Heard Through The Newsvine

In the old days-the days before the Web, that is-who decided the important news of the day? Wasn't it those powerful people in Television, Radio and Newspapers who wielded editorial control? The rest of us had little if any say as to what was considered "newsworthy."

Today, thanks to the power of the Web, there's evidence that this paradigm might be shifting. Specifically, so called "community-driven news sites" are beginning to spearhead this change. These are sites where readers have a hand in deciding which news stories are the most important. Want an example? Try Newsvine, exactly the type of site that exemplifies this emerging trend.

Newsvine relies on a community of readers like yourself to discover stories from different news sources and then vote on their importance. The stories that get the most "up" votes from the community, are featured more prominently on the site. Your opinions taken collectively with those of others in essence amount to editorial control. Pretty neat, huh?

If you've already started enjoying the benefits of getting your news online-the variety of sources, the immediacy, etc., you might also enjoy a news site that lets you exert some editorial control. To find out more just visit Newsvine and click on Welcome at the top, right hand side of the page.

The New York Times Book Review "Widget"

Starting today, The Senior Surfer will feature The New York Times Book Review "widget". You can find this over on the left sidebar just under Google Book Search.

Simply click on the headlines and you'll be brought directly to the Web site of The New York Times where you can read the book reviews in full.

Think of it as your "little window" into the New York Times Book Review, right here at The Senior Surfer!

View The Vietnam Veterans Memorial Online

Regular Readers of The Senior Surfer might remember a post, not too long ago, about Foonote.com (see: A Playground On The Web For Armchair Historians), a site that lets you see historical source documents online. Well now, there's another reason to visit the site-they've recently added the Interactive Vietnam Veterans Memorial.

Access to this digitized version of the Vietnam Veterans Memorial located in Washington D.C. means you can zoom in with a couple of mouse clicks and see all the 58,320 names of the deceased or missing veterans, as they appear on the actual Memorial. What's more, you can even annotate the virtual wall with personal tributes, stories and photographs-hence the reason it's called "interactive."

A must-see for everyone, but especially for those wishing to visit the Memorial but can't make the trip to Washington, D.C.

How To Add The Senior Surfer Headlines To Your Home Page Or Blog

Starting today, you can add The Senior Surfer's latest headlines to your blog or personal home page! Just look under Recent Posts in the left hand sidebar and click on "Get Widget."

A little window will pop up on your screen and all you have to do is click on the corresponding icon-the Blogger icon, if you have a blogger blog, the iGoogle icon, if you have an iGoogle page, etc.

Enjoy!

Featured Google How-To Video: "iGoogle: A Mini Product Tour"

Yesterday, you read about customizable home pages. Today, you'll watch an animated video that will give you an idea of how easy it is to customize one of the examples of customizable home pages from yesterday's list-namely, iGoogle.

Just click on the Google-produced video below to see how simple customizing your iGoogle page can be!

5 Ways To Customize Your Web Experience

Not so long ago, you didn't have much flexibility when it came to your home page (your start page for surfing the Web). You chose a home page but had no say as to what type of content would be displayed on it-you took what they gave you in other words.

Those days have changed. Today's home pages have come a long way and offer a great deal of customization. In fact, you can add just about any kind of content you're interested in-news, weather, games, and more-right on your own customizable home page.

Here's a list of 5 services on the Web offering customizable Web pages:

• iGoogle

• Pageflakes

• Windows Live

• My Yahoo!

• Netvibes

These sites are giving you the power to bring the Web to your desktop in a style that suits your preferences!

A Gift From A 90-Year-Old Blogger

Every once in a while you discover a blog on the Web that makes you stop and take notice. You can't help but read it and then read it again. That's what My Life at Ninety: Looking Back and Moving On will make you do.

Started by a 90-year-old grandmother, the blog reads like a memoir as Grandma Julia recalls episodes in her life that deal with such themes as the joys of accomplishment, the struggle to adjust to new situations, or the pain that can come when life changes.

Here's a sample from a recent post:

I could still recall the tears rolling down my mother’s cheeks as she packed my things in a nice little trunk. I and my sister Maria were to leave for the city the next morning. We should be thrilled. Every child in the village thought we were lucky. It was everybody’s dream to see the big city. That night before we left, we tried to talk our father out of his decision to let us study under the missionary nuns in the city.

The stories are personal but have universal appeal. Read her blog and see if it doesn't strike a chord. Truly inspirational and a reminder to all of you out there who've hesitated to start blogging that you too have stories to tell and have much wisdom to impart.

Take a cue from Grandma Julia and get started already!

Tour The Great Pyramids Right From Your Desktop

Did you know that you can tour the Great Pyramids of Egypt and a whole lot more with just a few clicks of your mouse? These amazing virtual tours are currently available at EgyptVoyager.com a Web site brimming with information on Egyptian tourism, history, and culture.

The virtual tours include:

• Cairo

• Dendera

• Giza

• Karnak

If you're a history buff, and especially if you're interested in Egyptian History, you'll be fascinated by these virtual tours. Until you can experience the Land of the Pharaohs in person, this is the next best thing!

What Did Babe Ruth Do 85 Years Ago Today?

On this date, in 1923 Babe Ruth hit a home run. So, you might say, what's so special about that? Isn't that what Babe always did? Yes, but this one was extra special because it was also the very first home run ever hit in Yankee Stadium in the very first game ever played there. That's right, 85 years ago today they started playing baseball in "The House That Ruth Built."

Since this is the last year baseball will be played at the original Yankee Stadium (the new one opens next year), you might feel the urge to wax nostalgic about the old ballpark. On the Web, you can do just that at Farewell To The Cathedral, a special section of the Official Site of The New York Yankees.

Especially if you're a fan of baseball history, you'll find the vintage photos, video and audio galleries of the site particularly appealing-They'll bring back memories of baseball at its finest!

Featured Google How-To Video: "Blogger: How to start a blog"

Think it's difficult to create your very own online journal or blog? You'll change your mind when you watch the Google produced video below that shows you step by step how to get started. You'll even learn how to add pictures!

Good luck on that new blog!

The Pope Arrives On Your Desktop Too

Now that the Pope has arrived in the United States, you no doubt have seen plenty of news coverage about the event on television and in newspapers-but don't discount the Web as a valuable resource on this historic event.

Among the sites covering the Holy Father's visit, the one you especially don't want to miss is uspapalvisit.org. This Web site was created by the United States Conference of Catholic Bishops, specifically to commemorate Pope Benedict XVI’s visit to the U.S.

Some highlights include:

• News features regarding the Papal visit

• The USCCB's Papal Visit Blog

• The Pope's Itinerary

• Live streaming video

Check the site often during the Pope's stay-it should be updated frequently!

Everything You Always Wanted To Know About The Titanic

On this date 96 years ago, the Titanic, the largest ocean liner the world had ever seen to that point, sank off the coast of Newfoundland. If you're a history buff and you want to use the Internet to learn more about one of the worst maritime disasters of all time, you'll want to make Encyclopedia Titanica your first stop.

Here are some of the notable features found on this impressive site:

• Biographical entries of passengers and crew members

• The Encyclopedia Titanica message board

• Rare archival film footage of the Titanic

And much more. This one's especially a must-see for maritime history buffs!

Got Last-Minute Tax Questions? Uncle Sam Can Help

The tax deadline is practically upon us, but if you have last-minute questions and you're online, don't worry. You should find what you're looking for at irs.gov, the official Web site of the Internal Revenue Service.

The valuable information there includes:

• Tax forms and publications
  


• Important tax law changes
  


• Last-minute tips

And more. But you'd better make a bee-line for the site, because time is running out!

5 Essential Sites To Help You Improve Your Writing

Looking for some help to improve your writing skills? Since you're on the Web, why not take advantage of some terrific online tools that can help you do just that? Whether you're writing a letter to a friend, keeping an online journal, or grinding out the next great American novel, you'll want to check out the following Web sites:

• The Elements of Style - The entire text of this classic style manual for writers is available online at the Web site of Bartleby.com

• Ninjawords - This is one serious online dictionary you'll go to again and again.

• FreeThesaurus.net - When you need a synonym you'll want to check here!

• The Purdue Online Writing Lab (OWL) - Take advantage of over 200 helpful writing resources on this site from Purdue University.

• Writer's Digest - The popular magazine for writers maintains an online presence as well, where you'll find tons of helpful writing resources including message forums!

Do you have a favorite writing Web site not listed here? Tell us about it!

A Travel Blog From A Titan In The Industry

Travel guide sites abound on the Internet, but how many allow you to read the views and opinions of the founders of those sites on a daily basis? That's exactly what you'll be privy to when you read Arthur Frommer Online, the blog from the founder of Frommer's Travel Guides.

Arguably among the most respected names in travel, Arthur Frommer regularly updates his blog with travel news, advice and recommendations. The itinerant Frommer even blogs from the road, offering fascinating firsthand accounts and observations of the places he visits.

A must read if you're interested in travel and it's from a titan in the industry!

How To Learn Something New In A Minute Or Less Online

Got a minute to spare? No, not a few minutes like you would usually expect to spend when you hear that question, but one minute, literally. If you do, head on over to OneMinuteU, where you'll find a library of how-to videos each lasting-you guessed it-60 seconds or less.

So what can you learn in a one minute video? Here's a short list from the site:

• How To Make English Muffin Pizzas

• Learn to Draw Fast

• Going Green In Your Home

• Removing Clutter

Though several of the one minute videos act like promotional spots to entice you to visit other sites, you'll be surprised at how many of those still offer helpful tips in under 60 seconds.

Got a minute? You might learn something you didn't know!

The BOOM In BOOMj

Has the social networking for seniors bug bitten you yet? Regardless, you'll find a lot to like about a site called BOOMj a social networking site geared towards "Baby Boomers" (the "Boom" in the name), and the slightly younger set-the so-called "Generation Jonesers" (the"j" in the name).

In addition to informative videos, community blogging tools and other features, they've recently introduced the BOOMj Experts Network. This is a group of more than 40 experts that will be supplying content on BOOMj.

From a recent press release:

"The BOOMJ Expert Network will provide customized expert information in the areas that are most relevant to BOOMj's user base: relationships, travel, health, pets and vets, finance, beauty and fashion, home improvement and outdoor adventures."

Since it was just announced March 28th, this feature is still in its early stages but looks like it has potential. Something to keep an eye on!

Challenge Yourself With A Word Origin Game

Ever wonder where a particular word or expression comes from? If you're fascinated by etymology or the study of word origins you'll enjoy playing an online game called Etymologic!

Billing itself as "the toughest word game on the Web" Etymologic! challenges you to guess the origins of 10 words or phrases, and lets you can play as often as you like.

Satisfy the etymologist in you and find out how much you really know about word origins!

Featured Google How-To Video: "Transit on Google Maps"

Do you ever use public transportation when you're in a big city? Now you can use Google Maps to get directions by foot, train or bus in several cities in the U.S. and Canada (Go to Google Transit to see if this service is available for your city).

The video below, created by Google, shows you step by step how to use this new feature.

Take A Virtual Tour Of "The House That Ruth Built"

Have you ever had the opportunity to take a tour of Yankee Stadium, home to baseball's most storied franchise, the New York Yankees? If you've never had the chance and would like to get an idea of what it might be like to walk around this legendary landmark, you'll be interested to know that there's a way you can do it online.

The Web site of Newsday is currently offering a virtual tour of Yankee Stadium. You can experience "the House That Ruth Built" right from your desktop.

The 360 degree views of the stadium include:

• Inside the Yankees dugout
• Monument Park
• Behind Home Plate

And more! Even if you're not a fan of the New York Yankees you'll enjoy this-after all, how many sports venues can claim the historical pedigree of Yankee Stadium? This virtual tour is the next best thing to being there in person!

Did You Fall For One Of These April Fool's Day Hoaxes?

How many times have you heard the words "April Fools" today? Chances are, none of the pranks or jokes you've been subjected to come close to the Top 100 April Fool's Day Hoaxes Of All Time. This list, on the Web site of Museum of Hoaxes has some real classics.

Do you remember, for example, the April 1985 Sports Illustrated article about a pitcher named Sidd Finch who could throw a baseball 168 mph? How about the 1998 advertisement that Burger King ran in USA Today for the so-called "Left-Handed Whopper?"

Read the entire list and see if it brings back any memories. Which of these classic hoaxes had you fooled?