The Most Beautiful Libraries Around the World

The Beinecke Rare Book & Manuscript Library is among one of the most beautiful libraries in the world (admitsee)

In today’s world, we can choose a book with the touch of a button on our iPads, download the newest release in less than a minute to our Kindles, or turn to Amazon for our next must-read. But often lost in the ease, convenience, and speed of reading a book nowadays is the reading ritual itself - the true pleasure of making your way down a library's long aisles, skimming rows upon rows of books, picking up a potential read, flipping through its pages. So let’s shine a little light on these houses of knowledge and celebrate the ubiquitous symbol of information with this collection of beautiful libraries across the world.

1. THE 'CLASSIC'

WHAT: Trinity College Library
WHERE: Dublin, Ireland
WOW FACTOR: This library boasts a 200-foot long room with a barrel-vaulted ceiling. Known as the Long Room, this striking room is lined with marble busts of famous writers, like Jonathan Swift.

(Bored Panda)

2. THE RULER OF THE RARE

WHAT: The Beinecke Rare Book and Manuscript LibraryWHERE: New Haven, Connecticut
WOW FACTOR: This library is one of the world's largest libraries devoted entirely to rare books and manuscripts. They even have an original Gutenberg Bible!

(Flickr user Lauren Manning)

3. THE MEGALIBRARY

WHAT: Biblioteca Vasconcelos
WHERE: Mexico City, Mexico
WOW FACTOR: Known as the “megalibrary,” this giant library takes up a whopping 409,000 square feet. Inside, over 500,000 books are displayed on glass shelves hanging from the building’s five stories.

(Flickr user CIINKer)

4. THE COLOSSEUM

WHAT: The Vancouver Public LibraryWHERE: Vancouver, Canada
WOW FACTOR: This library was designed to resemble a modern-day Colosseum. The entrance is through a huge skylit concourse and bridges inside the library connect to reading and study areas in the outer walls.

(greenroofs.com)

5. THE CUBE

WHAT: Stadtbibliothek StuttgartWHERE: Stuttgart, Germany
WOW FACTOR: From the outside, the nine-story building looks like a monolithic cube. But inside, the dramatic all-white interior has a five-story reading room shaped as an upside-down pyramid, plus meeting rooms, a café, and a rooftop terrace.

(Flickr user O Palsson)

6. THE MIDDLE EASTERN MAMMOTH

WHAT: Bibliotheca AlexandrinaWHERE: Alexandria, Egypt
WOW FACTOR: Opened in 2002, the massive disc-shaped building has a huge reading room that tilts toward the sea with a facade that’s covered in letters and characters from more than a hundred different languages. The building also contains a planetarium, four museums, and academic research centers.

(The Culture Trip)

7. THE GREEN MACHINE

WHAT: Beitou LibraryWHERE: Taipei, Taiwan
WOW FACTOR: This eco-friendly library has a slanted roof that collects moisture from humidity and rain, and then recycles it for the restrooms and gardens. The Beitou Library has also been fitted with solar panels, as well as deep-set and latticed windows to reduce energy use.

(broketourist.net)

8. THE SUSTAINABILITY STANDARD

WHAT: Villanueva Public LibraryWHERE: Casanare, Colombia
WOW FACTOR: Villanueva Public Library was constructed using only locally-sourced materials, and was solely by the people of the village who were trained to help construct the building. The design, created by four college students, focuses on natural ventilation and plenty of shade to keep the interior nice and cool.

(archinect.com)

9. THE TIMELY MASTERPIECE

WHAT: Mortlock Wing State LibraryWHERE: Adelaide, Australia
WOW FACTOR: This two-story library, opened in 1884, features an extraordinary Dent and Sons clock on a wrought-iron and gold ornamented balcony at the end of the reading room. A staff member winds it once a week.

(travelandleisure.com)

10. THE NEW, OLD LIBRARY

WHAT: The National Library of ChinaWHERE: Beijing, China
WOW FACTOR: The National Library of China houses a vast array of historical and ancient books and manuscripts - even inscribed tortoise shells. Completed in 1987, the buildings that make up the library were all designed in a traditional Chinese style.

(National Geographic Travel)

11. THE MODERN PHENOMENON 

WHAT: Delft University of Technology LibraryWHERE: Delft, Netherlands
WOW FACTOR: With a massive skylight in the ceiling that looks like a steel cone from the outside, the Delft University of Technology Library is also has a grass-covered roof to add to its eco-friendly and modern design.

(Inhabitat)

Read More

Easy Ways to control on Waste, Everyday life

Living greener doesn’t always require drastic change, like moving to a treehouse or foraging for herbs. All it takes is a few small tweaks in your daily living to cut down your waste count by a significant amount. With a little research and a lot of motivation, you can be become the Green Queen (or King) in no time - and might even be able to say goodbye to your garbage can. These nine tips and tricks for cutting down your waste will get you started on a greener living.

1. COMPOST

Yes, the big “C.” Composting may sound like a practice limited to only the truest of treehuggers, but, in fact, it’s actually quite easy and requires very little time, effort and space. The process involves upcycling leftover food and organic matter to make a dark, rich substance known as humus, often used as a conditioner for soil. Keep a small bin on your kitchen counter where you can easily dump food scraps (including fruit, vegetables, eggshells, and coffee grounds).

ECO-ADVICE: Different lifestyles call for different composting methods. If you’re an avid gardener with a backyard, you can use the compost for your personal garden. If you live in a city that doesn’t offer curbside pickup, you might be able to donate your compost to a community garden or nearby farm.

Keep a small compost bin on your kitchen counter to more easily dispose of food scraps (Shutterstock)

2. BUY IN BULK

Buying in bulk is a great way to reduce packaging waste, save money, and try new foods in small quantities. Bulk stores are usually made up of rows of bins with scoops for you to ladle out your desired amount. In many bulk stores, you can buy grains, cereals, dried fruit, herbs, toiletries, cleaning products and even oils and vinegars.

ECO-ADVICE: Only buy as much as you can use before it goes bad. As a precaution, see if you can sample an item before you fill up.

Remember to bring your own containers and bags when buying in bulk (Shutterstock)

3. CARRY YOUR OWN JARS AND RE-USABLE BAGS

Canvas bags are a treehugger’s staple. Avoid plastic altogether by always carrying a reusable bag or tote (many are built to be compact) in your purse or car. If you’re going bulk shopping, bring along jars with lids for any liquids.

ECO-ADVICE: Keep a stash of reusable bags in an easy-to-remember place so you can grab them any time you go shopping. Whether it’s your car, below the kitchen sink or next to the car keys - just designate a place and stick with it.

No trip to the supermarket is complete without a resuable tote bag (Shutterstock)

4. GET TO KNOW YOUR TRASH

Okay, it may seem a little gross, but it’s definitely worth taking a few minutes one day to rifle through your trash bin. See what types of packaging and products you seem to be throwing out most – this is where you should focus your waste reducing efforts.

ECO-ADVICE: While you’re down there ransacking your trash bin, double check to see if the items you’re throwing out are actually recyclable. Toilet paper rolls, non-aerosol deodorants, and cooking oil bottles are just some items people mistake for non-recyclable.

Separate your trash to see what makes up most of your waste (Shutterstock)

5. REPLACE PAPER WITH CLOTH  

Yes, the disposable quality of paper products is convenient, but you just end up with avoidable waste. Napkins, paper towels, cleaning wipes can all be replaced with microfiber cloths, old t-shirts, huck towels and cloth napkins.

ECO-ADVICE: Keep a bin under the kitchen sink where you can easily toss dirty, used cloths and then throw them in with the rest of the laundry.

Replacing disposable floor wipes with a towel or rag is an easy way to cut down on waste (Shutterstock)

6. RETHINK YOUR TOILETRIES  

Going green doesn’t mean sacrificing personal hygiene. Try a bamboo compostable toothbrush as a substitute for a plastic one, and organic, vegan makeup in place of drugstore brands.ECO-ADVICE: Also make sure the packaging is recyclable when purchasing eco-friendly toiletry products.

Bamboo toothbrushes provide a eco-friendly alternative to the plastic variety (Shutterstock)

7. GET YOUR BILLS ONLINE

These days, most companies offer the option to receive bills via email or through an online account. Checking this box means cutting out a lot of unwanted mail and paper waste - much of which you probably throw out without opening anyway.

ECO-ADVICE: To avoid receiving paper-heavy pamphlets and promotional materials as well, pop a 'No Circulars' sign on your mailbox.

Switch your payment method via your online banking account (Shutterstock)

8. BUY A REUSABLE WATER  BOTTLE

Reusable water bottles are probably the easy step to sustainability. Purchasing a reusable water bottle you can fill up anytime, anywhere will definitely save you money and reduce your carbon footprint.

ECO-ADVICE: If you’re feeling guilty about the plastic water bottles you’ve accumulated over time, don’t fear. There are plenty of DIY projects that transform your plastic bottles to something new and useful.

Aluminum reusable water bottles keep your drinks cold and are also good for the environment (Shutterstock)

9. MAKE YOUR OWN PERSONAL CARE PRODUCTS

If you’re feeling especially ambitious, try making your own hygiene products at home. Soaps, toothpastes and even deodorants can be made using only a few natural ingredients, like coconut oil and baking soda. This goes for spa treatments, as well.

ECO-ADVICE: If you’d like a nice scent or taste to compliment your DIY creation, try a few drops of aromatic essential oils, like peppermint, sandalwood or lavender.

Coconut oil is a key ingredient in many homemade personal care products (Shutterstock)

Read More

Advantages and Disadvantages of Rooting your Android Phone

 “What is rooting? Why should I root my Android device?” These are common questions that I get asked quite often. Today’s lesson is to talk to you about both the advantages and disadvantages of rooting your Android devices. But before we get started, a word of caution: rooting or modifying your phone in any way will void your manufacturer’s warranty and possibly “brick” it. What does “bricking” your device mean you ask? Exactly what you think… It means screwing up your phone software so badly that your phone can no longer function properly and is pretty much as useless as a brick. I do not in any way recommend anyone to root their Android device. This article is simply to introduce you to the subject of rooting and present you with both the pro’s and con’s so that you can make an educated decision on your own.


What is Rooting?

“Rooting” your device means obtaining “superuser” rights and permissions to your Android’s software. With these elevated user privileges, you gain the ability to load custom software (ROM’s), install custom themes, increase performance, increase battery life, and the ability to install software that would otherwise cost extra money (ex: WiFi tethering). Rooting is essentially “hacking” your Android device. In the iPhone world, this would be the equivalent to “Jailbreaking” your phone.

Why is it called Rooting?

The term “root” comes from the Unix/Linux world and is used to describe a user who has “superuser” rights or permissions to all the files and programs in the software OS (Operating System). The root user, because they have “superuser” privileges, can essentially change or modify any of the software code on the device. You see, your phone manufacturer/carrier only gives you “guest” privileges when you purchase your device. They do this for good reason… they don’t want you getting into certain parts of the software on your phone and screwing it up beyond repair. It makes it much easier for them to manage and update the devices if they lock it all down. This way, all the users are running the same unmodified version of the phone’s software. This makes it much easier for them to support the devices. But, for the tech-savvy crowd, only having “guest” privileges on your device is pretty lame and it locks down a lot of potentially useful features.


Android is known for offering users a greater degree of customizability and control than any other mobile operating system, but there are still limitations to what you can do with an Android phone right out of the box. To push beyond those limits, you need to root your device, which means you gain admin rights to it. This somewhat complicated process could void your warranty or, if something goes wrong, break your handset. Are the benefits of having administrative control of your phone worth the risks? Android enthusiasts would give you an unequivocal "yes," but we've gathered a list of pros and cons to help you decide for yourself.

Advantages

• Android Updates on Demand: Want to have the latest Lollipop when your phone is stuck on Jelly Bean? You can wait and hope that your carrier sends you an operating system update some day, but by the time you get it (if you get it at all), Google will probably have come out with a new version. Fortunately, for users of rooted devices, the vast hordes of ROM developers are there to deliver updates nearly as fast as Google. These ROMs can offer a very plain stock Android experience like a Nexus device or near limitless levels of customization —it's entirely up to you.
•  
• Install Power-User Apps: While Android apps have greater access to the operating system than apps on other platforms, root-access apps can be given permission to go even further. These apps can carry out automated tasks for you, create new multitouch gestures, enable a PlayStation SixAxis controller to play games on your Android device and more. Check out our list of the 30 Best Apps for Rooted Android Phones for even more ideas.
•  
• Just Say No to Bloatware: Bloatware is the bane of many Android users' existence, with carriers and manufacturers heaping dozens of apps onto the device right out of the box, additions that the owner will never touch and yet can't be removed from the device. These apps are taking up precious space on your device and in some cases may be slowing it down. Root users can start with a bloat-free build of Android and are able to delete to their hearts' content, keeping their devices running lean and mean.
•  
• Back up Anything and Everything on Your Device: While it is relatively simple to back up the vast majority of the data on your smartphone these days, there are some limits. With a rooted Android phone, you can use an app like Titanium Backup to literally capture everything on your device, including data, apps and settings, and save them to an SD card or the cloud. Should anything happen to your device, you will at least be comforted by the knowledge that you can have a replacement device up and running like nothing happened in minutes.
•  
• Supercharged Battery Life: We've never heard anyone complain about too much battery life on their smartphones, And while there are numerous options for nonroot users to boost endurance, you probably won't be surprised at this point to hear that root users have a more expansive array of options at their disposal. Some apps even allow rooted users to slow the CPU at the right times to save power, without the user ever noticing a difference in performance.
•  
• Turbocharged Performance: Want your aging phone to feel faster? A new, lighter ROM might be the best solution to keep things running smoothly, but if you like everything the way you have it, save for a need for speed, then rooting and overclocking the CPU is the way to go. Free apps such as SetCPU allow you to change your processor frequency with a few taps.

Disadvantages

• Your Phone Could Get Bricked: "Bricking" is the ultimate concern for anyone rooting his or her device. This means that your phone is completely beyond saving, as it will no longer turn on. The key thing to remember here is that it is incredibly difficult to actually brick your device, and unless the phone literally won't power on, there is almost always a way to save it.
•  
• Is This Line Secure?: Exposing yourself to security risks is one of the most common arguments against rooting. However, while rooting does make you more vulnerable, security risks still aren't as widespread an issue as some would have you believe. According to a security report put out by Google last year analyzing more than a billion devices, less than 1 percent of all Android devices had a potentially harmful app installed. When looking at devices that only installed apps from the Play Store, that percentage dropped below 0.15 percent, the report showed.
  
  Now, harmful apps aren't the only security risk, but if you are careful about the sites you visit and the apps you install, it's not difficult to keep your device safe, whether it's rooted or not.
•  
• Over-the-Air Updates Go Out the WindowOnce you have rooted your device, it's likely that you'll no longer receive carrier updates for your phone. And if you do see a notification for one, it should be avoided as it will most likely remove your root access.
  
  If you rooted your Android in order to install a new ROM, this isn't going to be a worry for you anyway, because the regular OTA update is likely behind the times for you. If you rooted for any of the other advantages, the OTA update may still be something you want. In that case, you should wait until a root option is available for the new update, and then install it and re-root your device.
• Avoid Warranty: Rooting your device is perfectly legal, but in most cases it is going to mean that your phone is no longer covered by its warranty. In most cases, if you need to get service, you can un-root your device and return to the good graces of your warranty should anything happen. But you would be wise to check on this before embarking on your journey.

Final

Rooting will open up a number of new possibilities for your phone, but it is important to consider the potential ramifications before you get started. Even the savviest Android user can have something go wrong while rooting, and while there is almost always a way back, the method can be time-consuming.
If you decide that rooting is for you, you'll need to look up a method that works for your specific phone model and carrier. The rooting procedure for a Galaxy S5 on Sprint could be different than that for the S5 on T-Mobile. We have a number of rooting tutorials for popular phones here on Tom's Guide, but you can also try our friends at theunlockr.com, a site with literally hundreds of rooting methods, or forum.xda-developers.com, which is the place where most rooters post the latest exploits.

Read More

List of The Top Modern Web Browsers

 PCs, laptops, phones and tablets all come with a web browser. But is it the best one you can get?  look at Internet Explorer, Edge, Chrome, Firefox, Safari and other browsers.

Google Chrome 

Popular Browser by Internet giant Google. Focuses on enhanced performance of web applications. Hundreds of useful extensions can be downloaded for free from Chrome Store and can be used for personal use.
A large array of apps and add ons available at Chrome Store. These adds a considerable amount to the browsing experience of the users.

• Private browsing
• Fast Startup
• Phishing/ Malware Filter

Mozilla Firefox 

A web browser designed for simplicity, security, extensibility yet flexibility and power. Available for Linux and android as well. There are lots of plugins and extensions with some powerful developer tools.
Constant updates, high performance delivered and customizable interface is a bliss for advanced users. Firefox allows an open architecture which accepts the installation of themes and extensions. Themes give the browser a customizable new look. Developers can write extensions to make the browser perform functions as desired like check your Gmail account when you open the browser, or block all ads.

• RSS Headlines
• Chat Extensions
• Spam/ Malware Filter

Opera Web Browser 

Constantly evolving and improving and the most popular mobile browser, opera has came a long way from being a browser to a full fledged internet suite.
Free fast browser with good support for updates. Features like page zoom and developer shortcuts allow users to have unique experience. There are some compatibility issues found in certain websites but with constant updates these problems are scarce.

• Email suite
• Phishing Filter
• Bit Torrent

Safari Web Browser 

Safari is a web browser developed by Apple inc. It is the most popular browser with MAC users.
Safari is a clean browser, very fast based on the WebKit rendering engine. Safari comes with the features you want in a modern browser, like tabbed browsing, popup blocking and built-in search functionality. It also has one of the best RSS-reading feature available online, it is easier to keep track a number of websites than using bookmarks.

• Most Popular Macintosh Browser
• Import Bookmarks from any browser
• Private Browsing

Internet Explorer 

Internet Explorer by Microsoft is the default browser for Windows operating system. Its still very popular with many internet users. Startup speed is a big issue with internet explorer.
There are a lot of necessary features like Active X capabilities, SmartScreen Filters, a list of recommended sites and more. Internet Explorer is still considered to be falling behind in the race, but latest editions promise fast load, packed with latest features. We can wait and see if it comes back to top.

• Add ons
• Customization options
• Mouse Gestures

Maxthon 

A fast browser with a lot of features and reliable user interface. Powered by Maxthon Cloud Engine, it offers seamless browsing and downloads. Works on all platforms.
Maxthon has Lots of nifty features, including video-ad fast-forwarding, Speedy performance and Two page rendering engines(Webkit and Trident) for better compatibility.

• Anti Spyware
• Pop up Blocker
• Cloud Browsing

SlimBrowser 

A popular choice for users who like speed and security. It is based on Internet Explorer's Trident Engine and is a robust and powerful browser. It flaunts better usability features and speed compared to internet explorer browser.
Slimbrowser takes care of your privacy and security every time you are surfing online. Slimbrowser starts as quickly as possible and allows you to have an amazing web surfing experience.

• Omni Bar mode
• Integrated Plugins(Ad Blocker, Photo Salon)
• Low Crash and Bugs

Netscape Browser 

Originally published by AOL, Netscape browser has released latest version based on Mozilla Firefox. It is fast, secure and is a choice of many users online.

• Dynamic HTML
• Integrated Search Engine
• Opensource Development

UC Browser 

A popular browser for both desktop and mobile devices. Tabbed browsing and fast startup make it a popular choice for thousands of users. Full download manager and full screen browsing ads on nicely.

• Quick browsing
• Quick Page sharing
• Multiple Apps

 

 Hub: all your stuff in one place

Think of the Hub as the place where Microsoft Edge keeps the things you collect on the web. Select Hub  to view your favorites, reading list, browsing history, and current downloads. And when you sign in with a Microsoft account, your favorites and reading list are available across all your Windows 10 devices.

Looking for your favorites? In the Hub , select Favorites  > Import favorites.

Search faster from the address bar

No need to go to a website to search for pictures of adorable penguins. Stay put and save time by typing your search in the handy address bar. You’ll get search suggestions, instant results from the web, and your browsing history, right on the spot.

 

Read More

Tips To Use Google Search Efficiently

Google Search’s learning curve is an odd one. You use it every day, but still all you know is how to search. But the search engine has plenty of tricks up its sleeve.

Millions of people use Google search every day for a variety of reasons. Students use it for school, business people use it for research, and millions more use it for entertainment. Did you know that you may not be using Google search to its full potential? Here are 20 tips and tricks to maximize your search efficiency.

Here’s an overview of some of the most useful Google search tricks, from basic tips to new features just recently released.

Use the tabs

The first tip is to use the tabs in Google search. On the top of every search are a number of tabs. Usually you’ll see Web, Image, News, and More. Using these tabs, you can help define what kind of search you need to do. If you need images, use the Image tab. If you are looking for a recent news article, use the News tab. It’s rudimentary and most people use the tabs already. If you are not, then it’s highly recommended to get associated with them. They can cut search times dramatically if utilized properly.

Use quotes

When searching for something specific, try using quotes to minimize the guesswork for Google search. When you put your search parameters in quotes, it tells the search engine to search for the whole phrase. For instance, if you search for Puppy Dog Sweaters, the engine will search for content that contains those three words in any order. However, if you search “Puppy Dog Sweaters”, it will search for that phrase exactly as you typed it. This can help locate specific information that may be buried under other content if not sorted out correctly.

Use a hyphen to exclude words

Sometimes you may find yourself searching for a word with an ambiguous meaning. An example is Mustang. When you Google search for Mustang, you may get results for both the car made by Ford or the horse. If you want to cut one out, use the hyphen to tell the engine to ignore content with one of the other. See the example below.

• Mustang -cars

This tells the search engine to search for mustangs but to remove any results that have the word “car” in it. It can be wildly helpful when finding information about something without getting information about something else.

Use a colon to search specific sites

There may be an instance where you need to Google search for articles or content on a certain website. The syntax is very simple and we’ll show you below.

• Sidney Crosby site:nhl.com

This will search for all content about famous hockey player Sidney Crosby, but only on NHL.com. All other search results will be removed. If you need to find specific content on a particular site, this is the shortcut you can use.

Find a page that links to another page

This Google search tip is a little obscure. Instead of searching for a specific page, you’re searching for a page that links to a specific page. Think about it this way. If you want to see who cited a New York Times article on their site, you would use this trick to find all the sites that link to it. The syntax is below.

• link:nytimes.com

That will return all pages that link to the New York Times official website. The URL on the right side can be practically anything. Be aware, though, that the more specific it is, the fewer results you’ll get. We know not a lot of people will likely use this Google search trick, but it could be very useful for some.

Use the asterisk wildcard

The asterisk wildcard is one of the most useful ones on the list. Here’s how it works. When you use an asterisk in a search term on Google search, it will leave a placeholder that may be automatically filled by the search engine later. This is a brilliant way to find song lyrics if you don’t know all the words. Let’s look at the syntax.

• “Come * right now * me”

To you or me, that may look like nonsense. However, Google search will search for that phrase knowing that the asterisks can be any word. More often than not, you’ll find they are lyrics to The Beatles song “Come Together” and that’s what the search will tell you.

Find sites that are similar to other sites

This is a unique one that could be used by practically everyone if they knew it existed. Let’s say you have a favorite website. It can be anything. However, that website is getting a little bit boring and you want to find other websites like it. You would use this trick. Below is the syntax.

• related:amazon.com

If you search that above, you won’t find a link to Amazon. Instead, you’ll find links to online stores like Amazon. Sites like Barnes & Noble, Best Buy, and others that sell physical items online. It’s a powerful Google search tool that can help you find new sites to browse.

Use Google search to do math

As a college student, I can attest that I use this one rather frequently. Google search can actually do math for you. This is a rather complex one to describe because it can be used in so many ways. You can ask it basic questions or some more difficult ones. It is important to note that it won’t solve all math problems, but it will solve a good number of them. Here are a couple of examples of the syntax.

• 8 * 5 + 5
• Planck’s Consant

If you search the first one, it’ll return 45. It will also show a calculator that you can use to find answers to more questions. This is handy if you need to do some quick math but don’t want to do it in your head. If you search the second term, it will return the number value of Planck’s Constant. So it can do math, but it can also help you solve math problems by showing values for known mathematical terms.

Search for multiple words at once

Google search is flexible. It knows you may not find what you want by searching only a single word or phrase. Thus, it lets you search for multiples. By using this trick, you can search for one word or phrase along with a second word or phrase. This can help narrow down your search to help you find exactly what you’re looking for. Here is the syntax.

• “Best ways to prepare for a job interview” OR “How to prepare for a job interview”

By searching that, you will search both phrases. Remember the quotes tip above? It’s being used here as well. In this instance, these two exact phrases will be searched. It can be done by word too, like the example below.

• chocolate OR white chocolate

This will search for pages that have either chocolate or white chocolate!

Search a range of numbers

Searching for a range of numbers is another tip we don’t anticipate a lot of people using. The people that do use it, though, will probably use it quite a bit. People interested in money or statistics will find this tip particularly useful. Essentially, you use two dots and a number to let Google search know you’re looking for a specific range of numbers. Like the syntax below.

• What teams have won the Stanley Cup ..2004
• 41..43

In the first instance, the search will toss back the team that won the Stanley Cup in 2004. The two dots with only one number will tell the search that you don’t need anything before or after 2004. This can help narrow down searches to a specific number to improve search results. In the second, Google will search for the numbers 41, 42, and 43. It is obscure, but wildly useful if you happen to need to search for numbers like this.

Keep it simple

Now we’re getting into the general tips. Google search knows how to search for a lot of things. What this means is you don’t need to be too specific. If you need a pizza place nearby, use this to search.

• Pizza places nearby

Google search will grab your location and deliver a variety of results about pizza places that are near you.

Spelling doesn’t necessarily matter

Google search has gotten a lot smarter over the years. These days, you don’t even need to spell words correctly. As long as it’s pretty close, Google can usually figure out what it means. Here are some examples.

• If you search “Nver Gna Gve Yo Up” Google will automatically assume you mean to search for “Never Gonna Give You Up.” If by chance your misspelling was intentional, Google gives you the option to search for the misspelled term instead.

This trick is great if you happen to forget how to spell something or are not altogether sure how something is spelled. It can also be helpful when searching for obscure words. This applies to capitalization and grammar as well.

Use descriptive words

Pretty much everything can be described in multiple ways. Take our namesake, the “life hack.” The terminology “hack” refers to a computer programmer breaking security on a network or system. However, when used in conjunction with the word “life”, it alters the meaning to tips and tricks people can use to improve their lives. If you have trouble finding what you’re searching for, keep in mind that people may search or define what you need in a different way than you do.

• You may search “How to install drivers in Ubunut?”
• When you really mean “Troubleshoot driver problems Ubuntu.”

There really isn’t a good specific example for this one. If you search for something and you can’t find an answer, try asking the same question using different words and see if that helps the results.

Find a specific file

An often forgotten feature of Google search is the ability to search for a specific file or file type. This can be infinitely useful if you need a specific PDF or PowerPoint file that you previously viewed or need to use for another project. The syntax is quite simple.

• *Search term here* filetype:pdf

In the above example, you simply replace the search term with whatever you’re searching for. Then use the filetype command and enter the extension of any file type you can think of. This can mostly be useful for scholarly purposes, but business presentations and other assorted presentations can benefit from this kind of search as well.

Gradually add search terms

There will come a time when Google search doesn’t shovel out the results you expect. In this instance, keeping it simple may not be the best option. As Google itself suggests, the best method is to start with something simple then gradually get more complicated. See the example below.

• First try: job interviews
• Second try: prepare for job interviews
• Third try: how to prepare for a job interview

This will gradually refine the search to bring you fewer, more targeted terms. The reason you don’t go straight from the first try to the third try is because you may miss what you’re looking for by skipping the second step. Millions of websites phrase the same information in a number of different ways; using this technique lets you search as many of them as possible to find the best info.

Use words that websites would use

This is a very important one. When people use Google search to hunt the web, they generally search for things using the same language that they would use for speaking. Unfortunately, websites don’t say things the way people do; instead, they try to use language that sounds professional. Let’s look at some examples.

• “I have a flat tire” could be replaced by “repair a flat tire.”
• “My head hurts” could be replaced by “headache relief.”

The list goes on and on. When searching, try to use terminology you would find on a professional website. This will help you get more reliable results.

Use important words only

The way Google search works is to take what you search for and match it with keywords in online content. When you search for too many words, it may limit your results. That means it may actually take you longer to find what you’re looking for. Thus, it is apropos to use only the important words when searching for something. Let’s see an example.

• Don’t use: Where can I find a Chinese restaurant that delivers.
• Instead try: Chinese restaurants nearby.
• Or: Chinese restaurants near me.

Doing this can help Google find what you need without all the clutter. So remember, keep it simple and use important words only.

Google search has shortcuts

A number of commands can be entered to give you instantaneous results. Like the math example above, Google can immediately give you the information you need that is displayed right at the top of the search results. This can save time and effort so you don’t have to click a bunch of bothersome links. Here are a few examples of some commands you can enter into Google.

• Weather *zip code* – This will show you the weather in the given zip code. You can also use town and city names instead of area codes, but it may not be as accurate if there are multiple area codes in the city.
• What is *celebrity name* Bacon Number – This is a fun little one that will tell you how many connections any given celebrity has to famed actor Kevin Bacon. The popular joke, Six Degrees of Kevin Bacon, is that no actor is more than 6 connections away from Kevin Bacon. Mark Zuckerberg has a Bacon Number of 3.
• The math example posted above is another one.
• What is the definition of *word* or Define: *word* – This will display the definition of a word.
• Time *place* – This will display the time in whatever place you type in.
• You can check any stock by typing its ticker name into Google. If you search for GOOG, it will check the stock prices for Google.

These quick commands can take a web search that is usually multiple clicks and condense it into a single search. This is very helpful for information you need repeatedly.

Money and unit conversions

Google search can quickly and accurately convert both measurement units and currency value. There are a variety of uses for this, like checking to see the conversion rate between two currencies. If you happen to be a math student, you can use it to convert from feet to meters or from ounces to liters. Here’s how to do it.

• miles to km – This will convert miles to kilometers. You can put numbers in front to convert a certain number. Like “10 miles to km” will show you how many kilometers are in 10 miles.
• USD to British Pound Sterling – This will convert a US dollar to British pounds. Like the measurements above, you can add numbers to find exact conversions for a certain amount of money.

It’s true that this tip is geared toward math students and international business people. However, you’d be surprised how often these tips are used by regular people.

Track your packages

Our last trick is to use Google search to find out where your packages are. You can enter any UPS, USPS, or Fedex tracking number directly into the Google search bar, and it’ll show you the tracking information about your package. This is much easier than going to the specific sites, waiting for them to load, then searching for your packages there. No examples are really needed for this one. Just type your tracking number in and see where your package is.

Google Search wrap-up

Google search is a very powerful search tool. Using the tips outlined above, you can find anything and everything you could ever need on the World Wide Web. Whether it’s avoiding Wikipedia for a school essay project, finding the latest stock prices, or even finding song lyrics, there is a way to make Google search work for you.

Read More

10 Creative Public Awareness Ads That Makes You Think

A well-made advertisement is designed to grab your attention and to remain in your memory long after you’ve left it behind, and that is exactly what many of these social causes need. Getting people to think and worry about various social and environmental issues (or even simply getting them to be aware of them) is important for raising public supporting and affecting meaningful changes.

 A few of these ads are, in fact, commercial ads, but it’s still nice that they champion socially or environmentally aware causes/products. Just like with commercial advertisements, having just the facts is not enough. They are important, but the ad must also appeal to the observer’s emotions. Many studies have indicated that emotion can have a powerful effect on memory formation, ensuring that memories with emotion will last longer than those without.

Global Action In The Interest of Animals: 

Plastic Bags Kill

Stop The Violence: 

Don’t Drink And Drive

Bird Conservation:
 If You Don’t Pick It Up They Will

Every 60 Seconds a Species Dies Out.
 Each Minute Counts

Causing Cancer By Yourself

Torture Victims Are People Just Like 

You And Me

Sleepiness Is Stronger Than You. 

Don’t Drive Sleepy

Liking Isn’t Helping. Be A Volunteer. 

Change A Life

Deforestation And The Air We Breathe: 

Before It’s Too Late

Air Pollution Kills 60.000 People A Year

Read More