This page is (normally) updated on a weekly basis, each Monday Australian (Queensland) time (GMT + 10 hours according to the world clock). Please come back and visit often.

We're Back !!!!! Yes, it's happened yet again. The Internet and computer Gods gathered together and decided that the computer that has served me well for the past 7 years has had its day, and they successfully killed it - and I do mean killed it. Everything is lost and gone (aren't we glad we do backups?) and my wife and I have now purchased a massive beast (remember I called it that in a few years time) composed of a dual processor, 2Gb of fast DDR Ram, 2x500Gb hard drives (yes, that's one Terabyte of hard drive space), a 22" flat panel monitor, and it finally has all the bells and whistles I'll use for the foreseeable future. It has taken two weeks to be ordered and then delivered and set up, not to mention the fact that Windows Vista is installed on it which also adds to the learning curve. Of course, Telstra, my ISP as well as being the largest Telecom and ISP in Australia, doesn't support Vista as yet ... even if their website says they do (I mean, it's only been in the offing for three years now and Telstra obviously lives in a cave to not be prepared for the launch), and Motorola (the manufacturer of the cable modem I use) hasn't bothered to make drivers for Vista as yet either (maybe they live in adjoining caves). Needless to say that Dell didn't bother consulting either of the other two before selling me a computer that no one will support - nor bother to mention in their advertisements that that might be the case..... Having said that, I came across a very resourceful (Telstra) techo who went out of his way to get me back online (don't tell anyone at Bigpond (Telstra) - he could be fired for being helpful). My gratitude goes to him for being resourceful and for also being innovative and finding a solution for me.

Anyway, settle back, ensure that your seat belts are fastened and that your seatback and service tray are secured in the upright position as we're ready to take off on yet another week of helpful sites for you and your family and colleagues to enjoy. My apologies for any inconvenience caused by the updated weekly sites absence. It is, however, warming to know we were missed. There are more than one "Mother Hens" out there and I thank you for your concern and continued support.

Finding a site that entertains the younger members of your household while being educative and fun at the same time is not an easy task to complete. However and Indian children's magazine seems to have done it in fine style. Take your children with you when you visit the Dimdima Kids, Indian online Children's Magazine for Education, Fun and Knowledge. site and see if it fits your requirements as well as theirs. I think it just might.

One of the things that prevents many from eating nutritionally is that making good food seems to be a complicated process filled with traps for the novice to fall into. It would be nice to have access to a site that made it simple. One of the folk who regularly sends me links to see feels that the CookingByNumbers.com site fills that bill nicely and I tend to agree. How simple can cooking be when reduced to following instructions one after the other? This site will show you how.

Security online is something everyone should be not only aware of but involved in, to ensure that you, your family, and your data are safe while online. The F-Secure: News from the Lab blog will keep you informed of at least some of the issues involved in the security of your computer and Internet connection and it's clear enough that even I can understand it. Have a look.

Many folk enjoy watching a good film while spending the weekend or evening relaxing. There are many good films out there but it can tend to become a costly exercise to constantly rent movies from your local video store. However there are an amazing amount of free online movies that you can download and enjoy as well. The problem is - how do you find them? Wendy Boswell of About.Com has written a fabulous article showing you where to go to find all the free movies you wish. I suggest that reading the Free Movie Downloads article by Wendy will set you on the road to happy viewing and will teach you a bit more about effective search techniques on the net as well. Have a look.

It may seem like a cliché but when one sees a venerable older person in a Chinese movie, one almost expects them to be depicted with brush in hand practicing the ancient Art of Chinese Calligraphy. As I said, it sounds like a stereotype but it also is a fantastic art and one you can begin to understand by visiting that site. Have a look and broaden your knowledge of this ancient art.

And while on the subject of writing, most folk have a novel or biography or book of some kind lurking inside them waiting to get out. Even I was once told by a close friend who is also a psychologist that I should write an autobiography, though it would have to be published as fiction as no one would believe it were true. To start those creative juices flowing in you once again, and maybe finally even starting to write your own book, why not visit the Creative Writing 101 site and take the free course on offer from the folk at Suite101? It's a good basic course that may jog you into action as well.

Writing of another kind, namely writing software, is not always done for profit. Some folk enjoy writing small applications to help others with various problems and many of those who adhere to the Open Source concept of software also belong to the Open Source Writers Group. Why am I showing you this? If you have knowledge about software authorship and/or would like to not only contribute to but also learn more about Open Source, then this is the site for you. Not all writing is narrative in nature. Have a look.

One of the pieces of free software that I had on my old machine, and that I immediately downloaded onto my new beast is one of the nicest weather trackers around, and it's free as well. Thankfully it appears to run just fine on the Vista operating system as well as all the others. Hop over and have a look at the software called Weather Watcher from File Forum and consider downloading it yourself. You will be amazed at its ability to find you (or a city close to you) to use to track the weather for you. It even found the Gold Coast of Australia so I'm reasonably confident it can find you as well. Keep informed of your local conditions in a good safe way.

Many folk online join, or belong to both social networking groups and information gathering groups on almost any subject. Did you know that the folk at Google not only have a massive number of groups already that they host for free and that you can join, but also will help you start your own? They do indeed, and if you hop over to the Google Groups site and browse around you'll not only see the groups already in existence but also how to start your own for free as well. Give it a try. Your group could become the next online buzzword, and think of all of the folk you'll meet online. Enjoy.

You've no doubt heard of VOIP or Voice Over Internet Protocol. It is the ability to make telephone calls locally and internationally using spare areas of the Internet itself instead of normal telephone line methods and thus can be made at vastly reduced costs in most cases. To not only find out about it, but to keep informed of the latest news on that topic, you might well find that the VoIP News Net - VoIP Service Provider & Business VoIP Phone Info site, though daunting sounding (it's not really) is worth the effort of keeping tabs on (if your browser has tabs - no pun intended).

Many folk have rekindled a love of photography with the advent of the digital camera and indeed there are many places on the Net that will showcase photographs of others as well as teach you how to get the best possible photos with your own equipment. However I recommend a look at the Smithsonian Photography Initiative site, simply because the Smithsonian Institute has never, to my knowledge, produced an exhibit that wasn't first class and enjoyable to see as well as informative. This site is no exception to that rule. See what you think.

Need a break? You will remember at some stage, playing Pong on a computer - that game that hits a ball back and forth while you control one of the paddles in use, and your computer controls the other. There is a relatively new one that is interesting in that it also introduces the concept of sending the ball off on a curve to defeat your opponent. Hop over to the Curve Ball Game and give it a try. Um - a word to the wise: Also be prepared to give up the next hour or two of your time. Gee fun can be addictive. Who knew?

Rebecca Game of "Digital Women - Women with their modems running...", is my web designer and a graphic designer who is superb to say the least. 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. ;-)