How to Sample Wine Without Looking like a Clown

Here's some more unpretentious wine instruction from Kathryn Borel Jr.
How to Sample Wine Without Looking like a Clown

Moon is coldest known place in the solar system

Poor Pluto. First it gets kicked out of the planet club, now it's not even the coldest place in the solar system. Dark craters near the moon's south pole have snatched that title – which is good news for the prospects of finding water ice on Earth's companion.
Moon is coldest known place in the solar system

Family Friendly sites listed on Blackstump Australia Issue 28 - September 19, 2009

The latest issue of new family friendly sites listed on The Black Stump.
Family Friendly sites listed on Blackstump Australia Issue 28 - September 19, 2009

Beatles remasters: the Metzger review

The definitive review on the recently-released Beatles remasters.
Beatles remasters: the Metzger review

Unclog a Toilet with Dishwasher Detergent

It's not a clever hack any of us want to have to use, but the Art of Manliness blog has a homebrew fix for the next time your restroom trip ends in disaster.
Unclog a Toilet with Dishwasher Detergent

How to Add 5 Consecutive Numbers Quickly

Bet someone you can add five consecutive numbers faster than they can. You can use this as a bar trick, with your friends, or (if you are a student) impress your teacher!
How to Add 5 Consecutive Numbers Quickly

Underwater Suffering: Do Fish Feel Pain?

Many a seafood fan has parroted the popular idea that fish and crustaceans do not feel pain. New research, however, suggests that they may, revealing that their nervous system may be more complex than we thought—and our own awareness of pain may be much more evolutionarily ancient than suspected.
Underwater Suffering: Do Fish Feel Pain?

Recovered meteorite points to an unusual origin

In 2007, a sky-watching program known as the Desert Fireball Network tracked a streak of light over Australia that led researchers to meteorite fragments on the ground. Through an analysis of its composition and orbital characteristics, the meteorite, known as Bunburra Rockhole, has revealed itself to be out of the ordinary.
Recovered meteorite points to an unusual origin

After the big LA fires, terrain looks like a post-war moonscape: death, charred remains

We were escorted by LA County Sheriff's deputies. We were stunned by what we saw, and inattentive to keeping the little Flip video camera stable and accurately pointed. The devastation speaks for itself.
After the big LA fires, terrain looks like a post-war moonscape: death, charred remains

The Telstra Split 101

Yesterday’s announcement that Telstra will be forced to split its existing infrastructure business from the rest of the companyis going to be fodder for news journalists and communications junkies for months to come. But what difference will it make to the average Internet user?
The Telstra Split 101

"The Internet Is Both My Lifeline and the Plastic Bag Over My Head."

Manisha Alboher is a former financial analyst/portfolio manager (among other things) who writes and speaks a lot about personal money management. She wrote On My Own Two Feet and her next book, Get Financially Naked: How to Talk Money With Your Honey, is coming out in a few months. She also has a blog and often appears on TV to talk about money. The relationship between money and happiness is one of the most fascinating sub-topics within the large subject of happiness.
"The Internet Is Both My Lifeline and the Plastic Bag Over My Head."

Web Browsers Have Impact On Battery Life

A recent Anandtech study suggests that the web browser has an impact on a mobile PCs battery usage. The test, which analyzed battery performance under various popular web browsers and three websites, can probably not be seen as representative but it could indicate which web browser uses less battery power to operate. A test with more websites would certainly help to get a global result. Still, test results were somewhat surprisingly as the difference between the best and worst performing web browser were greater than two hours.
Web Browsers Have Impact On Battery Life

For Visual Searches, Try a Few Different Approaches

Microsoft has announced a new feature in its Bing search engine, focused on visual searches. Like some of the dedicated visual search engines, it presents a way to do web searches by clicking through collected visual images, instead of entering keywords. Initially, it’s only available for certain types of search categories.
For Visual Searches, Try a Few Different Approaches

Google Maps adds Traffic Information

Google Maps has just activated real time traffic information to its maps. Information is taken from Intelematics, which you may recognise as the company behind the SUNA live GPS system that provides real time traffic information to GPS units through a discrete FM radio signal. The breadth of coverage around Melbourne is staggering and Google plans to further expand traffic information by transmitting anonymous speed readings from those using the mobile version of the Google Maps Application.
Google Maps adds Traffic Information

Internet Activity, Australia, Jun 2009

The Internet Activity Survey (IAS) collects details on aspects of internet access services provided by Internet Service Providers (ISPs) in Australia.
Internet Activity, Australia, Jun 2009

7 Ways to Reuse a Banana Peel

To be honest, the only things we’ve ever thought banana peels were good for were to fill the compost and to make people fall. Then we came across these genius ways to reuse the slippery guys…
7 Ways to Reuse a Banana Peel

Photos of NYC in the 1940s

Here's a LIFE gallery of remarkable shots from NYC in its Golden Age, the 1940s, in celebration of the 400th anniversary of Henry Hudson first sailing up the river that bears his name, past the island that would be Manhattan. The Forties' art, music, sports, finance, technology -- what a time it was.
Photos of NYC in the 1940s

Foods To Help Fight Prostate Cancer

Prostate cancer kills an estimated 3000 men in Australia each year. The undignified means of diagnosis is arguably a factor, but there’s nothing inelegant about a suggested diet to help ward off the disease. UK scientist Professor Margaret Rayman has co-ordinated a recipe book (the imaginatively titled Prostate Care Cookbook) which contains recipes said to help reduce the risk of prostate cancer.
Foods To Help Fight Prostate Cancer

“Should I Buy It?” Flowchart Helps You Make Smarter Purchases

Advertisers would have us believe that we need a lot of things that we really only want, and that brand names are always better. This simple purchasing flowchart walks you through your purchasing decision-making process to help you make the smart choice.
“Should I Buy It?” Flowchart Helps You Make Smarter Purchases

Remembering 9/11 Through Social Media

September 11 - The eight-year anniversary of the shocking 2001 attacks on the World Trade Center in New York City, the Pentagon building in Washington, DC, and the crash of United Airlines flight 93 in rural Pennsylvania. In 2001, social media was just in its infancy, but now that people have such an easily accessible global outlet to share their memories, grief, anger, frustrations, and pain, social web sites are being used as gathering places for those remembering the September 11th attacks.
Remembering 9/11 Through Social Media

12 Clever Substitutions That Save Money (Nearly) Effortlessly

One of my favorite ways to trim money from my spending is to find simple little substitutes for my regular expenses. If I can trim a few bucks from the cost of household supplies, routine purchases, and other things like that, over the long run, that can add up to a lot of money with virtually no change in my life. Here are twelve of my favorites (not including my “infamous” homemade laundry detergent).
12 Clever Substitutions That Save Money (Nearly) Effortlessly

Install iTunes Without Unnecessary Software

Apple has just released iTunes 9 and the web is full of reviews that compare the new version to previous ones and outline the changes and new additions that Apple has packed into the new version of their popular music management software. The new version does not offer that many new features but most users would probably like to update their old version of iTunes anyway. Something that has not changed is the inclusion of many additional software programs and services that many users consider unnecessary. These software programs include the Bonjour service, Apple Quicktime, MobileMe support or the iTunesHelper and iPodService startup processes.
Install iTunes Without Unnecessary Software

Speak Up To Look Smarter Than You Are

Although you may have committed yourself to keeping your mouth shut unless you absolutely had something critical to add to a business meeting, you may be doing yourself a disservice. Frequent talkers are perceived as more intelligent and competent.
Speak Up To Look Smarter Than You Are

Make Your Computer Faster Instead of Buying a New One

Buying a new computer can be a very exciting time...until you get the bill. What most people don't realize is that you don't need a Quad Core chip for email and Internet browsing. But after you've had your computer for a while and it starts to get sluggish, a lot of people start thinking that a fancy, new machine will cure what ails them.
Make Your Computer Faster Instead of Buying a New One

MythBusters: 'Using your head is a lot of fun'

Can a lead balloon fly? Can tooth fillings pick up radio stations? Each week millions watch Adam Savage and Jamie Hyneman, aka the MythBusters, test urban legends on their Discovery Channel TV show. Peter Aldhous joined them on set in San Francisco to find out how these special-effects wizards became standard-bearers for TV science.
MythBusters: 'Using your head is a lot of fun'

The big day for Beatles fans: A primer

Today’s the day the Beatles Rock Band music game, along with remastered versions of their albums, becomes available. Curious about these launches, but haven’t had time to get up to speed on them?
The big day for Beatles fans: A primer

Apple Announces iTunes 9

Today is Apple’s Rock and Roll keynote, where the company is expected to announce a range of new products and software upgrades. One of new products has leaked a little early though: iTunes 9.
Apple Announces iTunes 9

New look at Alzheimer's could revolutionise treatment

GENES that increase the risk of Alzheimer's and a blood protein that speeds up cognitive decline are radically changing our view of the devastating illness. Reported this week, both findings suggest new causes for Alzheimer's, boosting prospects for its treatment and prevention. "What we've found is absolutely fascinating, and will change the course of research into Alzheimer's".
New look at Alzheimer's could revolutionise treatment

Gone Phishing: How To Avoid Being Caught By Scammers

“Phishing” is the process by which a criminal disguises himself as a trusted entity in order to fraudulently obtain sensitive information. Although phishing can occur in many forms, the most common of these attacks involves the creation of an e-mail, one which prompts the recipient to enter specific personal information. This allows the criminal to “catch” the resulting data.
Gone Phishing: How To Avoid Being Caught By Scammers

"Up To" and Other Common Car Dealer Phrases to Watch For

Car dealerships have cultivated countless ways to take you for a ride (pun intended). Foremost among them: the use of industry-specific jargon. Consumer-focused automotive web site Edmunds takes a look at common linguistic lies.
"Up To" and Other Common Car Dealer Phrases to Watch For

How to Speed Up a Slow Windows Computer for Free: 11 steps

Windows PCs typically slow down as applications are installed and used. Each application increases the size of the Windows Registry file resulting in increasing the amount of time for the file to be processed and loaded. Whether using word processing, spreadsheets, internet, games or anything else, hard drives fill with temporary files that do not always get removed when no longer needed. Read on to learn of ways to help keep a PC running smoothly with little or no money.
How to Speed Up a Slow Windows Computer for Free: 11 steps

19 Free Web Services That Keep Saving You Money

Sifting through all of the free sites and services available on the Web, you've probably come up with some favorites, such as instant messaging tools or video streaming sites like Hulu. Those are great, but what about freebies that displace something for which you usually pay?
19 Free Web Services That Keep Saving You Money

New genetic associations for Alzheimer's disease

The long and winding journey to the roots of Alzheimer's disease, the most common form of dementia, has turned up three new genetic clues—the first major ones in 15 years.
New genetic associations for Alzheimer's disease

Family Friendly sites listed on Blackstump Australia Issue 27 - September 9, 2009

The latest issue of new family friendly sites listed on The Black Stump.
Family Friendly sites listed on Blackstump Australia Issue 27 - September 9, 2009

Monopoly City Streets: Google Launching Online Version of Monopoly

This could be very addictive: Google is teaming up with board game maker Hasbro to launch a Google Maps version of Monopoly. Monopoly City Streets, which launches Wednesday, allows users to compete in a live, worldwide version of the popular game, creating the biggest Monopoly tournament ever played.
Monopoly City Streets: Google Launching Online Version of Monopoly

What To Do With Kids’ Artwork

Every child is a prodigious Picasso. As parents, we have a difficult time knowing what to do with the plethora of masterpieces crafted by our children. If we toss them, we feel guilty, If we display them all, we might as well wallpaper our refrigerator.
What To Do With Kids’ Artwork

Eyes see trouble coming before brain notices

Not just a window to the soul, the eye has a few tricks of its own. Newly discovered eye cells can warn us that an object is coming nearer, and do so without the brain's help. This ability may have evolved to speed escape from predators.
Eyes see trouble coming before brain notices

Fold a World-Record-Setting Paper Airplane

A few years back we pointed you toward the world's "best" paper airplane, and while we couldn't entirely back up the "best" claim, this Sky King paper airplane is a legitimate world-record holder. This video shows us how to make it ourselves.
Fold a World-Record-Setting Paper Airplane

21 Ways to Reduce Your Spending Without Making Your Life Miserable

Given that everyone’s life is different, it’s hard to point to a list of things that’s guaranteed to not be boring for everyone. Simple Dollar have made a list of twenty one spending reducing suggestions that they felt either didn’t have any impact at all on quality of life (things you can do once and benefit from for a while) or, if they’re repeatable, are inherently fun.
21 Ways to Reduce Your Spending Without Making Your Life Miserable

Estimate Distances with Your Arm and This Rule of Thumb - measurements

Quick anatomy lesson: the distance between your eyes is one-tenth the length of your arm. This is important, because it helps you estimate the distance between yourself and any object of reasonably known size to a rather accurate degree.
Estimate Distances with Your Arm and This Rule of Thumb

8 Things an Airline Would Never Tell You

Half-dozen insiders expose little-known facts the airline industry would rather you didn't think about. They shared some pretty eye-opening stuff.
8 Things an Airline Would Never Tell You

The Journalist's Guide to YouTube

When you think of YouTube (YouTube), you probably think of viral videos such as choreographed wedding procession dances and sneezing pandas. But YouTube’s content load is massive — 20 hours of video are uploaded every minute — and it has a lot more to offer than just silly, viral videos. One area of YouTube that is currently growing like a weed is news.
The Journalist's Guide to YouTube

WhatTheInternetKnowsAboutYou: your browser is giving away your history

The app is an example of using browser history detection to determine personal preferences of Web browser users and is located at http://whattheinternetknowsaboutyou.com. The history detection hack has been known for quite a while; it works by using the CSS :visited pseudoclass to style visited links differently from unvisited ones, in order to figure out which ones are present in the browser's history and does not require JavaScript.
WhatTheInternetKnowsAboutYou: your browser is giving away your history

13 more things that don't make sense

Strive as we might to make sense of the world, there are mysteries that still confound us. Here are thirteen of the most perplexing. Cracking any one of them could yield profound truths.
13 more things that don't make sense

Mandatory filtering plan an ‘ultimate embarrassment’

The Rudd Government plan to introduce mandatory ISP-level filtering was dead in the water and Communications Minister Stephen Conroy should end the farce now, the Opposition’s leader in the Senate Nick Minchin said.
Mandatory filtering plan an ‘ultimate embarrassment’

Some Thoughts on Building a Successful Friendship

What do you do after you’ve met someone and you want to actually build a lasting friendship? Lasting friendships are often the backbone of our social lives and help us in countless ways throughout our professional and personal lives. They come through for us when we need help, plus they provide the constant support and companionship that a friendship can provide.
Some Thoughts on Building a Successful Friendship

Best Disk Defragmenter: Defraggler

At the top of the heap is Defraggler, followed by a neck-and-neck—less than a percentage point difference—race for second and third place for Auslogics Disk Defrag and MyDefrag, respectively.
Best Disk Defragmenter: Defraggler

What Is It Like to Be a Baby?

Alison Gopnik is a psychologist and philosopher at the University of California, Berkeley. She's also the author of the newly released book The Philosophical Baby, which explores the inner world of young children. Mind Matters editor Jonah Lehrer chats with Gopnik about why babies might be more conscious than adults, the benefits of having an imaginary friend and why play, not necessity, is the mother of invention.
What Is It Like to Be a Baby?

Best visions of the night sky

Star trails, horse heads and shadowy moons are some of the sights captured by stargazers across the world vying for the title of Astronomy Photographer of the Year.
Best visions of the night sky

How to Determine Your Blood Type

Want to know your blood type? If you ever need to know, medical staff can determine it on the spot, but maybe you're just curious. Maybe you want to know what your blood type says about your personality.[1] Either way, there are actually several ways to go about finding out.
How to Determine Your Blood Type

Computer Repair Flowcharts

Diagnosing computer problems can be a very time consuming process especially for computer users who have no or only basic computer repair process. These users only have a few options left if their computer system fails. One being to ask a proficient friend or colleague. The other option is to pay for professional computer repair which can be costly and time consuming depending where the computer system was bought and where it should be repaired.
Computer Repair Flowcharts

The Los Angeles fires

Video: Time Lapse Test: Station Fire, a haunting little piece put together by Eric Speigelman. The "Station Fire" has now spread to nearly 100,000 acres. Fires are a predictable, seasonal, and natural aspect of ecology and life in Southern California.
The Los Angeles fires

HOW TO: Find the Name of That Song

Ever had that tune you just couldn’t get out of your head, but you couldn’t remember the darn title or who the heck performed the track? Well there’s an app for that.
HOW TO: Find the Name of That Song

The Top 10 Essential Social Media Stories This Week

From an image editing disaster by Microsoft to Yelp’s augmented reality application to a rehab center for Internet addicts, it’s been a busy week in web news.
The Top 10 Essential Social Media Stories This Week

Family Friendly sites listed on Blackstump Australia Issue 26 - August 29, 2009

The latest issue of new family friendly sites listed on The Black Stump.
Family Friendly sites listed on Blackstump Australia Issue 26 - August 29, 2009

Avoid Bank Fees

I don't pay any bank fees, except rental on my safe deposit box. That leaves me of two minds about the fees. On the one hand, I feel bad because the fees tend to fall hardest on the people who can afford them the least--the poor, the ignorant, the stupid, the careless, the lazy, and the unlucky. On the other hand, the fees other people pay help cover the costs of the many free services that I get from the bank.
Avoid Bank Fees

How to Travel on a Very Limited Budge

Totally broke and dying to get out of town? Looking for some adventure without breaking the bank? This article will explore some ideas for how you can travel as cost-effectively as possible, perhaps even for free. The key is do some research and be flexible!
How to Travel on a Very Limited Budget

Doing Something Difficult

Increasing your personal abilities is just like increasing your strength. You have to exercise in order to get stronger. If you want to grow as an individual, you have to do things that are hard in order to make it easier for you to do difficult things in the future.
Doing Something Difficult

Tourist beware: Europe’s latest travel scams by Rick Steves

Gelato in hand, you’re strolling down a street in Italy, when suddenly, an attractive woman starts arguing with a street vendor. A crowd gathers as he accuses her of shoplifting. To prove her innocence, she starts to strip. Once she’s down to her underwear, the vendor apologizes, the woman leaves, and the onlookers disappear — and so have their wallets, thanks to a team of pickpockets working the show.
Tourist beware: Europe’s latest travel scams by Rick Steves

Magazines may mislead parents on SIDS and safe sleeping

I love thumbing through vintage magazines. It's not so much for the articles (although I do like reading them) but rather for the advertisements. Whether printed in brighter-than-life color or black and white, these adverts serve up a revealing and often amusing glimpse of the aspirations, ideals, and zeitgeist of their time. But, in truth, what I relish most is their shock value, as in "Wow, did they really do/think/buy/sell THAT back then?"
Magazines may mislead parents on SIDS and safe sleeping

State Law Fail

State Law Fail: "

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

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Drinking may reduce dementia risk

Drinking moderate amounts of alcohol later in life may prevent the development of dementia, according to new research by the Australian National University.
Drinking may reduce dementia risk

3quarksdaily

Hopes to present interesting items from around the web on a daily basis, in the areas of science, design, literature, current affairs, art, and anything else they deem inherently fascinating.
3quarksdaily

Top 5 Worst Productivity Ideas

Here are some of the top five traps people fall into when they try to increase their productivity. Most of them aren’t bad things in and of themselves. However, if they become your focus, you can be sure you aren’t going to be getting the benefits you are striving for.
Top 5 Worst Productivity Ideas

Recorded Crime - Offenders, Selected states and territories, 2007-08

Recorded Crime - Offenders collection and how it fits within the criminal justice system. A summary view of offenders proceeded against by police for the seven available states and territories and selected data about offenders for each of the respective states.
Recorded Crime - Offenders, Selected states and territories, 2007-08

Keeping Up with the Smiths

The data Wolfram|Alpha uses to compute surname statistics is largely drawn from name results from the U.S. Census. The United States is sometimes referred to as a “melting pot” because of the number of people who move to it from all corners of the world, bringing and melding their native cultures. Because of this, surnames found in the U.S. have origins from all over the world.
Keeping Up with the Smiths

The Definitive Guide to Backing Up and Ditching Your Discs

Whether you're moving, short on cash, or running out of storage space, you've got plenty of reasons to ditch your physical media. Hard drives are cheap; here are Lifehacker's recommended methods of saving, selling, and trading your CDs, DVDs, and video games.
The Definitive Guide to Backing Up and Ditching Your Discs

Venezuela's "continuous" lightning storm

The folks in the video above aren't watching a fireworks show but rather the near-constant lightning strikes that occur over Vaenezuela's Catatumbo River almost half of the year.
Venezuela's "continuous" lightning storm

Why we walk in circles without directional cues

When people don't have signs or other external cues for direction, we will probably end up walking in circles. That's according to a new psychological study.
Why we walk in circles without directional cues

50 Best Websites 2009 - TIME

TIMES's 2009 selections of the best.
50 Best Websites 2009 - TIME

The 10 Essential Social Media Stories This Week

Here are the top 10 social media stories this week.
The 10 Essential Social Media Stories This Week

Top 10 YouTube Fail Videos

It was the best of times, it was the worst of times — but in the age of both wisdom and foolishness, somehow it always seems like the latter is what gets caught on video.
Top 10 YouTube Fail Videos

From The Tips Box

Lifehacker readers show us how to escape the limitations of university (and work) e-mail accounts, turn a dryer rack into a file holder and remind us that music is a great timer in a pinch.
From The Tips Box: Ditching Email Limitations, DIY File Holders

Bing - Genealogical Mapping with Bing Maps and Ancestry

Ancestry’s new Family Tree Maker 2010 released yesterday and it includes integration of Bing™ Maps right in the software. Software plus services? I think so… Bing™ Maps is a great new feature to help you map out significant events and people to the places they are respectively associated with.
Bing - Genealogical Mapping with Bing Maps and Ancestry

Use The Same Gmail Account for Multiple Online Accounts

If you've ever tried to sign up for more than one account somewhere but needed a second email address, the Digital Inspiration blog has the brilliant solution: taking advantage of Gmail ignoring periods in your email address.
Use The Same Gmail Account for Multiple Online Accounts

Top 7 Sites for Parenting How-To Videos

Learning how to parent is a skill that comes more naturally to some than to others. Regardless of how high the feelings of competency are, regardless of the differences in the ways in which we discipline and the methods we use for rearing our young, there is usually one constant among parents everywhere: we never really know what we are doing. Whereas previous generations had nothing to rely on but parenting books, family, friends, and pure instinct, ours is the first parenting generation to have the luxury of the Internet at our fingertips to answer any question, anytime, anywhere.
Top 7 Sites for Parenting How-To Videos

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

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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]

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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

Remember Where You Parked Your Car and More: 35 Practical Uses of a Digital Camera

Creativity, frugality, and, on occasion, desperation can inspire innovative uses of the digital camera. For example, if you have trouble remembering where you parked your car, especially when you are traveling to unfamiliar places, take a photo of the car in its space and the location signs.
Remember Where You Parked Your Car and More: 35 Practical Uses of a Digital Camera

What's luck got to do with it? The maths of gambling - physics-math

FIVE years ago, Londoner Ashley Revell sold his house, all his possessions and cashed in his life savings. It raised £76,840. He flew to Las Vegas, headed to the roulette table and put it all on red. The wheel was spun. The crowd held its breath as the ball slowed, bounced four or five times, and finally settled on number seven. Red seven. Revell's bet was a straight gamble: double or nothing.
What's luck got to do with it? The maths of gambling

Population by Age and Sex, Regions of Australia, 2008

From the ABS this product contains estimates of the resident population by age (in five-year age groups up to 85 and over) and sex as at 30 June 2003 and 30 June 2008.
Population by Age and Sex, Regions of Australia, 2008

Debunking a dozen travel myths

Like urban legends, travel myths are pervasive and long-lasting. No, a piece of gum won’t stay in your stomach for seven years if you swallow it. And no, it’s not a guarantee that you’ll get food poisoning if you eat at a food cart on the street.
Debunking a dozen travel myths