Where To Find "Top Ten Lists" For 2007

If you love reading "top ten lists" this time of year and you're looking for a great site to find this sort of thing, look no further than Time.com's 50 top 10 lists of 2007.

Some of the "top ten" categories Time covers for the past year include:

• Medical breakthroughs



• Scientific discoveries



• Sports moments



• New TV Series
  

And more! 50 lists in all for a collection that's hard to beat. Easily one of the best sites on the Web for "top ten" lists of 2007!

Happy New Year!

Need Help Planning That New Year's Eve Bash? Let These Experts Be Your Guide

If you're planning a New Year's Eve party, there's no need to go it alone. From recipes to decorating ideas, there's plenty of help available online from the experts.

Here are the sites you'll want to consult before the big event:

• Over on RachelRay.com you'll find recipes for dinner party appetizers, main courses and more-all the food ideas you need to satisfy your New Year's Eve guests.
  


• MarthaStewart.com has a sizable section devoted to New Year's Eve ideas-food, decorating-you name it-it's there.
  


• FoodNetwork.com chimes in with New Year's food, drink and entertaining ideas ensuring that your party will be a big hit.
  

Planning that big party doesn't have to be a hassle after all when you have help from the Web like this!

The Best "Year In Review" Sites

As the year winds down, you might be wondering where on the Web can you get a good recap of the year's top stories. Some of the best places for news throughout the year also have some great "year in review" sections on their Web sites.

Get your dose of "year in review" stories from these titans of news online :

• The Year In Review 2007 from Reuters.com

• Year in Review 2007 - Special Reports from CNN.com

• Year in Review 2007 Full Coverage on Yahoo! News

These sites are hard to top for comprehensive coverage of the most important stories of 2007!

Let The Web Help You Achieve Those New Year's Resolutions

Making New Year's resolutions is the easy part. Sticking with them and charting your progress are another matter entirely. But, thanks to the Web there are some great tools to help you keep track of your goals in the new year-what's more, many are available free of charge!

You'll find these free Web tools indispensable in the pursuit of your 2008 goals:

• Joesgoals.com - Tracking your goals couldn't be simpler than with this tool that lets you do it all-from creating your goals to charting your progress-on one single page.

• FitDay.com - If diet and weight loss are part of your New Year's resolutions, you'll want to sign up for a free account at this site. It'll help you keep track of your calorie intake, exercise habits and more.

• Ta-da Lists - On the way to reaching those goals you'll be making a lot of "to do" lists. Ta-da helps you make and organize those lists online.

Sticking to your resolutions is a whole lot easier when you have free software support from the Web to lend a hand. Good luck on all those resolutions!

Oh Christmas Tree, Oh Christmas Tree, Your Branches Virtually Delight Us

Last minute holiday preparations got your nerves frazzled? If you need a short respite from the hustle and bustle of the season, try taking a virtual tour of Christmas trees from around the world!

A good place to start your tour is the Web Cam of the Rockefeller Center Christmas Tree in New York City, courtesy of wnbc.com. You'll be able to watch a live video stream of this famous Christmas tree right on your desktop!

Next, you'll want to visit the Christmas Tree Cams provided by EarthCam.com. Enjoy views of Christmas trees from Trafalgar Square in London, England, Prague in the Czech Republic and St. Croix in the United States Virgin Islands, among other points around the globe.

Your tour of Christmas trees from around the world is only a few clicks away.

Merry Christmas!

Have Yourself A Merry Online Christmas

It's undeniable. The Internet is as much a part of life at the holidays as the rest of the year. Maybe you decry that fact, but it doesn't mean that the time spent online can't be quality time. Depending on the sites you visit, the Web can actually add to your enjoyment of the holidays and even help you get into the spirit of the season.

Before you blurt out "Bah, humbug!" check out these sites:

• Christmas-Carols.net - Can't remember the lyrics to your favorite Christmas carols? Look it up at this site where you'll find the lyrics to dozens of the popular classics.
  
  
• The History of Christmas - History.com covers just about everything you ever wanted to know about the history of this traditional holiday-watch Christmas videos, discover Christmas traditions from around the world, and learn some facts about the holiday you probably didn't know.



• Santa Claus and Christmas at the North Pole - Especially if you have grandkids, you'll want to put this high on your list of holiday sites to visit. Send a letter to Santa, enjoy holiday-themed puzzles, activities and more at this terrific site.
  
  
• A Christmas Carol by Charles Dickens in RealAudio - thanks to the Ohio University Telecommunications Center you can sit back and listen to reading of this timeless Christmas classic online.

Got a favorite Christmas-themed site to add to the list above? Let us know!

5 Last-Minute Gift Ideas Made Possible Through The Web

Despite your best efforts, you still haven't managed to get something for everyone on your list-and it's almost Christmas already! No need to panic though, since it's easy to find some interesting last-minute gifts on the Web. In fact, if you choose to give one of the gift items listed below, they'll have it in time for Christmas and you won't even have to package, ship or wrap it!

Avoid the crowds and make 'em happy with one of these terrific gifts:

1. Got grandchildren interested in astronomy? Give them a gift membership at Slooh.com. This site lets them see deep space objects in real time right on their computer screen!



2. How about an online course for a friend or relative? A gift certificate from Eclectic Academy makes it easy for them to take a class online at their convenience.



3. Shopping for someone who has everything? Why not honor them with a charitable gift in their name. Wish.org is one example that offers this option.



4. If you've got a student on your shopping list, a gift subscription to Questia.com could be the perfect gift. Questia offers excellent online resources for academic research.



5. Any movie lovers on your list? Both Blockbuster and Netflix offer online gift subscriptions that make it easy to rent movies over the Web.
   

The great thing about these gifts is since they're deliverable to their recipients via e-mail, they really do qualify as last-minute gifts-literally!

E-cards You'll Be Proud To Send

Does the prospect of sending out e-cards at the holidays make you cringe? Let's face it, sending an e-card just doesn't feel the same as sending a good old-fashioned Christmas card you can hold in your hands. But what if the idea behind the e-card is to help spread awareness about a good cause? Might make you reconsider, right?

Such is the case with the Make-A-Wish e-Cards that you'll find at Wish.org (read about Wish.org in a previous article). These e-cards even feature art work by some of the Make-A-Wish kids themselves, and sending one to friends and relatives is a simple way to spread the word about this terrific organization.

It's free to send an e-card, though you will have to agree to receive e-mail updates from the organization. As for selection, there are several holiday-themed cards to choose from, so you should have no trouble finding one that suits your tastes.

See, sending e-cards at the holidays can be quite an appropriate gesture after all, don't you think?

If You Ever Wanted To Write Your Life...

Have you always wanted to write a memoir but never quite gotten around to actually starting the darn thing? If one of your New Year's resolutions is to get that memoir out of your head and onto paper, you might want to turn to Write Your Life, an inspirational blog that just might give you the guidance you need to finally churn out your life's story.

Created by senior blogger Marlys Marshall Styne, also a retired English professor and memoirist, Write Your Life is filled with the kind of useful tips and exercises designed to liberate the writer within you. For example, if you're "stuck" creatively or not sure exactly how to start writing about your life, Marlys suggests ten journal assignments to get you going in the right direction.

A copy of Strunk and White's The Elements of Style on your desk and Write Your Life on your desktop might be all you need to get that memoir written in 2008! Best of luck!

Leaf Through The Pages Of Vintage Newspapers Online

Few things quicken the pulse of a true history buff or nostalgia enthusiast than poring through vintage newspapers. But, if you don't particularly care for crumbly, yellowed, newspaper pages or the musty confines of a library's basement that typically house such relics, you'll sing the praises of a site called NewspaperArchive.com.

NewspaperArchive.com brings old-time newspapers out of the cellar and puts them online, where you can dig into them from the comfort of your computer chair-77 million newspaper pages spanning from 1759 to the present day! And though you'll be charged a premium for full access to their database of old newspapers, a surprising amount of material is offered for free.

Some of the free newspaper pages you can view right now on your computer screen include:

• 25,000 pages on Abraham Lincoln

• 40,000 pages on Pearl Harbor

• 50,000 pages on The Space Program

• 50,000 pages on The Kennedy Assassination
  

To access the collections above simply click on Free Special Collections from the homepage. Your journey to the past will begin shortly!

Concerned About Toy Safety? U.S. PIRG Can Help

If you've got grandkids of a certain age chances are pretty good you'll be buying them toys this holiday season and that means you'll probably have a lot of questions about toy safety. But where can you find answers? How do you go about determining which toys are safe and which are not? On the Web, one of your best bets is to check out ToySafety.net.

A service of U.S. PIRG, the federation of state public interest research groups, ToySafety.net includes the following resources:

• The latest toy safety news

• A link to the CPSC (consumer product safety commission) toy recall list

• A printable toy safety tips brochure

This holiday season make sure you check out this helpful site before you go shopping in toy land!

Create A Digital Scrapbook Online

Interested in trying your hand at digital scrapbooking without having to download any software onto your hard drive? Now you can by visiting a site like Scrapblog.com. Unlike digital scrapbooking sites that require you to install software onto your computer-sometimes at a hefty price-Scrapblog.com's digital scrapbooking software works directly within your browser to allow you to create some pretty impressive looking digital scrapbooks.

Scrapblog.com is also notable for allowing you to add audio and even video to your online digital scrapbooks-and when you're done you can easily share the fruits of your labor with the rest of the world or just family and friends.

You supply the pictures. They supply the easy-to-use software. Nothing to install on your hard drive-oh, and it's free! Getting started in Digital Scrapbooking doesn't get much easier than this.

Give Them A Unique Gift This Holiday Season

Want to give 'em something different for Christmas this year-something unique that they'll treasure always? How about giving them a gift of a family photograph that's been turned into a a watercolor or oil painting? If you don't fancy yourself a Rembrandt or DaVinci, don't worry-you don't have to be an artist and no need to hire one either-all you have to do is point your Web browser to Photofiddle.com, a site that will let you turn any digital photograph into a work of art!

Once you're at Photofiddle.com, you'll upload a photo from your computer to their Web site with just a few mouse clicks. Then, you'll choose the type of artwork you want to turn the photo into and the desired size, among other specifications. The process couldn't be simpler and to make it easier they even provide a helpful video tutorial you can refer to.

Prices start as low as $14.95 for artwork that's unframed, so there's really something for every budget. Just make sure you act soon if you want to get gifts delivered in time for Christmas!

Discover Rarely Seen Archival Material From 12 Presidential Libraries

Web surfers who happen to be nostalgia lovers or history buffs, you have yet another reason to celebrate: Recently, the C-SPAN network introduced Presidential Libraries: History Uncovered, a Web site packed with "never- or rarely-seen film, video, private home movies, sound recordings, photographs, documents and artifacts collected from inside the libraries' vaults." The archival material is from 12 presidential libraries-Herbert Hoover's to Bill Clinton's.

Some of the highlights include:

• Silent black & white footage from Herbert Hoover's 1931 visit to his fishing camp in the Shenandoah Mountains

• A 1933 biographical film about Franklin Roosevelt

• A 1963 home movie featuring President Kennedy and his wife at their retreat in Middleburg, Virginia

A must-see, unique resource that you'll want to visit again and again!

Pension Help Is Just A Few Clicks Away

Questions or concerns about your pension keeping you up at night? If you need help with just about anything that's pension related you should know about The Pension Rights Center. Touted as, " the country’s only consumer organization dedicated solely to protecting and promoting the retirement security of American workers, retirees, and their families," this is one of the more helpful resources on this subject you'll find on the Web.

Topics covered include:

• Pension Help - Features links to counseling projects and government agencies that can assist you with your pension problems.

• Pension Policy - Details the different activities the Center is involved in to help legislate pension reforms.

• Pension Publications - Having difficulty understanding your pension plan? Fact sheets and other helpful links are provided here that can help make things a little clearer.

Whatever your pension issue, you'll likely find an answer here, or at the very least be pointed in the right direction!

Newsreel Footage Of The Attack On Pearl Harbor

If you're interested in seeing some original newsreel footage of the Attack on Pearl Harbor, one of the best places to check is Archive.org. Several short films on the site incorporate original stock footage of the attack and its aftermath, most notably News Parade: Bombing of Pearl Harbor from Castle Films.

Additionally, If you're looking to the Web to learn more about Pearl Harbor refer to Remembering Pearl Harbor Online, a post that originally appeared right here on The Senior Surfer last year at this time-you'll find links to authoritative resources there.

Online Shopping With A Twist

Are you high on the idea of online shopping because of the convenience but not so keen on the shipping charges that might apply? Or maybe you just don't like the idea of having lots of packages arrive at your house-especially when you're not sure if you're going to be home. Don't you wish there was a compromise?

There is. You might be interested in a program that more and more retailers are adopting these days-the option to shop for products online but pick them up at the store.

Here's a list of retailers that offer this option on their Web sites:

• Best Buy
• JCPenney
• Sears
• Walmart

These so called "buy online, pick up in-store" policies might allow you to take advantage of some of the best things online shopping has to offer while helping you avoid a few that are not.

A Virtual Museum Of Early Televsion Sets

Sure, today you take owning a television set for granted-you probably own more than one in fact, and maybe even made the leap and purchased a flat-screen model already. But, do you ever reminisce about the first set you owned? Do you recall the make and model and whether it was a color TV set or black and white? Would a picture help jog your memory?

If you ever get nostalgic about those vintage TVs of yesteryear, head on over to the Early Television Foundation and Museum Web site, where you'll find tons of photographs of vintage TVs-everything from the mechanical sets of the 1920s and 30s to the early color sets of the 50s and beyond.

And while you're there, be sure to check out these highlights as well:

• On site articles and external links about the history of early television

• Examples of original print advertisements used to promote early television sets

• Photographs of the different types of picture tubes used in the early sets

And more! Who knows? With all those photos of vintage TV sets on the site, you might even see the very first one you owned!

Notable Hanukkah Resources

Celebrating Hanukkah and wondering if there's anything online about this traditional Jewish Holiday? You'll be happy to learn that there's a wealth of information on the Web concerning the "Festival of Lights."

Here are a few worth checking out:

• Chanukah 2007 - Hanukkah facts, multimedia features and more from Chabad.org.

• Hanukkah - Explore the history and traditions of Hanukkah here at the companion Web site of The History Channel.

• Chanukah on the Net - A blog, videos and even a virtual menorah are some of the highlights of this Hanukkah resource from Holidays.net.

Happy Hanukkah!

How To Use A Search Engine Like A Calculator

Next time you're surfing the Web and find yourself in need of a calculator head to a search engine-not to help you find one online, but because the search engine itself can be used like a calculator! Fact: Many if not all of the most popular search engines include an easy to use calculator feature.

If you use a leading search site like Google, Yahoo! Search, Live Search or Ask, for example, you can do addition, subtraction, multiplication and division right in the search entry box. After typing in what you want to calculate, simply hit enter on your keyboard or the search button on the screen to receive your answer at the top of the search results.

Just remember to use an asterisk (*) for multiplication, and a forward slash (/) for division. The Addition and subtraction symbols are the same as those found on the kind of standard calculator lying around your house.

Thanks to the versatility of search engines a handy calculator is never more than a click or two away!

Digital Photography Tutorials You Can Actually Understand

Is there anything worse than getting into a new hobby like digital photography only to be stymied by all the technical jargon you encounter? Do terms like ISO, aperture or white balance leave you scratching your head? If you're thinking, Can't someone explain this stuff in plain English already? you're going to welcome the online digital photography tutorials of Photoxels.com.

Succinctly written and in a style that's not off-putting, these digital photography guides from Photoxels.com make even the most arcane digital photography topics accessible to the average user.

Designed to help you take better pictures, they go beyond explaining the finer points of digital photography with mere words alone-they use photographs too, so you'll actually see the difference between great and not so great pictures.

A handy reference you'll find yourself going back to again and again!

A Treasure For Non-Fiction Book Lovers

If you're a fan of non-fiction literature, there's a site on the Web you simply don't want to miss-especially if you'd like to learn more about the authors who pen these fascinating works. It's called Booknotes.org and is really one big archive of about 800 interviews with notable 20th century non-fiction authors that originally aired on Booknotes (a television program of the C-SPAN network), that ran from 1989 to 2004.

The site's highlights include:

• complete written transcripts of every one of the 800 programs

• streaming video of hundreds of the original 800 shows

• the ability to search the archive by keywords

Though not an online book club in the strict sense of the category the site nonetheless is a valuable resource for book club members and book lovers everywhere.

Share Your Experiences On TeeBeeDee

What are some of the things you look for in a social networking site? A place to share your life-earned experiences with people who've gone through the same things? The chance to meet new friends who share similar interests? You'll get all that and more from a site called TeeBeeDee.

Founded by Robin Wolaner, who many years ago created the successful Parenting magazine, TeeBeeDee is a social networking site especially for boomers and beyond.

Here's a small sample of what you can do there:

• Create a member profile complete with a photo of yourself
  
  
• Take part in online discussions on a variety of topics

• Join one of the many groups offered or start your own

It's free to join and you can even sign up for their e-mail newsletter. If you're looking for a social networking site for the mature crowd, you won't be disappointed!

Price Protection For Online Purchases Made Simple

How do you try to save money when shopping on the Web? Do you "clip" online coupons? Are you in the habit of using price comparison search engines? All good ideas, but what about the price protection policies offered by many online retailers? Have you been taking advantage of those or do you consider them too much of a hassle?

In the past, watching to see if the price dropped on an item you purchased online was tedious. Now, thanks to a site called Price Protectr it's gotten a whole lot easier. Currently if you make an online purchase from one of 68 stores that support the service, Price Protectr will check to see if the price drops and send you an e-mail alerting you if it does.

Simply visit Price Protectr, follow their easy instructions and you're on your way. Check out this service before your next online purchase!

Uncle Sam's "10 Tips for Smart Holiday Shopping Online"

With all the hype surrounding so-called "Cyber Monday" and online shopping in general this year don't let security take a back seat to finding a good bargain. Educate yourself on what you have to do to make online shopping a safer experience.

To that end, read the FTC's recent consumer warning:


10 Tips for Smart Holiday Shopping Online


This handy guide offers both obvious advice like, checking out sellers to make sure they're reputable, to advice which might not be so obvious like, turning off your computer once you stop using it to decrease the chances of falling victim to scammers.

Be sure to read the entire document before you shop online this holiday season!

A Feast For The Brain

By now your stomach has probably had more than its fill of turkey and all the fixings, so why not give it a break and feed your brain for a change of pace? When you're ready to put down that drumstick, a cornucopia of stimulating puzzles and brain-bending diversions awaits you at BrainBashers.com.

Some of the items on the menu include:

• Logic games like Kakuro and Sudoku just to name a few
  


• Crossword puzzles of both the traditional and non-traditional varieties
  


• Visualization puzzles that exercise your ability to think in three dimensions
  


• Fractals, Stereograms and other illusions

And that's just a sample to whet the appetite. There's so much here to feed your hungry mind you might have trouble deciding where to start-but at least you can keep going back for more without having to loosen your belt buckle!

Everything You Always Wanted To Know About The History Of Thanksgiving

How much do you really know about the history of Thanksgiving? How much do your family and friends know about it? This Thanksgiving why not add some spice to your dinner table conversation by bringing up the history of this classic holiday? Just make sure you head to the Web first so you'll know what you're talking about!

Visit one of these sites to brush up on the history of Thanksgiving :

• The History of Thanksgiving - From History.com, the companion Web site of The History Channel you'll find out about the myths surrounding the Pilgrims and the Mayflower, learn what foods might have been on the Pilgrims' menu, and more.

• Thanksgiving in North America: From Local Harvests to National Holiday - If you're looking for a quick one-page history of Thanksgiving, it's hard to beat this one from Encyclopedia Smithsonian.

• The LOC.GOV Wise Guide: Thanksgiving - Here you'll find historical info and even a link to an American Memory Page that features a great Thanksgiving Timeline.

Enjoy the history lesson and have a happy, healthy Thanksgiving!

Talking Turkey Online

Need some last minute advice and ideas on how to pull off a spectacular Thanksgiving that all your friends and relatives will rave about? Try turning to the Web were you'll find a feast of tips, tricks and helpful hints to make your holiday an all around success.

Start your search at these top-notch sites full of special holiday advice:

• MarthaStewart.com - Domestic Diva Martha Stewart serves up a hearty portion of helpful Thanksgiving ideas complete with a Thanksgiving Planner you can print out, cooking videos, decorating hints and more.

• RachaelRayShow.com - The ever popular Rachael Ray cooks up Rach's Thanksgiving Guide which includes recipes, decorating advice and even how-to videos including one where she shows you how to carve a turkey.

• Rd.com - Reader's Digest offers Thankgsgiving Tips for Hosts and Guests that includes all sorts of useful entertaining info designed to make your Thanksgiving run smoother.

With tons of great advice available like this online, your Thanksgiving should go off without a hitch!

Bridging The Digital Gap With eGenerations

Sometimes on your travels along the Information Superhighway do you ever feel like there's too much to figure out and not enough time to do it all? Especially if you feel a little overwhelmed by all the technology, but still interested in taking advantage of the more salient things the Web has to offer, like social networking for example, you'll love a site like eGenerations.

eGenerations is a social networking site especially for people 50+ that makes it easy to connect with people your age, discover new travel and learning opportunities and a whole lot more by providing you with all the tools necessary in one easy to navigate Web site-minus a lot of technical jargon.

Some of the highlights from the site include:

• Message forums featuring hundreds of topics
• Articles on travel, photography and more
• Travel videos and even Web cams from around the world

Incidentally, even if you're tech-savvy, eGenerations merits your consideration just for the fact that it has so much to offer, conveniently assembled under one "virtual" roof!

Boost Your Vocabulary And Help End World Hunger While You're At It

As Thanksgiving approaches do your thoughts turn to the plight of those less fortunate? Are you the type of person who's concerned with the worsening problem of global hunger and wish you could do more about it? Then you'll be happy to know that there's a new Web site dedicated to helping you fight global hunger with, of all things, your knowledge of vocabulary!

The site is called FreeRice.com and it works like this: You play a vocabulary game where you're shown a word and asked to select its definition from four choices. Click on the correct definition and 10 grains of rice will be donated to the United Nations Food Program! Continue playing and for every correct answer you choose, another 10 grains of rice will be donated.

By the way, if the grandkids are over this is a great online activity to share with them as well. It's free to play, you'll both improve your vocabulary, have fun doing it and help put a dent in world hunger-what's better than that?

How To Use The Web To Find The Best Grocery Store Deals

What method do you typically use to compare prices at your local grocery stores?

A) Spread out shopping circulars all over the kitchen table
B) Visit each store individually
C) Use the Web to find the best deals


If you answered either A or B, it's probably because you never heard of a Web site called Mygrocerydeals.com that makes comparing prices at your local grocery stores a snap. At this helpful site simply type in your zip code and all the best deals will appear right on your computer screen.

Don't shop at all the stores shown or just interested in pricing a specific item? No problem. Mygrocerydeals.com helps you refine your search by offering store and product category selection. If you're a senior on a budget-and who's not on a budget these days-you'll want to take a look at what they offer. You won't just save money-you'll save time too!

Give And You Shall Receive

Here's a great idea this holiday season if you want to make a difference in the life of a needy child from a third world country: For a donation of $399, the Web site Laptopgiving.org will provide one laptop to a child in an impoverished part of the world-and they'll even send an additional one to you as a way of saying thanks for your generous gift.

Known as One Laptop Per Child or OLPC, the program was founded by M.I.T. Professor Nicholas Negroponte and represents an initiative to improve the educational needs of children in developing countries.

The program only runs till November 26, so hurry up and check out the site to learn more about it. If you can afford to help out in this way it's definitely worth considering and since the laptops are designed for children, the extra one you receive might even make a perfect gift for your grandkids!

Experience TODAY'S Book Club Online

Did you know that the highly acclaimed TODAY Show Book Club maintains a presence on the Web too? TODAY's Book Club, the online companion to the popular segment of The TODAY Show includes extras you won't find on television, to boot.

Here's what the site offers:

• Author interviews, including many from previous shows
• Excerpts from featured books
• Interactive content like online quizzes
• The latest book news

Highlighting an eclectic mix of both fiction and non-fiction titles, TODAY's Book Club might be just the tool you need to help you find that new and exciting read!

Notable Veterans Day Resources

Interested in learning more about Veterans Day? Look no further than the Web where you'll find plenty of resources on the subject.

In honor of this national holiday, here are some notable ones:

• The United States Department Of Veterans Affairs has an impressive collection of Veterans Day information on its Web site including a photo gallery, FAQs page, historical information and more.
• Military.com commemorates Veterans Day with military slideshows and informative articles among other highlights.
• The U.S. Army Center Of Military History presents The History Of Veterans Day in a handy one-page timeline.

Our brave veterans are a national treasure-may we never forget the sacrifices they've made!

Don't Forget To Test Your Memory

If you're an elephant, you can stop reading now. The rest of you are in for a mental challenge called Explore your memory, which can be found on the Web site of the BBC. Designed with the help of Professor Robert Logie from the University of Edinburgh, Explore your memory consists of a series of exercises that test what is known as your working memory, or more commonly referred to as short-term memory.

Not intended as a diagnostic tool-as the site clearly states-the test nonetheless presents a fun and interactive way to flex your memory muscles. To take this memory test you'll need some free time-at least twenty minutes-and free software called Flash 7, which you can download via a link on the site.

Oh, and a highly functioning prefrontal cortex will come in handy too! Good luck!

Are You Suddenly A Senior?

What do you do if you find that you've become a senior before your time? If your name is Frank Kaiser, you write a column, syndicate it to dozens of newspapers, then archive those articles on a Web site titled, aptly enough, Suddenly Senior.

This terrific site also includes jokes, trivia and links to senior sites from around the Web. But, the real meat and potatoes are Frank's entertaining and insightful Suddenly Senior columns, covering topics like medicare, social security, nostalgia, senior travel and more.

Fortified with enough humor and wit to keep you coming back for seconds, you'll find few takes on the senior perspective as refreshingly funny and informative as those of Suddenly Senior-truly a distinctive voice!

Make A Virtual Pilgrimage To The Holy See

Have you ever dreamed about taking a trip to The Holy See and exploring the world renowned museums of the Vatican? Well, till you can get there in person, visiting the official Web site of The Holy See and exploring the Vatican Museums Online is the next best thing!

Be sure to take the virtual tours which include tools that allow 360 degree views of some the rooms in the museums and even let you zoom in for a closer look at the sculptures, frescoes and other works of art housed there-you'll feel like you're practically at these famous museums.

Notable virtual tours include:

• Gregorian Etruscan Museum
• Sistine Chapel
• Raphael's Rooms

Whether you're looking to feed a spiritual hunger, satisfy your passion for fine art or please the history buff in you, a visit to The Vatican Museums Online on the Web site of The Holy See, will be worth your time!

How To Use The Web To Find A Long Lost Friend Or Relative

Here's the problem: You've got a friend named Jerry that you haven't heard from in more than a decade, or a cousin Sylvia who's been missing in action for even longer. What do you do if you want to reconnect with them but don't have their current addresses or phone numbers? Before you go and hire Philip Marlowe to track them down why not try using one of the many people search services available on the Internet?

People searches or people finders as they're often referred to are simply sites that try to match the name of the person you're searching for against available data from the white pages, public records or other sources. These sites typically offer information on current addresses, phone numbers and even e-mail in some cases.

Here are a few people search sites you can try where basic searches can be conducted for free:

• Yahoo! People Search - People search from Yahoo! offers a free white pages and e-mail search.
• ZabaSearch - A free people search engine whose results include addresses and phone numbers found in U.S. public records.
• Wink - This site takes a different angle on people search-instead of searching the white pages, they help you find people by searching the public profiles posted at online communities like MySpace, LinkedIn and other social networking sites.

Give one of these sites a try...reconnecting with that long lost friend or relative might only be a few clicks away!

Turn Back The Clock To The 1950s

Now that it's time to turn the clock back an hour once again, don't you wish you had the power to turn it all the way back several decades? How nice would it be to turn the clock back to the nostalgic fifties, for example? That's the power you'll feel like you have when you visit Rewind the Fifties, a site sure to bring back more than a few of your memories from that unforgettable era.

Remember drive-in theaters or what fast food restaurants were like in the fifties? How about those classic sci-fi movies or the important actors of the time like Marlon Brandon and William Holden? There are articles on all those topics and so much more at Rewind the Fifties. Tons of facts and interesting stories about the decade they called "fabulous."

Bring on those memories!

The CDC's Health Resources For Older Adults

No list of healthy aging resources on the Web would be complete without mention of the Healthy Aging for Older Adults section of the Centers For Disease Control (CDC) Web site. This terrific health resource is provided by one of the most respected health authorities in the world.

Some highlights of the site include:

• The State of Aging and Health in America 2007 Report
• Important health information specifically geared to older adults
• Links to federal and non-federal organizations involved in aging-related issues

Are you 50+ and concerned about your health as you age? Don't skip this site from the CDC!

Touch Up Your Snapshots With An Online Photo Editor

Want to know a quick way to touch up those digital photographs you just took even if you don't have any photo editing software installed on your computer? Now, thanks to the Web, you can use what is known as an online photo editor to give your photos a more finished look.

Here are some free online photo editing sites that even let you practice using this type of software on sample images that they provide:

• FotoFlexer.com
• Pixenate.com
• Pixer.us

Visit one of these sites and you can crop, resize and add other effects to your photos-all with photo editing software that resides on the site itself-no need to download anything, in other words. Give it a spin!

Things That Go Bump In The 'Net: 5 Sites That Will Send Shivers Down Your Spine

It's that scary time of year again, the time for celebrating ghosts, goblins and other things that go bump in the night. If you can't get enough of this creepy holiday from movies, TV and the trick-or-treaters at your door, think of turning to the Web-there's plenty there to send shivers down your spine.

Here are some notable sites from the spookier side of the Web:

1. RealHaunts.com - What's haunted in your area? Find out here.
2. HauntedHouses.com - Find real haunted houses, haunted house attractions, ghost towns and more at this bone chilling site.
3. Gallery of Classic Ghosts from About.com - some of the world's most famous ghost photographs. Truly scary pictures!
4. GhostStudy.com - Thousands of ghost pictures and even some ghost hunting tips are offered at this hair-raising site.
5. Classic Ghost Stories from Horror Masters.com - Hundreds of classic ghost stories. You'll want to keep the light on while reading these!

Happy Halloween!

Have You Considered Talking To Your Computer, Lately?

Used to be, not so long ago, talking to your computer and actually getting it to do something you asked was the stuff of science fiction-no longer! Today, thanks to what is known as speech recognition software you can actually command your computer with your voice! And, depending on the version of your computer's operating system you might already have the software included!

If you bought a PC recently that comes with Windows Vista, for example, then you also have speech recognition software. To learn more about how to get the most out of this program, you'll want to visit Windows Speech Recognition In Windows Vista, on Microsoft's Web site. There you'll be able to read about the key features of the program, watch a demo to see how it works and learn how to use Vista's speech recognition tutorials that will teach you everything you need to know.

And for those of you who either don't have the software already, or simply want to try a different product there are plenty of stand-alone speech recognition programs available for purchase, like Dragon NaturallySpeaking 9, for instance.

Of course speech recognition software does have its limitations, and it's not 100% accurate. But, if you're a senior looking to rest your hands and fingers from time to time, you might find it useful.

Speak up! With speech recognition software, your computer is listening!

Create A Virtual Masterpiece And Hang It In An Online Gallery

Like to draw or paint? You might like to try a virtual painting tool like artPad from Art.com. You'll be "painting" on a digital canvas with a realistic looking paintbrush that you control with your mouse. Once you've completed your masterpiece they'll even let you "hang it up" in their online gallery!

Oh, and if you have grandkids, you'll especially like this one. Next time they're over, get them to paint with you online at artPad. You'll have fun creating a masterpiece together without having to worry about spilling paint on the floor!

Everything You Always Wanted To Know About The History Of The Internet & World Wide Web

Do you ever wonder as you surf the Web how it all began-the Internet and the World Wide Web, that is? How did this whole thing get started, anyway? If you're interested in learning more about the history of the Internet and World Wide Web, but afraid of all the technical mumbo jumbo you might encounter, you'll want to check out NetHistory.info.

NetHistory.info started by Ian Peter, an Internet expert and historian, includes a comprehensive yet easy to understand history of the Internet, where you'll undoubtedly satisfy your curiosity about the history of the Internet, World Wide Web, e-mail and more!

How To Indulge Your Nostalgic Sweet Tooth Online

Remember what a trip to the candy store was like in the 50s and 60s? What was your favorite candy back then? Abba-Zaba Peanut Butter Taffy? Candy Buttons? How about Necco Wafers or Marshmallow Cones? Don't you wish there was an easy way to get your hands on some of that old fashioned candy and bring back those great memories?

Now, thanks to the Web, it's possible! There are Web sites that act like virtual old fashioned candy stores where you can actually purchase your favorites from yesteryear!

Here are a few you might want to check out:

• NostalgicCandy.com
• OldTimeCandy.com
• HometownFavorites.com

Visit one of the sites above and it'll feel like you've got an old time candy store right on your desktop!

5 Sites That Make It Easy To Share Photos With Family And Friends

Are you still sending family and friends your latest digital photographs in e-mail attachments? Why not consider creating a free online photo album instead and make it easier to store and share your most treasured memories?

An online photo album is simply a location on the Web where your digital photos reside. When you want to share your pictures with friends and family, you e-mail them a link to the online photo album, instead of an e-mail attachment loaded with pictures.

Here are a couple of sites worth noting that make it easy for you to create online photo albums and offer free options for doing so:

• Flickr
• Picasa
• Snapfish
• Shutterfly
• Photobucket

Some of the sites above even give you the option to make your photo albums private or public, so you can decide whether you want to share your pictures with just family and friends or the whole world!

Access The Grocery Store's Shopping Circular Online

Ever misplace the weekly shopping circular from the supermarket? Save yourself a trip to the store to get another one-find it online, instead! Many if not all of the major supermarket chains make their weekly shopping circulars available for viewing on the Web. Accessing the virtual shopping circulars is usually a simple process, too.

For example, take a look at how easy it is to access the online shopping circular of the popular Stop & Shop supermarket chain:

• Go to Stopandshop.com, and click on Weekly Circular (top menu).
• Now, browse through the entire shopping circular with a few clicks of your mouse!

It's that easy. Sometimes, depending on your supermarket, you might have to type in your zip code first in order to locate the appropriate online shopping circular, but regardless, it should never take more than a couple of steps!

Find Info On Healthy Aging At WebMD

Did you know that WebMD, the widely respected health information Web site, has a section specifically geared to the health and fitness needs of people over 50? It's called Healthy Aging, and if you're looking for information on senior living, exercise for seniors and more, you'll want to make it a go-to destination.

Some of the highlights include:

• The WebMD Healthy Aging Guide
• The latest news about aging
• Aging-related message boards and blogs
• The Healthy Aging Glossary

Want to learn more about the topic of aging? Healthy Aging from WebMD gives you the tools to find the information you need!

Where To Ask Your Small Biz Questions

Got a small business question but don't know where to find someone who's qualified to answer it? Try the ask the expert sections of the following sites that champion the cause of small business owners and would-be entrepreneurs:

• Score.org - On the homepage of SCORE, a resource partner with the U.S. Small Business Administration, you can type in the appropriate keywords and quickly locate experts who will answer your business questions by e-mail.

• Bplans.com - If you Ask a Question of the Bplans.com experts and they publish it on their Web site you'll be notified by e-mail. Even if they don't elect to answer your question, you might still find the answer you're looking for in their extensive business question and answer database.

• Entrepreneur.com - Type in your question at the Ask Entrepreneur section of the Web site and you'll be informed by e-mail when it's answered. Expect to receive your answer within 3-5 business days, although they can't guarantee that every question will be answered. You can also check their question and answer archive-someone else might have already asked the same question.

Don't keep those business questions bouncing around in your head-ask a business pro online at one of the sites above, instead!

Listen To The Bible Online

Sit back, relax and imagine that you could have a Shakespearean-trained actor read the Bible aloud to you anytime you want. Now go to Audio Bible Online and make it a reality! That's right, at Audio Bible Online you can actually listen online to the entire King James Version of the Bible as narrated by famed star of stage and screen, the late Alexander Scourby.

Just follow these easy steps to start listening to the Bible right now:

• Go to Audio Bible Online and in the left-hand column, find the book and chapter of the Bible that you want to listen to and and click on it.
• Start listening! (Note: You'll need RealAudio software in order to listen, but don't worry if you don't have it-it's free and they provide a link where you can download it)

By the way, if you decide you want to own this recording on CD, you may purchase it on their site-happily, listening to it online is free!

How To Make Free Long-Distance Calls With Your Computer

Frustrated by soaring long-distance phone charges? Did you know that thanks to the power of the Internet and the right software you can make long-distance phone calls for free with your computer? It's called PC-to-PC calling and it's relatively easy to set up.


What you'll need:

An Internet connection, a computer with working speakers, a microphone and free PC-to-PC calling software.


How it works:

Download some free software onto your computer, get the people you want to call to do the same on theirs, and then start calling each other on your computers. It's that simple!

Here are a couple of places on the Web that offer free software and detailed instructions for making PC-to-PC calls:

• Skype
• Yahoo! Messenger

Be sure to read any terms, conditions and/or limitations that apply and then enjoy making those long-distance phone calls for free on your computer!

Look To The Web To See World War II Photographs

Are you a senior surfer who's looking to find resources on the Web where you can see rare and archival quality World War II photographs? You're in luck-the Web has some great collections, if you know where to look.

Here are a few notable repositories of World War II photographs online:

• 500 Photos of World War II available courtesy of the Franklin D. Roosevelt Library Digital Archives.
• The National Archives collection of Pictures of World War II.
• History Link 101's World War II Picture Page, which includes many color images.

Especially if you're a World War II buff these are sites you simply must check out!

Zoom In On Microscopic Wonders

Ever wonder what the world looks like through the lens of a microscope? Your grandkids probably do too! If you want to get them excited about something educational for a change, venture with them into the fascinating world of microscopy science with a little help from the Microscopy and Science Education Web Site created by Dennis Kunkel Ph.D.

Some of the activities you'll both enjoy doing there include:

• Searching the Education Image Library, which features more than 2,000 images-everything from algae to viruses, as seen through the microscope
• Operating the Virtual Scanning Electron Microscope (includes sound effects)
• Zooming in for a closer look at common household insects like the fruit fly and mosquito

Loaded with dazzling images from the microscopic world, this is one online destination you'll want to visit often-few educational sites will inspire as much awe!

Now Playing At A Computer Screen Near You: Edison's Early Motion Pictures

Long before the dawn of the blockbuster movie, before even the classic black and white films of the golden era of Hollywood, there were the early films produced by Thomas Edison's Laboratory in New Jersey between 1891-1922.

Now, thanks to the Library of Congress American Memory Collection you can watch all 341 of these so-called Edison Motion Pictures right on your computer screen!

The American Memory Collection lets you search the films three ways:

1. Chronologically
2. Alphabetically
3. By Genre

These represent some of the earliest motion pictures to appear anywhere. Enjoy your nostalgic journey!

Ask The Home Improvement Pros

Here's the problem: You've got a question about the do-it-yourself home improvement project you've decided to tackle, but you don't know anyone who has the answer. The solution? Try asking an expert online at the Web site of the popular TV show This Old House!

Here's how:

• Go to This Old House and click on Give & Get Advice from the top menu.
• On the resulting page under Ask This Old House, click on Ask Your Own Question.
• Fill out the online form and click Submit at the bottom of the page.

You should note that not every question submitted will be answered-as they clearly state on their Web site-but it's still worth a try. Or, you could always check their Archive of Questions-the answer you're looking for might already be there!

Uncle Sam's Internet Crime Complaint Center

Hopefully you'll never become the victim of an Internet crime. But in the event you do, it's good to know that Uncle Sam has set up a handy Web site called The Internet Crime Complaint Center, where you can quickly and easily file complaints regarding all types of cyber crimes.

Known as IC3 for short and created through a partnership between the Federal Bureau of Investigation and the National White Collar Crime Center, the site accepts complaints via an Online Complaint Referral Form and even offers tips on how to avoid becoming a victim in the first place.

Check it out today!

A Great Place On The Web To Discuss Your Local News

Have you been to Topix.net yet? If you're looking for a great place online to discuss the local news that's important to you, this is one place that's hard to top. Easy to navigate and searchable by topic, city and state, or postal code it's sure to satisfy you if you're a serious newshound-especially an opinionated one!


Here's what Topix.net offers:

• Links to 50,000 news sources from all over the Web
• Forums and message boards where you can discuss the news
• The opportunity to participate in opinion polls and start your own

Billing themselves as "the leading news community on the Web," Topix encourages reader involvement. They even offer the chance to become a Topix editor for your city. Read their Editing FAQ's to learn more.

Play Wheel Of Fortune Online

Are you a fan of the popular TV game show Wheel Of Fortune? You'll be happy to know that you can play this fun game online too!

Here's how:

• Go to the Wheel of Fortune Homepage.
• From the top menu, under Games, click Online Games.
• A new window will pop up featuring the instructions. After reading them, click Play Now

The game will begin shortly. Enjoy!

Note: Make sure you read all the terms and conditions including the photosensitive warning before playing.

Enroll In A Free Course From iVillage.com

Did you know that iVillage.com, the popular Web portal that covers health, beauty, entertainment and more, offers a variety of online courses too? Known as iLearn courses, they include topics like personal finance and small business.

Here are some of the course titles currently offered:

• Building a Budget and Sticking to It
• Get a Grip on Your Family's Finances
• Improving Communication: Saying What You Mean
• Start-Up Basics for the First-Time Entrepreneur

These iLearn courses are taught by experts and include interactive elements like message boards. Best of all, they're absolutely free!

The Pocket Guide To Staying Healthy At 50+ Is Available Online

Searching for important information on how to stay healthy in your 50s and beyond? You'll want to check out The Pocket Guide To Staying Healthy At 50+, a helpful publication brought to you by the U.S. Department of Health and Human Service's Agency for Healthcare Research and Quality and AARP. Just click on the link above and you can read it in its entirety online!

Some of the topics covered in the guide include:

• Tips on how to talk to your doctor and other healthcare professionals
• Advice on how to make healthier lifestyle choices
• The checkups, tests and shots you'll need to stay healthy in your senior years

Incidentally, if you prefer a hard copy of this guide you can order a copy by sending an e-mail to AHRQPubs@ahrq.hhs.gov or calling the AHRQ Publications Clearinghouse at 1-800-358-9295.

Missed Your Favorite TV Show? Catch It On The Web

Now you have another option when you've missed your favorite TV show and forgot to record it-you can watch it online! That's right, the major networks are making many if not all of their TV shows available for viewing on their Web sites for free!

Here's how to watch them on the Web:

• At ABC.com click Full Episodes (top menu), then on the resulting page click Launch The Player.
• At CBS.com select Full Episodes (top menu), then click on the one you want to watch from the choices presented.
• At NBC.com select Watch Video (top menu), then under Full Episodes, click on the one you want to see.

Thanks to the power of the Web you no longer have to wait for reruns when you miss a show-simply click and watch!

Is Your Password Strong Enough? How To Find Out Right Now Online

With all the media attention the subject receives, you're probably well aware of the importance of strong passwords when it comes to Internet security. However, even if you know all the tips for creating stronger passwords how can you be sure that yours are strong enough? When the site that asks you to create a password also offers their own password strength checking tool, it's easy, but what about for those other times?

Fact is, you can test the strength of your passwords anytime, even right now, by simply visiting the online Password Checker from Microsoft.com. Just type in the password you want to test and you'll automatically receive a strength rating on screen-either weak, medium, strong or best. Obviously you want to shoot for a reading of strong or best!

Not sure if that password you've been using is up to speed? Microsoft's Password Checker will let you know!