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 Monday 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.

If you are a gardener you no doubt work to keep various kinds of weeds out of your garden. One might even term those weeds, especially if they originate in an area other than your own, as an invasive species of plant. Thus, the Invasive Species Weblog reminds you to be aware of what is growing in your garden that shouldn't be there. This one is in the US but I am sure the same principles apply to gardeners around the globe. Have a read and see if it's a help to your gardening experience.

Here in Australia it is compulsory to have some kind of superannuation fund. You can do it through your workplace in most instances, but there is nothing wrong with you finding an alternative fund and using that as your own. Thus the ASFA - Super Guru - Menu is useful as a guide to superannuation and choice of fund in Australia, run by some experts in the field (who appear to be completely impartial). Have a look. It could benefit your future to investigate the right fund for you.

It's nice to see some of the younger generation getting back into reading. The problem some might have is finding stories that are interesting and fun to read. Thus, the Children's Storybooks Online - Stories for Kids of All Ages site will be a help to most parents. And yes, there are three categories of age to choose from. Have a look and see if this site might help someone in your family toward reading rather than watching the television so much.

You'll no doubt be aware that movies make mistakes. The classic one, supposedly, was in a Wild West film and in the scene where the local Indians are attacking a wagon train; you can spot the contrail of a jet that had just flown over a few moments before the shot was taken. If goofs and guffaws set you chuckling, have a look at the Movie mistakes site as it shows goofs, bloopers, pictures, quotes and trivia from thousands of movies.

With the rise in petrol costs seemingly here forever, you might find that the Concept Car photo galleries - The Detroit News Online - 09-16-05 site is more than just wallpaper. With the Australian government now attempting to push ethanol laced petrol on the general populace one can't help but wonder when more development will be put into developing engines that have no need of fossil based fuel at all. There have been some, but they still need work to become practical. Have a look. You might be seeing a sneak preview of your new car in a few years.

I know you know of our solar system and how the various planets revolve around the sun (our closest star) but are you also aware how far from the sun each planet is in space? If you hop over to The Solar System site and click on a planet name, you can then compare with the distance from the sun on your far left. Interesting drawings and calculations.

With the advent of spring here in the Southern Hemisphere many think of the annual Spring clean of their homes. All well and good, but the folk at Symantec also suggest that you should do much the same with your computer. Thus, the Spring Cleaning for your PC site shows you things that you should do with your computer to keep it in optimal running order. Have a look.

If you travel a lot, especially overseas, you might be well advised to have a look at the Welcome to Bradmans Business Guides site. Many are free online guides that will show you much of the country you are visiting, and its customs, etc. so that you are well armed when making that business appointment. Travel safely.

Whenever someone mentions the term UFO they immediately run the risk of being thought of as a crackpot. However, if one keeps in mind that the term UFO stands for Unidentified Flying Object (which simply means that there is no discernible marking on that particular object) then the UFO Sightings in Australia site, like many around the globe on this same subject, will show you those that have been reported, at least to someone. Are we being invaded? Probably not, but then again, they are "unidentified" after all.

As you will be aware, many of the children around the world do not get a fair chance at life. Thus, the Plan organization and website was formed. Plan is an international development organization working with and for children in many parts of the world. Have a look and consider lending your support here as well.

On television and in the odd movie, and even occasionally in your news broadcast, you hear reference being made to the organization called Interpol. Ok, so it is assumed it is some kind of police organization to help deter crime and catch international criminals, but how much do you really know about it? Hop over to their website and have a read. Interesting stuff.

Way back in the deep dark recesses of my mind I seem to remember having a "Pick of the Week" go to the extreme ironing organization. No, I'm not kidding - it does exist. And now there is an Australian branch as well. Hop over to the EIOZ - Extreme Ironing Oz site and have a read. As their saying says, "Extreme Ironing is an outdoor activity that combines the danger and excitement of an 'extreme' sport with the satisfaction of a well pressed shirt." And you thought it was boring in Australia *chuckles*.

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. ;-)