Mac's Picks is a collection of family friendly interesting and useful sites, updated weekly. These sites may be search engines, medical resources, household hints, educational resources, recipe sites, sites I call "head scratchers", and/or new sites dealing with all kinds of things of use to the general internet community. To find the criteria I use, simply click on the "Why and How Info" link on the right side of this page.

This page is updated on a weekly basis, each Tuesday evening Australian (Queensland) time (GMT + 9 hours according to the world clock). Please come back and visit us often.

Important Note: If you are returning to my page, welcome back! Please click your "Refresh" or "Reload" button on the top of your Internet browser to ensure you are seeing the current week's page of my "Picks of the Week". Also, I would love for you to make my site your home page. Simply click on Tools - Options in Explorer, or Edit - Preferences in Netscape, and click Use Current and it's done.

If you operate a computer on the net, and you must do or you wouldn't be reading this, then you'll know that a little knowledge about how the net works could be useful. A long time Internet personality and trainer has a number of PowerPoint files for you to not only see, but to take and use for yourself and your friends. Teachers would also be well advised to have a look at the Patrick Douglas Crispen's Classroom PowerPoint files and then download them and use them in their classrooms. Patrick has a winning style and a wonderful way of explaining things. Have a look. I'm sure you'll be impressed. Oh, and by the way - the files are free for you to use. :-)

If you are a frequent visitor, or hopefully, will become one, you will know that I love good and interesting food, and that hardly a week goes by that I don't show you yet another recipe site. The RECIPES Recipe Goldmine Recipes site certainly is a goldmine of interesting and taste tempting things to tantalise your and your family's tastebuds. Have a look and spice up that next meal.

Blogs (WeB LOGS) are coming more and more into use as a way of communicating one's thoughts, feelings, ideas, and all kinds of things. However, it is a little different when a news publication has one of its own. The STop - The Seattle Time Opinion blog does just that, and as explained by the site itself, it is "where our editorial writers and editors share their evolving thoughts on a variety of issues. STop is a place where opinion writers and readers can exchange views and readers can learn more about how editorial positions are formed." Sound interesting? I think so. Enjoy.

Most of us at one time or another wish someone would notice us and say a kind word or two. Well, when you need that "pick me up" hop over to the Automatic Flatterer, type your name into the little box that first appears, and then sit back and be flattered. *smile*. Now that's a way to start your next Monday off. ;-)

If you are a homeowner, you'll know that sometimes household appliances will simply shut down for no apparent reason, or do something that seems so absurd that you can't figure out what is happening. It can even happen with your hot water heater, and thus the Hot Water Heaters - How and Why site could prove to be worth its weight in gold when it happens to you. I think this one definitely is worth a bookmark (or favourite - depending on which browser you use). You never know when it will come in handy.

If you've ever thought of trading anything online, you most likely went to ebay or some other site that does that. There is an Australian one that is good to have a look at as well. It does offer some advantages for those of us who live out here in the warm, tropical, South Pacific (yes, I had to rub that in *chuckles*). So if you, like me, live out in this part of the globe, hop over to the AussieTraders.com.au - Australia's Buy & Sell Marketplace site and have a look. Nice site, and well worth a bookmark.

You may or may not be aware that there is a language used on the net that helps make some sites really stand out, called Java. This language, originally developed by the folk at Sun Microsystems, also has other versions, including one made by Microsoft. That particular version will cease to be supported in September of this year, and no future versions will be written by Microsoft (as per an agreement signed between them and Sun). So, to beat the big rush in September, why not hop over to the Download Java Software site at Sun Microsystems and download it now. Once that has happened, and you follow the directions that are there to help you install it, then, to test out what java is all about, turn your browser to the Air Traffic Control System Command Center and wait for it to load. It does take a little while but the wait is worth it. You'll see a map of the USA and the 50 largest airports there, being updated with air traffic delays in real time. No, this is not animation as you know it. It is a real time look at what is happening at those airports. Pretty amazing stuff. Just hover your mouse over any coloured dot and it will give you info. Click on that dot and you get more. Isn't the net amazing?

One of the things old timers like me are aware of, especially for new families on the net, is the need to remain safe. One site that does a great job of teaching new (and old) net users how to protect their family is the GetNetWise You're one click away site. As the site says, "The GetNetWise coalition wants Internet users to be only "one click away" from the resources they need to make informed decisions about their and their family's use of the Internet." Now that has to be worth a look. Well done site with lots of useful info.

Unfortunately not all sites are good value. A recent article written by one of the long time net people, and a well respected net personality, warns people to be cautious about certain software that may seem innocent, but isn't. To see what I'm talking about, hop over to the Gator Information Center site and have a read. This particular brand of software may not be your best bet for software, and not only because there is better software out there, but because of what it does without your knowledge. This particular brand could slow down your system to a snail crawl, and for that reason alone it's not a good idea to download and install it. *shrugs* Sometimes cheap isn't necessarily less expensive in the long run. Be aware.

Having said that, and not normally being the type who recommends software as such, I feel that I really should recommend one particular piece of software to you, namely MailWasher. This free download, once installed and configured (your ISP should help you with the info to help you do that) will look at the email you are about to download from your email server and point out what might be spam (that annoying junk mail like the junk mail in your letter box). When you know it is, you simply click the box alongside it, and it not only deletes it from your mailbox BEFORE you download it to your system, it also will bounce an email looking very real back to the spammer who sent it to you, saying that you don't exist. I personally use it, and used to get upwards of 30 spam email messages per day. Now I get maybe one per week. Significant drop in junk mail. So give it a try. It's free and it works extremely well.

As many of you know I'm so old my birth certificate is written on a cave wall *chuckles*. However, I do remember the 1950's and many of the silly things that took place back then. If you are of my generation, or simply are interested in that part of the last century, hop over to The Fifties Index - Oldies Music, Classic TV, Pop History, Fifties Clothes, Burma Shave, Elvis, American Bandstand and more. and have a look around. You'll be rockin' 'round the clock in no time. *smile*

I know some sites are out there that will give you a chuckle, but one that I recently found and really had a great laugh at (and still do I might add) is the Real Stupid News site. It looks so real... but remember that it's all totally untrue news, but most of it good for a laugh. Enjoy.

Rebecca Game of "Digital Women - Women with their modems running...", is a graphic designer who is superb to say the least. Rebecca designed this "new look" web site specifically for me, and I can't praise her work enough. Her site, dedicated to women on the net, is worth seeing and bookmarking for future reference. If you are looking for links of interest to women, please visit her site. And if you need the best graphic designer on the planet, I seriously can't recommend her more highly. Oh yes, and when you visit her site, tell her Mac sent you. Thank you Rebecca. I am eternally grateful for your assistance and expertise. ;-)