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!