Twitter Declared Most Popular English Word of 2009

While Twitter may have taken second place in Bing’s 10 most searched topics of 2009, we’ve now learned that it has become top dog in something far bigger: the entire English language.
Twitter Declared Most Popular English Word of 2009

Top Bing Searches in 2009

Cue Music. Awwww, 2009. It was a year of UFO shaped dirigibles, mom jeans on pop stars, real housewives, a new president, and a new decision engine. Oh and there may have been something about Vampires too, we weren’t really paying attention. Yes, it was quite a year and what better way to reminisce then by taking a trip down memory lane with a look back at what topped the list of Bing searches. If you’re curious how we determined the top searches, we analyzed billions of search queries and developed the list based on searches made with Bing.
Top Bing Searches in 2009

10 Views of Earth from the Moon, Mars and Beyond

For more than 40 years, missions throughout the solar system have sent back stunning images of our home planet.
10 Views of Earth from the Moon, Mars and Beyond

How to Fix Your Relatives' Terrible Computer

Drop your bags, grab a drink, and grab the XP CD—it's time for the holiday ritual of fixing up your relatives' computer. Here are some tips and downloads to keep handy while you're cursing all the auto-starting crapware.
How to Fix Your Relatives' Terrible Computer

How to Light a Fire in a Fireplace

Lighting a fire in a fireplace is, in general, viewed as an easy task. Because of this, a majority of people may forget a few key steps in the process that would help them enjoy their fire better. What could have been a nice night by the fire can easily become a smoke filled room. Here is a recommended method that if followed, should help make your fire enjoyable from the start.
How to Light a Fire in a Fireplace

61 Free Apps We're Most Thankful For

Cornucopia of excellent free software and webapps we're extremely thankful for. So whether you're an American celebrating the season or not, the selection of apps below is like gravy-drenched turkey and mashed potatoes for your computer.
61 Free Apps We're Most Thankful For

Diamond optical illusion

Antonio at Fogonazos writes about this interesting optical illusion. The four rows of diamonds appear to be colored with different shades of gray, but all the diamonds are identical. In fact, the diamonds aren't solid gray, they are tinted with a gradient (lighter on the top, darker on the bottom).
Diamond optical illusion

How to maximize coupon savings

Yesterday we came across this amazing YouTube video of a Good Morning America segment profiling Kathy Spencer, who runs How to Shop for Free. By using a few techniques highlighted in the video, she manages to feed her family of six for less money than you probably have in your sofa cushions right now.
How to maximize coupon savings

Cash is King: Proverbs about money

With yet more stories in the press about banks, bailouts, recession, and the economy, I wondered what the new edition of The Little Oxford Dictionary of Proverbs had to say about money. Unsurprisingly, it’s something that has preoccupied people for a very, very long time. Here’s a selection of money-related proverbs from across the centuries.
Cash is King: Proverbs about money

How to Do Laundry While Traveling

If you're going to be away from home for more than a few days, washing clothes along the way will mean carrying far less. On an extended trip, washing clothes may be the only way to travel. It's not difficult or even time consuming to wash your own clothes while you are away.
How to Do Laundry While Traveling

Deaths, Australia, 2008

Death rates in Australia have remained steady over recent years, according to figures released today by the Australian Bureau of Statistics (ABS). The standardised death rate was 6 deaths per 1000 people in 2008 - unchanged since 2005. Twenty years ago, the rate was 9 deaths per 1000 people. There were 143,900 deaths (73,500 men and 70,400 women) registered in 2008.
Deaths, Australia, 2008

10 Ways to Reduce Your Risk of Getting Cancer

Below is an expanded list of things you can do to reduce your risk of getting cancer.
10 Ways to Reduce Your Risk of Getting Cancer

Gmail, Windows Live Hotmail and Yahoo Mail Comparison

Have you ever asked yourself how you did end up with the email account that you are currently using? Chance is that you have at least one account at one of the three most popular web based email service providers Gmail, Yahoo Mail or Windows Live Hotmail.
Gmail, Windows Live Hotmail and Yahoo Mail Comparison

Math tackles the rear-end collision

According to U.S. researchers at Georgia Institute of Technology, rear-end collisions can be avoided by a simple algorithm inserted into your car’s computer that tells a driver that the car in front is going slower than they are.
Math tackles the rear-end collision

Buzzword: Teeth bleachorexia

Bottom line: With so much still unknown, we think you should take it easy on how frequently you use tooth whiteners. If a super-white smile is especially important to you, break out the kits for special occasions, like before you greet your friends over the holidays. With any luck, that should tide you over until at least swimsuit season.
Buzzword: Teeth bleachorexia

Simple, cheap remedy for toenail fungus

I used to cringe when my yoga instructor told us to “take off your socks.” The big toenail on my right foot was an ugly flakey brownish gray, a condition I’ve had for years. It may have started when I was taking Tae Kwon Do and kept landing on my big toe while trying to do roundhouse kicking.
Simple, cheap remedy for toenail fungus

How to Make Luggage Easier to Spot

After a long flight, the last thing you want to do is pull a dozen pieces of luggage off a baggage carousel to check if they're yours, since they all look pretty much the same. The best way to avoid this is to buy unique luggage, but if you've already got luggage that looks like everyone else's, here are some ways to make it stand out.
How to Make Luggage Easier to Spot

Digger's diary recounts 'hell on earth'

After 94 years of research and historical writing, you might expect that we would know everything there is to know about the Gallipoli landings. But the State Library of New South Wales has just proven that there is more to learn, especially on a personal level. The library took possession of a digger's diary, largely penned in the trenches by a young soldier from Sydney called Charles Hardy.
Digger's diary recounts 'hell on earth'

Family Friendly sites listed on Blackstump Australia Issue 33 -November 22, 2009

The latest issue of new Family Friendly sites listed on The Black Stump.
Family Friendly sites listed on Blackstump Australia Issue 33 -November 22, 2009

8 Reasons We Don't Do Things We Should and How To Break the Mould

Our lives are full of things we “should” do but for a range of reasons we don’t do them. Whatever it is – exercise, healthy eating, saving money – most of the time we choose to take the easier road, the road well traveled.
8 Reasons We Don't Do Things We Should and How To Break the Mould