Updated 02 June 2008 Queensland, Australia Time
  
Hello and welcome to Mac's Picks of the Week. If you are interested in why this site exists, how it operates, and a little about Mac, then click on the Why and How Info link and see what is there. When you have finished please return to this Home page and see what sites I have chosen this week to receive a Mac's Picks of the Week award. Thank you for visiting and please share this site with friends, family, and colleagues who you feel will enjoy it.
This page is updated on a weekly basis, each Monday Australian (Queensland) time (GMT + 10 hours according to the world clock). Please come back and visit often.
When giving a talk this week I was reminded of something I want to pass on to you as well. If you do online banking or indeed, online commerce of any kind, you are no doubt aware of the general rules to keep your information private - i.e. always look for a secure site to pass your information on, ensure that the url starts with https:// which has that extra s meaning secure, and look for the locked padlock somewhere near the bottom of your browser screen. You no doubt have also heard that nefarious people online may plant what is known as key loggers on your system to try and gather your keystrokes when you log into your banking site, or use credit card details. Though a good anti-spyware app, and a good anti-virus software will most likely keep you from such things being installed without your knowledge, you also, if you run Windows (and I take it there would be one in the Mac systems as well) have an additional way to thwart the net nasties. Open up your login page and click in your login bar. Now, click on the start button on the bottom left of your screen. When the list of things appears click in the space that is there to allow you to search for something, and type osk (or OSK) and hit enter. Amazingly, an On Screen Keyboard will appear (bet you didn't know you had that did you?) and now click in the appropriate letters and numbers to enter your login and watch them appear on your login site. Next click on your password bar and click on the various letters and numbers of your password and hey presto! They appear as stars in your password section as well.
Why do this? Simply because there is to my knowledge, no spyware written that can log mouse clicks - and thus your login and password are NOT keystrokes and thus not able to be harvested for others to use. Please pass on this information to any and all friends you have who do online commerce of any kind as it will save the unwary from divulging information they should not. And I would appreciate it if you point them to my page here as well. Every new visitor is important so I thank you in advance for showing others my site. *smile* Happy banking.
If you're having problems finding a blog that suits your particular taste you might want to have a look at the Blogdigger Blog Search Engine site. It's a search engine specifically designed to look for blogs. You just put in your subject and it will poll different search engines on your behalf. Now that has to be good.
If you've ever bought something online you may well have noticed a box on the order form that says something like "enter promotion code here". Of course if you don't have one, you can't enter anything and thus you may not get the discount that promotional code offered. For that reason it's a good idea to have a look at the Buy.com Promotion Code - Buy.com Coupons - Buy Coupon Codes @ eDealinfo.com site once in a while to see if there are any there that could be of use to you when you buy your next item online. I'd bookmark this one for future use.
One of the things that troubles us all is when our children or grandchildren go online. We have all heard horror stories about children unsuspectingly getting into all sorts of problems because of those they may meet online. Thus, a site like the Home Stay Smart Online site, published by the Australian Government, is a real boon. If you have young folk living at your place or who use your computer on occasion to go online, it might pay to take them to this site and go through some of the online safety rules with them. As the old NYPD show sergeant used to say "Let's all be careful out there".
Are you a crossword player? Many folk are and it's a good mind stimulating past time to enjoy. However all of us can, at times, just get stuck on one single term or word, and thus a site called the Jumble and Crossword Solver site is a good tool to have handy. You simply pick the term "crossword puzzle", and then enter the term for answers. You can also use question marks as well if necessary to highlight a single missing letter or letters. Give it a try. It might help you complete that puzzle you started.
If you're in the market for a new digital camera, you might want to give the Digital Camera Reviews, Ratings, Tips and Comparisons site a browse. Here you will find unbiased comparisons and reviews of different cameras available on the market. Find one that does what you want it to do in your price range and you're away. Happy snapping.
With petrol (gas) prices rising literally daily (don't get me started on why I think they do) one has to also consider taking care of your vehicle more so that it runs efficiently and doesn't burn more of that precious fuel than need be. Thus, sites like My Car - The Royal Automobile Club of Victoria (RACV) site can be of help in that it answers a lot of those questions about how to maintain it in peak performance. Have a look and hopefully save yourself some money in the process.
English is, without doubt, the hardest language on the planet to learn, and to be frank, those of us who speak it as a native tongue still don't use it properly most of the time. Luckily I'm married to a grammarian who always checks my work for me before it's published, and even then I make mistakes. The Grammar Slammer--English Grammar Resource site may go some way to helping you understand proper English grammar and how to use it. If you're a young person in school, or an old codger like me, this is a helpful site to spend some time on.
You will no doubt know that I take pride in my site being family friendly and I don't plan on changing that. However, occasionally I run across a site that, though not entirely out of the realm of good taste, has some areas or articles that may be seen as questionable by some. Now, with that warning in place, if you are male, have a look at the Menstuff site where you'll find some very interesting and helpful articles about the world around you and your place in it. Yes, it's controversial in parts. This is certainly a more adult oriented site but if you're male possibly still worth a read occasionally. See what you think. I think it has some good articles that all men should read.
You have no doubt heard that you can download movies online. The problem is that they are usually pretty expensive as well. However, there is always the Free Movies & Documentaries (Public Domain) site to see, and because all of the film on here is in the public domain you are not breaking anyone's copy write laws by downloading and viewing the films here. Enjoy.
Having friends over for a bbq or party? Want to be a real caring host? Then go to the non-alcoholic beverage recipes recipe goldmine recipes site and make up some delicious things to drink that do NOT contain alcohol. If your friends can't go one night without alcoholic drinks, they have a problem. Plus, you'll sleep better knowing that no one left your party impaired by alcoholic drinks. Have fun.
Got your iPod loaded up with music? Why not download and install a good audio book to listen to on the way to and from work? You can do that on the AudioBooksForFree.com site and the range of titles and subjects grows daily. Have a look and improve your listening pleasure.
All of us enjoy a good laugh. Indeed, we need it as it's healthy as well. Sites like the GWiz Funny - The funniest family friendly place on the web! One liner jokes is one site I'm happy to recommend you have a look at as their criteria is the same as mine - it has to be family friendly. So have a look and a chuckle and enjoy. *smile*
 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. ;-)
Search my site to see if I have given a "Pick of the Week"' to any family friendly term you wish here. If I have you will be shown the page(s) it was listed on.
You can choose to search The Net or My Site via Google based on the "Family Friendly" content found on my site from here. The balloons show sites close to the content of my site.
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