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.

There is more and more concern on the net about the ability to surf safely from your home and business computer, and rightly so. Even Microsoft has relatively recently joined the fight against all kinds of net nasties we shouldn't have to worry about, but unfortunately, do. However, Microsoft is also helping you, the net user, to understand that with a little caution and common sense, you can be reasonably secure while surfing the net. To find out what they suggest, hop over to the Making Web Browsing More Secure - Microsoft Security Tip of the Month - February 2005 bulletin and have a read. It really does make good common sense. Well done Microsoft. Keep up the good fight.

Speaking of security, this week's blog, called Donna's SecurityFlash, is written and updated by one of the people on the net who really knows security and keeps you updated about it. Bookmark this one and keep checking back to learn the latest about net security and how to protect your connection and your loved ones while online as well.

And if you want to take advantage of the latest piece of software that Microsoft is working on, hop over to the Download details about Windows AntiSpyware (Beta) site, download the Beta software there (which means it's not ready for production and sale yet, but it's free at the moment and close to full release status) and get protected. I have, and to be frank, I think it's a great little piece of software. See what you think.

You know that I love good food and even enjoy talking with others about it. Many find pastry a real bugbear and think it really is too difficult to try. The PastryWiz Food Resource Center - Food & Fun starts here! site will hopefully demystify some of that for you and have you turning out pastry delights in no time. Enjoy

Having younger family members wishing to use the net for research and homework assignments can sometimes be a scary thought. One of the better sites to take them to and bookmark so they can do this from is the KidsClick! Web Search site, which is a web search for kids written by librarians. If anyone should know how to find information in a safe way, they should. Have a look and see what you think.

When was the last time you attempted a crossword puzzle? I've found that the answer either to that question usually is one of two. a) the last time you were in a doctor's waiting room leafing through the magazines, or b) every day in your local paper. It's one of those things most of us are either really into, or do once in a blue moon. Either way they are a good memory jogger and also are useful to expand your use of the language. The frustrating thing is trying to get started and thinking they are just too difficult. The One Across site will help you to search for crossword puzzle answers, solve crossword puzzles online, find anagrams, give you cryptogram help, and so much more. Have a look and try to make solving them something you do more often.

As you may or may not know, I am an insulin dependant diabetic. I'm certainly not alone in that category of individuals worldwide, and thus, hopefully my Diabetic Recipes site (see the link on the right side of this page) may be of some help. There is a recent addition to the Internet assistance programs for those who have this disease, and it can be seen at the AdultDiabetesStudy.com - Clinical Trials and Disease Information site. And, as it says, it will keep you up to date on clinical trials of new and important things having to do with diabetes. If you, or a member of your family or friends, are diabetic, then either hop over yourself or point them to this site. Looks like there could be hope for us all.

At one time or another, many find that they wish to purchase jewelry of one description or another, either for ourselves or for a loved one. The problem is that most of us know very little about the jewelry we are going to purchase. To seek advice on a particular stone or piece of jewelry isn't always an easy thing to do. However, if you hop over to the Ask Mr. Jewelry site, and browse around, you might find the information you need to make an intelligent purchase. If you can't find what you're looking for, do as its title suggests and ask about the item you are interested in. Have a look. Lots to learn here.

Here in Australia we not only have Steve Irwin, the Crocodile Hunter, but we also have Russell Coight - that fearless Aussie who shows us all (on Australian TV) the wonders of our great Australian Outback. If you live anywhere but here, you may not be aware of this intrepid Aussie bloke, but you should be. So, hop over to Coight.com - The #1 Russell Coight & All Aussie Adventures Fan Site on the Face of the Earth!, have a bit of a browse around, and see what mischief he's gotten up to this week (chuckles and shakes his head). If you like good comedy then this is the guy to provide it. Enjoy.

Have you ever had the situation where you've been talking with someone, or maybe are about to hire someone, and had them state that they have a degree from the University of **** in the USA? Yes, the **** means it is most likely one you've not heard of before. But, even if it is one you know, is that University accredited, or is it simply a diploma mill where you can buy a degree in anything for the right price? To find out, hop over to the Institution Accreditation - Search Page site and look it up. Here you will find out if the (American) University is accredited or not. This is a good tool for ANY human resources department and/or employer to have handy so bookmark this one. It could prove to be very useful.

Recently a much loved American talk show host by the name of Johnny Carson passed on to the next world. Johnny was a talk show icon and was the "Tonight Show" host for many many years before Jay Leno took it over. Johnny not only was a very funny man, and a wonderful host, he also was very proud of being an American, so much so that he wrote a piece about it at one time titled What Democracy Means to Me, which you can read right here. Many tributes have been paid to this wonderfully funny and kind man, and when you read this you may have an insight into yet another facet of who he was. Do settle back, go there, and have a read, because "Heeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeerrrrrrssssssss Johnny".

You know the old saying "one mans junk is another man's treasure"? Well, the Who Would Buy That sight will show you some pretty strange items found on auction sites from all over the web. It amazes me what strange things people will actually buy. Have a look and you'll see what I mean. *shakes head and goes to get a stronger cup of coffee*.

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. ;-)