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Figure out who's bringing what with MyPunchBowl's checklists

There's something to be said about Web services that have been set up to help people coordinate things in the least stressful way as possible. I dig sites like CircleUp (coverage) that offer a way to set up polls, or to solve quick logistical questions within a group, without requiring the creator or the users to agonize over the interface and execution. That's why MyPunchBowl's new checklist feature is pretty much the best addition to a party-planning service yet.

The idea is simple: you, as party creator, make a list of things you need for the party. … Read more

David Allen, guru of 'Getting Things Done'

David Allen, guru of geek productivity and author of the best-selling book, "Getting Things Done," was the keynote speaker at the Under the Radar conference last week. His system has inspired millions to strive for an in-box with zero messages in it, and I wanted to know if he could help me achieve this nirvana. Allen didn't offer any magic solution, although his organizational tips do make sense for those of us suffering from perpetual information and communications overload.

I asked Allen if there were any software or online tools he recommends for keeping the lists on … Read more

Get things done with Vitalist

Finally, here's a Web 2.0 app that I like today: Vitalist. It's a to-do list manager. Yawn, you say? Not so fast. With such a simple concept, the story is purely in the implementation. And Vitalist does it right. It's simple to use, and it's fast. Most features are blindingly obvious. And it has a lightweight version for accessing your list from your mobile phone instead of your computer.

What makes Vitalist work are the different ways you can organize tasks. Discrete items you need to get done are just entered as tasks. You can … Read more