Stumble

Stumble.

This is quite a nifty little site. The whole name is Stumble Upon, and that is exactly what it does. It helps you to "stumble upon" sites that you like with the simple click of a button.

How to use Stumble Upon? Go to their website http://www.stumbleupon.com/ and click on the sign up now button if you want the full benefits of what it can do. I did this and filled in my info. Then I realized along with signing up, stumble installs a toolbar to your browser. On any other given day, I would have ended the process right there. There is a fine line between helpful toolbars, and toolbar excessiveness, when you have so many "free" toolbars the screen is no longer visible. BUT since I am committed to trying these things out, I was committed to the whole process. I installed the toolbar, (and am definitely keeping it!).

Next you check off things you like and/or are interested in, from a generated list. Follow a few more steps and there you have it you are officially a stumbler. I am pleasantly surprised, and actually suggest you add the toolbar.

Here's why: It has 3 nifty little buttons on the left hand side,
1 that says stumble
2 says I like it! with a little thumbs up symbol
3 has a thumbs down symbol.

The reason these are so great is: You click the stumble button, and it randomly generates a sight you may like according to the preferences you submitted. Like it? Click the thumbs up and it is saved to your stumble account. Don't like it? Click the thumbs down and stumble again. What's great about this, is the more you stumble and click on your preference, the more Stumble Upon understands what you like.

I was skeptical, not believing it could actually generate things that would keep my attention (I have a short attention span, much like that of a 4 year old). But right off the bat, they were at least 70% right on and it just got better. I haven't laughed so hard and so much in a week, or found so many interesting things. The key is, checking off the things that truly interest you.

For those who absolutely refuse to add a toolbar. You can search their sight, and see the things others have stumbled upon and like. To get the full benefit though I suggest signing up in spite of the stumble toolbar it wants to install, at least to try it. After all toolbars are like hair, in that they can always be cut.

To learn more about Stumble Upon check out this video it breaks down the how-to, in audio and visual. And here are links to some of their recent pages of 5 star stumbles by category. news photos videos arts business computers health fun lifestyle music science sports technology

Life is All Surreal.

MJB