Why Skate but Scathe? Or, The Oddest English Spellings

Wherever one turns, one discovers that sc versus sk is not a safe guide for an amateur etymologist.
Why Skate but Scathe? Or, The Oddest English Spellings

How to Tell if Gold Is Real: 3 steps

A 2004 investigation revealed that more than half of 22 jewelry stores around the US were selling "fool's gold" and passing it off as real.[1] By American standards, fake gold is anything less than 10 karats. If you're wondering whether your gold is real, the most reliable way to know is to take it to a jeweler, who will charge a fee for the answer. If you're just curious, however, these tricks will expose some--not all--gold impostors.
How to Tell if Gold Is Real: 3 steps

Household Income and Income Distribution, Australia, 2007-08

The economic wellbeing of individuals is largely determined by their command over economic resources. People's income and reserves of wealth provide access to many of the goods and services consumed in daily life. This publication provides indicators of the level and distribution of after tax (disposable) household income, after adjusting for household size and composition.
Household Income and Income Distribution, Australia

California Wildfires: August 2009 Edition

Yes, parts of California are burning again — and the map makers are at work. Via Google’s Lat Long blog, there’s a new comprehensive map of the Lockheed Fire in the Santa Cruz Mountains. More on that below, along with other resources to monitor as fires inevitably appear elsewhere in the Golden State.
California Wildfires: August 2009 Edition

Fire Prevention Fail

Fire Prevention Fail

Picture by: dunno source. Submitted by: dunno source via Fail Uploader

"

YouDown Batch Youtube Video Downloader

Many Internet users like to download videos from Google’s Youtube video portal. Download Youtube Videos was a popular article about a week ago and YouDown would have made it if it would have been released back then. YouDown is a software program for the Windows operating system that can be used to download videos that are hosted at Youtube.
YouDown Batch Youtube Video Downloader

20 Indoor Activities for Kids – besides TV

There’s plenty that children can do indoors on their own — without touching a remote. Here are a few ideas.
20 Indoor Activities for Kids – besides TV

PicTreat Provides One Stop Photo Retouching [Image Editing]

PicTreat Provides One Stop Photo Retouching [Image Editing]: "

Have a picture that almost works for a social network profile, but it needs a little pep? PicTreat is a one-stop, all-or-nothing photo-retouching service that can smooth over blemishes, red eye, and more.

If you're an accomplished Photoshop guru, you certainly won't need PicTreat. For everyone else who has ever needed a simple touchup on a photo and needed it fast, PicTreat is a speedy solution.

There are no variables to tweak or settings to refine in PicTreat. You upload a picture, it detects where the face and the prominent features of the face are, and it does its best to remove the red eye, smooth the skin tones, and, in the case of cellphone pictures, remove noise from the photo.

We hit Facebook and ran a bunch of profile pictures through it with a predominately positive effect. There are a couple notable cases where it doesn't work as expected. People with copious freckles will get nice even skin everywhere on their faces except their noses, which gives them a rather strange appearance. Also in cases where everything in the picture is already fairly good—no obvious blemishes, wrinkles, red eye, etc.—PicTreat will sometimes tweak the color oddly. Otherwise, PicTreat delivered as promised and smoothed away blemishes, evened skin tones, and color adjusted lighting.

PicTreat is free to use. You can sign in with MySpaceID, Facebook Connect, or sign up for a PicTreat account.

PicTreat [via DownloadSquad]

"

The Death Of Elvis Presley - August 16, 1977

Elvis Presley died at Graceland on August 16, 1977. He was 42 years old. Through the early morning of the 16th Elvis took care of last minute tour details and relaxed with family and staff. He was to fly to Portland, Maine that night and do a show there on the 17th, then continue the scheduled tour.
The Death Of Elvis Presley - August 16, 1977

Top 10 Tricks For Creatively Hiding Your Stuff

Every kid has a creative stash for secret stuff, and that useful enthusiasm doesn’t have to die off just because we’ve traded treehouses for desks. See how you can hide money, files, workspaces and more in today’s Top 10.
Top 10 Tricks For Creatively Hiding Your Stuff

How much is left in that container?

Shake, rattle, and squeeze: How much is left in that container?
How much is left in that container?

Bing vs. Google: Comparing Them Side-by-side

Have you been using Microsoft’s (and now Yahoo’s) new Bing search engine in conjunction with Google for searches?
Bing vs. Google: Comparing Them Side-by-side

Learn to Cook in Your Hotel Room

If you thought a night in a hotel room meant either pizza delivery or overpriced room service, think again. In this video, British comedian George Egg demonstrates some hotel survival tips for cooking an impressive meal in your room.
Learn to Cook in Your Hotel Room

Another Report Finds Internet Explorer 8 To Be The Most Secure Web Browser

A web browsing security test that pitted Internet Explorer 8 against Firefox 3, Opera 10, Safari 4 and Google Chrome 4 came to the conclusion that Internet Explorer 8 is the most secure web browser, at least in the area that were tested by security research company NSS Labs. The report, which is available at the company’s website for download was sponsored by Microsoft’s online security engineering team and later send to marketing after the results have been published.
Another Report Finds Internet Explorer 8 To Be The Most Secure Web Browser

Household Cleaning Hacks that Save You Money

Here is an assortment of ways to get more bang for your cleaning buck and efforts. From making your own cleaning solutions, to ensuring your appliances are working optimally, most of these techniques below can be used with what you already have on hand. Why not give them a try?
Household Cleaning Hacks that Save You Money

Family Friendly sites listed on Blackstump Australia Issue 25 - August 15, 2009

he latest issue of new family friendly sites listed on The Black Stump.
Family Friendly sites listed on Blackstump Australia Issue 25 - August 15, 2009

Wolfram|Alpha for Stargazers

Whether you are an astronomy student or just interested in learning more about those points of light in our sky, Wolfram|Alpha contains star data that will help you get started and understand what you’re seeing up there. Wolfram|Alpha not only charts the stars from your location, but offers detailed information including their distance from Earth, color, size, and much more.
Wolfram|Alpha for Stargazers

Facial Expressions: East Doesn't Meet West

Westerners traveling to Asia may expect some language barriers. Perhaps enthusiastic facial expressions will help them be understood. Well, not so fast. According to research published August 13th in the journal Current Biology, Easterners and Westerners might not speak the same facial language.
Facial Expressions: East Doesn't Meet West

How to Buy a Digital Camera

At any price point, there are any number of camera options. Whether you're in the market for a DSLR or compact point-and-shoot, it's not about getting the best features (there are too many). Get a camera that best fits your lifestyle and preferences.
How to Buy a Digital Camera

Top 10 Funniest Google Suggest Results

Part illuminating, part entertaining and part terrifying, Suggest is a window into the collective search psyche of our fellow humans. And based on the contents of this list — be afraid. Be very afraid.
Top 10 Funniest Google Suggest Results