I don't diet. I don't count calories and rarely go hungry. In fact, my cholesterol numbers could win me awards. Oh, and I have been this way consistently since I made the change - eight years ago. Annoying? I know.
The thing is - it's so easy, its laughable.
10 Commandments for Dropping 10 Pounds & 10 Years
Wednesday, April 30, 2008
10 Commandments for Dropping 10 Pounds & 10 Years
Posted by Blacky at 11:27 pm 0 comments
Microsoft Tries to Prevent Your Laptops From Getting Impounded
One of the things we discussed on the last Elite Tech News podcast was the newly acquired ability for border control agents to seize laptops, phones, cameras and other electronic devices that may contain material suitable for incriminating the owners. The general consensus of the panelists was that this was always an option for folks but it would rarely ever be exercised due to the fact that there really isn’t a whole lot anyone can do in searching a computer at the border in order to determine whether or not criminal activity was evidenced on it.
Microsoft Tries to Prevent Your Laptops From Getting Impounded
Posted by Blacky at 5:24 pm 0 comments
Mazda destroys 4,703 shiny new cars worth $100 million
Wall Street Journal reports that Mazda decided to destroy "approximately $100 million worth of factory-new automobiles" that had been shipped on a tanker that tilted on route to the US.
Mazda destroys 4,703 shiny new cars worth $100 million
Posted by Blacky at 8:35 am 0 comments
Windows - How to Do Everything Faster
22 smarter, more efficient ways to make short work of common tech tasks--from reinstalling Windows to crushing spyware to setting up a Web site.
How to Do Everything Faster
Posted by Blacky at 8:17 am 0 comments
Monday, April 28, 2008
(Really) Stunning Pictures and Photos
Photography is a very powerful medium and a very difficult craft. Excellent photos don’t only display some facts — they tell stories, awake feelings and manage to share with the audience the emotions a photographer experienced when clicking the shot button. Taking excellent pictures is damn hard as you need to find a perfect perspective and consider the perfect timing. To achieve brilliant photography you need practice and patience. However, it is worth it: the results can be truly stunning.
(Really) Stunning Pictures and Photos
Posted by Blacky at 8:59 pm 0 comments
Sunday, April 27, 2008
Whiten Your Teeth the Natural Way
White teeth and strawberries may not sound like they go hand in hand, but it turns out the berries can actually lighten your smile.
Whiten Your Teeth the Natural Way
Posted by Blacky at 9:51 am 0 comments
11 Tips for Better Tech Support
We’ve all been there. Something’s dreadfully wrong with your trusty computer - you can’t print, you can’t get on the web, you can’t play Bejeweled. For whatever reason, the problem is major enough to warrant one of the most desperate acts you can imagine - a phone call to tech support.
11 Tips for Better Tech Support
Posted by Blacky at 12:08 am 0 comments
Saturday, April 26, 2008
The Seven Deadly Sins of a Relationship
Here’s a simple list of tips:
spend time alone together;
appreciate each other;
be intimate often;
talk and share and give.
But just as important as what you should do is what you shouldn’t do — and I’m sure many of you have stepped into these pitfalls yourselves. If you can avoid these seven things, and focus instead on doing the four things above, you should have a strong relationship.
The Seven Deadly Sins of a Relationship
Posted by Blacky at 12:24 pm 0 comments
How We're Wrecking Our Feet With Every Step We Take
It took 4 million years of evolution to perfect the human foot. But we’re wrecking it with every step we take.
How We're Wrecking Our Feet With Every Step We Take
Posted by Blacky at 11:52 am 0 comments
Thursday, April 24, 2008
Here comes version 8.0 of AVG Anti-Virus Free!
Arguably the world’s most popular free anti-virus software, Grisoft’s AVG, has just been upgraded, set for free download from Friday, the 25th of April. We’re sure AVG’s servers are about to get hammered even harder as millions of AVG 7.5 users take advantage of the new version!
Here comes version 8.0 of AVG Anti-Virus Free!
Posted by Blacky at 9:37 pm 0 comments
Internet Activity, Australia, Dec 2007
The Internet Activity Survey (IAS) collects details on aspects of Internet access services provided by Internet Service Providers (ISPs) in Australia.
This release contains results from all ISPs operating in Australia as at 31 December 2007. For December quarter 2007 there were 421 operating ISPs contributing to the estimates.
Internet Activity, Australia, Dec 2007
Posted by Blacky at 11:42 am 0 comments
ANZAC Facts and Figures
Over 1.5 million Australian men and women have served in eight major wars or conflicts during the twentieth century.
More than 100,000 people died in action, more than 200,000 were wounded and more than 30,000 were taken as prisoners of war.
ANZAC facts and figures from the ABS
Posted by Blacky at 11:41 am 0 comments
Wednesday, April 23, 2008
How to Think Before Speaking
One of the most obvious and significant attributes to mankind is the ability to communicate through speech.
How to Think Before Speaking
Posted by Blacky at 8:56 pm 0 comments
US airport security retains right to search laptops
Frequent international flyers will be interested to hear that a US legal decision last week has confirmed that border security at their international airports have carte blanche to search people's laptops, without the need for any specific evidence of criminal activity.
US airport security retains right to search laptops
Posted by Blacky at 1:17 pm 0 comments
Tuesday, April 22, 2008
Why we tend to think that we should get what we deserve -- and deserve what we get
One of the most interesting and complicated issues within the study of happiness is the relationship between money and happiness. Although some folks seem content to say, “Money can’t buy happiness,” I think that relationship is a bit more complicated.
Why we tend to think that we should get what we deserve -- and deserve what we get
Posted by Blacky at 6:52 am 0 comments
Duct tape saved Apollo 17 moonbuggy, while on the moon
The date was Dec. 11, 1972. Astronauts Gene Cernan and Jack Schmitt had just landed their lunar module Challenger in a beautiful mountain-ringed valley named Taurus-Littrow on the edge of the Sea of Serenity. (...)
Duct tape saved Apollo 17 moonbuggy, while on the moon
Posted by Blacky at 6:50 am 0 comments
Haggling to Save Big Bucks
I love haggling — it’s second nature to me. If I’m buying bagged mulch at the garden center and some sacks have small puncture holes, I negotiate a discount because the sacks are damaged. I negotiate on everything. For one thing, I’m in the antiques business, and that forces you to learn haggling from day one.
Haggling to Save Big Bucks
Posted by Blacky at 6:48 am 0 comments
You Can't Travel Back in Time, Scientists Say
The urge to hug a departed loved one again or prevent atrocities are among the compelling reasons that keep the notion of time travel alive in the minds of many.
While the idea makes for great fiction, some scientists now say traveling to the past is impossible.
You Can't Travel Back in Time, Scientists Say
Posted by Blacky at 6:45 am 0 comments
How Anonymous Are You?
You may think that you are anonymous as you browse web sites, but pieces of information about you are always left behind. You can reduce the amount of information revealed about you by visiting legitimate sites, checking privacy policies, and minimizing the amount of personal information you provide.
How Anonymous Are You?
Posted by Blacky at 6:42 am 0 comments
Saturday, April 19, 2008
Coffee Makes You Dehydrated: Say What?
It has long been thought that coffee and other caffeine-containing beverages are dehydrating and don’t count toward your daily fluid intake. In fact, some go as far as recommending one cup of water for every cup of Joe you consume.
Coffee Makes You Dehydrated: Say What?
Posted by Blacky at 11:45 pm 0 comments
Social Networking Sites
Social networking sites have grown in popularity over the last few years, particularly among teenagers and young adults. These are often the populations that academic institutions reach out to for both recruitment and retention. It is not surprising, then, that academic libraries and librarians have joined the movement to include social networking sites in library marketing, outreach, instruction, and reference efforts.
Social networking sites
Posted by Blacky at 10:55 pm 0 comments
How To: Avoid Blind TinyURL Clickthroughs
If you're regularly sent TinyURLs but have been burned one too many times by clicking through to an embarrassing link at the wrong time, head to TinyURL's preview page and enable previews.
How To: Avoid Blind TinyURL Clickthroughs
Posted by Blacky at 11:31 am 0 comments
Ten typographic mistakes everyone makes
Grammar nazis are so last century. Welcome, friends, to the brave new world of the typography nazi. Below are ten mistakes that everyone makes, an explanation of why each is wrong, and details on how to fix them. At least, you'll see how to fix them on the Mac; under Windows, you'll need to dig through tables of Alt characters.
Ten typographic mistakes everyone makes
Posted by Blacky at 11:22 am 0 comments
Friday, April 18, 2008
Fancy meeting you here!
A German man survived a 25ft plunge down a lift shaft when he landed on a woman who had fallen down it a day before.
Fancy meeting you here!
Posted by Blacky at 7:57 am 0 comments
Thursday, April 17, 2008
More airports to use 'whole body imaging' machines
Some travelers at key airports in New York and Los Angeles may be put through machines that see through clothing and provide a detailed image of a person's body beginning later this week.
More airports to use 'whole body imaging' machines
Posted by Blacky at 12:56 pm 0 comments
Spacejunk in Earth's atmosphere revealed
A European Space Agency (ESA) computer-generated picture shows a view from space with the planet surrounded by a snowstorm of space debris.
Much of it is junk with telecommunications equipment that once cost millions now past its sell-by date yet still in orbit.
ESA says the number of objects in Earth's atmosphere has risen steadily increasing by 200 per year on average and that there are now 600 working satellites.
Spacejunk in Earth's atmosphere revealed
Posted by Blacky at 12:43 pm 0 comments
Measures of Australia's Progress: At A Glance, 2008
An at a glance summary of the 14 headline dimensions of Australia's progress. It provides a national summary of the most important areas of progress, presenting them in a way which can be quickly understood by all Australians. It informs and stimulates public debate and encourages all Australians to assess the bigger picture when contemplating progress.
Measures of Australia's Progress: At A Glance, 2008
Posted by Blacky at 12:39 pm 0 comments
Is life in Australia getting better?
The ABS has just released new information to help Australians assess how our society, economy and environment are developing. Measures of Australia's Progress: Summary Indicators gives a snapshot of national progress over the last decade, using key measures. The publication also includes an article on the relationships between society, economy and the environment.
Is life in Australia getting better?
Posted by Blacky at 12:31 pm 0 comments
Procrastination Can Be Your Ally
If you’re a procrastinator, please raise your hand - when you get around to it. You know the drill: you tinker with your calendar and move tasks to a later due date, you find yourself cramming the day before deadlines, or your answers to the questions “What am I doing now?” and “What should I be doing now?” don’t match.
Procrastination Can Be Your Ally
Posted by Blacky at 8:21 am 0 comments
Seven things to say in a meeting to make yourself look good and someone else look bad
Ah, meetings. Can’t live with them, can’t live without them.
Being happy at work is important, of course. Being with other people generally boosts mood, and ideally, meetings should be a source of energy, ideas, and collegiality. But it doesn’t always work out that way. Meetings are also a place where people jockey for position, work out disagreements (nicely or not-so-nicely), and hurt each other’s feelings.
Seven things to say in a meeting to make yourself look good and someone else look bad
Posted by Blacky at 8:20 am 0 comments
Wednesday, April 16, 2008
25 Questions to Think About Before Your Next Job Interview
A great interview question reveals the nature of the person you’re hiring - honesty, reliability, ability to communicate intelligently and quickly, and so on.
25 Questions to Think About Before Your Next Job Interview
Posted by Blacky at 11:13 am 0 comments
Straight Hair Is Knottier Than Curly Hair
On a cool Saturday afternoon at the überhot Garren hair salon in New York City a few masters of fashion were debating something many would call obvious: Which is more likely to tangle—curly hair or straight hair?
Straight Hair Is Knottier Than Curly Hair
Posted by Blacky at 11:07 am 0 comments
Top 10 Ways to Sleep Smarter and Better
Nothing kills your ability to get things done faster than a bad night's sleep.
Top 10 Ways to Sleep Smarter and Better
Posted by Blacky at 10:57 am 0 comments
Video of dog who won't go through screenless screen door
Funny video shows a dog who won't go through a screenless screen door.
Video of dog who won't go through screenless screen door
Posted by Blacky at 10:56 am 0 comments
Awkward Signs from Around the World
Ever been in a foreign hotel and seen a sign that directed you to "Slip carefully"?
We've been there. English is a tricky language, and translating it can be just about impossible.
Lost in Translation: Awkward Signs from Around the World
Posted by Blacky at 10:54 am 0 comments
13 Things to Avoid When Changing Habits
“Motivation is what gets you started. Habit is what keeps you going.” - Jim Ryun
13 Things to Avoid When Changing Habits
Posted by Blacky at 10:51 am 0 comments
Tuesday, April 15, 2008
Be Aware of What Data You Expose
A recent study shows that most taxpayers are painfully unaware that when they make a photocopy on a digital photo copier the machine makes an image and stores it on its hard drive. Information being photocopied can be utilized by hackers for identity theft purposes. The same threat can also be true for faxes that are sent on a digital fax machine.
Be Aware of What Data You Expose
Posted by Blacky at 7:39 am 0 comments
Monday, April 14, 2008
First High Definition Moon Map Released
Selene, Japan's lunar spacecraft and HD peeping Tom, keeps sending stunningly-detailed information from our crystal clear Moon to trashed Mother Earth. These first-ever high definition global topographic maps of the Moon were created using 1,127,392 point measurements, taken with its laser altimeter. And they are just preliminary versions.
Space: First High Definition Moon Map Released, Uranium Sites Located
Posted by Blacky at 10:04 pm 0 comments
Saturday, April 12, 2008
Concerns Over a Future Google Street View Australia
Google Australia is expected within months to launch an application that will publish highly detailed, street-level photos of much of Australia, in a move that has drawn strong criticism from privacy advocates.
Concerns Over a Future Google Street View Australia
Posted by Blacky at 5:51 pm 0 comments
Friday, April 11, 2008
Caffeine May Block High Cholesterol Linked to Alzheimer's
Caffeine protects against memory loss in aging and in Alzheimer's disease.
Caffeine May Block High Cholesterol Linked to Alzheimer's
Posted by Blacky at 8:16 am 0 comments
Six Awesome Ways To Learn About Music (While Listening To It)
I’ve accidentally stumbled into several music-related mashups today, and I thought I might share them with you. The thing is, sometimes I’m just into chilling with my favorite tunes, but sometimes I’m in research mode, and I want to find as much as I can about whatever I’m listening to. The six mashups described below are perfect for this purpose.
Six Awesome Ways To Learn About Music (While Listening To It)
Posted by Blacky at 8:08 am 0 comments
Are Compact Fluorescent Lightbulbs Dangerous
Lightbulbs break all the time. So why would a single broken bulb in a Maine household trigger the state's Department of Environmental Protection to refer the homeowner to a decontaminator?
Are Compact Fluorescent Lightbulbs Dangerous
Posted by Blacky at 8:06 am 1 comments
Thursday, April 10, 2008
What Every beginning Dictionary Reader Should Know
Ammon Shea recently spent a year of his life reading the OED from start to finish. Over the next few months he will be posting weekly blogs about the insights, gems, and thoughts on language that came from this experience. His book, Reading the OED, will be published by Perigee in July. In the post below Ammon, an expert dictionary reader, shares some advice for beginners.
What Every beginning Dictionary Reader Should Know
Posted by Blacky at 10:45 am 0 comments
11 tips cutting down the number of things you buy
Some people buy too much, some people buy too little. That’s the overbuyer / underbuyer split.
11 tips cutting down the number of things you buy
Posted by Blacky at 10:15 am 0 comments
7 Simple Ways To Burst Out of Bed Each Morning
Way before the sun peeks over the horizon, a few chosen people awaken from their slumber and dive head first into their day. These chosen few accomplish a ton before the rest of us would ever consider rising from our nice warm beds.
7 Simple Ways To Burst Out of Bed Each Morning
Posted by Blacky at 8:13 am 0 comments
Rescue Lost or Damaged Photos with Zero Assumption
Windows only: Zero Assumption Recovery is a simple tool that can be a serious lifesaver, especially if you've just accidentally formatted a memory card or came home from vacation to a supposedly empty camera. The free download does what many professional (and costly) image recovery programs do, running through memory blocks and piecing together scattered pictures, then dumping them in a folder of your choosing.
Rescue Lost or Damaged Photos with Zero Assumption
Posted by Blacky at 8:12 am 0 comments
Baby born with 2 faces in Northern India
A baby with two faces was born in a northern Indian village, where she is doing well and is being worshipped as the reincarnation of a Hindu goddess, her father said Tuesday.
Baby born with 2 faces in Northern India
Posted by Blacky at 7:36 am 0 comments
Wednesday, April 09, 2008
Gurgles and growls? Decode your body noises
Your jaw pops like a bowl of Rice Krispies, in meetings, at mealtime, even during candlelight moments. Is it a joint that needs fixing, or just an annoying sound you can live with? Most body noises, although embarrassing, are harmless. Occasionally, they’re a signal that something’s not quite right. Health Magazine decodes what your body is telling you, from top to bottom, and what to do about it.
Gurgles and growls? Decode your body noises
Posted by Blacky at 9:08 pm 0 comments
Randy Pausch's Time Management Tricks
According to his doctors, computer science professor Randy Pausch has three to six months to live due to cancer, and in this video lecture he shares his tips for making the most of your time, "the most precious commodity you have."
Randy Pausch's Time Management Tricks
Posted by Blacky at 9:02 pm 0 comments
10 ways to explain things more effectively
In the course of your work, you may sometimes need to explain technical concepts to your customers. Having them understand you is important not only for technical reasons, but also to ensure customer satisfaction.
10 ways to explain things more effectively
Posted by Blacky at 9:00 pm 0 comments
Easter Egg: Firefox 3 Beta 5 Easter Egg
Intrepid testers using Firefox 3 beta 5: type about:robots into the address bar to get a fun page of robotic references.
Easter Egg: Firefox 3 Beta 5 Easter Egg
Posted by Blacky at 9:11 am 0 comments
Tuesday, April 08, 2008
The Top 25 Blogs - Time.com's First Annual Blog Index - TIME
From millions of blogs about nothing, we've selected the 25 best about something—from politics and global affairs to shopping and sports. And, yes, we've got a few about nothing, too.
The Top 25 Blogs - Time.com's First Annual Blog Index - TIME
Posted by Blacky at 1:01 pm 0 comments
Top 10 Wired Reader Night Photos
Unlike vampires, photos rarely come out at night. After two weeks of steady battle, these 10 photos have emerged victorious. Jason J. Corneveaux won the contest with his photo "The Needles at Night".
Top 10 Wired Reader Night Photos
Posted by Blacky at 6:46 am 0 comments
12 Tips to Create a Sleep Haven
Don't just fall into bed. Use these guidelines to make your bedroom a place of utter respite.
12 Tips to Create a Sleep Haven
Posted by Blacky at 6:41 am 0 comments
Monday, April 07, 2008
My Essential Twitter Tools
Many conversations are shifting to Twitter. Twitter is extensible, and many third-party developers are creating tools around the simple data being exported for a variety of unique applications.
My Essential Twitter Tools
Posted by Blacky at 6:37 am 0 comments
10 Things You Can Do to Cheer Yourself Up
Whether you have the winter blues, you're suffering from a disappointment, or you're just feeling a little down, we all have times when we could use a little lift. Here are 10 ideas to get you back on the upswing.
10 Things You Can Do to Cheer Yourself Up
Posted by Blacky at 6:36 am 0 comments
Sunday, April 06, 2008
Those lazy husbands
A University of Michigan study concludes that the average U.S. husband makes seven more hours of housework for the average wife; while wives save husbands an hour of housework each week.
iTWire - Those lazy husbands: Michigan study proves it, kinda!
Posted by Blacky at 8:51 am 0 comments
Saturday, April 05, 2008
3 Resources for Switchers
Of course, for web workers “switcher” generally means one thing: people who used to use Windows PCs who are beginning to use a Mac instead.
Archive 3 Resources for Switchers
Posted by Blacky at 10:23 am 0 comments
Friday, April 04, 2008
HMAS Sydney II - Photo Gallery
First ever underwater pictures of HMAS Sydney II.
HMAS Sydney II, Finding Sydney Foundation - Photo Gallery
Posted by Blacky at 9:29 am 0 comments
The Origin of Menopause: Why Do Women Outlive Fertility?
The origin of menopause has puzzled evolutionary biologists for the last half-century. Three new studies attempt illumination. The real question, though, is probably not: Why menopause? Rather, it is: Why do women long outlive their fertility?
The Origin of Menopause: Why Do Women Outlive Fertility?
Posted by Blacky at 9:26 am 0 comments
Thursday, April 03, 2008
16 Things I Wish They Had Taught Me in School
Sometimes I wish that I had known some of things I have learned over the last few years a bit earlier. That perhaps there had been a self-improvement class in school.
16 Things I Wish They Had Taught Me in School
Posted by Blacky at 11:22 pm 0 comments
6 Habits To Avoiding And Overcoming Procrastination
In short procrastination is a habit if you will, a very bad habit, that consists in putting off something for the next day. Procrastination is to blame for most of our productivity problems and yet it seems that very few people actually do something about it.
6 Habits To Avoiding And Overcoming Procrastination
Posted by Blacky at 10:16 am 0 comments
25 Wonderful Places To Visit In Your Lifetime!
Have you ever dreamt of visiting any of your favorite places? Most often, you will hear these words from your friends, family members or any others. Every one of us desire to visit our favorite places in the lifetime. It is the dream of every human being.
25 Wonderful Places To Visit In Your Lifetime!
Posted by Blacky at 7:33 am 0 comments
Wednesday, April 02, 2008
The Mythical Daily Water Requirement
No studies indicate that people should drink eight glasses of water a day. Where that number came from no one seems to know. But in the end, it turns out to be all wet.
The Mythical Daily Water Requirement
Posted by Blacky at 5:46 pm 0 comments
April Fools’ Day Roundup
April Fools’ Day jokes have a long tradition on the Internet, dating back to at least RFC1149, “A Standard for the Transmission of IP Datagrams on Avian Carriers” in 1990. Depending on your temperament, you may see these as either an amusing diversion, a great nuisance, or something in between.
April Fools’ Day Roundup
Posted by Blacky at 10:18 am 0 comments
Sunday, March 30, 2008
British Airways loses 15-20,000 bags since Thursday at supremely b0rked Heathrow Terminal 5
The much-ballyhooed opening of Heathrow's £4 billion Terminal 5 has been a debacle. British Airways has canceled 208 flights since Thursday, and has "stranded" between 15,000 and 20,000 bags. Area hotels are crammed with stuck BA passengers and are gouging on pricing, prompting BA to lift its stingy (and possibly illegal) £100 limit on hotels for stuck passengers. This is the terminal with the that just cancelled its crackpot fingerprinting procedure -- passengers are fingerprinted at check-in and at boarding.
British Airways loses 15-20,000 bags since Thursday at supremely b0rked Heathrow Terminal 5
Posted by Blacky at 8:22 am 0 comments
Saturday, March 29, 2008
Top 5 reasons why “The Customer Is Always Right” is wrong
The phrase “The customer is always right” was originally coined by Harry Gordon Selfridge, the founder of Selfridge’s department store in London in 1909, and is typically used by businesses to:
Convince customers that they will get good service at this company
Convince employees to give customers good service
Fortunately more and more businesses are abandoning this maxim - ironically because it leads to bad customer service.
Top 5 reasons why “The Customer Is Always Right” is wrong
Posted by Blacky at 3:53 pm 0 comments
Friday, March 28, 2008
Free web-based Photoshop arrives
It took a year rather than six months, but Adobe Photoshop Express has finally arrived - at least in beta. Photoshop Express is a web-based photo storage, editing and sharing service. Adobe is presenting it as a tool for the masses.
Free web-based Photoshop arrives
Posted by Blacky at 12:12 pm 0 comments
Ten reasons to turn off automatic email checking on your phone
Six months ago I turned off automatic email downloading on my phone; it was one of the best decisions I’ve made. Having access to email on the go is helpful (as is web access), but downloading email automatically does more harm than good.
Ten reasons to turn off automatic email checking on your phone
Posted by Blacky at 12:07 pm 0 comments
Thursday, March 27, 2008
How to embellish your life story without getting caught
The past month has not been kind to literary fabricators. The self-proclaimed half-Native American/foster child/South Central gangster Margaret B. Jones turned out to be Margaret Seltzer, a white girl from the leafy suburb Sherman Oaks. Misha Defonseca confessed that her Holocaust memoir, in which she traversed Europe, escaped Nazis, and lived with a pack of wolves, was a fantasy. Both revelations recall the fallout after James Frey's 2003 addiction memoir A Million Little Pieces turned out to be partially fabricated.
How to embellish your life story without getting caught
Posted by Blacky at 7:56 pm 0 comments
Best Digital Photo Organizer?
Today, the debut of the Hive Five Call for Contenders puts out the question: What's the best way to organize your digital photos?
Best Digital Photo Organizer?
Posted by Blacky at 1:54 pm 0 comments
Ten very idiosyncratic tips for having fun on a family vacation
Was it Jerry Seinfeld who said, “There’s no such thing as fun for the whole family?”
I disagree—but I’ve hit on certain tips that do help keep things fun. I’m not sure they’re universally helpful, but they’ve helped me.
Ten very idiosyncratic tips for having fun on a family vacation
Posted by Blacky at 1:51 pm 0 comments
25 Ways to Simplify Your Life with Kids
Anyone who has kids knows that any life with kids is going to be complicated, at least to some degree. From extra laundry to bathing and cooking and shopping and driving and school and chores and crises and sports and dance and toys and tantrums, there is no shortage of complications.
25 Ways to Simplify Your Life with Kids
Posted by Blacky at 8:16 am 0 comments
Free Ways to Synchronize Folders Between Computers
Nothing sucks worse than getting to the office in the morning and realizing you left the most recent copy of an important file—whether it's your to-do list or a PowerPoint presentation—on your home computer. No matter where you are and what computer you're using, you always want the most updated set of documents and files you've got without having to carry 'em around on a thumb drive.
Free Ways to Synchronize Folders Between Computers
Posted by Blacky at 8:14 am 0 comments
The Door to Hell
This place in Uzbekistan is called by locals “The Door to Hell”. It is situated near the small town of Darvaz. The story of this place lasts already for 35 years.
The Door to Hell
Posted by Blacky at 8:06 am 0 comments
You’ll Never Moonwalk Alone
On July 21, 1969, Neil Armstrong became the first human to walk on the moon. He didn’t moonwalk alone – ‘Buzz’ Aldrin joined him on the surface – and he didn’t walk far.
After travelling hundreds of thousands of kilometers, the landing crew of the Apollo 11 lunar mission barely covered an area the size of a football pitch.
You’ll Never Moonwalk Alone
Posted by Blacky at 8:04 am 0 comments
Carnival Scams of 1930
This June, 1930 Modern Mechanix article on the cheats used in carny midway games is great -- it's amazing how many of these cons are still in use today.
Carnival Scams of 1930
Posted by Blacky at 7:58 am 0 comments
Wednesday, March 26, 2008
Migration, Australia, 2006-07
Young adults proved to be the most mobile segment of the population during 2006-07, topping the figures for both overseas migration as well as interstate moves, according to figures released today by the Australian Bureau of Statistics (ABS).
Overall, net overseas migration added 177,600 people to Australia's population during 2006-07.
Migration, Australia, 2006-07
Posted by Blacky at 12:01 pm 0 comments
The Power of Power Naps
Sleep is such a fundamental biological drive that it's shared by practically every species, from fruit flies to humans. Indeed, sleep is so essential that animals will die as quickly from sleep deprivation as they will from food deprivation.
The Power of Power Naps
Posted by Blacky at 8:08 am 0 comments
Tuesday, March 25, 2008
The cost of food: Facts and figures
Explore the facts and figures behind the rising price of food across the globe.
The cost of food: Facts and figures
Posted by Blacky at 10:26 pm 0 comments
Smart Eating at Work
Top 10 all-around picks, in no specific order, to stash at your desk or in your office fridge.
Smart Eating at Work
Posted by Blacky at 10:19 pm 0 comments
Monday, March 24, 2008
Causes of Death, Australia, 2006
Presents statistics on the number of deaths for year of registration by state or territory of Australia, sex, selected age groups, and cause of death classified to the World Health Organisation's International Classification of Diseases (ICD).
Causes of Death, Australia, 2006
Posted by Blacky at 10:54 pm 0 comments
Climate facts to warm to
CATASTROPHIC predictions of global warming usually conjure with the notion of a tipping point, a point of no return.
Last Monday - on ABC Radio National, of all places - there was a tipping point of a different kind in the debate on climate change. It was a remarkable interview involving the co-host of Counterpoint, Michael Duffy and Jennifer Marohasy, a biologist and senior fellow of Melbourne-based think tank the Institute of Public Affairs. Anyone in public life who takes a position on the greenhouse gas hypothesis will ignore it at their peril.
Duffy asked Marohasy: "Is the Earth stillwarming?"
Climate facts to warm to
Posted by Blacky at 10:20 am 0 comments
Top 10 Software Easter Eggs
Sure we like our chocolate bunny ears, but around these parts the best easter eggs aren't painted pink and stuffed with jelly beans—they're the undocumented and unexpected fun features hidden deep inside various software apps.
Top 10 Software Easter Eggs
Posted by Blacky at 10:14 am 0 comments
Sunday, March 23, 2008
Could Aging Mirror Scare You Straight?
Persuasive Mirror and Web Site Shows People How They Will Age Based on Lifestyle.
Could Aging Mirror Scare You Straight?
Posted by Blacky at 8:28 pm 0 comments
Get Higher-Resolution YouTube Videos with a URL Hack
YouTube announced in November that they would be testing out encoding videos at higher resolutions (and with higher-quality audio encoding). Now it appears that a small sampling of uploaded videos can already be seen at their higher resolutions, simply by adding a little tag to the end of the video's URL.
Get Higher-Resolution YouTube Videos with a URL Hack
Posted by Blacky at 11:44 am 0 comments
Saturday, March 22, 2008
Read DOCX Files in Internet Explorer
Question: How do you quickly read a docx document on some computer that has no Microsoft Office Word 2007 and is neither connected to the Internet (online conversion is therefore ruled out).
Read DOCX Files in Internet Explorer"
Posted by Blacky at 3:46 pm 0 comments
Low-cost ways to conserve water at home
If you live in an area where water shortages are not an issue, consider yourself lucky. Nearly 450 million people in 29 countries face severe water shortages.
Low-cost ways to conserve water at home
Posted by Blacky at 10:31 am 0 comments
Getting to Good Enough
Do you strive for perfection? Do you spend hours obsessing over the tiniest details of your life until they’re exactly right? Do you feel uncomfortable when everything in your life isn’t “just so”? Are you prepared for every eventuality, even the most unlikely?
Getting to Good Enough
Posted by Blacky at 10:28 am 0 comments
Friday, March 21, 2008
Absurd Entries in the OED
All dictionaries have mistakes. Ghost words creep in, there are occasional misspellings, or perhaps the printer was hung over one day and misplaced some punctuation. In addition to these normal forms of human error there are others that are created by language, as it continues its inexorable change, rendering definitions and spellings obsolete. Furthermore, as the science of lexicography itself advances, certain things, such as etymologies, that made sense a hundred years ago, begin to look suspect in a modern light.
Absurd Entries in the OED
Posted by Blacky at 8:22 pm 0 comments
Adventures in Rechargeable Batteries
Every self-respecting geek loves gadgets. I'm no exception. And so many of my favorite gadgets have a voracious appetite for batteries. I don't know why all the other battery types fell so far out of favor, but between AA and AAA, I could probably power 95% of my household gadget needs.
Adventures in Rechargeable Batteries
Posted by Blacky at 8:16 pm 0 comments
Finished Installing Windows Vista SP1 ? Now Remove All The Junk Files
When you install Windows Vista Service Pack 1 on your computer, the SP1 installer will not remove the older versions of Vista files from the hard drive. This is because the older files may be required in case you decide to uninstall SP1 later from the system.
Finished Installing Windows Vista SP1 ? Now Remove All The Junk Files
Posted by Blacky at 3:24 pm 0 comments
A Near-Free, Great Alternative to Microsoft Office
If you and your colleagues use the Microsoft Office suite of productivity applications, you’re probably very familiar with how much the suite costs and perhaps the high cost of licensing the applications. Of course, there are completely free alternatives to the Office suite, such as the open source suite OpenOffice, but my favorite alternative falls just between costly Microsoft Office and free OpenOffice: Software 602’s PC Suite.
A Near-Free, Great Alternative to Microsoft Office
Posted by Blacky at 3:20 pm 0 comments
Thursday, March 20, 2008
How To Get People Addicted To You And Take Control
There is a special little secret ingredient which is responsible for getting people addicted to you, to love you, and to think of you as an irreplaceable person in their life. Right away you are thinking of how valuable it would be to have such power in romance, friendship and business.
How To Get People Addicted To You And Take Control
Posted by Blacky at 7:56 pm 0 comments
Wednesday, March 19, 2008
Photography and The Law: Know Your Rights
Say you’re out for a photographic stroll, taking pictures of that cool old power plant on the edge of town. Suddenly seventy security guards swarm you and demand you hand over your camera.
Photography and The Law: Know Your Rights
Posted by Blacky at 2:34 pm 0 comments
Tuesday, March 18, 2008
10 Ways to Control Your Cravings
You can lose weight by overcoming your cravings now. Here are the latest tricks of the trade from researchers and experts.
10 Ways to Control Your Cravings
Posted by Blacky at 5:35 pm 0 comments
Bad Movie Physics: A Report Card
Space epics almost always play fast and loose with science, treating the laws of physics like suggestions. Sound in space, unprotected bodies splatting in vacuum, and alien planets that all look just like Calabasas. But some movies dismember Newton and Einstein with way more gusto than others.
Bad Movie Physics: A Report Card
Posted by Blacky at 11:40 am 0 comments
4 Things You Should Never Say to the CEO
If a "nice guy" runs your company, you might be able to say whatever's on your mind in the boardroom and get away with it. But most successful CEOs aren't nice guys -- they're very serious people, often edgy to the point of mania.
4 Things You Should Never Say to the CEO
Posted by Blacky at 11:39 am 0 comments
Monday, March 17, 2008
Rudd confirms HMAS Sydney find
Prime Minister Kevin Rudd has confirmed searchers have found the wreck of HMAS Sydney off the West Australian coast, solving Australia's greatest naval mystery.
The Sydney sunk in November 1941 after a battle with the German raider the Kormoran, killing all 645 crew on board.
Rudd confirms HMAS Sydney find
Posted by Blacky at 11:48 am 0 comments
Complete Set of Social Atlases, 2006
The Social Atlas complements the products that are made available on the ABS website by providing an at-a-glance view of the major characteristics of all Australian capital city areas, and (for the first time) selected regional centres, providing a visually informative alternative to traditional tables and statistical spreadsheets.
The Social Atlas' use of easy to read thematic maps of capital cities, featuring new analysis of 2006 Census data, makes data easier to interpret and provides the groundwork for a wide variety of stories on current and emerging issues. A wide range of topics are covered relating to: population, cultural diversity, work, housing, families, education and training and economic resources.
Complete Set of Social Atlases, 2006
Posted by Blacky at 11:47 am 0 comments