World Freedom Atlas

The world freedom atlas is a geovisualization tool for world statistics.
World Freedom Atlas

Microsoft Excel : Calculation Issue Update

Yesterday we were alerted to an issue in Excel 2007 (and Excel Services 2007) involving calculation of numbers around 65,535. The Excel team would like to provide a description of the issue and explain what we're doing about it.
Microsoft Excel : Calculation Issue Update

Think you know who's calling? Don't be so sure

When your phone rings and the caller's number or name pops up on the screen, don't assume that it's really their phone calling you. You could be being tricked.
Think you know who's calling? Don't be so sure

Watch For Ice!!!

Watch For Ice!!!

Australian Culture and Recreation News, Sep 2007

Culture and Recreation News is the half-yearly newsletter of the National Centre for Culture and Recreation Statistics (NCCRS). The newsletter highlights developments in arts and cultural heritage, and sports and recreation statistics, and provides relevant information for researchers, policy makers, service providers and others with an interest in this field.
Culture and Recreation News, Sep 2007

At last! Your real DVT risk

Researchers say they have finally nailed down the absolute risk of getting a blood clot from a long-haul flight: 1 in 4656.
At last! Your real DVT risk

Experienced Spiders pick smaller Mates

From post-coital cannibalism to love at first sight, the sex life of the African jumping spider is full of surprises, according to a new study.
Experienced spiders pick smaller mates

Excel 2007 Multiplication Bug

The example that first came to light is =850*77.1 — which gives a result of 100,000 instead of the correct 65,535. It seems that any formula that should evaluate to 65,535 will act strangely.
Excel 2007 Multiplication Bug

More on the necessity of antivirus software

Steve Riley on Security
A few days ago, I wrote a brief post about my non-use of antivirus software on my own computers. A number of people have asked me privately if I am recommending such a stance to other individuals or to organizations. Let me be perfectly clear: absolutely not. For the vast majority of folks, the four important steps to protect your PC still hold.
More on the necessity of antivirus software

Why You Should Mouse with the Other Hand

By switching the side of your mouse-pad you will force yourself to use your non-dominant hand. This, in turn, will stimulate the neural connections between the right and left hemispheres on your brain. Scientific research confirmed that people that use both hands equally have 10% more nerve fibers joining the two sides of the brain.
Why You Should Mouse with the Other Hand

How to stop a headache before it starts

8 drug-free tips to avoid agony and painproof your day.
How to stop a headache before it starts

The Magic Trick

It`s just unbelievable.
The Magic Trick

“Simpsons” Scenes and their Reference Movies

Here’s something for you film buffs who are also Simpsons buffs: 66 stills from various episodes of The Simpsons, each one beside the still from the movie scene to which they refer.
“Simpsons” Scenes and their Reference Movies

Parallel Universes Exist

Parallel universes really do exist, according to a mathematical discovery by Oxford scientists described by one expert as "one of the most important developments in the history of science".
Parallel universes exist

Forbidden Words: What Employees Can and Cannot Say to Customers

Rude store employees? This Chinese clothing store solved the problem by putting up a poster of what their workers can and cannot say to customers!
What Employees Can and Cannot Say to Customers

Sci-Doku Puzzle

SCI-DOKU is a sudoku puzzle that uses letters instead of numbers, with an added twist: a science-related clue accompanies each puzzle and the answer is spelled out in one row or column of the puzzle.
Sci-Doku Puzzle

Fight for the Top of the World

The Arctic has never been immune from politics; during the Cold War, U.S. and Soviet submarines navigated its frigid waters. But now that global warming has rendered the Arctic more accessible than ever — and yet at the same time more fragile — a new frenzy has broken out for control of the trade routes at the top of the world and the riches that nations hope and believe may lie beneath the ice. Just as 150 years ago, when Russia and Britain fought for control of central Asia, it is tempting to think that — not on the steppe or dusty mountains but in the icy wastes of the frozen north — a new Great Game is afoot.
Fight for the Top of the World

Australian Largest Population increase ever

Australia recorded its largest annual population increase ever, according to figures released today by the Australian Bureau of Statistics.
Australia grew by an estimated 307,100 people for the year ended March 2007, the largest increase since record keeping began in 1789. The increase gave Australia an annual growth rate of 1.5% (the highest rate since 1990), and brings the population to an estimated 20.9 million.
Australian Largest Population increase ever

Nice job!

Hmmm...Nice job!

7 Amazing Holes

Looking at these photos is both scary and fascinating. The sheer scale of these holes reminds you of just how tiny you are.
7 Amazing Holes

List of Misquotations

Consists of things that many people think are correct quotes but are actually incorrect. Does not include quotes that were actually blunders by the people that said them.
List of Misquotations

The Right Angle

Sometimes, it doesn't matter what equipment you have or how much experience you've got. Sometimes, you just have to be at the right place at just the right angle.
The Right Angle

The Bug Bible

Did you know that around two million Australian's are affected by foodborne illness every year? Illnesses such as food poisoning are becoming more common as our lifestyles change - for one thing, we eat out more. However, it is still estimated that 20% of cases of foodborne illness are a result of meals eaten at home!
The Bug Bible

Food Shopping

Follow the advice below to make sure you not only have a well-stocked pantry for healthful eating, but are buying the right products at the right time in the right way. You’ll notice, by the way, that many of the tips below have you looking at a food product’s nutrition label and ingredients list for information. If you haven’t become expert at this, time to study up.
Food Shopping

Web 'censorship' bill brings police state one stop closer

Electronic Frontiers Australia (EFA) has slammed moves to give the Federal Police powers to ban access to certain Internet content as "another step in Australia's descent into a police state".
Web 'censorship' bill brings police state one stop closer

5 nutritious habits of the planet's healthiest countries

If you've vacationed in an international destination, you know that learning about its food is one of the best ways to become familiar with a new culture. But lately, there is a greater interest in global cuisine because of health benefits attributed to certain styles of eating.
5 nutritious habits of the planet's healthiest countries

Japanese Vending Machines

PhotoMann has a large 'collection' of images of unique vending machines found around Japan. Over 50 of them can be seen here. The machines are everywhere.
Japanese Vending Machines

Is Your Computer Connecting To Websites Without Your Knowledge

If you are worried that some programs on your PC are secretly making connections to websites in the background, here's a quick tip that uses a simple DOS command to detect and prevent such suspicious activity.
Is Your Computer Connecting To Websites Without Your Knowledge

Do Martians live in Caves?

The NASA 2001 Mars Odyssey and Mars Global Surveyor orbital probes have found entrances to seven probable caves (nicknamed “Seven Sisters”) located on the slope of the Martian volcano Arsia Mons.
Do Martians live in caves?

Is Australia the New China?

Several privacy advocates are in an uproar in response to a bill introduced by Australia’s Parliament, which would grant the country’s federal police the power to control which sites can be accessed by users of the Internet.
Is Australia the New China?

4 Simple Steps to Start the Exercise Habit

The Main Problems
So why do most people have trouble making exercise a regular habit? Well, there are probably a number of factors, but here are the main ones as I see it.
4 Simple Steps to Start the Exercise Habit

Real-Time Collection: Flight Tracking with Flight Explorer

As we continue to build our collection of real-time or near real-time data resources on the Internet, we’re adding another service that offers near real-time tracking of aircraft either in or arriving, departing U.S. airspace.
Real-Time Collection: Flight Tracking with Flight Explorer

Testing the People Search Engines

Somehow, a bunch of companies seem to have decided that “searching for people” is one of the great unsolved problems of the Internet. I admit that I do end up searching for information on people now and then, but Google has generally done pretty well for me. Still, Spock, SquidWho, WhoZat?, and Wink are all pitching the notion that they can supply some secret sauce that Google is missing in the people search arena.
Testing the People Search Engines

My Word Mate

"MyWordMate.com" is a project that aims to find as many synonyms as possible for different words.
My Word Mate

SMILEY:25 YEARS OLD AND NEVER LOOKED HAPPIER!

By Scott Fahlman
A lot of people have asked me about this. Yes, I am the inventor of the sideways “smiley face” (sometimes called an “emoticon”) that is commonly used in E-mail, chat, and newsgroup posts. Or at least I’m one of the inventors.
SMILEY:25 YEARS OLD AND NEVER LOOKED HAPPIER!

Laptop or Desktop Computer? - Lifehacker

Blogger Ron Schenone insists that the desktop computer is no longer needed to run heavy software, since laptops are nearly if not just as capable as most desktops on the market. Add to that the portability, small footprint and dramatic price drops for good laptops, and Schenone wonders why any normal user should buy a full desktop computer. So what I'd like to know is: 1) What are you using right now? and 2) Which would you purchase right now?
Laptop or Desktop Computer? - Lifehacker

Armless Artist Questioned In Neighbour's Death

Relatives of Charles Keith Teer, 47, claim he died after the armless man, William Russell Redfren, head-butted and kicked Teer during a fight.
Armless Artist Questioned In Neighbour's Death

10 Technologies That Will Change The World

ABCNews asked weekly columnists Jonathan Blum and Dan Evans to tell us about 10 technologies they believe will change the world. This is what they said.
10 Technologies That Will Change The World

Art of Writing - Writing Tips

As the world becomes increasingly digital, writing becomes more important. This is especially true for non-writers. If you work in an office, the majority of your communications are made with text by email or IM.
Art of Writing - Writing Tips

Oomphy Wordsmithery of the Anglosphere

Today’s an exciting day for OUP, as we launch the sixth edition of the Shorter Oxford English Dictionary. If this were a birth announcement, we’d have to give the vitals: Oxford University Press joyfully announces the arrival of twin volumes, weighing a total of 13.6 pounds (6.2 kilograms), with 3,800 pages, 6 million words of text, more than half a million definitions, and 84,000 illustrative quotations.
New Entries in the Shorter OED

Corrective Services, Australia, June 2007

This publication presents information on persons in custody and community-based corrections. The statistics are derived from information provided to the Australian Bureau of Statistics (ABS) from administrative records held by corrective services agencies in each state and territory, and from the Australian Government Attorney-General's Department for details on federal prisoners. Details are provided for each state and territory on: prisoner numbers and imprisonment rates by type of custody (i.e. open or secure custody or periodic detention); prisoner numbers by legal status (sentenced or unsentenced) for all prisoners and for Indigenous prisoners; the number of sentenced receptions into custody; the number of federal prisoners; and the numbers and rates of persons serving community-based corrections orders. Experimental data on the Indigenous status of persons in community-based corrections are also included in the Appendix.
Corrective Services, Australia, June 2007

2007 Australian Federal Election

Follow Australian politics with our map, videos, gadgets & more.
2007 Australian Federal Election

Malacca Strait Pirates

Modern pirates have long plagued Southeast Asia’s Strait of Malacca, robbing sailors, kidnapping crews, and stealing entire ships.
Malacca Strait Pirates - Photo Gallery - National Geographic Magazine

Skull-A-Day: FREE Skull Font!

Skullphabet free font TrueType (for PC) and Opentype (for MAC).
FREE Skull Font!

WOMEN vs. MEN

Punctuation is powerful!
WOMEN VS. MEN

The Steepest Streets in the World

A selection of some of the steepest streets on earth. To explain the grade percentage: as an example, a road with a 30% grade would rise 30 feet in height for every 100 feet travelled horizontally.
the steepest streets in the world

East or West...

All over the world when people decide to name cardinal points, they look at the sky. Terms used for orientation should therefore be immediately transparent: we expect them to mean “toward sunrise,” “toward sunset,” “related to a certain constellation,” “in the direction of a certain wind,” and so forth. And indeed, Latin oriens “east” is akin to oriri “to rise,” while occidens “west” is a cognate of occidere “to fall down.”
East or West...

Do You Recognize These 10 Mental Blocks to Creative Thinking?

Whether you’re trying to solve a tough problem, start a business, get attention for that business or write an interesting article, creative thinking is crucial. The process boils down to changing your perspective and seeing things differently than you currently do.
Do You Recognize These 10 Mental Blocks to Creative Thinking?

Stop: Don’t Send That Angry E-mail!

Over the course of my career, I have fired off my share of angry letters and e-mail. However, I cannot think of a single time when these communiques had a positive effect. Usually, they only served to escalate the conflict and alienate the recipient.
Stop: Don’t Send That Angry E-mail!

Home Inspection Nightmares

The best of the worst home inspection discoveries, courtesy of the ASHI Reporter.
Home Inspection Nightmares

10 Easy Arithmetic Tricks

Math can be terrifying for many people. This list will hopefully improve your general knowledge of mathematical tricks and your speed when you need to do math in your head.
10 Easy Arithmetic Tricks

How to Crack a "Master Lock" Combination Lock

If you’ve forgotten the combination to a Master Lock combination lock, you have a few options. If the lock isn’t locked onto anything, you can make a photocopy of the serial number and send that into Master Lock for the combination. If, however, your lock is attached to something, you can break the lock, call a locksmith, use a shim, or figure out the combination. Of these options, only the last will leave you with a usable lock without emptying your wallet.
How to Crack a "Master Lock" Combination Lock

Number of Lefties Bounces Back

Lefties have been bouncing back in recent decades, following a decline in the beginning of the 20th century, a new study shows.
Number of Lefties Bounces Back

IBM offers free Office Suite

IBM has revived the Lotus Symphony brand, applying it this time to its OpenOffice-derived word processor, spreadsheet and presentation programs.
IBM offers free office suite

Top 10 Ways to Fire the Client From Hell

Clients are the lifeblood of any business. Without them, your venture simply doesn't exist. On the other hand, some clients are so bad that your business, not to mention your personal sanity, is better off without them. So what do you do when you have a client that pushes you to the brink? You fire them! Here's how to give 10 of the worst offenders the pink slip without burning bridges.
Top 10 Ways to Fire the Client From Hell

60+ Free Password Managers and Form Fillers

If you’re an active internet user with accounts on dozens of websites, chances are you already have dozens of user IDs and passwords to remember. An identity system like OpenID may eventually solve all your problems, but until that time you can make use of various tools to save your passwords and automatically fill out forms.
60+ Free Password Managers and Form Fillers

Cancer-Proof Your Body

Recent research reveals 8 stealth strategies to keep the killer at bay. It's time to raise your carcinogen shields -- and your overall health -- using these smart anti-C moves.
Cancer-Proof Your Body

Winamp Goes Where iTunes Doesn't Dare

Winamp 5.5 (Beta) sports two new and potentially controversial features: support for mp3 blogs and the ability to stream your music collection over the Internet.

read more | digg story

5 Essential Things To Do In Space

Since Sputnik, planetary exploration has gone through several waxing and waning phases. The 1980s, for instance, might as well have been the dark side of the moon. The present looks brighter: dozens of probes from the world’s space programs have fanned out across the solar system, from Mercury to Pluto. But budget cuts, cost overruns and inconsistency of purpose have cast long shadows over NASA. At the very least the agency is going through its most unsettled period of transition since Nixon shot down the Apollo moon missions 35 years ago.
Are the world’s planetary exploration programs are on track? The list of goals that follows synthesizes their priorities.
5 Essential Things To Do In Space

The Hormone That Helps You Read Minds

We've long accepted that hormones can make you amorous, aggressive, or erratic. But lately neuroscience has been abuzz with evidence that the hormone oxytocin -- which also acts as a neuromodulator -- can enhance at least one cognitive power: the ability to understand the gist of what others are thinking.
The hormone that helps you read minds

Smelly Boyfriend? That's your Genes Talking

When it comes to a man's body odour, the fragrance or stench is in the nose of the beholder, according to US researchers.
Smelly boyfriend? That's your genes talking

The Ultimate Resource Guide for Commuting by Bicycle

With the rise of oil prices and the growing ‘green’ movement, people everywhere are evaluating commuting to work by bicycle.
The Ultimate Resource Guide for Commuting by Bicycle

How to Sleep On a Plane

Step 1: Book the right seat.
Read on....
How to Sleep On a Plane

Useful Items You Never Knew You Could Print Out

The definitive ultimate guide. Enjoy!
Useful Items You Never Knew You Could Print Out

Get Out Stains with These Homemade Stain Removers

Stains. What I hate more than stains is paying $5 for a stain remover that never seems to do what it says on the box. "Surely there are better products I can make at home, using things I already have"?
Get Out Stains with These Homemade Stain Removers

Quick Cleaning Solutions for Every Room

What to do around the house if you have 15 minutes, 30 minutes, an hour, or half a day to clean.
Quick Cleaning Solutions for Every Room

Recreational Exercise and Pregnancy

A leaflet explaining the risks and benefits of recreational exercise, what to avoid and when to stop (during pregnancy and immediately after the birth).
Recreational Exercise and Pregnancy

Tallest Building in the World

Dubai skyscraper reaches 555 metres; eclipsing Canada’s CN Tower
Tallest Building in the World

Advice for Students: Taking Notes that Work

Note-taking is one of those skills that rarely gets taught. Teachers and professors assume either that taking good notes comes naturally or that someone else must have already taught students how to take notes. Then we sit around and complain that our students don’t know how to take notes.
Advice for Students: Taking Notes that Work

7 Ingenious Don't Drive Drunk Ads

Here are some of the most eye-catching ways advertisers are highlighting the dangers of alcohol, alcohol awareness and drunk driving awareness in recent ad programs.
Stop Your Boozing - 7 Ingenious Don't Drive Drunk Ads

World's Worst Polluted Places 2007

From environmental health organization "Blacksmith". Worst is Sumgayit, Azerbaijan, followed by Linfen, China; Tianying, China; Sukinda, India; Vapi, India; La Oroya, Peru; Dzerzhinsk, Russia; Norilsk, Russia; Chernobyl, Ukraine; Kabwe, Zambia.
World's Worst Polluted Places 2007

Underwater Lost Cities: 7 Submerged Urban Wonders of the World

A wealth of human history lies submerged in ancient cities at the bottoms of lakes, seas and oceans of the world. Some of these were sent into the water via earthquakes, tsunamis or other disasters thousands of years ago.
Underwater Lost Cities: 7 Submerged Urban Wonders of the World

Clouds that look like UFOs

Lenticular clouds.
Clouds that look like UFOs

Missing van Gogh Discovered

The Museum of Fine Arts, Boston and the Van Gogh Museum, Amsterdam, have discovered a painting by Vincent van Gogh (1853–1890) underneath the artist’s painting Ravine, owned by the MFA.
Missing van Gogh Discovered

Why You Should Write Things Down

This is a reminder.
You probably already know all - or most - of this. But reminders can be useful.
Why You Should Write Things Down

Survival Guide: Online Social Networking

Online social networking provides you with a venue to connect with people whom you already know, grow your relationships and find new people connected to you by a common contact. Effective utilisation of your personal network is no longer a competitive advantage, it is a survival tool.
Survival Guide: Online Social Networking

7 Ways to Make Your Own Good Luck

When Napoleon was asked if he preferred courageous generals or brilliant generals, he replied neither. He preferred lucky generals. So, how do you get lucky?
7 Ways to Make Your Own Good Luck

2007 Australian Federal Election

A federal election is anticipated to be held before the end of the year. You can be sure as the Australian parties get out on the hustings, babies will be kissed, doors knocked and hands vigorously shook -- but this election campaign is already a lot different to others, with digital media playing a new and important role.
Australian voters can have an intimate look at the parties, candidates and election issues, all in one Google location. These services, spanning Search, Maps, News, video, Earth, Trends, and iGoogle, enable voters to organise, find and share Australian election information more easily than ever.
2007 Australian Federal Election

404 Error Pages: Reloaded

40 working examples of user-friendly, creative and outstanding 404 error pages - in a brief overview.
404 Error Pages: Reloaded

Weird & Wonderful Word of the Week

Weird & Wonderful Word of the Week, Slang Word of the Week and other nerdy wordy things!
Weird & Wonderful Word of the Week

Signs Stating the Obvious

Campaigners for the English language have attacked a growing tendency for "obvious" public information posters, such as a police sign urging people: "Don't Commit Crime."
Other examples highlighted by the Plain English Campaign, which fights for the effective use of English, include "Warning: Platform ends here" on the end of rail station platforms, and "May cause drowsiness" on sleeping pills.
Language defenders take aim at signs stating the obvious

Luna 2, first spacecraft to Moon’s surface, launched 48 years ago

On September 13, 1959 (September 12, Moscow time, at 06:39:42 UTC), the Soviet Union’s Luna 2 was launched to the Moon. Thirty-three-and-one-half hours later, it impacted the Moon, the first spacecraft to reach the lunar surface.
Luna 2, first spacecraft to Moon’s surface, launched 48 years ago

Fact or Fiction?: An Opera Singer's Piercing Voice Can Shatter Glass

Can the high C of a trained soprano quiver glass into dissolution?
Fact or Fiction?: An Opera Singer's Piercing Voice Can Shatter Glass

Roundup of Federal Election websites

The Australian's Media section had an interesting roundup of the websites which are springing up to cover (and cash in on) the upcoming federal election. It says that Google is going to launch its own election website tomorrow, replete with "video footage, user-generated content and customised information feeds."
Roundup of Federal Election websites

Rock the Podium

Wired's How to Wiki has some tips for public speaking by blogger, writer and Boing Boing editor Cory Doctorow.
Rock the Podium

Russian 'sex day' to boost Births

The governor of Ulyanovsk region in Russia is offering prizes to couples who have babies in exactly nine months - on Russia's national day on 12 June. Sergei Morozov wants couples to take the day off work to have sex. If a baby is born on national day, they will receive cars, TVs or other prizes.
Russian 'sex day' to boost births

GeoHive: Global Statistics

GeoHive is a site with geopolitical data, statistics on the human population, Earth and more. The main kind of data you can find here is population statistics of regions, countries, provinces and cities. Next to that there are some statistics on economic factors like wealth, infrastructure; statistics on natural phenomena.
GeoHive: Global Statistics

Oxford English Dictionary Adds New Words

Two categories:
1) Words in the fully revised range: proter-purposive
2) New words from across the alphabet
Oxford English Dictionary Adds New Words

Endangered Species List is more bad News

More than one in three species assessed by the World Conservation Union is threatened with extinction, according to the group's latest "Red List" of endangered species.
Endangered Species List is more bad News

Viva Las Vegas TV Documentary Promo Video

View the promo video for the' Viva Las Vegas' TV documentary to screen on ABC in the USA on September 18.
Viva Las Vegas TV documentary Promo Video

Terrorist Organization Logos

Terrorist groups, like any organization, need brand identities. With so many groups claiming credit for terrorist acts, and so many videotapes being put out featuring men in ski masks, it’s hard to keep track of which group committed what violent act. So terrorist organizations have logos.
Terrorist Organization Logos

Not a Word

It was an old tradition in encyclopedias to put in a fake entry to protect copyright. So when word leaked out that the second edition of the New Oxford American Dictionary contained a made-up word that starts with the letter “e,” an independent investigator set himself the task of sifting through NOAD’s thirty-one hundred and twenty-eight “e” entries in search of the phony.
Not a Word

Microsoft Office Tips Roundup

Helpful tips to do some of those tricky, pesky things.
Microsoft Office Tips Roundup

The World According to Americans

With all due apologies to my American friends...but is this one of the new maps Miss North Carolina(?) was talking about? This was posted by a kangaroo...

Windows Vista Service Pack 1 Beta Whitepaper

This white paper presents an overview of Windows Vista SP1 and the improvements it contains.
Windows Vista Service Pack 1 Beta Whitepaper

The World’s Most Shark-Infested Beaches

Planning a vacation?
The World’s Most Shark-Infested Beaches

14 Great Programs You Didn't Even Know You Needed

It's the little things that frustrate. No need to endure the same tiresome annoyances and petty, repetitious tasks because you don't know that something better lies just over the next download. Don't assume that what you have is as good as it gets.
14 Great Programs You Didn't Even Know You Needed

Coping with the Common Cold

These five suggestions are intended to help you cope with the common cold. They will provide some comfort, and they may reduce the lengthy time the common cold usually takes to run its course.
Coping with the Common Cold

Filter By File Type in Windows Explorer with QT ToolBar

Windows only: Freeware application QT ToolBar adds quite a few file manipulation and filtering techniques to Windows Explorer. With QT ToolBar you can enter a specific file extension and select all similar files in bulk.
Filter By File Type in Windows Explorer with QT ToolBar

Polar bears feel heat of climate change

The world's polar bear population could be reduced by two-thirds within 50 years if predictions of melting sea ice hold true, a new report says.
Polar bears feel heat of climate change