“404 Not Found.” These three little words can make any Internet explorer an unhappy camper. After all, who hopes to click on a broken link or stumble upon a moved or deleted page while cruising around the web? Luckily, some web designers have chosen to end the misery of encountering a 404 error page. Instead of letting their site readers bump heads with a nasty dead-end error message, they’ve managed to squeeze a little entertainment out of it. Below you’ll find some of the most entertaining 404 error pages on the web.
35 Entertaining 404 Error Pages
Sunday, September 05, 2010
35 Entertaining 404 Error Pages
Posted by Blacky at 11:01 am 0 comments
Saturday, September 04, 2010
The physics of breaking stuff with your fists
iO9 recently ran a story on how martial artists are able to break boards and cement blocks, using their hands rather than mystical powers.
The physics of breaking stuff with your fists
Posted by Blacky at 10:39 am 0 comments
Friday, September 03, 2010
Trying to Make a Tough Decision? Try Asking the Five Fateful Questions.
(Gretchen Rubin) - When I’m reluctant to take a risk or face something uncomfortable, I ask myself these five questions which, in melodramatic form, I call the "Five Fateful Questions." They help me think clearly about a situation.
Trying to Make a Tough Decision? Try Asking the Five Fateful Questions
Posted by Blacky at 8:34 pm 0 comments
NASA Plans to Visit the Sun
If you’ve seen Danny Boyle’s movie Sunshine, you may be a little disappointed: NASA’s mission to visit the Earth’s Sun won’t include sending people up there. But it will be sending a spacecraft into the Sun’s atmosphere, approximately four million miles from its surface. The project, called Solar Probe Plus, is slated to launch sometime before 2018.
NASA Plans to Visit the Sun
Posted by Blacky at 8:28 pm 0 comments
World’s Riskiest Places to Surf the Web
Ever wondered which are the places in the world where you will more likely be attacked by malicious viruses while surfing the web? Well, AVG has done all the hard work and has collected the ten riskiest places to surf the web in the world. This comes after AVG looked at data from 100+ million PCs in 144 countries. If you are in Turkey, Russia, Armenia and Azerbaijan, you are most likely to be hit by a malicious computer attack or virus. While surfing the web in Sierra Leone, Niger, Japan or Togo is the safest. AVG’s research was conducted in the last week of July.
World’s Riskiest Places to Surf the Web
Posted by Blacky at 8:04 pm 0 comments
A birds-eye view of hurricane Earl
This serene-looking view of hurricane Earl was taken aboard the International Space Station as it passed over the Atlantic Ocean on Monday. Taken by NASA astronaut Douglas Wheelock, it shows the distinctive eye of the storm, which spans 28 kilometres.
A birds-eye view of hurricane Earl
Posted by Blacky at 7:57 am 0 comments
Use OneNote to Make Memorizing Information Easier
Microsoft OneNote is a great tool for taking notes and storing information you don’t want to lose. But sometimes, simply storing information in our computers isn’t enough – we need to store it in our brain, too! One great way to make yourself remember information is to review it, then test yourself on your new knowledge. Flashcards are great for this, so here’s how you can bring flashcards into the 21st century with OneNote.
Use OneNote to Make Memorizing Information Easier
Posted by Blacky at 7:46 am 0 comments
Thursday, September 02, 2010
Windows 7 Family Pack Returns
When Windows 7 launched last year, Microsoft offered a discounted Windows 7 “Family Pack.” It was a boxed package that contained the Windows 7 Home Premium upgrade for both 32- and 64-bit systems and a product key that could be used on up to three machines; at $150, it was a pretty good deal for families — and web workers with more than one machine to upgrade. Unfortunately, the Family Pack was only available in limited quantities, and was sold out in the U.S by December. The good news is that, in time for Windows 7′s first anniversary on October 3rd, Microsoft is bringing back the Family Pack. It’s the same deal as before — three upgrade licenses for $150, although you’ll probably be able to find it a bit cheaper online. If you haven’t already upgraded your machines to Windows 7, it’s definitely worth considering as, once again, it’s only available “while stocks last.” The Family Pack will also be sold in Canada, the UK, Germany, France, Australia and “many other markets” on or after October 22nd to mark Windows 7′s first anniversary in those territories.
Windows 7 Family Pack Returns
Posted by Blacky at 11:32 pm 0 comments
Wednesday, September 01, 2010
How to Teach Juggling: 10 steps
A wise juggler once said that nobody ever teaches someone how to juggle; they simply show someone how to teach themselves. The role of the teacher then is more to encourage than to instruct. Still, by breaking things down into the simplest process, you can set someone up for success.
How to Teach Juggling: 10 steps
Posted by Blacky at 10:28 pm 0 comments
How to Remember People's Names (and Deal with Unusual Names)
Accurately remembering names is one of the simplest yet most important components of interacting with people, no matter in what capacity. This article presents some tips acquired over the years with regards to remembering and using people's names.
How to Remember People's Names (and Deal with Unusual Names)
Posted by Blacky at 10:25 pm 0 comments
Make your Windows Computer Start-up Faster
Does your Windows computer take really long to start-up? Well, you are not alone with this problem but fortunately, with some minor tweaks, you can get your sluggish Windows to start much faster without re-installing Windows or adding any new hardware.
Make your Windows Computer Start-up Faster - Reduce Boot Time
Posted by Blacky at 9:00 am 0 comments
An Eerie Peek Inside The Remains Of The Titanic
You’ve seen the sonar image of the Titanic’s remains. Now, the video: Here’s an eerie peek inside the debris of the most famous ship in history, shot by Expedition Titanic‘s new underwater remotely operated vehicle. Watch the chilling footage inside.
An Eerie Peek Inside The Remains Of The Titanic
Posted by Blacky at 8:57 am 0 comments
10 Useful iPhone Shortcuts, Tips and Tricks
At Mashable, they’ve been putting the iPhone 4 through its paces, and have come up with some handy tips and tricks that can help you get more out of your Apple-flavored mobile. They’ve covered all kinds of basics, like making search results more relevant, creating shortcuts for your favorite websites, better organizing your apps, and making the most of Maps.
10 Useful iPhone Shortcuts, Tips and Tricks
Posted by Blacky at 8:55 am 0 comments
Compress Folders, Files In Windows To Save Storage Space
File compression support is one of the features of the NTFS file system that often gets overlooked by Windows users. Its main purpose is to reduce the storage requirements of files on devices that use the NTFS file system. Compression is however handled different from archivers like 7-Zip, WinZip or WinRar, as the compressed files appear like before in the operating system (meaning there is not extension change to indicate a compressed files). This ensures that the files can be used normally by the user, and the operating system.
Compress Folders, Files In Windows To Save Storage Space
Posted by Blacky at 8:44 am 0 comments
Tuesday, August 31, 2010
How Strong is your Password? Check your Password Strength Online
This is common knowledge; you should use a combination of alphabets, numerical digits, and special characters (!, @) to create strong passwords. Yet, the most commonly used password on the Internet is 123456 followed by 12345 – see full list.
How Strong is your Password? Check your Password Strength Online
Posted by Blacky at 8:01 am 0 comments
Add Quick Brown Fox Text in Microsoft Word
If you want to insert some dummy text in a Word document, start a new paragraph, type =lorem() and hit Enter.
Add Quick Brown Fox Text in Microsoft Word
Posted by Blacky at 7:48 am 0 comments
NASA Puts Historic Image Collections on Flickr
Three compilations of historic NASA images have been released on The Commons on Flickr, the fruit of a collaborative effort between Flickr, NASA and the Internet Archive.
NASA Puts Historic Image Collections on Flickr
Posted by Blacky at 7:44 am 0 comments
Monday, August 30, 2010
How to Transfer Your iTunes Collection from One Computer to Another
If you’re an iTunes user, when you get a new machine you probably want to transfer all of your content to it. Here we show you a few different ways to everything from one computer to another.
How to Transfer Your iTunes Collection from One Computer to Another
Posted by Blacky at 11:29 pm 0 comments
HOW TO: Watch the 2010 Emmy Awards Online [VIDEO]
As per usual, there’s no legal way to stream video of the whole 2010 Emmy Awards ceremony live online, but there are a few ways you can use the web to supplement your TV viewing experience.
HOW TO: Watch the 2010 Emmy Awards Online [VIDEO]
Posted by Blacky at 6:34 pm 0 comments
Saturday, August 28, 2010
Repurposing an Old Computer for Any Room in the House
Most of us have our computers on our desks or our laps, but there are so many other places in and out of our homes that can make a great spot for an old PC. The smaller your PC the more places you can put it, so laptops are obvious choices for moving around to different parts of your home. We've posted before with suggestions for repurposing an old laptop so be sure to check those out as well.
Repurposing an Old Computer for Any Room in the House
Posted by Blacky at 7:36 am 0 comments
Family Friendly sites listed on Blackstump Australia Issue 18/2010
The latest issue of new Family Friendly sites listed on The Black Stump.
Family Friendly sites listed on Blackstump Australia Issue 18/2010
Posted by Blacky at 12:58 am 0 comments
Friday, August 27, 2010
Katrina: 5 years later - Then and Now
In the five years since Hurricane Katrina devastated the Gulf Coast, some areas have rebuilt while others remain unchanged. CNN photographers and iReporters collaborated in a powerful past-meets-present photography project to show what the region looks like today.
Katrina: 5 years later - Then and Now:
Posted by Blacky at 8:45 pm 0 comments
Whoops! The 10 Greatest (Accidental) Inventions Of All Time
“Everything comes to him who hustles while he waits,” Thomas Edison once said. But is hustling all it takes? Is progress always deliberate? Sometimes genius arrives not by choice – but by chance. Below are Gizmodo's 10 favourite serendipitous innovations.
Whoops! The 10 Greatest (Accidental) Inventions Of All Time
Posted by Blacky at 8:06 am 0 comments
Microsoft Australia makes Meter Maids ‘apology’
Microsoft Australia has been forced to apologise for choosing to use the Australian Gold Coast’s “Meter Maids” during its Tuesday-night welcome party, with Microsoft Australia MD Tracey Fellows declaring it “just wrong” and “unacceptable”.
Microsoft Australia makes Meter Maids ‘apology’
Posted by Blacky at 8:04 am 0 comments
The Ballad of Cat Bin Lady: The Internet's Latest Viral Villain
It’s a thin line between Internet Hero and Internet Horror, and it seems that for one woman in Coventry, England, that line has been clearly crossed — over to the “horror” side, that is. Mary Bale, 45, found herself caught in the crosshairs of the reputation executor that is the web this week after a surveillance video of her placing a cat in a garbage bin went viral. Now, the Internet is replete with parodies, groups and spin-offs dedicated to bringing Bale down. Ah, what we can achieve when we really apply ourselves…
The Ballad of Cat Bin Lady: The Internet's Latest Viral Villain
Posted by Blacky at 7:58 am 0 comments
Revenge of the Cat
Cat, unaware of video camera, drops middle-aged woman into trash can.
Revenge of the Cat
Posted by Blacky at 7:54 am 0 comments
Snapshot: bike lane indicators get straight to the point
Photograph was taken by Carlton Reid, and the stencil street art it documents is the work of Peter Drew of Adelaide, Australia.
Snapshot: bike lane indicators get straight to the point
Posted by Blacky at 7:51 am 0 comments
Thursday, August 26, 2010
List of Free and Fast Public DNS Servers
DNS (or Domain Name Servers) is basically a system to convert domain names into IP addresses. Domain names are easier to understand, memorize and write for humans while computers only use IP addresses to communicate. Normally, the ISPs provide their users with their own default DNS server IPs which are often unreliable and slow. There are many better, faster, safer and more reliable public DNS servers for your everyday use. Here is a list of all such fast & free public DNS servers along with their IPs.
List of Free and Fast Public DNS Servers
Posted by Blacky at 7:18 am 0 comments
Wednesday, August 25, 2010
Are you safer in the rear or front seat of cars?
An Australian study using U.S. data has shown that 50-year-old passengers in the back seat of cars are at more risk of injury or death than those in the front seat because safety features are lacking. What about younger adults and children?
Are you safer in the rear or front seat of cars?
Posted by Blacky at 7:28 am 0 comments
Lose weight with 2 glasses of water before meals
A U.S. study has shown that drinking two eight-ounce glasses of water before meals helps people to consume fewer calories during meals. And, fewer calories consumed means a way to lose weight!
Lose weight with 2 glasses of water before meals
Posted by Blacky at 7:27 am 0 comments
Use Cotton Strips for No-Fuss Houseplant Watering
If you'd like to keep your houseplants well-watered despite vacation plans or forgetfulness, you'd be hard pressed to find a simpler solution than this DIY, no fuss, no electricity needed, watering system.
Use Cotton Strips for No-Fuss Houseplant Watering
Posted by Blacky at 7:20 am 0 comments
Top 5 Free Tools to Speed up Copying Files in Windows
When you try to copy or move large number of files on Windows 7 (or Vista), it can get on your nerves specially if the destination directory is on a different partition or a different folder under the same partition. This is when you would need a File copying tool which can act as an alternative for Windows Copy command. There are several such file copying tools available, some of which are paid and others free. Since most of the free ones are good enough, we have reviewed and listed down five of the best file copying tools to speed up your Windows experience.
Top 5 Free Tools to Speed up Copying Files in Windows
Posted by Blacky at 7:17 am 0 comments
2 Great Ways to Disable iPhone’s Auto Rotation Feature
iPhone’s built-in accelerometer offers a simple way to switch between portrait and landscape mode. As all know, you can simply rotate iPhone sideway and it responds automatically to display content in landscape. I love this slick feature. At the same time, I find it quite irritating for a simple reason: I hate it turn sideway when I lay in bed to browse web and check my email.
2 Great Ways to Disable iPhone’s Auto Rotation Feature
Posted by Blacky at 7:10 am 0 comments
Tuesday, August 24, 2010
What Can I Do With A Dead Hard Drive?
Before we delve into gutting your hard drive and repurposing its guts, let’s talk data security. While you didn’t specify what “dead hard drive” means, we’ll assume this means the disk is inoperable and any means of recovering the disk for use using software have failed. If the disk has truly sensitive data on it—data worth enough that someone would invest significant time and energy in recovering it—the only safe thing to do is to reference the Symphony of Destruction portion of our guide to properly erasing your physical media. If, on the other hand, the disk was mostly populated with your bootleg Bon Jovi concert rips, it’s ripe for all manner of DIY projects.
What Can I Do With A Dead Hard Drive?
Posted by Blacky at 10:29 am 0 comments
20 Cool Twitter Accounts for Daily Fun and Inspiration [PICS]
Twitter is an ever-expanding source of fascinating information. More than just news and updates, there is also another, more fun side of Twitter that is sometimes overlooked. You can use the real-time micro-blogging service to get a daily dose of education, entertainment, or something in between. Whether you want to expand your vocab, discover new music, be inspired, or just view a cute bunny on a daily basis, Twitter can help.
20 Cool Twitter Accounts for Daily Fun and Inspiration [PICS]
Posted by Blacky at 10:09 am 0 comments
Sunday, August 22, 2010
Voters wake to Political Turmoil
A handful of independents are set to decide Australia's political future after an inconclusive election delivered what seems certain to be Australia's first hung parliament since World War II.
Voters wake to Political Turmoil
Posted by Blacky at 8:37 am 0 comments
Top 10 Facebook Fixes
Facebook may be the de facto social network of, frankly, almost everyone, but that doesn't mean you have to use Facebook exactly the way its creators, or your Farmville-addicted friends, want you to. Here are 10 tweaks to make Facebook better.
Top 10 Facebook Fixes
Posted by Blacky at 8:33 am 0 comments
10 Classic PC Games That Found New Life on the iPhone
Apple’s iPhone may mark a second golden age of computer gaming for a lot of reasons. The open marketplace means anyone can create a game; from major companies to just a couple of talented people in a garage. The result is a new boom in innovation, the likes of which we haven’t seen in about 20 years. Even with all the potential for innovation, maybe you still want to relive that first golden age of gaming. If you’re excited for how new tech can update the classics, then this list is for you: 10 of the greatest, most influential, straight-up classic computer games ever made, all available on and completely remastered for Apple’s handset, and in most cases also playable on the iPod touch and iPad.
10 Classic PC Games That Found New Life on the iPhone
Posted by Blacky at 8:31 am 0 comments
Saturday, August 21, 2010
Chameleon Folder Puts Favorite Folders At Your Fingertips
What’s the default way of accessing specific folders in the Windows operating system? The majority of users will probably answer that question by stating that they browse to that folder in Windows Explorer. Some may have put shortcuts to folders on the desktop or the start menu, and advanced users may make use of application launchers that support folder links. Still, the majority of users makes use of the default way of opening folders. The problem? It is not really comfortable, nor fast, especially if the folder is hidden deep in the file system.
Chameleon Folder Puts Favorite Folders At Your Fingertips
Posted by Blacky at 7:48 am 0 comments
Friday, August 20, 2010
Two Online Databases: Find a Bike Map + Bike/Walking Info Database
Locate maps by using drop-down menus for each state or country (Australia, Canada, Croatia, Ireland, New Zealand, UK). This database is not comprehensive (at least as of today) but it’s growing and they would welcome new maps contributed by visitors.
Two Online Databases: Find a Bike Map + Bike/Walking Info Database
Posted by Blacky at 8:29 pm 0 comments
Cameron Diaz + Web Search = Potential Malware Dangers (Let’s Be Careful Out There)
Searching for “Cameron Diaz” brings bad news — in the form of risky sites — in one of every 10 search results, according to McAfee’s Most Dangerous Celebrities study. Make the search terms “Cameron Diaz” and “screensavers,” and that 10% chance of danger almost doubles. The “Knight and Day” star replaces last year’s No. 1, Jessica Biel.
Cameron Diaz + Web Search = Potential Malware Dangers (Let’s Be Careful Out There)
Posted by Blacky at 8:26 pm 0 comments
10 Useful iPhone Keyboard Shortcuts, Tips and Tricks
Whether you’ve taken to the iPhone’s touchscreen keyboard like a duck to water, or are more of a one-finger-at-a-time typist, there are plenty of shortcuts, tips and tricks that can improve your iTyping experience. Here, we’ve rounded up ten useful ways to be faster and more productive with your iPhone’s keyboard. We hope these tricks are handy for anyone new to the platform, or those who have not had the time to really experiment.
10 Useful iPhone Keyboard Shortcuts, Tips and Tricks
Posted by Blacky at 8:25 pm 0 comments
Thursday, August 19, 2010
[How to] Opt out of Facebook Places & Hide Location From Friends
Facebook Places is a cool feature which was just introduced by facebook using which the users can share their current location or place with other Facebook friends. But then, for some of you, this feature sounds creepy and an invasion to your privacy. Well, if you are one of those, then here is a simple guide to turn off Facebook Places and save whatever privacy is left on Facebook.
[How to] Opt out of Facebook Places & Hide Location From Friends
Posted by Blacky at 9:51 pm 0 comments
Set File Properties To Make Searching Easier In Windows
One of Windows 7′s best features is the ability to find pretty much anything from the Search option on the Start menu. If you’ve got your own scripts that you run regularly, you can make these easy to find with a simple file properties trick, as Lifehacker reader Dan explains.
Set File Properties To Make Searching Easier In Windows
Posted by Blacky at 7:49 pm 0 comments
Crazy Roger Federer Trick Shot
A video featuring tennis star Roger Federer that plays on our collective fascination with “real or fake” hit the web earlier this week and has quickly gone viral, accumulating more than 700,000 views as of this morning. The video, which was part of a Gillette commercial shoot in Switzerland, features Federer serving a tennis ball and knocking a can off the head of one of the crew members –- twice in a row. This is made particularly compelling because, well, if he missed … you get the idea. Supposedly, it was all filmed in one take.
Crazy Roger Federer Trick Shot:
Posted by Blacky at 7:03 am 0 comments
Wednesday, August 18, 2010
Cool Tools: Google Drawing
The best simple drawing program there is is hidden away inside of Google Docs. It's free, and completely intuitive to use. Google Drawing is the opposite of Adobe's Illustrator, which while insanely deep (and expensive) requires hours if not years to master. You can draw with this one in seconds.
Cool Tools: Google Drawing
Posted by Blacky at 7:41 am 0 comments
Offbeat travel: Crime-themed tourism
As any fan of “CSI,” “Law & Order” or “The Untouchables” knows, there’s something about crime and punishment, mobsters and the long arm of the law that piques our interest. The why of it is better left to a psychologist or doctor, but whatever the reason, we humans seem to be programmed to find the macabre a little intriguing.
Offbeat travel: Crime-themed tourism
Posted by Blacky at 7:38 am 0 comments
How to Password Protect Files and Folders on Computer or USB Flash Drives
Do you have files and folders on your computer that you absolutely don’t want anyone else to see? Or do you even carry important documents on those easy-to-misplace USB drives?
How to Password Protect Files and Folders on Computer or USB Flash Drives
Posted by Blacky at 7:35 am 0 comments
7 Services to Find and Reserve Your Name Across the Web
If you choose a different username for every site you’re on, it can be hard to create a consistent identity across the web. The problem, however — as Megan Fox, BP, and even the Dalai Lama recently found out — is that being the first to claim your name on every site can be difficult. And since most of the hundreds of sites that can host your profile prevent automated sign-up processes, you need to manually create one profile at a time.
7 Services to Find and Reserve Your Name Across the Web
Posted by Blacky at 7:33 am 0 comments
Tuesday, August 17, 2010
Is it “Ms.” or “Miss”?
A rare occurrence of “Ms.” in 1885 suggests that the term is an abbreviation of “Miss.”
Is it “Ms.” or “Miss”?
Posted by Blacky at 1:44 pm 0 comments
How to Delete Friends on Facebook
Are you just tired of that friend who constantly bugs you with messages or just spams your Facebook wall? Do you want to "un-friend" him/her? Here's how.
How to Delete Friends on Facebook
Posted by Blacky at 12:51 pm 0 comments
HopShopGo Ships From US-Only Stores
Tempting online stores with “we only ship to the continental US” clauses are a perennially annoying fact of life. HopShopGo is the latest site to offer shipping to Australian addresses from a range of US stores, selling itself on the ability to pay via PayPal.
HopShopGo Ships From US-Only Stores
Posted by Blacky at 12:48 pm 0 comments
Backup your Windows Device Drivers with this Free Tool
When you buy a new PC, the vendor will almost always provide you with a “driver CD” that has the device drivers for all the hardware that’s inside your new machine. The CD comes handy when you are reinstalling Windows from scratch or are trying to recover your machine to its original state after, say, a system crash.
Backup your Windows Device Drivers with this Free Tool
Posted by Blacky at 12:45 pm 0 comments
Complete Guide to Breathing New Life Into Your Old PC or Laptop
Do you have an older PC or laptop laying around just collecting dust and not sure what to do with it? You could sell it, but not get much for it. Here we bring you a guide on how to bring it back to life.
Complete Guide to Breathing New Life Into Your Old PC or Laptop
Posted by Blacky at 12:36 pm 0 comments
Monday, August 16, 2010
Five Best Deal-Hunting Sites
Today's deal-hunting web sites have changed the once hit-or-miss aspect of scoring an amazing deal into more of a whenever-you-want affair. Check out these five popular deal-hunting sites to score deep discounts and bargain-basement prices.
Five Best Deal-Hunting Sites
Posted by Blacky at 7:02 am 0 comments
Saturday, August 14, 2010
Family Friendly sites listed on Blackstump Australia Issue 17/2010
The latest issue of new Family Friendly sites listed on The Black Stump.
Family Friendly sites listed on Blackstump Australia Issue 17/2010
Posted by Blacky at 1:48 pm 0 comments
Use a Password Hasher to Generate More Secure Passwords
The trouble with secure passwords is that they’re hard to remember, and you should really use a different one for each site or application you use. One solution is to use randomly-generated strong passwords and store them in a password manager, like LastPass. Alternatively, you could use a password hashing tool to create a strong passwords for each of the sites you use from a master password in conjunction with a parameter.
Use a Password Hasher to Generate More Secure Passwords
Posted by Blacky at 1:18 pm 0 comments
Friday, August 13, 2010
Top 40 best free legal movies you can download right now
While you constantly hear about how downloading movies is illegal, there are numerous free legal movies you can download. Sure we aren’t talking about the latest summer blockbusters here, but there are some great films out there on the Internet that can be had for free.
Top 40 best free legal movies you can download right now
Posted by Blacky at 9:33 pm 0 comments
The Best Online Backup Services Compared
While it is easy to create a local backup of your computer, the physical media where you are storing the backups, like the DVDs or external disk, may not be very reliable in the long term. The other disadvantage is that local backups don’t always happen in real-time. It is therefore recommended that you switch to an online backup service – these are inexpensive and will automatically copy your computer’s data over the Internet to a more secure off-site location (aka the data center) in near real-time without your involvement.
The Best Online Backup Services Compared
Posted by Blacky at 9:29 pm 1 comments
Thursday, August 12, 2010
Population by Age and Sex, Australian States and Territories, Jun 2009
This issue contains estimates of the resident population of Australian states and territories as at 30 June of each reference year. Estimates up to 2006 are final, based on the results of the 2006 Census of Population and Housing. Estimates for June 2007 have been revised and estimates from June 2008 onwards are preliminary.
Population by Age and Sex, Australian States and Territories, Jun 2009
Posted by Blacky at 5:54 pm 0 comments
The Oddest English Spellings, Part 17
Even the staunchest opponents of spelling reform should feel dismayed at seeing the list in the title of this essay. How is it possible to sustain such chaos, now that sustainable has become the chief buzzword in our vocabulary? Never mind foreigners—they chose to study English and should pay for their decision, but what have native speakers done to deserve this torture? The answer is clear: they are too loyal to a fickle tradition.
The Oddest English Spellings, Part 17
Posted by Blacky at 4:44 pm 0 comments
OUPblog » Blog Archive » The Oddest English Spellings, Part 17
Even the staunchest opponents of spelling reform should feel dismayed at seeing the list in the title of this essay. How is it possible to sustain such chaos, now that sustainable has become the chief buzzword in our vocabulary? Never mind foreigners—they chose to study English and should pay for their decision, but what have native speakers done to deserve this torture? The answer is clear: they are too loyal to a fickle tradition.
OUPblog » Blog Archive » The Oddest English Spellings, Part 17
Posted by Blacky at 4:44 pm 0 comments
How Secure Is A Password?
New technologies and more powerful computer systems have made it important in the last years to create secure passwords to avoid successful automatic password cracking attempts via brute force and dictionary attacks. But how do passwords have to look like to be considered secure? And who determines that? There is no authority with guidelines on the creation of secure passwords. Companies, organizations, software developers and end users all have their own definition of secure passwords.
How Secure Is A Password?
Posted by Blacky at 7:18 am 0 comments
Wednesday, August 11, 2010
The Best Way to Send Important Files Really Fast
When you need to send an important file to a contact, you can either send it as an email attachment or, if the file size is too big for an email message, you can upload it to any of the file hosting services and share the download link with your contact over email.
The Best Way to Send Important Files Really Fast
Posted by Blacky at 7:49 am 0 comments
Virus Check Files Online Without Downloading Them
It sometimes is a good idea to check a file online for malicious code before downloading it to the local computer system. While it is usually not dangerous to download a file as long as it is not executed, it can save some time to perform a virus scan before downloading the file. The developers of one of the most popular online Virus scanning services, Virus Total, have released a Firefox add-on today that can be used for exactly that purpose, and more.
Virus Check Files Online Without Downloading Them
Posted by Blacky at 7:44 am 0 comments
Tuesday, August 10, 2010
Microsoft Baseline Security Analyzer 2.2
Microsoft Baseline Security Analyzer (MBSA) 2.0 is an easy-to-use tool that helps small and medium businesses determine their security state in accordance with Microsoft security recommendations and offers specific remediation guidance. Improve your security management process by using MBSA to detect common security misconfigurations and missing security updates on your computer systems.
Microsoft Baseline Security Analyzer 2.2
Posted by Blacky at 1:08 pm 0 comments
Snap Send Solve Sends Reports To Local Councils From Your iPhone
Out for a walk and spot a litter problem, an overflowing drain or another problem the local council should fix? iPhone app Snap Send Solve uses your GPS coordinates to determine which council is responsible, and then lets you send an email report direct to the relevant party.
Snap Send Solve Sends Reports To Local Councils From Your iPhone
Posted by Blacky at 11:34 am 0 comments
Remove Multiple Toolbars In Windows
Toolbars are not necessarily installed as standalone applications
these days. Toolbar developers have established business relationships with software developers to include their toolbars in the software installer. Users who do not pay close attention to the installation process may inadvertently end up with one or multiple toolbars installed on their system.
Remove Multiple Toolbars In Windows
Posted by Blacky at 8:45 am 0 comments
Monday, August 09, 2010
Five Best Mobile Fitness Apps
Mobile fitness apps have changed the way people create, record and reach fitness goals, thanks to mobile phones and mobile devices that put a powerful computer right in your pocket. Here’s a look at five of the best mobile fitness apps.
Five Best Mobile Fitness Apps
Posted by Blacky at 7:15 am 0 comments
Sunday, August 08, 2010
Top 5 Free Antivirus for Windows
When asked about Anti-virus, I often recommend everyone Kaspersky because of its performance and detection level. But for a less hostile and home environment, going for a free anti-virus alternative is a better choice. Thinking of which, I began my search for the best free antivirus to my already paid license of Kaspersky. I visited most of the AV-companies sites and saw what they had to offer and then compared all those those alternatives to the results of the test conducted by AV-Comparatives in the month of May. According to my observation and my past experience, here are top 5 free anti-viruses.
Top 5 Free Antivirus for Windows
Posted by Blacky at 9:32 pm 0 comments
Private Browsing Modes Not So Private After All, Report Says
Cnet’s Seth Rosenblatt today published a story about privacy risks in private browsing modes of modern web browsers. He summarized the findings of a soon-to-be published report of researchers at Stanford University’s Computer Science Security Lab. The researchers analyzed the private browsing modes of Google Chrome, Mozilla Firefox, Microsoft Internet Explorer and Apple Safari
.
Private Browsing Modes Not So Private After All, Report Says
Posted by Blacky at 9:27 pm 0 comments
Saturday, August 07, 2010
How to Extend the Battery Life of an iPad
Just as with an iPhone or iPod Touch, the battery life of your iPad will be shorter during heavy use. However, there are some measures you can take to keep your device on and active for hours of enjoyment, and this article explains what you can do to lengthen the battery life.
How to Extend the Battery Life of an iPad
Posted by Blacky at 12:59 pm 0 comments
Yoko Ono: Beatles Not Coming to iTunes Store Any Time Soon
Yesterday, Yoko Ono, the widow of John Lennon and part owner of the Beatles music catalogue, revealed that there’s been no progress in negotiations with Apple when it comes to getting the band’s music in the iTunes store. Her statements quiet ongoing rumblings about the matter.
Yoko Ono: Beatles Not Coming to iTunes Store Any Time Soon
Posted by Blacky at 12:55 pm 0 comments
Thursday, August 05, 2010
WobZip, Uncompress Archives Online
The right archiving software may sometimes be out of reach to unpack an archive. This can be the case when using a public computer in an Internet Cafe or library for instance. Users who need to extract an archive but cannot do so locally can resort to online services to do so.
WobZip, Uncompress Archives Online
Posted by Blacky at 11:48 pm 0 comments
A Girl’s Guide to Car Problems
If you’re anything like me, your automobile knowledge doesn’t extend much beyond the gas cap and ignition switch. I find myself much more comfortable under the hood of a stove than the hood of a car and happily leave it to the men in my life to tell me when something’s wrong. Yet, in an age where women are becoming increasingly independent and adept at a variety of skills, I think it’s time to demystify the automobile world.
A Girl’s Guide to Car Problems
Posted by Blacky at 10:34 pm 0 comments
Internet Explorer 9
The Internet Explorer 9 Platform Preview gives developers and curious end users an early look at some of the features coming to IE9.
Internet Explorer 9 - WinPlanet Windows Software Reviews and Downloads
Posted by Blacky at 10:29 pm 0 comments
Is It All Over? Liberal Party Will Not Support The Filter
Late this afternoon on Triple J’s Hack program, Shadow Treasurer Joe Hockey announced the Coalition would act to block Labor’s mandatory internet filter if they find themselves in opposition after the election. With the Greens also taking a position against the filter, it is highly unlikely Labor will have any chance of getting the numbers they need to push their legislation through during a next term.
Is It All Over? Liberal Party Will Not Support The Filter
Posted by Blacky at 10:20 pm 0 comments
Five Easy Ways To Avoid Any Internet Filter
We’ve covered similar territory before, but the post at Gizmodo by Colin Jacobs from the EFA showing five ways any filter can be avoided in two minutes is well worth checking out. What exactly is this plan to create a secret government list of banned sites protecting us from again?
Five Easy Ways To Avoid Any Internet Filter
Posted by Blacky at 10:16 pm 0 comments
An Online Easter Egg Hunt is Underway!
Want to learn about all the new features in Microsoft Office 2010 and SharePoint 2010? Microsoft has launched a fictional research and development company, Allure Bay Corp., and the fake company’s website is chock full of Easter eggs to demonstrate the new features of Microsoft’s latest software releases. Embark on the hunt by clicking the projector at the end of the introductory video.
An Online Easter Egg Hunt is Underway!
Posted by Blacky at 10:12 pm 0 comments
Internet Explorer 9, Platform Preview 4 Released
The Internet Explorer team just as expected released the fourth platform preview of the upcoming Internet Explorer 9 browser. The preview still offers no “real” user interface, but lots of progress has been made under the hood. Hardware accelerating everything that is rendered on the user’s PC seems to have been one of the main goals in the development. The developers have added additional hardware accelerated elements into IE9, including fully hardware accelerated HTML5. This basically means that Internet Explorer 9 uses hardware acceleration whenever possible.
Internet Explorer 9, Platform Preview 4 Released
Posted by Blacky at 8:11 pm 0 comments
Wednesday, August 04, 2010
Top 5 Firefox Extensions for Web-Developers
There are many tools to solve basic problems that we face while embedding javascripts, while defining CSS or while optimizing the web-site’s load time, and the best of them all are actually addons of Firefox.
Top 5 Firefox Extensions for Web-Developers
Posted by Blacky at 10:38 pm 0 comments
Tuesday, August 03, 2010
See Mercury, Venus, Mars, Saturn
Over the next few nights early in August 2010, sky watchers should be able to see the planets of Mercury, Venus, Mars, and Saturn in the western night sky. Don’t wait too long because Mercury soon disappears!
See Mercury, Venus, Mars, Saturn
Posted by Blacky at 7:12 am 0 comments
How to Get Started with Usenet in Three Simple Steps
Usenet is a wonderful service for finding and downloading digital media, giving you speed and reliability you won't find with other file-sharing options—like, say, BitTorrent. Here's a quick guide on setting up and getting started with Usenet.
How to Get Started with Usenet in Three Simple Steps
Posted by Blacky at 7:08 am 0 comments
Microsoft Office is licensed for two PCs
Surprise! surprise!! Did you know that the MS Office license you bought is actually valid for two PCs?
Microsoft Office is licensed for two PCs
Posted by Blacky at 7:01 am 0 comments
Checklist Guide for Reinstalling Windows
Do you need to reinstall Windows on your computer? Here’s a checklist of the things you should do before you make the leap and reinstall.
Checklist Guide for Reinstalling Windows
Posted by Blacky at 7:00 am 0 comments
Reset Web Browsers To Factory Default Settings
Resetting a web browser to its factory default settings is sometimes a last troubleshooting option, especially if all other repairing options have failed. The consequences are manifold. All custom settings and preferences will be reset to their default parameters, which means that the browser has to be customized after the resetting again. All popular Internet browsers offer an option to reset the settings. This article describes how to reset the settings of Internet Explorer, Mozilla Firefox, Opera and Google Chrome.
Reset Web Browsers To Factory Default Settings
Posted by Blacky at 6:58 am 0 comments
Monday, August 02, 2010
5 Awesome Optical Illusion Videos
How long has it been since you watched a video that made you go “Whoa?” If the answer is more than a day, then fear not, as we’ve got five lined up, each chock-full of “whoa” potential. Using nothing more than our eyes’ and brain’s perceptive weaknesses, these clever videos will trick your gray matter and leave you amazed. Or, if you’re really hard to impress, you’ll at least be mildly taken aback. Assuming you don’t have a medical condition that would make it unwise to stare at these brain busters, hop on through our gallery below. We pinky-swear there are no trick videos.
5 Awesome Optical Illusion Videos
Posted by Blacky at 7:12 pm 0 comments
Best Google Search Tricks And Easter Eggs
Google was built by geeky programmers, and geeky programmers have a great sense of humour. For evidence, look no further than the weird range of bonus features hidden in Google’s search and other products.
Best Google Search Tricks And Easter Eggs
Posted by Blacky at 4:54 pm 0 comments
Sunday, August 01, 2010
Google Earth Now Displays Real-Time Rain and Snow
The latest version of Google’s (Google) 3D map application, Google Earth (Google Earth), now has the ability to display real-time rain and snow in certain parts of the world. To see it, you must first enable the clouds layer, and then zoom in to a location where it’s raining or snowing. Google Earth displays rain and snow only in certain parts of North America and Europe; to see where exactly the new feature is available, enable the radar layer.
Google Earth Now Displays Real-Time Rain and Snow
Posted by Blacky at 10:31 am 0 comments
10 Best Viral Video Remixes on YouTube
You know a viral video has truly made it into the zeitgeist when it gets the remix treatment, which can itself go viral; so meta. For your viewing pleasure we’ve hit up YouTube for 10 of the best examples of memes remade to music. From Leeroy Jenkins to Chris Crocker, these amusing remixes take a video and make it even more memorable.
10 Best Viral Video Remixes on YouTube
Posted by Blacky at 10:08 am 0 comments
Saturday, July 31, 2010
Family Friendly sites listed on Blackstump Australia Issue 16/2010
The latest issue of new Family Friendly sites listed on The Black Stump.
Family Friendly sites listed on Blackstump Australia Issue 16/2010
Posted by Blacky at 7:04 pm 0 comments
Friday, July 30, 2010
5 Time Zone Tools
One of the problems with working people in other time zones is that figuring out whether it’s a good time to call them can be tricky; scheduling meetings can become positively nightmarish if you have participants in several time zones. Here are some tools that make things a little easier.
5 Time Zone Tools
Posted by Blacky at 7:08 am 0 comments
6 Great Reasons for Paying off the Mortgage on Your Home
Should you pay off the mortgage on the home you are living in? Mortgage interest rates are at historic lows and a fixed rate mortgage seems to be a deal of a lifetime right now, so why would anyone pay it off? Here are six reasons why paying off your mortgage is still worthwhile in the current economic climate.
6 Great Reasons for Paying off the Mortgage on Your Home
Posted by Blacky at 7:02 am 0 comments
Thursday, July 29, 2010
Astronomers discover new threat to Earth
Astronomers have detected a half-kilometre wide asteroid that appears to be on a collision course with the Earth - in 172 years time.
Astronomers discover new threat to Earth
Posted by Blacky at 8:39 pm 0 comments
Swan hints at possible filter changes
Federal Treasurer Wayne Swan has suggested changes could be made to the Federal Government's proposed internet filter.
Swan hints at possible filter changes
Posted by Blacky at 8:37 pm 0 comments
Common Passwords That You Should Avoid
This poster has a list of top 500 common passwords that you should absolutely avoid using with your online and offline accounts.
Common Passwords That You Should Avoid [Poster]
Posted by Blacky at 5:29 pm 0 comments
How Women Use the Web [REPORT]
More women than men across the world visit social networking sites and spend 30% more time per month using them.
How Women Use the Web [REPORT]
Posted by Blacky at 5:27 pm 0 comments
Wednesday, July 28, 2010
Beginner Geek: Do More With Windows 7 Sticky Notes
Would you like an easy way to write down a quick note and keep it in front of you without wasting a piece of a dead tree? Let’s take a look at the Sticky Notes app in Windows 7 and how you can use it to its fullest potential.
Beginner Geek: Do More With Windows 7 Sticky Notes
Posted by Blacky at 7:13 pm 0 comments
Use System File Checker to Repair Your Unbootable Windows PC
The System File Checker (sfc.exe) is a command-line tool built into Windows that helps you repair corrupted system files. If you can't boot your PC, the Winhelponline blog explains how to use it from the install disc.
Use System File Checker to Repair Your Unbootable Windows PC
Posted by Blacky at 6:14 pm 0 comments
Tuesday, July 27, 2010
Top 10 "Unusual" Uses For Duct Tape
It’s versatile, it’s cheap, it comes in a variety of colors and it’s as tough as old boots.
Top 10 "Unusual" Uses For Duct Tape
Posted by Blacky at 11:42 pm 0 comments