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All About Apples
If you thought I was excited about pomegranates, you won't believe how excited I am that Honeycrisp apples are in season! They are my favorite apple, if not, my favorite fruit! In my opinion, they just taste like an apple should taste. I got lucky this year and scored ten pounds of these delicious apples for just ten bucks – and they're the size of softballs! But it got me thinking about all the different kinds of apples out there, so I went in search of a site to educate myself about them, and found this one.
If you click on the Apple Varieties link and scroll down the page, you can find all the apple varieties listed in alphabetical order. To learn more about a variety, just click its name. If the name of the variety has a red dot next to it, there will be a picture of that variety.
Are you looking for an orchard in your area? They provide a listing of orchards in the US and Canada. Just click Orchard Listings on the navigational strip across the top of the page. Then choose the State you're looking for from the map, or scroll down and click the link for that state. For Canada you have to scroll down and use the links.
I recommend that you go to the Apple Articles section next. Just click Apple Articles and then you should read the What Varieties Do I Want article. It is awesome! The article talks all about the different varieties and gives you a recommendation for what you should try. My favorite made the list, did yours?
This site is an awesome wealth of information on apples whether you want to grow them or just eat them! Check it out today!
http://www.allaboutapples.com/index.htm
Massive Music Quiz
How well do you think you know music? I thought I was pretty good at placing artist names and song titles, until I played the pop music quiz on this site and was blown away at how much I didn't know.
How does it work? Just pick a genre of music that you are familiar with and like, and then you'll be whisked off to the music quiz. The quiz will play 15 snippets of tracks from the genre you selected. You have 30 seconds to type in the name of the artist and the title of the song. You're competing against not only the clock, but whoever else is sitting in that quiz room. So it can get quite fun and competitive. There's a bonus for being one of the three fastest to respond with the correct answer. If you just want to try the game, you'll find a Join the game button on the right side of the screen.
Want to save your score? Well then you'll need to create an account. It's easy to do. Just click the Sign Up button at the top of the page, or click the prompt after a round of the game. Then fill out the form with a username, working e-mail address, and create a password. They'll send a confirmation e-mail to the account you've provided which you'll need to check to activate the account. Once you've clicked the link or button in the confirmation mail, you'll be whisked off to your profile page so that you can edit before you get back to the quiz.
I just want to warn you before you get started that this quiz is super addicting. I spent all night playing it, and I got my roommate in on the challenge! We had a blast trying to put together the right answer! I bet you will too!
http://en.massivemusicquiz.com/
Changing Your Windows 7 Taskbar
If you liked XP, Windows 7 offers many XP interface options. It also allows you to pick and choose from several individual options. For example, if you liked the XP taskbar, you can quickly adjust the Windows 7 taskbar to give it that XP appearance.
Just right click on an open space of the taskbar and select Properties.
In the Taskbar and Start Menu Properties window, click the Taskbar tab.
Check the Use small icons box.
Click on the button, next to Taskbar buttons:, and select Never combine.
Click OK or Apply, and your taskbar will become the more familiar looking XP version. As an added benefit, it retains one of the nicer Windows 7 features. If you hover your cursor over the buttons, they will show thumbnail images of open applications, rather than just the names that XP offered.
The best of both worlds.
Can you explain the difference between DVDs and DVD RAM?
DVD stands for Digital Versatile Disc. It's a type of data storage technology. There are two categories of recording formats in DVDs.
The first category is called Digital Versatile Disc Read Only Memory (DVD ROM). In this type of DVD, you can retrieve the content multiple times on any device that reads DVD ROMs. For example, when you purchase a movie, it is burned using the DVD ROM format. You can watch the movie, but you cannot record over it.
What if you wanted to record your favorite TV program, similar to how VHS cassettes were used in the 1980s? Or, what if you wanted to take a backup of your computer data?
The second category of DVDs allows you to record and re-record. DVD-RAM belongs to this family. Before I go any further, here's a word of caution. This category is a little complex and, therefore, a little tricky. So, brace yourself!
DVD formats that allow you to record and re-record are DVD+R, DVD+RW, DVD-RAM, DVD-R, and DVD-RW. Since your question is targeted towards DVD-RAM, I'll describe it first and then describe the others.
DVD-RAM: Allows you to record, erase, and re-record numerous times. However, you need to have a device that supports the DVD-RAM format.
DVD+RW and DVD-RW: Allows you to record, erase, and re-record repeatedly. Most commercial DVD players can read data recorded in this format.
DVD+R and DVD-R: Allows you to record only once. After which, the data is permanent on the disc and you cannot record over it. Most commercial DVD players can read data recorded in this format.
You'll notice that the DVD-RAM, DVD+RW, and DVD-RW all do the same thing. So, why are there so many standards? Well, the answer lies in the supporting organizations. DVD-RAM, DVD-R, and DVD-RW are supported by companies, such as Apple Computers, Toshiba, and Samsung. While the DVD+RW and DVD+R formats are supported by organizations, such as Philips, Sony, and Dell.
Tip: When you purchase a DVD player, check the DVD recording formats it supports; the more the better.
The Best Desktop Gadgets for Windows 7
Desktop gadgets first appeared on Windows computers with Vista, but they have been updated and improved for Windows 7. Here are some of the best ones for having fun, staying informed, or for increasing your productivity. All of them are available to download free from the Windows Live Gadget Gallery.
1. Ultimate Explorer - This multi-functional tool can help you bypass your browser with a quick internet search right from your desktop. You can search Google, Amazon, Yahoo, EBay, YouTube, Wikipedia and more.
You can choose to have Ultimate Explorer search in your default browser, but I like to have it appear as a gadget flyout window, (as above). Searching the web is the default setting, but you can also search for videos, images, news, blogs and more. If you set the size of Ultimate Explorer large enough, you can even have it display the time, date and weather conditions for your area.
2. The Magic Folder - This great little gadget is for everyone who has a messy desktop that is packed full of documents, images, videos and more. With the Magic Folder, any file you drag and drop over it will be instantly moved to one of your home library folders. It reads the file extension of each file and ensures that office documents go to your Documents library, audio files end up in your Music library, image files go to your Pictures library and videos go to the Video library.
If you want more control, you change the folder redirection path to whatever you want, and you can set up rules for how it deals with a specific file type. All in all, this is a great productivity app that could save you a lot of time.
3. Weather - The default Windows 7 weather gadget, 'Weather', is actually a pretty stylish and straightforward gadget. It gives a useful three day forecast, includes the low and high temperatures for the day, and has a nice background image for the time of day.
However, AccuWeather.com has a nice weather gadget, and many people also like using WeatherBug as their default forecasting tool. Both of these are generally pretty accurate and look good on your desktop.
4. Fb Explorer - Catch up on all the latest Facebook news with Fb Explorer. It sits right on your desktop and can show updates when and as they happen. You can even update your own status from the desktop to save opening your browser.
Social media fans may also like Twadget. This gadget does much the same as Fb Explorer, but with Twitter.
5. Feed Reader - Although it will not replace your default RSS reader, Feed Reader is great to have on your desktop, if you want to keep updated with a few of your favorite RSS feeds.
You can add your own feeds manually, or import your feeds from Internet Explorer. There are 3 skins to choose from, up to 8 feeds per page, and a regular refresh for new content. Clicking on the headlines will take you to the full story online.
6. Slide Show - Slide Show is a default Windows 7 gadget so you shouldn't need to download it from the online gallery. This handy app allows you to select a folder of images from your computer that you would like to display as a slideshow.
You can set the time limit for each picture, and adjust the type of transition you would like to see between slides. Think of it like a mini-screensaver for your desktop.
7. Sudoku - With this addictive number game on your desktop, you may not want to get online until you finish.
Start with a simple puzzle or go straight for the expert ones by choosing the level you want, and check for errors as you go with the 'check' button. If you get stuck, click on a square and then click hint to reveal the number you need. It is good, clean fun, and something you can come back to time and time again.
How to Get Rid of Stuff
I stumbled onto this site looking for a way to get rid of the gnats that have infested my kitchen. They may be harmless, but they sure are pests! After checking out the solution to my problem, I decided to poke around the rest of the site. What I found was a lot of interesting articles on how to get rid of stuff.
On the main page you'll find a lot of featured articles, as well as, a listing of the newest articles posted to the site. You'll even find a list of the most commented on articles as well.
On the left side of the main page you'll find categories to browse. They are: Animals & Pest, Beauty, Computer & Internet, Finance, Health Problems, Household, Living, Odor Removal, Personal, and Stain Removal.
You're sure to find lots of great advice for many different problems here! Check it out today!
http://www.howtogetridofstuff.com/
Woody, from Arkansas asks:
What email client do you recommend for Windows 7 users?
If you are looking for a desktop email client for Windows 7, there are definitely a few good choices available to you. And two of the best are free. Read on to see why Windows Live Mail, or Mozilla's Thunderbird, could be just what you are looking for.
Windows Live Mail
Windows Live Mail is a free download from the Windows Live site, and it is basically an updated version of Outlook Express. With Windows Live Mail you can easily add accounts from your online email accounts. Hotmail, Gmail, Yahoo! Mail and many more are supported. In fact, if you have one of each of these accounts, with Windows Live Mail you can view all your emails from all your accounts in one place.
It has a built-in calendar that will let you schedule events and appointments, an RSS reader to catch up on your favorite feeds, and it will link up with your Windows Live account if you have photos stored online that you would like to forward to friends and family. You can even use it to export your online emails so that you have backup copies on your hard drive.
Overall, it is a great mail client for Windows 7 users. It is reliable, easy to use, and has all the features that you could want from a desktop email client.
Mozilla Thunderbird
Another great free option for Windows 7 is Mozilla's Thunderbird. Version 3 of this open source email client is a vast improvement on previous incarnations of this popular program. It is much more stable, has fewer bugs, and is packed full of useful features.
With Thunderbird you can add new contacts with one click of the star next to the sender's name, and you can open messages in tabs just like your browser does. Ever forgot to add an attachment to your email? Thunderbird will remind you to add it if it sees the word 'attachment' in the text of your email. It is also compatible with a large array of Mozilla add-ons, and will automatically update itself to the latest and most secure version.
And the winner is…
The truth is, the best email client often comes down to personal preference. Both of these programs are great, free options for Windows 7, but if you are not sure which one to go with, download them both, try them out, and see which one suits you the best.
Pie Recipes
Now that the weather is getting cooler, I can make pies! So I went on a hunt to find a site that had only pie recipes and this is what I found.
Navigation is so easy! Just pick the pie recipe that strikes your fancy from the list of pie recipes. You'll be whisked away directly to the recipe where you will get easy to follow instructions for making a delicious pie!
What I love about this site is that not only are there sweet pies, but there are also savory pies! I wanted to point out that when you've clicked on a recipe, if you scroll down to the bottom of the recipe's page, you'll find a link to printer friendly version of the pie recipe. So you can easily print these recipes and add them to your recipe book.
Check this site out today and maybe you'll be inspired to bake a delicious pie for dinner or dessert!
http://www.pierecipes.org/
Switch your Search
If you're a Mozilla Firefox user, then you're probably familiar with the little search box in the upper right-hand corner of your browser window. It allows you to perform a search without having to browse to a particular search engine to do so.
You'll also notice that Google is the default search provider, as noted by the little "G" icon.
But what if you like Yahoo? Or what if you want to search for a product on eBay or Amazon?
What then?
Well, good news, because it's super easy to change your search provider! Just click on the little arrow next to the icon and select the search provider you'd like to use from the drop-down list.
Now you can search for all kinds of stuff without skipping all over the Internet to do so!
Awesome!
Artcyclopedia
Artcyclopedia is exactly what the name says it is. It is an encyclopedia dedicated strictly to art. There are several ways to navigate - by the artist's name, the artwork's name, museum name or location. You can also navigate by scrolling down to the Browse By section, where you can browse by name, medium, subject, nationality, women artists, or art movements.
On the main page you'll find one featured article (when I was there it was on Rogier van der Weyden), the ten most popular artists of the previous month, and three featured slideshows. The article on Rogier van der Weyden was very informative and includes a zoom-able scan of The Descent from the Cross. I also would highly recommend that you check out the slide show on Women Artists of the Renaissance. This was very interesting to learn about, considering that women were expected to marry and have children rather than work. Yet these women managed to become marvelous painters in spite of the society they were living in.
Some of them even had members of royalty as patrons!
On the left menu, you can find sections like: Top 30 Artists, Articles, Art News, Art Museums Worldwide, Masterpieces, and Galleries. I recommend you check out the Masterpieces section because you'll find high quality scans (basically the best image version on the web of that paining) of famous masterpieces.
Check this site out today!
http://www.artcyclopedia.com/
Panda Cam
I can't begin to tell you how much time I spend on this site watching the panda Bai Yun and her baby Yun Zi. They are so adorable! It is so much fun to watch them romp around their exhibit. I was watching this morning, and one of the pandas was just running all around its exhibit. What's cuter than pandas frolicking?
Not only do you get to watch Bai Yun and Yun Zi, but they also have another panda named Gao Gao. If you scroll down the page you'll find instructions explaining how to figure out which panda you're watching. If the camera is in black and white, you're watching the night time feed, and if it's in color it's daytime. I love watching the pandas laze in the sun.
I would also recommend checking out the Panda Time Lapse Cam, you can watch a whole day's worth of panda fun! Just pick a date on the right side of the section, and you'll watch the panda's activities for that day.
I think this is one dose of cute that's worth bookmarking, I bet you will too!
http://www.sandiegozoo.org/pandacam/
Pomegranates
Yum! Pomegranates have arrived at my grocery store! I love them, but I decided that this year I was going to get some ideas for what I could use them in (rather than just eating them by themselves). I also wanted to know if there was an easier way to get those delicious seeds out.
3 Step - No Mess - This section explains how to get those luscious seeds out without making a mess, or spending forever smacking the pomegranate. It is as easy as 1-2-3! You'll find images of the three steps with easy to understand directions.
Recipes - I could just eat the seeds by themselves and be perfectly content, but this year I wanted to stretch a little and add them into my recipes. The first thing this section does is answer the question - do you eat the whole seed? Well, it's a matter of preference, but you'll get more fiber by eating the crunchy seed. You'll also find recipes for appetizers, salads & soups, main courses, preserves, dips & sauces, desserts, and beverages. My favorite recipe was for pomegranate syrup - you can use it on ice cream, in drinks, or in sauces! It's fabulous.
News & Information - Here you can find the latest news on pomegranates, as well as delectable information about the fruit. I recommend checking out the Pomegranate Particulars section you'll learn a ton of interesting things about the yummy fruit!
I hope that this site will make picking up a pomegranate less intimidating, now that you'll know how to get the delicious seeds out and have recipes to use them in!
http://www.pomegranates.org/home.shtml
What Time is it, Google?
I stumbled across this neat trick for Google the other night when a friend of mine wanted to know what time it was in Japan. Usually, I'd just use the Windows clock, change the time zone, etc., etc., but for this, I decided to Google it and see what happened.
Besides, I don't necessarily have a giant wall full of time-zone specific clocks to consult.
So, all you do is browse over to Google, and in the search box, type:
"What time is it in (Insert location here)"
Like this:
Lo and behold, there's the time! I guess you wouldn't want to call anyone in Japan right now, would you?
Give it a try today!
Classical Net
This site is dedicated to helping you understand the ten century span of classical music. Whether you've been touched by a piece of music, or you just can't get a piece out of your head (I've had Wagner's Ride of the Valkyries stuck in mine lately) you may want to learn more about either the composer, the symphony or opera it comes from, or just if anyone has done a review on a certain performance CD of it.
I'd suggest you start in the section Basic Repertoire - and follow through the sections after it. It will teach you how to use the site through the Guide, and then it delves into the different musical periods. This is a great way to really learn about music!
Composers - This is another large chunk of the site. Here you can learn all about the composers of your favorite musical pieces and what they've contributed in their body of work to the era they lived in.
Don't forget to check out the Reviews and Articles section. This is very helpful if you're purchasing music for your collection because you can discover what's available and what people who've listened to the recording thought of it.
This is a great site to use to help you broaden your knowledge of Classical music. I learned so much here, and I hope that you will too!
http://www.classical.net/
Bob, from Walnut Creek, CA asks:
I use MSN Hotmail as my email provider. When I want to compose a new e-mail, the program defaults to the Verdana font, size 10. I want to change this, but can't seem to find a way to do it. Can you help?
Bob, I have some good news and some bad news for you. The bad news is that there is currently no built-in functionality to change a default font with Hotmail. This option may be added in a future release, but, as of now, there is no official way to do this.
So, what's the good news? Well, there is an easy to use workaround that will do almost exactly what you asked. You do not need to download or install any new programs, and everything is done from within the Hotmail options menu. Here's how it works.
You can set up your Hotmail signature with a default font, size and color and save it, so that every time you compose a new email, your font of choice will be saved and ready to type with. Setting this up is not difficult, but there are a few things you need to remember.
To get started, click on the Options menu in the top right of your account, and select More options… from the dropdown menu.
Under the Customize Your Mail heading, click on Personal Email Signature.
Type a few letters into the signature text box and highlight them by clicking and dragging your cursor over the letters. Now you can pick a font, a font size, and a font color that you would like to set as your default. For the purpose of this demo, I have chosen Franklin Gothic, size 16. Click save when you have chosen yours.
Now go back to your inbox and compose a new mail message. It might look like your new settings have not been applied, but bear with me, because all will soon become clear.
Highlight the letters or words you chose as your signature, (you can see above that I chose the word "Hi"), and then start typing over the highlighted section. As if by magic, your text will now appear as the default font settings that you set up with your signature.
If you currently use a signature for contact information, then this may not be the best solution for you, but for everybody else, this is as close as you can come to changing the default font in Hotmail.
