Mac's Picks is a collection of family friendly interesting and useful sites, updated weekly. These sites are family friendly, and cover subjects dealing with a focus on the family as a whole, search, internet, internet radio, news, health, medical resources, household hints, education, educational resources, recipes, food, strange, different, help pages, homework, kids, diy, 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 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.

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They Struck Again

Women have, thankfully, moved into all manner of work in the modern world. Likewise it shouldn't be a surprise that the NASA Quest Women of NASA site introduces you to women who work in that highly scientific field of space travel. Click on Profiles and you'll see an amazing list, and that's not all of them. They should be recognised as equal workers in this and other fields and to me this is one way to show that they can do anything. This is a well done site, and I personally hope to see more sites lauding the work done by all sexes, but highlighting women to show they are capable in any field.

As you know my site recently had a case of identity theft by a spammer. To ensure that I have absolutely no spyware on my system and won't in future I downloaded, installed, and ran the ewido - anti-spyware and anti-malware solutions which runs with all the bells and whistles for 30 days, and then you either purchase the full version (US$29.95) or you use the free, limited version from them on. I'd suggest giving this a try. It actually found one on my system that no other spyware detector had found and disabled it. Whether that was what gave the spammer the info they needed or not I don't know, but at least now I'm clean and will remain so. You should ensure you are too.

Finding new recipes to make to try and keep healthy but enjoy what you eat can be a challenge. However the Recipes - Thousands of free recipes at Recipe Goldmine site is one heck of a collection of really good useful recipes to try. It literally has thousands to pick from and categorises them in ways that make sense. Have a look and bookmark this one. You'll enjoy trying out some of these.

If you're a frequent visitor you'll know I'm an old jazz lover (well, music lover actually but more on that in a moment). One of the sites that broadcasts jazz over the net is the KPLU - jazz site. You simply pick which simulcast you wish to hear it from, dependant on what you have installed on your computer, like Windows Media Player, Shoutcast, aacPlus, or Real Audio, turn up your speakers and enjoy. If you can't listen on one (because of traffic overload) try another. This is a great way to have music playing in the background (as long as you don't close that little window) as you surf or work on the net. Enjoy.

Seeing women around the globe get into business, online or offline is a good thing not only for themselves and their families but for the local economy, no matter where they are. Thus the SBA - Financing Special Interests Women Entrepreneurs (United States Small Business Administration) site is, to me, pointing the way in showing what governments can do to foster good small business environments for the women in their midst. Have a look and maybe pass it on to your own local governmental representative for a look.

I grew up with Lifesavers, those little candy circles with the hole in the middle. Thus, the Life Savers Candystand - LifeSavers Games site really came as no surprise to me. However, I'm sure my grandsons will enjoy it. Maybe your young folk will as well. Why not take them with you when you visit it and see if it sparks their interest enough to bookmark it. I know I will for the boys.

I've been told, on occasion, that I have a weird, sort of acerbic sense of humour at times. I guess that's why I love reading the latest thing Dave Barry has written. You can as well by hopping over to the Dave Barry's Blog and giving it a read. It can be very funny indeed, so prepare your laugh meter and enjoy.

On a less funny, but no less interesting note, I also came across the Complete Works of Ralph Waldo Emerson online. And, that's quite a collection of writings. The nice thing about this site is that you can search, browse, or just read the published material itself. This is one of the American great writers and poets. Have a look.

And while on the subject of books, have you had a look at the Google Book Search site yet? Here, you can put in a term identifying the subject matter you're looking for, and Google will try to find the books for you. If you have a favourite subject that you enjoy reading about, give it a try.

You'll remember that in one link above I mentioned that I'm an old jazz lover, which I am. However that isn't the only form of music I love listening to. I must admit that opera can, at times, bore me to tears, but having said that, if I were in that field, having access to The Aria Database - Information, translations, and MIDIs of famous opera arias for singers and music lovers site, I would be overjoyed because I would have access to a diverse collection of information on over 1000 operatic arias. Indeed, my favourite aria is also listed there, which is "Mi chiamano Mimi" from La Bohème by Giacomo Puccini. See? Jazz isn't my only musical interest *smiles*.

Having said that, once in a while you come across something that totally blows you away. Recently my son-in-law showed me the video on YouTube - Drum solo Tony Royster Jr. which is a drum solo by a 12 year old young man. There is no doubt that he is a musical prodigy and the nice thing is that he's continued his career as can be seen on the YouTube - Tony Royster Drum Solo site. If you're into drums, or into musical genius, have a look. What a fantastic young man.

I admit that I'm somewhat of a techo nerd, but even I wouldn't have come up with, nor want to necessarily build a Floppy Disk Bag but that doesn't mean someone else hasn't done it. Got a lot of old floppy disks that you're never going to use again hanging around? Here is one thing you can do with them, if you have the patience, or the need. *shakes head*

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. ;-)