ELIZABETH VOGE | staff writer
Ever find yourself needing some random piece of information? Or maybe you just need an excuse to procrastinate or are simply bored. Well I have your non-facebook solution: try ChaCha!
Who, or what, is ChaCha exactly? Other than my new favorite helper, ChaCha is a text-message based search engine that you can use 24/7 straight from your phone. And the best part—it’s free.
ChaCha will answer just about any question you can muster up, regardless of whether it’s for informative purposes, curiosity, or just for kicks.
All you have to do is text your question to ChaCha (242-242) and you should have a response within about one minute. Many times, your answer will come back with a link that you can use to find out more information on your question.
ChaCha, launched in 2008, gets part of its name from the Chinese word “cha,” which means “search,” and the other part of its name from the fast-paced dance, the cha-cha.
The way ChaCha works is by using guides. You send a question via text message to ChaCha, then a guide receives the question, researches it really quickly and sends you back the answer.
ChaCha doesn’t cost anything, but the text messages will cost whatever your cell phone plan charges for texts.
Or, if you’re at home and don’t want to use up any text messages, you can go online to www.ChaCha.com and ask a question there, or look at other questions that people have asked. Some questions can be pretty ridiculous while some are interesting and funny.
My recent visit to ChaCha.com revealed in only five minutues who Nick Jonas was going out with, what it means when dogs eat grass, some quotes on change, the average weight of a polar bear and what Mr. T’s real name is.
Although asking questions via text message is my personal preference, there is another alternative to going online or texting. Inquisitive minds can call 1-800-2ChaCha and ask a question in a voicemail-like message. Someone will listen to it and respond with an answer via text message in about one minute.
A perk about using ChaCha is the personal and lighthearted touch to answers. Humans respond to questions, not an automated machine, so the answers can sometimes be funny, but also helpful and serious when necessary.
But, I have found, it definitely helps to curb boredom when you are able to ask someone a random, irrelevant question.
For example, I once asked a guide, “What’s the weirdest question you’ve answered?” just for fun, but other times ChaCha has been a real lifesaver.
ChaCha was there for me when I needed to know the capital of Maine, the weather, movie show times, phone numbers, or when I just needed a good Chuck Norris joke.
Whether for fun or for a need, ChaCha is definitely a number you should keep in your phonebook, or at least keep in mind. It can aid in emergencies, relieve boredom, prove your friends wrong, or simply provide new information. Whatever the question, don’t forget to ChaCha!.
