1. A method for allowing a user to customize a search engine and to make said search engine available to others, said method comprising the following steps: hosting a first submission form on a first computer, said first computer being under the control of a first entity and connected to a computer network, said first submission form comprising at least a first data entry field suitable for user entry of data; receiving a first submission from a first user, said first user being different from said first entity, said first submission comprising at least a first user-specified piece of data, said first user-specified piece of data being selected from the group consisting of (i) a second user-specified piece of data, said second user-specified piece of data pertaining to weight, (ii) a third user-specified piece of data, said third user-specified piece of data pertaining to freshness, and (iii) a fourth user-specified piece of data, said fourth user-specified piece of data pertaining to tolerance; providing markup language text to said first user, said markup language text being suitable for embedding in a second submission form, said second submission form comprising a second data entry field and being hosted on a second computer, said second data entry field being suitable for user entry of a first term, said second computer being different from said first computer and being connected to said computer network; receiving a second submission, said second submission comprising said first term and being submitted by a second user from a third computer through said computer network by way of said second submission form, said second user being different from said first user and different from said first entity, said third computer being different from said first computer and different from said second computer; ranking a first set of items in response to said second submission, said step of ranking being performed according to a ranking algorithm, said ranking algorithm being determined at least in part by said first user through said first submission, said first set of items comprising at least a first item and a second item; providing a search engine results document to said second user, said search engine results document comprising at least some results of said step of ranking and being selected from the group consisting of a first search engine results page and a first search engine results email; receiving a first URL; receiving a first label, said first label comprising at least a first word; receiving a first indication of a first strength of preference, said first strength of preference being associated with said first label; receiving a first query via a third submission form; comparing said first query to said first label; ranking a second set of items, said second set of items comprising a third item and a fourth item, said third item being associated with said first URL, said step of ranking said plurality of items comprising a step of ranking said third item higher than said fourth item when said first strength of preference is higher than a second strength of preference; establishing a first vendor account, a second vendor account, and first shopper account; indicating that said first vendor account has been established; providing an electronic shopping cart mechanism; receiving by way of said electronic shopping cart mechanism information pertaining to a plurality of different purchases; charging said first shopper account for said plurality of different purchases; paying a plurality of different vendors for said plurality of different purchases; instructing said plurality of different vendors to ship said purchases to a first shopper, said plurality of different vendors comprising a first vendor and a second vendor, said first vendor being associated with said first vendor account, said second vendor being associated with said second vendor account, and said first shopper being associated with said first shopper account, said first vendor being different from said second vendor and from said first shopper; and wherein said first strength of preference comprises a first value, said first value being one among a range of possible values, said range of possible values comprising at least three different values.
10. The method in claim 1 additionally comprising the following step: providing a first web browser toolbar function, said first web browser toolbar function being selected from the group consisting of (i) a newsfeed, (ii) a wish list, (iii) a user-to-user sale mechanism, (iv) an indication that a web site provider uses renewable energy, (v) an indication that a web site provider supports a charity, and (vi) an opportunity to choose a charity to support.