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 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 visit frequently you will know that I love sites that try to help others around the world. One I came across recently is called ACORN Home - Association of Community Organizations for Reform Now. It is a free tax prep site that is for a "living wage, better health, and better schools" and actively tries to achieve those on local levels. It is also actively against "predatory lending" to solve people's financial problems. Hop over and see what I mean. This is a great group of folk who, I think, deserve support. And, maybe you should think of opening a branch in your town. I know there are people around you that could benefit and I'll bet you do too.

I was recently shown a lovely little program, still somewhat under construction but wonderful in what it's done so far, called All-in-One SECRETMAKER freeware. Yes, it is freeware and I've tried it out. Looks pretty good to me so far, and will hopefully prevent nasties from entering your system as well. Have a look and see if it can help you.

My grandson spent part of last weekend with us, much to Gamma and PomPom's joy, and I found the Kindersite - Kindergarten Education Games Songs Stories site which he seemed a little interested in. I know it will help with finding ways to help his education and enjoyment as well as our own. You might find the same is true of your grandchildren or children as well.

You know that I love blogging and reading good well-written blogs, and that I post my own on the right side of this page. I also visit, occasionally, a site called BLOGWISE - Blog Directory and Weblog Research, mainly to keep up with any new blogs of interest that may have come into being. It also has some great stats on how many blogs from different countries are hosted on their site. Now, a word of warning. This is a great site for browsing blogs and seeing how many from around the world are listed here, but be careful as some blogs are marked adult, and you may not wish younger members of your family to see those. Remember, the net is a wide open place to publish anything people wish to. The trick is not to try and sensor the net (you physically can't by the way) but to sensor what comes into your own home. That you can do. So, have a look, but do it after the children are in bed, and keep this one to yourself please.

How is your antivirus software holding up? Feel you need to try a new one? Well, there is a new one on the block and it's called, and can be downloaded from the Free avast! 4 Home Edition site. Yes, it's free antivirus software as long as you use its virus protection for your home PC. Work based and network versions you are required to purchase. If you have doubts about your present anti-virus software give this one a try.

Many folk, when traveling overseas or planning to travel overseas don't stop and think what kind of health care might or might not be available at their destination. If you check out the Travelers' Health site you should be reasonably well informed however, especially if you are taking some web-enabled device with you as well and bookmark this site on it. Don't take chances with your health. Look into it before you leave.

Most folk who visit regularly know that I love good food, and that I'm usually a beef or fish man and not much of a vegetable person. However, the Cordon Vert Recipes - Index site shows some fantastic vegetarian recipes that might just make me think again. There are a few I wouldn't mind trying out (hears his wife jump up and down with glee) so maybe even I can be converted to a more healthy lifestyle of eating habits. *shrugs*. See what you think.

Have you ever been in that situation where you would like to have a copy of the list of folders on a particular drive or CD in your possession? Well, it's virtually impossible to do, unless of course, you have gone to the Download Free Edition FolderScavenger site, and downloaded and installed this lovely little piece of software. It will copy your folder listing to clipboard or file, or print it. Your choice. Now that has to be useful in my book. Enjoy.

I love web cams set up in various parts of the world, where you can have a look at a scene you may only have dreamed about, 24 hours a day. Thus the EarthCam MetroCams site, which included cams in NYC, Moscow, London, Seattle, and many more, is a great site which allows you to see what's happening in that part of the world. I especially love the one in midtown Manhattan that shows the street of people walking past. I sent it to a friend of mine who lives there and said "Wave" *chuckles*. Well, you never know who's watching you were, so, every once in a while, smile, look up, and wave *smile*.

One of the artists that impressed me was Salvador Dali, especially his depictions of time melting away and watches that seemed to be dissolving. He also painted many other famous paintings, one of which is, or was many years ago, housed in the Museum in Fredericton New Brunswick, Canada. It was huge, and was so interesting that I used to sit there for some time being lost in the painting and its realism. Of course, like him or loath him, his most recognized art was, in some ways, simply done to make money, not to further his concepts. Anyway, the FUNDACIÓ GALA-SALVADOR DALÍ site, which can be viewed in various languages, is one to browse through. Have a look and enjoy.

When we see things like protest groups against pollution, and for sustainable living one can be forgiven for being a bit bored with them, as you think to yourself, "yes, but what can I do as an individual?" Well, there are actually things you can do and the Low-Impact Living Initiative site goes a long way to showing you some simple earth friendly alternatives. Have a look. You too can help make this a better place for all of us to live.

I'm fascinated by folk who think of various, sometimes esoteric, things to collect. Many are beautiful but I must admit that some... well, I just scratch my old bald head about. Not so however, with the LacyGlassButtons collection shown here. I must admit I didn't even know such buttons existed or even had a category, but sure enough and here are some stunning examples. Well done and worth a look. What do you collect? Me? I collect dust... ;-)

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. ;-)