Browser cookies are one of those technical bits of web browsing that almost everyone has some awareness of. They're also probably one of the most misunderstood aspects of browsing.
The Truth About Browser Cookies
Tuesday, February 02, 2010
The Truth About Browser Cookies
Posted by Blacky at 7:05 am 0 comments
Saturday, January 30, 2010
Keep your dishwasher in good working order
You can get cleaner dishes and extend the life of your dishwasher by maintaining the appliance's spray arm(s), filter, and gasket.
Keep your dishwasher in good working order
Posted by Blacky at 10:04 pm 0 comments
Friday, January 29, 2010
Family Friendly sites listed on Blackstump Australia Issue 3/2010 - January 30, 2010
The latest issue of new Family Friendly sites listed on The Black Stump.
Family Friendly sites listed on Blackstump Australia Issue 3/2010 - January 30, 2010
Posted by Blacky at 9:21 pm 0 comments
Thursday, January 28, 2010
What To Do When Your Washing Machine Floods
By the time you realise your washing machine has sprung a leak, it’s probably already pumped out enough water to cause major damage. What should you do next?
What To Do When Your Washing Machine Floods
Posted by Blacky at 9:33 pm 0 comments
Australia's Environment: Issues and Trends, Jan 2010
Presents a broad selection of environmental statistics and information which illustrate topical environmental issues. The subject matter will vary in each issue, as new environmental issues emerge or more current data sources become available. While ABS data forms a core component of the statistical information, data from other government agencies, international organisations, industry, and individual researchers is also included. Value is added to these widely sourced datasets by bringing them together and analysing their import for selected environmental issues.
Australia's Environment: Issues and Trends, Jan 2010
Posted by Blacky at 5:46 pm 0 comments
Recover Corrupt Word Documents
The remaining option is a file recovery software to recover the text. Damaged docx2txt is one of those programs. The recovery application can be downloaded from the developer’s website. The website is offering an online recovery option as well but most users will probably prefer the offline recovery solution especially when privacy is an issue.
Recover Corrupt Word Documents
Posted by Blacky at 7:01 am 1 comments
Better weather forecasting for Australia's east coast lows
Better weather forecasting computer programs are needed to improve on the specifics of each violent storm system occurring in the eastern coast region of Australia, especially as the world’s climate increases in temperature.
Better weather forecasting for Australia's east coast lows
Posted by Blacky at 6:59 am 0 comments
Wednesday, January 27, 2010
Browser Speed Tests: Firefox 3.6, Chrome 4, Opera 10.5
Firefox 3.6 is out, Chrome’s stable version got a big upgrade, and Opera 10.5 is inching toward release. It’s a great time for us to break out the timer, process manager and code tracker for some up-to-date browser speed tests.
Browser Speed Tests: Firefox 3.6, Chrome 4, Opera 10.5
Posted by Blacky at 10:18 pm 0 comments
How to Permanently Erase Data Off a Hard Drive
So you want to make sure that someone can't get their hands on your private files on a hard drive. Here's a trick that will destroy the hard drive! You will need a set of Torx wrenches. the T-9 sized Torx wrench is the one that fits most hard drive screws.
How to Permanently Erase Data Off a Hard Drive
Posted by Blacky at 10:15 pm 0 comments
Human-powered ferris wheel in Nepal
At the Hindu Swasthani Mela festival held in Kathmandu earlier this month, there was a small ferris wheel that appeared to be non-functional. It consisted of four octagonal open-air cages and a simple metal frame. When two kids climbed into one of the octagons, though, a man got up on the other side and started jumping up and down, eventually getting the thing to turn like any other ferris wheel.
Human-powered ferris wheel in Nepal
Posted by Blacky at 8:15 am 0 comments
Science Question from a Toddler: The color of light
Why does a glow-in-the-dark Frisbee glow green? Why does a spark from a light socket look blue? Two different questions, but one intertwined answer.
Science Question from a Toddler: The color of light
Posted by Blacky at 8:12 am 0 comments
Google Reader Lets You Monitor Page Changes Without RSS
It’s not as nifty as a cell phone, or as amazing as street views of businesses all over the world, but to me it is big news — really big news. Google announced yesterday
that Google Reader can now be used to monitor pages for Web changes — whether they have RSS feeds or not.
Google Reader Lets You Monitor Page Changes Without RSS
Posted by Blacky at 8:09 am 0 comments
Sunday, January 24, 2010
50 Banned Books That Everyone Should Read
As long as there have been books, there have been people opposed to what is said in some of those books. Authors who challenge the accepted norms in their literature are often the target of angry people who do not understand or appreciate their literature. The following books are excellent examples of great literature that has become banned or challenged in an attempt to shield the public from what some see as inappropriate.
50 Banned Books That Everyone Should Read
Posted by Blacky at 10:02 pm 0 comments
Numbers Galore: The Internet 2009, A Collection of Stats You’ll Likely Keep All Year
Pingdom, a company that offers services to measure server uptime and performance monitoring along with letting the webmaster (in many cases that the server is down, has done one impressive job compiling a large amount of stats from a variety of sources (they’re provided at the bottom of the post) about the Internet in 2009.
Numbers Galore: The Internet 2009, A Collection of Stats You’ll Likely Keep All Year
Posted by Blacky at 6:46 am 0 comments
Saturday, January 23, 2010
Naked airport scanner catches cellphone, misses bomb components
Check out this German TV clip highlighting the failure of the new, privacy-violating full-nude scanners going in at an airport near you. As Bruce Schneier notes, "The scanner caught a subject's cell phone and Swiss Army knife -- and the microphone he was wearing -- but missed all the components to make a bomb that he hid on his body... Full-body scanners: they're not just a dumb idea, they don't actually work."
Naked airport scanner catches cellphone, misses bomb components
Posted by Blacky at 1:29 pm 0 comments
Friday, January 22, 2010
What is the most popular password?
Following the announcement of an attack at RockYou.com whereby a hacker managed to obtain all the account details of 32M users, the security companies have had fun analyzing the data. It appears that the hacker only shared the actual passwords, not the accompanying account information, but that was probably just to keep the useful stuff to themselves. There was a website featuring all the passwords, but this has now been taken off-line.
What is the most popular password?
Posted by Blacky at 11:03 pm 1 comments
New Online from Fortune: The 100 Best Companies to Work For, 2010
Fortune’s 2010 List is Now Available. Lists Back to 2006 are Also Online.
New Online from Fortune: The 100 Best Companies to Work For, 2010
Posted by Blacky at 7:37 am 0 comments
Thursday, January 21, 2010
Mastering Photoshop: Unknown Tricks and Time-Savers
We all have shortcuts that are essential to our daily workflow. A majority of them are staples such as Copy (Command + C) and Paste (Command + V), but occasionally we stumble upon a shortcut we wish we’d learned years ago. Suddenly, this simple shortcut has streamlined our process and shaved quite a bit of time off our day. Collected here are some lesser known but extremely useful shortcuts. Many of these are not documented in the “Keyboard Shortcuts” menu, and some of them don’t even have equivalent menu options.
Mastering Photoshop: Unknown Tricks and Time-Savers
Posted by Blacky at 9:00 pm 0 comments
Stay Under 7 Megapixels to Avoid Photo Noise and Diffraction
Ross at the Petravoxel blog gets precise, and provides proof, on why going over 7 megapixels in a point-and-shoot makes absolutely no sense.
Stay Under 7 Megapixels to Avoid Photo Noise and Diffraction
Posted by Blacky at 7:27 am 0 comments
"Memorize Now" Helps You Commit Long Passages to Memory
If you find yourself in a position of needing or wanting to commit long passages of text to memory, webapp Memorize Now can help.
"Memorize Now" Helps You Commit Long Passages to Memory
Posted by Blacky at 7:24 am 0 comments
Tuesday, January 19, 2010
Reminder Of Why You Should Never Put Foil In A Microwave
Here’s why your mother always said never to put aluminium foil in the microwave. Can someone buy this Swedish guy a new kitchen, please? And a box o’ wine, too?
Reminder Of Why You Should Never Put Foil In A Microwave
Posted by Blacky at 7:26 am 0 comments
PDFmyURL Generates PDFs from Any Web Address
We've covered online file converters, browser extensions, and psuedo-printers that convert web pages into full PDFs. For a simple, no-software-required solution, PDFmyURL spits out PDF files when you plug in a web address. And, yeah, there's a bookmarklet.
PDFmyURL Generates PDFs from Any Web Address
Posted by Blacky at 7:24 am 0 comments
What Is My Computer Doing
Have you ever asked yourself why the computer’s hard drive is trashing like mad or why everything seemed to come down to a halt without you doing anything on the computer right now? What’s My Computer Doing is a free software program for the Windows operating system that tries to shed light to those questions.
What Is My Computer Doing
Posted by Blacky at 7:16 am 0 comments
Saturday, January 16, 2010
Family Friendly sites listed on Blackstump Australia Issue 2/2010 - January 17, 2010
The latest issue of new Family Friendly sites listed on The Black Stump.
Family Friendly sites listed on Blackstump Australia Issue 2/2010 - January 17, 2010
Posted by Blacky at 11:51 pm 0 comments
The Best Doctor-Recommended Health Websites
The best way to scare yourself silly: Type your symptoms into a search engine and hit Enter. These doctor-approved sites will inform you, not worry you.
The Best Doctor-Recommended Health Websites
Posted by Blacky at 10:49 pm 0 comments
Recent Satellite Imagery of Haiti
Today, two new images have become available via the European Space Agency.
Recent Satellite Imagery of Haiti
Posted by Blacky at 10:45 am 0 comments
Haiti
News roundup, new satellite images, tweets from the ground.
Haiti News Update
Posted by Blacky at 10:38 am 0 comments
Sarcasm Gets Its Own Emoticon
Are you prone to that most glorious form of humor known as sarcasm? Do your e-mail contacts frequently misinterpret your superior wit as outright cruelty? SarcMark has the solution you require.
Sarcasm Gets Its Own Emoticon
Posted by Blacky at 10:00 am 0 comments
Friday, January 15, 2010
SCUM: Haiti Disaster Attracts Hoaxes and Scammers
There’s a word for it: sad. Even in the wake of a disaster the magnitude of the Haiti earthquake, some individuals feel the need to play hoaxes or — even worse — try to scam their way into an actual profit off the tragedy.
SCUM: Haiti Disaster Attracts Hoaxes and Scammers
Posted by Blacky at 8:05 am 0 comments
iPhone App Tells You When You Get Defriended on Facebook
There’s a 99-cent iPhone app in the App Store that will let you know when an old friend, coworker, ex or family member decides they’ve had enough of you on Facebook.
iPhone App Tells You When You Get Defriended on Facebook
Posted by Blacky at 8:04 am 0 comments
Google Wave: What’s It For?
Some of the tasks that Google Wave could be used for.
Google Wave: What’s It For?
Posted by Blacky at 8:03 am 0 comments
Haiti Imagery Now Available for Google Earth, Google Maps
We’ve worked closely with GeoEye throughout the afternoon to make their most recent satellite imagery of Haiti, taken at approximately 10:27am EST today [1/13/2010] , available as a KML overlay for Google Earth. You can download the KML here and open it in Google Earth, or look at it via the browser plug-in below. You can also open the file in Google Maps. As you’ll see, the imagery shows a powerful glimpse into the destruction in Haiti.
Haiti Imagery Now Available for Google Earth, Google Maps
Posted by Blacky at 8:00 am 0 comments
Internet Survival Guide for Traveling Where Privacy Isn't Respected
Two things have really changed the face of independent backpacker travel in the last decade: digital cameras and—even more so—the internet. While some people can afford the luxury of traveling with a laptop or even a netbook, a real backpacker doesn't want to have to carry the extra weight nor the responsibility of carrying expensive equipment that would be difficult to lug around, relatively easy to steal, and expensive to replace.
Internet Survival Guide for Traveling Where Privacy Isn't Respected
Posted by Blacky at 7:58 am 0 comments
Thursday, January 14, 2010
YouTube - Haiti Earthquake
Various videos from YouTube showing the devastating earthquake in Haiti.
YouTube - Haiti Earthquake
Posted by Blacky at 10:26 pm 0 comments
Fourteen Tips for Getting More Sleep -- and Why It Matters
Many researchers argue that not getting enough sleep has broad health consequences, such as raising your risk for cancer, heart disease, diabetes, and even obesity, but in addition to those, it has a profound effect on happiness and energy level. We get accustomed to being sleep-deprived, and although at first, we notice the effect on mood and alertness, before long, we adjust to that state as normal. So even if you insist that you feel fine, if you got more sleep, you might feel a lot better.
Fourteen Tips for Getting More Sleep -- and Why It Matters
Posted by Blacky at 9:36 pm 0 comments
Flip Your Complaints to Get Them Heard
Author and entrepreneur Seth Godin has a handy suggestion for making complaints—to customer support, bosses, or anyone, really—that will actually get heard and acted upon. The secret? Reverse your starting preface, and leave out the word "but."
Flip Your Complaints to Get Them Heard
Posted by Blacky at 7:14 am 0 comments
Haiti Earthquake Relief: 9 Ways to Help Now
Want to help the people of Haiti who lost homes, friends and family members in the 7.0-magnitude earthquake yesterday? Well, there are several places online where you can easily and quickly donate without even leaving your desk.
Haiti Earthquake Relief: 9 Ways to Help Now
Posted by Blacky at 7:11 am 0 comments
Wednesday, January 13, 2010
How to Sleep When You Are Not Tired
You go to bed early, or for a nap, but for whatever reasons, you're not tired or sleepy. There are many things you can do to fall asleep more easily, but this article will focus on a few simple, quick fixes that'll nudge your body into slumber mode when you're already in bed.
How to Sleep When You Are Not Tired
Posted by Blacky at 7:23 pm 0 comments
Turn Your iPhone Into a Security (Spy) Camera
Everyday there are so many new iPhone apps being added into the app-store and I normally don’t like to talk about them as such. Last time we discussed about iPhone apps, we saw 15 cool Augmented Reality apps for iPhone. Today, I will introduce to another cool application which converts your iPhone into a security (or a spy) cam for real!
Turn Your iPhone Into a Security (Spy) Camera
Posted by Blacky at 7:20 pm 0 comments
Triskaidekaphobia
triskaidekaphobia • \triss-kye-dek-uh-FOH-bee-uh\ • noun
: fear of the number 13
Triskaidekaphobia
Posted by Blacky at 7:15 pm 0 comments
“Name” That Trend
One of the most popular Wolfram|Alpha features is the name directory. Whether you’re researching your own name or brainstorming baby names, the Wolfram|Alpha given name directory is a fun tool you can use to compare name popularity and statistics.
“Name” That Trend
Posted by Blacky at 6:57 pm 0 comments
Clean and Maintain Plasma TVs
When you spend a great deal of money on a new Plasma TV in order to have the best quality viewing experience possible, you want to do everything you can to make sure that your TV is properly maintained. Correctly cleaning and maintaining your new Plasma TV will help to ensure that you get years of enjoyment from it.
Clean and Maintain Plasma TVs
Posted by Blacky at 7:59 am 0 comments
Monday, January 11, 2010
Sunday, January 10, 2010
5 Eye Popping 3D YouTube Videos
3D is set to be the next big thing in home cinema this year, as the multitude of three-dimensional television launches at CES have shown. While many of you may have caught a high profile 3D flick in cinemas over the last year with Up, Monsters vs Aliens, and of course, Avatar, it’s another thing to get ready to view 3D content on the small screen.
5 Eye Popping 3D YouTube Videos
Posted by Blacky at 10:39 am 0 comments
Friday, January 08, 2010
Sleep Cycle Analyzes Your Sleep Patterns for a Better Wake-Up
iPhone only: Getting jolted awake by your alarm in the middle of a great dream is a drag. The Sleep Cycle app watches your slumbers and wakes you when you're lightly dozing, instead of right before you win the lottery.
Sleep Cycle Analyzes Your Sleep Patterns for a Better Wake-Up
Posted by Blacky at 6:55 pm 0 comments
How to Deter Graffiti
Being constructive about protecting your business or residential premises from unwanted graffiti is a positive way to help yourself and to reduce the costs of having it removed. If you're in a place that is easily or frequently targeted for graffiti, there are a number of things you can do.
How to Deter Graffiti
Posted by Blacky at 6:29 pm 1 comments
Internet filter - national day of protest on March 6th
There is a growing groundswell of protest against Conroy’s internet filter. This is planned to culminate in a national day of protest on March 6th.
Internet filter - national day of protest on March 6th
Posted by Blacky at 8:04 am 0 comments
Thursday, January 07, 2010
The Ultimate Guide To 2010 Investment Predictions and Outlooks
The Pragmatic Capitalist have compiled many of the very best outlooks from various analysts, gurus, hedge funds and investors. We hope you find the list helpful in mapping your successful 2010.
The Ultimate Guide To 2010 Investment Predictions and Outlooks
Posted by Blacky at 9:52 pm 0 comments
Let's get physical: Nine facts about fitness
DOES an activity have to get you out of breath to count as exercise? Do you really have to do half-an-hour a day? Is pumping iron a good way to keep your heart healthy? These are just some of the dilemmas many of us face when working out the best way to get fit. The good news is scientists do broadly agree on the best ways to get fit, they just haven't been very good at telling us what they've discovered.
Let's get physical: Nine facts about fitness
Posted by Blacky at 5:21 pm 0 comments
Wednesday, January 06, 2010
Revisiting 10 Golden Rules of Social Media
As 2010 opens its doors, I wanted to take another look at my Golden Rules of Social Media, published back in May of 2009, to see if I could consolidate those rules into five actions we can take to work better in — and through — social media in the coming year.
Revisiting 10 Golden Rules of Social Media
Posted by Blacky at 10:51 pm 0 comments
Why hard drive prices might actually go up
After a rough 2009 and a decade of decreasing costs and increasing capacity, prices for hard drives and other forms of mass storage might rise for the first time in recent memory.
Why hard drive prices might actually go up
Posted by Blacky at 10:49 pm 0 comments
Monday, January 04, 2010
9 Essential iPhone Apps for Cat Lovers
Pups aren’t the only furry pals that get love on the iPhone. Our feline friends are well looked after in the App Store, as well, with a wealth of kitty-themed widgets available for download. Narrowing down the best cat-friendly apps can be a challenge, though.
9 Essential iPhone Apps for Cat Lovers
Posted by Blacky at 6:53 am 0 comments
Saturday, January 02, 2010
Watch Sydney’s New Year Fireworks in Full
Every New Year, Sydney, Australia wows crowds with a massive fireworks display. In a smart marketing move, that extravaganza is now available uncut, online, courtesy of Tourism NSW’s Sydney.com.
Watch Sydney’s New Year Fireworks in Full
Posted by Blacky at 7:54 am 0 comments
Twitter's Most Influential Topics of 2009
In 2009, influence emerged as a source of filtering and focus, especially when TwitterTwitterTwitter released its new “lists” feature to empower users to organize and follow custom streams by topic, personality, and themes.
Twitter's Most Influential Topics of 2009
Posted by Blacky at 7:53 am 0 comments
100 Skills Everyone Should Master
In 2008, Esquire published 75 Skills Every Man Should Master and Popular Mechanics published a list of 100 Skills Every Man Should Know. My list was inspired by those, but it was Jason who mentioned that someone should do a list of gender neutral skills; I’ve been working on this on and off since then.
100 Skills Everyone Should Master
Posted by Blacky at 7:52 am 0 comments
Is aviation security mostly for show?
Last week's attempted terror attack on an airplane heading from Amsterdam to Detroit has given rise to a bunch of familiar questions.
Is aviation security mostly for show?
Posted by Blacky at 7:50 am 0 comments
Friday, January 01, 2010
New Year’s Eve Folklore
For most English people, New Year’s Eve is either spent quietly at home, or at a party, which lasts till after midnight to ‘see the New Year in’. Such gatherings differ little from other parties, apart from the ubiquitous singing of ‘Auld Lang Syne’…The only other regular features of the season are the ubiquitous salutations of ‘Happy New Year’ and the tendency to make personal ‘New Year resolutions’.
New Year’s Eve Folklore
Posted by Blacky at 2:40 pm 0 comments
The 1979 Cabinet Records
The year 1979 was the middle year of the second term of the Fraser Government. The Government had a comfortable majority in the House of Representatives and control of the Senate, but the opinion polls were less encouraging. A Morgan Gallup poll held in November 1979 showed the Government parties trailing the Australian Labor Party (ALP) by 48 per cent to 43, and Malcolm Fraser’s approval rating at only 35 per cent (behind Opposition Leader Bill Hayden at 43 per cent).
The 1979 Cabinet Records
Posted by Blacky at 12:52 am 0 comments
Thursday, December 31, 2009
Just Released: 35th Annual LSSU List of Banished Words
Word “czars” at Lake Superior State University “unfriended” 15 words and phrases and declared them “shovel-ready” for inclusion on the university’s 35th annual List of Words Banished from the Queen’s English for Mis-use, Over-use and General Uselessness.
Just Released: 35th Annual LSSU List of Banished Words
Posted by Blacky at 11:05 pm 0 comments
Family Friendly sites listed on Blackstump Australia Issue 1/2010 - January 1, 2010
The latest issue of new Family Friendly sites listed on The Black Stump.
Family Friendly sites listed on Blackstump Australia Issue 1/2010 - January 1, 2010
Posted by Blacky at 8:19 pm 0 comments
More Tips about Making and Keeping New Year's Resolutions Than You Could Want
More tips about making and keeping resolutions than you could want.
More Tips about Making and Keeping New Year's Resolutions Than You Could Want
Posted by Blacky at 5:32 pm 0 comments
Why do some people mispronounce fungi
Monthly gleanings from OUP.
Why do some people mispronounce fungi
Posted by Blacky at 5:18 pm 0 comments
Wednesday, December 30, 2009
10 Healthy Things to Eat and Drink in the New Year
Here's a roundup of the most healthy (and tasty) foods to start eating (or eat more of) in the new year.
10 Healthy Things to Eat and Drink in the New Year
Posted by Blacky at 9:24 pm 0 comments
10 Business Mistakes That Will Nearly Break You… Literally
Starting a business is hard! You know it, I know it, and everyone else in this world knows it. But what you probably don’t realize is that it is really easy to screw up your business. Entrepreneurs have to a tendency to mess things up through stupid mistakes. So save yourself from being one of these foolish entrepreneurs by avoiding the following mistakes.
10 Business Mistakes That Will Nearly Break You… Literally
Posted by Blacky at 9:16 pm 0 comments
How to Remove Super Glue from Practically Anything
Super Glue and its off-brand cousins are the next best thing to duct tape when it comes to good-enough repairs, but heaven help you if it spills. Luckily, there's a guide to getting SuperGlue out or off of nearly anything.
How to Remove Super Glue from Practically Anything
Posted by Blacky at 7:37 am 0 comments
How to Clean Gold Jewelry
Although gold doesn't tarnish, it can easily get dirty. To clean your precious rings, bracelets, necklaces and other gold jewelry, just follow the steps below.
How to Clean Gold Jewelry
Posted by Blacky at 12:18 am 0 comments
Monday, December 28, 2009
What Twitter and Facebook's 2009 Trends Tell Us About Ourselves
As the year comes to a close, several social media companies decided to take a look back and reflect on the events, people, technologies that captured our interest this year. Twitter took the first crack when it revealed the most discussed topics of 2009. Facebook was next when it released its Facebook Memology for the year.
What Twitter and Facebook's 2009 Trends Tell Us About Ourselves
Posted by Blacky at 9:10 pm 0 comments
5 Big Real-Time Web Trends of 2009
Web technology and social media change radically from month to month, so it’s difficult to make predictions about what The Next Big Thing is, but you can be confident that the real-time web will get bigger and more essential in 2010. It came to a head in 2009, though, and this year’s applications can give you some idea of what to expect after the New Year.
5 Big Real-Time Web Trends of 2009
Posted by Blacky at 9:07 pm 0 comments
Sunday, December 27, 2009
2009 review: Favourite picture galleries
From carnivorous robots to exploding stars and bizarre medical devices, here are your favourites from the image galleries we posted this year.
2009 review: Favourite picture galleries
Posted by Blacky at 8:38 am 0 comments
Friday, December 25, 2009
Best of the Decade: A Collection of 30 "Top 10" Lists
From publications dealing with gadgets to those that cater to soccer fans, everyone is compiling lists commemorating the first decade of the 21st century. Here are some publications' choices.
Best of the Decade: A Collection of 30 "Top 10" Lists
Posted by Blacky at 7:57 pm 0 comments
Tracking Santa with Bing Maps in 2009
MSN and The Today Show (.com) have united forces to create this year’s Santa tracker with the Bing Maps Platform. This year’s effort allows you to follow Santa’s current location as well as where he’s been. Check Santa to see his current position.
Tracking Santa with Bing Maps in 2009
Posted by Blacky at 9:13 am 0 comments
On Santa Claus
Ever wonder where the jolly father of Christmas came from? Well I have! So I turned to Oxford Reference Online which led me to The Oxford Encyclopedia of Children’s Literature. Below is an excerpt about everyone’s favorite man in red. Happy Holidays to all!
On Santa Claus
Posted by Blacky at 9:10 am 0 comments
Thursday, December 24, 2009
Top Ten Dinosaur and Fossil Finds
Large, "lost," or simply unusual, a bevy of prehistoric beasts were brought to life in National Geographic News's most popular paleontology stories of the year.
Top Ten Dinosaur and Fossil Finds
Posted by Blacky at 9:46 pm 0 comments
Restaurants Use Menu Psychology to Entice Diners
The use of menu engineers and consultants is exploding in the casual dining arena and among national chains, a sector of the business that has been especially pinched by the economy. In response, they are tapping into a growing body of research into the science of menu pricing and writing, hoping the way to a diner’s heart is not only through the stomach, but through the unconscious.
Restaurants Use Menu Psychology to Entice Diners
Posted by Blacky at 6:42 am 0 comments
Now, Dasher! Now, Dancer! Track Santa and his sleigh with NORAD
NORAD's Santa-tracking dates back to 1955, when a Sears and Roebuck magazine ad in Colorado Springs accidentally directed readers to call NORAD instead of the "Talk-to-Santa" hotline they were advertising. Embracing the holiday spirit, the folks at NORAD provided callers with Santa's location according to their radar and have tracked his journey ever since.
Now, Dasher! Now, Dancer! Track Santa and his sleigh with NORAD
Posted by Blacky at 6:36 am 0 comments
Wednesday, December 23, 2009
Tuesday, December 22, 2009
60 Stunning Satellite Photos of Earth
Looking at nature from different perspectives can create stunning compositions for your photographs. This couldn’t be more true than when we look at our planet from outer space and appreciate the reality of its beauty from such an incredible and rarely seen perspective. The images in this compilation are from the Landsat 7 satellite and were created to introduce the general public to the Landsat Program.
60 Stunning Satellite Photos of Earth
Posted by Blacky at 2:36 pm 0 comments
Facebook Unveils Most-Mentioned Topics of 2009
Last week, Twitter revealed its list of the most-discussed topics of 2009, based on Twitter’s trending topics. Now Facebook has come out with their own list, based on data from the millions of daily status updates of its users.
Facebook Unveils Most-Mentioned Topics of 2009
Posted by Blacky at 9:02 am 0 comments
Lifehacker’s Guide To 64-Bit Vs 32-Bit Operating Systems
You’re probably aware that 64-bit and 32-bit versions of your operating system exist, but apart from ascribing to a bigger-is-better philosophy, you may have no idea what separates the two. The question: Should you use a 64-bit version of Windows, and if so, why?
Lifehacker’s Guide To 64-Bit Vs 32-Bit Operating Systems
Posted by Blacky at 6:47 am 0 comments
Monday, December 21, 2009
How To Protest Against Internet Censorship Laws
It’s clear Lifehacker readers think the plan to make Internet censorship mandatory in Australia in 2010 is a deeply stupid idea. While there may be ways of working around the filter, not having the filter would clearly be a better idea. How can you effectively make your views known?
How To Protest Against Internet Censorship Laws
Posted by Blacky at 7:52 pm 0 comments
10 iPhone Apps to Avoid Work Disasters
Ten battle-ready apps for your iPhone armory to help keep your work life as organized, streamlined, and efficient as possible. With these at the ready, you’ll be prepared for just about anything.
10 iPhone Apps to Avoid Work Disasters
Posted by Blacky at 6:36 am 0 comments
How to build a successful Internet filter
Sen. Conroy has obviously received rather poor advice. If he follows these instructions, he'll have an unbreakable Internet filter.
How to build a successful Internet filter
Posted by Blacky at 6:28 am 0 comments
Sunday, December 20, 2009
Best New Blogs of 2009
Bygone Bureau editors Kevin Nguyen and Nick Martens and fellow bloggers talk about the latest and greatest additions to their RSS readers.
Best New Blogs of 2009
Posted by Blacky at 9:45 am 0 comments
Top List Of Brands That Experienced The Most Phishing Attacks In 2009
Avira has published a top list of brands that experienced the most phishing attacks in 2009. The top 3 brands according to their chart are PayPal with 32205 threats followed by Chase Bank with 25901 threats and eBay with 18738 threats. Each threat in this case refers to a unique Internet address that was being used to phish data from users.
Top List Of Brands That Experienced The Most Phishing Attacks In 2009
Posted by Blacky at 9:39 am 0 comments
Blackstump Australia Issue 35 -December 20, 2009
The latest issue of new Family Friendly sites listed on The Black Stump.
Family Friendly sites listed on Blackstump Australia Issue 35 -December 20, 2009
Posted by Blacky at 9:13 am 0 comments
Friday, December 18, 2009
Retirement and Retirement Intentions, Australia
This publication presents information about the retirement status and retirement intentions of people aged 45 years and over who have, at some time, worked for two weeks or more.
Retirement and Retirement Intentions, Australia, Jul 2008 to Jun 2009
Posted by Blacky at 9:39 pm 0 comments
Capture Handwritten Notes on Your iPhone
Dan Bricklin’s Note Taker App lets you take quickly take notes on the go by sketching onto your iPhone’s/iPod touch’s screen using your finger. Because scribbling small notes would be difficult, the app lets you write using large gestures, then shrinks your notes to fit onto the pages, which are about the size of a 3×5 index card.
Capture Handwritten Notes on Your iPhone
Posted by Blacky at 7:14 am 0 comments
The Most Influential Twitter User in the World Is...
How do you measure influence on Twitter? While follower count is perhaps the most obvious metric, other activities, like the numbers of times you’re retweeted, provide a bit more insight. Along those lines, INQ Mobile has just released their 2009 Twitter (Twitter) influence study, determining the most influential Twitter users in both the UK and the world.
The Most Influential Twitter User in the World Is...
Posted by Blacky at 7:13 am 0 comments
Google Zeitgeist 2009
Google has released the year-end statistics of Google Zeitgeist 2009 which includes information about the most search topics in various niches in 2009. The default statistics show the search queries for the United States with the option to switch the country to view them for several dozen other countries including Canada, the United Kingdom, Germany or the European Union.
Google Zeitgeist 2009
Posted by Blacky at 7:07 am 0 comments
Thursday, December 17, 2009
Scientists crack cancer codes
Scientists are hailing the unlocking of the complete genetic code of two of the most common cancers as "a fundamental moment in cancer research".
Scientists crack cancer codes
Posted by Blacky at 9:46 pm 0 comments
Yale Book of Quotations Annual List (2009) of Memorable Quotes
Fred Shapiro, the editor of the Yale Book of Quotations and associate librarian and lecturer in legal research at Yale Law School, is out with his annual list of memorable quotes.
Yale Book of Quotations Annual List (2009) of Memorable Quotes
Posted by Blacky at 6:21 am 0 comments
What You Watched and Searched for on YouTube in 2009
This year has been the biggest yet for online video, and for the first time we're sharing our official Most Watched lists and some of the fastest-rising search terms on YouTube. Some moments were big (President Obama's inauguration), some small (a Minnesota wedding party erupts into dance), some expected ("New Moon"), some surprising (Susan Boyle) — but all of them inspired, entertained and connected millions of people around the world via YouTube.
What You Watched and Searched for on YouTube in 2009
Posted by Blacky at 6:18 am 0 comments
Wednesday, December 16, 2009
10 iPhone Apps That Bring Holiday Cheer
In the spirit of the holiday season and an attempt to recover some of that holiday excitement, the following are 10 fun iPhone apps to help put a little more festivity into your lives.
10 iPhone Apps That Bring Holiday Cheer
Posted by Blacky at 8:06 am 0 comments
Tuesday, December 15, 2009
Twitter reacts to Australia's internet filter
Senator Conroy's announcement has been controversial, sure, but the reaction from Twitter has been decisive, and loud.
Twitter reacts to Australia's internet filter
Posted by Blacky at 11:54 pm 0 comments
Australia: Internet Censorship Plan Gets the Green Light
The Federal Government has announced it will proceed with controversial plans to censor the internet after Government-commissioned trials found filtering a blacklist of banned sites was accurate and would not slow down the internet.
Australia: Internet Censorship Plan Gets the Green Light
Posted by Blacky at 11:52 pm 0 comments
How to Prevent Identity Theft
In 2008, there were almost 10 million cases of identity theft in the US alone, 22% more than the previous year.[1] While people are getting better at recognizing identity theft, and minimizing the damage, the best solution is to prevent it from happening in the first place by following these steps.
How to Prevent Identity Theft
Posted by Blacky at 8:15 pm 0 comments
Google Year-End Countdown Easter Egg
Just found out about a neat little Google search box Easter Egg for the New Year: Click on the "I'm Feeling Lucky" button with nothing in the search box to see a live count down of seconds left in 2009. What they should have done is linked the seconds number to a "seconds in days" calculator search to let people know what it is. Time marches on….
Google Year-End Countdown Easter Egg
Posted by Blacky at 10:29 am 0 comments
Change DNS Servers With DNS Jumper
DNS and DNS servers have been pushed into the mainstream with Google’s announcement that they have released public DNS servers to speed up computer user access to the Internet. We have already given tips in the past how to benchmark DNS to find the fastest and most reliable one from all the public DNS that are offered by various organizations and companies.
Change DNS Servers With DNS Jumper
Posted by Blacky at 10:26 am 0 comments