Friday, July 31, 2009

Blackstump Australia Issue 23 - August 1, 2009

The latest issue of new family friendly sites listed on The Black Stump.
Blackstump Australia Issue 23 - August 1, 2009

iPhone Virus? Turn Your Phone Off

That seems to be the only practical advice we’ve heard so far as a security vulnerability is set to be exposed later this afternoon that potentially threatens every iPhone via an SMS message.
iPhone Virus? Turn Your Phone Off

10 Ways to Get More Wear Out of Your Clothing

Think of the money you can save by extending the life of your clothes and hanging onto them longer. Here are some practical ways to do just that.
10 Ways to Get More Wear Out of Your Clothing

Thursday, July 30, 2009

Rain, rain, go away…

Rain-related quotes from The Oxford Dictionary of Quotations.
Rain, rain, go away…

Wolfram|Alpha’s Got the “Write” Stuff

Wolfram|Alpha is a great resource for writers. It has an enormous words and linguistics database that writers can use for such things as word definitions, origins, synonyms, hyphenation, and Soundex lookups.
Wolfram|Alpha’s Got the “Write” Stuff

Rooms for less with Bing Travel’s Hotel Rate Indicator

Bing Travel has created an intelligent tool to help you figure out whether the hotel rate you’re being offered is a deal or not.
Rooms for less with Bing Travel’s Hotel Rate Indicator

Catch Phrases That May Tip You Off to a Lie

Apart from more obvious signs, non-verbal gestures and other cues can also help to determine whether someone is telling the truth or not. Forbes outlines 11 ways to potentially sniff out a liar, including several phrases to watch out for.
Catch Phrases That May Tip You Off to a Lie

Wednesday, July 29, 2009

Quarterly updates - Oxford English Dictionary

Every quarter, a range of entries in OED Online will be replaced by updated versions produced by the OED's revision programme. New entries will also be added across the alphabet.
Quarterly updates - Oxford English Dictionary

Open and edit PDF files in OpenOffice

Now, thanks to a very useful tool created by Sun, editing a PDF file is as simple as adding an extension to OpenOffice and then opening that PDF for editing.
Open and edit PDF files in OpenOffice

Wolfram|Alpha Can Help You Make Smart Food Choices

A variety of nutritional factors may be of importance depending on your dietary needs and wellness goals, which is why Wolfram|Alpha goes further than just providing the total number of calories in a food item.
Wolfram|Alpha Can Help You Make Smart Food Choices

Tuesday, July 28, 2009

How to Buy a Mattress

Here are a few things to keep in mind.
How to Buy a Mattress

Spy satellites map climate change

Sometimes America's spy satellites have to pass over 'friendly territory.' When they do, they can still be put to good use – in this case, monitoring sea ice for evidence of climate change.
Spy satellites map climate change

10 Hidden Costs & Rules of Pet Ownership

Here's a list of what adoption agencies and pet shops don't tell you about your future pet. Hidden rules & costs of owning pets.
10 Hidden Costs & Rules of Pet Ownership

Monday, July 27, 2009

How to Burn Calories

You probably already know that in order to lose weight, you need to burn more calories than you consume. This article will take a closer look at some easy ways to burn calories that you can incorporate into your daily life.
How to Burn Calories

The Top 12 Social Media Stories This Week

Social media was even busier than normal as we got new info on some of the web’s most anticipated products. The first screenshots of Firefox 3.7, the revelation that 100,000 invites for Google Wave arrive in September, and the removal of the Alice in Wonderland trailer from YouTube made headlines this week.
The Top 12 Social Media Stories This Week

Remembering Apollo 11 - The Big Picture

Collected here are 40 images from the journey four decades ago, when, in the words of astronaut Buzz Aldrin: "In this one moment, the world came together in peace for all mankind". (40 photos total)
Remembering Apollo 11 - The Big Picture

Building Walt’s Dream - Disneyland Construction Timelapse Video

If you’re a Disney fan, stop what you’re doing right now and set aside the next 50 minutes to flashback to the very first moments of Disneyland with Walt Disney pacing off the site and proceed through the year via timelapse video until the park is ready for opening day. This never-before-seen footage was sitting on a shelf all these years and only saved by a curious employee.
Building Walt’s Dream - Disneyland Construction Timelapse Video

Saturday, July 25, 2009

40 Superb Psychology Blogs

Forty of the best psychology blogs, chosen to give you a broad sweep of the most interesting content being produced online right now.
40 Superb Psychology Blogs

DNA confirms coastal trek to Australia

DNA evidence linking Indian tribes to Australian Aboriginal people supports the theory humans arrived in Australia from Africa via a southern coastal route through India, say researchers.
DNA confirms coastal trek to Australia

Stunning Space Photography

Space has many beautiful mysteries hidden inside. Many people have tried and are still trying to uncover those mysteries. In this inspirational post, we present beautiful photographs from space explorations: nebulas, comets, stars, planets, etc. Hopefully, these beauties will inspire you to create beautiful artwork, Web designs, graphics, wallpaper, illustrations, etc. All of the images are linked to their sources.
Stunning Space Photography

Would you want to know your Alzheimer's risk?

What if you could learn you have a higher risk of getting a condition for which there isn't yet a cure or a means to prevent it, such as Alzheimer's disease? Is that information still worth knowing, and how would it make you feel?
Would you want to know your Alzheimer's risk?

Hat Fail

Hmmm, yeah..Ok.
Hat Fail

Friday, July 24, 2009

How To Use Wolfram|Alpha to Help Solve Crossword Puzzles

Does today’s crossword have you puzzled? You could continue to fret, and fight the urge to check the full solution, or you could consult Wolfram|Alpha, which has the tools you need to solve the sneakiest constructions. Wolfram|Alpha can find words matching a pattern, words with specific beginnings and endings, and provide word definitions.
How To Use Wolfram|Alpha to Help Solve Crossword Puzzles

Thursday, July 23, 2009

Quiz: Are You Drifting?

One of the problems of drift is that we try to deny we’re drifting. Take this quiz: how many of these statements apply to you, in your current situation? The more checks you make, the greater your risk for being adrift.
Quiz: Are You Drifting?

How to Troubleshoot a Flaky Internet Connection

The best way to resolve ANY computer problem is to use the process of elimination. Narrow down a wide field of possible problems to come up with the right solution. There are two types of connectivity downage: when you can't get to ANY web site or online service at all, and when you can't get to a single specific site or family of sites.
How to Troubleshoot a Flaky Internet Connection

Wednesday, July 22, 2009

30 Household Products Vinegar Can Replace

Who knew that vinegar could do so much? It serves a purpose in just about every room of the house, and there are dozens of household (and personal) products that vinegar can replace, as you will see below. It’s cheaper, better for the environment, and better for your health and home (in eliminating unnecessary chemicals).
30 Household Products Vinegar Can Replace

NASA Eclipse Web Site

On Wednesday, the moon will pass in front of the sun, producing a total solar eclipse that will last longer than any other until 2132,
NASA Eclipse Web Site

Amateur Astronomer Spies a Fresh Impact Scar on Jupiter

A backyard astronomer in Australia made a major discovery early Monday morning when he noticed a newly formed spot on Jupiter—a spot that academics and NASA astronomers have now confirmed marks a recent impact on the giant planet.
Amateur Astronomer Spies a Fresh Impact Scar on Jupiter

Tuesday, July 21, 2009

Five More Search Tools You May Not Know … But Should

Have you ever needed to see the search results for another city — maybe because you want to see what PPC ads are shown somewhere else? Have you ever needed to see search results from a different country, or in a different language? Maybe you’re into real time search, and you’d love a place to find the latest photos and videos being shared on Twitter. Or perhaps you’re planning a vacation abroad, but you’re not sure when is the best time to visit Europe.
Five More Search Tools You May Not Know … But Should

Ten Unusual Ways to Improve Your Appearance of Confidence That Really Work

What I’ve learned over time is that the person that appears confident is often not as confident as they appear. They just simply do a few things well. They walk in a way that appears confident. Their eyes seem alert. They stand tall. They have a faint appeal that you can’t quite put your finger on. You feel fine talking to them, but not to most people.
Ten Unusual Ways to Improve Your Appearance of Confidence That Really Work

6 Weird Things People Sell for Cash

When the recession began to really hit home, there was plenty of chatter about selling your plasma, undergoing paid medical tests, and even cutting off your lovely locks for a profit. Here are some of the more off-the-wall commodities we found, and they are making some people a bit more comfortable these days.
6 Weird Things People Sell for Cash

Monday, July 20, 2009

Top 10 Vital Social Media Stories of the Week

Social media was all over the map this week, but there was one theme that ran through many of this week’s stories: security. From Twitter’s meltdown to a gaping vulnerability Firefox 3.5, users saw the importance of security first-hand. Security’s also a huge issue with Internet Explorer 6, which we highlight in this week’s most popular story.
Top 10 Vital Social Media Stories of the Week

Apollo 11 Moon Landing: A YouTube Timeline

This is the Apollo 11 mission, from Kennedy’s famous speeches to Apollo 11’s recovery, in the form of YouTube videos.
Apollo 11 Moon Landing: A YouTube Timeline

Sunday, July 19, 2009

Learn the Economical Art of Wet Shaving

Shaving cartridges are expensive—the current crop of Gillette's razors, for example, cost over $2 a pop to refill. Refilling a traditional razor, on the other hand, can cost mere pennies and shave just as well.
Learn the Economical Art of Wet Shaving

Family Friendly Blackstump Australia Issue 22 - July 19, 2009

The latest issue of new family friendly sites listed on The Black Stump.
Family Friendly Blackstump Australia Issue 22 - July 19, 2009

How to Lose Weight Watching TV

We are fast becoming a society of statues. A curious species who seem to have our collective asses permanently attached to a chair. Or preferably, a couch. We discovered that within a few years many of us will have identical movement patterns and daily activity levels to that of the oak tree. Yep, it appears that many of us have become fat (seated) spectators in the game of life. Heavy sigh.
How to Lose Weight Watching TV

Top 10 Great Social Sites for Movie Lovers

If you want your movie experience to extend beyond the theatre, where should you turn? For movie lovers, the social web is the place to be. Here is a list of the top 10 best social networks for film buffs to hang out, discuss movies, get information about that latest films and upcoming releases, and meet other cinephiles.
Top 10 Great Social Sites for Movie Lovers

Saturday, July 18, 2009

Rampaging toilet terrorizes children

Apparently, Colorado's Denver Water is trying to get people to make sure that they don't overuse their toilets, or some such thing. No running toilets. No excessive flushing. No leaky toilets. That's what I gather, at least.
Rampaging toilet terrorizes children

Squeeze Every Ounce Of Power From Your Disposable Batteries

Sometimes it seems that today’s electronic devices gobble up batteries faster than we can buy them. Learn how to get the most life out of your batteries by following the simple tips below.
Squeeze Every Ounce Of Power From Your Disposable Batteries

The Week In IPhone Apps: Augmented Everything

In a very special late night edition of your weekly iPhone apptacular: Apps that make things that are already good—FM radio, video games, shopping, spouses, the city you live in—a little bit better.
The Week In IPhone Apps: Augmented Everything

Spy probe images Apollo landing sites

Those who suspect the Apollo lunar landings were faked may have trouble arguing with new orbital images of hardware and tracks left in the lunar dust by Apollo astronauts in the 1960s and '70s.
Spy probe images Apollo landing sites

Viewing angle still the Achilles heel for most LCD TVs

Many LCD and plasma TVs do an excellent job displaying high-definition images in all their splendor. But with the LCD sets, you might not always see the top-notch picture quality because most of them have a stingy viewing angle.
Viewing angle still the Achilles heel for most LCD TVs

CIA FOIA - Top 25 Search Phrases

This collection reports the most frequent phrases used to search for documents on the CIA site during the previous month, along with the number of times that search phrase was entered. It does not reflect phrases entered into third-party search engines used to find this site, but rather reflects phrases entered into the search mechanisms on this site.
CIA FOIA - Top 25 Search Phrases

Friday, July 17, 2009

Down to Earth: The Apollo Moon Missions That Never Were

When Apollo 11 landed on the moon, NASA's plan was to continue manned lunar missions through Apollo 20. But history turned out differently. The last three missions, still in planning stages, were canceled. Hardware that would have flown to the moon ended up as museum exhibits. And scientists and space enthusiasts were left to contemplate what Apollos 18 through 20 might have accomplished.
Down to Earth: The Apollo Moon Missions That Never Were

Thursday, July 16, 2009

Top 15 Web Hoaxes of All Time

Sometimes it’s hard to tell what to believe when you read it on the web. The recent “Unknown Lifeform” in North Carolina? Turns out, not a hoax, but also not a monster. But all those rumors about Jeff Goldblum falling to his death in New Zealand? Well, those were a hoax, and a rather tasteless one at that.
Top 15 Web Hoaxes of All Time

The calorie delusion: Why food labels are wrong

STANDING in line at the coffee shop you feel a little peckish. So what will you choose to keep you going until lunchtime? Will it be that scrumptious-looking chocolate brownie or perhaps a small, nut-based muesli bar. You check the labels: the brownie contains around 250 kilocalories (kcal), while the muesli bar contains more than 300. Surprised at the higher calorie count of what looks like the healthy option, you go for the brownie.
The calorie delusion: Why food labels are wrong

How To Be Happier – in Four Easy Lessons.

Each one of these truths sounds fairly obvious and straightforward, but each was the product of tremendous thought.
How To Be Happier – in Four Easy Lessons.

NASA plays back 40-year old Apollo 11 Moon landing

The U.S. space agency, the National Aeronautics and Space Administration (NASA), will observe the fortieth anniversary of the historic first human landing on the Moon when it plays the entire audio from the Apollo 11 mission at the exact time and date it was broadcast in 1969. This time, however, it will be streamed on the Internet.
NASA plays back 40-year old Apollo 11 Moon landing

Wednesday, July 15, 2009

NASA Lets You Send Your Name to Mars

NASA now gives anyone the opportunity to send their name to Mars. Just enter your name, country and zipcode into the form, and your name – along with many others – will be included in a microchip on the Mars Science Laboratory rover which will be heading to Mars in 2011.
NASA Lets You Send Your Name to Mars

Could coffee reverse dementia?

There’s one phrase that always depresses me when I read a piece of research—"in mice." Or rats, or whatever unfortunate laboratory animal is involved. It’s not just about the ethics of animal testing, rather that it’s a long way from results in animals to the same results in humans.
Could coffee reverse dementia?

Tuesday, July 14, 2009

Seven Secret Places To Hide Cash In Your Home

It’s a good idea to keep a little cash in your home for emergencies. How much you decide to keep is up to you, but I would suggest keeping enough cash on hand to pay for a week of groceries, and maybe a night or two in a hotel. Because this money will not be earning interest, and is subject to being stolen by a burglar, I don’t suggest keeping a huge stash in your home.
Seven Secret Places To Hide Cash In Your Home

Monday, July 13, 2009

How to Delegate

Whether you're a corporate executive, retail manager, or stay at home parent, delegating is a critical skill in personal effectiveness. But for a variety of reasons, it can be difficult to pull off. This article will help you address some of those reasons, and delegate without being seen as a tyrannical pain.
How to Delegate

Sunday, July 12, 2009

7 iPhone Apps That Can Save Lives

What can’t iPhone applications do? There are apps for almost every interest and every need. But while apps for politics or saving money are great, you can live without them. However, the same cannot be said for the seven apps highlighted in this article. These apps do everything from check your vitals to getting you important first aid information during an emergency. Anything can happen, so it’s always best to be prepared. iPhones are particularly suited for this task, especially if you install some of these apps.
7 iPhone Apps That Can Save Lives

Saturday, July 11, 2009

El Nino Has Arrived

El Niño has arrived. With a 1 degree Celsius increase in a band of the eastern Pacific Ocean, the National Oceanic & Atmospheric Administration made the announcement yesterday. The climate phenomenon, El Niño–Southern Oscillation or ENSO, that warms the eastern Pacific waters, decreases trade winds, and shows up every three to seven years, last came in 2006.
El Nino Has Arrived

Thursday, July 09, 2009

Nine Tips for Giving Memorable Praise--and Why To Bother

Focus on giving good praise rather than flattery. Now, what’s the difference between flattery and praise? Flattery is strategic; it’s praise given for a self-serving reason. But many of the same rules apply.
Nine Tips for Giving Memorable Praise--and Why To Bother

How Unit Pricing Will Help You Save On Shopping

Supermarkets will soon have to provide “unit pricing” to make comparison shopping easier. Which stores have to feature them, and what quirks should you watch out for?
How Unit Pricing Will Help You Save On Shopping

Apollo 11: Why the moon still matters

Here we report on how it gave us a new understanding of the universe and how Neil Armstrong's "small step" opened a new chapter in history that continues to unfold today.
Apollo 11: Why the moon still matters

Optical illusion: By land or by sea?

This optical illusion, devised by psychologist Richard Wiseman of the University of Hertfordshire in England and created by software developer Matthew Wilkes, makes a map of the world appear more differentiated than it actually is.
Optical illusion: By land or by sea?

Wednesday, July 08, 2009

Basic mower maintenance

If the engine on your mower goes kablooey, there's not much you can do on your own—beyond shelling out $50 to $75 per hour to a repair shop to fix the problem or spending hundreds on a new grass cutter.
Basic mower maintenance

Uluru (aka Ayers Rock) debate: to climb or not to climb?

A proposed ban on climbing Uluru in Central Australia has sparked debate between tourists, traditional owners and political leaders.
Uluru debate: to climb or not to climb?

8 Great Tips to Get More Out of Your Camera Batteries

Wouldn’t it be an absolute nightmare to have your batteries die in the middle of an important shoot? Granted, we’re all responsible people that take great care to ensure that something like that doesn’t happen when we’re out on the job. However, after shooting with different systems one can easily see that the battery life of cameras from different companies can vary. Being in the tech industry, I’ve learned tips for conserving battery power and extending overall life. At the beginning of the year, I’ve started applying those tips to cameras: with amazingly positive results. Here are 8 pointers to keep in mind no matter what type of camera you shoot with.
8 Great Tips to Get More Out of Your Camera Batteries

Stress, stuff, and world travel: The not-so-secret connection

The overriding principle is take less, but here’s how it looks in more specific terms.
Stress, stuff, and world travel: The not-so-secret connection

Tuesday, July 07, 2009

Family Friendly sites listed on Blackstump Australia Issue 21 - July 8, 2009

The latest issue of new family friendly sites listed on The Black Stump.
Family Friendly sites listed on Blackstump Australia Issue 21 - July 8, 2009

Google Experiments With Real Estate Search on Maps

Google has been steadily upgrading its Maps, seemingly adding a new feature here and there every couple of weeks. It’s not always global, though. For example, they’ve just added real estate search to Maps in Australia.
Google Experiments With Real Estate Search on Maps

Michael Jackson Memorial: Where to Watch It Online

On Tuesday, July 7th at 10:00 AM PT, there will be a memorial for the late King of Pop, Michael Jackson, at the Staples Center in Los Angeles. The response has been huge: 1.6 million people signed up for just 17,500 tickets. Luckily, you do not have to be there in person to pay tribute to Jackson’s memory, as there will be multiple live streams of the event on the web.
Michael Jackson Memorial: Where to Watch It Online

Wildlife Photography Fail

Boo!
Wildlife Photography Fail

Monday, July 06, 2009

Five Best Online Image Editors

Editing your images on a desktop image editor might be ideal, but sometimes you're away from your home workstation and need to do some impromptu editing. Check out these five options favoured by Lifehacker readers.
Five Best Online Image Editors

Sunday, July 05, 2009

Luggable 75 lb "laptop" from 1968

In 1968, Computerworld reported on a carrying case that turned a Teletype machine into a 75-pound mobile terminal--wheels were optional.
Luggable 75 lb "laptop" from 1968

Big changes or small changes?

There are two ways to make a major change in your life. One is to make a series of small changes--this month you might brown-bag your lunch one day a week; next month you might go for a short walk every day. The other is to make all your changes at once--cook all your own meals, exercise daily, and turn your hobby into a business. Either way can produce permanent changes for the better.
Big changes or small changes?

Saturday, July 04, 2009

The WebWorkerDaily Firefox Add-Ons Collection

To celebrate this week’s launch of the superb Firefox 3.5, we’ve put together a collection of the WebWorkerDaily team’s favorite Firefox extensions. You can subscribe to our collection here; as we discover useful new add-ons, we’ll add to it over time. The great thing about add-on collections is that you can pick and choose which add-ons to install, so if you don’t agree with all of our choices, you can just pick the ones that you like.
The WebWorkerDaily Firefox Add-Ons Collection

Displays Recently Lauched Computer Software In Windows

The Windows operating system offers quite a few option to find out what its users have been doing recently. It starts with all those temporary folders, time stamps of files, history and log files, the index.dat file and ends with settings that are deeply hidden in the Windows Registry. Average users are usually unaware of many of these possibilities.
Displays Recently Lauched Computer Software In Windows

Revealed: How pandemic swine flu kills

As the H1N1 swine flu pandemic continues to spread around the world, most cases are still mild. But reports are starting to emerge of people who sicken and die very quickly of what appears to be viral pneumonia. Now two independent groups of scientists have now found out why – and it's all down the where the virus binds within the body.
Revealed: How pandemic swine flu kills

Clever e-mail scam: Someone bought this in your name

The e-mail appears to come from PayPal, a popular institution often imitated by scammers. What's unusual is that it seems to be a confirmation of a purchase, for more than $400, paid from my PayPal account. There's even a realistic-looking transaction, including the name and address of the person whom you're supposed to assume made the purchase.
Clever e-mail scam: Someone bought this in your name

Wednesday, July 01, 2009

The Best Money Advice, in Ten Words or Less

About a week ago, Simple Dollar blog challenged their followers on Twitter to give their best single piece of money advice in ten words or less. Here are the fifty best pieces of advice that came their way. All of these are stellar money tips - and all of them come in with ten words or less. Enjoy.
The Best Money Advice, in Ten Words or Less

Most Complete Earth Map Published

The data, comprising 1.3 million images, come from a collaboration between the US space agency NASA and the Japanese trade ministry. The images were taken by Japan’s Advanced Spaceborne Thermal Emission and Reflection Radiometer (Aster) aboard the Terra satellite.The resulting Global Digital Elevation Map covers 99% of the Earth’s surface, and will be free to download and use.
Most Complete Earth Map Published

Cool Search Engines That Are Not Google

How do you find a new search engine if all you know is Google? Typing “search engine” into the usual box might lead you to Microsoft’s newly launched Bing, the combined search at Dogpile, or the former king of search, Altavista.
But for those willing to dig around, searching for search engines can reveal a treasure trove: The net is rich with specialized search services, all trying to find a way to get their slice of the billions of dollars Google makes every year answering queries.
Cool Search Engines That Are Not Google