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.

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In most of the western world, the beginning of a new year is celebrated later this week. Therefore this particular week's selection of sites deals with that public holiday in most lands. To that end, my family and I send best wishes for a prosperous, healthy, and happy year to come.

See the magnificent little New Year's animation below? I got it at the New Year Backgrounds and Borders site, and believe me, Pat has made some wonderful graphics for you to see and use. I highly recommend his site, and thank him for the use of such a nice graphic to welcome in the New Year. If you're looking for good graphics, have a look here.

Having mentioned clip art above, you'll be aware that there is a lot of it on the net that can be used on your own computer. Sites that I've found that seem to have the nicest around include the New Year's holiday clip art of Father Time and clocks and party hats plus champagne and other New Year's clip art site, the New Years Graphics and Wallpaper@HolidayGraphics.com site, and the one done by Celeste titled simply New Year's Holiday Graphics by Celeste. Seriously, these sites all deserve a mention for their fine work. Have a look and I know you'll be as impressed with their work as I am.

One of the new year's traditions in the part of the world I've lived in is singing the song 'Auld Lang Syne'. Do you actually know why it's sung or what its origins are? Hop over to the Robert Burns Country The Burns Encyclopedia 'Auld Lang Syne' site and see why it's sung at all, and a lot of other interesting things about Mr. Burns. Nice site.

Of course, if you really are going to sing that song, it would be good to have all of the lyrics, not just the first set. The Cantaria Traditional Auld Lang Syne site has just that, the complete lyrics to the song for you to print off to hand out to your fellow revelers at midnight on New Years Eve. Enjoy.

How about having the accurate time when it is to be celebrated in your part of the world? The New Year 2005 Countdown - Applet is a nice little online listing of places around the globe that you might like to watch to see the proper countdown to New Years in each place, including your own. Enjoy.

And speaking of seeing the new year in around the globe, what better way than to see it online? For instance the EarthCam New Year's Eve 2004 site shows about 8 different cameras pointing toward Time Square in New York, USA, that don't simply work on new years, but work all the time. You'll see interesting cams to watch at various times to see the amazing amount of people there. Of course, on New Years Eve it takes on a whole new meaning. And, if you're interested in seeing cams from different spots on the globe and watching the new year celebrations there as well, have a look at the A Birds Eye View Of New Year Webcams and switch cameras as each place begins its celebrations. *smile*

And did you know that new year's is not necessarily celebrated in the same way around the globe? The New Year's Day site not only goes into the celebrations in the western world, but also shows us explanations of this celebration in different lands and on different calendars, not just the western world calendar. Interesting stuff.

There are, of course, various New Year traditions in various parts of the world that may interest you. If so, hop over to the New Year Traditions around the world Father Time's Net. Favorites. Songs, recipes, traditions, toys, games, movies, bookmarks, site, browse around and see the various things to be found here. Enjoy.

On the Happy New Year!!! - Explanations of New Year celebrations around the globe site you will find even more explanations of New Year celebrations around the globe to have a look at. Who knows? You might find a different way to celebrate and enjoy this entrance into a new year.

And keeping the younger members of our families in mind, you might like to take them to the Billy Bear's Happy New Year's site which is full of nice things to do on New Year's, and/or the Happy New Year from PrimaryGames.com site where they can play some interactive games and enjoy themselves, or even the Kids Domain - New Years - the Kaboose network site, which also has lots of fun things to see and do, including clip art geared to the younger set. I'm sure you'll find these happy places for the younger family members to spend some time with.

So that we also are aware of other celebrations around the globe that might be useful, why not hop over to the TakingITGlobal - Monthly Themes - Celebrations site and learning what significant things happen each month of the year? You can learn a lot here.

And finally - what about the tradition of making new year's resolutions? I know, most of them are discarded within 24 hours of making them, but I have one site that, if you are like I was, may help. Please understand, as a pack a day non-filter Camel smoker for 45 years, and knowing that the only medical research study dealing with tobacco that can be proven is the one involving clogging and ultimately blocking arteries, I ask, if you still smoke, to at least give this one a read. No it's not easy. No it's not fun. Yes you will miss it, but, if you make it this time, you might just actually live a little longer. Please, if you still smoke, stop by the Quit smoking cessation program - finding help - tips and advice - stop cigarette smoking - free video site and have a read. As someone who suffered blocked arteries that resulted in a massive heart attack and a quadruple bypass operation to continue to survive (i.e. been there, done that), consider doing yourself and your family a favor and stick around for next year's celebrations too. *smiles and climbs down off his soapbox". Enjoy your year!!!

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. ;-)