How Does it Work:
The Secunia Software Inspector relies on carefully crafted "Secunia File Signatures" to recognise applications on your system. The detected applications are then matched against our "Secunia Advisory Intelligence" to determine whether an application is up-to-date or not. The results are then used to advise you on how to update to more secure releases of the insecure applications.

Microsoft Windows Update is used to determine if your system is missing security updates from Microsoft.

The Secunia Software Inspector covers the most common/popular end user applications:
 * Internet browsers
 * Internet browser plugins
 * Instant messaging clients
 * Email clients
 * Media players
 * Operating systems
 * View detailed list of applications

Please note.
The Secunia Software Inspector does not cover or include information about vulnerabilities not addressed by either a new version or a security patch. For information about unpatched issues in your software, we suggest that you look at our Product Vulnerability Report Pages.

The Secunia Software Inspector works by inspecting version information on your system and therefore it does not take into account if you e.g. applied a workaround to address a vulnerability.

Minimum Requirements:
 * Windows 2000, Windows XP, or Windows 2003
 * Sun Java JRE 1.5.0_12
 * Internet Explorer 6.x, Opera 9.x, or Firefox 2.x
 * Latest version of Microsoft Windows Update 

We explored this program in a recent Advanced Users Group session and liked it. 
http://secunia.com/software_inspector/

http://www.microsoft.com/technet/sysinternals/Utilities/SysinternalsSuite.mspx

I'm sure this is a question that has been on everyone's mind at one time or another. If the work you have to do each day requires you to sit in front of a computer for long periods of time, it's important to handle everything the right way. If you do, you can bypass all those aches and pains that start to linger around. If you've ever had trouble with this or think you might in the future, keep reading. I've got some important instructions for you today!

The first thing you have to look at is the set up of your computer equipment. If you don't have things set correctly, it could really cause you some strain. You need to change everything around to accommodate to the proper body positions. The number one thing is your seating arrangement. Make sure your chair is adjusted so that your feet fit flat (but comfortably) on the floor. Your knees should always bend at a 90 degree angle and your thighs should be parallel to the floor. Next, make sure the back of your chair is adjusted properly. It should be set in such a way that your hips bend at a 90 degree angle and make sure you have a chair that gives you proper lower back support.

The next item up for discussion is how your mouse and keyboard are set. Make sure they are placed where your hands can be at your elbow height or slightly lower and where your shoulders can relax with your elbows hanging down close to your sides. Your monitor is also a big deal when it comes to comfort. It should be placed on your desk in a position that lines up to or is slightly below your eye level. Make sure you have a straight forward viewing of your screen and ensure that you are at least 16" away from it. Always keep your head upright as well. All of this will help with any eye strain you may get.

Now, once you have all of that set in place, you can work on making your computing habits healthy ones. During your day, try to keep a correct posture as much as you can. Although you need to stay comfortable, proper posture helps a lot. Also, make sure that you use as little force as possible. When you're typing, you don't need to pound the keyboard. You can get through by just tapping the keys lightly. This will help with any pain you have in your hands.

You should also take plenty of breaks throughout the day. Extended computer use can lead to more problems for you at the end of the day. It's said that you shouldn't go over 30 minutes of being at your computer at one time. Get up and stretch every once in awhile or take a short walk around the office. Now, when you stretch, you should watch yourself. Don't bounce, use any jerky moves or stretch so much that it hurts. When stretching, breathe deeply and just straighten your body out until you feel a comfortable limit.

Another important factor in comfortable computer use is the lighting around you. If possible, avoid any bright lighting, because it is bad for your eyes. Of course, make sure the lighting is bright enough for you to see what you're doing, but don't overdo it. If your eyes ever get tired, try shutting them tightly for a few seconds and then open them as wide as you can. Repeat this a few times to feel some relief.

If you are one of the many who deal with aches and pains everyday after work, you should try some of these exercises as well. With all the typing and clicking you do, it's possible that your hands start to feel a little cramped. To combat this, try spreading your fingers out as far as you can get them and hold for 10 seconds. Do that several times in a row every so often. For your neck, you should turn your head to each side and keep it there for 10 seconds. You can also try tilting your head to each side for a few seconds for some extra comfort. If you have shoulder pain, shrug them forward in a circular motion for several seconds. Do it in the reverse mode (backward) as well. Finally, for your lower back, stand up and put your hands on your hips with your feet shoulder length apart. Lean your hips forward, but push your shoulders back. Hold there and stretch them for 10 seconds or so.

Okay, I think that pretty much covers everything. I know this is a bit of a strange tip for today, but if we aren't comfortable while we're using our computers, our work won't be worth anything. Sometimes, you just have to go back to the basics!

First of all, you might be wondering why it's a good idea to buy an external hard drive. Well, the main purpose for one is to act as a backup option for your computer. If something were to go wrong with your regular hard drive, you could easily switch over to this one, without losing anything. It also adds a lot of portability to your data. With an external hard drive, you can take your data anywhere you need to go. They're very simple to use and they always seem to come in handy!

Alright, with all of that said, here are five tips you can use when buying an external hard drive:

1.) Go With a Brand Name - When it comes to external hard drives, it's best to buy a brand name. Yes, it may cost you a little more, but it will save you in the long run. If you go with a name you don't recognize, you're really only going to get what you pay for. (Yes, the saying is true!) A hard drive made by a "not so well known" company may end up breaking down faster than another brand would and so on. Another good reason to buy a brand name is the warranty that comes with it. If something does go wrong with your drive, you can always have it fixed right away. On the other hand, with other companies, you might have a little trouble contacting them and actually getting your hard drive repaired. So, if you don't want to deal with all that hassle, go with a brand name. You'll thank me later!

2.) Search It Out - It's best to do some research before you go out and buy a new external hard drive. You can use Google (or any of your other favorite search engines) to do this. You can search out the different brands and model types beforehand and that will really help you when you go to purchase the hard drive. If you have a specific type in mind that you want to buy, look for some reviews and any feedback you can find. That information will help you to see how reliable a certain hard drive really is. You may be surprised at some of the things you find, but at least you'll know you're getting the best hard drive for your money!

3.) Check the Connectivity - When you're buying an external hard drive, you'll want to pay attention to the connection type it has. The one you purchase will either connect via USB or Firewire. Now, Firewire is the fastest choice, but your computer may not have that type of connectivity. In that case, you'll need to find one that will work with your computer, which will probably be a USB version (most all computers these days have USB ports). You'll then also need to check on the USB connection you have. Do you have USB 1.0 or 2.0? It's likely that you'll have 2.0, but if you only have 1.0, you'll need to find a hard drive that will support that as well. Without the proper connections, the whole thing is pointless, so you really need to pay attention to this aspect of it.

4.) Speed - You don't want a hard drive that runs as slow as molasses, do you? I didn't think so! In that case, you need to look for a hard drive that is going to give you the speed you want. When it comes down to it, the faster your hard drive performs, the faster your data will be transferred to your computer, etc. With that in mind, there are three things you need to check out when you go to buy your drive. First is the seek time. This needs to be 10ms or less. Second is the buffer size. The more of this, the better, but your drive should have at least 4 MB of buffer. Third is the RPM. For this, the higher it is, the better. It should be at least 5400rpm, but 7200rpm is preferred. If you stick to those basic tips, your hard drive will work just fine!

5.) Size - The last thing you need to keep in mind when you're buying a new hard drive is the size of it. You knew this one was coming, didn't you?! When it comes to size, you can basically go by the rule of "buy as much as you can afford." When we're talking about data storage space, you can never have too much, so if you can afford 100 GB, get that. If you think you'll need more space and can handle it, get that. It's all up to you, but it's best to add an extra 50 percent on to the amount you think you're going to need. That way, you'll know for sure you won't run out of space within the first couple of months.

If you follow these five rules, you'll be purchasing the best external hard drive you possibly can. Be sure not to take a purchase like this lightly. It's best to really do your homework and get the best hard drive for yourself and for your computer. Now that you know what to look for, go on and get one!

A member of Microsoft’s Internet Explorer team says it is “very difficult” to put protections in place to block the protocol handlers attack vector exposed by the recent IE-to-Firefox code execution vulnerability.

Markellos Diorinos, a product manager on the IE team, insists it is the responsibility of the receiving (called) application to make sure it can safely process the incoming parameters.

This stance is in sharp contrast to Mozilla’s position that this is a critical IE vulnerability.

In an entry to the IE team blog, Diorinos writes:
    Custom URL handlers enable third party applications (such as streaming media players and internet telephony applications) to directly launch from within another application - commonly a web browser but even using a command line from Start > Run. For example, the “mailto:” custom URL handler enables you to click on a link and start writing an email. To make these custom URL handlers more useful, they can accept parameters that provide more specific instructions. For instance mailto: accepts parameters like subject and body.

    The number of potential applications (and protocol handlers) is effectively limitless, allowing for many new and exciting ways to enrich the Web. However, as with many extension models, there are security implications. In this example, one potential threat is that the custom URL may have dangerous parameters, such as strings that are too long and might cause a buffer overflow. The limitless variety of applications and their unique capabilities make it very difficult to have any meaningful automated parameter validation by the hosting (caller) application. It is the responsibility of the receiving (called) application to make sure it can safely process the incoming parameters.

He did not say specifically that Microsoft will not be issuing an IE patch. Instead, Diorinos pointed out that Protected Mode in IE7 in Windows Vista provides some additional protection when a user clicks on Application URL Protocol links.

This means that Vista users running IE gets a roadblock that reads:
             “A website wants to open web content using this program on your computer”

However, Windows customers running IE 7 on Windows XP get no such warning.

Java has been updated too. Check your version by going to Control Panel -- Classic View -- Java  --  Click on the update tab -- Check for update.

Tuesday July 10 was download Tuesday for Microsoft.  Check your history or ask for an update scan to determine that you are current with Microsoft.

Rainlendar has an update to 2.2. http://www.rainlendar.net

Opera updated to 9.2  --  From Worldstart
First of all, this new version is a recommended security upgrade, so if you use Opera as your main Web browser, you'll definitely want to download this as soon as possible. In terms of security, various items have been fixed, including issues with torrent transfers, data URLs, domain names and so on.

Along with all of those, there have been changes made to the user interface with the toolbars, fonts, tabs and the different info panels. Fixes for scripting, stability and performance problems have also been created. There have also been some updates made for those of you who use Windows Vista. For a complete list of all the changes made in Opera 9.22, check out this Web site   http://www.opera.com/docs/changelogs/windows/922/. Then once you're ready to download the new version, you can do so right from here  http://www.opera.com/download/. Just choose your language, location and then click the big green Download Opera button. Then get ready to enjoy your new Opera, my friends! 

I'm sad to report that one of my flash drives suddenly died today. Has that ever happened to you? It all happened when my Windows XP suddenly froze for some reason. After rebooting my computer, the device was dead. It just simply would not work anymore. XP detected it as a 0 MB device (and attempted to format it as such), but nothing worked. What could I do besides go and buy a whole new flash drive?

Well, luckily, after a little research, I was able to revive my flash drive! And that's exactly what I'm going to show you how to do today. Here’s the procedure:

1.) First, you'll need to download and install the HP Drive Key Boot Utility, which can be found here.
2.) Once you have it downloaded, double click on the desktop icon and select the correct flash drive you want to repair under the Device section.
3.) Next, select the file system you want to format the drive to (FAT, FAT32 or NTFS).
4.) Checkmark Quick Format.
5.) Click Start.

After the download and the installation, this utility will place a shortcut of "HP System Tools" in your Programs Start menu folder.

To make your drive key bootable and/or capable of flashing firmware:
    * Place your HP USB drive key in an available USB port.
    * Select the HP Drive Key Boot Utility shortcut under the HP System Tools folder.
    * Follow along and complete each step presented by the application.

During the interview process, when asked to select the drive letter your key is using, if the drop down box is unpopulated, please note that the drive key is either not properly connected to the system or it is of a drive type called "fixed disk." To determine the type of USB mass storage device your drive is, double click on the My Computer icon on your desktop, right click on the USB Drive Key and choose Properties. The drive type will be displayed in the Properties pane. If the drive is labeled "fixed disk" or "local disk," the following steps must be followed to assign a drive letter to the USB drive key, prior to running the HP Drive Key Boot Utility.

    * Insert the Drive Key.
    * Log in as the Administrator.
    * Select Start, Control Panel, Administrative Tools, Computer Management.
    * Select Computer Management (local), Storage, Disk Management (local).
    * Select "Change/Add Drive Letter" for the disk to map the Drive Key to.
    * Choose a drive letter.

Officially, this software (HP Drive Key Boot Utility) is meant for HP disks, but unofficially, it seems to work fine with formatting most flash media and even digital camera cards. I hope you enjoy your newly repaired flash drive! 

What if I told you there is a possibility that a stranger could access your personal information on your computer from anywhere in the world? What if I told you a stranger could use your computer remotely, without your permission or knowledge? They can track every move you make and could even have access to your credit card numbers, social security number and other valuable personal information that you may have stored on your computer.

Well, in order to help protect you from identity theft and snooping in general, I wanted to share this tip that I even use on my own computer all the time. Check it out!

Note: This tip is for Windows XP users, however, it can probably be done with other operating systems as well.

Step 1: Go to the Start menu.

Trend Micro, more commonly referred to as Housecall, offers free virus scans and in most cases can fix damage down by a virus or worm that your computer may have contacted. The program works well.  The first time one uses the free program it is necessary to download a small program. Trend Micro walks you through the process.   Then the virus scans are quite simple for each return.  Go to http://housecall.antivirus.com/  then choose the link   "Scan without registering".  Follow the directions.

You should disable any anti virus program that you have running.  If you do not have a virus program I recommend that you use one of the programs offered above first and then download and install one of the free programs listed below or install any anti virus program you have purchased.
**************************************************************************************************
Free Anti Virus programs for download. 
Quite a few KCnet members use these programs and like them.
Be careful if you download a virus program and you already have one installed on your computer.  You need to at least disable the program already installed.

AVG Free
AVG Free Edition is the well-known anti-virus protection tool. AVG Free is available free-of-charge to home users for the life of the product! Rapid virus database updates are available for the lifetime of the product, thereby providing the high-level of detection capability that millions of users around the world trust to protect their computers. AVG Free is easy-to-use and will not slow your system down (low system resource requirements).
http://free.grisoft.com/freeweb.php/doc/2/lng/us/tpl/v5

Avast
Avast has been "anti virusing" for quite awhile.  The following info comes from their download page:   Avast! Home is now free of charge for HOME users for NON-COMMERCIAL use. You can find more info here.
http://www.avast.com/eng/down_home.html
Note: This product is free for home non-commercial use after registration!
HINTS:   Click on the English Version Link and download the installation file.  Then click on the installation file and follow the directions.  You will need to return to the download page and click on the link to get the registration key.   It will be sent to you in an email after you provide some registration information.  This will give you 14 months of coverage including any updates which can be set to auto download.  You can reregister for additional free coverage at the end of the 14 months.
You will want to browse around and choose from the many options available for operation.  This process will take some time and digging.

Another good free program is:
http://www.free-av.com/
This one installs a bit easier than Avast.

**************************************************************************************************
Free Spybot and Adware programs for download.

AVG Anti-Spyware Free is a free anti-spyware protection tool developed by GRISOFT for home use. We invite you to join the millions of satisfied customers worldwide who have downloaded the software and now enjoy the benefits of ewido anti-spyware Free.
What you get with anti-spyware Free
Easy to use
Daily database updates
Heuristics to detect unknown threats
Automatic Cleaning Engine
And most of all ... great customer satisfaction!
http://free.grisoft.com/freeweb.php/doc/20/lng/us/tpl/v5 

Spybot - Search & Destroy 1.4 - product description
Application to scan for spyware, adware, hijackers and other malicious software.
Choose one of the sites to download from.
http://www.safer-networking.org/en/mirrors/index.html

Ad-Aware Personal provides advanced protection from known data-mining, aggressive advertising, Trojans, dialers, malware, browser hijackers, and tracking components. This software is downloadable free of charge.
http://www.lavasoftusa.com/software/adaware/

Windows Defender  is a free program that helps protect your computer against pop-ups, slow performance, and security threats caused by spyware and other unwanted software. It features Real-Time Protection, a monitoring system that recommends actions against spyware when it's detected, and a new streamlined interface that minimizes interruptions and helps you stay productive.
http://www.microsoft.com/athome/security/spyware/software/default.mspx 
 

True Viruses and Warning Letters of Impending Doom.
Believe it or not, the amount of harm done by sending false computer virus alarms and letters of impending doom to your thousand closest friends can be just as damaging as the alleged virus (if it even exists!);  if you remember the story of the boy who cried wolf, you understand why.
If you think you've got the scoop on the latest new devastating virus or latest doom warning, check it out at the Web sites below before taking it on yourself to alert the world.  If the virus is as terrible as you think it is, odds are the virus fighters already know about it and -- good news here!  -- your anti virus software provider probably knows about it too and already has an update for it.
Sophos supplies this current information about actual hoaxes.  Look at them. Read about them.  If you are sent one of them, delete it.

Here are a few sites of many that can help you determine if an email is a hoax or real.

http://www.snopes.com/
http://vil.nai.com/VIL/hoaxes.asp
http://kumite.com/myths/
http://www.symantec.com/avcenter/hoax.html
http://www.scambusters.org/VirusHoaxes.html
http://www.sophos.com/virusinfo/hoaxes/
http://www.truthorfiction.com/
http://www.quatloos.com/

Our webmaster has put up a "preview" of SeniorNet's new, redesigned website so that you can take a peek before we launch the site. The preview is at http://www.seniornet.org/jsnet.

The new site is still a work in progress, as it will be for several months as we port some existing content from our old site and develop new content. In fact, with your help, our site will continue to grow and develop as you contribute your suggestions and participate in the activities we will be introducing on the new site. Some of you were pioneers in the early stages of building our first web site in 1996 and even earlier on our Delphi and AOL sites. Together, we will be pioneers again in creating a community on our new site. 

Our new website is based on open-source software which has some cost savings associated with it and will enable us to more easily create and integrate new features in the future. You will note that there is new discussion software on the new website but we will have time to learn how to use it and adjust to it. We will not be fully using the new discussion and chat software right away. We will continue to use our current discussion and chat software at http://discussions.seniornet.org for a couple of months as we move slowly and carefully to the new discussion and modify the new discussion software to work the way that we want. You might want to make a favorite or shortcut of the page http://discussions.seniornet.org to directly reach our current discussions and chat.

Since we moved our current site to the new server, a few of our website features have not been working correctly. We appreciate your patience as we resolve these issues as soon as possible.

We have some initial Getting Started information for using the new web site.

We will be working on modifying the new chat and discussion software to work as we want it to in the next weeks.

The chat software is not currently set up to refresh the page after leaving. That will be fixed. The discussion software will be modified in many ways.

You may want to wait to try the new chat and discussions until they have been modified, although you are welcome to take a peek. You must be logged in to post messages (see our Getting Started page for help registering a username on the new site). Then click Community on the main navigation bar and then click Discussions or click Chat.

If you have suggestions or questions about the new site please post them in our New Website Preview discussion. Please remember that many of the sections and pages on the new site are still incomplete or have "placeholder" information. We'll be filling them out with new content over the next several months and beyond. 

http://www.seniornet.org/jsnet/index.php?option=com_frontpage&Itemid=1

I was cleaning house the other day and I ran across my roommate's stash of old records, which got me thinking that it would make an interesting subject for my cool sites! With that said, welcome to the 45RPM Records Database of Oldies Records. It is a database that has records from the 1950s all the way to the 1980s!

Warning! This site does have sound and animation when it loads (it has to load all the way first). To turn the music off, just click the button on your Internet browser. If you’d rather check it out with the sound on and you're at work, you may want to wait until you get home to view it.

To start checking out the database, you have two options to choose from. You can click the black “View 45 RPMS” button or scroll even further down the page and click a letter from A to Z to journey into the database. Once you are in the database, you can use the arrow buttons at the top of the page to navigate through the database. Or, you can click the middle Home button to go back to the main page.

If you are a record collector, you may want to check out the Collector’s Corner where you can be added to the collector’s list for free, as well as, check out everyone else who is on the list.

You can also search the Record Database by Category. Just click the black “45s by Category” button or you can check out instrumental records by clicking the “Instrumental” button by the juke box.

http://mysite.verizon.net/jhurray/

Who We Are
Consumer Reports Best Buy Drugs is a public education project of Consumers Union, the publisher of Consumer Reports. Consumers Union is an expert, independent, nonprofit organization whose mission is to work for a fair, just, and safe marketplace and to empower consumers as they buy products and services.

Consumers Union accepts no outside advertising. It has no agenda other than to promote and protect the interests of consumers.

Consumers Union’s revenue comes from the sale of information products and services, individual contributions, and a few educational grants. Consumer Reports Best Buy Drugs is funded largely from such grants. Consumers Union is governed by a board of directors who are elected by CU members and meet three times a year. 
http://crbestbuydrugs.org/index.shtml

http://a-hole-in-the-head.blogspot.com/2007/07/eyes-wide-shut-in-1947-life-magazine.html

They are:
Health benefits of humor and laughter – Here you will learn all about the different ways humor can benefit your life. From stress reduction to boosting your immune system to helping you instantly relax, the benefits are many. Laughter can be as contagious as a yawn and can lower your blood pressure. Find out more in this area!

How does humor improve mental health? – Laughter is a response, a physical response to humor. So, how in turn does humor improve our mental health? Did you know that by just trying to find the humor in a situation, you can elevate your mood and reduce stress? It is also an excellent way of shifting the way you think from the negative to the positive.

Use humor to stay healthy emotionally – Emotional health is far more important than we give it credit for. But why do we need humor to stay emotionally healthy? Find out here.

Social benefits of humor and laughter – Learn about how humor improves our social relationships. Even smiling due to humor has a lasting social benefit. But mostly, the benefit is how humor and laughter can bring us together and help us through the rough patches in life.

Bring more humor into your lives – How can we cultivate more humor in our lives?

What characterizes a humorous experience – This is where you’ll learn all about the components of humor, as well as, the different types.

Hurtful vs. healthful humor – We all know about hurtful humor, like making fun of someone and laughing. At one time or another, just about everyone has been on the end of hurtful humor. So, how can we make sure our humor is healthful?

Make sure your humor won’t offend – Learn when it’s appropriate to use humor and to avoid derogatory humor.

How can you expand your sense of humor – This was my favorite part, because it gives you challenges you can do to expand your sense of humor. I am constantly looking to my pets for amusement. They always amaze me with their antics!

Reference and resources – This section, of course, explains where they found all this information so that you too can further your study of how humor and laughter will benefit you.

So, tell me, when was the last time you had a big ol' belly laugh?!
http://www.helpguide.org/life/humor_laughter_health.htm

"My eleven year old wants a Myspace account, but I think she's a bit young for that. Are there some other sites I can encourage her to visit, with games and activities that are appropriate for pre-teen kids?"

I agree that your daughter should be steered away from Myspace. At that age, I wouldn't even want my child to have her own email account. The good news is that there are some really great sites for kids under thirteen. Here are my Top Ten sites for kids to find games, chat, social interaction and even learning...

   1. Club Penguin - At this very popular kids destination, your child can adopt a penguin, interact in a virtual town, and play games or chat with others. Games and chatting are free, but you'll need to buy a membership ($5.99/month) to own a pet, buy clothing for it, or decorate the igloo. Human chat monitors keep an eye on the banter and kids are encouraged to report any inappropriate language or conduct.

   2. Webkinz - For younger children, there is Webkinz. What started out as a major tie in for both the real and virtual worlds, has now become an absolute phenomenon for those that are too young for MySpace. Tots purchase a stuffed creature of their choice, then register it online, play games with its virtual counterpart, and earn virtual funds to spend at the W Shop. The best thing about this site is that there is an extraordinary amount of parental control available, allowing you to filter how much you will allow your child to do on the site.

   3. KidsCom - KidsCom takes the Tomagatchi to an entirely new level. With a free sign up, your child can go to Plant Central, select a seed, feed it, and watch it grow. You can also designate this as your child’s home page since it features plenty of games, articles, and chatting. We think this is a much better alternative to worrying about your kids on MySpace. Of course once they hit a slightly older stage, you will have to fret about them anyway, no matter where they are online.

   4. Zwinkies - in my estimation, are annoying virtual paper dolls, so your kids should love them! Free to subscribe, your pre-teen can endlessly change their clothes, hair, and accessories. They can also meet and chat with other kids. Celebrating its first birthday online, the company offers virtual currency, Zbucks, that users can earn by playing games and then purchase even more stuff for their Zwinkies.

   5. Puzzle Pirates - For pure gaming fun for kids, Puzzle Pirates is one of the best multi-player online role-playing games. Users create their own personna, play puzzle games to advance in rank, participate in pillaging, and even chat with other pirates. Those with more experience and official membership (this translates to a monthly $9.95 subscription fee) can end up as captains, obtain special garb, fancier swords and (Avast, Matey!) fire the cannons.

   6. Toontown - I found Disney’s Toontown to be an ego booster to the max for younger kids. This award winning site allows your child to be his or her own toon, meet others, earn points and collect badges by going on "adventures", while you retain parental control of the account. Again, there is a $9.95 monthly service fee if you want your child to have unlimited access to quests and more than 2 Toons, but at least you will know where your kids will be tonight.

   7. Become an M&M - Both kids and overgrown kids will love this site. You can now make yourself an M&M, just like in the TV commercials. You can then save, download it, send it as a postcard, or have it perform in various movies online. There is also an arcade to play in and screensavers to download. When you create your M, the choices for body parts is more than abundant and I am quite proud of my M&Elvis, thank ya vera much.

   8. Google Earth - What can be a better geography lesson for kids than Google Earth? With a simple download, your children can get a close-up view of almost any place on the planet, including their own neighborhood. It's very cool to type in your home address, and watch it zoom in to that spot from outer space. Some areas have more detailed views than others, but I can see the chairs on my own back porch! Enter the address of a friend, relative, or a distant city, and watch it "fly" your house to the destination. You can pan, zoom and tilt to see the ground from various perspectives. One of my favorite things to do is pick a spot and give a little "tug" with the mouse (left-click and drag) and it will start to travel in that direction.

   9. kSolo - If your teen is aspiring to be the next American Idol, there are now online karaoke sites for them to practice, such as kSolo. Still in beta test, the site features 16 genres, two of which are aimed solely at children. With a free 2 week membership, they can record, send, and invite others to hear their performances. You need to install the kSolo Player and have Microsoft Windows Millenium/2000/XP (no Mac yet,) Explorer 5.1 and above, or AOL 9.0, a mic, and a pair of speakers or headphones. Parents, check the fine print, because permission is needed for kids 13 to 18 and a monthly auto-rollover involved in membership.

  10. Make-it-Yourself - Most of the "science fair" sites I located involved some commercial aspect, although you can find some with a few freebies or arts and crafts projects such as Creative Kids at Home. Science With Me offers animation, games, printable worksheets, and e-coloring books with no charge if you simply subscribe to their service with an e-mail address.

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