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.

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.

Moms, whether online or in real life, tend to need other moms to talk with, get advice from, give advice to, etc. etc. Thus the Indigo Moms - A Community Forum with Jenny McCarthy site may be just what you, or that friend of yours, need to see and participate in. The mission of this site "is to create a community where moms can meet to have fun, share stories, make new friends, join a support group, and hopefully learn and laugh on this adventure called life." Sounds pretty good to me. Just remember to click Enter Site at the top of the first page.

If you want to learn how to sound hip, at least back in the mid to late last century, then The Octopus's Garden's Tribute to Ole Blue Eyes, Frank Sinatra site is as close are you're ever gonna' get to sounding like the Chairman of the Board. And it's true - a lot of guys sounded like that back then - but not me - oh no. My "broad" would never let me get away with that, would ya Babe? *chuckles*

Math can be one of the most infuriating subjects to study in school, if you don't get a good grounding in the basics. Unfortunately I never did, but that shouldn't prevent this generation from getting a good understanding of just about anything. Thus, you might like to pass on the Maths is Fun - Math Resources site to anyone you think might benefit from browsing through it. I think I might show it to our grandson and see what his opinion of it is.

As you are aware, there are blogs on almost any subject you can think of. Indeed, the FlickrBlog site shows you the accompanying blog on flickr, the popular photo site. If you have a Flickr account, you should at least look at this one.

With the advent of the Christmas season coming shortly, it's time to dust off that camera and brush up on your photography skills so that you can get some really good shots this season. Have a look at the Digital Photography School - previous issues site and read through what they have on offer. Some pretty impressive tips for you to have and use. Happy snapping.

If, like me, you love the music genera called Smooth jazz, you are going to love the site called The Source Smooth Jazz and MORE. This site, originating in Portland Oregon in the USA, will let you tune into their station which, I must say, plays a nice selection of good smooth jazz over the net and on their FM station as well. Tune in, sit back, and relax. Ian in Sydney, this one is for your listening pleasure.

Recipes are a way of life to some, a hobby to others, and even a simple interest to yet more of us. You will, I feel, enjoy having a look at the Recipe Cottage Home Cooking Recipes site in that it reeks of those old fashioned feelings you felt in the kitchen as a young person. Have a look. You just might find something to tempt your own family with here.

Women writers communicate with each other at times to share ideas and ways of writing. The Women Writers A Zine site is a peer reviewed journal of writing by writers. If you delve into the writing game as a pastime or as a profession, you will love this particular site.

How much do you know about the science and study of ornithology? Not sure? It's the study of birds and though bird watching comes to mind, that's not full enough to cover it either. Indeed, the species of birds that live on or over the sea can be found on the Marine Ornithology site. Have a look. I think it's an interesting subject, and you might find that the younger folk in your midst do as well.

It's amazing the sites I come across when searching for things to bring to your attention. For instance I recently came across the site called the Internet Archive Audio Archive which has the most amazing collection of radio and other audio recordings I have ever seen. Now, I know this will show my delicate age, but if the names Fibber McGee and Molly, George and Gracie, or the Bickersons ring any bells with you, hop over here, go to the Old Time Radio section and pick from the amazing alphabetical list of shows to tune into and listen to. I laughed and laughed and laughed. Hope you will to.

There are times when the younger generation show that they are truly conscious of how the rest of the world really is and how much help it needs. Such a revelation came about when I found the Textbook Revolution site which describes itself as "the web's source for free educational materials." That says a lot for the young folk of today and I applaud them for their efforts in bringing textbooks and thus education, to those on our planet who are less fortunate than themselves. Well done and well worth a look.

You've seen sites that show folk collectively making things, and/or controlling things, but what about a site that has folk collectively making doodles (small drawings) pixel by pixel in real time, and that let you join right in as well. The site named TheBroth.com-mosaic does exactly that. So, on your next coffee break hop over there and help create a mosaic out of pixels with others, or drink your coffee and enjoy your break. *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. ;-)