Friday, December 31, 2010

Lifehacker’s Biggest Australian Stories Of 2010

As the year draws to a close, here’s the 10 biggest local stories on Lifehacker in 2010, ranked in order of popularity. Can’t wait to see what 2011 brings!
Lifehacker’s Biggest Australian Stories Of 2010

Top 5 Gadgets of 2010

It appears to be that almost daily a new gadget comes along, and the one you possess is then almost outdated already, even if it was a recent purchase. However, really cool gadgets with cutting edge design and technology are rare. Nevertheless, gadgets are the quintessence of cool and so here are our top 5 picks of 2010.
Top 5 Gadgets of 2010

Bloody Vikings, Create A Temporary Email Address On The Fly

It is sometimes a good idea to avoid sharing your personal email address with websites, services and contacts if you suspect spam or want to keep your privacy. Temporary email services offer one of the best ways for that, especially if the email address needs to be used only once for instance to signup to a website or service.
Bloody Vikings, Create A Temporary Email Address On The Fly

Thursday, December 30, 2010

How Do I Avoid Getting Scammed When Buying or Selling Online?

Dear Lifehacker,
Lately I've been worried about being conned while buying or selling on Craigslist—and online in general. Do you have any thoughts on how I can avoid getting screwed?
Sincerely,
Paranoid Seller
How Do I Avoid Getting Scammed When Buying or Selling Online?

The 50 Best How-To Geek Windows Articles of 2010

Even though we cover plenty of other topics, Windows has always been a primary focus around here, and we’ve got one of the largest collections of Windows-related how-to articles anywhere. Here’s the fifty best Windows articles that we wrote in 2010.
Want even more? You should make sure to check out our top 20 How-To Geek Explains topics of 2010, or the 50 Windows Registry hacks that make Windows better.
The 50 Best How-To Geek Windows Articles of 2010

Tuesday, December 28, 2010

Most Popular iPhone Posts and Free Apps of 2010

It's been a rough year for the iPhone, what with the iPhone 4's antenna issues and iPhone 3G's iOS4 performance problems. Nonetheless, we've seen some great apps and put together awesome posts for the iPhone in 2010. Have a look.
Most Popular iPhone Posts and Free Apps of 2010

The 20 Best How-To Geek Explainer Topics for 2010

It’s near the end of 2010, and the How-To Geek has put together a list of the 20 best “Explainer” articles of the year—where they answer a question and teach you a little more about the topic. Enjoy!
The 20 Best How-To Geek Explainer Topics for 2010

Avoid Added Stress by Just Deciding and Moving Forward

Because our brains have a way of creating a synthesized happiness when we don't get what we want, it's often hard for us to make a "wrong" decision. As a result, you're better off just deciding and moving forward.
Avoid Added Stress by Just Deciding and Moving Forward

Monday, December 27, 2010

The Ultimate iPhone Guide: 60+ Essential Resources

With software and hardware updates and improvements, the iPhone has gone from strength to strength during 2010, and Mashable has been there to cover it all with news, features, galleries, tutorials and more.
The Ultimate iPhone Guide: 60+ Essential Resources

Saturday, December 25, 2010

Merry Christmas

Merry Christmas & Greetings to all, we hope your have a great time today and get some nice pressies (even some things you'd like!). Thanks for all your support through the year!
The Black Stump

Friday, December 24, 2010

Christmas 2010 Public Transport Schedules (And Freebies)

Using public transport on Christmas Day avoids any drink-driving woes, but requires a bit of planning. Here’s a national roundup of what schedules are running. (Melbourne residents get to travel for free!)
Christmas 2010 Public Transport Schedules (And Freebies)

Create Printless PDFs with WWF for Windows

The WWF file format, in case you missed reading about it before, is just a regular PDF file except that you can’t print the content of that document. This format was developed by WWF Germany to prevent unnecessary printing.
Create Printless PDFs with WWF for Windows

4 Predictions for Connected Devices in 2011

Pulling together some predictions for 2011 feels a bit like looking backward from 2020, but here goes.
4 Predictions for Connected Devices in 2011

Mozilla Firefox Web Browser, All You Need To Know

Mozilla Firefox is a free web browser available for Mac and PC as well as Android and several other operating systems. Firefox has built its focus around a practical, minimalist design and low, light weight memory usage. First released in 2004 with Mozilla Thunderbird as part of Mozilla Suite, Firefox quickly gained popularity among users disillusioned with more traditional browsers like Microsoft’s Internet Explorer and Netscape Navigator. Today, Firefox commands around forty-four percent of the worldwide market, though usage is as high as sixty percent in some areas.
Mozilla Firefox Web Browser, All You Need To Know

Thursday, December 23, 2010

Identity Theft and Password Security

Internet is fast becoming a second home for many and with social networking websites like Facebook, we end up sharing much more personal information without even realizing. This has resulted in greater number of identity thefts and the below infographic from Reflection.me illustrates that beautifully. It provides some interesting stats about identity theft and also password security.
Identity Theft and Password Security [Infographic]

How to Disable Caps Lock Key in Windows 7 or Vista

The caps lock key is one of those remnants of another age of computers, back when people used to shout at each other more often. Unless you’re in the accounting department, it’s probably not very useful, so today we’ll learn how to disable it.
How to Disable Caps Lock Key in Windows 7 or Vista

The 101 Most Useful Websites on the Internet

The list primarily highlights the lesser-known or undiscovered websites and misses out all-time favorites like Google Docs, Wikipedia or IMDB that most of us are already aware of.
The 101 Most Useful Websites on the Internet

Wednesday, December 22, 2010

How To Encrypt Passwords With Old-School Tabula Recta

John Graham-Cumming, an Oxford-trained computer programmer and mathematician with a doctorate in computer security, shares why he prefers writing his passwords down, and how he uses an old-school cipher technique to keep his wallet-friendly passwords secure.
How To Encrypt Passwords With Old-School Tabula Recta

Top 10 Most-Read Articles on Britannica for 2010

Here are the most-read articles on Britannica.com for 2010. History and economics dominate the list, with a little sprinkling of the arts and geography.
Top 10 Most-Read Articles on Britannica for 2010

How to Make a Panoramic Picture in Your Facebook Profile

The latest changes in Facebook's interface included a new five picture strip at the top of the profile page. This strip shows the latest pictures in which you were tagged and can be manipulated in many creative ways. One of the ways is to make a panoramic picture from this strip, and this article will show you how to achieve this.
How to Make a Panoramic Picture in Your Facebook Profile

Tuesday, December 21, 2010

10 Tools Every Homeowner Should Have

Doorknobs get loose, windows need unsticking, the tap always ends up dripping – and houses don’t usually come with a super. Here’s are the 10 tools that will get any homeowner through the most common projects around the house.
10 Tools Every Homeowner Should Have

Most Popular Repurposing Tricks of 2010

Favourite DIY conversions from the past year.
Most Popular Repurposing Tricks of 2010

10 Predictions for the News Media in 2011

In many ways, 2010 was finally the year of mobile for news media, and especially so if you consider the iPad a mobile device. Many news organizations like The Washington Post and CNN included heavy social media integrations into their apps, opening the devices beyond news consumption.
10 Predictions for the News Media in 2011

Lighthouse frozen in ice

Here is a lighthouse in Cleveland, Ohio. The spray from Lake Erie froze layer by layer until the structure was encased in ice.
Lighthouse frozen in ice

Australian Rules still our favourite spectator sport

Australian Rules still our favourite spectator sport. Around 2.8 million Australians aged 15 years and over attended an Australian Rules football game during 2009-10, according to the latest sports attendance figures released today by the Australian Bureau of Statistics (ABS).
Horse racing (11%), rugby league (9%) and motor sports (8%) also attracted over 1 million attendees. Soccer was the only popular sport to report a significant increase from the last survey in 2005-06 (2% increase).
Spectator Attendance at Sporting Events, 2009-10

Sunday, December 19, 2010

Your Online Footprint

The CEO of Google has suggested that once you leave college, you may want to change your name to distance yourself from all the dumb things you did as a younger person and can’t erase from the Internet. Of course if you change your name, you won’t be associated with any of the positive things you did either.
Your Online Footprint

9 Ways to Connect With Santa on the Web

You don’t have to head to the North Pole to hook up with Santa this year. There’s a sackful of online options that will let your little ones connect with the Claus from the comfort of your own home.
9 Ways to Connect With Santa on the Web

Saturday, December 18, 2010

Family Friendly sites listed on Blackstump Australia Issue 26/2010

The latest issue of new Family Friendly sites listed on The Black Stump.
Family Friendly sites listed on Blackstump Australia Issue 26/2010

Most Popular Hive Fives of 2010

Every week LifeHacker put out a Hive Five Call for Contenders and ask you a simple question: Which is best? From DVD rippers to web hosts and everything in between, here's a look back at the most popular Hive Fives of 2010.
Most Popular Hive Fives of 2010

Google Earth For The Human Body

Google’s already taken you across the globe, down to the bottom of the oceans, and out to the mountains of Mars. It’s been a vaguely educational journey! Their next frontier: the human body, with Google Body Browser.
Google Earth For The Human Body

Popcorn in slow motion

Much like setting stuff on fire, filming things in slow motion is one of those science video tropes that has less to do with science, and more to do with making vaguely science-related things look really cool. And yet, you know, it does look really cool.
Popcorn in slow motion

Thursday, December 16, 2010

Top 10 Movies for the Modern Tech Geek

It’s a great time to be a tech geek with a love for the cinema. Not only is film technology evolving at a breakneck pace, the subject matter for films is also targeting tech audiences in a more nuanced, fulfilling way.
Top 10 Movies for the Modern Tech Geek

Facebook’s Zuckerberg wins Time’s Person of the Year

Despite a campaign for Wikileak’s editor Julian Assange, The Man with 550 million friends, Facebook Founder Mark Zuckerberg has been named Time’s Person of the Year.
Facebook’s Zuckerberg wins Time’s Person of the Year

Wednesday, December 15, 2010

5 Simple Tips to Secure Your PC

With the increased usage of internet, it is now becoming important for all computer users to keep their system secure from spyware and malware on the web. Big companies like Kaspersky and BitDefender have developed different security software to protect users’ computers from network attacks, malware, adware and so on. However an antivirus or internet security might not always protect and secure you computer system, since there are hundreds of new virus and trojans being created everyday. You need to follow a few more tips to fully secure your system from any kind of harm or dangerous activities.
5 Simple Tips to Secure Your PC

Tuesday, December 14, 2010

Lifehacker Australia Unaffected By US Hacks

It’s been in the news that Gawker in the US was hacked recently. LiefHacker Oz would like to reassure local readers that the Australian edition sites are run on entirely separate infrastructure. AU versions of Gizmodo, Lifehacker, and Kotaku are unaffected.
Lifehacker Australia Unaffected By US Hacks

Australian Social Trends, Dec 2010

Australian Social Trends draws on a wide range of data, sourced both from ABS and other agencies, to present a picture of Australian society. This publication aims to inform decision-making, research and discussion on social conditions in Australia. It covers social issues of current and ongoing concern, population groups of interest, and changes in these over time.
Australian Social Trends, Dec 2010

Twitter’s Top Trends Of 2010

Twitter released their top Twitter trends of 2010. They have a nice reviews page of trends at yearinreview.twitter.com/trends/. Here is the break down.
Twitter’s Top Trends Of 2010

The Curious Case of Benford’s Law

When you roll dice, all numbers have the same probability to show up (assuming that the dice aren’t loaded in any way). However, the leading digits of numbers in very large accumulated datasets—for example, the amount you pay for each household bill over the course of a year—follow a very different pattern. In such cases it is much more likely that a given number will start with one, with decreasing probability for each higher digit up to nine. This statistical phenomenon is called Benford’s law.
The Curious Case of Benford’s Law

This Year’s 10 Most Popular YouTube Videos In Under 90 Seconds

What were the 10 most-watched YouTube videos of 2010? If I had my way it would just be the Bed Intruder song on repeat. But! Here’s how it actually played out.
This Year’s 10 Most Popular YouTube Videos In Under 90 Seconds

The Real Da Vinci Code Discovered

This is not part of Dan Brown’s novel. Researcher Silvano Vinceti – chairman of the Italian national committee for cultural heritage – has found a secret code in the Mona Lisa by scanning her eyes. A code that could reveal her mysterious identity.
The Real Da Vinci Code Discovered

Minnesota Dome Collapse Captivates the Web [VIDEO]

When a massive snowstorm dumped tons of the heavy white stuff on Minneapolis over the weekend, Fox, who was in town to broadcast Sunday’s scheduled NFL game between the Minnesota Vikings and New York Giants, did something unusual: it trained a camera on the roof of the Metrodome stadium.
Minnesota Dome Collapse Captivates the Web [VIDEO]

Monday, December 13, 2010

FAQ: Compromised Commenting Accounts on Gawker Media

This past weekend Gawker Media's servers were compromised, resulting in a security breach at Lifehacker, Gizmodo, Gawker, Jezebel, io9, Jalopnik, Kotaku, Deadspin, and Fleshbot. If you're a commenter on any of those sites, you probably have several questions.
FAQ: Compromised Commenting Accounts on Gawker Media

Find if your Email Address Got Leaked through Gawker’s Database

The user database of Gawker Media has been hacked and the email addresses, user names (aliases) and encrypted passwords of millions of Gawker commenters have now been posted on the web and are viewable by anyone.
Find if your Email Address Got Leaked through Gawker’s Database

Track Santa in Real Time with Google Maps

Christmas is just a couple of weeks away and Santa must be getting ready buying all the gifts he has promised us! To help all of us track Santa, Google and NORAD are ready with their Santa tracker, using which you can follow Santa once he gets on the move at around 2am EST on December 24 2010.
Track Santa in Real Time with Google Maps

Sunday, December 12, 2010

Wire an Old Car Radio for MP3 Input

Just because you've got a sweet classic car doesn't mean you have to go with 1960s-era technology for your tunes. Hacking your radio for MP3 input is a simple DIY electronics project.
Wire an Old Car Radio for MP3 Input

Saturday, December 11, 2010

Neil Armstrong Talks About The First Moon Walk

Well, this doesn't happen every day.
Neil Armstrong Talks About The First Moon Walk

Most Popular Photography Tips, Tricks, and Hacks of 2010

Whether it's before, during, or after you shoot, Lifehacker have posted some awesome photography tips, tricks, and hacks this year. Here are the most popular for 2010.
Most Popular Photography Tips, Tricks, and Hacks of 2010

Friday, December 10, 2010

Browser Speed Tests: IE 9, Firefox 4 Beta, Chrome's Crankshaft, and Opera 11 Beta

Google's got a new "Crankshaft" in its bleeding-edge Chrome, Internet Explorer 9 is out to prove its modern mettle, Firefox 4 is nearly complete, and Opera's adding extensions. It's a good time to put these browsers head to head.
Browser Speed Tests: IE 9, Firefox 4 Beta, Chrome's Crankshaft, and Opera 11 Beta

Make Better Choices by Asking Yourself Two Simple Questions

Presumably you want to spend your time here on Earth doing something that matters to you. If you fall into that likely category, there are two questions you ought to be asking yourself to ensure you're making good choices.
Make Better Choices by Asking Yourself Two Simple Questions

The Best, Most Disgruntled Toner Cartridge Description Ever

Sometimes, a man reaches his breaking point. He realises that he’s, say, a copywriter for InkCartridges.uk.com, and that he’s tired of writing boring ink cartridge descriptions all day, and he snaps in hilarious ranting fashion. This is that glorious moment.
The Best, Most Disgruntled Toner Cartridge Description Ever

Disaster zones declared across eastern Australia

Thirty-five council areas in New South Wales and Queensland have been declared natural disaster zones with more areas likely to be announced as floodwaters continue to rise, prompting more evacuations.
Disaster zones declared across eastern Australia

Google’s 2010 Zeitgeist Video is Up!

Google’s 2010 Zeitgeist site is not up yet but they already have a video on YouTube capturing events and moments that the world searched for during 2010.
Google’s 2010 Zeitgeist Video is Up!

Thursday, December 09, 2010

The 50 Best Registry Hacks that Make Windows Better

We’re big fans of hacking the Windows Registry around here, and we’ve got one of the biggest collections of registry hacks you’ll find. Don’t believe us? Here’s a list of the top 50 registry hacks that we’ve covered.
The 50 Best Registry Hacks that Make Windows Better

Google top 10 Australian searches for 2010

Aussie users of Google have been super interested in controversial topics for much of the year with Wikileaks, Andy Irons and Andrew Bolt amongst the most popular search terms. Sport’s been big as well with the World Cup with the Dukan Diet also being big topics of interest.
Google top 10 Australian searches for 2010

Top 5 iPhone Apps for Students – Educational Apps

iPhone is not just a smartphone, it’s much more than that. By having a constructive thinking, you can stay up-to the mark and productive with your time. I believe iPhone is the best option for almost everyone, from a master chef to a star business man. What makes iPhone so great? The Apps! That’s right, the apps are very innovative and you can make your iPhone even better with over 300,000 apps from Apple’s App Store.
Top 5 iPhone Apps for Students

Prisoners in Australia, 2010

Contains national information on prisoners who were in custody on 30 June each year. The statistics are derived from information collected by the ABS from corrective services agencies in each state and territory. Details are provided on the number of people in correctional institutions (including people on remand), imprisonment rates, most serious offence and sentence length. A range of information is also presented on prisoner characteristics (age, sex, Indigenous status) and on the type of prisoner (all prisoners, sentenced prisoners, and unsentenced prisoners (remandees).
Prisoners in Australia, 2010

Births, Australia, 2009

Contains statistics on live births and fertility for Australia, states and territories, and sub-state regions, based on calendar year of registration data. Information on characteristics of the child include place of usual residence, sex, Indigenous status, and age, martial status and country of birth of parents.
Births, Australia, 2009

How to Know when Car Tyres Need Replacing

Ever wonder when to replace your worn car tyres? The performance of your car tyres is critical to the safety, performance and efficiency of your vehicle; the NHTSA estimates that about 400 fatalities annually may have been attributed to tyre failures. Most tyres are designed to provide similar performance throughout their lives. However, at some point they start to lose performance in terms of their traction and braking ability. Here are a few tips that should help you decide if it is time to start shopping for a new set of tyres and avoid spending more than you need to.
How to Know when Car Tyres Need Replacing

Get The Contact Details For Everyone In The Room With This iPhone App

Sharing contact information can be a pain, but the My Name Is E iPhone app makes the whole process terrifyingly simple by allowing people to share contact information with anyone in physical proximity.
Get The Contact Details For Everyone In The Room With This iPhone App

Wednesday, December 08, 2010

New Virus: Watch Out for Goo.gl Links on Twitter

Twitter users, there's a new worm going around. Beware of bad Goo.gl links. It spreads when you click on the these links, so don't click if you see a Goo.gl link in a tweet all by itself.
New Virus: Watch Out for Goo.gl Links on Twitter

4 Effective Tools for Monitoring Your Child's Online Safety

If you’re concerned about your child’s online safety, you aren’t unusual. Seventy-eight percent of respondents to a survey conducted by Yahoo had similar worries, and more than 70% of them took some action to manage their children’s online and mobile activities.
4 Effective Tools for Monitoring Your Child's Online Safety

Tuesday, December 07, 2010

This Traffic Camera Is A Little Different: It Pays You Money

Now this, this is a traffic camera I can get behind. The Speed Camera Lottery, a winning project for Volkswagen’s Fun Theory series, sends tickets to speeders and enters law-abiding drivers in a lottery to win their money. Awesome auto-karma.
This Traffic Camera Is A Little Different: It Pays You Money

Most Popular How-To Guides of 2010

Here's a look back at Lifehacker's most popular how-to features of 2010.
Most Popular How-To Guides of 2010

Will you age slower if you exercise, eat well?

German researchers say yes, you will age slower if you exercise, eat healthy foods, and have a good lifestyle. In fact, they have determined how many years more, on average, you will live if you do those things.
Will you age slower if you exercise, eat well?

An Undocumented Google Search Operator - AROUND

This Google cheat sheet [PDF] has a nice overview of all the popular search operators that are supported in Google. Other than this “official” list, Google also supports an undocumented search operator called AROUND(n) that will help you find documents where the distance between two search terms is around ‘n.’
An Undocumented Google Search Operator - AROUND

5 iPhone Apps For Avoiding International Business Faux Pas

No matter where you’re doing business, it’s important to make a good impression. But making a good impression can involve drastically different behaviors in different cultures. That’s why it’s important to do your research before you get on a plane.
5 iPhone Apps For Avoiding International Business Faux Pas

20 Windows Keyboard Shortcuts You Might Not Know

Mastering the keyboard will not only increase your navigation speed but it can also help with wrist fatigue. Here are some lesser known Windows shortcuts to help you become a keyboard ninja.
20 Windows Keyboard Shortcuts You Might Not Know

Monday, December 06, 2010

LCD? LED? Plasma? The How-To Geek Guide to HDTV Technology

With image technology progressing faster than ever, High-Def has become the standard, giving TV buyers more options at cheaper prices. But what’s different in all these confusing TVs, and what should you know before buying one?
LCD? LED? Plasma? The How-To Geek Guide to HDTV Technology

Saturday, December 04, 2010

Understanding Pac-Man Ghost Behavior

Each of the ghosts is programmed with an individual “personality”, a different algorithm it uses to determine its method of moving through the maze. Understanding how each ghost behaves is extremely important to be able to effectively avoid them. However, before discussing their individual behaviors, let’s first examine the logic that they share.
Understanding Pac-Man Ghost Behavior

Windows 7 32-bit vs 64-bit

Computer users who want to buy Microsoft’s latest operating system Windows 7
have two choices to make. First they need to decide on the edition of the operating system. At least three different editions are available for retail users, they are: Windows 7 Home Premium, Windows 7 Professional and Windows 7 Ultimate. They also have to decide whether they want to install a 32-bit or 64-bit edition of the purchased operating system. This decision does not have to be made during the purchase as the Windows product key is valid for both 32-bit and 64-bit versions of the selected edition.
Windows 7 32-bit vs 64-bit

Family Friendly sites listed on Blackstump Australia Issue 25/2010

The latest issue of new Family Friendly sites listed on The Black Stump.
Family Friendly sites listed on Blackstump Australia Issue 25/2010

Friday, December 03, 2010

Introducing Google Earth Engine

Today, Google launched a new Google Labs product called Google Earth Engine at the International Climate Change Conference in sunny Cancun, Mexico. Google Earth Engine is a new technology platform that puts an unprecedented amount of satellite imagery and data—current and historical—online for the first time. It enables global-scale monitoring and measurement of changes in the earth’s environment.
Introducing Google Earth Engine

Thursday, December 02, 2010

Track Santa in Real-Time With Google Maps This Holiday

Christmas Eve might not be for another 23 days or so, but Google (Google) and NORAD already have the online Santa Tracker ready to go.
Track Santa in Real-Time With Google Maps This Holiday

SalesClark Picks Out the Perfect Computer for Your Needs (So You Don't Have To)

If you're tired of computer shopping for all your friends, SalesClark will help them narrow down what they need with just a few simple questions in a chat-style webapp.
SalesClark Picks Out the Perfect Computer for Your Needs (So You Don't Have To)

Tuesday, November 30, 2010

Your Online Footprint

The CEO of Google has suggested that once you leave college, you may want to change your name to distance yourself from all the dumb things you did as a younger person and can’t erase from the Internet. Of course if you change your name, you won’t be associated with any of the positive things you did either.
Your Online Footprint

Create a Simple Password Protected Folder in Windows 7 Sans Software

Windows: If you're looking to stash some files away from other users casually browsing your computer but don't need to go full bore with the encryption, you can create a password protected folder with a basic batch script.
Create a Simple Password Protected Folder in Windows 7 Sans Software

Historical Imagery - How a Place Has Changed Over Time?

Google today introduced a new version of Google Earth, which among other new enhancements, sports an easier way for you to explore historical imagery of a place.
Historical Imagery - How a Place Has Changed Over Time?

Sunday, November 28, 2010

Top 10 Registry Tweaks that Power Up Windows

The Windows registry is a mysterious place, but if you're comfortable editing it, you have the power to tweak nearly every Windows setting you can imagine. Here are 10 of Lifehacker's favorite registry tweaks that make life easier.
Top 10 Registry Tweaks that Power Up Windows

Friday, November 26, 2010

5 Important Tips for Better Eye Health in a Digital World

In attempting to sum up the world in 2010, one word comes to mind: connected. Everywhere we go we carry devices that keep us connected to something important to us. Be it a sleek new tablet letting you share photos with the person helping load your groceries, or a smartphone making sure you don’t miss that late night e-mail from a colleague; we are now constantly connected to the world around us, more than ever before.
5 Important Tips for Better Eye Health in a Digital World

Thursday, November 25, 2010

How to Identify and Resist Manipulative Sales Pitches

Stores everywhere are competing for your hard-earned money (or easily acquired credit) this holiday shopping season, and they're pulling out every sales pitch they know. Here's how to identify some of the most manipulative and resist them.
How to Identify and Resist Manipulative Sales Pitches

Wednesday, November 24, 2010

The Hacker’s Guide to Tea

Coffee gets a lot of attention, but if tea's more your style, tea guru Tony Gebely offers this guide to understanding and brewing better tea—discussing the process, the kinds, and the care necessary to cultivate a great taste for tea.
The Hacker’s Guide to Tea

Australian Women’s Weekly in National Library of Australia Digital Archive

Hat tip to PC World Australia for the pointer to the new digital archive of Australian Women’s Weekly, brought to you by the National Library of Australia. This archive spans 10 June 1933 to 15 December 1982, which is 2500 issues and 220,000 pages, totaling about 275,000 articles. That’s not small, but I did find some pages that were listed in the search engine but weren’t viewable yet. You can do a keyword search at http://trove.nla.gov.au/ndp/del/title/112.
Australian Women’s Weekly in National Library of Australia Digital Archive

Tuesday, November 23, 2010

Curing Warts, Removing Splinters, and 19 Other Bizarre Uses for Banana Peels

It all started with a rumor that banana peels could be used to polish silver and a bet among friends that it couldn’t. In trying to discover if there is any legitimacy to the silver-polishing properties of banana peels, I found dozens of other unusual applications for them, including splinter removal and wart treatments.
Curing Warts, Removing Splinters, and 19 Other Bizarre Uses for Banana Peels

Curing Warts, Removing Splinters, and 19 Other Bizarre Uses for Banana Peels | Wise Bread

It all started with a rumor that banana peels could be used to polish silver and a bet among friends that it couldn’t. In trying to discover if there is any legitimacy to the silver-polishing properties of banana peels, I found dozens of other unusual applications for them, including splinter removal and wart treatments.
Curing Warts, Removing Splinters, and 19 Other Bizarre Uses for Banana Peels

Short Sharp Science: Looking down on the tallest structure ever built

The 828 metre Burj Khalifa skyscraper towers above downtown Dubai in the United Arab Emirates. The no doubt soon-to-be iconic image taken earlier this year by GeoEye 1, the highest resolution satellite in operation, opens the 2011 calendar of parent company GeoEye.
Short Sharp Science: Looking down on the tallest structure ever built

Practice Eye Contact to Generate "Reality Distortion Field" Charisma

Some people, like Bill Clinton and Steve Jobs, have undeniable charisma that even their most ardent detractors are forced to acknowledge. Master the art of eye contact and personal space management to create "Reality Distortion Field" level charisma.
Practice Eye Contact to Generate "Reality Distortion Field" Charisma

How to Find the Person behind an Email Address - Reverse Email Search

You get an email from a person with whom you have never interacted before and therefore, before you reply to that message, you would like to know something more about him or her. How do you do this without directly asking the other person?
How to Find the Person behind an Email Address - Reverse Email Search

Monday, November 22, 2010

Don’t Sleep, Prevent Standby, Hibernate, Shutdown In Windows

The power configuration in Windows determines if the operating system initiates a system state change. This can be an automatic shutdown, a switch to standby mode, hibernation or changes that have less of an impact like turning off the computer monitor.
Don’t Sleep, Prevent Standby, Hibernate, Shutdown In Windows

Sunday, November 21, 2010

Favorite YouTube Videos This Week: The Cheesy Action Movie Edition

This Friday, we’re taking the term “weekend warriors” quite seriously. Today’s YouTube Roundup theme is “Cheesy Action Sequences,” curated by everyone’s favorite former invalid, The Fully Sick Rapper.
NOTE: If cheesy violence — or shouting men — offend you, you may want to skip this roundup.
Favorite YouTube Videos This Week: The Cheesy Action Movie Edition

9 Notable Tech Flops That Live in Infamy

Not every gadget is destined for greatness. Despite the hype before launch, or the promise of how a shiny new device will change your life, there are some gizmos that just don’t cut it.
9 Notable Tech Flops That Live in Infamy

Win a Coin Toss by Volunteering to Flip the Coin

The person flipping the coin has a significantly higher chance to calling the outcome. Stack the odds in your favor by volunteering to be the flipper.
Win a Coin Toss by Volunteering to Flip the Coin

Top 10 Holiday Travel Tips and Tricks

Traveling in general isn't always fun, but it's especially miserable during the holidays. Long lines, long drives to the airport, and frequent delays make the process hard to endure. Here are our top ten tips and tricks for surviving holiday travel.
Top 10 Holiday Travel Tips and Tricks

Saturday, November 20, 2010

Use Toothpaste to Fix Car Body and Headlight Scratches

Toothpaste: it restores old sneakers, de-stains MacBooks, un-clouds drinking glasses, and, it seems, heals whatever minor scratches ail your car, whether on the body, or the problematic kind that reduce your headlights' brightness.
Use Toothpaste to Fix Car Body and Headlight Scratches

Family Friendly sites listed on Blackstump Australia Issue 24/2010

The latest issue of new Family Friendly sites listed on The Black Stump.
Family Friendly sites listed on Blackstump Australia Issue 24/2010

Friday, November 19, 2010

Jet Lag May Cause Long-Term Memory and Learning Problems

Any frequent long-distance flier can tell you about what jet lag does to their energy, sleep, and awareness functions. But scientists who exposed hamsters to frequent jet-lag-like conditions—equivalent to flying from New York to Paris every three days—found that it affected neuron birth in the hippocampus, and likely the related problems hamsters had with finding desirable rooms in a maze and other memory tasks.
Jet Lag May Cause Long-Term Memory and Learning Problems

5 Fresh Places to Find Great Online Video

Fortunately, more and more sites and services are stepping up to help sift through the vast, expansive wasteland of online video. Here are five of Mashable's favorite sites for not just finding the goods, but also making it easy to share and exchange videos with friends and family members.
5 Fresh Places to Find Great Online Video

Thursday, November 18, 2010

Backup Your PC Securely With FBackup

Are you searching for a back up program which is safe, user friendly and free at the same time? If yes, then your search may end here. Usually users don’t go for backup programs, since they have a fear in mind regarding the loss or damage of important data stored in the PC.
Backup Your PC Securely With FBackup

Yahoo! Labs and Zombies

Interested in game theory, advanced mathematics, classical economics, and budget allocation problems? No?
Let’s try again. Are you interested in commanding a legion of Zombie warriors in a pitched battle against your friends and random people online?
Yahoo! Labs and Zombies

Wednesday, November 17, 2010

Internet Filter Delayed Until At Least 2013

We’ve known since mid-year that the ludicrous Internet filter concept was on the backburner pending a classification review. Based on current plans, that means there’ll probably be no chance to introduce it before 2013.
Internet Filter Delayed Until At Least 2013

Check if the ISP is Limiting your Download Speed

You have a fairly good Internet connection at home and regular websites load pretty quickly in your browser. However, the speed seems to go down while you are watching videos on YouTube or are trying to download files through a torrent client.
Check if the ISP is Limiting your Download Speed