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.

Being an insulin dependent diabetic means that one has to watch what you eat to some extent. However many of us find that the diet we put ourselves on gets boring rather quickly and therefore sites like the Diabetic Recipes site become invaluable as it deals with people with diabetes as well as those with heart conditions (and occasionally both conditions happen in the same individual - see my heart links and diabetic recipes links on the right side of this page for proof). For those in need of a change, this site is simply proving eating healthy with diabetes can be enjoyable, and that's the name of the game isn't it? Enjoy.

Speaking of recipes, you'll know that I try to show different recipes from various countries weekly, and am just finishing a large project where I may make a separate page of recipes online based on country of origin. There are an amazing amount of different recipe sites online, for example the Afghanistan Recipes at Food Down Under Recipe Database site is certainly worth a look. How many dishes from Afghanistan have you ever eaten? Do you know anything about their native food? Give it a try. You might just be pleasantly surprised at the intensity of flavor. Enjoy.

You've heard about podcasts, you would even like to find one of interest to you, but that task is daunting to say the least. Unless, of course, you keep an eye on the podcast - Google News site where the folk at Google try to keep you up to date with the world of podcasting and what's new for you to see. You may well find exactly what you're looking for here so do give it a try.

John, one of the regular contributors of sites to this page, passed on a new firewall for me to have a look at and I must admit I'm impressed. If you don't know what a firewall is or why you need one, look up the term Firewall online and see the various explanations. Yes, you DO need one, I don't care how much or how little web surfing you do, and you might like to try this one called Online Armor - Downloads as it's free, it has a small footprint (isn't huge in hard drive requirements) and could save you from online hackers and malware. Please - do NOT rely on the Microsoft one. I may well be a Microsoft fan, but their firewall has to be one of the worst on the net. Try this. It could save you lots of problems in the future.

If you're a photography buff, or simply want to take good personal and family photos, a photography course wouldn't go amiss. Thus, have a look at the petespixel.com "Free Online Photography Course" which is a great course and free as well. The more you can learn about this art, the better your own photographic efforts will turn out. Have fun.

Some sites show you how to maintain your car and thus save time and money in the bargain. The Auto Maintenance Tips, Ideas and Hints site not only does that, but it also gives you tips on buying a car in the first place. Now that has to be of help. Have a look and keep this one bookmarked to return to at a later date as well.

As one gets older one realises the necessity of keeping those little grey cells percolating and in use. Thus, sites like the BrainBashers Puzzles and Brain Teasers site really are worth their weight in gold. Have a look and see how you fare doing some of these puzzles. Trust me; they aren't all that hard or that difficult either. Just about right in fact. *smile*

You no doubt know there are various DIY sites online, but what about one that shows you video of the person passing on the hint doing what they are talking about? It's like being beside them watching what they do and it's free as well. Have a look at the Koonji - The Best Way to Get Things Done site, turn on your speakers and click the video you want to watch. How easy is that?

Ever been in that situation where you are speaking to someone online, a friend, or acquaintance or even business contact, who speaks a different language to you? You know they struggle with English, and you would like to say the odd phrase to them in their own language as well, but doing that is so difficult, isn't it? Well, not any more since the Free Translation and Professional Translation Services from SDL International site came into being. Simply type what you wish to say in the box on the right, then pick what language it is in and what language you wish it to be translated in, click Free translation, and hey presto it's done. ¿No es este más fácil que tratando de anotar lo que un amigo traduce para usted? I think so.

If you download music from the net but really would like to find more performers of that genre, possibly those you don't even know about, then the Gnoosic - Discover new Music site is exactly what you're looking for. Even if you don't know what you are looking for - gnod will find it. Sound impossible? Give it a try.

One of the things my family and I love watching are new and different ads. I know that may sound strange to some but the clever use of video and sound to sell a product is interesting to us. And of course, if you happened to see the US Superbowl recently you were treated to a raft of new commercials that now probably permeate your screens. If you didn't get a chance to see that however, the MySpace.com - 2008 Superbowl Commercials from Super Bowl XLII Vote for Favorite Ad Videos## site will play them all to you at your request. Some are downright clever and great chuckle. Have a look and I'm sure you'll see what I mean. Enjoy.

Some folk online have a) too much time on their hands, and/or b) too much money because they host a site online to do strange things. Take, for instance, The Peeling Paint WebCam site. Yup, that's what it is. A cam pointed at a peeling wall, so you can watch the paint peel off. What can I say? And you KNOW you'll look. *chuckles*

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. ;-)