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.

You know that I applaud those who write interesting and informative blogs on the net. Have a look at The Becker-Posner Blog for something just a little different. Who are they you ask? They are none other than Microsoft's anti-trust lawsuit judges, and their blog is full of all kinds of things that are interesting to read. Enjoy.

You need to ensure that reliable news is available so that you can keep track of events around you. One such news agency here in Australia is the NEWS.com.au organization, whose site is very informative about a lot of subjects. Need a new and fresh look at what Australians are concerned about and what tops our headlines? Look here.

It amazes me how young people really get into the net, including building their own websites for both children and adults to see. However, if you don't have someone who can help you with the basics of how it all works, then the Lissa Explains it All -- HTML Help and Tutorial for Kids site will be a wonderful place to start. Oh, by the way, they don't mind if 'post-kids' look in and learn as well. *smiles*

Still using Internet Explorer as your preferred web browser, even though most of the net community have now almost given up entirely on it because of security issues? Maybe it's time to consider downloading, installing and using the Firefox - Rediscover the web browser. It's free and has some great features you'll enjoy, plus, at this point in time, it doesn't have the same security problems as Microsoft does. Give it a try (and no, it doesn't mind if you keep IE as well).

I love food, especially Italian food, and as in many different cuisine recipes, the humble garlic plays an important part. It may add taste to many meals, and the way it is cooked determines its strength and potency, but it also apparently has other uses as well. The Garlic 101 - A Garlic Primer site shows many of those, including that it may even repel mosquitoes, not just your neighbors, relatives, business associates, and other pests you would rather avoid *smiles*. Have a look and see what you can learn about this wonderful flavorful vegetable.

How secure is your Internet Browser? If you aren't too sure, hop over to the Browser Security Test site, run their tests, and see how secure or insecure you really are.

Here in Australia, like many places on the globe, we have conditions conducive to large bush or forest fires. Living in or traveling through country areas in particular, needs certain kinds of rules to live by to prevent these terrible wastes of property and resources. Hop over to the Country Fire Authority - Living in the bush and bushfire prevention site and have a browse around. A little common sense will prevent you accidentally starting fires that could even cost lives.

Some folk have a natural talent for story telling. I don't mean telling lies, but stories that make you laugh or make you think. However, the challenge for many is to make a story that's good - but very short at the same time. Have a look at the Espresso Stories site and you'll see what I mean. Then think about what they have done here. Can you tell a story in 25 words or less? These people can.

If you have a digital camera and a good color photo printer, you may be fortunate enough to have one of the best photo-manipulation software suites available called PhotoShop, and the time to learn how to run it. (I don't, by the way, own the software or have the interest or time. *smiles*) However if you do, the Free Photoshop Tutorials - A Comprehensive Resource of Tutorials, Tips and Help - Photoshop 101 site can be a real help to you to get the most out of your digital images. I'll stick with less complicated software and as an amateur, just have fun with it.

I've had questions from folk online asking what this part of the world looks like, and what it's like to live here. Being a tourist Mecca, we are fortunate enough to live in one of the nicest places on the planet, and if you hop over to the GOLD COAST, SURFERS PARADISE, SURFERS, THEME PARKS site you'll get an idea what this area is like. We live less than 6 minutes from the ocean and surrounded by beautiful scenery and all of the amenities you could ask for. If you are interested in seeing other places in the state of Queensland, or indeed, in other parts of Australia, just click on the map in the bottom left corner and you'll be taken there. As the old TV presenter used to say "Come On Down".

If you are a Microsoft PowerPoint user, (as I am when I lecture) then the Powerpoint Tips Writing & Organizing, Designing & Graphics, and Delivering site is something you really should see. It is full of good ideas that you can incorporate in your next PowerPoint presentation. Have a look.

With the festive season drawing to a close, though I don't really agree with all of the photos in this site being classed as the title alludes, I must admit that some of them do class well and should be seen on the Welcome to Ugly Christmas Lights.com! site. Rather than being ugly, maybe one could say that some folk become a little too enthusiastic? Enjoyment is one thing. Obsession is something else again *smile*. See what you think.

Friends, the terrible natural disaster that happened in the South East Asian part of our little green orb still needs your contributions and support. I know you may have given already in one for or another to help our brothers and sisters who lost so many of their family and so much of their lives, but please consider continuing your donations to the following good relief organizations. Remember, do NOT do it via direct deposit to some bank account (yes, amoral individuals around the globe are even stealing money that is meant to help these poor folk) but do it at these agencies listed below. There is the Direct Relief International organizations site, the Oxfam International United for a more equitable world site which is doing so much good, The Official Save the Children Site which needs so much help to assist the literally thousands of new orphans as a result of this disaster, and UNICEF - UNICEF Home who continue to fight the good fight for people everywhere. Thank you for helping in whatever way you can in the relief and rebuilding of lives wrecked by this terrible tragedy. I am proud to see that Australia has pledged One Billion dollars in aid from our government, backed by all political parties in this country. We've led the way. Let your heart open and your wallet as well to help us help the victims. Thank you.

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. ;-)