January 2006

Wicked Small Games "is dedicated to small browser based games. The focus is games that can be played in your browser. While the news may feature developers or games that are small, but not played in the browser, all of the games listed in our games section should be able to be played from within your browser. You may need to install Shockwave, Flash or Java to play the games."

Need a quick, free shipping case? Make one from a copy paper box.

Visit ListOfOnlineGames.com and you know you've hit the motherlode — it currently lists more than 3400 online games, and is updated frequently. East of the Web Word Games is a much more modest collection, but perfect for word enthusiasts.

The Museum of Modern Betas lists new web-based applications as they come online.

Custom Fortune Cookie Company makes just what you think they do: custom fortune cookies. You can get giant-sized and chocolate-covered fortune cookies, as well.

Tips for Linux Explorers "are meant to provide just enough information to whet your appetite for more. They are updated frequently and are not presented in any particular order."

The Google Web Optimizer reformats a web page for mobile or small-screen Internet-enabled devices, and will optionally strip out graphics.

My younger son has become a sushi fancier. Me, I just look at it and see raw fish. I don't even like cooked fish. But, it cannot be denied that the preparation of sushi has its artistic elements. Raw Like Sushi? is a collection of PDF files that you can print out, cut up, and fold into paper replicas of favorite sushi treats.

"After a burglar broke into caricaturist Bill "Weg" Green's Heathmont home on Sunday, it took the 82-year-old just seconds to draw his attacker. Fifteen minutes later, patrolling police caught a suspect — and Mr Green's drawing proved they had the right man."

Brain Calisthenics: "Researchers say the mind can be strengthened with regular training and rigorous practice. Here's a sample brain warm-up for a quick mental recharge."

This is where I'd store my knives, if I had the moolah.

Tax time approaches… and some taxpayers will be able to file their returns online for free. "[F]or millions of eligible taxpayers, with an Adjusted Gross Income of $50,000 or less, there is Free File. Free File is online tax preparation and electronic filing through a partnership agreement between the IRS and the Free File Alliance, LLC. In other words, you can e-file… free."

Windows users, you need only an external hard drive and a bit of freeware to automatically back up your hard drive.

Exercise linked to big drop in dementia risk: "Regular exercise may reduce the risk of dementia and Alzheimer’s disease in the elderly by as much as 40%, according to a new study. And the effect is even more pronounced for those who are more frail, say the researchers… After six years, 158 people in the group [of 1740] had developed dementia, and 107 of these had Alzheimer’s. But those who had exercised at least three times a week were on average 38% less likely to have developed dementia than those exercising less than three times a week."

The short story Plumage from Pegasus asks: What happens when bloggers invade "real life"?