No need to use 411 ever again

I'm feeling even sicker today (cough, sore throat) and even sadder. Blah. I started this post yesterday, but then I got the news about my aunt. Anyway, I figured I'd share now instead. If anyone finds this at all useful, then I'll feel at least a little bit better about something. I don't know if I'm making sense right now, but you know what I mean.

If you're not using Google SMS (Short Message Service), you're missing out. Hyo, the human computer and my very good friend, introduced me to this last year, and there have been countless times it's saved me time, money and frustration. I mostly use it to find restaurant addresses and phone numbers, but it can give you any business listings, movie showtimes, the weather, online product prices, and you can even get driving directions!

Here's how to do it:

1. Enter a text message to phone number 46645 (which spells GOOGL).
2. In the body of the message, enter your query. For example, if I wanted to find Delfina, one of my favorite restaurants, I'd enter the name, city, state: "delfina san francisco ca"
3. Send and wait.

Within seconds, you should receive a text message back with all the information you requested. I told anyone who would listen about this amazing feature as soon as I learned about it. I figured everyone would know about this by now, but I just taught another friend who didn't.

No one should pay the ridiculous 411 fee. What is it now, like $2? Ha - not for me! Now I can use that money I saved to buy... well, not a whole lot really. Definitely not a gallon of gas, not even the cheapie kind. Maybe 1/2 a latte.