The following list contains ten email and notification gadgets for Windows 7 (or Windows Vista). These gadgets display information and notifications about online services such as Facebook and Twitter or software programs like Outlook or Skype on the Windows desktop. Some of them even come with additional functionality like being able to send status updates to the online service or chatting with friends right from the desktop without having to open the software program to do so.
7 Email And Notification Gadgets For Windows 7
Saturday, October 31, 2009
7 Email And Notification Gadgets For Windows 7
Posted by Blacky at 12:15 pm 0 comments
Friday, October 30, 2009
Facebook Warns of New Viruses
Facebook has warned users of two different viruses that users should be aware of. The company writes “Watch out for two new viruses that are spreading across the web. They involve emails made to look like they are from Facebook telling you to take some action on your account. Remember that we will never send you a new password as an attachment.”
Facebook Warns of New Viruses
Posted by Blacky at 7:07 am 0 comments
A Tokyo photographer offers tips on taking pro shots with an iPhone 3GS
Koichi Mitsui is a professional photographer in Japan. When he's not on the job shooting for magazines and ads, he wanders around Tokyo taking pictures with his iPhone 3GS. "The iPhone has a single-focus lens with no zoom, and this simplicity keeps me devoted to only composition and the perfect photo opp," Mitsui says. Keep reading for a selection of his work with tips on how you can take amazing photos with your iPhone, too.
A Tokyo photographer offers tips on taking pro shots with an iPhone 3GS
Posted by Blacky at 7:03 am 0 comments
Wednesday, October 28, 2009
The game of Haggling: How to Get a Great Deal on a Used Car
We bought our car for less than 75% of the asking price, and got an extended warranty at half price. They gave us a good value for our trade-in and a very low interest rate on our loan. Here's how we did it.
The game of Haggling: How to Get a Great Deal on a Used Car
Posted by Blacky at 8:57 pm 0 comments
Consumer Price Index, Australia, Sep 2009
Rose 1.0% in the September quarter 2009, compared with a rise of 0.5% in the June quarter 2009.
Consumer Price Index, Australia, Sep 2009
Posted by Blacky at 7:06 pm 0 comments
Tuesday, October 27, 2009
5 Ways to Get Free Tech Advice Online
It happens almost weekly for some: your computer freezes, your iPhone won’t power down, or your printer is jammed in a big way. The frugalist in you just doesn’t want to make an expensive house call to a tech professional, and most of the time, that’s OK! We’ve got 5 top resources for finding free tech advice online, and a few tips for helping you decide which tips are worthy.
5 Ways to Get Free Tech Advice Online
Posted by Blacky at 9:49 am 1 comments
Get Facebook's "Old" News Feed Back
Are you already feeling some ill will toward Facebook for splitting up your Facebook home page with a split "News Feed" and "Live Feed"? Web PR consultant Steve Rubel posts a sorta-kinda fix.
Get Facebook's "Old" News Feed Back
Posted by Blacky at 9:40 am 0 comments
Sunday, October 25, 2009
Family Friendly sites listed on Blackstump Australia Issue 31 - October 26, 2009
The latest issue of new family friendly sites listed on The Black Stump.
Family Friendly sites listed on Blackstump Australia Issue 31 - October 26, 2009
Posted by Blacky at 8:51 pm 0 comments
Best of Twitter: 20+ Funniest #oneletteroffmovies
It’s hard to ignore the fact that Twitter has been overtaken this weekend with a new meme: #oneletteroffmovies takes the titles of popular flicks and changes just one letter for comedy effect.
Best of Twitter: 20+ Funniest #oneletteroffmovies
Posted by Blacky at 10:25 am 0 comments
Saturday, October 24, 2009
How to Get Laid Off: A Step-By-Step Guide
It seems ironic in this economy, and with a high unemployment rate, that anyone would want advice about getting kicked from a job. But last week a question was posed to me, and it was genuine — “How do I get laid off?”
How to Get Laid Off: A Step-By-Step Guide
Posted by Blacky at 6:16 pm 0 comments
Friday, October 23, 2009
Why I’m Dumping Vista For Windows 7
The sound of cheers swell across the nation: Today, Vista users can finally dump the clunky and sluggish operating system for Windows 7. Praise for the new version has already started coming in from early adopters and reviewers.
Why I’m Dumping Vista For Windows 7
Posted by Blacky at 10:14 pm 0 comments
What's Your Favorite Facebook App of 2009?
It’s been a good year at Facebook. Traffic to the site is up over 200%, from 40 million visitors per month at this time last year, to nearly 125 million now — and that’s just US traffic. Growth is equally impressive for active users Facebook-wide. The company started the year with 150 million active users and they’ve already blown by 300 million. Facebook is easily the most popular social network in the world, and their growth, which doesn’t show any signs of letting up, isn’t just happening in raw user and visitor numbers. Other Facebook initiatives are also growing steadily this year.
What's Your Favorite Facebook App of 2009?
Posted by Blacky at 9:04 pm 0 comments
Sports and Physical Recreation: A Statistical Overview, Australia, 2009
This publication presents an overview of the sports and physical recreation sector. It contains information about the number of people who play sports; the most popular sports played; the number of people attending sporting events; the amount people spend on sports and physical recreation; the economic activity of businesses, clubs and associations involved in providing sports and physical recreation goods and services; the people who work in sports and physical recreation occupations or industries; and the support provided by volunteers.
Sports and Physical Recreation: A Statistical Overview, Australia, 2009
Posted by Blacky at 8:48 pm 0 comments
Lifehacker's Complete Guide to Windows 7
Windows 7 officially launches today, but we've been testing, tweaking, customizing, fixing, and writing about this OS for a year now. We present here a guide to everything we've learned about the OS, from first install to final settings change.
Lifehacker's Complete Guide to Windows 7
Posted by Blacky at 7:11 am 0 comments
10 Really Dumb Old Inventions And Their Modern Counterparts
These things are so damn stupid they became obsolete before even becoming real products.
10 Really Dumb Old Inventions And Their Modern Counterparts
Posted by Blacky at 7:08 am 0 comments
Thursday, October 22, 2009
Eight Excellent Tips for Living that My Parents Gave Me
Have you received any great advice from your parents?
Eight Excellent Tips for Living that My Parents Gave Me
Posted by Blacky at 9:48 pm 0 comments
View Your Google Tasks in Actual Full-Screen
Lifehacker pointed to an iGoogle interface for Google's Tasks to-do manager yesterday that gave users a pretty big view inside their custom home page. Want a totally full-size Tasks view without launching iGoogle? Bookmark the "Canvas view" page.
View Your Google Tasks in Actual Full-Screen
Posted by Blacky at 8:12 am 0 comments
The Oddest and Dumbest English Spellings
Solemn and column are now pronounced without n. In the speech of some people kiln is homophonous with kill, g is always mute in diaphragm, phlegm, and so forth.
The Oddest and Dumbest English Spellings
Posted by Blacky at 7:59 am 0 comments
Wednesday, October 21, 2009
Arts and Culture in Australia: A Statistical Overview, 2009
Participation and Attendance, Time Spent on Cultural Activities, Attendance at Selected Cultural Venues and Events, Characteristics of Attendees, Frequency of Attendance, Reading, Children's Involvement in Cultural Activities, Hobby Activities.
Arts and Culture in Australia: A Statistical Overview, 2009
Posted by Blacky at 9:14 pm 0 comments
Windows 7: To Upgrade or Not to Upgrade
Launch day for Windows 7 is just a few days away. So you might be wondering whether you need to plop down between $120 and $220 for the new OS, buy a new computer, or maintain your status quo.
Windows 7: To Upgrade or Not to Upgrade
Posted by Blacky at 7:01 am 0 comments
Prep Your PC for Windows 7
When Windows 7 drops this Thursday, you can either spend many, many hours watching a progress bar, or you can boot into a clean, speedy system with that new-OS smell. Let's get your system set up for a proper Windows 7 upgrade.
Prep Your PC for Windows 7
Posted by Blacky at 6:59 am 0 comments
Tuesday, October 20, 2009
What You Still Don't Know About You
After however many years of living, do you still have things about yourself, who you are and how your brain works that you don't entirely understand? To celebrate their 150th issue, the email version of The British Psychological Society's Research Digest asked 23 top psychologists to write 150 words on their nagging questions about themselves. From human consciousness, to death and forgiveness, to the dark Dalek-y corners of the mind, the answers are a great read--and an excellent place to jump into asking similar questions about ourselves.
What You Still Don't Know About You
Posted by Blacky at 7:50 am 0 comments
Turn Your PC into a Home Surveillance System
If you're interested in building out a serious, multi-camera home surveillance system complete with wireless cameras, weblog MakeUseOf details how to do so.
Turn Your PC into a Home Surveillance System
Posted by Blacky at 7:38 am 0 comments
Monday, October 19, 2009
Wolfram Alpha Launches $50 iPhone App
On Thursday WolframAlpha launched its developer API, which should allow large and small developers (as well as businesses and educational institutions) to harness the power of the computational knowledge engine to enhance their own applications or products. Today, the WolframAlpha iPhone app (iTunes link) — which was built using the new API — was released to the App Store.
Wolfram Alpha Launches $50 iPhone App
Posted by Blacky at 8:57 pm 0 comments
Sunday, October 18, 2009
Top 5 Twitter Trends to Watch Right Now
We’ve been taking an active analytical look at emerging Twitter related trends on a monthly basis. This month instead of analyzing the state of the Twittersphere on our own, we thought we’d give some of the web’s most experimental, influential, and knowledgeable thought leaders an opportunity to share their perspectives on Twitter trends.
Top 5 Twitter Trends to Watch Right Now
Posted by Blacky at 7:58 am 0 comments
Top 10 Time-Saving, MacGyver Cleaning Tricks
Very few people truly enjoy spending time cleaning, and fewer still love buying expensive cleaners for every little task. Here's a handful of clever, time-saving DIY substitutes for common household cleaning jobs.
Top 10 Time-Saving, MacGyver-Style Cleaning Tricks
Posted by Blacky at 7:55 am 0 comments
Saturday, October 17, 2009
Nominate Walkable Spaces for the Street View Trike
Google's Street View cars can't drive everywhere, and especially through some of the most interesting walkable destinations around. One engineer came up with a solution in the form of a Street View Trike, a bike with an image capture trailer attached. Check out a few of the places captured for virtual tours so far, like Legoland California, and nominate other walkable spots for the trike to capture.
Nominate Walkable Spaces for the Street View Trike
Posted by Blacky at 7:04 am 0 comments
Friday, October 16, 2009
10 Very Common Stupid Tricks That Wreck A Good Life
Many people go through life acting like trained circus animals. They repeat the same antics they observed their neighbors, parents and family performing. What they often don’t realize is that they are wrecking their lives.
10 Very Common Stupid Tricks That Wreck A Good Life
Posted by Blacky at 8:56 pm 0 comments
Top 10 iPhone Apps as Judged by Mashable Readers
Mashable: Each Friday we choose a Lunchtime Poll topic to get a sense of how Mashable readers feel about the chosen topic of the week. Below are the results from last Friday’s poll, where we asked your favorite iPhone apps.
Top 10 iPhone Apps as Judged by Mashable Readers
Posted by Blacky at 5:44 pm 0 comments
Thursday, October 15, 2009
HOW TO: Organize an Event on Facebook
This guide will show you how to successfully run an event on Facebook.
HOW TO: Organize an Event on Facebook
Posted by Blacky at 9:36 pm 0 comments
Seven Tips If You’re Chronically Late
Feeling as though you’re always running twenty minutes behind schedule is an unhappy feeling. Having to rush, forgetting things in your haste, dealing with annoyed people when you arrive…it’s no fun.
Seven Tips If You’re Chronically Late
Posted by Blacky at 9:32 pm 0 comments
Clothes no cover for airport scanner
A human x-ray machine which produces "naked" images of passengers is being tested at an airport in Britain. Here's a video of how it works from Scientific American.
Clothes no cover for airport scanner
Posted by Blacky at 7:53 am 0 comments
Wednesday, October 14, 2009
Want to Remotely Start Your Car? There's an App for That
If you live some place where it gets really cold in the winter — you might already be familiar with the advantages and convenience of a remote-start car system. Rather than fumbling to open an icy door or waiting a few minutes for the car to start and the heat to come on, you can start the car using a keyremote and even turn the heat on, so that by the time you get to the car, it’s on and warm.
Want to Remotely Start Your Car? There's an App for That
Posted by Blacky at 7:28 am 0 comments
The Forgetful Mind
Whenever I have a stray thought that might be useful at all to remember later, I jot it down in a “thought notebook” and then review it later, usually a couple of reviews a day. Figuring this out has truly been world-changing to me. It’s helped me to retain good ideas, remember to do certain things, and record data that I’ll need later on (like addresses and phone numbers and such).
The Forgetful Mind
Posted by Blacky at 7:07 am 0 comments
The Web’s Inventor Regrets One Small Thing
Any conversation with Tim Berners-Lee, the creator of the Web’s bedrock software standards, tends to be fast-paced and nonlinear. A historical question then. If he were do it over again today, would he do anything differently? Any regrets?
The Web’s Inventor Regrets One Small Thing
Posted by Blacky at 6:53 am 1 comments
The 2009 Nobel Prizes
Explore the advances that earned this year's crop of Nobelists one of the world's most famous prizes--and in some cases, read about the prizewinning discoveries as chronicled by the researchers themselves in Scientific American.
The 2009 Nobel Prizes: In-Depth Reports
Posted by Blacky at 6:39 am 0 comments
Tuesday, October 13, 2009
A cure for jet lag?
A pill that cures jet lag is a step closer today, after scientists discovered how signals from the brain control our biological clocks.
A cure for jet lag?
Posted by Blacky at 7:56 am 0 comments
Sunday, October 11, 2009
20 Fantastic Free iPhone Apps for Parents
It’s hard to believe that a little device that’s the size of your hand can actually help parents become more organized, time-efficient, knowledgeable, even relaxed. However, that’s the beauty of an iPhone. The key, though, is to find the right apps to get you there, and with so many choices (more than 75,000), it takes time and effort to find good ones.
20 Fantastic Free iPhone Apps for Parents
Posted by Blacky at 7:35 am 0 comments
Top 10 Reminder Tools for Forgetful Minds
Tweak your workflow and inboxes all you want, but your mental memory might always be the weakest link in your day-to-day life. These 10 tools take some of the workload off your brain, and prevent a few forehead slaps.
Top 10 Reminder Tools for Forgetful Minds
Posted by Blacky at 7:32 am 0 comments
Saturday, October 10, 2009
Family Friendly sites listed on Blackstump Australia Issue 30 - October 11, 2009
The latest issue of new family friendly sites listed on The Black Stump.
Family Friendly sites listed on Blackstump Australia Issue 30 - October 11, 2009
Posted by Blacky at 9:48 pm 0 comments
10 Ways To Conquer Fear of Public Speaking.
The most common phobia people have is the “Fear of public speaking”. Some people dread public speaking even more than death. Most of us live with this fear throughout our lives. Being an underrated skill we fail to get proper guidance to overcome our stage fright. As schools and colleges do not provide any training on public speaking, most of us lack the confidence to speak in public when we reach adulthood.
10 Ways To Conquer Fear of Public Speaking.
Posted by Blacky at 9:29 pm 0 comments
Friday, October 09, 2009
Ping: Free iPhone-to-iPhone Text Messaging
Ping! is simplified iPhone-to-iPhone messaging with push notifications (also works with iPod Touch). It uses a unique Ping! ID, and works similar to Blackberry Messenger so that messages can extend to friends anywhere in the world without text messaging costs.
Ping: Free iPhone-to-iPhone Text Messaging
Posted by Blacky at 9:09 pm 0 comments
Leaked Hotmail Password Data Analysis
Remember back then when AOL decided to provide downloads of an anonymized snapshot of their search engine logs? One of the first things that Internet
Marketers did was to analyze the data to see what users where looking for. Groups focused on privacy would analyse the data to see if it was possible to identify single users from the data that was offered by AOL.
Leaked Hotmail Password Data Analysis
Posted by Blacky at 8:11 pm 0 comments
A Doctor's Advice On How To Read Health News (And Know Whether It's Full of Crap) - Boing Boing
Biased and badly done are two very different things. I don't have data on this, but I think it's fair to say that, when the main-stream media gets a health story wrong, it usually isn't trying to be intentionally wack. Trouble is, whatever the intent, it leaves you--the reader--in the same place. Conflused.
A Doctor's Advice On How To Read Health News (And Know Whether It's Full of Crap) - Boing Boing
Posted by Blacky at 7:12 am 0 comments
8 Awesome Mashups Made Possible by APIs
Thanks to APIs, new programs can be built up that take advantage of one or more services in ways the original creators might not have intended or even imagined. That allows the creativity and ingenuity of the developer community at large to shine by creating highly useful new services without requiring complicated licensing protocols and fees or even specific partnerships between the companies.
8 Awesome Mashups Made Possible by APIs
Posted by Blacky at 7:11 am 0 comments
Watch NASA’s Exploding Moon Rocket Live on NASA TV
Remember the LCROSS project, the one in which NASA plans to fire a huge exploding rocket into the moon? The goal is to eject debris from the surface of one of moon’s craters and discovering whether there’s frozen water there.
Watch NASA’s Exploding Moon Rocket Live on NASA TV
Posted by Blacky at 7:09 am 0 comments
Go Straight to Your Unread Gmail Messages with a Shortcut
You probably already know how to find unread messages in Gmail (just search is:unread in:inbox), but if you want quick, bookmarkable access to only those unread messages in your inbox, CNET has a simple suggestion.
Go Straight to Your Unread Gmail Messages with a Shortcut
Posted by Blacky at 7:06 am 0 comments
Thursday, October 08, 2009
Make Your Battery Last Longer
Over on TheAppleBlog, Liam posted “14 Ways to Be Kind to Your Battery,” a list of simple measures you can take to conserve battery power if you’re away from an outlet. Check out Liam’s post for the full list of tips and more detail. These tips aren’t only useful for Apple hardware; most of them would work equally well on any make of laptop or netbook.
Make Your Battery Last Longer
Posted by Blacky at 8:27 am 0 comments
Phishing Protection Tips
It is time to update the phishing protection article that we published some time ago (see Phishing explained) with the recent news that thousands of Hotmail users (and apparently Gmail users as well) fell pray to yet another phishing scam. What is phishing? Phishing, which stands for password fishing, is a popular technique to get collect data from users without their knowledge. This data is usually sensitive in nature, like credit card information or usernames and passwords. The attackers need to get a user on a specifically prepared website first which often is looks exactly like the real website the user wants to visit.
Phishing Protection Tips
Posted by Blacky at 12:11 am 0 comments
Most Common Hotmail Password Revealed!
A researcher who examined 10,000 Hotmail, MSN and Live.com passwords that were recently exposed online has published an analysis of the list and found that “123456″ was the most commonly used password, appearing 64 times.
Most Common Hotmail Password Revealed!
Posted by Blacky at 12:05 am 0 comments
Wednesday, October 07, 2009
Price Comparison With Invisible Hand For Firefox
Price comparison is one of the essentials things that Internet users should do before buying a product on the Internet. It does not matter if they do it manually by visiting several Internet shops that carry the product or use one of the price comparison services. Users can save lots of money when comparing prices before buying a product.
Price Comparison With Invisible Hand For Firefox
Posted by Blacky at 7:26 am 0 comments
Phishing Attack! Gmail, Yahoo Mail Join Hotmail; Passwords Exposed
Google’s Gmail and Yahoo’s Mail were also targeted by a large-scale phishing attack, perhaps the same one that harvested at least 10,000 passwords from Microsoft’s Windows Live Hotmail, according to a report by the BBC.
Phishing Attack! Gmail, Yahoo Mail Join Hotmail; Passwords Exposed
Posted by Blacky at 7:24 am 0 comments
Reviews of 8 Free Twitter Clients
All of the clients are free to download and use. The first link takes you to a PC World Slideshow with a screenshot and brief overview. The second link labeled “Review” takes you to a complete product review from PC World’s sister publication, Computerworld.
Reviews of 8 Free Twitter Clients
Posted by Blacky at 7:23 am 1 comments
How to Stop Buying Clothes You Never Wear
These tips are applicable to women and men, whether you’re a high-power attorney or a stay-at-home parent.
How to Stop Buying Clothes You Never Wear
Posted by Blacky at 7:22 am 0 comments
Illusions: What's in a face?
Our brains are exquisitely tuned to perceive, recognize and remember faces. We can easily find a friend’s face among dozens or hundreds of unfamiliar faces in a busy street. We look at each other’s facial expressions for signs of appreciation and disapproval, love and contempt.
Illusions: What's in a face?
Posted by Blacky at 7:20 am 0 comments
Tuesday, October 06, 2009
PhotoSketch: Photoshop + Image Recognition = Awesome
This technology is just mind-boggling. PhotoSketch may be the coolest program we’ve seen or written about since the invisible speakers.
PhotoSketch: Photoshop + Image Recognition = Awesome
Posted by Blacky at 11:13 pm 0 comments
5 Ways Self Storage Units Are More Sad Museums Than Savvy Solutions.
Although self storage (like easy credit), can be beneficial to a percentage of the population, it's a pact with Satan for many folks who don't have an iron fist over their finances or excellent time management skills. Quite simply, it's bad on several fronts.
5 Ways Self Storage Units Are More Sad Museums Than Savvy Solutions.
Posted by Blacky at 2:30 pm 0 comments
Hotmail Phishing Attack: Time To Change Passwords
Microsoft has recently confirmed that thousands of Windows Live Hotmail customer’s credentials were exposed on a third party website. According to Neowin the account information were posted by an anonymous user at the pastebin website. The list that was posted contained over 10.000 account details of accounts starting with the letters A and B which suggests that additional lists might be in the hands of the attackers. Initial investigations suggest that only accounts used to access Windows Live Hotmail were affected (which includes email accounts ending with hotmail.com, msn.com or live.com.
Hotmail Phishing Attack: Time To Change Passwords
Posted by Blacky at 12:52 pm 0 comments
Monday, October 05, 2009
Use a Tennis Ball to Buff Out Scuffs and More
If you've got a few tennis balls laying around not earning their keep on the court, you can put them to work around your home. Check out some (more) novel uses for tennis balls.
Use a Tennis Ball to Buff Out Scuffs and More
Posted by Blacky at 8:03 am 0 comments
Saturday, October 03, 2009
Video of Anne Frank Surfaces on YouTube
The only existing film footage of Anne Frank has been uploaded to YouTube by the Anne Frank House. The Amsterdam museum is hoping to bring attention to Anne’s story and diaries and reach a new generation who may be unfamiliar with her story.
Video of Anne Frank Surfaces on YouTube
Posted by Blacky at 12:44 pm 0 comments
Web Resources for Breast Cancer Awareness Month
October is Breast Cancer Awareness Month.
Web Resources for Breast Cancer Awareness Month
Posted by Blacky at 12:34 pm 0 comments
Friday, October 02, 2009
Best of the Ig Nobel prizes 2009
Why don't pregnant women topple over? Do cows notice kindness? Does cracking your knuckles bring on arthritis? And is there more than one use for a bra? These questions and more inspired the research rewarded at the Ig Nobels, which were handed out on Thursday at Harvard University in a ceremony organised by the Annals of Improbable Research.
Best of the Ig Nobel prizes 2009
Posted by Blacky at 10:10 pm 0 comments
Can't remember last time you had a good night's sleep?
A U.S. study finds that not getting enough sleep each night could play a role in the development of dementia, including Alzheimer’s disease. The researchers suggest that sleeplessness should be evaluated when treating Alzheimer’s.
Can't remember last time you had a good night's sleep?
Posted by Blacky at 7:11 am 0 comments
Thursday, October 01, 2009
The Official Appreciation Page for the Best of the Wikipedia Rejects
It's been a couple of years since I checked on Clifford Pickover's The Wikipedia Knowledge Dump, a blog about deleted (or marked for deletion) Wikipedia articles. I forgot how much fun it is!
The Official Appreciation Page for the Best of the Wikipedia Rejects
Posted by Blacky at 7:34 am 0 comments
Aluminum versus aluminium and more
This pair is another famous example of the difference between American and British English, second perhaps only to fall ~ autumn, truck ~ lorry, and sidewalk ~ pavement. Sir Humphrey Davy called his invention (1812) aluminum, but in England i was later added to it on the analogy of chemical substances like sodium. American English preserves the earliest form.
Aluminum versus aluminium and more
Posted by Blacky at 7:32 am 0 comments
Google’s Nifty Document Viewer
Sometimes the simplest things are the most useful, you know? Google has announced a handy dandy Docs viewer, available at http://docs.google.com/viewer. This viewer allows you to generate links to view PDFs, Powerpoints, and TIFF documents from the comfort of your own browser.
Google’s Nifty Document Viewer
Posted by Blacky at 7:25 am 0 comments
Eighteen Tips that Aren't, It Turns Out, From a Churchyard.
I always thought Desiderata was an inscription in an old churchyard, but it was actually written by Max Ehrmann in 1927. This bit of information detracts from its mystique somewhat, but it's still an interesting list.
Eighteen Tips that Aren't, It Turns Out, From a Churchyard.
Posted by Blacky at 7:22 am 0 comments
Facial recognition face-off: Three tools compared
Last week's Picasa software update from Google brought with it a neat trick--facial recognition. But it wasn't the first free consumer photo-editing software to find faces. In January, Apple unveiled the latest version of iLife, which included an updated version of iPhoto that could detect and recognize faces in your photos. And this time last year, Microsoft released an updated version of its Windows Live Photo Gallery desktop software that could find faces inside of photos, though it couldn't (and still can't) recognize who's in them.
Facial recognition face-off: Three tools compared
Posted by Blacky at 7:13 am 0 comments
Wednesday, September 30, 2009
Family Friendly sites listed on Blackstump Australia Issue 29 - October 1, 2009
The latest issue of new family friendly sites listed on The Black Stump.
Blackstump Australia Issue 29 - October 1, 2009
Posted by Blacky at 6:17 pm 0 comments
Monday, September 28, 2009
What Happens To Your Luggage Once It’s Checked In?
Travelling by air without checked luggage is often a sensible goal, but sometimes you have no choice but to stow your bags in the hold. What happens to them once you’ve handed them over to a hassled check-in clerk?
What Happens To Your Luggage Once It’s Checked In?
Posted by Blacky at 5:58 pm 0 comments
Saturday, September 26, 2009
Lamest. Foodstuff Name. Ever.
They could have taken all sorts of inspiration for naming the “new” vegemite. They settled on a naming convention cornered by Apple. Lame. Seriously lame.
Lamest. Foodstuff Name. Ever.
Posted by Blacky at 9:44 pm 0 comments
Best Of The Best: Tools And Apps, Third Quarter 2009
From Lifehacker Australia. The third quarter of 2009 was filled with all sorts of useful communication tools, time saving applications and software to help you get things done. Here’s a look back at the winners in each of the categories.
Best Of The Best: Tools And Apps, Third Quarter 2009
Posted by Blacky at 10:54 am 0 comments
Examine Hand Gestures and Smiles to Detect Lying
Some people are better liars than others. The next time you want to gauge whether someone's pulling your leg, try searching for clues based on their hand gestures and smile. It goes without saying that the following suggestions are not hard-and-fast rules, but more potential tip offs that someone may be fibbing.
Examine Hand Gestures and Smiles to Detect Lying
Posted by Blacky at 10:49 am 0 comments
Banned Books Week
Held during the last week of September, Banned Books Week highlights the benefits of free and open access to information while drawing attention to the harms of censorship by spotlighting actual or attempted bannings of books.
Banned Books Week
Posted by Blacky at 10:43 am 0 comments
Reclaiming the night sky: award-winning astrophotography
Iranian photographer Babak Tafreshi has won the 2009 Lennart Nilsson scientific photography prize. According to the award panel, his images "reclaim a night sky that most modern people have lost" – see some of them here.
Reclaiming the night sky: award-winning astrophotography
Posted by Blacky at 10:39 am 0 comments
Tip of the week: How to best email your digital photos
Everyone at one time or another has received an email with a very large image file attached. It can be very annoying. I've even deleted some emails that were just way too big. Here's how to do away with the problem by reducing the size of your photos before you email them.
Tip of the week: How to best email your digital photos
Posted by Blacky at 10:37 am 0 comments
How to Tell if You're Watching TV in HD
High Definition Television (HDTV) is a form of Digital Television capable of "near photo" quality images on an HDTV screen. Unsure if you're seeing an HDTV signal or not? Read on for help.How to Tell if You're Watching TV in HD
Posted by Blacky at 10:36 am 0 comments
Knowing When to Walk Away: Financial Planning for an Unknown Ending
People somehow have a built upon a notion that they must amass a certain amount of money, no matter how long it takes, before they can retire. Yet, what if it took you 40 years of work to reach $1 million, and the very next year you died? Would all your work be for naught? It depends on how much you enjoyed your work, of course, but for the most part, this scenario is not ideal.
Knowing When to Walk Away: Financial Planning for an Unknown Ending
Posted by Blacky at 10:34 am 0 comments
Friday, September 25, 2009
Cheap Passport Pictures
Below are four online passport photo companies, each offering varying levels of service (with corresponding costs).
Cheap Passport Pictures
Posted by Blacky at 5:24 pm 0 comments
The Best Online Tools for Families
It’s easy to feel absolultely overwhelmed when you look for a tool or useful website online. There are hundreds of choices, and sometimes, it feels like they’re all pretty similar. There’s a theory that in this age of information, our range of choices — from toothpaste flavors to online calendars — stress out our bodies and our minds to the point that we’re actually less able to make sound decisions.
The Best Online Tools for Families
Posted by Blacky at 5:09 pm 0 comments
USB Car Adapter Charges Any USB Device On-the-Go
The iLuv Micro USB Car adapter turns your car's cigarette outlet into a universal USB charger, so you don't have to buy specialized car chargers for all of your USB-chargeable gear.
USB Car Adapter Charges Any USB Device On-the-Go
Posted by Blacky at 7:02 am 0 comments
Thursday, September 24, 2009
Australian Social Trends, Sep 2009
The September issue reveals that extra hours, multiple jobs and weekend work are all cutting into Australian family life, while one-quarter of our children are overweight or obese. People may also find it hard to balance employment and care, while Australia's links to China and India continue to grow through migration, trade and education.
Australian Social Trends, Sep 2009
Posted by Blacky at 9:18 pm 0 comments
Six Tips for Coping with the Fact that You've Forgotten Someone's Name
If you’re like me, you sometimes have trouble remembering people’s names, or even how you know them.
Six Tips for Coping with the Fact that You've Forgotten Someone's Name
Posted by Blacky at 8:10 am 0 comments
5 Focus Killers … and How to Beat Them
It doesn’t matter how focused you are, working from your remote office likely entails more than a few distractions. For each of us those distractions will be different (I just had to break my morning’s work to move my goat to a new patch of grass; you may not have to cram this particular commitment into your schedule). And, truth be told, they’re not always unwelcome.
5 Focus Killers … and How to Beat Them
Posted by Blacky at 8:08 am 0 comments
Dust storm chokes Sydney
Sydneysiders are being warned that a huge dust cloud will continue to affect the city through the day, after they woke to an eerie red dawn.
Dust storm chokes Sydney
Posted by Blacky at 8:01 am 0 comments
Amazing video of girl barely missing an out-of-control car
A 6-year-old girl very narrowly misses getting squashed by an out of control car.
Amazing video of girl barely missing an out-of-control car
Posted by Blacky at 7:59 am 0 comments
Wednesday, September 23, 2009
7 ways to fewer wrinkles
Some people are born lucky—but for the rest of us wrinkles are a natural part of aging.
7 ways to fewer wrinkles
Posted by Blacky at 11:29 pm 0 comments
Oxford English Dictionary Update
On 10 September 2009 the New Edition was updated with new materials which fall into three main categories: (a) alphabetical series of revised entries based around significant words from across the alphabet; (b) the sequence of revised entries from red to refulgent; (c) a series of new entries and senses from across the alphabet. The table below shows the ranges which were covered, together with some of the more notable entries within them.
Oxford English Dictionary Update
Posted by Blacky at 11:25 pm 0 comments
Directory Size Calculator
The best way to free up some hard drive space is to sort the files and folders of that hard drive by size. Windows Explorer is able to sort the files by size but not the folders. It is possible to get the folder size of one folder by right-clicking on that folder and selecting properties but that’s not practicable if there are more than a few on that drive.
Directory Size Calculator
Posted by Blacky at 11:22 pm 0 comments
Tuesday, September 22, 2009
Last Words
Last week, reports of executions — one postponed in Ohio, one carried out in Texas — punctuated the news more frequently than usual. These reports prompted me to reflect on an archive of executed prisoners’ last words I found on the Texas Department of Criminal Justice Web site while researching parole terms. The archive’s earliest entry dates from Dec. 7, 1982; the most recent was added after Stephen Moody was executed on Wednesday by lethal injection for murder.
Last Words
Posted by Blacky at 7:00 am 0 comments
Monday, September 21, 2009
Fastest PDF File Viewer
Adobe PDF is not the fastest pdf reader that is available these days even with programs like Adobe Reader Speedup which remove some of the unneeded features. There are quite a few popular alternatives like Foxit PDF Reader which provide a similar functionality but offer faster startup and loading times.
Fastest PDF File Viewer
Posted by Blacky at 7:50 am 0 comments
How to Use a Dash in an English Sentence
Do you use a dash a lot? What about a hyphen? Many people can not tell the difference between them. Some people even think they are the same thing. If you are one of them, check this out and master the dash.
How to Use a Dash in an English Sentence
Posted by Blacky at 7:40 am 0 comments
Sunday, September 20, 2009
Swine flu and a new age of social greetings
The swine flu pandemic has wreaked havoc on traditional greetings worldwide. France’s health ministry has recommended that countrymen avoid “la bise,” and Spain has reportedly recommended halting their “besos”—both are the traditional kisses on the cheeks.
Swine flu and a new age of social greetings
Posted by Blacky at 2:23 pm 0 comments
Saturday, September 19, 2009
How To Hang Artwork Easily & Precisely
Tutorial on how to hang artwork in a grid "easily and precisely".
How To Hang Artwork Easily
Posted by Blacky at 10:23 am 0 comments
The Best Retirement Calculator - Ever
Have you seen the investment calculator on WolframAlpha? It's amazing. With a few simple inputs like portfolio starting value, age, and other values, you can get a huge amount of data crunching power at your finger tips.
The Best Retirement Calculator - Ever
Posted by Blacky at 10:17 am 0 comments
How to Sample Wine Without Looking like a Clown
Here's some more unpretentious wine instruction from Kathryn Borel Jr.
How to Sample Wine Without Looking like a Clown
Posted by Blacky at 10:12 am 0 comments
Moon is coldest known place in the solar system
Poor Pluto. First it gets kicked out of the planet club, now it's not even the coldest place in the solar system. Dark craters near the moon's south pole have snatched that title – which is good news for the prospects of finding water ice on Earth's companion.
Moon is coldest known place in the solar system
Posted by Blacky at 10:10 am 0 comments
Family Friendly sites listed on Blackstump Australia Issue 28 - September 19, 2009
The latest issue of new family friendly sites listed on The Black Stump.
Family Friendly sites listed on Blackstump Australia Issue 28 - September 19, 2009
Posted by Blacky at 12:47 am 0 comments
Beatles remasters: the Metzger review
The definitive review on the recently-released Beatles remasters.
Beatles remasters: the Metzger review
Posted by Blacky at 12:37 am 0 comments
Friday, September 18, 2009
Unclog a Toilet with Dishwasher Detergent
It's not a clever hack any of us want to have to use, but the Art of Manliness blog has a homebrew fix for the next time your restroom trip ends in disaster.
Unclog a Toilet with Dishwasher Detergent
Posted by Blacky at 8:12 am 0 comments