RECIPES. Few people can admit they don't have a favorite menu from one of their local fast food outlets. As a kid, my brother seemed partial to the French fries at White Castle. My dad enjoyed the chili at Wendy's, and I always enjoyed the taste of the wonderful Big B hamburgers served by my local Riley's Drive In. I can't bring back the taste of the Big B (Riley's closed years ago), but thanks to the Web, you can duplicate many of your favorite fast food tastes in your own kitchen. After receiving a bogus Mrs. Fields recipe chain letter in the late 1980s, Todd Wilbur, a California man, set out to duplicate the gourmet cookies in his own kitchen. His kitchen experiments eventually yielded palatable results, and he later tried his hand at duplicating other recipes. Eventually, he amassed quite a collection of ``clone'' recipes, and he published a book, ``Top Secret Recipes.'' The success of the first volume led to additional volumes. The companion Web site, www.topsecretrecipes.com, offers plenty of the original clone recipes for your favorite junk food, condiment, and cookie. If you're not craving the recipe for creating your own Pay Day candy bar, you might want to read how to duplicate that delectable Arby Sauce or Heinz 57 Steak Sauce before you put those steaks on the grill for Labor Day. What makes the site even more interesting are the message boards. Hints and secrets from restaurant workers about their company's own recipes often help answer those nagging "how did they do that?" questions. New recipes are posted periodically on the site too, making it one bookmark you'll want to revisit frequently. Wilbur's books -- five of them in all -- are detailed at the site, and can be ordered online. For more information, visit the site at www.topsecretrecipes.com. And don't forget to have your grocery list handy, you'll probably want to bring home ingredients to try making your own homebrewed Wendy's Chili or Burger King BK Broiler. eBAY REAL ESTATE. Online auction giant eBay has expanded its site to include real estate sales and auctions. The new category, called eBay Real Estate, will offer services to both property buyers and sellers. The move into real estate follows the site's move a year ago into vehicles with eBay Motors. eBay has partnered with zipRealty.com to help provide real-estate expertise. zipRealty.com operates in 15 metro areas and in 10 U.S. states. The deal with eBay will likely mean some quick expansion for the company. Due to the complexity of real estate transactions, any bidding on eBay won't actually be legally binding on either party. eBay will operate more as a listing site than a site that will facilitate transactions and bids in auction manner. Once the auction period closes, then the buyers and sellers will then enlist the services of zipRealty.com for the transaction. Home sellers will pay $50 to list a home or parcel of land. Sellers receive a personalized Web page devoted to their home or property that can include such neat features as 360-degree virtual tours and listing the property with additional real estate Web sites. For more details, visit www.eBay.com and click on "Real Estate" in the category listing. Comments and questions about this column may be sent to jbrooks@myoldkentuckyhome.com, or visit www.myoldkentuckyhome.com on the World Wide Web. | HOME |