Cyberia

On the web

Wise Geek

www.wisegeek.com

What are LIFO and FIFO? What foods are toxic to cats and dogs? And what is the difference between a two-stroke and four-stroke engine? wiseGEEK provides the answers to these and lots of other queries; the site is dedicated to providing clear and concise answers to common questions. wiseGEEK has over fifty qualified contributors, and also allows readers to comment on the articles; every comment is researched and implemented where appropriate. For some very interesting discussions, make sure you visit this website.

Webopedia

www.webopeida.com

Webopedia is a comprehensive online dictionary and search engine for computer-related definitions. The website offers easy-to-understand definitions of words, phrases and abbreviations that are related to computer and Internet technology, and also provides links to sources of further information on the topics. Every definition is verified among multiple sources, and evolves as technologies change. New terms are added on a daily basis, and many of the new terms come from suggestions from the site's users. Webopedia also has other interesting features, like the 'term of the day' and the 'did you know?' section. Easy to understand, comprehensive, and very useful.

GEEKS AND WISDOM

Tips & Tricks

Gmail Usernames

After you sign up for a username on Gmail, you will get emails sent to that address no matter where or how many dots are placed within that address! Gmail only allows one registration for any given username, and once a particular username is registered, any dot or capitalization variations are made permanently unavailable for new registration.

According to the Gmail help center:

"If you created yourusername@gmail.com, no one can ever register your.username@gmail.com, or Your.user.name@gmail.com. Furthermore, because Gmail doesn't recognise dots as characters within usernames, adding or removing dots from a Gmail address won't change the actual destination address. Messages sent to yourusername@gmail.com, your.username@gmail.com, and y.o.u.r.u.s.e.r.n.a.m.e@gmail.com are all delivered to your inbox, and only yours."

So the dot can be placed at any or even multiple locations within your username and you will still receive the email!

Question of the month

Blogging: constructive or narcissistic?

Shehwar Shikoh Khan: Blogging is both constructive and narcissistic. Like writing, it is pretty rewarding. It inculcates the good habit of expressing oneself and getting views across. Blogging done by others enriches life, as it is similar to delving into autobiographies and diaries: besides having entertainment value, they help you learn from others' insights and experiences. Blogging gets narcissistic as it gives too much exposure to people. One wants to put forth as much of themselves for people to admire. They express even the crassest of their thoughts just because they can and because they assume that people must be lapping it all up.

Farah Khalid: The majority of the blogs that I've come across have been very narcissistic. I'm not sure why people upload every mundane and at time even private details of their life on such a public forum. However, there are some blogs that focus on specific topics and issues. These blogs succeed in generating constructive discussions and ideas, but such blogs are far and few. It's the boring diary-themed blogs that overpopulate the blogosphere.

QOTM for July:

Imagine a world with no Internet. That would mean no websites or emails or blogging or even chatting. Scary thought, right? So what would you miss the most about the Internet? What is the one thing that you think is the most significant use of the Internet that you just wouldn't be able to do without?

Email Us: cyberia_for_us@yahoo.com

Deadline: July 26