How to Play Pinball Like a Pro

So you see that person putting completely inhuman scores on the local machine and you're wondering how he does it. Fear not! While there is definitely a fair amount of skill required to become a Pinball Wizard, with some basic instruction, you too can be racking up the replays in no time.
How to Play Pinball Like a Pro

Hand Luggage Only: The Big Lessons Learned

If there was a single aim to Hand Luggage Only, it was to see just how sustainable the “living from one bag” approach was in the medium term. Almost anyone who travels for work has done an overnighter with just one bag (or perhaps more realistically, one bag and a laptop case), but sustaining that approach over a longer period requires a more focused approach. While it’s unlikely anyone would directly replicate this particular challenge, these are all issues you should think about if you’re packing light for any kind of trip.
Hand Luggage Only: The Big Lessons Learned

10 Brand New Wolfram Alpha Easter Eggs

Less than two weeks ago, we brought to your attention 10 unique and fun easter eggs within Wolfram Alpha, the new computational knowledge engine that calculates answers based on your queries. You the readers though did your own sleuthing and found ten even better Wolfram easter eggs.
10 Brand New Wolfram Alpha Easter Eggs

The Top 12 Social Media Stories This Week

From Google Wave to Susan Boyle, social media has been in full swing this week. Both Google and Microsoft decided to launch new products, while the social media starlet Boyle sang her heart out on the finale of Britain’s Got Talent. There has been no shortage of social media buzz.
The Top 12 Social Media Stories This Week

Top 10 Magnet Hacks

They were the coolest part of elementary school science, and they're still one of the neatest way to stick things together and stir up a little homespun magic. Check out our 10 favorite ways bloggers, Lifehacker readers, and other creative types use mother nature to make life better.
Top 10 Magnet Hacks

Blackstump Australia Issue 17 - June 1, 2009

The latest issue of new family friendly sites listed on The Black Stump.
Blackstump Australia Issue 17 - June 1, 2009

Straight from Google: What You Need to Know

Matt Cutts just gave a talk at WordCamp San Francisco 2009. There will be a video up soon, but if you want to browse the slides in the mean time, here they are.
Straight from Google: What You Need to Know

How to Help an Elderly Person to Drive Less

Just as getting one's driver's license is often viewed as a ticket to freedom or independence, losing the ability to drive can be a real loss of independence. It's best to work with the person to preserve as much independence as possible. If somebody's driving is too unsafe, it may fall to a family member or friend to help get them out of the car entirely.
How to Help an Elderly Person to Drive Less

Decide to Be Happier NOW, Not Someday

Alex Fayle has a great blog, Someday Syndrome. There, he writes about the importance of not waiting until “someday” to pursue your dreams or make important changes, but to put these ideas into action now.
Decide to Be Happier NOW, Not Someday

Bargain Shopping 101

Sounds simple, doesn't it? Just look for a deal and make it your mission to come home with the item. It doesn't take long after making the switch from shopaholic to savvy spender to realize there is WAY more to it than that. How much to you buy at one time? How do you balance tying up your liquid cash on the front end to snag a deal with maintaining your monthly savings goals? How much is too much? Where will you store everything? How do you track your rebates and organize your coupons?
Bargain Shopping 101

Windows Operating System Tweaker PowerPack

PowerPack 2009 is a very sophisticated Windows operating system tweaker and information tool that offers that many options that it might intimidate inexperienced users.
Windows Operating System Tweaker PowerPack

Map of the Internet by TLD

Created by the team at Bytelevel, the map illustrates the 245 country codes, each two-digit code is aligned over the country it represents and is color coded with the legend below for quick and easy reference.
Map of the Internet by TLD

Top 10 Social Media Stories You Missed this Weekend

Short list of the top social media stories from the weekend. Whether you want to learn more about Microsoft’s latest challenge to Google, discover how to create a killer Twitter background, or enjoy the top YouTube memes of all time, we have you covered. Here are the top 10 social media stories you missed.
Top 10 Social Media Stories You Missed this Weekend

The 12 Essential Social Media Stories This Week

From the launch of the Twitter T-shirt store to the finale of American Idol, the social media sphere was buzzing with activity this week.
The 12 Essential Social Media Stories This Week

Smart Defrag Free Disk Defragmenter

What’s the primary cause of slow/unstable PC performance? It’s disk fragmentation. Smart Defrag helps defragment your hard drives more efficiently than any other product on the market –– free or not.
Smart Defrag Free Disk Defragmenter

The Pope gets online

The new "Pope to You" website gives visitors a chance to hear from the pontiff directly and connect with him on social networks.
The Pope gets online

YouTube Comments Full of Links to Malware

It's official: Not only are YouTube comments generally worthless, but they're also the target of malware authors trying to make a quick buck from fake anti-virus software.
YouTube Comments Full of Links to Malware

How to Treat a Bee Sting

Ouch! Did you just get stung by a bee? It can hurt, but there are some ways to reduce the symptoms. This article will show you how to provide first aid for a bee sting, followed by a list of remedies and some notes on their effectiveness.
How to Treat a Bee Sting

How to Nail an Interview: 20 Job Interview Tips

What is it that certain people say or do during a job interview that makes them stand out? Why do some people struggle to find work, while others land a job in no time?
How to Nail an Interview: 20 Job Interview Tips

Seven Tips for Making Good Conversation with a Stranger

While it might be fairly easy to avoid topics that are likely to bore someone, it's much harder to figure out what to say if you want to be interesting. Making polite conversation can be tough.
Seven Tips for Making Good Conversation with a Stranger

Living a Life of Weisure?

Do you find that you only plan vacations to places that have high-speed internet so you can check your email and make sure things at work are running smoothly? Is your cell phone or Blackberry always at your side while you’re spending so-called “quality time” with your spouse or kids? Do you make sure to include your laptop along with your bathing suit and sunglasses when you pack for trip? And, finally, do you go to these lengths even when you don’t have to?
Living a Life of Weisure?

Doctor saves boy's life with power drill

A country doctor is being hailed as a life-saver after using a power drill to bore into a 12-year-old boy's skull.
Doctor saves boy's life with power drill

The YouTube Generation: Online Video Usage Up 53 Percent in ‘09

Nielsen released some interesting numbers today that show that Web and mobile video watching are experiencing skyrocketing growth. The bottom line: we seem to just love our YouTube and Hulu videos.
The YouTube Generation: Online Video Usage Up 53 Percent in ‘09

55 Ways to Get More Energy

If you’re tired all the time, a change in what you eat (diet) or what you do all day (activity pattern) may be all you need to turn things around 180°. You won’t be able to do everything on this list all the time — you’d tire yourself out trying to get more energy — but do try them all to see which ones work for you and your schedule. Add a few of these tips to your regular routine. Or mix them up to keep things interesting.
55 Ways to Get More Energy

Australia tests anti-speed devices in response to auto deaths

Over 40,000 people are killed on U.S. roads and about 2,000 on Australian roads each year. The Australian government has recognized its own country’s problem of ignoring driving laws and it is doing something proactive about it. Maybe the United States will follow along?
Australia tests anti-speed devices in response to auto deaths

Ten sports stars and their bizarre pre-game rituals

A number of sports stars have confessed to the odd habits that help them stay focused. Here are 10 famous examples compiled by psychiatrist Thomas Newmark of Cooper University Hospital in Camden, New Jersey, and New Scientist staff.
Ten sports stars and their bizarre pre-game rituals

Even to Save Cash, Don’t Try This Stuff at Home

Saving money never cost quite so much.
Even to Save Cash, Don’t Try This Stuff at Home

Life’s Cruel Truth: You Get More of What You Already Have

One of my happiness-project resolutions is to Meditate on koans. In Buddhist tradition, a Zen koan (rhymes with Ken Cohen) is a question or a statement that can’t be understood logically. Monks meditate on koans as a way to abandon dependence on reason in their pursuit of enlightenment. The most famous koan is probably: “Two hands clap and there is a sound. What is the sound of one hand?”
Life’s Cruel Truth: You Get More of What You Already Have

How to Save Money on Food: Great Tips from Three Years of Get Rich Slowly

Scoured three years of the GRS archives to find the best stories about saving money on food. First up is this survey: How much do you spend on food? There’s no info in the article itself, but there are over 180 comments that reveal families have radically different budgets for food. Some people are able to feed a family of six on $400 a month. But some single folks spend $400 a month just on themselves.
How to Save Money on Food: Great Tips from Three Years of Get Rich Slowly

10 Even Better Wolfram Alpha Easter Eggs

Earlier today, we brought you 10 of our favorite Wolfram Alpha easter eggs. The much-discussed computational engine seems to have a sense of humor and a flair for the dramatic, and while we thought we found most of them, Mashable readers did some investigating of their own.
10 Even Better Wolfram Alpha Easter Eggs

Top 10 Wolfram Alpha Easter Eggs

If you haven’t heard about it yet, the new computational search engine Wolfram Alpha launched this week to much fanfare and attention. The service can calculate integrals, tell you the flying time between San Francisco and London, or even the (lack of) nutritional content of your M&M’s.
Top 10 Wolfram Alpha Easter Eggs

First Look At Wolfram Alpha’s Impressive (and Fun) Knowledge Computation

How many football fields would fit between the Earth and the sun? What’s the likelihood of getting 2 heads in 10 coin flips? One search engine calculates all that on the fly and more.
First Look At Wolfram Alpha’s Impressive (and Fun) Knowledge Computation

The 11 Essential Social Media Stories This Week

This week in social media has seen everything from Twitter revolts to Facebook scams. Twitter made big news with a change to its @replies system, Saturday Night Live created another classic clip and we featured a particularly trippy YouTube mashup.
The 11 Essential Social Media Stories This Week

Blackstump Australia Issue 16 - May 18, 2009

The latest issue of new family friendly sites listed on The Black Stump.
Family Friendly sites listed on Blackstump Australia Issue 16 - May 18, 2009

Free Video Cutter Cuts and Splits Your Videos

Windows only: If you've ever needed to extract a small section of a much longer video to share with friends or family, Free Video Cutter 1.1 is a dead-simple solution.
Free Video Cutter Cuts and Splits Your Videos

40 Most Useful Travel Websites That Can Save You a Fortune

Traveling doesn't have to break the bank (in fact, you can travel for free), and there are plenty of places that'll help you find the best vacation for your budget. Get discounts and the insider scoop with these great resources. Don't forget to ask for free travel upgrades.
40 Most Useful Travel Websites That Can Save You a Fortune

Lunch Fail

Pass!
Lunch Fail

Device Remover is an Absurdly Powerful Device Manager

Windows only: Standing next to Device Remover, the built-in Windows device manager looks like a 90 pound weakling next to the Hulk—it's just that powerful.
Device Remover is an Absurdly Powerful Device Manager

Some Thoughts on Haggling

A very kind reader recently sent me a link to a fascinating article at Salon.com entitled How I Learned to Haggle. The article outlines a woman’s experience with haggling, culminating with the author actually requesting a discount at a dollar store.
Some Thoughts on Haggling

Spy-junk

Dark Roasted Blend's roundup of civilian-accessible spy gizmos from the hollow coins to the pens that turn into deadly! stabby! knives!
Spy-junk

Sealing the Deal: What You Need to Know Before Going under the Knife

Every operation starts with a cut and ends when the incision is closed. And though the closing act that follows a complicated surgery may seem almost incidental, a surgeon's choice of needles, sutures or adhesives to do the job plays a big part in how well and how quickly the patient heals.
Sealing the Deal: What You Need to Know Before Going under the Knife

You've heard of Sudoku. But what about Sudokill?

Sukokill is a two-person game in which players try to force each other to violate the Sudoku rules.
You've heard of Sudoku. But what about Sudokill?

Dell launches shopping site for women

Called "Della," Dell's new female-oriented website features attractive models, cute computers, and nonthreatening tech tips.
Dell launches shopping site for women

Google slices and dices Australian searches

Google has added a wide range of new search capabilities to its Australian search engine, which enables users downunder to slice and dice results in ways previously not possible. At least some of the new features were developed in Google's Australian office.
Google slices and dices Australian searches

Test Your Internet Speed With Down Tester

It is sometimes advisable to test the Internet speed either to test if the advertised speeds that the IPS lured you in with are reachable or to download speeds from various parts of the world.
Test Your Internet Speed With Down Tester

Screenshots of Google Squared

One of the most interesting announcements at today’s Google Searchology event was Google Squared, which Google says will be appearing in their Labs later this month (apparently at www.google.com/squared).
Screenshots of Google Squared

Tweet Street: 7 Extraordinary Twitter Uses in the Home

Chances are that your tweets aren’t as colorful as these seven extraordinary ways people are using Twitter in their homes.
7 Extraordinary Twitter Uses in the Home

When to buy new car tyres based on tyre age

Some automobile and tyre manufactures say unused tyres six years or older should not be put into service.
When to buy new car tyres based on tyre age

Defraggler 1.10.143

From Piriform, the company that brought you CCleaner and Recuva... they now bring you a file defragmentation tool... Defraggler! It differs from other defrag tools on the market, by enabling you to quickly and simply defrag the files you want to, without having to process the whole drive. Simply run it, select the file and defragment in seconds. No more struggling with the Windows defragmentation tool!
Defraggler 1.10.143

Adobe Photoshop Speedup

Adobe Photoshop, among with other products created by Adobe including the notorious Adobe Reader, are known to start slowly. This is one of the main reasons why computer users install and use alternative products which might not offer the full feature set but make up for that in speed and performance. The price of the products might play a role as well. Not everyone can or wants to change the product on the other hand. That’s where a product like Adobe Photoshop Speedup comes in handy.
Adobe Photoshop Speedup

4 Internet Explorer 8 Annoyances

Internet Explorer 8 is most likely the best web browser that Microsoft has developed in a very long time. It beats its predecessors Internet Explorer 6 and 7 fair and square and comes closer to the other popular web browsers than ever before. While it still lacks behind in comparison against Internet browsers like Safari, Mozilla Firefox, Opera or Google Chrome it closed the gap to these other web browsers and it is likely that the next Microsoft browser - that will most likely go under the name Internet Explorer 9 - will close it further.
4 Internet Explorer 8 Annoyances

Blackstump Australia Issue 15 - May 11, 2009

The latest issue of new family friendly sites listed on The Black Stump.
Blackstump Australia Issue 15 - May 11, 2009

The 11 Essential Social Media Stories This Week

There was a ton of buzz in social media this week. Twitter’s co-founder squashed acquisition rumors (for now), while Facebook relented under pressure to bring back some old features. Twitterrific 2.0 came storming onto the scene this week, and Seesmic added Facebook to Seesmic Desktop.
The 11 Essential Social Media Stories This Week

Mystery Beatles Lyric

A previously unseen George Harrison lyric, found by author and collector Hunter Davies, goes on display at the British Library today (8 May 2009). Written in early 1967 when George was aged 23 or 24, the untitled song was penned at a time when The Beatles had stopped touring to spend more time in the studio to work on what would arguably become their most famous record, Sgt Pepper's Lonely Hearts Club Band. The Beatles are still one of the world's greatest bands, almost 40 years after their split.
Mystery Beatles Lyric

Windows 7 Upgrade Advisor Beta

Windows 7 Upgrade Advisor scans your PC to see if it's ready for Windows 7, and tells you about any known compatibility issues.
Windows 7 Upgrade Advisor Beta

OpenOffice.org 3.1 Final

OpenOffice.org 3 is the leading open-source office software suite for word processing, spreadsheets, presentations, graphics, databases and more. It is available in many languages and works on all common computers....and it's free! Best of all, OpenOffice.org 3 can be downloaded and used entirely free of any licence fees.
OpenOffice.org 3.1 Final

XP mode? You may need a new PC

It's been my experience that when Microsoft announces something, one always has to read the fine print. That hasn't changed in the 20 years since I bought my first PC.
XP mode? You may need a new PC

How to Jump Start a Car

Whether it's because you left the lights on, the keys in the ignition, or your battery is old, most car owners will be faced with a dead battery sooner or later. Fortunately, if there's another functional car nearby, or if you have a manual transmission, you can jump start the car and be on the move again soon.
How to Jump Start a Car

Vista Shutdown Timer Turns Off Your PC For You

Windows only: Tiny utility Vista Shutdown Timer turns your computer off at the time you specify—and even fades the volume out so you can stay asleep.
Vista Shutdown Timer Turns Off Your PC For You

Avoid toxic people

There is a test to determine whether someone is toxic or nourishing in your relationship with them. Here is the test:
Avoid toxic people

Best Free Data Recovery Tool: Recuva

Discovering your files are missing is never a good time. Last week we asked you to share your favorite data recovery tools, then we rounded up the top five for your perusal. The result?
Best Free Data Recovery Tool: Recuva

Why Would You Choose to Earn Less?

In our modern world, what would possess someone to make this unorthodox choice? Why are there millions of stay-at-home parents out there? Why do people walk away from jobs that pay well and take jobs that pay less? It’s simple. Money isn’t everything.
Why Would You Choose to Earn Less?

Log Into Multiple Accounts At The Same Site With Internet Explorer 8

There was not a way for Internet Explorer 7 users to log into two different Gmail (or Hotmail, Yahoo Mail…) accounts at the same time. Gmail can be replaced with any other cookie based web service that asks the user to login. The problem here is that the cookie storing the information about the login will be overwritten when the second login attempt is made. Internet Explorer 8 changes this behavior by introducing so called session cookies. A user wanting to log into an account a second time (or third, fourth..) could therefor start a new session in Internet Explorer 8 to do so. The new session would write a new cookie that would not interfere with the old cookies that have been written in other sessions.
Log Into Multiple Accounts At The Same Site With Internet Explorer 8

Five quick and simple scams that could happen to you today

Any long-time readers of Wise Bread know that I like to keep up-to-date on hustles, scams and con jobs. They change all the time, and new ones are invented daily. A US version of the UK show The Real Hustle has been trying out some very simple but effective cons on the American public, and they’re getting away with some serious money.
Five quick and simple scams that could happen to you today

Microwaving Beats Boiling For Veggies

Foodies have already learned that microwaves work better than stove tops for steaming vegetables, but now it looks like microwaving vegetables is also healthier, according to a recent study.
Microwaving Beats Boiling For Veggies

How to Make Mother's Day Gifts

Is there a mother in your life who you'd like to treat, but you're strapped for cash? Or maybe you want to do something more personal, more creative for her, rather than just pick something up at the store or the florist. Consider the following ideas, and make her something from the heart.
How to Make Mother's Day Gifts

Three Lessons from Warren Buffett

Lesson One: Everyone Suffered Last Year
Did your portfolio plummet in 2008? Don’t feel bad.
Three Lessons from Warren Buffett

Future-Proof Jobs

Want a job? Investment banks aren’t hiring right now, but if you’re interested in the new wave of energy exploration (underwater or on wind-swept ridges), in digital tech (like game design and 3D sportscasts) or even in building spaceships, we have some leads for you.
Future-Proof Jobs – Geeky, Adventurous Employment Opportunities in Today’s Economy

I Say Draft, You Say Draught, Or, The Oddest English Spellings

It is rather odd that laughter and daughter do not rhyme, while cough and doff do. No one is surprised (after all, have and behave do not rhyme either, while live can rhyme with five or with give; anything is possible in written English), but it is still odd.
I Say Draft, You Say Draught, Or, The Oddest English Spellings

How To Choose And Remember Secure Passwords

From email to online banking, passwords are an essential element of your online life. How can you make sure that they’re secure and memorable?
How To Choose And Remember Secure Passwords

What to expect in Windows 7 RC

The best thing to happen to Microsoft's public relations in years, Windows 7 is more than just spin. The latest official update to what some are calling the largest shareware trial period ever introduces more than mere bug fixes as the operating system upgrades from beta to release candidate. The Windows 7 Release Candidate does contain several major and minor changes, but the overall experience remains largely unchanged.
What to expect in Windows 7 RC

Download Windows 7 Release Candidate

We’re on our way to Windows 7, and the RC is a great opportunity for IT professionals like you to take Windows 7 and begin testing it in your real environment. You get to see what’s coming, and we get to see if our changes and fixes from the Beta testing are working correctly. We want to encourage you to install and actively test the RC code. This will help us ensure Windows 7 is the best possible release, and help you get ready for Windows 7 deployment.
Download Windows 7 Release Candidate

Windows 7 RC Available: Why You Should Upgrade From XP

First released in 2001, Windows XP is now somewhat of a dinosaur, yet because Vista never really caught on, it’s the OS that’s installed on most PCs. Today Microsoft made the Release Candidate (RC) of Windows 7, the newest version of the OS, available to download.
Windows 7 RC Available: Why You Should Upgrade From XP

Lifehacker’s Guide To Upgrading To Windows 7 RC

Whether you want to set up a dual-boot system, you’re ready to migrate all the way to Windows 7 RC from XP, or something in between, here’s what you need to know.
Lifehacker’s Guide To Upgrading To Windows 7 RC

Prepaid Cell Phones Can Save You Money

“And what about prepaid phones?”
Prepaid Cell Phones Can Save You Money

Open Office 3.1

Open Office 3.1 final has been released today. The Open Source alternative to Microsoft Office can be downloaded from download portals like Betanews but not directly from the Open Office homepage as it has not been updated yet to reflect the release of the new version. The new version of Open Office is packed with lots of new and enhanced features but also bug fixes which makes it a recommended download for Open Office users but also anyone else who is interested in installing an inexpensive Microsoft Office competitor.
Open Office 3.1

American Motorcyclists Association Puts 50 Years of American Motorcyclist Online

The American Motorcyclist Association has put a 50+ year archive of its official publication, American Motorcyclist, up online. The archive spans from 1955 to 2007 (over 630 issues!) and is available through a partnership with Google Books.
American Motorcyclists Association Puts 50 Years of American Motorcyclist Online

MinutesPlease Boosts Your Browsing Self-Control

We've all been there: You decide you're going to take a quick work break to visit your favorite site, and before you know it, your 10-minute break has grown to 30. MinutesPlease can help.
MinutesPlease Boosts Your Browsing Self-Control

Google Latitude Lets You Share Your Location With the Masses

For those that value their privacy, this feature isn’t for you. But if you want to share your current physical location with everyone, Google Latitude will now let you do it, with a new widget you can embed on your own website, plus an option to update your Google Talk status with your coordinates as well.
Google Latitude Lets You Share Your Location With the Masses

101 Great Free Sites and Downloads You’ve Probably Never Heard Of

In these tough times, the notion of free becomes more attractive than ever. We've sifted through the Web to find and test 101 of the best free downloads and services out there. We concentrated on utilities and other helpers that can rev up your smartphone's performance, streamline your social networking experience, and tame your PC while bending Windows to your will.
101 Great Free Sites and Downloads You’ve Probably Never Heard Of

5 Google Browser Tips

Google hrome or its Open Source counterpart Chromium - is a relatively new web browser developed by Google. It combines several interesting features and ideas that the other Internet browsers do not offer. This article will examine five interesting features of the Google browser. Some of them can be added to other web browsers - especially Mozilla Firefox
- with add-ons while others are unique at the moment. It usually does not take long however before a popular feature gets implemented in other web browsers as well.
5 Google Browser Tips

Top 10 Battery Hacks, Tips, And Tricks

The gadgets you love don't always love you back—at least when it comes to battery life. But you can get more from your laptop, your iPod, your phone, and other devices with these 10 techniques.
Top 10 Battery Hacks, Tips, And Tricks

Blackstump Australia Issue 14 - May 3, 2009

The latest issue of new family friendly sites listed on The Black Stump.
Blackstump Australia Issue 14 - May 3, 2009

5 Reasons Why You Might Want To Switch From XP To Windows 7

Windows XP is an excellent operating system. The majority of Windows users are still running Windows XP followed by Windows Vista and other variants. XP is leading the field by a ratio of 3:1 according to statistics gathered on w3schools (the operating system gets transmitted usually when a user opens a website). That alone is reason enough to define Windows Vista as a failure; Or Windows XP excellent and Windows Vista not convincing enough for the majority of Windows users to make the switch. Enter Windows 7. Windows 7 will be released this year. The last information suggest a release in October 09. Windows XP users once again have to make the decision if they want to make the switch or stick with their operating system.
5 Reasons Why You Might Want To Switch From XP To Windows 7

Put Citrus Fruit To Work As Household Cleaners

Eating citrus fruit might be on the top of most peoples’ lists, but in a pinch they can serve double duty as cleaning tools and quite a few other household chores.
Put Citrus Fruit To Work As Household Cleaners

Phishing on Facebook: Another Day, Another Scam [WARNING]

As social networks grow, so too grow attempts to rip off their users. Today, another phishing scam is underway on Facebook with a slightly different twist on yesterday’s outbreak.
Phishing on Facebook: Another Day, Another Scam [WARNING]

USB 3.0: What You Need To Know About SuperSpeed USB

USB 1.0 and USB 2.0 are serial bus standards that connect devices to computer systems. Most users probably know USB from devices like external hard drives, keyboards, mice but also mobile devices which are usually connected via USB to computer systems these days. USB 2.0, also known as Hi-Speed USB, was the first upgrade to the USB standard in April 2000 which delivered faster transfer speeds. The transfer speed rose from 12 Mbit / s for USB 1.0 devices to 480 Mbit / s for USB 2.0 devices.
USB 3.0: What You Need To Know About SuperSpeed USB

How to Hold a Snake

Snakes are amazing creatures, but holding one can be a scary experience for some people. Handling them in the same way you handle something furry can frighten a snake (and possibly provoke an attack). While the best way to learn how to handle aggressive, wild, and/or venomous snakes is in person from an experienced professional, this article will help you learn how to pick up and hold a tame snake that's used to people.
How to Hold a Snake

Eight things you didn't know about the internet

t was born 40 years ago, in a lab at the University of California, Los Angeles. Today it wraps the entire planet and features in the daily routine of more than 1.5 billion people. Of course, it's easy to take the internet for granted and forget that it's very much a work in progress. So what forces are shaping it, how big has it grown, and will it ever evolve a mind of its own? To find out, New Scientist posed eight simple questions.
Eight things you didn't know about the internet

Measures of Australia's Progress: Summary Indicators, 2009

n the 10 years to June 2008, GDP grew from $41,000 to $51,000 per person (up 2.2% p.a.). GDP is an important signal about the economy. But what happened to our society, other aspects of the economy and the environment over that period?
Measures of Australia's Progress: Summary Indicators, 2009

Keep Your Grocery Bill Low by Avoiding These Marketing Tricks

Selling eggs and milk isn't the most profitable venture in the world, so supermarkets employ crafty tactics to ensure you buy pricier goods to pad their bottom lines. Avoid overpaying with these simple tips.
Keep Your Grocery Bill Low by Avoiding These Marketing Tricks

Antivirus software Uninstaller AppRemover

Uninstalling antivirus software does not usually cause problems on the computer system. It can however happen that errors occur during the process which can be problematic mainly because of the deep system integration of those software programs.
Antivirus software Uninstaller AppRemover

And the loser is... Internet Explorer

Want to know what the most used Windows applications are, based on a real-time survey of 75,000 software tracked volunteers?
And the loser is... Internet Explorer

Rootkit Detection Software Codewalker

Most computer users remember rootkits from the Sony BMG scandal a few years ago where the company installed rootkit like features on computer systems that were distributed with several of their music CDs. Rootkits are still not considered a huge threat by many. It is more likely to get infected by a computer virus or trojan than by a rootkit. Rootkits have been designed to hide on a computer system to prevent detection by normal security programs and system tools which makes them dangerous.
Rootkit Detection Software Codewalker

Swine Flu Q & A

Maggie Koerth-Baker is a guest blogger on Boing Boing. A freelance science and health journalist, Maggie lives in Minneapolis, brain dumps on Twitter, and writes quite often for mental_floss magazine.
Swine Flu Q & A

4 Applications That You Do Not Know (But Should)

Most computer users are happy with what they got. They use the same set of computer programs day in day out without spending a thought on the thousands of software programs that might be better suited for their needs. The majority are using the same programs. Winamp for music, Firefox for web browsing, Windows Media Player for videos, iTunes for managing the music collection, Gmail for email and so on.
4 Applications That You Do Not Know (But Should)

Swine Flu Fun Facts

You should probably know that I'm a giant infectious disease dork. Viruses are right up there with subways, as far as I am concerned. In fact, the main reason I'm writing this right now and not, say, working on a Ph.D. somewhere, is because nature saw fit to gift me with the math skills of a brain-damaged baboon. Do not pass calculus. Go directly to journalism school.
Swine Flu Fun Facts

Swine Flu Map

A map showing markers for swine flu suspects and confirmations is available on Google Maps.
Swine Flu Map

A Guide to Swine Flu

As swine influenza reaches the U.S., a guide to what you need to know and what happens next. Plus, a look at pandemics past.
A Guide to Swine Flu: In-Depth Reports

How to Memorize Numbers

The average person can hold up to seven numbers in their working memory at any given time. Using the techniques below, however, you can memorize many, many more. The key is to employ mnemonics, which means building associations that are easier to remember than random numbers.
How to Memorize Numbers