How To Use Your Computer To Help Find A Cure For Cancer

File this one under Amazing But True:

You might be able to help scientists find a cure for cancer with your computer! Researchers at Washington and Stanford Universities respectively, are studying the folding action of proteins as part of their effort to cure diseases like cancer--and they need your help!


Even if you can't tell the difference between amino acid and battery acid you can still help. All you have to do is download a free software program and your computer will do all the hard work of helping the scientists with their research! Find out more about this exciting way you can make a difference in the fight against cancer by logging on to the following web sites:

Learn more about the Stanford University project at http://folding.stanford.edu/

For info on the Washington University project visit http://boinc.bakerlab.org/rosetta//

Play A Ton Of Free Games At Pogo.com

Question: Where can you play loads of your favorite games right now on the Web absolutely for free?

Answer: Pogo.com, one of the most popular game destinations on the Web. To begin playing you'll have to register for a free online account, but once you do, you'll be able to play over eighty games at no charge!

Here are just a few of the free games you'll enjoy playing at Pogo:

• Puzzle Games - Get your puzzle fix with Bejeweled 2, Stack 'em and Sudoku Classic, among others.
• Word Games - So you think you're good with words? Challenge yourself with games like Bookworm and Flip Words.
• Card Games - Are you a card shark? You'll love playing the free card games like Spades, Hearts or Bridge.
• Board Games - If you like timeless classics like Chess or Backgammon you'll find them here too.

It's important to note that the games are free because they're ad supported, however, if you're the type that wants to play without viewing the ads, Pogo.com offers an upgrade to a paid membership as well!

Picasa: Free Digital Photography Software From Google

Are you just starting out in digital photography and don't want to spend a lot of money on fancy software? You should know about the free digital photography software available on the Web courtesy of Google. It's called Picasa, a feature rich program that's very easy to use and will allow you to organize and edit your digital photographs.

Here's a small sample of the photo editing touches made possible with Picasa:

• You can crop photos


• Straighten crooked shots


• Remove redeye


• Add artistic effects like Film Grain or Black & White
  

And more! To get started using this free but powerful program simply go to Picasa and download the software by clicking on Try Picasa Now.

Find The Benefits You Deserve With BenefitsCheckUp.org

As a senior, and especially if you're on a fixed income, you might find it increasingly harder to pay for the essentials like health care or prescription drugs. But, did you know that there are state and federal programs that might help you meet those costs if you qualify? Now, thanks to the web site BenefitsCheckUp.org, it's easier than ever for you to locate these programs and get the benefits you deserve. From the site:

Developed and maintained by The National Council on Aging (NCOA),BenefitsCheckUp is the nation's most comprehensive Web-based service to screen for benefits programs.

At BenefitsCheckUp.org you'll get help locating benefits programs covering the following:

• Prescription drugs


• Energy assistance


• Tax relief


• Educational assistance

And much more! If you're a senior who's worried about affording the basic necessities of life, you really owe it to yourself to check out this helpful site-you'll be surprised at how many programs are available that you're not even aware of!

Self-publishing Made Easier Thanks To The Web

They say that everybody has a book in them. Trouble is, even if you're disciplined enough to write it, it's not easy to get a publisher interested. But today, thanks to the Web, self-publishing is becoming a more viable and affordable option than ever before-in some cases it costs practically nothing to get your book published through what is known as print-on-demand; in other words books are only printed as they are ordered.

A leader in this field is Lulu.com, a site dedicated to getting your book published at little or no cost. With Lulu you simply upload the word processing file that contains your manuscript to their site and they'll guide you step by step on how to turn it into a book that will be available for order online.

Here's why Lulu is such a good bet if you're thinking of self-publishing:

• There are no set-up fees
• You retain all the rights to your book
• You set the sales price
• There are no minimum order requirements

If you're a senior who's always wanted to write your memoir, put together a personal cookbook of your best recipes, or catalog your life earned wisdom in book form to pass on to the younger generation, you'll want to consider using Lulu.com to help you realize your vision.

To learn more just visit their homepage and click on Take a Tour of Lulu.

How To Take A Virtual Trip Around The World

Want to see the waves crashing on the beaches of Waikiki, view Rome's most famous landmarks or simply people watch in Times Square all from the comfort and convenience of your computer chair? Just visit a web cam directory site!

Typically these sites offer links to video cameras from around the world that stream live video and still images over the Web-hence the name web cam-for you to see right on your computer screen.

Here are a few web cam directory sites worth noting:

• EarthCam.com


• CamVista.com


• Travel-Webcams.com
  

Before your next trip why not take a sneak peek at your travel destination through a web cam? You'll feel like you're already there!

How About A Game Of Scrabble Online?

If you're a fan of the popular board game Scrabble, you'll be happy to know that you can play online as well. Scrabulous.com for example, is one of a growing number of sites on the Web where you can play. Best of all, it's free to register!


At Scrabulous there are several different ways to play:

• Against other players online
  


• Against a computer
  


• Play by e-mail
  


• Play a variation called Blitz Scrabble

In the mood for a game of Scrabble while surfing the web? Give Scrabulous.com a try!

The American Cancer Society's Vehicle Donation Program

You know that used car you've got lying around--the one you're gonna restore someday if you could ever find the time? Why not donate it to The American Cancer Society's Vehicle Donation Program instead?

It's a great way you can make a difference in the fight against cancer and you might even qualify for a tax deduction!

And since they've made it so easy for you by providing an online contact form, you really have no excuse! Check out The American Cancer Society's Vehicle Donation Program today!

Celebrate The 4th Of July On The Web

PBS will air A Capitol Fourth - America's Independence Day Celebration tomorrow, but you can get a head start on the holiday by spending some time at the companion web site of the televised concert and fireworks event.

Here are just some of the interesting things you can do at the site:

• Find out more about the History of the 4th
• Send a digital 4th of July greeting card
• Download a concert poster
• Test your knowledge of the 4th

And more! Check out the site before you watch the celebration on PBS!

Use An Online City Guide Next Time You Travel

When you're staying local you probably already know where to find the best restaurants, shops and other attractions, and even if you don't, chances are your friends and family can make recommendations. But, what about when you travel to another city? You might find an online city guide like Yelp.com especially helpful. From the site:

Yelp is an online city guide made up of real reviews from real people. The definitive local guide in big cities from San Francisco and Los Angeles to Chicago, New York and Boston. But really, Yelp is everywhere. From Austin to Madison and everywhere in between, reviewers are chiming in from all over the country!

When you use a site like Yelp.com, it's like having friends in every city whom you can go to for recommendations on what's hot and what's not! Check it out next time you travel to another city-and don't be afraid to contribute your own reviews too!