Startling photo of volcanic lightning

No, this is not a still from the Radiers of the Lost Ark scene when the ark is opened, but an absolutely magnificent image of southern Chile's Puyehue-Cordón Caulle volcano spewing lightning-topped ash.
Startling photo of volcanic lightning

Gmail Changes Again: Google Rolls Out New Look

The new-look Gmail that Google accidentally told us about last week is now rolling out to all users. The changes, officially announced in a blog post Tuesday, allow Gmail users much more control over the look of the service.
Gmail Changes Again: Google Rolls Out New Look

Top 9 Ways To Unlock The Unlockable

Getting locked out of your home, your computer or anywhere else you want to be can suck. The same goes for those times when your gadgets prevent you from doing what you want to do with them, but it doesn’t have to be that way. Here are the top 10 ways you can break into virtually anything with a literal or figurative lock.
Top 9 Ways To Unlock The Unlockable

How To Break Into A PC (And Prevent It From Happening To You)

If you’re trying to break into a Windows computer — whether you’ve forgotten your password or are hatching an evil plan — you have quite a few options. Here’s how to do it, and how to keep your own computer protected.
How To Break Into A PC (And Prevent It From Happening To You)

iPhone vs. Android: The Social App Activites That Set Users Apart

Okay, so maybe Mac and PC people have their differences — a lot of them. But, the same can’t be said about Android and iPhone users. Or can it? New analysis from mobile data management startup Onavo, shared exclusively with Mashable, sheds some light on the differences between iPhone and Android users, at least when it comes to their mobile social networking behaviors.
iPhone vs. Android: The Social App Activites That Set Users Apart

A Guide To Sniffing Out Passwords And Cookies (And How To Protect Yourself Against It)

Roughly one year ago, a tool called Firesheep introduced a lot of us to just how easily another person on the same network as you can snoop on your browsing session and even masquerade as you on sites that require a login (with Facebook perhaps the most notable example). Here’s a closer look at how network snooping works and how to protect yourself from it.Photo remixed from Anton Prado/Shutterstock.
A Guide To Sniffing Out Passwords And Cookies (And How To Protect Yourself Against It)

“World’s First Spherical Flying Machine” Can Land and Fly Almost Anywhere

The sci-fi classic Star Wars: A New Hope features a famous scene in which Luke Skywalker practices Jedi Lightsaber skills on a small, flying sphere that can hover and move quickly in any direction. Now, Japan’s Ministry of Defense has developed what may be a precursor to the Jedi training ball, though they call it a “Spherical Flying Machine.”
“World’s First Spherical Flying Machine” Can Land and Fly Almost Anywhere

Man Hysterically Fails at Explaining Klout to His Boss [VIDEO]

In this 3D animation, a man amusingly describes Klout to his boss during a performance review. The overly excited employee mentions “free stuff” (a.k.a. Klout Perks) and explains how he’s influential about social media, popcorn and Justin Bieber, who has the highest Klout score in the world.
Man Hysterically Fails at Explaining Klout to His Boss [VIDEO]

Beautiful video of the demolition of the Alaskan Way viaduct at night

3ric Johanson of Hackerbot Labs shot this beautiful video. He says it "shows the upper deck of the viaduct being demolished by massive jackhammers, while a brave construction worker sprays water to keep the dust down. It looks like we should expect an alien to come jumping out of this video at any moment."
Beautiful video of the demolition of the Alaskan Way viaduct at night

Ultra PDF Merger, Join Multiple PDF Documents

Sometimes you may download or create multiple pdf documents that you may want to merge into one document. Maybe you have used a program like WinScan2PDF that turns scans into pdf files or Joliprint which turns web pages into pdf documents, or you are receiving reports in pdf format regularly. If you end up with multiple pdf files you may want to join them together to improve the accessibility of said files.
Ultra PDF Merger, Join Multiple PDF Documents

Births, Australia, 2010

It's been another record year for Australian births, according to the Australian Bureau of Statistics. A total of 297,900 births were registered in Australia in 2010, the highest number of births ever registered in a calendar year. Of these, 16,100 births were registered where at least one parent was an Australian Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander person.
Births, Australia, 2010

The 7 Lifestyle Changes That Can Add A Decade To Your Life

Cardiologist Dr Clyde Yancy has compiled a list of the seven main lifestyle changes that lead to a longer lifespan and while they’re mostly common sense, adapting all of the strategies to your own behaviour can add nearly a decade of healthy years to your lifespan.
The 7 Lifestyle Changes That Can Add A Decade To Your Life

Where oh where did the satellite crash?

The defunct German satellite ROSAT came plunging back to Earth early on Sunday, October 23, 2011, but we’re not really sure where pieces of it landed after surviving its dramatic descent through Earth's atmosphere.
Where oh where did the satellite crash?

10 Years Of Australia’s Fires As Seen From Space

NASA’s latest visualisation tracks fires across the planet and their effect on vegetation as they go. It’s frightening and yet hypnotic viewing. Imagine, if you will, a terribly serious documentary about fire. Inevitably, a stern toned man would pipe up about how fire was man’s first tool, and at the same time one of his deadliest foes. Fires can be warming, but they can also be devastating, and Nasa’s visualisation of the world’s fires makes for compelling but disturbing viewing.
10 Years Of Australia’s Fires As Seen From Space

The 20 Best Windows 7 Start Menu and Taskbar Tips and Tricks

If you have moved from Windows XP to Windows 7, it might take some time to get used to the new Start menu and Taskbar. Here is a list of useful tips to help you make the most of each.
The 20 Best Windows 7 Start Menu and Taskbar Tips and Tricks

Hide iOS 5′s Newsstand App In A Folder With This Trick

f you don’t like the Newsstand app in iOS 5 and want to hide it, you’ll realise you can’t just put it into a folder like a normal app. With a bit of quick swiping, though, you can.
Hide iOS 5′s Newsstand App In A Folder With This Trick

Get Your External IP Address With A Quick Search For ‘IP’

Need to get your network’s external IP address on the quick — say for a quick round of port forwarding testing? You could head to your router’s admin page, but that’s kind of a hassle. You could point your browser to a single-purpose website like WhatIsMyIP.com. Or, even better, you can just search for IP. If you’re using Google or DuckDuckGo, those search engines will return your IP address above their top result. Handy!
Get Your External IP Address With A Quick Search For ‘IP’

The Best To-Do App For iPhone

If you thought there were tons of to-do app options for Mac, meet the iPhone. You could fill pages with all your different choices. We’ve tested plenty and Wunderlist was an easy favourite thanks to its focused feature set, great syncing capabilities, cross-platform support, good looks and $0 price tag.
The Best To-Do App For iPhone

The How-To Geek Guide to Getting Started with LastPass

It’s all too easy to get sloppy with your password security as the number of accounts and accompanying passwords pile up. It’s time to start letting LastPass generate and manage your stable of secure passwords.
The How-To Geek Guide to Getting Started with LastPass

How Science Can Teach You To Easily Spot A Liar

We’ve mentioned a few ways to detect liars, but Pamela Meyer has discovered just about all of them. She’s taken a look at the most common behaviours of liars, scientifically, and shares her expertise on how to detect them.
How Science Can Teach You To Easily Spot A Liar

iPhone 4S: Siri Politely Answers 10 Absurd Questions [PICS]

What happened when we put the iPhone 4S’s (somewhat) intelligent agent Siri on the spot, asking her absurd questions? You’d be surprised.
iPhone 4S: Siri Politely Answers 10 Absurd Questions [PICS]

Horrific Crash Of A Chinese Fighter Jet Captured On Video

A Chinese FBC-1 fighter jet plane was performing at an air show until things went horrifically wrong. The fighter jet started spiralling out of control and then plunged straight down, crashing into the ground and exploding on impact.
Horrific Crash Of A Chinese Fighter Jet Captured On Video

Family Friendly sites listed on Blackstump Australia Issue 19/2011

The latest issue of new Family Friendly sites listed on The Black Stump.
Family Friendly sites listed on Blackstump Australia Issue 19/2011

5 Hidden Gems in iOS 5

This week we’ve given iOS 5 the in-depth treatment and highlighted 10 of our favorite features — and we’re still not done exploring everything the new iOS 5 has to offer.
5 Hidden Gems in iOS 5

Household Wealth and Wealth Distribution, Australia, 2009-10

This publication presents estimates of the assets, liabilities, net worth and other characteristics of households and persons resident in private dwellings in Australia, compiled from the 2009-10 Survey of Income and Housing (SIH). It includes estimates of the distribution of net worth across the population.
Household Wealth and Wealth Distribution, Australia, 2009-10

Bargaining 101: How to get lower prices on everything

Bargaining, “wheeling and dealing” or just getting a deal—whatever you call it, it isn’t always easy to find exactly the item or service you want, and then ask for a lower price. Our American culture often views this sort of thing as the move of a cheapskate, or disrespectful/distrustful of the merchant and his or her pricing.
Bargaining 101: How to get lower prices on everything

Use WolframAlpha As a Secure Password Generator

Need a secure password and you’re away from your favorite password management app? WolframAlpha, the mathematical search engine, can generate a customizable secure password for you on the fly.
Use WolframAlpha As a Secure Password Generator

In the News: Nobel Peace Prize

The 2011 winners of the Nobel Peace Prize have now been announced! Learn about the three new Nobel Laureates, and the ongoing efforts of past Laureates and others around the world dedicated to the cause of peace.
In the News: Nobel Peace Prize

How to Avoid Fads

Are you or is someone you care about following that latest fad or craze without truly reflecting on why? In reality, fads make money out of our eagerness to allow our egos to be stroked and to be both like others and to not miss out on what others are enjoying. That said, it's very hard to resist a fad when your friends and family are keen about the latest object that seems like a must-have. It can be really hard to say no to what the rest of your tribe is playing with and using. And yet, you don't have to follow whatever your peers are wearing, saying or doing. And in so doing, you are not any lesser a person, nor are you missing out. Quite the opposite, you're showing other people that resistance is intelligent and likely to improve your wealth quotient too.
How to Avoid Fads

How to Save Photos

This has happened to me and can happen to you as well; I returned from a wonderful trip and, in a hurry, downloaded the photos into a folder that I later deleted by accident. Imagine the anger, the angry face and the despair. Even though I realized there must be a solution to get back the photos which were deleted, for some minutes, I stood there thinking that the memories of a wonderful trip to Italy have been lost and I won’t be able to watch them later.
How to Save Photos

How To Figure Out The Day Of The Week Any Date Falls On

You know those people who somehow manage to pull the day of the week out of thin air, past or present, no matter how far off a date is? As it turns out, all it takes is a few simple mental tricks and you can wow the world with your uncanny ability to figure out any date’s day of the week.
How To Figure Out The Day Of The Week Any Date Falls On

When Returning From The Moon, Don’t Forget To Fill Out Your Customs Form

Despite the fact that every single facet of NASA’s moonwalks were government-controlled expeditions, astronauts were not exempt from the annoying processes involved with foreign travel. Case in point, this customs form, signed by Neil Armstrong, Buzz Aldrin and Michael Collins.
When Returning From The Moon, Don’t Forget To Fill Out Your Customs Form

How to Check if a Number Is Prime

There are several methods for testing primality of integers. The best choice depends on the circumstances. Some of the methods are faster than others, while some popular tests are actually only probabilistic algorithms that will occasionally falsely characterize a number as prime or composite. The faster methods are primality tests, not factorization algorithms, so even if they show a number to be composite, they reveal nothing about its prime factors. This article will help you to explore a few of the methods.
How to Check if a Number Is Prime

HowTo: Setup secure and private Facebook browsing

This howto guide will take you through securing your Facebook account, enable settings for improved privacy, disabling features where your Facebook information can be shared with third-party sites, and finally setting up your browser for private sharing.
HowTo: Setup secure and private Facebook browsing

Teach Parents Tech, Tutorial Videos For Common PC Issues

Teach Parents Tech is a free website that you can use to send your parents or other users tech tutorial videos. The site is maintained by Google which may come as a surprise to some.
Teach Parents Tech, Tutorial Videos For Common PC Issues

HackNotifier, Check If Online Accounts Have Been Compromised

News about big hacks and the publication of user databases have slowed down considerably in past months. Before that reports of hacks were nearly daily in the news with companies like Sony, Gawker or Ashampoo the target.
HackNotifier, Check If Online Accounts Have Been Compromised

Fix Stuck Zippers With Windex

If your zipper’s caught on to the surrounding fabric and holding on with the jaws of life, a bit of Windex can make it slide freely once again, as Lifehacker reader Java-Princess explains.
Fix Stuck Zippers With Windex

Australian Pricing For Apple iPhone 4S And New iPod Models

Apple’s newly-announced iPhone 4S goes on sale October 14 in Australia (with pre-orders from October 7), along with new iPod Nano and Touch models. Here’s what you’ll pay (and how much more you’ll pay than American buyers).
Australian Pricing For Apple iPhone 4S And New iPod Models

What Australians Don’t Get With The iPhone 4S

The iPhone 4S is the first iPhone that’s going to hit Australian shelves at the same time as the US. But despite that improvement, there are some aspects of the local market it won’t take advantage of.
What Australians Don’t Get With The iPhone 4S

Apple iPhone 4S: Everything You Need To Know

Apple’s new iPhone 4S is just last year’s design loaded with a new brain and more memory. It will run your apps faster and Apple’s new iOS5′s Assistant, an artificial intelligence program that listens and interprets your orders, and a new camera.
Apple iPhone 4S: Everything You Need To Know

Introducing the iPhone 4S [VIDEO]

Apple announced its latest handset, the iPhone 4S, on Tuesday. Over at Apple.com, the company also posted this video showcasing the device and its new features.
Although the iPhone 4S looks almost identical to the iPhone 4, inside, the phone has been totally overhauled. Not only does it have a faster processor, higher storage capacity and better camera, it can take 1080p video, has a better battery and a redesigned antenna system.
Introducing the iPhone 4S [VIDEO]

iPhone 5 A No-Show: Did Apple Fail To Manage Expectations?

For the past year, we’ve endured a near-daily slew of rumors about a device called the iPhone 5. When Apple delayed its release of a new phone until Fall 2011, it only heightened expectations. Surely, if we were to wait more than the usual year between versions of the iPhone, the result must be something spectacular.
iPhone 5 A No-Show: Did Apple Fail To Manage Expectations?

How to Use Google SketchUp - wikiHow

Google SketchUp is a powerful 3D graphics program. It can be used to create elaborate three dimensional models of structures. SketchUp is a program with so many facets that it is not possible to simplify its use in a single article. However, it is possible to provide an overview of its many possibilities so that you can explore it in much greater detail.
How to Use Google SketchUp

PassMyWill Sends Out Your Passwords After You Die

After we die, our social networking profiles, bank accounts and email passwords are lost to anyone who might need them. If you want to ensure your digital identity is destroyed or passed on appropriately, PassMyWill will send out emails with your passwords.
PassMyWill Sends Out Your Passwords After You Die

Slate’s ‘Dumbest Inventions Ever’ List

Ladies and gentlemen, these are our ancestor’s infomercial products. Judge them lightly, but laugh heartily, for in 50 years’ time our great grandkids will laugh openly at our most-loved TV-bought gadgets.
Slate’s ‘Dumbest Inventions Ever’ List

General Social Survey: Summary Results, Australia, 2010

78% of Australians aged 18 years and over were satisfied with their lives, similar to the 76% who reported being satisfied in 2001, according to figures released today by the Australian Bureau of Statistics' 2010 General Social Survey (GSS). In 2010, 43% were pleased or delighted with their lives, while 34% reported being mostly satisfied. Those who were married (82%), widowed (78%) or never married (76%) were more likely to be satisfied with their lives than those who were divorced (66%) or separated (56%). People who had contact with friends and family outside their household at least weekly were much more likely to be satisfied with their lives (78%) than those who either had no recent contact (33%) or who had no friends or family outside their immediate household (28%).
General Social Survey: Summary Results, Australia, 2010

How To Watch The 2011 Grand Finals From Anywhere

Can you watch the AFL Grand Final in HD? Can you catch the NRL Grand Final from overseas? From free-to-air to internet, here are the options (such as they are) for catching the sporting action this weekend.
How To Watch The 2011 Grand Finals From Anywhere

The New Facebook: How to Take Control of Your Privacy

Facebook took a huge step toward ubiquitous sharing with its new timeline and sharing features. And it rightfully creeps some people out. Not everybody wants to share their life story on their profile, see their friends’ activities in real time or have their preferences in music, movies and reading shared as they’re consuming media.
The New Facebook: How to Take Control of Your Privacy

Facebook Privacy: 3 Fights to Expect When You Get the New Timeline

As an adult, you have responsibilities — an income, maybe a mortgage, possibly children. That’s great! Congrats. Now is certainly not the time to be throwing caution to the wind — just know that Facebook will be doing that for you.
Facebook Privacy: 3 Fights to Expect When You Get the New Timeline

Internet Activity, Australia, June 2011

HIGHLIGHTS
- At the end of June 2011, there were 10.9 million internet subscribers in Australia (excluding internet connections through mobile handsets). This represents annual growth of 14.8% and an increase of 4.4% since the end of December 2010.
- The phasing out of dial-up internet connections continued with 95% of internet connections being broadband.
- Australians continued to access increasingly faster download speeds, with 87% of access connections offering a download speed of 1.5Mbps or greater.
- Mobile wireless internet (excluding mobile handset) connections (44%) now exceed Digital Subscriber Line (DSL) connections (41%) in Australia. Mobile wireless (excluding mobile handset connections) was the fastest growing internet access technology in actual numbers, increasing from 4.2 million in December 2010 to 4.8 million in June 2011.
Internet Activity, Australia, June 2011

Hide the Past Before Opening your Facebook Profile to Subscribers

You have been using Facebook all this while to share pictures and other personal stuff with your close friends and suddenly, Facebook added the subscribe button that is enticing you to open your personal profile to the outside world.
Hide the Past Before Opening your Facebook Profile to Subscribers

Simple Performance Boost For Windows

One of the things that I like about Windows is the fact that you can tweak the operating system to suite your needs. You can do that by clicking through menus, editing the Registry, running scripts or using tweaking software. Simple Performance Boost is such a tweaking software for Windows. It comes from the same developers that have created the Windows Repair software. The program itself is offered as a portable version and installer.
Simple Performance Boost For Windows

How To Stop Facebook From Tracking You Across The Internet

If you want to use Facebook, but don’t want Facebook’s tendrils extending all over the internet and following your account, you’ll want this. Facebook Disconnect completely blocks the social network’s ability to track your account across the web.
How To Stop Facebook From Tracking You Across The Internet

How tide predicting, analog computers won World War II

Without Lord Kelvin, there would have been no D-Day. There's some very cool science history in the September issue of Physics Today, centering around a collection of analog computers, developed in the 19th century to predict tides. This was a job that human mathematicians could do, but the computing machines did the job faster and were less prone to small errors that had big, real-world implications.
How tide predicting, analog computers won World War II

Family Friendly sites listed on Blackstump Australia Issue 18/2011

The latest issue of new Family Friendly sites listed on The Black Stump.
Family Friendly sites listed on Blackstump Australia Issue 18/2011

NASA Details Space Exploration Plans

NASA has just published the Global Exploration Roadmap, a document detailing the agency’s plans for the next 25 years of space exploration. It’s a must-read for anyone interested in the future of space technology, travel and exploration.
NASA Details Space Exploration Plans

10 under-appreciated women in science

Over at Smithsonian.com, Sarah Zielinski has a great piece about important female scientists whose names aren't as publicly well-known as they ought to be. She lists 10 smart, sciencey ladies.
10 under-appreciated women in science

Windows Repair, Troubleshoot Windows Issues

When you are using Windows regularly, you likely run into issues eventually. This can be easy to fix stuff like running out of disk space or broken shortcuts to more serious problems like a virus infection or programs that won’t start up anymore. The troubleshooting and repair depends largely on the issue that is experienced on the computer system. If you suspect a virus you’d run up to date antivirus software, if a program does not run anymore you might be tempted to use System Restore or re-install the program to see if it fixes the issue.
Windows Repair, Troubleshoot Windows Issues

Learning that life can be a bit sour

One of the joys of interacting with babies is their complete lack of guile. Whatever they experience and feel — hunger, happiness, fear — is immediately and honestly reflected in their facial expressions.
Learning that life can be a bit sour

Australian Social Trends, Sep 2011

Australian Social Trends draws on a wide range of data, sourced both from ABS and other agencies, to present a picture of Australian society. This publication aims to inform decision-making, research and discussion on social conditions in Australia. It covers social issues of current and ongoing concern, population groups of interest, and changes over time.
Australian Social Trends, Sep 2011

NASA’s Not Sure Where In The World This Satellite Will Crash

The 20-year-old UARS satellite has dropped out of orbit — as old satellites are wont to do — and is reentering the atmosphere. Too bad NASA can’t pinpoint where — or when — exactly it will land. Could be the middle of the Pacific, could be the middle of Paris — it’s a surprise!
NASA’s Not Sure Where In The World This Satellite Will Crash

Top 5 Smelly Things That Should Be Banned In Aeroplanes

The US Department of Transportation wants to ban electronic cigarettes, even while they only produce water vapour that doesn’t contain any cancerous chemicals. They say this will increase the comfort of other passengers. Perhaps they should ban other things first.
Top 5 Smelly Things That Should Be Banned In Aeroplanes

How To Deal With ‘Hand Wash Only’ Clothes

The “hand wash only” label on clothes is as annoying as the “dry clean only”, maybe even more so. How exactly should you wash those delicate silk or wool items? How much soap do you need? Can’t you just stick it in the washing machine?
How To Deal With ‘Hand Wash Only’ Clothes

Download Windows 8 Developer Preview

Microsoft just gave a full fledged preview of Windows 8, which has left many geeks and non-geeks dying to experience the brand new OS. Right from Metro style UI to Touch Gestures to Full screen apps, Microsoft has managed to shake up the way we have been using the Windows OS. Those who saw the keynote today were left astounded by the super-fast boot times of Windows 8, be it on the desktops or laptops or the tablets.
Download Windows 8 Developer Preview for Free!

Everything You Need To Know About Windows 8 In 8 Minutes

Want to get to know Windows 8 but don’t have time to sit through the lengthy keynote? We’ve cut it down to the necessities so you can find out everything you really need to know in only eight minutes.
Everything You Need To Know About Windows 8 In 8 Minutes

Kogan Now Offers Canon, Apple, Nikon, Acer & More

Kogan today began the next phase in our mission to make the latest technology affordable for all. Kogan.com now sells more of the World’s most popular consumer electronics brands and products at the World’s best prices.

In true Kogan style, we are ensuring we smash the competition on price by cutting out the middle-men - sourcing brands like Canon, Nikon, Apple and Samsung higher up in the supply chain, and selling direct to you through Kogan.com.
Kogan Now Offers Canon, Apple, Nikon, Acer & More

Windows 8 Has Finally Updated The Blue Screen Of Death

It took Microsoft long enough, but they’ve finally (FINALLY!) changed the blue screen of death to be something a little more friendly and a little less scary.
Windows 8 Has Finally Updated The Blue Screen Of Death

How To Dual-Boot Windows 7 And Windows 8 Side By Side

The Windows 8 developer preview is out for all to try, but installing it over your main Windows setup is a scary prospect. Here’s how to dual boot them so you can run them both side by side.
How To Dual-Boot Windows 7 And Windows 8 Side By Side

How big are solar flares, really?

Eye opening perspective.
How big are solar flares, really?

Microsoft Launches Windows 8

Say hello to Windows 8, Microsoft’s next-generation operating system. Microsoft is unveiling the new OS at its Build Conference in Anaheim, Calif. The OS, a complete rebuild of Microsoft’s flagship product, is designed to work with both tablets and PCs.
Microsoft Launches Windows 8

10 Signs That An Australian Banknote Might Be Forged

Australia’s banknotes incorporate a huge number of features that make them difficult to counterfeit, but that doesn’t mean criminals don’t have a crack at it now and then. Here are the ten most obvious signs that a note might be a fake.
10 Signs That An Australian Banknote Might Be Forged

How has skyscraper design changed since 9/11?

Miles O'Brien did a report for PBS NewsHour on how the technology and design of skyscrapers has changed since 9/11. Video here, transcript here.
How has skyscraper design changed since 9/11?

Physical Activity in Australia: A Snapshot

Physical activity is an important factor in maintaining good overall health and wellbeing. Being physically active has significant health benefits, including reducing the risk of some chronic conditions, helping to control weight, and improving mental wellbeing. Some forms of physical activity may also help manage long-term conditions, such as arthritis and Type 2 diabetes, by reducing their effects and improving quality of life.
Physical Activity in Australia: A Snapshot

The Quickest Way to Reveal What Really Matters in Life

Are you being bombarded from all sides with a barrage of tasks and people demanding your time? There always seems to be something important to do, and someone else who wants a piece of your attention. Pretty soon it all gets out of control and you struggle to keep a grip on everything. So, we create lengthy To-do lists. We fill our schedules and diaries with appointments and decorate our calendars with red marker pen circles.
The Quickest Way to Reveal What Really Matters in Life

Microsoft out-of-cycle patch to fix DigiNotar bogus certificates

Some weeks ago, nefarious people hacked a digital certificate vendor and issued themselves bogus certificates. The main browser producers are responding. iTWire recommends updating ALL browsers immediately.
Microsoft out-of-cycle patch to fix DigiNotar bogus certificates

TIME: Revisiting 9/11

Today, TIME magazine released its issue commemorating 10 years since 9/11, with a wide array of interviews and photos (including images never before published).
TIME: Revisiting 9/11

NASA Releases High Resolution Photos of Moon Landing Sites

If you’re an astronomy buff with an interest in the lunar program, you don’t want to pass up these newly released high resolution photos of the landing sites and impact craters our moon explorations left behind.
NASA Releases High Resolution Photos of Moon Landing Sites

Photographic proof: the Apollo moon landings were real

NASA's Lunar Reconnaissance Orbiter has taken the clearest images yet of the various Apollo landing sites. Memo to the nay-sayers: the landings really did happen - here's photographic proof.
Photographic proof: the Apollo moon landings were real

Household Expenditure Survey, Australia: Summary of Results, 2009-10

Half the money that Australian households spend on goods and services goes on housing, food and transport, according to a major survey released today by the Australian Bureau of Statistics (ABS). The latest Household Expenditure Survey (HES) showed the average Australian household spent $1,236 per week on goods and services in 2009–10, an increase of 38% ($343 per week) from the previous 2003–04 survey. In contrast, prices as measured by the consumer price index (CPI) increased by 19%, indicating a rise in real living standards over the five years.
Household Expenditure Survey, Australia: Summary of Results, 2009-10

Top 10 Repair Projects You Should Never Pay For

Things break down, whether due to accidents, negligence on our part, or just plain wear and tear. Instead of shelling out for an expensive repair or replacement, though, you can often fix the problem yourself for much less. Here are 10 repairs you should never pay for.
Top 10 Repair Projects You Should Never Pay For

New iPhone 5 Clue: Will It Have a 4-Inch Screen?

As we get closer to the rumored release date of the iPhone 5, yet another clue about its true nature has surfaced today. Here’s a new set of extrapolations, taken to a speculative conclusion by our friends at MacRumors. When they snagged a couple of publicly available third-party cases that purport to fit the iPhone 5, they noticed that the case is so much wider that it strongly suggests a 4-inch screen on the new iPhone, larger than the iPhone 4′s 3.5″ display.
New iPhone 5 Clue: Will It Have a 4-Inch Screen?

Increase Windows 7 Performance in 4 Easy Steps

Even if you’ve just bought a brand new computer complete with Windows 7, you may find you’re lacking some power. Most new computers are pretty quick these days, but they are usually set to some default settings that can be tweaked to give you more power for nothing. These tips aim to show you a few easy to change settings that will release some extra power and speed up your computer without having to install anything.
Increase Windows 7 Performance in 4 Easy Steps

Family Friendly sites listed on Blackstump Australia Issue 17/2011

The latest issue of new Family Friendly sites listed on The Black Stump.
Family Friendly sites listed on Blackstump Australia Issue 17/2011

How Does Your Email Closing Line Come Off?

I’ve long thought using “best” as your email close was insincere at best, and dismissive at worst. But how do other email closers come off? Bobulate‘s chart from 2007 tries to classify.
How Does Your Email Closing Line Come Off?

The 10 Immutable Laws of Security

If you’re looking for a basic primer to share with friends and family who are a bit unclear on their role in their own computer security, this guide from Microsoft can help clear things up. The list is somewhat of a classic Microsoft offering but despite being a few years old it’s a really solid overview, especially for people who are unclear on basic computer security principles.
The 10 Immutable Laws of Security

Melbourne named world's most liveable city

Melbourne has finally knocked Vancouver off its perch as the best city in the world to live in. Melbourne claimed the title of the world's most liveable city in the Economist Intelligence Unit's latest survey, with Sydney, Perth and Adelaide also making it into the top 10.
Melbourne named world's most liveable city

Four Amazing Freeware Tools for Windows

Some of the most useful and maybe, less-known freeware to make your Windows experience even more worthwhile.
Four Amazing Freeware Tools for Windows

What's important in Australian life?

The Australian Bureau of Statistics (ABS) launched a national conversation today, asking:

What do you think is important in Australian life?
What do you think is important in Australia’s society, economy and environment?

To kick start the conversation, we asked Michael Stutchbury, Economics Editor of The Australian, and Richard Aedy, host of Radio National's Life Matters program to share their views.
What's important in Australian life?

Hurricane Irene: Top 5 Online Sources for Weathering the Storm

Now that Hurricane Irene is attacking the East Coast in earnest, it’s time to keep a close eye on current hurricane conditions — that is, if you’re lucky enough to still have some sort of Internet connection.
Hurricane Irene: Top 5 Online Sources for Weathering the Storm

Men and women are both living longer

Women are still living longer than men, but men are closing the gap, according to a new publication released by the Australian Bureau of Statistics (ABS) today. Over the last ten years life expectancy at birth has increased at a greater rate for men (by 3 years) than for women (by 2 years). However, women continue to have a higher life expectancy at birth (now 84 years for women and 79 years for men).
Men and women are both living longer

Hurricane Irene, as seen from space (video, and snapshot by astronaut)

From 230 miles above the Earth, cameras on the International Space Station captured new views of powerful Hurricane Irene as it churned over the Bahamas at 3:10 p.m. EDT on August 24, 2011. Irene is moving to the northwest as a Category 3 hurricane, packing winds of 120 miles an hour. Irene is expected to strengthen to a Category 4 storm as it heads toward the Outer Banks of North Carolina, the Eastern Seaboard and the middle Atlantic and New England states.
Hurricane Irene, as seen from space (video, and snapshot by astronaut

How the first image of the whole Earth was taken

The very first image of the whole Earth was made in 1966. It was fax quality, sent back by the Lunar Orbit 1. Most remarkable was the ingenious contraption that took a picture, developed the film, scanned it and transmitted it back, all in analog, with mechanical moving parts, in zero gravity and a total vacuum.
How the first image of the whole Earth was taken

Fukushima technician gives behind-the-scenes look at the cleanup operation

New details about the robotics deployed to help clean up Japan's Fukushima nuclear plant have emerged, thanks to a series of blog posts penned by an anonymous technician.
Fukushima technician gives behind-the-scenes look at the cleanup operation

TravelSIM Lets You Receive Calls Free In 117 Countries

One of the big disincentives to use your mobile phone overseas is the roaming charge double-whammy: not only does the caller pay to ring you, but you get slugged with a charge as well. Roaming SIM provider TravelSIM has eased that pain a little, offering free receipt of calls in 117 countries.
TravelSIM Lets You Receive Calls Free In 117 Countries

Inside Antarctica’s ice caves

Kayla Iacovino is a Ph.D. student who works on Antarctica's Mount Erebus, the southernmost volcano in the world. Ironically, for a volcano, Erebus is also home to some truly stunning ice caves, carved out of nearby ice and snowpack by hot, volcanic gases.
Inside Antarctica’s ice caves

How to Remove Passwords from Adobe PDF Files

Is there a tool available that can remove password protection from PDF files? The answer is obviously yes.
How to Remove Passwords from Adobe PDF Files

A Guide To Facebook Security

Facebook on Thursday has released a security guide aimed at young adults, parents and educators to educate them about security concepts on the social networking site. The 14 pages of the pdf document are packed with information that range from general account protection information to using Facebook’s advanced security settings or recovering a hacked Facebook account.
A Guide To Facebook Security

How to Create a Windows 7 System Backup Image & Repair Disk

Creating a system backup image can be extremely useful. If something goes wrong with your Windows 7 installation, you can’t log in, or files have become damaged and corrupted, you can boot directly from your repair disk to rectify the problem. You should note that when you restore from a system backup image, it is a complete restoration, and you won’t be able to choose individual programs or files. However, if you find yourself with a corrupted disk drive, a complete restoration is probably what you want anyway.
How to Create a Windows 7 System Backup Image & Repair Disk

Download Windows 7 ISOs To Reinstall Without Restoring Your System

If you’ve just bought a new laptop or pre-built desktop running Windows it’s more than likely you do not have a disc with the operating system. You may have a restore disc or hard drive partition that will restore your computer to factory settings, but having an actual disc to install Windows is handy if you need to reinstall just your operating system.
Download Windows 7 ISOs To Reinstall Without Restoring Your System

Fukushima: First photojournalist inside plant captures daily life of cleanup workers

25-year old Kazuma Obara (Twitter), a native of Japan's tsunami-hit Iwate prefecture, is the first photojournalist to enter the Fukushima Daiichi plant and photograph what conditions are like for the cleanup workers.
Fukushima: First photojournalist inside plant captures daily life of cleanup workers