Sharing Made Easy

Hafsa Ahsan recommends Upload.sc, a website that is handy when trying to send heavy attachments in emails

How many times have you gritted your teeth in sheer frustration because the email service you use refused to send your attachment?

How hard do you have to work to zip your documents and compress your photographs just because you know your email server will not let heavy files get through easily?

If the above accurately spells out your predicament, then you definitely need to access a website which can easily send your attachments, and Upload.sc is one of the options you can avail.

This website is extremely handy and the best part is that there is no hassle here. All you have to do is log on to this website, select the file from your computer, specify the email address of the individual for whom the file is intended and hit Send. It is actually as simple as that. You need not reveal your email address or describe the file. But yes, you can enter a personalised message for your intended recipient lest s/he discards your email, believing it to be spam.

And if you are wondering what the catch might be in this whole procedure, then do remember that the file size has a limit. Unfortunately, you cannot use this website to email files which are more than 100 MB in size. This does eliminate heavy videos – but no worries, 100 MB is quite a lot and does indicate that you can send large files without much hassle.

Apart from the file sending facility, this website has an extensive help section which will guide you through the process, and help you in case you run into any glitches. You can also discover new things about using the website here. For instance, there is no such thing as the maximum number of files you can upload in one day. You can upload and send as many files as you like in just one sitting. There is also the facility of sending one file to multiple recipients.

As far as the layout of the website is concerned, it is done very simply with bright colours on a white background. There is absolutely no clutter here – no intruding advertisements on pop-ups. However, there are a few things that do not work, like the “Report Abuse” link on the sidebar – with a facility like this, there is always the chance of abuse as people might send pirated files to others; or some people might use this facility to spam a large number of people. In such a scenario, it is vitally important for the Report Abuse option to work properly.

Secondly, the website does not mention the kind of policy that it follows. People have to enter the email addresses of their intended recipients and even though most of them would not care, it is important that it is stated somewhere that the webmasters will not sell these email addresses to a third-party.

But, apart from these minor glitches, this website is definitely a useful one and come in handy when the email server fails to deliver. To upload and email heavy files, log onto http://www.upload.sc/

Books on the Blog

Hafsa Ahsan zooms in on a book blog that is a perfect treat for book lovers

Blogging is a phenomenon which has increasingly gained pace in the past few years.

As each year passes, the types of blogs too increase along with the numbers. From personal blogs, the focus has now shifted to more impersonal blogging — with blogs as diverse as food and political blogs.

Literary blogs in general, and book blogs in particular, have also become common place now. While book blogs are still a distant concept on the local scene as far as the Pakistani blogsphere is concerned, internationally more and more publishing houses are dedicating their website space to blogs where they publish news and views for crazy bookworms.

The Millions Blog is one such blog which not only makes an interesting read, but apparently it is a blog with some influence. According to the description, it has been featured in the UK’s mainstream media as well. The blog, instead of being maintained by one person, it is a group blog. Hence, a visitor to this blog can read a large variety of posts and opinions. There are also many guest bloggers here, with their own different outlooks reflecting in their posts.

You can either read this blog in the reverse chronological order — or you can simply point and click at some of the many categories in which the posts have been divided. Interestingly, in stark contrast to the conventional way in which blog posts are organised, The Millions has divided its posts quite uniquely. Blogs usually use the tag option to put specific labels on that post — one can then point and click at that label to access the posts pertaining to a specific subject.

The Millions has categories like “Books that I read in 2006” and “Books that I read in 2007”. The books have mainly been reviewed between 2004 and 2008. Moreover, there is a “Book Question” category that include all the questions which have been asked about books and publishing — and the answers that bloggers have given. There is also a segment of Quarterly Reports — analysing the trends in the publishing industry published by Barnes and Nobles.

There are, however, some aspects of the layout which can be improved. For starters, the sidebar is extremely cluttered. Though the headings and their text are distinguishable from each other, it becomes a little tiresome to scroll through the huge list of books reviewed in the past. It would have been neater to have links for the years in which the books were reviewed, and then the list of books would appear on a separate page.

But apart from this minor glitch, the information on this website is comprehensive and the website itself can easily be considered as a haven for an average book lover. Each post is appropriately linked to the concerned website, and even though the posts are quite long, they make for an extremely interesting read.

To find out more about the world of books and publishing, log onto http://www.themillionsblog.com/

The Joy Of Parenting

Here is a website that gives some useful information on child development and education, with fun-filled activities for both children and parents

It is a common belief that one can never imagine the rollercoaster ride that is parenthood until one actually becomes a parent.

And through this rollercoaster ride numerous advices and cautions given to the parents by the elder generation of the family, especially to young, first-time parents. Interestingly, now with more nuclear family setups around, parents are now turning to the internet to read up on the different aspects of parenting and then try out whatever suits them best. Apparently, seeking the advice of elders and trying the methods of the older generation is no more in vogue.

And frankly speaking, with elaborate websites such as PBS Parents on the block, who can really blame these parents? PBS Parents is highly illustrative, rich in content and has all the nitty-grittiness of parenting which would make any website surfer want to visit it again and again. This is not surprising, considering that the wealth of information which is here can only be digested over a nice, long span of time.

PBS Parents has categories which ensure that you go directly into the section of your interest. There is Child Development, Education, Fun and Games, Advice and many other sections. It is actually quite difficult to decide where to start from — probably the best place to begin will be determined by the age range which your children fall in.

Within each section, there are loads of self-help and how-to articles detailing how you can deal with different issues related to your children. There are also many different tools in each section — for instance, the Child Development Section has a tracker.

You can select the age of your child from the tracker and read up to analyse whether s/he falls into the defined, specific characteristics which are normal for children of his/her age. Moreover, in the Education section, the Book Finder tool will help you to get hold of books according to your child’s age.

There are many different blogs here as well. These blogs are maintained by people who want to share the joys and pains pf being a parent. Interestingly, reading up on real-life cases is always more reassuring — of course, you may feel differently. In any case, it is good to know that this website has considered both ways of disseminating information.

On the layout side, the website is definitely very aesthetically designed. It will appeal to you and make you want to visit it repeatedly. However, the sheer amount of information can seem a bit overwhelming at first. Also, the website seems cluttered at times – you can be at a complete loss as to where to go. The first thing would be to take one section at a time and then move to the other.

The website offers interesting ways to break away the conventional role-playing of parents by providing loads of fun activities to download and play with children. Certainly some activities might have to be tailored to make them suitable to children in the local context. To find out all the different activities you can engage in with your children, log on to http://www.pbs.org/parents/ — H.A

The Power Of Words

Words have the creative power to build up and to tear down... Here is a website that features beautiful quotes. Find out which one inspires you, writes Hafsa Ahsan

How often does it happen that you are totally down in the dumps because nothing seems to go right in life. Well, most of the time, the feeling is usually the result of a bad day. But sometimes, there does seem to be a genuine need for something to lift one’s spirits and give one a dose of motivation. At such times, people turn to different things, depending on their personality and inclination.

For at least some of those people, different quotations by others, some well-known and others not quite famous, are a way of finding that silver lining in the clouds of their life. World of Inspiration is one website which is designed to cater to these people.

As the title suggests, this website has a comprehensive collection of quotations mainly divided into 14 categories – ranging from business, character and enthusiasm to happiness, romance, leadership and success. Most of the quotations are indeed beautiful and would definitely serve to make you think and ponder over them.

The website is laid out beautifully and you will not find any unnecessary information. There is one menu of links on the homepage, along with a list of recently added quotations; and even though Google Ad Sense does have a presence here as well, it does not look quite as intrusive and out of place as it does on some of the other websites.

However, at times, it does feel as if this website is too empty. The simply, uncluttered look is definitely commendable, however, one does feel that some extra titbits could have been added to give more functionality to the website and motivate first-time visitors to log on it again.

As it should happen, once you have gone through the quotes, there is very little to do here. Some links to similar resources on the web or a blog detailing the updates to the website and inviting comments from visitors could have been added to make the website a more useful resource. Moreover, the latter would have added a much-needed element of interactivity to the website.

But one must not take credit from where it is due. The website is definitely a very motivating one and just the place to come when you need a dose of inspiration. To get your dose of quotable quotes, log onto http://www.worldofinspiration.com/

Fun With Words

Hafsa Ahsan takes you to a website where you can play interesting word games and enhance your vocabulary

Quite often when you are trying to write something, say an essay or a speech, suddenly you are stuck for words. Sure, you know what you want to say — and the Urdu equivalent might even be floating in your brain at that particular point — but that particular word eludes you.

This is only one of the signs that you need to improve your vocabulary. Interestingly, there are loads of websites out there which are designed to help you do just that. There is yet another category of websites which contain hints and tips towards the same end, for instance, use flash cards, read books, etc. The list is endless and so are the possible places where you can look for help and things you can do to add to your word bank.

Among some of the better websites is “Learning Vocabulary.” This website contains loads and loads of different word games which are specifically designed to help you improve your vocabulary. At the same time, these games also ensure that you do not just learn the meaning of a new word — you also learn how to use it. The latter part is way more productive and it would ensure that you actually make good use of the words which you add to your bank.

The games which you can choose from include crossword, hangman and word search. All these games require flash, so do make sure you have it installed on your PC. Once you are here, all you need to do is select the game, then select the word list and you are ready to go.

It is great to be able to choose the word list from which you want the words to be included in the game you are playing. This ensures that the games are relevant to all age groups. You can choose an easier word list if you are in the younger age group. And if you are applying to foreign universities and giving exams like SAT or IELTS, you can choose a difficult level and revise your vocabulary through these games.

While you are here, you might also want to check out the Vocabulary Blog which is updated with hints and tips as to how to improve your vocabulary. Apart from that, the blog will also guide you to similar resources around cyberspace, which you can avail according to your level.

What makes this site a bit unwelcoming is the colour scheme that can end up making you pine for a pair of sunglasses. The bright yellow and blue scheme might just put some of you off. Apart from the glitch with the colour scheme, the website is pretty much to-the-point – with instructions on the main page as to how you can effectively use word games for a higher purpose. Unfortunately, one cannot call this website uncluttered as Google Ads make an unceremonious presence right on top of the homepage.

At the end of the day, however, don’t let the minor faults deter you from playing the games themselves. These are quite interesting games and apart from relieving your boredom, will definitely help you increase your word bank

To improve your vocabulary the fun way, log onto http://www.vocabulary.co.il/

Let’s Fix It

Troubled with sudden breaking down of appliances? Here are some simple ways to correct and amend things on your own, writes Hafsa Ahsan

Imagine the following scenarios: just when you start pressing your clothes for the party and your iron breaks down and when you are making toasts for the kids in the morning, your toaster gives up on you.

In scenarios like these and many others, the common sequence of events which follows is usually that you call up the respective company and ask them to send over a technician to check out your malfunctioning appliance, or take it to the repair shop yourself. At other times, you avail the service of your plumber or electrician. Either way, the process costs you both your precious time and a lot of money.

How would you feel when you know that you can actually amend anything that has broken down? Of course, unruffled! But for this, you need to log on to How to Mend It — a website that can actually make you good enough to repair your appliances whenever they start to act up. This is a comprehensive how-to website which will help you get most of your malfunctioning things working again — or so the website claims.

The site is pretty user friendly. To choose the correct category of appliances, you have a set of instructions on the homepage. Of course, you can easily use the search option if you are in a hurry. However, if you are here to browse, the list of categories is quite interesting, ranging from bathroom appliances, cameras and computers to kitchen and office appliances, to security systems and telephones. In a nutshell, even if something has not broken down, you can still come here and check out what can be done if it ever does.

Within different categories, there are various questions — where you just need to check if the information you are looking for has already been answered. If not, you can follow the steps to post your question and then wait for the answer.

However, the layout of the website is definitely a bit confusing. The categories have been set out vertically instead of horizontally which would have given it a neater look. Yet, the search box and instructions right at top of the homepage are two pros of the website.

At the end of the day, there would be no harm in trying out some of the steps mentioned here. If that works, you can actually save up on both time and cost. But remember, if you are not confident enough in these technical matters then do not try to take any risks for something that could result in a mishap.

To find out how to repair anything which has broken down in your house, log onto http://www.howtomendit.com/

Health Check

Do you consider your health as an important issue? It’s never too late to start doing so and there are many sites you can turn to for guidance, suggests Hafsa Ahsan

There are quite a few studies which have established that what women mostly search for on the internet, news and magazines, among other things, are ‘health issues’.

This should come as no surprise considering the fact that women are quite sensitive about this issue. The web offers anonymity as well as information from different sources. And, more often than not, individuals using their pseudonyms are usually willing to post their health concerns and experiences online and hence offer advice, relief and reassurance to other women who are going through a similar experience.

You may have come across websites dedicated to common daily life health-related issues and their remedies, as well as specific health concern like sinus, head and back aches. Women Health Questions is one such website that focuses on common health issues faced by women and carries many frequently asked questions.

The question of where to navigate first will be determined by what your chief health concern is. If you are concerned about weight, then you may find the section on exercising helpful, as there are loads of tummy exercises, along with their illustrations, to give people a clear picture of what is to be done and how.

Dieting is very much a part of almost every weight-related discussion or plan. And so is the case here. The section on diets will guide you through the different types of diets which are followed all over the world, along with a step-by-step guide as to how you can embark on a journey towards healthy eating without making yourself miserable.

Apart from weight concerns, most women are faced with some sort of skin problem — usually related to the face. There are different sections devoted to skin issues. Then two sections are dedicated to pregnancy-related issues. One section has detailed descriptions of the symptoms of pregnancy, while another section will guide you through the details and ‘how-to’ of the pregnancy week by week.

The layout of the website is quite uncluttered, as compared to other websites carrying a lot of information on their homepages. However, once you start digging on this website, you will see the layout does get a little monotonous, as only some sections are illustrated while others are mostly text-based.

However, even with all this information, the main precaution remains — never treat websites as an alternative to medical advice. The section on supplements must especially be treated with caution — never intake anything without consulting a doctor. Health-related websites such as this one are always helpful for advice — but your doctor is more credible at all levels.

To get an overview of some of the common health issues faced by women, log on to http://www.womens-health-questions.com/

What’s Your Extension?

Searching and downloading a file extension software may take your time but it can save you from a terrible headache over not knowing weird file extensions’ titles, advises Hafsa Ahsan

How often does it happen to you that you ask for a file to be sent to you via email? You must have made the request countless times and you might also have been struck with some weird file extensions that you may not be able to open.

For instance, you receive an email — you open it and try to download the simple MS Word document, but fail. Then you realise that the extension of the file is ‘name.docx’ instead of ‘name.doc’.

If you are an expert computer user, you will immediately realise that you have an older version of MS Word which will not let you open the file. However, if you are a novice, then you are mostly likely to be stumped than anything else. And this is where websites like ‘File Extensions’ come in. This website has a massive collection of various file extensions along with their definitions. You can look here for the name and description of any file extension which you want to use and know about.

There are three ways to hunt down a file extension. You can search for the extension, which, of course is the simplest; can browse through different file extensions alphabetically, or you can go through the different categories to locate your desired extension. All these file extensions are divided into different categories, e.g. audio files, binary files, database files, document files, system files, text files and many, many more.

This website not only tells you what the file extension stands for, it also lets you know what might be the best software to open any particular file. It also offers links to the homepage of the software which is needed to open that particular file extension, so you do not have to search for it separately.

If you are here mainly out of curiosity, then you should consider browsing the section on the most visited file extensions as well as the section detailing common file extensions.

The website also offers a free scan of your registry — once you do that, it can fix the file extension errors, if it finds any. However, you must remember that editing the registry has its own issues, so use this feature carefully, and it is better if you know how to make a backup of your registry, so that you can roll back any changes if they cause problems later.

As far as the layout of the website is concerned, the homepage can make your head spin. For instance, there is a main left hand menu pointing to the different types of the files extensions, the presence of search boxes, links to the top 10 file extensions and all their title names will add to your headache. However, the good part is, once you locate the search box, you can directly search for your desired extension the next time you visit the website.

Overall, this website definitely comes in very handy when you try to open a file and you get that ever-annoying dialogue box, asking you to specify the software needed to open the file. In that case, go onto this website, search for the file extension, download the required software and that is all. To find out more about different file extensions, log on to http://www.file-extensions.org

No More Dieting

W eight loss is something many people are concerned about. For others, it is an absolute obsession. Whether or not these people actually need to lose weight is another story altogether.

But the fact of the matter is that attaining an hourglass figure is the dream of many a young woman, with few actually stopping to think about the health factor. However, one cannot deny that weight loss isn’t something to be taken lightly. Not taking meals on time or denying oneself the intake of the essential nutrients can easily lead to eating disorders.

There are now scores of different websites which can help you on your quest to lose weight — and ensure that you don’t harm yourself in any way while at it. Weight Watchers is one of those websites and is definitely worth a visit if you are concerned about your health in general and weight in particular.

The best thing about Weight Watchers is that it’s not a passive website at all. If you are just going through to read through it at leisure, it will do nothing to help you. On the other hand, if you are willing to jot down whatever you feel can be implemented in your daily routine and actually attempt to enforce some lifestyle changes, then this website will do wonders for you.

Also, it would be pertinent to remember that Weight Watchers is actually an “offline” group – you will have to pay to access most of the stuff on this website. But fortunately, there are many tips and resources here which are for free. For instance, the Health and Fitness section is a treat for anyone who wants to get into an exercise routine but is stuck for ideas. You can watch sample exercise videos here, read through articles on how to walk regularly and, most importantly, how to make exercise a daily habit.

The Food and Recipes section is also one of the most promising, and here, you can find out why you are not losing weight even if you have been “dieting” for ages. Also, you can get some ideas on how to avoid buying certain types of food at grocery stores, what healthy dishes to cook and more importantly, how to lose weight while eating out.

There is also a whole Community Section here where you can sign up and then login to interact with like-minded people from across the world. You can share your frustration, talk about your health goals, share with others what works for you and of course, get more tips and advice.

At the end of the day, it is all about healthy living. Your figure may not be as perfect as you want, but if your weight is within the normal range for your height, you have a lot to be thankful for. If it isn’t so, and you need to lose it, adopt a sensible approach which is conducive to your health. Starving yourself is definitely not the option.

And to find out how to stop yourself from dieting and STILL lose weight and much more, log onto http://www.weightwatchers.com.

What's Cooking on Eid?

With the coming of Eid-ul-Fitr, our part of the world gets into action. There is spring cleaning to do, clothes to get stitched, shopping to finish, and of course, the very essence of Eid, mehendi to be applied.

But Eid is also about gorging on yummy culinary delights. It then comes as no surprise that a number of websites have devoted a special section to recipes on certain delicacies which can be prepared on Eid. These websites can be divided into two categories: websites with cooking recipes, and those that are exclusively dedicated to other celebrations on Eid-ul-Fitr.

For example, one interesting website has featured its recipe section at http://theeid.dgreetings.com/eid-ul-fitr-recipes/. This section is small, but carries a collection of some great recipes like biryani, sheer khurma and vermicelli. Along with the traditional delights, you will find some foreign dishes here as well.

The Culinary Digest (http://theculinarydigest.blogspot.com/2007/10/traditional-recipes-of-eid-ul-fitr.html) is more detailed when it comes to Eid recipes. Interestingly, instead of providing just a collection of recipes, this website also describes the diverse Eid cuisines with regards to which country they come from. For instance, did you know that in Egypt, cookies filled with nuts and covered with sugar powder are the equivalent of sheer khurma in this part of the world?

Probably the best feature about this website is the fact that the blogger has linked every dish associated with Eid-ul-Fitr to its specific country and, by clicking on the name, the recipe opens separately with its website. So, if you would like to try an Iraqi pastry dish, or Malaysian beef redang, this is the place to visit.

Another website which has an assortment of Eid recipes is http://www.ifood.tv/network/eid_ul_fitr/Recipes . What makes this website stand out from others is that the recipes here are submitted by the users of the website. Hence, it adds variety as well as a personal touch to all the recipes. Moreover, unlike other websites, the recipes here have been illustrated, showing you a visual of how the final product should look. Each recipe has three categories – summary, ingredients and directions. If you are stuck somewhere, you have an option to post a comment and clarify your problem.

If you Google for Eid recipes, you will get a staggering amount of results. But, if you delve deeper into those search results, you will discover that most of the websites claiming that they feature recipes for Eid-ul-Fitr only have one, or a couple of recipes. And the same recipe has been repeated word-for-word on many websites. So, at the end of the day, you do not gain much by ploughing through a gazillion websites.

But if you do like to cook Eid-specific recipes only, these three web-spots are a better finds from the lot. However, as you can see, Eid recipes do not have a specific, exclusive website as such. The recipes are scattered in different sections of various websites. Fortunately, given the huge number of recipe websites out there, all you need is to know what exactly you want to cook, and then hunt for that recipe.

Surfing Safe

With the boom in cyberspace, it has become even harder to keep your children away from accessing the malicious content on the internet. For parents, this is a double-edged sword: on the one hand is the easily available adult content on websites including social networking websites and chat rooms. And on the other hand, it is not practical to restrict children from accessing the internet since most of their educational needs are fulfilled through surfing on the web.

However, parents need to at least make their children aware of these issues. A good guide to this is Safe Kids, a website dedicated to safe surfing on the internet. It also provides information on the major security and privacy issues online that one needs to know before embarking on a journey through cyberspace.

The best place to start reading through the material on this website is the blog entries. The Safe Kids blog makes for a highly enlightening read since it focuses on the nitty gritty of issues like digital photography and appropriate use of cellphone cameras, social networking websites which are exclusively designed for kids, and most importantly, a little advice for parents as to what they should do and where they should set the limits.

Besides the blog, the website offers different sections that deal with online safety. Here, there are in-depth articles and recommendations for parents as well as children. These articles mainly deal with risks in cyberspace like molestation, bullying, harassment and exposure to adult/inappropriate material. You will also find articles on how to ensure that one does not give out private information on websites and in chat rooms. There is a pledge-of-sorts for the children as well, which can be printed out and pasted near the PC as a reminder. This pledge says, “I will tell my parents if...” and there are a number of things that come after it. The dos and don’ts are there for daily reminders along with tips on a safe blogging experience.

It is important to remember that websites like Safe Kids cater to parents more than to children. It is essential that parents know the issues, the risks and the precautions regarding their children surfing activities, so that they can guide them accordingly. Setting up an internet connection at home and letting children (especially tweens) access cyberspace without any chaperone and guidance can prove catastrophic in the long term.

To keep an eye on the crucial issues regarding safety of your child in cyberspace, log on to http://www.safekids.com

Let's Talk Facts

So you have the ideas whirring in your head, and you just cannot wait to put them into words for your next debate. Alas, despite the speech being eloquence personified, the ‘wow’ factor is missing, right? What you need is a little twist, perhaps, that will jolt the audience wide awake and hanging on to every word. For that, welcome to Amusing Facts.

Amusing Facts features a number of facts and figures on a wide variety of topics. To be very honest, the facts are not exactly amusing in the hilarious sense of the word. They are just some very strange and not-so-well-known statements about different places and people. Therefore, while they are not guaranteed to make you laugh, the website does claim that they are strange, weird and, well, useless in many ways.

All the information on this website is categorised in a number of sections, so you can directly visit the one which appeals to you. There are facts related to categories as diverse as household products, business, health, science, technology, sports, animals, edibles, art, history and entertainment. There are sub-divisions within the categories as well. For instance, edibles are divided into candy, cereals, coffee, cookies, fruits, ice-cream, pizza, vegetables and water. And, in case you are wondering what kind of facts would make it to the section on ice-cream, here is an example: “Great Britain has the highest consumption of ice cream than any other European nation.”

There are some more interesting sections on this website as well. There is, for example, an entire section dedicated to people who once made headlines and have been long since forgotten. This section traces the current doings of these long-lost-and-forgotten celebrities like Paula Abdul and Richard Marx.

Another amusing collection that this website hosts is that of strange news stories. Collected from various sources, these stories make for a highly incredulous read. Yet another section deals with dumb things people have done and the stories they have to tell.

Much as this website is indeed a collection of facts, stories and reports, whether or not they are as useless as the webmasters claim, is entirely up to what use you put them to. If you are simply using this website to while away your time, then it can actually get boring and a little clichéd after a while. But if you are a student and hunting down some additional information to add some spice to your assignment or a speech/debate, then this website will be invaluable to the nth degree. Of course, as usual, the humour section should be used with extreme caution.

To read up on some of the most amusing and strange facts from around the internet, log on to http://www.amusingfacts.com

A Stitch in Time

Just as everything else which have multiplied in variety and improved in quality over the past two decades, personal care products have left no stone unturned either. The mass production of these products may have helped many people, who can now have a wider choice, but it also involves health-related risks, particularly, when it comes to some ingredients used in these products.

Women in general – and now men as well – love to use beauty-enhancing products, but they are hardly aware of what goes into these creams. Perhaps, just a little sneak peak at what makes up these prodaucts will do all of us some good. And this is where the Public’s Right to Know comes in. The website aims to educate by creating widespread awareness about the different types of chemicals used in various personal care products, and which should be cagey in use. It features information based on scientific research conducted on the products; television shows, and the articles that are focused on the issue.

To start with, disregard all the books-related advertisements to the aforementioned subject (since most of them are not available for free), and head straight for the timeline with news items. All the articles are worth a read, since they not only inform, but also raise an alarm about the products that we use daily without giving attention to their chemical compounds. Although some of the brands might not be available in Pakistan, with the increasing number of international brands nowadays, it serves to be up-to-date on which ones are safe and which ones are not.

The main issues that the researchers have covered are cancer-causing toxic chemicals in personal care products, hazards of infants’ exposure to shampoos, lotions and powders etc. Besides giving information and warning about these hazards, the website provides some solutions as well. For instance, you will find some web-links to websites that deal with cancer prevention, and how to make your home and lifestyle safer for you and your family. Of course, there are support groups as well, which suggest ways to make women implement balance in their lives.

You may perhaps feel irritated by that few other websites contradict almost all the information given here. But always ensure the authenticity of that website, along with the source of the research. As a result, you will discover that those opposing websites have been generated by companies that market most of these products.

To get an insight into what your personal care products are really made of, log on to http://www.publicsright2know.com/

My Space and Yours

Take a cursory look at your lifestyle in the contemporary world, and it is highly likely that the internet, email, computers, laptops, iPods and the likes will feature very high on your priority list. Stop for a moment, and reflect on how much of yourself you have revealed to the cyber world. Your correspondence, for example, is saved in your email inbox; your profile is up on various social networking websites and your professional information is present on your company’s website. If anyone were to Google you, they would probably be able to compile an entire dossier on you. And just imagine the use s/he could make of the information.

In such a scenario, organisations like Electronic Frontier Foundation (EFF) play an important role and the official website of the EFF is definitely worth a visit and a good read. This organisation was formed to protect your digital rights in cyberspace including the right to privacy and free speech. Privacy, of course, is one concern most of the netizens face, and hence, this website can provide you with the much-needed information on where privacy has been compromised, and what has been done about it.

Depending on your interest, you can skim through the basic information of EFF in the beginning, browsing its history to find out how it came into being, its aims and objectives, and the people behind it. EFF was the organisation that was subtly criticised in Dan Brown’s Digital Fortress, so just for curiosity’s sake, you may want to learn more about it.

The ‘Our work’ section will give you an in-depth insight into the issues that the EFF deals with. Some of these issues include free speech, intellectual property rights, privacy and innovation. Each of these broad categories are further divided so that under the head of privacy comes the sub-issues of anonymity, cell phone tracking, search engine logs and so on.

Within each section, you will find real-life cases where EFF has stepped in to protect individuals. Apart from reading about the details of these cases, you can also find out how you can prevent yourself from getting into a similar kafuffle.

Then, there is the Deeplinks blog, where you can read news stories from around the internet world pertaining to the use and abuse of information as well as the safeguard and breach of digital rights. The EFF press releases are also available in the Press Room section.

And finally, the ‘Take action’ section motivates you in taking action to protect yourself and your information from spying eyes. Some of the information is specific to the laws in the US, but there is no reason why you cannot read about what is going on to keep yourself aware. There is a special section for bloggers, where they can download the EFF guide on safe blogging, and advice on what to do if confronted with a legal notice on something you have written on your blog.

At the end of the day, it would do well to remember that information in cyberspace is never safe. It is always a good idea to limit that information to yourself. Strictly keep your photographs, contact numbers and similar information away from social networking websites. Try to have in-person meetings if you want to exchange sensitive information, rather than use email or instant messaging. Organisations like EFF can only do so much to safeguard privacy — most of the effort in this regard has to be initiated at an individual level.

To discover the various threats to your privacy in cyberspace, log onto http://www.eff.org

Helping Hands

They say, it takes all kinds to make this world. Some people, for example, love to try and figure out things for themselves. They prefer the trial-and-error method rather than allow someone else to tell them how to do a certain activity. But then, there are others who just get stumped if not guided properly. And given the large number of such people — including yours truly — it is not surprising to find numerous websites which cater to information on how to accomplish various tasks.

How to do things is a website that gathers extremely detailed and interesting information which can hold your attention for hours at a stretch. As the name suggests, this website focuses on informing people how to complete various tasks in life. This is not a technical website as such, since it has articles as diverse as ‘how to write wedding or thank you cards’ and ‘how to freeze peaches.’ From the homepage, you can probably navigate to one of the many categories to access how-to articles on particular themes. These themes range from careers, computers, relationships, hobbies and holidays to fashion, finance, food, health and travel. There are a number of categories and, needless to say, it is most likely that you will find what you came looking for.

If you are just looking to browse at random, you might want to check out the popular ‘how-to’ articles listed on the homepage. There is also a list of articles that have been recently added to the website. Moreover, if you are interested in reading all the articles written by a particular contributor, you can access the list of top contributors as well.

Probably the most appealing factor of this website is that the how-to articles are written by ordinary people and not professionals or experts. Which means that even you can write a how-to for the benefit of others – based on your experience, of course. All you need to do is register, and then you are ready to go. Check out the guidelines for writers for more details.

Basically, this is a website built on the idea of people helping people. And most of the how-to articles here are not simply for a casual, one-time read. To make the most out of what has been written and suggested here, it would be better if you print the content which is most relevant to you. In this way, you will not only be able to follow the instructions to the letter, but you will also be able to realise what you can add to it to make the experience unique to yourself.

To find out how to do just about everything, log on to http://www.howtodothings.com/

Smile and Win

So, you have had to give up on yummy sweet snacks and chocolates to save your teeth. You are not alone. Dental troubles are quite common, and we often see the sad victims of toothache running to the nearest shop to buy toothpastes that promise to free them from the pain. For some, this may bring temporary relief, and to some, not even that. Perhaps a little information and precautionary measures may result in fewer trips to the dentist. For this, log on to Simple steps to better dental health — this website should help you in maintaining healthy gums and teeth effectively.

The online solution towards better dental health does not come with a toothpaste advertisement. However, it does mention that all information present has been taken and apparently validated from the College of Dental Medicine, Columbia University.

This website apparently believes in the age-old axiom that prevention is much better than cure. And so, the very first section in this website is labelled ‘Prevent Problems.’ You can go through the information given to find out what is the best dental care in order to avoid frequent visit to the dentist and the resultant painful treatment. There are a number of tips related to flossing your teeth, using fluoride toothpaste, and going to the dentist to get your teeth checked so that the problems can be detected and treated as early as possible.

The next section lists some of the major symptoms. These are only some of the very many which can go wrong with your teeth, so it is best to be aware of them. Every condition has been explained in detail along with what it exactly is, main symptoms, tips to prevent it and of course, the treatment you should seek. Some of the conditions listed are bad breath, cavities, dry mouth and tooth discoloration.

A separate section deals with the treatment which dentists routinely carry out on your teeth. Every treatment is an experience in itself, so you might want to know what is going on. The major treatments described here in detail include crowns, dentures, fillings, gum surgery and root canal.

Apart from these three basic sections, there is an entire guide available for parents, detailing how they should ensure the dental health of their infants as well as teenagers. The question of what effect baby pacifiers can have on the mouth of the infant, along with which toothpaste is the best to use, has been answered in detail.

At the end of the day, it is all about taking the right precautions at every age and every stage of one’s life to ensure healthy teeth. After all, no one wants to land up early with dentures. But even if dentures are only a distinct possibility, treatment at dentists is painful as it is.

To access help on maintaining your teeth, log onto http://www.simplestepsdental.com

Breaking New Ground

Although they have been around for a very, very long time, the Olympics continue to enthrall audiences world over. Perhaps what adds to the fervour is the fact that this event is held only once every four years, and hence, a great hoopla surrounding everything related to it, right down from the selection of venue, to the extensive preparations, and finally the coverage of the games itself. This coverage extends well beyond the closing ceremonies with every minute being analysed in detail.

Almost all the media is utilised when it comes to digging information on the Olympics Games. And it goes without saying that cyberspace is definitely not left behind in the coverage of an event which itself is a multi-media blitz. Rest assured, there is a huge collection of websites which have emerged in the wake of Olympics 2008.

Interestingly, if you search for websites related to the Olympics, you will discover that there are basically two broad categories. The first comprises those especially designed for the Olympics 2008, for example, the official website. You can include numerous blogs here as well.

The other category of sites include all those renowned news or sports websites on the block which have dedicated an entire section of their regular website to the Olympics 2008 coverage. These sections are quite elaborate and useful if you are looking for the latest happenings in Beijing. So, whether it is an exclusive website you wish to visit, or sections dedicated to Olympics, the cyberdom is at your fingertips. Here are some of the most interesting picks.

The official website for the Olympics (http://en.beijing2008.cn/) is probably the most comprehensive and authentic place, especially when it comes to looking up the results. The website offers its visitors four different languages and carries details of the schedule as well as separate sections for each sport. If you are interested in football, for instance, then you can easily access information like competition rules, format, history of the game, the participating teams, the events and the time/venue of different matches.

The site also features a hall of fame dedicated to players who have earned laurels for their teams. Similar information is available for all other sports, ensuring that you can easily spend hours on this website catching up with your favourite sport.

If, however, you would rather catch the Olympics coverage on your favourite sports or news website, then the good news is that almost every major news website has a section on Olympics. Be it BBC (http://news.bbc.co.uk/sport1/hi/olympics/default.stm) or Reuters (http://www.reuters.com/news/sports/2008olympics) or New York Times (http://www.nytimes.com/pages/olympics2008/index.html) , everywhere the Olympics are being extensively covered.

Moreover, other websites like ESPN (http://sports.espn.go.com/oly/index) and Sports Illustrated (http://sportsillustrated.cnn.com/olympics/ ) have also gone out of their way to become a part of the Olympics 2008.

Most of these websites have more or less the same information; they mainly cover history of the games, views and analysis pertaining to the games, display the schedule and venues, give information on the teams and, of course, there is a multimedia gallery of photos and videos as well.

Apart from this, quite interestingly, some websites designed for children have also dedicated a section to Olympics. This includes Kids Turn Central (http:// www.kidsturncentral.com/links/2008olympics.htm) and Surf Net Kids (http:// www.surfnetkids.com/summer_olympics_2008.htm) .

Various sections in these websites direct children to several different sources of information about Olympics along with numerous interesting Olympics-related activities, which include cyber hunts, puzzles, crafts, trivia and more.

In an age of blogs, it is virtually impossible for bloggers to remain silent. And so, some avid bloggers have actually created special blogs which are dedicated to Olympics while others are routinely making Olympic-related entries on their regular blogs.

Summer Olympic News (http://summerolympicsnews.com/) is one of the more interesting blogs to read. The entries on this blog mainly contain links to news chunks pertaining to Olympics that the blogger has read on the internet. The fun part is that the blogger has further written her own comments on these news, which makes an interesting read. Of course, you can easily comment on the news stories yourself.

Beijing Olympics Blog (http://beijingolympicsblog.wordpress.com/) goes quite a few steps further. The entries on this blog are more detailed and analytical, taking information from various websites, combining it and then analysing it. If you have some extra time and inclination, you can definitely keep yourself updated on the many issues related to the games. This blog is highly interactive with entries dotted with photographs for quite an appealing layout.

At the end of the day, it is all about what you as an internet surfer want for your Olympics experience in cyberspace. Of course, most of you will go for the official website, but some may also be interested in the blogs. But whether you specifically want hard news, or opinion-based analysis, or something light and entertaining for your kids, internet has a wide variety of fare to offer. You just have to know where to look for it.

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Olympics Under Fire

The cyberspace features many ‘pro-game’ websites. These are the websites which are genuinely embracing the spirit of the game, and trying to inform the world at large about the happenings in Beijing 2008. But there are quite a few websites which apparently are not feeling very kind towards China. This antagonism mainly stems from the political differences and conflicts other countries have.

While on the one hand, it is said that the spirit of the game should not be spoilt by politics, on the other hand, there are people who are genuinely concerned about what they see as human rights issues in China. There is also a lobby which has been calling for a boycott of the games as well. The cyberspace has also been the lobbying ground for people belonging to this school of thought.

Hence, there are some websites which define human rights issues in China to call for more awareness like Olympic Watch (http://www.olympicwatch.org/) , and Reporters Sans Frontiers (http://www.rsf.org/rubrique.php3?id_rubrique=174. )

A few websites take a much stronger stance, like this blog (http://boycott2008games.blogspot.com/) which calls for an open boycott of the games. You can read up on all of these diverse opinions and come up with your own, keeping in mind that your views do not become prejudiced.

Crash Course for a New Start

Unless you have been living on the erstwhile far flung planet, Pluto, you must have at least come across John Gray’s book, Men are from Mars and Women are from Venus. There are some who actually find themselves rolling their eyes and muttering, “How true!” every time they read it. Others, however, are not amused. For them, this book simply reinforces the very gender stereotypes that women have been fighting against for years.

But for good or for bad, this literary work has managed to generate a lot of interest. And as with most books these days, this one also comes with an accompanying website. This is the world where everything will be discussed in terms of Mars and Venus, so if you are into exploring more, MarsVenus is the place to be.

MarsVenus basically explores the differences between men and women especially when it comes to marriage: what is the inherent difference between the way men and women perceive marriage, what each spouse wants out from another and most importantly, how easily misunderstandings occur due to lack of awareness of these differences.

Whether you are here because you are tired of perpetual misunderstandings in your own relationship, or simply to increase your knowledge before you tie the knot, this site offers something to everyone. For starters, you can try some of the relationship quizzes available here. They would give you a relatively accurate insight into your perceptions about certain matters and what mistaken notions you hold about the opposite sex. The results will not just reveal the bare facts, but will also impart some useful advice if you are facing problems.

Another very useful section on this website is a collection of articles on various aspects of a relationship. There are descriptive articles which delve deep into a phenomenon along with how-to articles, which give a step-by-step guideline on dealing with crucial matters. For instance, one article gives useful advice to those wives whose list of ‘to-do things’ is never-ending.

And if the site seems too serious to handle, you can take a break by surfing the section of ‘Gender humour.’ This section features a cartoon and a joke on, what else… relationships theme. And trust me, it is guaranteed to make you laugh. You can also subscribe to the newsletter to keep yourself updated with the activities on the website.

However, not everything on this website is absolutely free. To access the full features of this website, one has to acquire a paid membership. Some of the articles, too, are in the premium section, which is quite a disappointment. But this is no reason why you cannot avail the free services, and read up on whatever you find relevant and useful.

If you have read the book, then some things might feel repetitive. But overall, this website is worth exploring in detail. And if you are into looking at some questions that the coaches here are asked, you can log onto http://www.askmarsvenus.com/ and browse through those which are for general viewing.

To find out more, log onto http://www.marsvenus.com

It's Only Words

Scrabble is a one word educational game which interests people belonging to diverse age groups all over the world. A source of both fun and information, the game has also inspired many clubs and competitions. With such high popularity, it was just a matter of time before Scrabble evolved from the traditional board and letters into its present electronic version. So, for those of you who would like to play Scrabble online for free, Scrabulous is the website to visit. Of course, there is quite a controversy surrounding Scrabulous; it is alleged that the developers of Scrabulous have copied almost everything from the original Scrabble. Nevertheless the website, and its equivalent Scrabulous application on Facebook (http://apps.facebook.com/scrabulous/) is an absolute treat.

For starters, there is absolutely no compulsion to sign up or get into the hassle of creating an account. You can simply log onto the website and start playing. However, creating an account has an advantage that you can save your games and hence, if you have to get up from your PC for any reason or your internet gets disconnected, you can pause and then resume your game. This feature is not available for guest users.

There are basically three options for anyone who wishes to play Scrabble here. You can either play with yourself — which of course is a tedious option, since the game can go on for ages. You can make your game challenging by playing with the artificially intelligent robot. Or you can join any of the Scrabble rooms and play with any other online user — and this is definitely the most interesting option.

Scrabble rooms are of three levels. These levels are categorised on the basis of difficulty. So there are rooms for beginners, intermediate and advanced. Depending on the level of your vocabulary and how skilled you are at the game, you can join any of the room and either join one of the Scrabble boards which are already active, or start a new game with any of the users in that room.

There are some very handy features on this website as well. For instance, if you cannot figure out which word to play where during one of your turns, you can use the hint feature to give you a prod in the right direction. Moreover, if you want to play a word and are not sure if it is in the Scrabble dictionary, then you can use the feature which lets you look up the word in whichever dictionary you are using. This feature does not tell you the meaning of the word, though. You can simply enter a word, and the search result will tell you if this word is valid.

All in all, this website can keep you glued to your computer for hours — whether you are at work or at home. It is also a great way to unwind when you are stressed out.

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To play Scrabble online for free, log onto http://www.scrabulous.com

How Dumb Can it Get?

If you have ever managed to come across a few books by Bill Bryson, the renowned travel writer, you will be quite familiar with the jibes he takes on product warnings which are commonsense and should be widely known. Alas, common sense is not quite so common, or so the companies of certain products believe. And since, they love to undermine the intelligence of their average consumer, they put up warnings and cautions which are plain dumb.

Hopefully, the Dumb Warnings website should enlighten them a little. This website is part of the Dumb Network which generally collects and categorises all things dumb which can be quite easily spotted in the world, offline and online. Dumb Warnings is one of their websites, and can be the pick of the day especially when you are feeling a little blue.

The best place to start would be the top 25 warnings. This section lists down the most hilarious, and obviously, the top dumbest cautions that come printed in black and white with various products. Some of these highly useful instructions tell one to avoid dropping air conditioners out of windows; not use blow dryers while sleeping, refrain from ironing clothes while wearing them and the most enlightening one – remember that the content of a coffee may be hot.

In case you have forgotten already, “Contents (of 7-up are) under pressure. Cap may blow off causing eye or other serious injury. Point away from face and people, especially when opening.” As one can imagine, these warnings are quite pointless, and a very big laugh. On the website, you cannot only just read them, but you can rate them as well.

Of course, if you have some time on your hands and you are in the mood to delve more deeply into this website, then you can access dumb warnings by category. These are mainly categories of products and include warnings on appliances, drinks, clothes, electronics, medicine, toys and lots, lots more. Within each category, you will find loads of warnings on various products. Again, you can pore through them, laugh at them, and rate them.

For instance, the Food category will inform you that Mark and Spencer’s Bread Pudding will be hot after you heat it; Sainsbury Peanuts contains nuts; and in order to enjoy American Airlines Peanuts, you have to open the packet and eat the nuts.

At the end of it, if you are in the mood for some more ‘dumb’ stuff, you can check out other websites in the Dumb Network. There are dumb quotes where you can read some pretty mind-boggling and funny statements uttered by various people. There are dumb facts where you can find totally pointless and irrelevant information on almost anything from sciences and travelling to government and history. The website on dumb bumper stickers has a collection featuring the same from all over cyberspace.

In short, whether you are having a tough day at work, or are bored at home, this is one website which will definitely enable you to while away your time, while having fun simultaneously.

To discover how uncommon is commonsense log on to: http://www.dumbwarnings.com/