Zeitgeist 2011: How the world searched

This year marks Google's 11th annual look back at the searches that compose the year’s Zeitgeist—the spirit of the time. With Zeitgeist, they look at the most popular and the fastest rising terms—the terms with the highest growth in 2011—in many categories across many countries around the world.
Zeitgeist 2011: How the world searched

The Best Video of Earth From Space Ever Made

This stunning timelapse video is a series of photographs taken from the International Space Station between August and October. Astronaut/photographer Ron Garan captures many amazing sights of the planet including the aurora (both Borealis and Australis), pinprick cities, and lightning storms that appear like firecrackers.
The Best Video of Earth From Space Ever Made

How to Cancel or Delete a Stuck Print Job in the Windows Print Queue

If you tried to print, but the job just got stuck in the queue without being able to cancel it, you’re experiencing a stuck print job. There’s a simple way to clear out the print queue, but it’s not always the most obvious thing. Here’s how to do it.
How to Cancel or Delete a Stuck Print Job in the Windows Print Queue

Setting up a temporary ‘ad hoc’ network

When you need a quick way to share files between two Windows PCs that aren’t normally connected, an ad hoc wireless network is the way to go. Everything you need is already built into Windows 7, Vista, and XP. Here’s how to set up an ad hoc network on wireless PCs.
Setting up a temporary ‘ad hoc’ network

Seven Key Facts About What Aussies Do Online

The annual Communications Report from the Australian Communications and Media Authority offers a wealth of statistics about how we get online and what we do when we get there. Here are the seven which stuck out for us.
Seven Key Facts About What Aussies Do Online

The 10 Most Overused LinkedIn Profile Buzzwords of 2011

Do you describe yourself as professionally creative and motivated? Then a new list from LinkedIn suggests another descriptor for you too: Unimaginative.
The 10 Most Overused LinkedIn Profile Buzzwords of 2011

Experience the tsunami-affected areas of Japan through Street View

Back in July, we announced our initiative to digitally archive the areas of Northeastern Japan affected by the March 11 earthquake and tsunami. Today, we’re making good on that promise—after driving more than 44,000 kilometers through the affected regions, 360-degree panoramic imagery of those areas is now available through the Street View feature in Google Maps. The images can also be viewed via a special website called “Build the Memory,” where you can easily compare before and after shots of the towns changed by these events.
Experience the tsunami-affected areas of Japan through Street View

How Have Australian Dietary Guidelines Changed?

New draft versions of the Australian Dietary Guidelines have been released by the National Health and Medical Research Council (NHMRC). How do these differ from previous versions? We’ve highlighted the key differences (start throwing out those soft drink cans now).
How Have Australian Dietary Guidelines Changed?

What the World’s Biggest Websites Looked Like at Launch

Since the rise of the Internet in the ’90s, the web has shown no signs of slowing down. We’ve watched the birth and evolution of social media, e-commerce and online video entertainment.
What the World’s Biggest Websites Looked Like at Launch

Learn How Stuff Works With the Best How-To Geek Explainers for 2011

How-To Geek is a great place to learn all kinds of things, and some of their articles are in-depth explanations of how something works. Thry call these explainer topics, and here’s the best ones that they published in 2011.
Learn How Stuff Works With the Best How-To Geek Explainers for 2011

Best Photography Tips, Tricks And Hacks Of 2011

This was a great year for all things photography, with posts to help you behind the camera, in front of it, when you’re shooting and when you’re editing. Here’s a look back at our most popular photography tips, tricks and hacks of 2011.
Best Photography Tips, Tricks And Hacks Of 2011

Family Friendly sites listed on Blackstump Australia Issue 22/2011

The latest issue of new Family Friendly sites listed on The Black Stump.
Family Friendly sites listed on Blackstump Australia Issue 22/2011

What's Your Greatest 'Words With Friends' Achievement?

It’s been an interesting week for Words With Friends. On Monday, Alec Baldwin made news for getting kicked off a flight prior to take-off in Los Angeles because of issues relating to his phone use. Apparently his addiction to the popular Scrabble-like game Words With Friends is what did him in. It’s not entirely clear what happened on the plane – American Airlines released a statement saying the actor was “extremely rude to the crew,” while Baldwin himself published a column in the Huffington Post apologizing while saying he was “singled out.” But one thing is certain – Words With Friends is highly addictive.
What's Your Greatest 'Words With Friends' Achievement?

How To Open Everything When You’re Weak

Sometimes it’s hard to open doors, jars, beers and other things when you have a hard time getting a good grip or you’re just plain weak. Thankfully, there are plenty of good tricks out there to get things open using common household objects.
How To Open Everything When You’re Weak

Hidden iOS 5 Feature Offers Tons of Beautiful Emoticons [PICS]

If you’re tired of embarrassing Auto Correct errors or composing emoticons based on punctuation marks that only make sense if you tilt your head sideways, there’s a somewhat hidden iOS 5 feature you’ll like: Emoji.
Hidden iOS 5 Feature Offers Tons of Beautiful Emoticons

Most hated buzzwords

"Think outside the box" is the most hated buzzword. At the end of the day, however, we have to circle back and touch base with a proactive look at the many other turns of phrase that are no-brainers for inclusion in the list.
Most hated buzzwords

Windows Defender Offline Tool Now Available

The majority of threats that land on a Windows PC can be removed by antivirus software while the operating system is running. Some threats on the other hand cannot be fully removed when the system is running. The only solution in this case is to either boot into a different operating system, restore a previous version of the system from backup, or use bootable security software to remove malicious software this way.
Windows Defender Offline Tool Now Available

Real or Fake? The Texts Behind Damn You Auto Correct

The popular blog Damn You Auto Correct went viral on the Internet again this week, after the site unveiled its funniest auto-corrected text messages of the year.
Real or Fake? The Texts Behind Damn You Auto Correct

Facebook bug can make your private photos public

Nothing is ever 100% completely secure, let’s get this settled from the off. Whatever security anybody or any company ever puts in place there’s either some way to crack it, or some flaw in the system that will allow people to circumvent it. Thus it’s not really a shouting a Facebook moment to discover that such a flaw has been found that allows people to see the private photos of others.
Facebook bug can make your private photos public

List The 100 Largest Windows Files

You have several options when you are running out of storage space. You could consider uninstalling software that you no longer need, run a temporary files cleaner like CCleaner, search for large files to delete them, backup files to restore space or even buy a new hard drive to extend the available space.
List The 100 Largest Windows Files

The How-To Geek Guide to Buying an HDTV

The HDTV market is loaded with high prices, jargon, and more than a few pitfalls for the uneducated consumer. Save your money, spare yourself a headache, and get the best bang for your buck with our detailed HDTV buying guide.
The How-To Geek Guide to Buying an HDTV

How to Search for Text Inside of Any File Using Windows Search

Many of us rely on Windows Search to find files and launch programs, but searching for text within files is limited to specific filetypes by default. Here’s how you can expand your search to include other text based files.
How to Search for Text Inside of Any File Using Windows Search

20 of the Best Tips and Tricks for Getting the Most out of the Windows Command Line

Do you use the command line in Windows to get things done? If you are more comfortable typing commands to accomplish tasks than using the mouse, we have compiled 20 of the best Windows command line tips and tricks to help you become a command line guru.
20 of the Best Tips and Tricks for Getting the Most out of the Windows Command Line

An anesthesiologist's view of the human heart

This is a really fascinating entry in The Guardian's multi-video package about heart health and medicine. Bruce Martin, a British anesthesiologist, talks about his job, anesthetizing patients for heart surgery. If this doesn't make your job seem less stressful by comparison, then you're probably a fighter pilot or something.
An anesthesiologist's view of the human heart

Stop Carrier IQ From Tracking Your iPhone

Carrier IQ has made quite a stir with its ability to track everything you do on your Android phone, and it turns out that it comes preinstalled on the iPhone as well — albeit a less dastardly version. Here’s what it can do and how to turn it off.
Stop Carrier IQ From Tracking Your iPhone

Carrier IQ and Your Phone: Everything You Need to Know

There’s a storm of controversy flaring up over Carrier IQ, cellphone software that logs user activity and relays at least some of that information to wireless carriers. The carriers say they’ll use that data to improve their networks. But anything that’s peeking in on what you’re doing on a phone raises a host of privacy concerns, and many users are suspicious.

Carrier IQ is so controversial for a few reasons:

• It’s hidden. Short of rooting, or removing certain software safeguards to obtain “administrator” access to your phone, it’s almost impossible to know if it’s there.


• It’s everywhere. The software reportedly exists on millions of handsets on several carriers, including many Android phones and even some versions of the iPhone.


• It’s not opt-in. Without the user’s explicit approval, the software is enabled and gathering data on the phone.


• It’s voracious. According to Trevor Eckhart, who created the recent explosion of attention on Carrier IQ with a video he posted on YouTube earlier this week, the software logs every keystroke and incoming text message. However, there’s some question about how much of this information is actually sent to the carriers.

Here are the most important things you should know about this previously little-known piece of software:
Carrier IQ and Your Phone: Everything You Need to Know

Dropbox File Synchronization and Online Storage Review [Giveaway]

Cloud hosting, or online hosting in general, is not a new technology. Your emails hosted on your email provider’s server are as much cloud hosting as storing website files on content distribution networks or important documents with the help of a provider like Dropbox.
Dropbox File Synchronization and Online Storage Review [Giveaway]

The Eight Splendid Truths of Happiness.

Each one of these truths sounds fairly obvious and straightforward, but each was the product of tremendous thought. Take the Second Splendid Truth—it’s hard to exaggerate the clarity I gained when I finally managed to put it into words. Here they are:

First Splendid Truth
To be happier, you have to think about feeling good, feeling bad, and feeling right, in an atmosphere of growth.

The Eight Splendid Truths of Happiness.

Facebook Unveils Its Most Shared Stories of 2011

1. Satellite Photos of Japan, Before and After the Earthquake and Tsunami

This Mar. 15 New York Times interactive graphic compares satellite images of the damages of the Japan earthquake and tsunami.

Click here to view this gallery.

Facebook has released a list of the 40 most shared stories of 2011 (well, the first 11 months, at least). We’ve collected the top 20 into the gallery above — check it out.

The topics range from sweet (twin baby boys conversing in gibberish) to serious (satellite photos examining the damages of the Japan earthquake).

There were some clear trends. Twelve of the stories relate to parenting or families, while three of the picks are viral videos. Another three are about Steve Jobs.

More suprisingly, all 40 of the stories come from just six online outlets: Yahoo has 13 stories, CNN has 11, the New York Times has 7, The Huffington Post has 7, The Wall Street Journal has one and the Washington Post has one.

Mashable‘s Pete Cashmore wrote the number seven story: You’ll Freak When You See the New Facebook, as one of his regular columns for CNN.

Most of the stories provide unique opinions, such as pieces on “Tiger Moms” and why women remain unmarried. Straight news coverage, however, didn’t fare so well. CNN‘s Steve Jobs, Apple Founder, Dies barely made the list at number 37).

Facebook Unveils Its Most Shared Stories of 2011

Earth Time-Lapse View from Space

Time lapse sequences of photographs taken by Ron Garan
fragileoasis.org/âbloggernauts/âAstro_Ron and the crew of expedition
28 & 29 onboard the International Space Station from August to October,
2011, who to my knowledge shot these pictures at an altitude of around
350 km with a high ISO HD Camera developed by NHK Japan,
nicknamed the SS-HDTV camera. All credit goes to them.
Earth Time-Lapse View from Space

How to preserve photographs worth keeping in three simple steps

Today’s post is written by Sally Jacobs, the Practical Archivist. She has worked on archival collections at the Library of Congress Prints and Photos Division, the Wisconsin Historical Society Archives and American Girl. Thank you, Sally, for agreeing to share your amazing, in-depth knowledge of archival procedures with us.
How to preserve photographs worth keeping in three simple steps

Traversing Antarctica: the Australian experience

Our icy southern neighbour has fascinated expeditioners and scientists for over 100 years since the 1911–14 Australasian Antarctic Expedition led by Douglas Mawson. Delve into the scientific, historical, and cultural legacy of those who navigate the extreme conditions in the name of discovery.
Traversing Antarctica: the Australian experience

How to See What Web Sites Your Computer is Secretly Connecting To

Has your internet connection become slower than it should be? There may be a chance that you have some malware, spyware, or adware that is using your internet connection in the background without your knowledge. Here’s how to see what’s going on under the hood.
How to See What Web Sites Your Computer is Secretly Connecting To

Photo Event Organizer, Image Organizer

Have you ever worked with a folder full of photos? I’m talking hundreds or even thousands of photos taken with different camera models and in different years and locations. It is pretty difficulty to find specific photos or events in a folder filled with such an amount of photos.
Photo Event Organizer, Image Organizer

How a Typical Facebook Scam Works?

If you have been on Facebook for a decent amount of time, you may have definitely come across videos posts on your news wall that have an enticing title and an innocent thumbnail but upon clicking, the link takes you a scam website.
How a Typical Facebook Scam Works?

Sunrise, Sunset, Twilight, Moonrise and Moonset Times

Even if you are living in a big city like me, you sometimes need to know the times the sun or moon rises and sets. Maybe you want to photograph the sun or moon at a specific time, go fishing or believe in something that requires you to know the exact times. Or, you simply want to be prepared for the full moon everyone is going crazy periods. Whatever it is, the Firefox add-on Sun Cult makes it dead easy to tell. The extension supports both sun and moon times, and in particular sunrise, sunset, twilight, moonrise and moonset times.
Sunrise, Sunset, Twilight, Moonrise and Moonset Times

30 Great Photoshop Tips and Tricks to Help Your Computer Graphic Skills

Photoshop is a powerful, but complex, graphics program that can be difficult to learn and frustrating to use. We have published many articles about tips and tricks for using Photoshop and how to fix annoying issues you may encounter.
30 Great Photoshop Tips and Tricks to Help Your Computer Graphic Skills

Family Friendly sites listed on Blackstump Australia Issue 21/2011

The latest issue of new Family Friendly sites listed on The Black Stump.
Family Friendly sites listed on Blackstump Australia Issue 21/2011

Composite Moon Map Offers Stunning Views of the Lunar Surface

Researchers at Arizona State University have stitched together a massive high-resolution map of the moon; seen the moon in astounding detail.
Composite Moon Map Offers Stunning Views of the Lunar Surface

25 Worst Passwords of 2011

Pro tip: choosing “password” as your online password is not a good idea. In fact, unless you’re hoping to be an easy target for hackers, it’s the worst password you can possibly choose. “Password” ranks first on password management application provider SplashData’s annual list of worst internet passwords, which are ordered by how common they are. (“Passw0rd,” with a numeral zero, isn’t much smarter, ranking 18th on the list.)
25 Worst Passwords of 2011

Forget a Name? 6 Tips for Faking It

1. The “I know your name, but I’m blocked” dodge:
“I keep wanting to call you 'David,' but I know that’s not right.”

2. The “Of course I know you -- in fact, I want all your information” dodge:
“Hey, I’d love to get your card.”

etc
Forget a Name? 6 Tips for Faking It

Periodic Table adds new elements

Welcome, Darmstadtium (Ds), Roentgenium (Rg), and Copernicium (Cn)—three new elements that joined the Periodic Table earlier this month. None exist in nature. In fact, they don't exist very long even in the laboratory. But there they are, nonetheless.
Periodic Table adds new elements

How to Make Your Computer Press a Key Every X Seconds

Have you ever needed to press a key every couple of seconds, or every few minutes? Perhaps you’re playing a video game and you’re waiting for an item, or you’ve got some other reason. Either way, here’s how to make your PC do it automatically.
How to Make Your Computer Press a Key Every X Seconds

Google Verbatim For Exact Search Results

When you search on Google you often get results that have nothing to do with your original search query. Take the search for Appel for instance. You probably would not expect sites about Apple in the search results. Google on the other hand thinks that is what the user is looking for and displays three Apple sites in the top five search results.
Google Verbatim For Exact Search Results

Why Is China Building Gigantic Structures In The Middle Of The Desert?

This is crazy. New photos have appeared in Google Maps showing unidentified titanic structures in the middle of the Chinese desert. The first one is an intricate network of what appears to be huge metallic stripes. Is this a military experiment?
Why Is China Building Gigantic Structures In The Middle Of The Desert?

The connections between "itch" and "ouch"

The biology of itching and the biology of pain are intertwined in interesting ways, writes graduate student and science blogger Aatish Bhatia. Understanding itching can help us better understand how to treat pain. I'd not seen Bhatia's blog before, but I'm really liking his style. He does a great job of breaking down the science in a clear way.
The connections between "itch" and "ouch"

Need To Enter A Valid Credit Card? Use These

Some websites or services let you sign up only if you enter a valid credit card. This can happen even if you have no intention of ever buying something from the service or website. Sometimes you may prefer not to enter your own credit card information on the Internet, and sometimes you do not have a valid credit card that is accepted in another country.
Need To Enter A Valid Credit Card? Use These

Worldwide Feast: 55 Great Global Food Blogs

These 55 blogs comprise Saveur's must-read list in the international food blogging community.
Worldwide Feast: 55 Great Global Food Blogs

Three Easy And Cheap Ways To Increase Your Home’s Security

You want to protect your home, and the people and things within it, but a paid-for alarm system is outside your budget. Don’t worry: there are several inexpensive ways to make your home less attractive to thieves.
Three Easy And Cheap Ways To Increase Your Home’s Security

11/11/11 Is “Nerd New Year” — Here’s How to Turn it Up to 11

Nerds and numerologists get ready: the last binary date of the 21st century is approaching.

11/11/11 Is “Nerd New Year” — Here’s How to Turn it Up to 11

New NASA Video Taken From Space Shows Deadly Asteroid’s Trajectory

How close did asteroid 2005 YU55 get to Earth? Not close enough to endanger our civilization, but close enough to take some fun videos. Like this short film of its trajectory recorded by NASA Swift’s satellite.
New NASA Video Taken From Space Shows Deadly Asteroid’s Trajectory

iOS 5.0.1: Battery Fixes, Aussie Voice Updates

Apple has rolled out the iOS 5.01 update, bringing with it the promised battery fixes, along with improved Australian voice support.
iOS 5.0.1: Battery Fixes, Aussie Voice Updates

Announcing the Wolfram Investment Calculator and Gaming Odds Reference Apps

We are happy to announce that we released two new entries into our line of Wolfram|Alpha-powered iOS apps: the Wolfram Investment Calculator Reference App and the Wolfram Gaming Odds Reference App. The Wolfram Investment Calculator Reference App was built specifically to help users get the most from their investments, and the Wolfram Gaming Odds Reference App provides the probabilities and odds of winning many popular card and lottery games.

Announcing the Wolfram Investment Calculator and Gaming Odds Reference Apps

Namerick Helps You Remember Names

iOS: Need a little help cementing your new acquaintance’s name in your brain so you won’t need to embarrass yourself next time you meet? iPhone application Namerick uses tried-and-true techniques to help you remember the name of a person you’ve just met, creating memory mnemonics, sending you followup reminders, and more.

Namerick Helps You Remember Names

How To Disable The Caps Lock Key Permanently

When I was working in IT I sometimes dealt with support requests that involved the caps lock key. Users were complaining that they could not enter their password, or that they locked their account even though they were sure that they had entered the right password, or that their username was displayed in upper case letters.

The caps lock key, next to num lock, was the culprit here most of the time. Most computer users do not need the caps lock key on the keyboard anymore. The following guide explains how you can disable the caps lock key permanently.

How To Disable The Caps Lock Key Permanently

Deaths, Australia, 2010

Presents statistics on deaths and mortality for Australia, states and territories, and sub-state regions. Information on characteristics of the deceased include place of usual residence, age at death, sex, Indigenous status and country of birth. Information is also provided on infant deaths, life expectancy and death rates.
Deaths, Australia, 2010

How to Hide a Drive in Windows So that No One Will Know it’s There

When you add a drive to your PC, by default it gets a drive letter, whether it is a removable drive or even a fixed hard drive inside of your PC. Lets take a look at how we can hide these drives.
How to Hide a Drive in Windows So that No One Will Know it’s There

How To Enable The Secret Panorama Mode In The iPhone’s Camera

The iPhone camera has a secret easter egg: a panorama mode. This special mode, which Apple has not enabled for consumers yet, will allow you to capture large panoramic scene using multiple photos. This is how to enable it.
How To Enable The Secret Panorama Mode In The iPhone’s Camera

What happens when you flush a toilet in the world's tallest building

The Burj Khalifa is the tallest building in the world. It's located in Dubai, a city with a lot of other skyscrapers. What Dubai doesn't have: A central sewage infrastructure that can accommodate the needs of a bunch of skyscrapers.
What happens when you flush a toilet in the world's tallest building

Ask physicist Brian Greene anything

Last week, physicist Brian Greene answered a lot of questions—including a few submitted by BoingBoing readers!—at a live event in New York City. If you missed it, you can watch a recording of the event online now.

But wait, there's more! Dr. Greene only had an hour to talk, and a metric crap ton of very good questions—including, again, some from BoingBoing readers—went unanswered. That's why I'm pleased to announce that the World Science Festival has added a new column to their website, called Ask Brian Greene Anything. For the next month, he'll be sifting through leftover questions from the live event as well as new submissions to answer a physics question every day.

Ask physicist Brian Greene anything

20 of the Best Stupid Geek Tricks to Impress Your Friends

Have you ever surprised and impressed a non-geek friend when you were doing something on your computer that you thought was simple? If so, you performed a Stupid Geek Trick. These are simple, sometimes not very useful, computer tasks.

Whether you’re the geek performing the Stupid Geek Trick and you want to learn more geeky tricks, or you’re the non-geek friend wishing you could do what your geeky friend did, here is a collection of some of the best of our Stupid Geek Tricks.

20 of the Best Stupid Geek Tricks to Impress Your Friends

How To Restore Firefox Bookmarks

One of the things that I migrate to new computer systems that I build or but are my bookmarks. I have a collection of a few hundred sites in my bookmarks that I use regularly thanks to browsers recommending bookmarks when entering text into the address bar.

A corrupt or accidentally deleted bookmarks file could have a serious impact on my work day. Most modern web browsers come with synchronization and backup options that can be used to restore data in the browser. The majority of those features need to be activated though before they can be used to restore data.

Firefox users who cannot access all or part of their bookmarks anymore can make use of the browser’s built-in restoration option to restore bookmarks in the browser. This feature is enabled by default. Here is how it is done.

Use the keyboard shortcut Ctrl-Shift-b to open the bookmarks manager. Locate the Import and Backup menu at the top and click it to display its menu options.

Move the mouse cursor over the Restore menu to display a list of bookmark backups that can be restored. Firefox by default backs up the bookmarks once per day (if the browser is used).

Click on a data to restore that bookmarks backup in the browser. Please note that Firefox will overwrite the existing bookmarks with the backup. Bookmarks that you have added in the meantime will not be available once the restoration has completed.

Firefox users can make use of the export bookmarks to HTML in the same menu to create a manual backup of their current bookmarks file. It is always a good idea to backup the file before restorations. This manual copy can then be restored by selecting the Import bookmarks from HTML option in the same menu.

Bookmarks can also also be backed up as JSON files instead by selecting the Backup option of the menu. These bookmark backups can then be restored via the Restore > Choose File option.

How to Add a Stopwatch to Powerpoint

Many PowerPoint users like to set their presentations to run in a slideshow while discussing the content and leading the conversation. However, some presentations may call for several slides to flip past without any verbal commentary. Here's how to add a stopwatch effect to PowerPoint to allow for slides to advance automatically.

How to Use Refresh and Reset in Windows 8 to Easily Reinstall Your PC

Sick of formatting? Then learn how to breathe new life into your machines without formatting using the new Refresh and Reset features present in Windows 8.
How to Use Refresh and Reset in Windows 8 to Easily Reinstall Your PC

Family Friendly sites listed on Blackstump Australia Issue 20/2011

The latest issue of new Family Friendly sites listed on The Black Stump.
Family Friendly sites listed on Blackstump Australia Issue 20/2011

Beyond Barrel Roll: 10 Hidden Google Tricks

Oh, those whimsical Google nerds. The Mountain View-based search giant may not have Apple’s design chops, but it certainly knows how to code a good joke.
Beyond Barrel Roll: 10 Hidden Google Tricks

How to Reset Your Windows Password Without an Install CD

If you’ve forgotten your Windows password and you don’t have an install CD laying around, there’s no need to worry. Not only are there half a dozen complicated ways to reset the password, you can do it easily with the Offline Windows Password editor.
How to Reset Your Windows Password Without an Install CD

Snake in ATM machine

A resident in Llodio, Alava, got a shock when a snake came slithering out of the slot of a cash machine when he withdrew his money.
Snake in ATM machine

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