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.

A big Thank You to all of those who sent birthday wishes at the end of last week. Yes, I'm now 68 years old and no one is more surprised than I to see that I am still here. That covers not only still physically here but also still online with this site. What started out as an idea to help new internet users get used to clicking on things when they connected to the net has developed over the years into this labour of love to the internet community in general. This site is listed in the "family friendly" sections of most search facilities, and also is the first site to be published on the internet in this millennium. I hold that title and will always hold it until the next hundred years have passed (and yes, it can be proven). However, I am beginning to look for someone to take over the reins of this site and keep it updated as it presently is. I'm afraid that ill health has taken its toll on me and I am seriously considering finding someone else to maintain the site for me and for the internet community. To my knowledge, we are the ONLY site listing recipes for those suffering with Multiple Sclerosis, to help improve their quality of life. Reasons like that are the reasons the site should not be closed down and indeed, should be added to as time goes on. Any volunteers?

Again, thank you to all who sent me birthday wishes. They meant a lot... now on with this week's offering.

A visitor to my site informed me that there is a wonderful site directed at pre-school toddlers that I might like to consider. I had a look and if you have a toddler in your home, or know of one, this site, called Lil' Fingers Storybooks Toddler-preschool-kids(K-3) kids activates, storybooks & colouring is a wonderful start to what I feel will grow into a major site in time. It has original stories for those pre-schoolers and for their parents to read to them. There are colouring pages you can print off, and storybooks that are loads of fun for all. Have a look and pass it on.

Another visitor noted that one of the sites in "The Long List - Previously Awarded sites" has died (many have, but that is the nature of the net), but offered a suggestion to all parents who want to help their young folk with homework assignments. If you have a child who brings home homework, and you want to help as well, please read the site called A Parent's Homework Helper as it really does contain information that will help you develop your child into the person you wish them to be. The information is worth having and will help your child's educators as well. Have a read and use that information to your child's benefit.

Some of the most wonderful and beautiful tales of creation are found here in Australia and one site that shows some of them is The Dreaming, Aboriginal Stories of creation. I suggest that if you wish to find out the thoughts and feelings of the Aboriginal people of this continent this is the place to look. Wonderful insights into the world around us.

If you're interested in the worlds that surround us, then the Sydney Observatory is one place you should visit when visiting this wonderful city. Have a look at the website and you'll get the idea. It's not big, it's not daunting, but it does have some wonderful programs for you and your family to take part in.

Looking for an alternative to YouTube? Then you should have a look at the site called Vimeo, Video Sharing For You which is another site that you can upload your video creations and share them with the world. Like YouTube some content may not be suitable for everyone, but it's at least no worse than what can be found on YouTube. Have a look.

One of the things that most women have always had problems with is getting understandable and useful information about their car, or even about the car they are considering purchasing. Thus, a site like Her Car - Car Advice for Women, Car Reviews, Buying & Selling a Car Her Car could be a lot of help to those who need that information. Come on! Empower yourself with knowledge (and at least bookmark or favourite it for when you do need it).

I am one of those who think that hoaxes on the net are stupid and a waste of bandwidth and net space, besides being illegal in some places. The accompanying problem is that folk tend to resend garbage like this to their friends, especially if the hoax says something wonderful will happen to you if you send it to 10,000 of your closest friends. It won't happen at all so let's get that clear. A site, dedicated to trying to stop you doing this (thank heaven) is called Don't Spread that Hoax! and THAT one you should send to all of your friends. Remember, if something sounds too good to be true, it most likely is. Don't clog up the net with garbage like hoaxes.

With the Wimbledon Open nearly at a close, and having watched some of it on television, I wonder how much we, the average sport watcher, know about the real rules of the game? Therefore the ITF Tennis - About the ITF - Rules of Tennis site just might come in handy when watching the sport, and when arguing about that point. Have a look and bookmark it.

Don't you just hate spam email? It serves NO useful purpose and is yet another thing that simply clogs the internet and slows it down. What can you do about it? The site called Dealing with your spam problem may just hold one of the answers to that problem for you. Have a read and put their suggestions into practice. It may help to lessen the burden of spam for you.

We all love good free programs to make our computer time easier and more interesting. One source for things like that is the Free Software Downloads and Software Reviews - Download.com site generated by Download.com. It's a great site and you'll fill up your computer in no time. *smile*

Shopping online is the same as shopping in the mall. There are certain "rules" that you use when you shop or purchase things in the mall. They are online as well. Basically they are all based on common sense so if you keep your head you are fine. I shop frequently online and have never yet had a bad experience. For instance, have a look at the Online Shopping Australia - CrazySales.com.au - Huge Range of Bargains, Lows Prices Everyday! site. It's exciting and does indeed have many bargains that are worth spending money on. See if it looks interesting to you or not.

I love finding new software that does something different, and the software (free of course) seen at the GoshMe - The Web Search Assistant - categorizes search site certainly is that. It will categorise your searches for you making it easier to sort through them and find exactly what you want. Have a look. It could improve your search capability.

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. ;-)