The Senior Surfer: January 2009

Super Bowl XLIII will be played on Sunday, but if you want to relive some great moments in the history of the gridiron classic, all you have to do is turn to the Web--especially NFL.com, the official site of the National Football League.

NFL.com has a terrific section dedicated to the history of the Super Bowl that includes recaps, box scores, trivia and even select video highlights from previous contests.

Enjoy the game on Sunday!

Today's quiz focuses on some popular Internet services. Just how familiar are you with them? Let's find out!

Test Your 'Net IQ - Quiz #19

Sure, you might be mired in boredom right about now or maybe the weather has you down, but since you're on the Web, a virtual escape is always at your fingertips. How about a quick visit to Machu Picchu, the legendary "lost city of the Incas" for example?

Simply point your browser to Virtual Tour of Machu Picchu and you'll experience a 360 degree panoramic tour of this remarkable city-complete with narration!

If you own a computer that runs Windows Vista Home Premium or higher and have ever wondered how to change your Windows Desktop (how the screen looks when you're running Windows Vista), you'll like this how-to video from Microsoft. In it you'll see the steps you can take to personalize the look of your desktop.

Demo: Give Windows a visual makeover

It's official. A higher power must be smiling down upon YouTube. If you haven't heard by now-it's been practically all over the news, recently-the Pope has his own channel on YouTube. This means that the Vatican will now be using the popular video sharing site to keep the public informed about the Pontiff's activities, deliver Vatican-related news, etc. See: Pope launches YouTube channel (via CNN) if you're interested in learning more.

So, what do you think about the Vatican's decision to launch a channel on YouTube? Personally, I like the idea of a venerable institution like the Catholic Church embracing cutting edge technology to get their message across. What about you? Sound off in the comments section!

E-mail is one of the most popular, if not the most popular, application on the Internet. But how much do you know about its history and development? Take today's True/False quiz and find out!

Test Your 'Net IQ - Quiz #1

As you would imagine, it's easy enough to find the full text of President Barack Obama's Inaugural Address online-he just delivered the address the other day, after all. But did you know you could easily find the texts of all previous U.S. Inaugural Addresses on the Web too?

Several sites offer digital archives of these historical speeches. One notable example is Inaugural Addresses of the Presidents of the United States, which is part of The American Presidency Project at the University of California, Santa Barbara.

This is a must-see site if you're a history buff!

Didn't get a chance to see the historical inaugural address delivered by President Barack Obama yesterday? Not to worry--you can catch it right now on YouTube!

Got the computer on but not the TV? Don't worry-thanks to Hulu.com you can watch the Presidential Inauguration online!

Today is Martin Luther King, Jr. Day so it's only fitting we point out some great sites on the Web where you can find out more about the life and work of this legendary civil rights leader. MLK Online, for example, is a good place to start. There you'll find a selection of King's famous quotes, biographical information, the video of his famous "I Have a Dream" Speech, and more.

And don't forget to check out the notable Web resources about Martin Luther King, Jr. we mentioned previously!

Have a healthy and happy holiday!

Today's quiz is designed to test your knowledge of the people behind the technology you're increasingly using every day. See if you can match the names with the products or companies they're known for:

Test Your 'Net IQ - Quiz #17

If you're a history buff looking for some challenging online diversions to pass the time, head on over to Games On History at the Web site of History.com.

Highlights include the Think About History trivia game!, All About Grand Central Quiz, Thomas Jefferson Quiz, and many, many others. Who knew history could be so much fun?

Here's an amusing little video on YouTube that can teach us all a thing or two about tolerance:

Did you know that you can tour one of England's most famous medieval castles right from your desktop? That's right, and you don't even have to belong to the Knights of the Round Table! All you have to do is point your browser to BBC-Nottingham 360 - Virtual tour of Nottingham Castle, where you can enjoy a 360 degree virtual tour of this famous castle built by William the Conqueror in 1068.

Among other highlights, the virtual tour includes the Robin Hood Statue, the Victorian Bandstand, and the castle's main dungeon. For history buffs-especially Medieval History buffs-this site's a must-see!

Are you a fan of BookTV, the C-Span program that airs every weekend and introduces you to nonfiction books and their authors? Take heart-it has a home on the Web too! At BookTV.org, you'll find an archive of previous shows that you can watch right on your computer, information on upcoming shows, and more!

A must-see site, especially if you're looking for something new to add to your nonfiction reading list!

Here's another quick quiz on some popular Internet terms you should be familiar with. Enjoy and good luck!

Test Your 'Net IQ - Quiz #16

As a senior, do you find it more challenging to drive a car than it used to be? You might be interested to know that the AAA Foundation for Traffic Safety has created a Web site called SeniorDrivers.org, which offers tips and resources to help address the concerns of aging drivers like you.

Some of the highlights include:

Downloadable brochures from AAA like Carfit: Helping Mature Drivers Find Their Perfect Fit.
Videos that cover the basics of driving safely.
Links to alternative transportation programs.

And much more. If you're a senior driver who's concerned about traffic safety this is a must-see site!

It's never too early in the new year for a chuckle or two from the lighter side of the Web. Here's a humorous video on YouTube about a cat who's trying to make it all the way to Carnegie Hall.

If you're still confused about when you should right-click or left-click your mouse, you'll benefit from watching the Microsoft how-to video below. It covers all the basics about using the mouse.

Demo: Learning to use the mouse

2009 is here, and with it a whole new set of resolutions. But how will you keep track of them all? The Web can help! Here are 5 Web sites to help you keep track of, and stick to, those goals you've set for yourself in the new year: