How to Think Before Speaking

One of the most obvious and significant attributes to mankind is the ability to communicate through speech.
How to Think Before Speaking

US airport security retains right to search laptops

Frequent international flyers will be interested to hear that a US legal decision last week has confirmed that border security at their international airports have carte blanche to search people's laptops, without the need for any specific evidence of criminal activity.
US airport security retains right to search laptops

Why we tend to think that we should get what we deserve -- and deserve what we get

One of the most interesting and complicated issues within the study of happiness is the relationship between money and happiness. Although some folks seem content to say, “Money can’t buy happiness,” I think that relationship is a bit more complicated.
Why we tend to think that we should get what we deserve -- and deserve what we get

Duct tape saved Apollo 17 moonbuggy, while on the moon

The date was Dec. 11, 1972. Astronauts Gene Cernan and Jack Schmitt had just landed their lunar module Challenger in a beautiful mountain-ringed valley named Taurus-Littrow on the edge of the Sea of Serenity. (...)
Duct tape saved Apollo 17 moonbuggy, while on the moon

Haggling to Save Big Bucks

I love haggling — it’s second nature to me. If I’m buying bagged mulch at the garden center and some sacks have small puncture holes, I negotiate a discount because the sacks are damaged. I negotiate on everything. For one thing, I’m in the antiques business, and that forces you to learn haggling from day one.
Haggling to Save Big Bucks

You Can't Travel Back in Time, Scientists Say

The urge to hug a departed loved one again or prevent atrocities are among the compelling reasons that keep the notion of time travel alive in the minds of many.
While the idea makes for great fiction, some scientists now say traveling to the past is impossible.
You Can't Travel Back in Time, Scientists Say

How Anonymous Are You?

You may think that you are anonymous as you browse web sites, but pieces of information about you are always left behind. You can reduce the amount of information revealed about you by visiting legitimate sites, checking privacy policies, and minimizing the amount of personal information you provide.
How Anonymous Are You?

Coffee Makes You Dehydrated: Say What?

It has long been thought that coffee and other caffeine-containing beverages are dehydrating and don’t count toward your daily fluid intake. In fact, some go as far as recommending one cup of water for every cup of Joe you consume.
Coffee Makes You Dehydrated: Say What?

Social Networking Sites

Social networking sites have grown in popularity over the last few years, particularly among teenagers and young adults. These are often the populations that academic institutions reach out to for both recruitment and retention. It is not surprising, then, that academic libraries and librarians have joined the movement to include social networking sites in library marketing, outreach, instruction, and reference efforts.
Social networking sites

How To: Avoid Blind TinyURL Clickthroughs

If you're regularly sent TinyURLs but have been burned one too many times by clicking through to an embarrassing link at the wrong time, head to TinyURL's preview page and enable previews.
How To: Avoid Blind TinyURL Clickthroughs

Ten typographic mistakes everyone makes

Grammar nazis are so last century. Welcome, friends, to the brave new world of the typography nazi. Below are ten mistakes that everyone makes, an explanation of why each is wrong, and details on how to fix them. At least, you'll see how to fix them on the Mac; under Windows, you'll need to dig through tables of Alt characters.
Ten typographic mistakes everyone makes

Fancy meeting you here!

A German man survived a 25ft plunge down a lift shaft when he landed on a woman who had fallen down it a day before.
Fancy meeting you here!

More airports to use 'whole body imaging' machines

Some travelers at key airports in New York and Los Angeles may be put through machines that see through clothing and provide a detailed image of a person's body beginning later this week.
More airports to use 'whole body imaging' machines

Spacejunk in Earth's atmosphere revealed

A European Space Agency (ESA) computer-generated picture shows a view from space with the planet surrounded by a snowstorm of space debris.
Much of it is junk with telecommunications equipment that once cost millions now past its sell-by date yet still in orbit.
ESA says the number of objects in Earth's atmosphere has risen steadily increasing by 200 per year on average and that there are now 600 working satellites.
Spacejunk in Earth's atmosphere revealed

Measures of Australia's Progress: At A Glance, 2008

An at a glance summary of the 14 headline dimensions of Australia's progress. It provides a national summary of the most important areas of progress, presenting them in a way which can be quickly understood by all Australians. It informs and stimulates public debate and encourages all Australians to assess the bigger picture when contemplating progress.
Measures of Australia's Progress: At A Glance, 2008

Is life in Australia getting better?

The ABS has just released new information to help Australians assess how our society, economy and environment are developing. Measures of Australia's Progress: Summary Indicators gives a snapshot of national progress over the last decade, using key measures. The publication also includes an article on the relationships between society, economy and the environment.
Is life in Australia getting better?

Procrastination Can Be Your Ally

If you’re a procrastinator, please raise your hand - when you get around to it. You know the drill: you tinker with your calendar and move tasks to a later due date, you find yourself cramming the day before deadlines, or your answers to the questions “What am I doing now?” and “What should I be doing now?” don’t match.
Procrastination Can Be Your Ally

Seven things to say in a meeting to make yourself look good and someone else look bad

Ah, meetings. Can’t live with them, can’t live without them.
Being happy at work is important, of course. Being with other people generally boosts mood, and ideally, meetings should be a source of energy, ideas, and collegiality. But it doesn’t always work out that way. Meetings are also a place where people jockey for position, work out disagreements (nicely or not-so-nicely), and hurt each other’s feelings.
Seven things to say in a meeting to make yourself look good and someone else look bad

25 Questions to Think About Before Your Next Job Interview

A great interview question reveals the nature of the person you’re hiring - honesty, reliability, ability to communicate intelligently and quickly, and so on.
25 Questions to Think About Before Your Next Job Interview

Straight Hair Is Knottier Than Curly Hair

On a cool Saturday afternoon at the überhot Garren hair salon in New York City a few masters of fashion were debating something many would call obvious: Which is more likely to tangle—curly hair or straight hair?
Straight Hair Is Knottier Than Curly Hair