Tsunami reaches Australia after Chile quake

Australian officials have recorded the first effects of a wide-ranging tsunami generated by the Chile earthquake, reporting a rise in sea levels but no major waves. Water levels surged by a few centimetres off Tasmania, with waves expected to increase in size over the next few hours.
Tsunami reaches Australia after Chile quake

Family Friendly sites listed on Blackstump Australia Issue 5/2010 - March 1, 2010

The latest issue of new Family Friendly sites listed on The Black Stump.
Family Friendly sites listed on Blackstump Australia Issue 5/2010 - March 1, 2010

Chile Earthquake/Pacific Tsunami Resources

Chile Earthquake/Pacific Tsunami Resources From Google & Others, Including Several Twitter Feeds.
Chile Earthquake/Pacific Tsunami Resources

Chile Earthquake Pictures: Twitter Photos Tell the Story [PHOTOS]

The magnitude-8.8 earthquake that rocked Chile early this morning was similar to many breaking-news events in that images from the disaster began spreading over social networks at lightning speed.
Chile Earthquake Pictures: Twitter Photos Tell the Story [PHOTOS]

Google Person Finder: Chile Earthquake

What is your situation?
- I'm looking for someone
- I have information about someone
Google Person Finder: Chile Earthquake

Tracking Tsunami Warnings Online

A major earthquake of magnitude-8.8 struck Chile early Saturday, causing extensive damage. As a result, a tsunami warning has been issued for Hawaii, Polynesia and Tonga, with waves expected to reach Hawaii at 11:19 a.m. local time (4:19 p.m. EST). A tsunami advisory has been issued for California, while tsunami warnings have been issued for 53 countries in total, including Australia and New Zealand
Tracking Tsunami Warnings Online

Australia's chief censor redacts official website to downplay his role in censorship

Australian Communications Minister Stephen Conroy -- who has been responsible for pushing through Australia's national Internet censorship program -- has been caught censoring his own website: the script that creates a tag cloud of topics covered on his site had been modified to ignore any references to his censorship initiatives. This means that visitors to his site would not have an easy means of reading the Minister's statements in support of censorship, and anyone who relied on the tag-cloud to understand the Minister's agenda would have no way of knowing he'd been involved in the censorship initiative.
Australia's chief censor redacts official website to downplay his role in censorship

Random Viral Whatsit of the Day: My Little Pony Musical [VIDEO]

Often, whilst trolling through the feeds, we come across viral sensations that don’t really fit anywhere — aside from lodged in the pleasure center of our fevered brains. Today, that odd puzzle piece something is this video, depicting live-action My Little Ponies singing show tunes.
Random Viral Whatsit of the Day: My Little Pony Musical [VIDEO]

This You????: Yet Another Phishing Attack Hits Twitter [WARNING]

In the last couple of weeks, Twitter users have been the target of several large-scale phishing attacks, and according to security experts over at Sophos, the latest one is no different.
This You????: Yet Another Phishing Attack Hits Twitter [WARNING]

A Celebration of Duct Tape: Our Favorite Duct Tape DIYs

If the DIY community had a universal symbol, it most certainly would be a roll of duct tape. Inexpensive, abundant, strong, and ready to stick to nearly anything, this versatile DIY companion is a must in your DIY toolkit.
A Celebration of Duct Tape: Our Favorite Duct Tape DIYs

8 Significant Developments in Social Media You Should Watch

While I don’t have a crystal ball, here are some developments that I think are worthy of our attention and will affect how we do things in the social mediasphere over the next few years. Many of the things on this list will not be news to the very well-informed social media consultant types who live and breathe this stuff. But for the rest of us, there are seeds of opportunity here that should not be missed.
8 Significant Developments in Social Media You Should Watch

From ocean to ozone: Earth's nine life-support systems

Up to now, the Earth has been very kind to us. Most of our achievements in the past 10,000 years - farming, culture, cities, industrialisation and the raising of our numbers from a million or so to almost 7 billion - happened during an unusually benign period when Earth's natural regulatory systems kept everything from the climate to the supply of fresh water inside narrow, comfortable boundaries.
From ocean to ozone: Earth's nine life-support systems

Sharing Large Files Via Email

When it comes to sharing files, old-fashioned email remains a popular alternative — but what happens when the files get bigger? Lifehacker 101 examines your options.
Sharing Large Files Via Email

Book Airline Flights Past Your Destination for Cheaper Fares

Searching for the best price for a plane ticket is a never-ending struggle, but reader jeff.niblett writes in with a potentially money-saving tip that even frequent fliers may not be aware of: Book longer trips with layovers in your actual destination city.
Book Airline Flights Past Your Destination for Cheaper Fares

Why We Return to Bad Habits

If you have ever lost weight on a diet only to gain it all back, you were probably as perplexed as you were disappointed. You felt certain that you had conquered bad eating habits—so what caused the backslide? New research suggests that you may have succumbed to a cognitive distortion called restraint bias. Bolstered by an inflated sense of impulse control, we overexpose ourselves to temptation and fall prey to impulsiveness.
Why We Return to Bad Habits

Common Power Point mistakes never change

Judging by the film quality and clothing, this video with comedian Don McMillan was probably filmed at least a decade ago. Having spent all last week watching Power Point-enhanced (or, in some cases "enhanced") presentations, I can tell you that every, single, point (ha!) he makes is still relevant today.
Common Power Point mistakes never change

Check Who is Accessing Your Wireless Network

Having a wifi router at home is very common these days. People prefer to stay connected to the internet via their desktop, laptop, mobile phone or even their multimedia gadget like iPod Touch. That is pretty cool, but the issue is when you forget (or ignore) to set a password for your wireless connection.
Check Who is Accessing Your Wireless Network

Use Windows System Restore To Recover Individual Files

Windows 7: Windows System Restore has long been a great way to recover your system after a bad software install or a critical driver goes missing, but you may not know you can also use it to recover individual files.
Use Windows System Restore To Recover Individual Files

Free Registry Cleaner

A Registry Cleaner scans the Registry for invalid and outdated entries with the option to remove those.
This can increase the stability and performance of the Windows operating system. Free Registry Cleaner

10 Ways to Open .Docx Word Files

It’s been more than 3 years since Microsoft introduced a new document format in their Office 2007 suite called Docx, but still many people seem to wonder what .docx file is and how to open, read and edit them!
10 Ways to Open .Docx Word Files

Wolfram|Alpha for Crossword Puzzle Enthusiasts

Crossword puzzle enthusiasts from all over will gather in Brooklyn, New York this weekend for the 33rd Annual American Crossword Puzzle Tournament (ACPT) hosted by New York Times Crossword Puzzle Editor Will Shortz.
Wolfram|Alpha for Crossword Puzzle Enthusiasts

Top 10 Free Online PDF Creators

There are quite a few free software available to create or convert a file to PDF. But what if you are away from home, or need more features, like the ability to edit PDF files or create them directly from other documents?
Top 10 Free Online PDF Creators

10 Things to Avoid In Social Media

We have a long way to go before everyone and their cousin uses social networks more than they email, or tweets more than they call, but nobody can deny the way we communicate has once again been changed forever.
10 Things to Avoid In Social Media

From the Director-General - National Archives of Australia

The question that I am most commonly asked by our visitors is ‘What could the National Archives possibly hold about me?’ Australian families are well represented in the National Archives’ collection. For example, if you have family members who migrated to Australia, served in the defence forces or worked for the Australian Government, the National Archives is likely to have something on your family.
From the Director-General - National Archives of Australia

What The Internet Knows About You

Most Internet users know that a website they visit can access various information about the computer system used to make the connection. This includes the screen resolution, operating system, IP address and web browser among other things. But those are not the only information that can be gathered when users visit a website.
What The Internet Knows About You

Please Rob Me Demonstrates The Dangers Of Location Based Services

Location based services can be helpful to the user, no question about that. They are most often implemented and used in mobile devices who are able to return the location of the owner to the network where these information can get utilized in several ways from locating the nearest post office, restaurant or atm to locating a friend or object.
Please Rob Me Demonstrates The Dangers Of Location Based Services

Librarians: Close the books on Internet filtering

The Australian Library and Information Association (ALIA), has joined with Google, Inspire Foundation and Yahoo to express opposition to the mandatory ISP filter.
Librarians: Close the books on Internet filtering

Top 10 Google Settings You Should Know About

As the outcry over Google Buzz's privacy has shown us, it's smart to explore settings in Gmail, along with other places you're sharing data with the search giant. Let's take a look at 10 privacy, convenience, and annoyance fixers you should know.
Top 10 Google Settings You Should Know About

Family Friendly sites listed on Blackstump Australia Issue 4/2010 - February 14, 2010

he latest issue of new Family Friendly sites listed on The Black Stump.
Family Friendly sites listed on Blackstump Australia Issue 4/2010 - February 14, 2010

Online Olympic Databases

Olympic Medalists & Database of National Olympics Committees.
Online Olympic Databases

50 Ways to Show You Care Without Spending a Dime

If you’re looking for a few meaningful gifts that don’t require a debit card, you may find these creative ideas helpful this season.
50 Ways to Show You Care Without Spending a Dime

HOW TO: Set up a free online monitoring system

The question I get asked most frequently, “How do you monitor what is happening online?” I’ve compiled a list of the tools I use when on a tight budget. These are FREE tools (in five relatively easy steps) available to help you get a handle of your online presence.
HOW TO: Set up a free online monitoring system

Shazam and Last.fm Team Up for More Music Magic on iPhone

One of the first big “wow” apps for the iPhone was Shazam — hold up your phone to the radio or TV and BAM, find out what song is playing. Likewise, the Last.fm iPhone app was one of the first apps in the App Store for music fans. Today Shazam and Last.fm are partnering to bring features from both services together.
Shazam and Last.fm Team Up for More Music Magic on iPhone

Bypass Heavy-Handed Web Filters with Your Own Proxy Server

If your workplace or school's extra-restrictive internet filter has you pulling your hair out during the occasional browsing break, there's hope! Here's a quick look at how to get around heavy-handed browser restrictions with the open-source PHProxy.
Bypass Heavy-Handed Web Filters with Your Own Proxy Server

Gas Pump Fails

Here we see a couple more reasons to go back to full service.
Gas Pump Fails

How to Oil and Break in a New Cricket Bat

This article will teach you how to get the best performance and life out of your new bat. If you follow these steps, you will have a great bat with a terrific centre that should last for years.
How to Oil and Break in a New Cricket Bat

A Butcher's Tips for Avoiding Cuts in the Kitchen

Having a very sharp knife goes a long way toward preventing disastrous knife slips, but there are oh-so-many ways of cutting yourself with any kind of knife. Tom Mylan, a Brooklyn butcher, shares his hard-earned tips on avoiding bad blade slips.
A Butcher's Tips for Avoiding Cuts in the Kitchen

The Dubious History of Pun (Pun Among Other Pungent Words)

A question about the origin of pun. Our correspondent noticed that pun and pundit appeared in English at nearly the same time, that a pun “heaps together” different meanings (so Skeat), while the root of pundit (Sanskrit for “learned man”) also means “to heap, pile up.” Moreover, bunk “berth” may likewise go back to a word for “heap.” Is it possible that pundit and bunk provide a clue to the origin of pun?
The Dubious History of Pun (Pun Among Other Pungent Words)

Google Buzz Introduction

It feels like there is not a day where Google is not updating or publishing a new service. Google Buzz is the latest service that is being rolled out from today on to all Gmail users.
Google Buzz Introduction

How to Lessen the Strong Taste of Brussels Sprouts

Brussels sprouts are healthy and delicious when not over-cooked. But for some, the taste is too strong and overwhelming. To get the nutritional benefits of these lovely veggies, as well as achieving a good flavor, here are some ideas.
How to Lessen the Strong Taste of Brussels Sprouts

World's Longest-Married Couple to Answer Your Romantic Queries Via Twitter

If Dear Abby and your therapist just aren’t cutting it this Valentine’s Day, you can tweet at the world’s longest-married (living) couple, Herbert and Zelmyra Fisher, for the scoop on how to score and sustain love.
World's Longest-Married Couple to Answer Your Romantic Queries Via Twitter

Explore A Website’s History With WaybackFox

Webmasters and researchers sometimes need to take a look at a website’s history. This is for instance essential when buying a website to make sure that the seller has been running the website for the time claimed and not snatched a dropped domain to make a quick buck. The Wayback Machine at archive.org is the preferred way of checking how a website looked in the past. Not every website is included obviously but the most popular and visited websites usually are.
Explore A Website’s History With WaybackFox

How to Stop Waiting for Permission

When you were a child, you often had to wait for permission to do something. Perhaps you needed to be a certain age before you were allowed to use the oven or cross the road by yourself. Once you’re eighteen, you’re free to do what you want (within the bounds of legality). So why do we get stuck waiting for permission?
How to Stop Waiting for Permission

FollowUpThen Automates Email Follow Ups

You're pinging somebody over email right now, but they'll probably need a reminder or follow-up in two days. CC twodays@followupthen.com, and if that person hasn't responded yet, they'll be automatically re-pinged 48 hours from now. It's a neat service, and it's free.
FollowUpThen Automates Email Follow Ups

FBI's Most Wanted: Your Browsing Activity

FBI Director Robert Mueller wants ISPs to track “origin and destination information” about their customers’ browsing habits and store them for authorities’ use for two years, according to a CNET report.
FBI's Most Wanted: Your Browsing Activity

Focus on 8-Minute Increments to Beat Back Chores

If you're tired of the boom-bust cycle of getting chores done, you might want to consider adopting the Eight-Minute Rule as the guiding force in taming your chores and tedious tasks.
Focus on 8-Minute Increments to Beat Back Chores

How to Open a Locked Interior Door When You've Lost the Key

If you have a lot of interior doorknobs with key locks on them, sooner or later you're bound to lose the key or lock them inside the room. Here's what to do to get back in.
How to Open a Locked Interior Door When You've Lost the Key

Scars run deep as Kinglake remembers

"It'll all be better after February 7. It'll be history then."
Scars run deep as Kinglake remembers

How To Deal With Unintended Acceleration

Lexus and Toyota models were stung recently by claims that faulty floor mats had jammed throttle pedals and were causing wide-open acceleration. Toyota has agreed to a largest-ever recall of 4.3 million vehicles (which could cost $250 million or more) to modify the gas pedals and remove unsecured or incompatible driver’s floor mats. Not since Audi was decimated by accusations of unintended acceleration in the late 1980s has the topic of runaway cars received so much media attention.
How To Deal With Unintended Acceleration

WWII historical imagery in Google Earth

Many of us have heard stories, read books and watched films which show the many impacts of WWII across the world. Today we're giving you another way to understand this period in time - by exploring a new set of historical aerial images, taken over European cities during World War II, via the historical imagery feature in Google Earth. They can now be compared directly to images from the present day.
WWII historical imagery in Google Earth

6 Traits that Separate Winners from Whiners

Have you ever been blind sided by an unexpected event that threatened to throw your dreams, hopes, and life plans off-course? If nothing that grandiose has happened (lucky you!), how about just being surprised by small obstacles that threaten to ruin your day?
6 Traits that Separate Winners from Whiners

"Marriage is About...Tea, Doctor's Appointments, Trivia, Quirks."

The relationships among love, marriage, and expectations are some of the most complex and important issues within the subject of happiness, so I was very interested to read Lori Gottlieb's book, Marry Him: The Case for Settling for Mr. Good Enough -- though she is quick to emphasize that the book is about finding true love by looking for the RIGHT Mr. Right, by focusing on what's important in love rather than on things that don't really matter.
"Marriage is About...Tea, Doctor's Appointments, Trivia, Quirks."

Forbes Releases Its 2010 Web Celeb 25 List

The Forbes Web Celeb 25 is a list of the biggest and brightest stars on the Web. From penniless bloggers to geek entrepreneurs, these are the folks who are capturing eyes, influencing opinion and creating the digital world from the bottom up.
Forbes Releases Its 2010 Web Celeb 25 List

Business Advice In Three Words

Don’t you hate it when people give you advice that’s confusing and complicated? I have found that the best advice is typically the simplest. So I decided to take a page out of Dharmesh Shah’s book and give you business advice in 3 words.
Business Advice In Three Words

Another Great Reminder Not To Use The Same Password Everywhere | Lifehacker Australia

Earlier today, several Twitter users received emails from Twitter prompting them to change their passwords because of suspicious activity that appeared to have resulted from phishing. Turns out it was something different from a traditional phishing scam altogether, and it involved BitTorrent.
Another Great Reminder Not To Use The Same Password Everywhere

Remove a Stripped Screw with a Rubber Band

The head of the screw you stripped while you were hanging that shelf may not have seemed like a big deal at the time—until you needed to unscrew it, that is. Next time you're having trouble, try a rubber band.
Remove a Stripped Screw with a Rubber Band

Can a Brain Scan Predict a Broken Promise?

Last time you told someone “I’ll call you,” did you mean it?
We all make promises in our daily interactions with others. On the one hand, promises such as “I’ll return your book next week” or “I won’t tell anyone” are not heavily binding, except maybe in a moral sense.
Can a Brain Scan Predict a Broken Promise?

ABC Rolls Out Local News Sites

If you live in regional Australia, your local news options are somewhat constrained (and often shrinking). The ABC has gone some way to addressing that problem with its new local sites, which provide news, weather and broadcasting information for a range of regional areas.
ABC Rolls Out Local News Sites

Cross-check and Change Facebook Privacy Settings Right Now!

Internet Privacy has started sound like an oxymoron! Be it the Web-Browser privacy or privacy to your personal data online or even cell phone privacy, it has always seemed like getting worse by the day. Latest addition to the bandwagon is Facebook!
Cross-check and Change Facebook Privacy Settings Right Now!

Startpage/Ixquick Offers Anonymous Browsing Web Proxy

Startpage.com, which you might know better under the name Ixquick (it changed its name last summer), last week launched a proxy service that allows you to browse pages in search results in privacy.
Startpage/Ixquick Offers Anonymous Browsing Web Proxy

The Truth About Browser Cookies

Browser cookies are one of those technical bits of web browsing that almost everyone has some awareness of. They're also probably one of the most misunderstood aspects of browsing.
The Truth About Browser Cookies