Earthling

Note: The below is an archived entry from Earthling, formerly EarthLink's official blog. The blog itself has been decommissioned and is no longer updated, and comments are trackbacks are no longer accepted.

With the recent launch of Yahoo's free service for answering questions about anything under the sun, I wanted to offer a round-up of many different ways you can use the web when you need to know something.

• Use Google. No, *really* use Google. By now everyone knows how to type a question or a few words into the Google search engine. But there are so many other indirect ways to use it. Be oblique. For example, search for a message board of people who are enthusiastic about the general subject you want to know about. Once you find it, search that message board to see if they've already addressed your question. If they haven't, register for the message board and ask. They are usually all too pleased to have someone new to talk to.

• Try a different search engine for a change. You're getting a little predictable with all of the googling. The neighbors are starting to wonder. Why not give the Google search elves a rest and try one of these new search tools? Keep your game fresh. Try Gada.be, Exalead, and Clusty.

• Shake down an expert. Look for a writer out on the web who specializes in the topic area you want to know about. Don't be shy. Many writers now publish their e-mail addresses at the end of each article and encourage readers to write in, including newspaper reporters, magazine writers, and nerdybird bloggers. If you have an aviation-related question, ask the pilot over at Salon.com.

• Or a non-expert. The Morning News has a feature where someone who is most certainly not an expert in the relevant field answers reader questions anyway. Write in and ask away.