Introducing The Senior Surfer Crossword Puzzle

This week, instead of a quiz, we've decided to introduce our very own Internet themed crossword puzzle. The interactive puzzle consists of 10 clues and to access it all you have to do is click on the link below:

The Senior Surfer Crossword Puzzle #1

When you finish the puzzle, just hit the back button on your Web browser to return to The Senior Surfer. Enjoy the challenge and look for more of these in the future!

YouTube For News Hounds

Are you a news hound? Do you love YouTube? Then you'll appreciate the fact that the popular video sharing site has a ton of News & Politics videos that they're adding to their archive daily.

YouTube.com/news aggregates all sorts of news videos, from top national and world news to news happening near you, and makes it easy to find. Here's an example of content currently featured:

A Reason To Get Animated

If you've ever wondered what it would be like to create your own animations but didn't think you possessed the talent to give it a go, you'll love a site called GoAnimate.com. They give you all the tools you need to create your own animations: characters, backgrounds, sound effects--you name it. And best of all, you don't need drawing or cartooning skills.

They've got a helpful video tutorial page to show you how to get started. Here's an example of what a finished product looks like using the tools you'll find at GoAnimate:

Stranger To Love by Rookrat




Like it? Create your own at GoAnimate.com. It's free and fun!

Watch Susan Boyle Sing 'Memory' On YouTube

If you missed Susan Boyle's rendition of 'Memory' in the recent semi-final round of Britain's Got Talent, don't worry--you'll be happy to know they've got a channel on YouTube, so you can watch her performance anytime you like!

Watch Memorial Day Tributes On YouTube

You would think that a site like YouTube would have plenty of Memorial Day tribute videos. And you'd be right! If you're going to be online at all this Memorial Day weekend, make sure to check out some of them. Here's one of my personal favorites--it's listed as a 2008 tribute, but it's really timeless:



Have a healthy and happy Memorial Day weekend!

Note: In observance of the holiday, The Senior Surfer will post again on Tuesday, May 26.

Test Your 'Net IQ - Quiz #35

Today's True/False quiz is based on the guidelines for evaluating health information on the Internet which you can refer to on the Web site of http://www.cancer.gov/. How savvy are you at evaluating health sites you find on the Web? Let's see:

Test Your 'Net IQ - Quiz #35

1. A reputable health site makes it clear who's behind the site and the information found there.


True

False




2. When evaluating a health-related Web site, it's not important to consider who sponsors the site.


True

False




3. It's not a good sign when you can't find any details about how a particular health site reviews the medical information presented.


True

False




4. You shouldn't worry if you find that a health-related site hasn't been updated in years.


True

False




5. You should be skeptical of a site that presents medical facts without any citations to peer-reviewed medical literature.


True

False

Good luck!

Visit The Online Exhibitions Of The National Museum Of American History

Do you have a passion for American History? Got a Web browser? If you answered "yes" to both of these questions, then you have everything you need to embark on a remarkable journey. All you have to do is point your browser to the Online Exhibitions of The Smithsonian National Museum of American History.

Some of the highlights, among the dozens of online exhibits you'll find there, include:

• Abraham Lincoln: An Extraordinary Life
• Edison Invents: All About Thomas Edison and His Inventions
• The Invention of The Electric Guitar
• Magic Lanterns, Magic Mirrors: A Centennial Salute to Cinema
• Photographing History: Fred J. Maroon and the Nixon Years, 1979-1974

And much, much more! For the serious history buff, this one's a must-see, and the next best thing to visiting the museum in person!

The People Behind The Technology: Sergey Brin And Larry Page

Even if you're relatively new to the Web, you probably use Google on a daily basis. But how much do you know about its origins or the people behind this technological marvel?

In 2001, Charlie Rose conducted an interview with Sergey Brin and Larry Page, the co-founders of Google, that provides some interesting insights into their personalities and what sparked their desire to create Google in the first place:

The Cat That Launched A Thousand Funny Videos

There are a lot of funny videos circulating around the Internet, but some are just funnier and more influential than others. Take the YouTube video below for instance. The hilarious footage of a cat playing keyboard has served as the inspiration for a whole new comic genre of so called "keyboard cat" videos!

Test Your 'Net IQ - Quiz #34

It's time for another quiz on matters of Internet Security. Take the following multiple choice challenge and let's see how sharp you are when it comes to staying safe on the 'Net:

Test Your 'Net IQ - Quiz #34

1. Which of the following are possible signs your computer has been infected by a worm or virus:


Your computer starts freezing up a lot.

You can't access any anti-virus Web sites.

Your computer starts running a lot slower than it used to.

All of the above




2. Which of the following choices are potential sources of computer virus infection:


An e-mail attachment

A CD

A downloadable game

All of the above




3. Which of the following terms or phrases is NOT typically associated with secure online shopping:


SSL

Safe mode

A padlock icon

Https




4. You just received an unexpected e-mail attachment from a friend. What's the smartest thing to do?


I just click on the attachment. It's from a friend after all.

I make sure my antivirus software is running, then click on the attachment.

I make sure my antivirus software is running, then call my friend to confirm she sent the attachment, before clicking on it.

I defragment my hard drive, then click on the attachment.




5. Which of the following would be considered a strong password, difficult for hackers to crack:


A word from the dictionary that has 4 or more letters in it.

Your favorite color.

The name of your favorite baseball team.

None of the above. These are all weak passwords

Good luck!

Google Is Introducing More Search Options

One of the great things about Google is that they're always evolving in an effort to improve the user's search experience. Case in point, the introduction of new search options. Check out this recently released video that Google produced, to see some of the options and learn how you can use them:

A Remarkable Story Of Courage

As inspirational tales go, they don't get much better than the one about John Challis. Challis, you may recall, was the Pennsylvania teenager whose story of courage in the face of cancer made national headlines. Sadly, Challis lost his battle with cancer, but his inspirational message won the hearts of millions.

Now, thanks to the power of the Web, whenever your spirit needs a boost, you can watch the video essay about John Challis that originally aired on ESPN:

How Savvy Are You About Online Auctions?

If you're new to the world of online auctions, you need to learn that there's a lot more to them than the simple act of buying and selling. And this fun interactive game from OnGuard Online can help:

The Action Auction Game

The People Behind The Technology: Bill Gates

Even if you're relatively new to the Internet and World Wide Web, you've probably heard the name Microsoft. In fact, chances are pretty good that you're currently browsing the Web with the help of their software. And if you're familiar with the name Microsoft, you've likely heard about Bill Gates, one of the cofounders of and a main driving force behind the technological powerhouse.

But how much do you know about this influential maverick whose name is practically synonymous with the company he helped found? Here's a short video from Microsoft featuring many details about Bill Gates and his work you might not be aware of:



The Life and Work of Bill Gates

An Inspirational Mother's Day Video

Here's an inspirational video perfect for this upcoming Mother's Day. It was posted recently on YouTube and it's part history lesson, part message of peace:

Test Your 'Net IQ - Quiz #33

Just like the brick and mortar world has it's own rules of etiquette, so too the Internet world. But how familiar are you with the rules of "netiquette" anyway? Take this short true/false quiz to see if you know the difference between good and bad netiquette:

Test Your 'Net IQ - Quiz #33

1. Good netiquette dictates that you post in ALL CAPS when replying on a message board.


True

False




2. It's considered good netiquette to use spellcheck before sending an e-mail.


True

False




3. It's bad netiquette to forward an e-mail chain letter.


True

False




4. It's perfectly acceptable to post a reply on a message board under someone else's username.


True

False




5. E-mail spam is a no-no, but blog spam is perfectly acceptable in cyberspace.


True

False

Good luck!

The People Behind The Technology: Tim Berners-Lee

As you zip along the World Wide Web at lightning speed, clicking link after link, do you ever wonder who came up with the idea for it in the first place? In other words, who invented the Web, and for that matter, how did it all come about?

It turns out that the Web was invented by a British computer programmer named Tim Berners-Lee. And in this short video found on YouTube you'll gain some valuable insights into the man, as well as fascinating details on the creation of the World Wide Web:

Missed The President's Weekly Address? Watch It Online

In the old days, you probably listened to the president's weekly address on the radio, right? But what happened if you missed it one week? The best you could hope for was to read a transcript of it somewhere.

Today, thanks to the Web, you no longer have that problem. You'll be happy to know that the president's weekly addresses have been archived on YouTube, so you can not just listen to them, but watch them too--and at your convenience!

Here's the most recent one:

Baseball Can Be A Funny Business

Baseball. Our national pastime. A game full of skill, grace, dazzling plays, majestic home runs--and bloopers! One of the great things about baseball is that it's often funniest when it isn't played at its finest--as this YouTube video clearly demonstrates!

Test Your 'Net IQ - Quiz #32

A few weeks ago we presented you with a quiz about Google's other products and services besides their general search engine. Well, this week's quiz takes up where that one left off! See how many of these additional Google products you're aware of:

Test Your 'Net IQ - Quiz #32

1. Google offers a customizable homepage. What do they call it?


eGoogle

iGoogle

EgoGoogle

MyGoogle




2. Which of the following is a social networking site run by Google?


Orkut

Friendster

Facebook

Hi5




3. It's a little easier to conduct academic research with this Google product:


Google Academia

Google Socrates

Google Sapience

Google Scholar




4. It's a free download from Google that'll help you explore your world in amazing detail:


Google Globe

Google Terra

Google Earth

Google World




5. This Google tool makes it easy to save the interesting items you come across as you surf the Web:


Google Clips

Google Snippets

Google Highlights

Google Notebook

Good luck!