Google Earth: An astounding program!

The Google Earth program integrates photographs from satellites, aerial photography, and Geographic Information System data to produce a relatively seamless 3D image of the globe.

The program is sophisticated and may not run on all computers. Check the system requirements before you download.

Although the basic Google Earth program is free for home use, other more complex versions for business and professional use are available for purchase.

Use Google Earth for a multitude of applications. Planning a trip is a breeze. Trace the route to your destination. “Fly” over the tourist attractions you want to include in your itinerary. Make notes on the locations of hotels and resorts. The program performs as an atlas, world encyclopedia, and flight simulator. View cities, mountains, and valleys in high-resolution 3D.

Some of the applications are startling. It is possible to type in someone’s address and zoom in on their house or apartment building. The images are not “real time”, but range in age from one to three years. If you were planning to move to a new city, this program could help you choose a neighborhood for buying a new home. Accessing different “layers” of the program enable one to display population and crime statistics for an area, for example.

After you view this program in action, you have to wonder about the imaging power available to the military from spy satellites.

This site is awesome: http://earth.google.com/index.html

Science and astronomy: What will tonight’s sky look like?

Before I found this site, the night sky was mostly a mystery for me. I could pick out the North Star, and the Big and Little Dippers, but that was about it. This site provides diagrams every day of the upcoming night sky. Significant astronomical events, like the approach of a comet, are discussed in radio programs, available for listening or downloading.

The radio broadcast section contains more than astronomy information. Topics range from the poaching of wildlife in Africa to the migration routes of sea turtles.

Check out this site: http://www.earthsky.org/

Good News For Work At Home Moms

A number of mothers choose not to work outside the home, so that their families can be their first priority. Some engage in various home-based businesses which never quite live up to their expectations or needs. Others, attempting to break into the lucrative Internet marketing business, get bogged down in technical details and huge financial outlays for setup and hosting.

Recently, Dr. Ken Evoy of Montreal, Canada invented a user-friendly website package, called Site Build It!, enabling anyone to establish and operate a successful online business from their own home at an affordable cost. The nice thing is that his company offers the opportunity on a no-risk basis!

Learn more: http://wahm.sitesell.com/smallbiz28.html

International Centre for Abduction Research: all about alien abduction

Why are so many people around the world coming forward to relate stories about being abducted by aliens and being subjected to various experiments? Serious research on the subject is providing some answers.

David M. Jacobs, Ph.D. is Associate Professor of History at Temple University, specializing in twentieth century American history and culture. Dr. Jacobs has been researching the UFO phenomenon for over 38 years. The International Centre for Abduction Research, directed by Dr. Jacobs, aims to assist therapists who have encountered clients who claim to have experienced alien abduction.

The site contains memoirs written by alleged abductees.

Interested individuals may contact the IRAC about their alien abduction experiences.

The Articles section summarizes years of Dr. Jacobs’ research on the subject.

Check out this site: http://www.ufoabduction.com/index.htm

TheTechZone: Buying Computer Hardware? Stop here first!

John “Moto” Chow set up The Tech Zone on April, 1999 and is now its Editor-In-Chief.

This site has over 3000 pages and gets more than 200,000 page views daily.

Articles on the site discuss the latest developments in computer hardware.

Buying computer hardware is easier when you access the ratings and reviews on this site.
Price comparisons at various stores are displayed as well.

http://www.thetechzone.com/

SeniorFriendFinder: Your new friends are waiting!

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ScienceDaily: The latest scientific research in digest form

The Science Daily home page has news in several scientific fields—updated every 15 minutes. Site topics include health and medicine, mind and brain, plants and animals, space and time, earth and climate, matter and energy, computers and math, and fossils and ruins.

There are all kinds of science and health videos to watch.

Here are a few health articles on the site--

Antacids may help prevent gum disease: http://sciencedaily.healthology.com/gastrointestinal-health/article3951.htm

Grapefruit juice and medication can be a dangerous mix if you’re taking high blood pressure medicine: http://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2005/01/050124010803.htm

Higher folate levels are linked to reduced risk for Alzheimer’s Disease: http://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2007/01/070108191636.htm

Home page for Science Daily: http://www.sciencedaily.com/

Get your Canadian retail store flyers online!

Sometimes flyers you want are late arriving. If you live in an apartment or condo, you may not get them at all. If you don’t subscribe to the local newspaper, you won’t get their flyers. Forget about that hassle.

Just go to: http://www.flyermall.com/web/flyer/store.html

A few grocery stores are not on this site because they have customized local flyers rather than nationwide flyers. You’ll have to go directly to their sites:

Superstore.ca
Shopnofrills.ca
Loblaws.ca
Fortinos.ca
YourIndependentGrocer.ca

Two inspirational sites

Here are two websites I have found to be inspiring.

http://www.pathways-to-peace.com/ (click on “View Presentation” to start video)

http://www.theinterviewwithgod.com/ (click on “View Presentation” to start video)

Michael Bach’s Collection of Optical Illusions and Visual Phenomena

This site demonstrates that the act of seeing is a more complex process than we imagine it to be. You won’t trust your eyes again after you visit this site.

http://www.michaelbach.de/ot/

The Weiss Family’s Awesome Light and Sound Display

The Weiss family in Newmarket, Ontario, Canada have set up a special Festival of Lights display at their home in memory of their friend and neighbor, Nicole Smith (1999 - 2006). They are accepting donations on and offline. All proceeds go to the Southlake Regional Health Centre.

View a video of the display here: http://www.weisslights.com/pics.htm (scroll down the page)

How to avoid killing your pet dog, cat or bird

This site explains why you should never use a Teflon cooking utensil if you have a pet bird and why using ice melts on your sidewalk can be dangerous to dogs and cats. There is also a descriptive list of the decorative house plants which can make your pet seriously ill. Find out what can happen to your dog or cat if it takes a sip of sweet-tasting antifreeze in the driveway.

Check out the site: http://www.funkstownvet.com/toxicity.html

Spamhaus: a huge force in the war on spam

Spamhaus is one of the biggest spam “blocking” organizations in the world. It is important to find out whether your Internet Service Provider uses this type of service to keep known spammers off their network. If they do not use an effective spam blocking system, your computer could fall prey to nuisance emails and dangerous “Trojan horse” viruses which could turn your computer into a spam transmitter without your knowledge.

Organizations like Spamhaus don’t actually stop spammers from transmitting spam, but act as an intermediaries between senders and receivers. Spamhaus tags emails transmitted from certain Internet sources as “spam” and receivers (ISPs) who subscribe to Spamhaus make the decision to block those emails from their systems, trusting Spamhaus’ judgement in the identification of spam sources.

Why you should never send “Remove” messages back to spammers: http://www.spamhaus.org/removeisformugs.html

Should you use a “spam unsubscribe service” which promises, for a fee, to keep spam out of your inbox? No way! Read about these frauds:
http://www.spamhaus.org/removelists.html

Six online scams to avoid:
http://www.spamhaus.org/faq/answers.lasso?section=Online%20Scams


Reach the home page here: http://www.spamhaus.org/

ESPN: sports news spectacular

Why did the NBA drop the new microfiber basketball as of January 1, 2007? Whether you want to track Tiger Woods’ career, keep an eye on player trades, or see video highlights of recent major league games, you have it all on one site. Become the sports expert around the office when you keep this site in the corner of your monitor.

Go to ESPN: http://espn.go.com/

iParenting: doorway to a wealth of parenting information

The iParenting website is the doorway to nine other parenting-oriented sites. Click the “Parenting Sites” tab to reach related sites, like Breastfeed.com, Pregnancy Today, Toddlers Today, and Teenagers Today. In addition, clicking on the “Lifestyle Sites” tab will lead to thirteen other sites, such as Dads Today, Moms Today, Grandparents Today, Twins Today, Special Kids Today, and iParenting Adoption.

The iParenting home page itself contains many resources for parents. Clicking “Community” will take you to more than 350 discussion boards on a multitude of parenting topics. Here members discuss topics like bedwetting, breastfeeding, choosing the sex of your baby, drug and alcohol abuse, food allergies, grandparents, home schooling, step families, and teen dating.

Click “Recalls” to find pictures and descriptions of furniture and toys which have been recalled for safety reasons.

The “Articles and Tools” section contains information on topics ranging from beauty and wellness to family finances. One personal story in this section describes one member’s homebirth experience. Members are invited to set up their own blogs on the site to record their thoughts and feelings about different aspects of parenting.

Reach the home page here: http://www.iparenting.com/

Enterprise Mission: Richard C. Hoagland’s search for the truth about the moon and Mars

Is there water on Mars? If so, what could it mean? Are there artificial structures on the moon and Mars? Is there a human face on the surface of Mars? Why did the Apollo 11 tapes go missing? Is NASA telling us the whole story? These are some of the questions Richard C. Hoagland, chief investigator for the organization known as Enterprise Mission, addresses on this website. You’ll need an open mind when you peruse this site.

Check out the site: http://www.enterprisemission.com/

Clyde Lewis delivers news and talk outside the mainstream box

Clyde Lewis is well known for his Ground Zero talk show, which covers breaking news and topics seldom covered by mainstream media. Topics include conspiracy theories, entertainment, health and wellness, money, paranormal activity, parapolitical affairs, science and pseudo science, religious and spiritual subjects, and world events. Skeptics often air their views on the show. Podcasts and MP3 downloads are available to paid subscribers.

The Articles section of the site contains Lewis’s personal essays written on a wide variety of topics. In one recent article entitled Monkey Wrench: Provoking the Clash of Civilizations, Lewis suggests that Americans are causing many of their own problems with ill-considered political and corporate policies around the world.

Another article, Diabolus ex Machina: The Media and the Scorched Earth Policy, appears to accuse the White House of furthering the agenda of the New World Order fascist elite. Lewis speculates that listeners who used to scoff at his warnings of an impending police state now look to him for guidance in forestalling the rise of the New World Order.

The Forum section of the site allows registered members to post comments to a multi-faceted board on a whole slate of topics, including conspiracy theories, religion, paranormal topics, science and technology, space discoveries, UFOs and aliens. There is also a Chat Room where members may converse about topics on the air or past programs.

Check out the site: http://www.clydelewis.com/

CBC Fifth Estate online documentaries archive

Many of the CBC (Canadian Broadcasting Corporation) Fifth Estate documentaries are available in an online archive on the CBC.ca/Fifth Estate website. The program airs on Wednesday nights at nine and midnight. If you miss a particular TV broadcast for some reason, you may find the program on the site.

Here are some recent programs that are currently in the video archive:

Fasten Your Seatbelts—an investigation into airport security in Canada
http://www.cbc.ca/fifth/fastenseatbelts/

The Denial Machine—a look at a small group of influential scientists, with alleged financial links to the oil and coal industries, who trumpet the idea that global warming is not a bad thing. http://www.cbc.ca/fifth/denialmachine/index.html

The Rat—an informant reveals shocking details about organized crime and turf wars in Toronto http://www.cbc.ca/fifth/therat/index.html

The Fifth Estate home page: http://www.cbc.ca/fifth/index.html

The Royal Society of Chemistry: a European perspective

In the process of checking out the toxicity of sulphur dioxide as a food preservative, I discovered The Royal Society of Chemistry website, which contains a wealth of information on the chemical sciences.

The visual elements of the site are spectacular. The Visual Periodic Table is especially attractive and informative: http://www.chemsoc.org/viselements/index.htm .

The Chemsoc Timeline is a visual representation of the history of science. Check it out here: http://www.chemsoc.org/timeline/index.html

Students of chemistry will be delighted with the interactive version of the IUPAC compendium of chemical terminology, known as The Gold Book. Check it out here: http://goldbook.iupac.org/

Would you like to research food preservatives? Go here: http://www.chemsoc.org/ExemplarChem/entries/2001/anderson/preservatives.htm#e220

The LearnNet section of the site contains several excellent teaching and learning resources: http://www.chemsoc.org/networks/learnnet/index.htm

Home page: http://www.rsc.org/

Say hello to Big Brother--your back-seat driver!

According to a CTV.ca report dated November 28, 2005, Transport Canada began testing a device which integrates “global positioning satellite technology with a digital speed-limit map”. In essence, the system is linked to a vehicle’s throttle control and prevents drivers from exceeding the posted speed limit.Now, Persentech, a company based in Winnipeg, Manitoba, Canada, has begun selling a device called Otto Driving Companion. Drivers are alerted by a voice prompt and a light signal when they are exceeding the posted speed limit. Full details about this product are available at the company’s website, listed below. This device depends on the cooperation of drivers, while the one being tested by Transport Canada appears to allow no option.Look for insurance companies to offer discounts for using either device. Government regulations may force drivers who repeatedly receive speeding tickets to--at their own expense--install a no-speed appliance. New cars may be mandated to have devices which give drivers warnings, with the option of having them modified to “no-speed” mode when required.


Check out the site: http://www.persentech.com/

Coast to Coast AM: A paranormal feast!

This site is the Internet presence for the extremely popular night- time talk show Coast to Coast AM. The show is hosted by George Noory during the week and occasionally by its originator, Art Bell. On Saturday nights, Ian Punnett hosts Coast to Coast Live.

Topics on the radio shows range from the science of earthquake prediction to time travel and UFOs. Guests on past programs have included psychics, clinical psychologists, retired military intelligence officers, experts in physics and astronomy, investigative journalists, medical practitioners, and an Egyptologist.

To hear the previous night's broadcast, click on the Play button under the Last Night's Show banner. Visitors to the website have the option of subscribing, at a modest cost, to ad-free streaming audio files (Streamlink), making it possible to listen to programs in real time or download MP3 files from a 90-day archive. As a Streamlink subscriber, I never miss a program and thanks to my MP3 player, daily chores like weeding the garden or washing the car become more enjoyable as I listen to ad-free program files.

The site features a collection of unusual digital images sent in by listeners and visitors. In addition, there is a compilation of recent news articles on a variety of subjects, including UFO sightings, scientific discoveries, and scary ghost stories. Details about upcoming radio programs are listed on the site. Warning: this program is highly addictive!


Check out the site: http://www.coasttocoastam.com/

Pandora: A streaming-music service that delivers what you like to hear

Available to users in the U.S. only at the present time, this website is an innovative approach to Internet radio. Visitors enter the name of their favorite artist or song and receive a stream of music that mirrors their tastes in music. The system generates a playlist of songs resulting from an analysis of 400 musical elements, such as vocal style, lyrics, composition, form and melody represented in the original choice. In essence, listeners have a “radio station” playing only music they like to hear. Of course, it is possible to fine-tune a “station” by de-selecting unwanted songs from the playlist; the system will adjust to take account of this change. Users may create up to 100 separate stations, reflecting their interest in more than one type of music. No downloads are required. The service is free, supported by advertisements. Users may opt for an ad-free paid subscription to the service.

Check out the site: http://www.pandora.com/

Insurance Bureau of Canada: Tips on home and car insurance

If you’re in the market for a new or used car, this site will help you determine the relative cost to insure a particular make and model of car. A brochure on the site entitled “How Cars Measure Up” gives statistics for several Canadian models of cars, passenger vans, SUVs and pickup trucks, comparing the number and cost of collision and comprehensive claims, as well as the cost and frequency of theft claims. One section of the site lists the top 10 stolen vehicles for the last four years and suggests why they are the favorite targets of thieves. The site reveals the 10 most common auto insurance crimes for the past three years and how to avoid becoming a victim of accident fraud.

Do you have an up-to-date inventory of the possessions you have in your home? If you have a fire or other disaster, you’ll need an accurate inventory in order to make a claim. Use the form on the site to create your list and give a backup copy to a friend or relative for safekeeping. Use a digital camera to take photos of high-value items and their sales slips. It is wise to have a professional appraisal done on jewelry or collectibles; keep the appraisal document in a safety deposit box. It’s surprising how fast the value of things in the home adds up over time. Revise the list monthly to be sure you don’t miss anything, like new clothing, drapes, or computer software.

Landlords must be certain that their tenants have insurance in order to protect themselves in the case of a tenant-caused fire, for example. The landlord’s insurance company will pay for repairs, but will want to collect from the tenant’s insurer. If the tenant has no insurance, the landlord’s insurance company may not renew insurance on the building because the landlord has caused a preventable loss for them.

Check out the site: http://www.ibc.ca/en/index.asp

TheAirCar—A revolution in automotive technology

How would you like to buy a car with a fiberglass body that won’t rust, an engine that runs on compressed air in the city and fossil fuels elsewhere, and a driving range close to 2000 km? French engineering genius Guy Negre has developed the revolutionary MDI MiniCat which meets those specifications. The company has constructed several prototypes and is in the process of establishing plants for the production and distribution of engines and vehicles.

This vehicle has attracted the interest of governments around the world, struggling with the problems of air pollution and high energy costs. The air coming out of this car’s tail pipe will be cleaner than the air injected into its compressed air tank. Some MiniCat owners are planning to recharge their cars with home compressors driven by solar and wind energy—thereby reducing the need for fossil fuels. The small size of the MiniCat makes it ideal for urban use—nimble and easy to park. The company has plans for other models, larger in size, for use as taxis, mini-buses, and delivery vehicles.

The site offers potential investors the chance to contribute to the growth of the company. One section of the site enables interested persons to receive no-obligation information on the purchase of MiniCats.

Check out the site: http://www.theaircar.com/media_images.html

Watch this video: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=gFbKINlXzRk

Medlineplus—Medical information you can trust

For years we’ve been told to sit up straight or risk back trouble. Now a recent study conducted by Dr. Waseem Amir Bashir, a Canadian radiologist at the University of Alberta Hospital, concluded that sitting in an upright 90-degree position stresses the back more than a more relaxed 135-degree position. This is a sample of the up-to-date health news gathered from respected sources appearing on this site.

This is a comprehensive, well-designed and user-friendly site, with many helpful features. There is a Health Topics library containing information on 700 topics, including anatomy, disorders and conditions, diagnosis and therapy, age and gender-specific material, and health and wellness in general.

Are you scheduled for a colonoscopy, or another diagnostic test? The Interactive Tutorial section of the website will present a step-by-step explanation of what is involved in a particular test. There are 165 slideshows with sound and pictures. In addition, a large selection of Surgery Videos is available for those who wish to preview an upcoming surgical procedure.

Do you wish to learn what causes a baby to develop diaper rash and ways to prevent it? You’ll find the information in the Medical Encyclopedia. There’s even a Medical Dictionary to check the meanings of unfamiliar medical terms.

The Directories section will help you find doctors, dentists and hospitals.

This site is available in Spanish by clicking the link at the top of the home page.

Check out the site: http://medlineplus.gov/

MDJunction—an online healthcare community

More than a “rate your doctor” site, MDJunction is a multi-purpose site. The Doctors Search engine enables users to find doctors by geographical area, area of specialization, or by name. The data available on doctors includes medical education and area of specialization, contact information, patient reviews and ratings, and professional history. Currently, 135,933 physicians are listed on the site.

This website features health forums. In addition, there is a new breast cancer support group. Members may share experiences with their conditions and treatments. They also share information about other websites they have found helpful.

Check out the site: http://www.mdjunction.com/

Piczo—A free website for teens

This site enables teenagers to establish a free, personal website for self expression and social networking. Piczo currently places no limit on the volume of information, guest books, comment boards, graphics, music and photos that may be uploaded to a personal site. Setting up an individual site, with multiple pages, is straightforward, requiring no advanced computer skills. Students often use their sites as part of a class project to share personal writing, including travel diaries, poetry and short stories.

The site administrators place a high priority on member safety and privacy, and include an online safety section to help members stay safe. One Piczo privacy feature is a “walled garden” function which means that members select, through an “invite-only” interface, which users may see their site. Both users and parents prefer this to an “open to the world” format common to other online networking sites.

Launched originally in the UK in 2004, Piczo expanded to the US in September, 2006, and now boasts more than 10 million monthly unique users.


Check out the site: http://www.piczo.com/?cr=4&rfm=y

Jane’s Defense Weekly—A magazine about military and corporate news

If you are interested in news about military hardware with regard to land, naval and air forces throughout the world, then this site will supply lots of information. Find out how well the Predator unmanned aerial vehicles are doing in Afghanistan or how they are assisting the US Department of Homeland Security Customs and Border Patrol. Is the USAF interested in high-altitude airship technology? When will China be introducing a new series of space launchers for small satellites? All these questions and more will be answered for you at this site. Excerpts from articles are available to non-members, while full articles are provided to subscribers.

Check out the site: http://www.janes.com/defence/

WhatIfOnline—Canada’s online fiction magazine for teens

This free membership site enables teens to upload and showcase their original writing in various genres, such as poetry, fiction, non-fiction, and excerpts from novels and plays.
Members may introduce themselves to this writing community and upload photos depicting themselves, their hobbies and school activities for example. In addition, members may post messages about the writing of other members, typically offering encouragement and constructive comments.

Check out the site: http://whatifonline.proboards85.com/index.cgi

TalkingWithYourKids— How to give your kids the facts about dangerous drugs

This is not just another addictive drug site. Parents, guardians, and teachers often have all the information they require, but need help in approaching the topic with their kids. This site offers accurate drug information, but suggests effective ways to deliver the facts to kids. Also on the site is a list of community support resources for each province and territory in Canada.

Check out the site: http://www.talkingwithyourkids.ca/

Francais: http://www.parlonsavecnosjeunes.ca/index.html