Are you sitting at a computer all day.= do you want something interesting to "fill the void"?

Why not try listening to podcasts?

The term "podcast" was coined from the ability to download short audio files (educational, stories, music) from the internet to your iPod using a program such as iTunes. (iPod + Broadcast = Podcast) Today, with RSS enclosures., these audio files can also be downloaded to your desktop, laptop, and most other audio devices (mp3 players etc).

Educational Podcasts can be especially useful, if performing a task that does not require a lot of careful attention (ie: you can do it with your eyes closed). An educational podcast can be on a variety of topics from cooking, health, news, computer science.

Step 1: Get Some Software

The first thing you will need is a podcatcher. This is a simple piece of software that sits on your computer and watches for your favorite audio episodes to be released to the web. When this occurs, the podcatcher downloads the episodes to your media device.

iTunes automatically includes a podcatcher. So if you have an iPod and iTunse you can easily download shows and have them sent to your iPod.

But what about us non-iPod users. Yes we do exist !

To get podcasts working on your PC / laptop. I recommend the program Juice. Juice is a free podcatcher that can be run on a variety of platforms including Windows, Linux, and MacOS.

Step 2: Setup Your Feeds

Traditionally, the next step is to find a list of audio feeds you would like to subscribe to. For example you could go to one of many podcast directories. However, my favorite method is to use a service called Mevio (formerly podshow). When you signup for a Mevio account, you get your create your own custom RSS feed that you can add to all of your podcatchers (for example, mine is http://www.podshow.com/collection/79277.xml)

I have a subscription at home, at work, on my phone, etc)

Mevio then allows you to pick your favorite shows from their directory (or any directory) and it mashes them together all in one feed. You can then add/remove new shows from the easy to use web interface, and all of your podcatchers are updated and will get your latest shows

Step 3: Listen & Enjoy

Your audio files will be downloaded and to your favorite devices, and you can then listen to them with whatever audio player you like (I'd recommend VLC Player). Don't forget a good pair of headphones! Many of these podcasts might not be safe for work!

Happy Listening!

First important thing about blogging in pairs is fact that two authors are equal, meaning they have very similar responsibilities, same rights over blog ownership and they share earnings 50-50. If this is not the case then this is some other type of group blogging.

Blogging in pairs is most suitable for those who know each other in real life, not only online, but it is not impossible to arrange this kind of relation in cyberspace only.

There are two main advantages of blogging in pairs. First one is obvious: two authors can do more posting and marketing than one. Now, blogging can often have unwanted effects. If you spend every day few hours in blogging, you are probably doing this in your spare time, which means your offline social life is suffering. Isolation is unfortunately common blogging side effect. Blogging in pairs can fix this if authors are physically in same room when working on blog.

When to consider blogging in pairs? In every situation where mutual trust can be established and when advantages of blogging in pairs are needed in order to create new quality.

Here's the secret:

You have to hold the alt key and a number at the same time. The number has to be from the number key pad.

• alt + 1 = ☺
• alt + 2 = ☻
• alt + 3 = ♥
• alt + 4 = ♦
• alt + 5 = ♣
• alt + 6 = ♠
• alt + 7 = •
• alt + 8 = ◘
• alt + 9 = ○
• alt + 10 = ◙

I think you get the point. You can press a series of numbers and come up with things like ( alt + 23) ↨ and you can push as many numbers as you'd like and they will come up with some symbol.

Now that you know the secret spice up your blog, you can even use them on Triond to spice up your profile information!

 

1. Geek Of The Day

   
   
   Stop stressing and take your daily dose of geek humor and you’ll probably feel better. Geek jokes, stories and pictures can be offensive to some sensitive people. So far, this site has been fun and interesting to visit.

2. Hack A Day

   
   
   If you like tinkering with electronics and technology, then this site offers some very interesting information about modifying home electronics, video game consoles and much more, using simple hacks and techniques.

3. Hacked Gadgets

   
   
   Here’s another awesome gadget idea website. Learn about a remote control spy car or play with cornstarch and maybe if there is enough time left, then race your “ShakerRacer BlueTooth RC Cell Phone Car” around. Cool little gadgets that you can build.

4. Brainy Quote

   
   
   Do you blog or routinely make rounds in your favorite forums? This website offers a vast quantity of famous quotes once spoken by world leaders, artists, writers, business leaders, scientists and a lot of other categories. Need to find that perfect quote, and then I would visit here first.

5. E-Skeletons

   
   
   According to the website “The eSkeletons Project website is devoted to the study of human and primate comparative anatomy.” This site makes learning about bones and tissues fun. Using a unique set of digitized 2-D and 3-D full color animations visitors can get a virtual look inside the human and primate skeletons.

6. Chemical Elements

   
   
   Raise you hand if you remember the Periodic Table, because I sure didn't. This is one cool and confusing website even for a geek like me. Lookup the element or metal that you desire and presto, pops out the info with charts and graphs and everything. This site would be useful for students.

7. Coffee Geek

   
   
   Starbuck's is the epicenter for afternoon geek gatherings all over the world and because of this love affair with the rich, full body bean and sipping coffee while chatting computers has converted some individuals into coffee geeks. For people who really love to brew their own pot or just interested in learning about coffee brews, then this site will tease the taste buds. Read reviews, flip through a how-to guide or share your opinions about coffee and/or the culture with other members.

8. Geekologie

   
   
   If cool futurist gadgets are your thing, then this website delivers the goods. Whether it is flying drones or plastic cars, Geekologie is a major geek site that you'll want to bookmark.

9. Board Game Geek

   
   
   Not all geeks are workaholics and BoardGameGeek proves that geeks love playing board games. This website offers the biggest and most comprehensive database of board games, card games and print n' play games online. Members actively review games that they are playing or have played and shares ideas with the rest of the community. Anything about games that person needs to know, then BoardGameGeek is the best place to find the information.

10. FixYa

    
    
    “FixYa provides free tech support and technical help for gadgets, electronic equipment and consumer products” and they store manuals and guides for over 500,000 products. FixYa may be able to save a person both time and money through teaching them how-to do the job themselves. There is an optional membership upgrade that has some costs associated with it, but it is only optional.

Bonus Site - Just For Fun: Innergeek Test

Ok, have you ever wondered, just how geeky you really are? You can stop wondering and take the Geek Test and see what you score. The test is pretty straightforward that is separated into several categories and then, you just select in each category what statement(s) describes you best. Once finished the test, then click “Rank My Geekiness” and get the results instantly. (Please note, that this is not a scientific test and is only a geeky toy).

1. Break

   This website allows visitors to submit their videos, games, and photos, so that other members in the community can rate and comment on the content. Of course, this website doesn't compare to the massive content of “YouTube” but it still is worth checking out.

2. Swaptree

   Swap your old books, music, movies and games for something new with another Swaptree member. This service is free and the membership is free, the only thing that members are responsible for paying is the shipping costs. This is a cool website that works and is fun. However, Swaptree members are limited to what can be traded and is not available in every country, just yet.

3. YouTube

   This website offers visitors the most comprehensive collection of user generated videos anywhere on the Internet. Vote for your favorite content and leave comments or join in and submit your own videos to share with potentially millions of visitors worldwide.

4. Freelotto

   Play the lotto daily for free and get your chance to win up to $10 million dollars. I have been a member for years and have occasionally won a few bucks, but no really big money, so far. There are six lotto games where you could win cash, cars or homes everyday and for nothing out-of-pocket. Freelotto does offer an optional premium member service that allows members to automatically enter the lotto without having to visit the website everyday that you want to play. The basic membership is free.

5. Treeloot

   Treeloot has hidden a cache of cash and other prizes in their prize tree and you have to find it - to win it. Treeloot is really easy to play, just point in any location on the tree and click using your mouse to reveal if you found any prizes. Surprisingly, this is a very addicting game for a couple of days, and then it starts to get old.

6. PopCap

   PopCap is a fun website to play games online. The majority of games are very addictive interactive puzzles, spelling and strategy games that nearly anyone would enjoy. There are many free games and limited trial version games to choose from, but PopCap does sell game downloads, if a player wishes to own a copy of a game to play offline. There is no pop-up windows or spyware to worry about here at this site.

7. e-Podunk

   This is a wonderful website to research 46,000 cities, towns, communities and more before moving or traveling out of town. Visitors can spend hours on this site, just learning about different places from around the country (USA, Canada, Ireland and the UK).

8. Music Dish

   This is an excellent website to stay current with music news from around the world. Whether you choose to read articles, reviews or looking for a career in the music industry, then this website is rich in the content that music fans are interested in.

9. Sky & Telescope

   This is another comprehensive website that is dedicated to astronomy and stargazers to keep in-touch with the vastness of space and the planets, stars, moons, suns, and other space interests. I did encounter some pop-up ads, so just be sure to turn-on your pop-up blocker to stop the pop-up ads from popping up.

10. e-Nature

    This website is a real treat for anyone who loves learning about animals and animal behavior. There is so much to do on this website from reading about animals to playing games or you could ask an expert, if you have a question about nature or the animals that call it home.

Bonus Website

FixYa

According to the FixYa website “Fixya provides Free tech support and technical help for gadgets, electronic equipment and consumer products. Fixya's technical experts advise on fixing problems and provide instructions on proper usage of products either by chat or message posting. Fixya stores manuals and troubleshooting guides for over half a million products.” Finally, a truly valuable website for anyone who are into gadgets and technology and is surprisingly addicting to use. Basic membership is free.

Triond lets you submit content and get paid for it! Unlike sites like youtube, the more hits you get, the more money you receive from advertisers. And also unlike youtube, you can submit anything.

eHow shares your expertise to make money. Write an article on how to do anything. The more people use and like your article, the more money advertisers will give you. A great easy way to help people, while helping yourself.

Amazon allows you to resell other people's stuff online. Ever see a really good deal online? Well, buy it and then sell it back for more money! Almost like buying stock. I used this method to get my video ipod, it's very easy.

Ebay lets you sell your stuff online. It's amazingly easy and simple. I prefer Amazon because there's no penalty if no one buys your stuff, but Ebay works just as well. You'd be amazed how much money you can get for your old dvds or video games. Maybe even sell your psp to get that new xbox 360.

Blog is amazing, you can spew out your opinions and make money for it. You gotta love the first amendment. Write about anything, post picture, post your movies and voila! Ad money! Similar to Triond, only all of your content is on one site. It takes a little more time if you organize your blog or have your own style, but it's a great alternative. Fun too.

Download Skype and start making money with calls from your computer. Whatever you know, you can share. And people will pay your for it. Easy.

To start you need the following:

• A computer.
• The Internet (I'd recommend broadband other wise you may find it very slow).
• Basic knowledge on computers, IE links, clicking, using search engines.
• Reasonable typing skills are also helpful.
• An E-Mail address (this one is needed).
• Friends.
• Age over 14.

Signing up to MySpace: MySpace.

For parents: You shouldn't let your children put their real first and last names but that's just opinion on safety. Also I would choose a different password to any of your other passwords just in case anything happens.

Fill in all the details then press "Sign Up".

This is something new that MySpace has brought out recently, this security function is used to stop people spamming the MySpace site, making you go slower and wasteful accounts.Basically for this step, you just have to copy the letters into the box, DO NOT use spaces and or Capital letters. After you have copied it press "Continue to my Account".

Ok, Now it is asking you to upload a photo of yourself. Do not post any Nudity or disgusting pictures other wise your account will be likely banned in the first few hours. Press "Browse", find a picture of yourself in your computer and press upload.

If you don't have any photos of yourself on your computer just press "Skip for now". Now, depending on your internet speeds when you upload, it can take anywhere from a few seconds to several minutes.

Ok, Now its time to invite your friends (Optional). Just put their E-Mail address and just put a little message that you would like them to see when they read it. put the message in the "Optional Body" section.

Then, press "Invite" or once again you can just press skip for now: Voila, you are done!