Microformats are small formatting pieces designed to make your data easier to read by both users and software. Although their use is not widespread, it’s important that every web developer becomes familiar with them, as they’re sure to be an integral part of the web’s future. Because of this, there are a number of articles and resources out there devoted to microformats. We’ve compiled more than 100 of the best here.

Introduction

If you’ve never heard of microformats before, this is the place to start.

1. Microformat: This article from Wikipedia will give you a quick idea of how microformats work.
2. Microformats.org: On this site, you’ll get an overview and the latest information on microformats.
3. Introduction to Microformats: This introduction explains microformats in friendly, easy to understand language.
4. What are Microformats?: Get a quick look at microformats in this introduction.
5. Microformats: What They Are and How to Use Them: See how microformats have come about, and how you can take advantage of them.
6. What You Can Do With Microformats: Check out this article to see what’s possible.
7. Microformats: Check out this MozillaWiki article to find out more about microformats, and how they’re used with Firefox.
8. An Introduction to Microformats: Find out how you can put microformats to work with this introduction.
9. Microformats Primer: Find examples, standards, and more information about microformats in this primer.
10. Intro to Microformats: See why microformats are important, and get a walkthrough on tagging and more.

Implementations

See how a handful of sites have put microformats to work.

11. Blinksale: This invoicing platform makes use of the hCard standard.
12. Blogmarks: Blogmarks publishes user bookmarks with xfolk/rel-tag.
13. Cork’d: This wine review site uses hCard for user profiles and hReview for wine reviews, as well as rel-tag for tagging wines.
14. Digg: Digg supports hCards in profiles as well as rel-me for identities.
15. Eventful: Eventful uses hCalendar for event listings and hCard for venues.
16. LinkedIn: LinkedIn makes use of hCard and XFN, hResume, and hReview.
17. Ma.gnolia: This bookmark site uses loads of different microformats, specifically rel-tag, hReview, and hCard.
18. Technorati: Technorati is full of microformats usage, including hCards, hCalendar, and hReview.
19. Twitter: Twitter makes use of hAtom, hCard, and XFN.
20. Yahoo!: In a number of different uses, Yahoo! takes advantage of rel-license, hCard, hCalendar, hReview, and more.

Articles & Presentations

Here you can read about a number of different issues with microformats, and what you can expect from them in the future.

21. Where Microformats Might Take Us: Find out what microformats can make possible.
22. Microformats: The Fine Art of Markup: Check out this series to learn about how you can enhance your content with microformats.
23. The Big Picture on Microformats: Find out how microformats are currently used, and what we can expect to see in the future.
24. The Awesome Power of Microformats: In this presentation, you’ll see how awesomely microformats can harness data.
25. How YOU Can Make the Web More Structured: In this article ReadWriteWeb sells microformats as a way to structure the web.
26. The Progress and Promise of Microformats: Learn more about the microformats movement, and some of the issues we’ll see in the future.
27. Microformats for RDF Fans: This wiki article discusses what RDF users should know about microformats, and why they should switch.
28. hAccessibility: This article discusses why and how microformats can make the web a more accessible and usable tool.
29. Microformats: Tomorrow’s Web Today: This article takes a look at the practical applications of microformats.
30. Mozilla Does Microformats: Firefox 3 as Information Broker: This article discusses the possibilities that occur when Web browsers associate semantically marked up data with applications in your system and online.
31. WSG Microformats Talk: See how microformats mean the web will serve people first, and make it easy to only write once.
32. Microcontent Design, Part 1: Explore microcontent design in this article that discusses data sources and formats, structured blogging, and lots more.
33. Microcontent Design, Part 2: BBC Case Study: See how BBC is using microcontent on their BBC Backstage site.
34. Microcontent Design, Part 3: Mightv, a BBV TV listings app: Go beyond BBC Backstage, and see how the BBC Backstage environment is being used to create the application Mightyv.
35. Microformats and Web 2.0: See how microformats are being used in Web 2.0 applications, and how they’ll influence the growing web.
36. Microformats and the Decentralized Future of Online Marketing: Read this article to think about microformats in the browser, and what that means for the online experience, particularly marketing.
37. Microformats in Context: Take a look at microformats as a hot new Web 2.0 technology.
38. Microformats in Web Browsers: Check out this concept in browser-based microformats discovery.
39. Discussion of Microformats: Get an introduction, history, and overview of microformats here.
40. Microcontent Aggregators: 43Things: Get an introduction to microcontent aggregators in this post.
41. Microformats Are More than RSS: Get a look at some of the popular microformats online today, as well as ones we can expect in the future.
42. Microformats: Tomorrow’s Web Today: Understand the semantic web and microformats, as well as how you can get started with microformats in this article.
43. Compound Microformats: This presentation discusses combining blocks of HTML to create compound microformats.
44. W3C Looks to GRDDL For Semantic Web Sense: See how Semantic Web developers will use GRDDL to use microformats data.
45. Why Microformats: Learn why microformats are important, how they work, and more.

Tools

Use these developer tools to make using and creating microformats easier.

46. hCalendar creator: With this creator, you can preview and copy code for your very own calendar.
47. hAtom transcoder: Output hAtom to Atom 1.0 and RSS 2.0 with this tool.
48. best-guess: Use the best-guess algorithm on ambiguous name components.
49. Buttons: Support microformats by displaying one of these buttons.
50. Safari Microformats Plugin: Use this plugin, and you’ll be alerted any time you visit a site with published microformats.
51. Greasemonkey: Use this Firefox customization tool to make use of microformats.
52. hResume Creator: Fill out this form, and you’ll have a microformatted resume.
53. hKit parser: Create plain text, JavaScript, and PHP outputs of the hKit microformat with this tool.
54. Structured Blogging: Use this tool to create microformats in your blog.
55. Icons: Use these icons to indicate microformats information.
56. Dreamweaver Microformats Extension: This extension will add a few microformats Insert bar tools to Dreamweaver.
57. rel-lint: Use this lint tool to make use of the rel attribute of links.
58. Tails Export: This Firefox extension shows and exports microformats.
59. Spell checking: Add this list of words to your spell check dictionary to make coding microformats easier.
60. hCard creator: Use this tool to quickly and easily generate microformats code for an hCard.
61. Textpattern Microformats Plugin: This plugin adds a number of different microformats tags that can be used with Textpattern.
62. hReview creator: The hReview creator makes it easy to create review code.
63. Microformats Bookmarklet: Use this bookmarklet to select and save individual contacts or events.
64. Operator: This Firefox plugin detects microformat content and offers relevant options and tools.
65. Pingerati: This site connects publishers with microformat index services.

Tutorials

Get step-by-step walkthroughs for creating various microformats here.

66. Using Microformats in Your Blog Software: Learn how to add more structure to your blog content with this tutorial.
67. Tutorials on Microformats: Get help in microformats with these tutorials.
68. Highlight Microformats with CSS: In this tutorial, you’ll see how you can highlight microformats using CSS, with examples.
69. Pairing Wine and Microformats: Check out this tutorial to see how microformats can be put to work on a wine review site.
70. Creating microformat hCalendar events with PHP: Get a detailed look at how you can use the hCalendar microformat in PHP.
71. Add Microformats Magic to Your Site: Find out how to use microformats for your site, complete with code.
72. Microformats: Web of Data: See how to use different microformats on your site to facilitate movement of data online.
73. Understanding Elemental Microformats: In this guide, you’ll learn how to manage link spam, Creative Commons, and much more.
74. Using Microformats in WordPress: Get step by step instructions for using microformats such as hCalendar, hCard, and hResume in your WordPress blog.
75. Microformats: Managing Personal and Event Data: See how flexible microformats can be by checking out this guide.
76. Microformats and WordPress Themes: Find out how to make your WordPress pages more readable using microformats.
77. Tutorial: Using hCalendar Microformats: Get a real-world example of using hCalendar microformats in this tutorial.
78. Microformats: Converting XHTML to vCards and iCalendars: This tutorial will show you how to use microformats to embed data in XHTML.
79. Separate Data and Formatting with Microformats: Find out how to read and write microformats for the web with this article.
80. Microformats: More Meaning from Your Markup: This tutorial offers an in-depth look at microformats for people and events.
81. Unobtrustively Mapping Microformats with jQuery: This tutorial will show you how to create a microformat-enabled map with jQuery.
82. Using Microformats in WordPress: Check out this tutorial to learn how to implement microformats in your WordPress blog.

Cheat sheets

Use these cheat sheets for quick reference to all things microformat.

83. Microformats Cheat Sheet: Check out this cheat sheet for quick microformats references.
84. cheat-sheet: Check out this wiki directory to find lots of different microformats cheat sheets.
85. Microformats Cheat Sheet: This cheat sheet from ILoveJackDaniels has great information for a number of different cheat sheets.
86. pocket-cheat-sheet: Carry this handy little cheat sheet around in your pocket for quick reference.

Code

Here you’ll find lots of sample code that you can use when creating microformats.

87. pydataportability: This collection of tools includes support for microformats in Python.
88. django-microformats: Use this application to create microformats in the Django framework.
89. microformats.css: Use this CSS-based template with existing microformats.
90. Microformats from the Ground Up: Find loads of code and other resources in this presentation.
91. hatom-sparkle: Add hAtom support to Sparkle with this code.
92. filtered-column-hcard-macro: Use this macro to filter columns in Rails.
93. CSS: Check out this code to learn how to deal with objects, abbr, and more.
94. ufperl: ufperl will extract microformats in Perl.
95. python-microformats: Use this library to use and validate microformats in Python.

Information sources

For even more information about microformats, check out these books, forums and blogs

96. Microformatique: Get the latest information on microformats through this blog.
97. Using Microformats: Check out this PDF guide from O’Reilly to learn how to use microformats.
98. All in the Head: Drew McLellan’s blog has a lot to say about microformats.
99. reblg Yahoo! Group: Check out this group to discuss reblogging, microformats, portable content, and more.
100. Tantek: View the blog of Tantek Celik to see what an expert has to say about microformats.
101. Microformats Implementation Wiki: See how microformats are being used in applications and more.
102. Official Microformats.org Blog: Get the latest news, developments, and more from this blog.
103. Planet Microformats: This site offers a meta-feed of microformats information from all over the web.
104. Microformats Forums: Here you’ll find general discussion, announcements, developments, and lots more.
105. Microformats: Empowering Your Markup for Web 2.0: Check out this book to learn the why and how of microformats.

Articles

Take a moment to read these articles to get some background on identity theft and loss of personal information and learn some ways to prevent it.

1. Shredding Can Save You From Identity Theft: This article from Yahoo takes you through why you should shred instead of just tossing out documents as well as a list of documents that should always be destroyed.
2. Identity Theft and Your Social Security Number: This goverment released article helps you to learn just why you should keep your Social Security number private.
3. Identity Theft Exposed: This article from the AARP talks about the effect identity theft can have on the lives of the victims and the uphill battle it is to get good credit back afterwards.
4. 10 Things Everyone Should Know About Bank Errors: Whether money is accidentally put in your account or taken out, this article can help you know what to do so your finanances and those of others remain secure.
5. Major Banks, Telcos Top Identity Theft Chart: This article shows that your information may not be as safe as you think, even with a corporation you think you can trust.
6. Mitigating Identity Theft: Schneier on Security’s Bruce Schneier dicusses the issues surrounding the increasingly common phenomenon of indentity theft and gives his opinion on the politics and technology that will grow to protect consumers.
7. Credit Card Fraud Keeps Growing on the Net: While most sites are perfectly secure, there are many that aren’t and are out there to steal your information. This article dicusses the growth of credit card theft on the net and the processes by which theives get your information.
8. 5 Disposable Web Accounts to Keep Your Identity Safe: One way you can help protect your identity is by not maintaining the same information to steal from transaction to transaction. This article gives disposable alternatives, from email to phone numbers.
9. Consumers Afraid of Identity Theft Have a New Weapon– A Credit Freeze: Read about a new way you can help protect your credit if you feel you might be at risk for identity theft with this article from The Business Shrink.
10. Your SS Number is Just a Click Away: Here you can read about just how easy it can be for identity theives to get access to your Social Security number and what you can do to fight it.
11. Debit Card Thieves Get Around PIN Obstacle: You might think your PIN makes your debit card safe even if it gets stolen, but that’s hardly the case, as this article points out.
12. 10 Extremely Useful Websites to Stop Big Brother From Snooping on You: Whether it’s the government or someone out to get your information, most people don’t want anyone spying on what they’re doing, no matter how innocuous. This article gives you 10 different sites you can try out to help minimize this risk.
13. What to Do When They Ask for Your Social Security Number: From time to time there are going to be businesses and places that you work with that will ask for your Social Security number. This article can help you learn how to handle this so your personal information stays private and secure.

Blogs

These bloggers share their opinions and concerns about maintaining personal privacy and keeping identity theives at bay.

14. The Privacy Blog: This blog is dedicated to addressing current issues in privacy and security. Written by Lance Cottrell, it covers topics like free speech, online privacy, identity theft and email security to help educate readers on topics they should be aware of.
15. Protect Personal and Financial Privacy: The name says it all, this blog is all about the issues that surround keeping your identity safe, your data secure and your financial and medical information private.
16. The Politics of Privacy Blog: There are many issues that surround the protection of personal data as well as an individual’s right to keep this kind of data only to themselves. This blog written by political science professor Andreas Busch discusses these issues and how they are dealt with in public policy.
17. Privacy and Security Law Blog: Want to know what your legal rights are about personal privacy and what laws govern the security of your information? This blog addresses these issues and more, helping you protect your rights and your information.
18. Ephemeral Law: This blog also addresses some of the legal issues that surround privacy and data security. Read posts about the costs of data exposure and protecting consumer privacy as well as on many other topics.
19. The Dunning Letter: Written by former junk mailer Jack Dunning, in this blog you’ll find information and opinions on how you can protect your most precious possession: your personal information. Dunning is now an advocate for name and data protection and can provide useful tips on how to keep your name off of junk mail lists.
20. ID Theft Secrets Blog: This blog is dedicated to helping consumers find the resources and information they need to protect their credit card and personal data from becoming prey to identity fraudsters. Readers will get tips on simple things they can do to avoid becoming victims.
21. Fight Identity Theft Blog: Here readers will find ways they can actively work to stop identity theft and protect themselves from those with ill intentions. The blog also posts on the latest news, technology and scams to watch out for.
22. Privacy and Identity Theft Blog: Written by Dave Jevans, this blog posts the latest in information and identity theft. Stories of what happened to others can help you ensure that the same things don’t happen to you.
23. Anti-Phishing Blog: This blog acts as a resource for Internet users. It lists recent phishing scams so that if you’re presented with them you’ll know what to look out for and what not to fall for.
24. Mark Nestman: Preserving Your Privacy and More: As the name suggests, this blog focuses on ways that individuals can protect their privacy. Posts on keeping your encrypted data safe and and protecting yourself from identity theft are interspersed with the latest news in privacy politics and law.
25. Digital Soapbox: For those interested in learning more about keeping their computers and online transactions secure, this blog can help provide some insight. Posts give the blogger’s personal feeling and opinions on security, risk and data protection.

Resources

If you’ve been a victim of identity theft or just want to make sure you never are, these resources can be a big help.

26. Identity Theft Awareness: This site, maintained by fraud and security expert Henry Bagdasarian, gives visitors loads of information on how they can keep their data safe and secure. The site contains articles on credit card fraud, laws, theft prevention, travel security and workplace security, making it an invaluable resource.
27. Identity Theft Resource Center: This nonprofit organization has set up this site to help consumers who have had their identity stolen get back on their feet and to help those who want to prevent theft to better do so. Visitors to the site will find consumer and victim resources as well as a variety of business solutions.
28. Call for Action: This international group provides consumers and individuals with a place where they can fight back against identity theft and stolen or sold personal information. The site provides resources on filing a complaint about identity theft as well as how to prevent phishing and other online scams.
29. Consumer Privacy Guide: Few people realize that the things they do every day may be putting their privacy at risk. This site provides consumers with the resources and information they need to make informed choices about shopping online and things they can do to ensure their privacy and protection.
30. Privacy Journal: Published by Robert Ellis, this site is one of the oldest publications around that has to do with privacy. Since the 1970s, the journal has been publishing articles on what individuals can to do help keep their personal information private.
31. Home Computer Security: For many who don’t know a ton about computers, keeping a desktop or laptop secure can be a confusing and sometimes overwhelming problem. This site can help address everything you need to help make sure your computer-based information stays visible only to your eyes.
32. National Do Not Call Registry: Many people have their identities stolen through phone solicitations that trick them into giving away their personal information. You can help prevent this by putting your phone number on the National Do Not Call Registry. It will block solicitors from calling you greatly reducing your chances of getting scammed.
33. OptOutPrescreen: Those pesky credit card offers you recieve in the mail are not only annoying and wasteful, but they’re also a potential goldmine for someone that wants to steal your identity. Sign up with this site to stop these kind of advertisements from coming to your home and putting your security at risk.
34. Annual Credit Report: By law, you are entitled to recieve one credit report each year. Doing so can not only be a good way to keep an eye on your credit but it can also alert you to any potential indentity theft issues as well. Suspicious activitiy will be easier to spot and take care of with the reports and you can immediately notify the credit bureaus to the fraud.
35. Federal Trade Commission: If your idenitity is stolen, you’ll not only have quite a mess on your hands, but you’ll also need to contact the Federal Trade Commission to help start rectifying the situtation and making sure that the thief is caught in the act.
36. How Identity Theft Works: Ever wonder how thieves actually make use of the information they steal? This article from Howstuffworks will take you through each type of theft to help you better understand and combat it.
37. Identity Theft is a Crime: Resources from the Government: The US government gives those who want to prevent theft of their personal information as well as those who already have been victimized a listing of resources to help them out.

Applications

Take charge of your personal security and privacy with these applications that keep nosy hackers and phishers at bay.

38. CenturionMail: CenturionMail is a powerful but easy-to-use security program. It works to encrpyt both emails and files on a system to ensure that they remain hidden from prying eyes.
39. Mail2Web: This program allows users to read their emails from any computer in the world or on their cellphone securely and privately, giving them remote access as well as the security of knowing their information is protected.
40. BrowserSpy: This program gives users detailed information about what their browser reveals about them, plus it lets users know just what programs and utlities are installed in their browsers so they can determine if they’re truly secure.
41. Tor: Tor helps stop traffic analysis, a form of network surveillance. The program prevents somebody watching your Internet connection from learning what sites you visit or from anyone knowing your physical location. It can help you surf and chat with others in a more private manner.
42. Camera/Shy: This program can make it easy to hide private information right in plain sight. It offers encryption and decryption of steganography, automatic cache and history clearing, and protection against malicious HTML.
43. SmasheR: Pop-ups can be an annoying feature of browsing the Web and can sometimes result in you clicking on things that might do harm to your computer. SmasheR helps to stop these pop-ups, plus it provides mointoring of 3rd party activity, PC cleaning, and cookie removal.
44. Skype: Chances are good that if you know much about technology you have heard about Skype. This popular VoIP service not only provides low cost calls to anywhere in the world, but the calls are also encrypted, helping add an additional layer of security to confidential discussions.
45. SpeakFreely: SpeakFreely is an entirely free VoIP phone that allows users to securely speak to one another over the web. The program is fully encrypted, making it difficult for prying outside ears to eavesdrop on private conversations.
46. Private Eye: With this program, you can spy on your own computer. It allows users to see the information stored by your browser incuding when you auto-complete forms in the Protected Storage area of your computer. If there is information that you’d rather not have stored on your computer or anywhere else, you can simply remove it.
47. Encryptionizer: This Windows based progam has been used in banks and hospitals all over the world and can help keep everything from a whole database to a simple DVD of information more secure through careful encryption.
48. Icon Lock-It: If you’re prone to forgetting to lock your computer before you leave it unattended or just want a little extra privacy on a shared computer you can try out this program. It allows users to create passwords for files, icons, and folders on your computer, keeping personal data extra secure.
49. SecuriChat: If you need to chat about personal or private topics or just want a little extra security when chatting with your friends and family, you can try out this online messenger. It’s triple layered and requires that both parties have access to an encrypted passcode before initating the chat.
50. AbsoluteShield File Shredder: Many people may not know, but when you add items to your recycle bin they may not really be getting erased from your computer. This program takes care of that and makes sure that any personal information you wanted taken off your computer gets destroyed completely.
51. VauletSuite: This multi-platform suite can provide a comprehensive way to secure all the information on your computer and what is going in and coming out. It comes with secure and spam-free email as well as password storage and file encryption.
52. Anti-Keylog: In these days of spyware, anyone can be watching your computer and you may not even be aware of it. You can help protect yourself, however, with a program like Anti-Keylog. It can help prevent spyware from stealing important personal information like credit card numbers and passwords from programs you might not even know are watching.

Organizations

There are many groups out there that specialize in helping consumers maintain their personal privacy and recover from identity theft. Here are a few you can check out.

53. Privacy Rights Clearinghouse: This nonprofit organization works to help educate citizens about their privacy rights and how they can protect sensitive information about their finances, medical history and personal identity when they’re online or off. Visitors to the site will find a large collection of helpful resources.
54. Electronic Privacy Information Center: The Internet leaves even the most conscientious privacy protectors at risk of having personal information stolen. After all, the best security can’t keep out hackers that truly want to get your information. This organization can help you learn how to keep your information safe while still protecting your right to free speech and speedy information exchange.
55. Electronic Frontier Foundation: The EFF is a civil liberties union that works to protect the rights of citizens in the digital world. These include issues of free speech, privacy, innovation, and consumer rights, all of which can have a big impact on your day-to-day online activities.
56. Privacy International: Privacy International is a watchdog group that aims to protect the privacy and information of individuals from both the government and corporations who might infringe on personal privacy rights. Here you’ll find information on everything from data protection to financial surveillance.
57. Anti-Phishing Working Group: The Anti-Phishing Working Group is a global law enforcement association focused on eliminating fraud and identity theft that results from phishing, pharming and email spoofing. You will find information on what scams to watch out for as well as resources to report any suspicious email you might receive.
58. CCGuard: This organization is dedicated to educating consumers on how to protect their credit card information both in the online environment and off. It offers articles on dealing with identity theft, how you can protect your identity when online shopping and what to do if you give your credit card number to a scammer on accident.
59. Privacy Foundation: This organization deals with issues of consumer and citizen privacy as well as homeland security and medical and identity theft. Visitors to the site will be able to get helpful information and resources on these topics as well as many others.
60. ScamBusters: This organization can give you a heads up on what scams to look out for as well as useful articles on what you can do to help prevent getting scammed.
61. Identity Theft Awareness Group: Get facts and resources on identity theft from this prevention-oriented group.
62. Privacy.org: Get the latest information on privacy issues and news from this organization. Visitors to the site will also find a variety of resources and tools as well.
63. Identity Theft 911: This organization provides a leadership role for America’s businesses, but it can also provide news and resources on personal issues in identity theft.
64. Fraud Resource Group: Fight fraud with information and resources distributed by this group.
65. RipOffReport: Keep your personal information out of the hands of scammers and rip-off artists. This site lists known scams and frauds to help save you loads of time and money.

Tips

These sites give some simple tips for protecting your information.

66. Top Ten Ways to Protect Your Privacy Online: These ten tips show how easy it is to both get suckered in by phishers and also to prevent indentity theft. By implementing tips like not using 3rd party information sharing, you can help keep your private information private.
67. What to Consider When Buying a Paper Shredder: Shredding documents is a must for keeping information safe, but how can you know what shredder will work best for your needs? This article discusses what you need to determine before making your shredder purchase.
68. 6 Tips to Avoid Scams: Scam artists are everywhere these days. These tips can give you some simple help in avoiding these potential harmful people and keeping your money and information secure.
69. Tips for Tackling Check Fraud: Many people each year fall victim to check fraud schemes. Here you’ll find some tips that can help keep you from joining these ever-expanding ranks.
70. Consumer Fraud Prevention Tips: You can make purchases with a little more confidence if you know what to watch out for. These tips will help you to avoid getting scammed when you shop just about anywhere.
71. 5 Identity Theft Tips for the Holiday Season: With so much going on around holiday time, identity theft can be the last thing on your mind, but you’re at just as much of a risk as any other time of the year. From watching your wallet on a shopping excursion to watching your credit card statements, these tips can help make a hassle free holiday.
72. Top 10 Indentity Theft Tips for 2008: This up-to-the-minute guide can help you to minimize your risk of identity theft.
73. Privacy: Tips for Protecting Your Personal Information: The FTC put out these tips to help consumers and citizens keep an eye on all their personal information so that it doesn’t fall into the wrong hands.
74. 12 Tips to Protect Personal Information During Tax Season: Doing your taxes often involves sending large amounts of personal information on the Web or in the mail. You can help keep this information safe by following the advice in these 12 tips.
75. Tips for Protecting Yourself When Shopping Online: Online shopping can be a convenient way to get things cheaper and faster without the hassle of waiting in lines and driving to the store. These tips can give you some steps in the right direction for making these shopping options more secure.
76. Phishing Scams! Top 5 Tips to Protect Yourself: Phishing is a growing problem in email and all over the Web. You can avoid falling victim with these tips.
77. Tips for Securing Private Information: Keep your private information private with these computer security tips.

Guides

Everyone needs a little guidance now and then and you can get some from these helpful how tos and guides on privacy protection.

78. Your 5-Minute Guide to Protecting Your Identity: Don’t think you have time to implement increased security measures? This article explains how you can up your awareness of scams in just a few minutes and keep thieves from stealing your information.
79. Online Brokerage Accounts: What You Can Do to Safeguard Your Money and Your Personal Information: This article from the US Securities and Exchange Comission addresses how you can enjoy the ease and profitability of trading online without falling victim to identity theft.
80. Your Guide to Online Privacy: This lengthy article from PBS gives users some interesting background on the Internet security issue as well as information on what to do to help ensure their privacy stays protected online.
81. 10-Minute Guide for Beginners to Getting Safe Online: Newbies to computer security or just those who don’t have a clue what they’re doing online can benefit from this quick and easy guide that gives tips on the most important aspects of safeguarding yourself and your data.
82. How to Keep Your Identity Safe Online: The Internet can be a great place to meet other and find a plethora of information, unfortunately, it’s also a great place for predators to access your personal information. This simple how-to guide will help you learn to protect yourself and keep information theives at bay.
83. Identity Theft Victims Guide: If you have fallen victim to identity theft, this guide from Privacy Rights Clearinghouse can give you a step by step guide as to what you need to do to get your information back and make sure it doesn’t get stolen again.
84. The Ultimate Guide to Identity Theft Prevention: There’s no better cure for identity theft than to prevent it from happening in the first place and you can get a head start on that with this guide from Your Credit Advisor. It gives advice on what to watch out for and what to do if you think your identity has be stolen.
85. How to Pick a Safe Password: A password won’t do much good if it’s so easy anyone can guess it. This how-to can help you learn how to pick a password that will keep your data safe and give you more peace of mind.
86. How to Know What Documents to Shred and When to Shred Them: Without a doubt you want to keep information theives at bay by shredding confidential documents, but knowing just what you need to shred and when it may be time to toss out old files can be a choice that leaves many unsure. This article can help make the decision process easier.
87. The College Student’s Guide to Identity Theft: College students often have to fill out loads of forms, many of which contain their Social Security Numbers. This guide can help students learn what they need to do to keep this and other sensitive information safe.
88. Protecting Personal Information: A Guide for Businesses: The FTC has put together this simple guide to help businesses protect their private data as well as that of their customers.
89. The Beginner’s Guide to Phishing: Phishing is a common way that personal information is stolen. This guide can help protect you from becoming a victim of this sneaky email scam.
90. Gizmo’s Guide to Securing Your PC: Don’t let your PC be a buffet of free information to theives. Keep it secure by implementing the suggestions from this guide.

Books

Take a visit to your local library or bookstore to pick up these privacy protection titles.

91. How to Be Invisible: The Essential Guide to Protecting Your Personal Privacy, Your Assets, and Your Life by J.J. Luna: This book addresses the issues of privacy both on and off the Web. The book is filled with real-life stories drawn from the author’s life and the lives of others to help ensure that readers will make more of a commitment to safeguarding their own personal information.
92. Identity Theft: How to Protect Your Name, Your Credit and Your Vital Information, and What to Do When Someone Hijacks Any of These: This book lays out all the ways your personal information can be stolen and even gets into the nitty gritty details. The author also offers advice on what to do if you find yourself a victim of any of these crimes.
93. The Wall Street Journal. Complete Identity Theft Guidebook: How to Protect Yourself from the Most Pervasive Crime in America by Terri Cullen: Cullen is the assistant managing editor and personal finance columnist for the Wall Street Journal Online. In this book, the major types of identity theft are discussed as well as tips to reduce your risk and on what to do if you do get your identity stolen.
94. Stealing Your Life: The Ultimate Identity Theft Prevention Plan by Frank W. Abagnale: If you’ve seen the movie Catch Me If You Can then you know at least part of the life story of Frank Abagnale. A former con artist and identity thief, Abagnale now gives advice on what to do to avoid getting scammed and how to deal with fraud when it arises.
95. Identity Theft, Inc.: A Wild Ride with the World’s #1 Identity Thief by Glenn Hastings and Richard Marcus: This book is written by a notorious indentity thief who, in an attempt to repent for his crimes, offers up advice on how you can keep indentity thieves at bay.
96. The Identity Theft Protection Guide by Amanda Welsh: Get advice on minimizing your risk, safeguard your family and recover a stolen identity in this concise guide.
97. 100% Internet Credit Card Fraud Protected by Vesper and Vesper: If you’re not only worried about your personal sercurity but your business’ as well, this book can help give you advice on professional anti-fraud methods that can help you protect your business from credit card fraud.
98. Give Me Back My Credit! by Denise Richardson: A victim of identity theft herself, Denise Richardson puts a face on the all-to-common occurance of identity theft.
99. Your Evil Twin: Behind the Identity Theft Epidemic by Bob Sullivan: Do you have an evil identity lurking around and stealing your good credit? This book discusses this billion dollar crime and the people it affects from all income brackets and walks of life.
100. Phishing: Cutting the Identity Theft Line by Rachael Lininger and Russell Dean Vines: Written by a phishing security expert, this book takes you through the the technical aspects of phishing and explains how you can prevent these thieves from stealing your identity.

Computer Techies

This section is for that special breed of techies: the computer techies. Read on to find cool ways to use duct tape for your computer and accessories.

1. Create your own Post-It: The Duct Tape Guys urge you to eliminate flaky Post-Its altogether by duct taping your notes to your computer monitor. Another tip? You can scribble away forumulas and codes on the actual duct tape with a Sharpie.
2. Organize wires: Lots of computer techies keep several different computers and computer accessories around the house, just in case. Wrap a few layers of duct tape around all the unruly wires to keep them from getting tangled up.
3. Repair your worn out computer chair: If you’ve been sitting in the same computer chair year after year, you probably need to make a few repairs. Cover up any holes with a few strips of duct tape, and wrap some of the sticky adhesive around any arms or legs that need extra support.
4. Re-bind your manuals.: Your software and programming manuals have probably also received a lot of wear and tear over the years. If the binding is starting to come undone, use duct tape to keep the pages in place.
5. Create promotional items to jumpstart your business: If you’re looking to beef up your clientele, start creating easy-to-make promotional items, like these duct tape hats to get the word out. Once you make the hat, you can use Sharpies and stickers to design a logo or advertise your services.
6. Laptop security: To keep would-be intruders from peeking at your important files, duct tape your laptop shut all the way around when you’re not using it. No one will be able to break in without you finding out.
7. Dust off your computer: Use the sticky side of duct tape to catch the dust bunnies that hibernate inside in and around the backside of your keyboard, monitor, mouse, and computer fan.
8. Make your own mousepad: Completely cover a magazine with neatly applied strips of duct tape. You can design the mousepad however you want: write messages to yourself, make a collage of your favorite techie idols, or work out new programming ideas and formulas.
9. Organize your files: Keep your product warranties, client information, and other files organized by creating a duct tape filing system. Attach duct tape pockets to regular file folders, and keep them separated with study duct tape dividers.
10. Fix your printer: Printers are always falling apart. Use duct tape to reattach loose covers or trays.
11. Make the most of your speakers: Hang or attach your speakers anywhere in the room! Duct tape them to the wall, ceiling or anywhere else you can find room.
12. Prevent carpal tunnel syndrome: Wrap your wrists in splints to keep them supported. You might look funny, but your body will thank you years later.
13. Make a computer case: A sleek duct tape computer case will keep you connected wherever you are. Don’t forget to make the shoulder strap!
14. Create a shelving system near your desk so you never have to move: Use the makeshift shelves and pockets — constructed out of duct tape of course — to stash snacks, water, and a hand towel so that you never have to leave your beloved machine.

Video, Camera, and Theater Techies

Sometimes you might feel a bit left out of the techie world, but we’ve come up with a whole list just for those artsy guys and girls who work in the theater or with camera equipment.

15. Label everything: From lights to prop tables to marking the stage, slapping down some duct tape is the easiest way to label things around the theater.
16. Transform sandals into closed-toe shoes: What’s the number one rule when working on set? No sandals! If you can’t bear to part ways with your sandals, simply wrap duct tape around all the openings…and voila! You’ve got temporary closed-toe shoes.
17. Make a shoulder bag: If you have a lot of equipment to haul around each day, create a shoulder bag totally out of duct tape. You can buy one at DuctTapeFashion.com, or just click on the photos for ideas.
18. Use glow-in-the dark tape backstage: Glow-in-the-dark duct tape can be used as little lights to guide you to the wings from the green room or dressing rooms. Just make sure the audience won’t be able to notice it!
19. Reattach camera equipment: If your video camera or regular camera starts falling apart, simply reattach the faulty piece with a piece of duct tape!
20. Use as a Band-Aid: Check out number 15 on this list for a clever way of covering up the unsightly wounds you get during strike.
21. Build sets: If there aren’t enough drills to go around, whip out your roll of duct tape to keep working on sets. Hold together platforms, props, and more!
22. Keep the batteries in your camera: Remembering to charge the batteries is only half the battle. If the little plastic flap that’s supposed to hold your batteries in place suddenly breaks, don’t go out and buy a brand new camera. A small strip of duct tape will keep your batteries from slipping out.
23. Make cue cards: Create cue cards for those actors who can’t seem to remember their lines. How hard can it be anyway?
24. Duct tape the mic in place: Sometimes the microphone just won’t stay upright no matter what you do. Tape it to the stand or wrap two microphones together to maximize sound.
25. Tape off “Crew Only” rooms and stairways: Those silly actors can get hurt making out in the shop or up on the platforms and tech stairways. Attach a large strip of duct tape across the doorways to deny them access.
26. Tape down parts of the lightboard: To keep yourself from getting confused, cover up the switches and controls you’re NOT using for the show with pieces of duct tape. Only reveal the ones you need to use.
27. Repair costumes: If one of the actors rips his or her costume just before an entrance, use duct tape to hold their outfit together until the wardrobe department can get their hands on the tears.
28. Keep lights secure: Whether you’re concerned with a loose light up above or shaky floodlights, entomb lights with duct tape to keep them secure.

General Geeky Uses

Following is a general list of geeky things you can make with duct tape. Have fun!

29. Use instead of a pocket protector: Hold pens, mini notepads, and a small screwdriver in your pocket without a pocket protector. Duct tape the items to the inside of your pocket to hold them in place.
30. Organize your DVDs and CDs: Make a binder with pockets to store all your DVDs and CDs. The best part? You can write on the duct tape to label each movie or album.
31. Make a wallet: Follow the instructions from wikiHow to make your very own duct tape wallet. It’s a techie favorite!
32. Dress up as a computer for Halloween: Cover yourself in gray and black duct tape, and use a Sharpie to draw on the specifics.
33. Make a tool belt: Keep screwdrivers and other techie tools handy with your very own duct tape tool belt.
34. Design duct tape curtains: If you’re a techie, you’re probably locked in your lab, darkroom, or backstage area most of the day. Keep out “unnatural” sunlight with heavy duty duct tape curtains.
35. Fix your TV antennae: Give your TV’s antennae a little more structure and support with duct tape.
36. Make your own cell phone case: Follow this simple guide from the Duck Tape Club to make your own snazzy cell phone case.
37. Personalize your shoelaces: If you’re hunkered down at your computer all day, you probably don’t have time for a lot of tedious, everyday chores like say, going out and buying new shoelaces. This tutorial will show you how to make your own out of duct tape!
38. Fix your backpack: Carrying around tons of books, a laptop, and other gadgets might result in a torn shoulder strap or busted zipper. Repair your backpack with duct tape, and it’s as good as new.
39. Create a glasses case: Designing a simple glasses case won’t take you much time. Click here to find out how.
40. Fix or create a guitar strap: A guitar strap like this one will save you an extra trip to the store.
41. Tape your DVD player shut: If your disc drive on your DVD player won’t stay shut, duct tape it closed so that you can enjoy your movie.
42. Use for Bookcovers: Use different colors of duct tape to make bookcovers for your school books.

Alternative Uses

From getting rid of nasty warts to making your own sandals, this list includes a bunch of bizarre ideas for duct tape-inspired remedies and crafts.

43. Lock yourself in your room: Doesn’t everyone know that you have important work to get done? Secure duct tape along the door frame to keep pesky family members and roommates from entering.
44. Tape someone’s mouth shut: Only if they won’t shut up, of course.
45. Give your girlfriend roses: Real roses die within a week. Give your girlfriend a bouquet of duct tape roses, and she’ll love you and your geeky skills forever.
46. Lint Remover: Use strips of duct tape to remove pesky cat or dog hair from your clothes, furniture, and carpet.
47. Wart Remover: This article is just one of many we found that suggests an alternative, but effective, treatment for warts.
48. Lunch Box: Start with a basic design, then finish off with a funky picture, logo, or decoration. Everyone at school or work will be jealous of your custom-made lunch box.
49. Make a message board: Cover a large wall surface with gray or black duct tape for the background. Stick on squares of multi-colored duct tape for your messages and reminders. You can keep layering new squares on top of the old ones each time an important date passes..
50. Design a your own purse: Hey, just because you’re a techie doesn’t mean you can’t be fashionable! Follow the instructions on this guide to make a sassy handbag.
51. iPod Shuffle Case: Read the entry on this blog to make a case for your iPod Shuffle.
52. Flip Flops: Duct tape isn’t just for repairing sandals…now you can actually make a pair! Use this guide to find out how.
53. Face Mask: Okay, so you’ve been feeling a little antisocial lately. Make a duct tape mask to lurk around incognito. No one will bother you, because no one will recognize you!
54. Duct Tape Dummy: Make a life size duct tape dummy to have as your constant companion. Make a duct tape ball for the head, cover a pillow for the body, and attach duct tape arms and legs.
55. Fix your glasses: Whether they’ve broken completely in two or you’re missing an earpiece, use duct tape to fix your glasses.
56. Repair headphones: Sometimes even the best pair of headphones can start to fall apart. Duct tape them back together instead of going shopping for new ones.

Miscellaneous

The following uses couldn’t really be categorized in any particular sections. Read on for more techie ideas.

57. Keep the batteries in your flashlight: If your flashlight’s broken, wrap duct tape around the base to keep the batteries from falling out.
58. Duct Tape Server: Check out this blog for the story of how Duct Tape Server was built.
59. Wallpaper: Wallpaper your entire room with duct tape. You can write on it and patch it up with more duct tape if it starts to tear!
60. Duct tape your hand to your mouse to keep you from taking too many breaks!
61. Patch holes in your clothes: If you can’t be bothered to run to the store for a new pair of jeans, patch up any holes and tears with a handy strip of duct tape! Who knows, you might even like it better that way.
62. Decorate your computer monitor: Wrap duct tape around the edges of your computer monitor for an edgy, techie feel.
63. Label cables with colored duct tape: Place a thin strip of colored duct tape on a cable or wire to differentiate it from all the others around it.
64. Keep children away from outlets: Place a patch of duct tape over any open outlets to child-proof your home.
65. Re-enforce the phone cord: Number 75 on this list suggests wrapping duct tape around a phone cord for extra durability.
66. Make your own bumper sticker: Write your favorite techie phrase on a large strip of duct tape to let everyone know what you stand for.
67. Make a reflective vest: Use glow-in-the-dark tape for when you go out at night. Those little lights on your bicycle just don’t cut it.
68. Design a cubby hole system for all your materials: To help you keep track of all the cables, manuals, and other techie materials, make a duct tape cubby system, just like you had in preschool.
69. Seat cushion: Cover a small pillow or cushion with duct tape to create a comfy seat cushion that you can take everywhere. Its sleek surface means it’s waterproof and easy to clean.

For most computer literate children, a request from mom to get her set up on “this web thing” is met with panic and a feeling of drudgery. Are you about to expose your sweet mother to spam, phishing, viruses, or worse? Or perhaps more frightening, sign your life away as a 24/7 tech support center? Perhaps, but there’s a better way. By setting your mom up on a Linux machine, you can give her a safe, lean computing experience that will let her do all of the things she wants to do without giving you a nervous breakdown. Here, we’ve compiled over 50 of the best resources to help you get your mom on Linux without a whole lot of trouble.

Systems & Environments

With these systems and environments, you can get your mom set up with low maintenance and friendly interfaces.

1. SimplyMEPIS: SimplyMEPIS is low-maintenance and great for Linux beginners.
2. Linspire: Linspire is the “World’s Easiest Desktop Linux,” with a familiar look and feel for Windows users.
3. Mandriva: Mandriva Linux was specifically designed to offer ease of use for new users.
4. Ubuntu: One of the most popular Linux distributions, Ubuntu is stable and easy to use.
5. KDE: The K Desktop Environment is easy to use, and offers basic desktop functions.
6. Ximian Desktop: Ximian offers a simple layout, with large icons that are great for elderly users.
7. Lycoris: This distribution looks a lot like windows, and offers great ease of use.
8. SuSE: With SuSE, you’ll got lots of popular open source software like OpenOffice, Kaffeine, and more.
9. GNOME: In this desktop environment, you’ll find an extremely usable GUI.

Tools & Applications

Put these tools to work to give your mom the functionality she wants while still keeping things safe and simple.

10. Fluxbox: This X window manager makes it easy to customize the view of your mom’s machine.
11. Rfbdrake: Set up rfbdrake to create a pathway for remote support.
12. IEs4Linux: With this handy tool, you can make MSN groups and other Internet Explorer applications play properly for your game-addicted mom.
13. IceWM: This window manager’s goal is to stay out of the user’s way while offering speed and simplicity.
14. OpenAntiVirus: Although a Linux machine isn’t likely to run into virus problems, this antivirus program is better safe than sorry.
15. Wine: Wine makes it easy to run Windows software and applications on your Linux box.
16. Firestarter: For an easy, simple firewall, consider Firestarter.
17. phpGACL: Keep your mom safe by implementing this access control list for applications.
18. CrossOver Office: With CrossOver, you can run lots of Windows-based applications.
19. CNR: This tool makes it easy for your mom to install applications, even if she’s clueless about putting things on her computer.
20. KDE Crystal: KDE Crystal offers an icon set with recognizable images, which is great for remote support so you can tell your mom exactly what to press.
21. Guarddog: Guarddog is an ideal firewall for novices because it offers a goal-oriented, non-technical GUI.
22. Blackbox: Blackbox offers a clean, light environment for a Linux system.
23. IPCop: Create a more secure home network with this simple firewall designed for novice users.
24. vncserver: Utilize vncserver to run remote support on your mom’s Linux machine.
25. OpenOffice: With OpenOffice, your mom will be able to do all of the word processing she wants.
26. Evolution: This personal information manager offers email, addresses, tasks, and more in an interface much like Microsoft Outlook.
27. KMail: Set your mom up on KMail for email with excellent spam filtering, cryptographic support, and more.
28. Kate: With this lightweight editor, your mom can do simple word processing with automatic backup.
29. Ekiga With Ekiga, formerly Gnomemeeting, your mom can video chat with you.
30. MailWasher Pro: With this program, you can make sure that spam email will never hit your mom’s inbox.
31. Abiword: Give your mom simple word processing with AbiWord.
32. Kopete: Use Kopete to get your mom set up on chat programs like AIM, ICQ, and IRC.
33. Adobe Reader: Put Adobe Reader for Linux on your mom’s computer so she can enjoy PDFs.
34. Pidgin: Pidgin, formerly known as Gaim, makes it easy for your mom to log into a number of different messaging systems at once.
35. Konqueror: With Konqueror, your mom can browse the web safely.
36. Thunderbird: Use Thunderbird to offer your mom a clean email interface.
37. Firefox: Get your mom set up on the wildly popular Firefox for safe and easy web browsing.
38. GIMP: Give your mom GIMP for Photoshop functionality.
39. No-Script: Use No-Script to make your mom’s Firefox browsing safe from harmful Javascript and Flash.

Guides & Articles

For even more help, check out these guides and articles that will walk you through creating a Linux box for your mom.

40. Ubuntu for your grandmother: One helpful grandchild walks his grandmother through creating a Ubuntu laptop in this article.
41. Post Installation Configuration Basic Help: Get help with basic hardware and network configuration here.
42. Is Linux ready for mom?: This article discusses some of the trials and advantages of Linux for novice users.
43. Windows to Linux: A Beginner’s Guide: Let your mom check out this article to get familiarized with Linux when coming from a Windows environment.
44. Top 10 Ways to Protect Your Linux Home System: Follow this guide to keep your mom’s computer safe.
45. Setting up Linux for Mom and Dad: See how one person set up a parent version of Mandrake Linux in this article.
46. Desktop Adapted for Dad (DAD): This writer gave his father a computer with carefully installed and configured software.
47. Moving a Beginner to Linux: Learn how to make the switch with this article.
48. The Top 50 Proprietary Programs that Drive You Crazy-and Their Open Source Alternatives: In this resource, you’re sure to find lots of programs that will help your mom convert.
49. Linux distro for mom?: In this thread, you’ll find lots of excellent advice for creating a Linux setup for a computer illiterate mom.
50. Beginner’s Introduction to the KDE Desktop: This guide offers a look at KDE for non-techies.
51. A Senior Citizen’s Introduction to Linux: See how one person set up a simple Linux system for an elderly woman in this article.
52. 7 Reasons you should switch Grandma to Linux: This article touts security, stability, and more for Linux.

As a web developer, you probably assume that your work is pretty environmentally friendly, and for the most part, you’re right. But despite all of your paper saving and working at home, your work, specifically your websites, still contributes to rising CO2 levels. Check out this collection to find tools and resources that will help you minimize your impact on the environment in web development and beyond.

Tools

With these tools, you can measure and reduce your impact on the environment.

1. Blackle: This black screen version of Google consumes less monitor energy than the regular white one.
2. Emergy-C: Use this color pallete to reduce the energy usage of your site.
3. CarbonFund: Most small businesses generate about 70 tons of CO2 each year, and you can purchase an offset from this organization.
4. YourMPG: In this service from fueleconomy.gov, you can monitor your MPG and compare it with other users.
5. The Green Data Project: This project encourages slimming down your unnecessary data for greener servers and more.
6. SURVEYER: Manage the power of your PC with this tool.
7. 41Pounds: Use this resource to cut your waste by getting off of junk mail lists.
8. GuideMeGreen: Learn how to make your development operation more eco-friendly with this guide.
9. LessWatts.org: Create a more energy efficient Linux machine using this site.

Apps

Use these applications to work just a little bit greener.

10. Carbonetworks: Use a Carbonetworks app to manage your emissions.
11. Google Transit: Chart your trip by public transportation using this app from Google.
12. Zoho Office Suite: Use Zoho Office’s Zoho Meeting to eliminate face-to-face meetings and collaborate online instead.
13. CO2Stats: Determine the carbon footprint of your site or blog based on traffic with this app.
14. Box: Use Box to upload client files instead of printing or sending a CD.
15. FreshBooks: With FreshBooks, you can bill completely online, with the option to email bills instead of sending paper invoices.
16. TaskPower 3: Wrangle your computer’s services, tasks, and more with this app that lets you reduce the power your system uses.
17. Skype: Use Skype to conduct virtual meetings and avoid wasteful transportation.
18. GreenPrint: GreenPrint offers an easy way to prevent the printing of extraneous information like banner ads, URLs, and legal disclaimers.
19. Breeze: Eliminate paper bulk mailers by sending out email campaigns with Breeze instead.
20. MyFax: Use MyFax to send and receive virtual faxes.
21. My Mile Marker: This slick MPG app will let your record your miles, view reports, and even access the app from your mobile device.
22. Spamato: Cut down on power-sucking spam with this app that will keep junk mail from hitting your inbox.

Networks & Directories

Check out these directories to find goods, services, and people that are environmentally friendly.

23. Green Deals Daily: Find and vote for bargains on green products with this site.
24. Greeopolis: Connect with other greenies, discuss tips, and more on Greenopolis.
25. Greenforgood: In this business directory, you’ll find highly reviewed green products and services.
26. MakeMeSustainable: Calculate your development’s carbon emissions and learn how to reduce them in this green social network.
27. BuyGreen.com: Use this shopping portal to find eco-friendly products that disclose material sources, manufacturing, usage, and disposal.
28. Riverwired: Learn how to make your development more eco-friendly on this social network that offers lots of resources and advice.
29. Greenzer: Find green products, and learn what exactly makes the products green with this eco-friendly e-commerce portal.

Hosts

Check out these hosts that offer web hosting without damage to the environment.

30. Rackspace: This carbon neutral host offsets its energy usage with the International Tree Foundation, which plants a tree for each Rackspace server.
31. TigerTech: TigerTech uses only EnergyStar products, fluorescent lights, and donates to the CarbonFund yearly.
32. GreenestHost: This host was designed with eco-friendly storage in mind, offering solar power, low power servers, and more efficient management that allows the company to operate with fewer servers.
33. Iron Mountain: Just like GreenestHost, Iron Mountain is solar powered, making their energy usage clean and renewable.
34. Sustainable Hosting: Sustainable Hosting’s facility is powered in part by wind, saving approximately more than 32,000 pounds of CO2.
35. Affordable Internet Services Online: AISO is 100% solar powered, making this host an excellent green choice.
36. HostPapa: Go with HostPapa for their investments in clean technology.
37. Ilisys: Ilisys uses renewable wind and solar power sources, and dontes to the CarbonNeutral program, which plants trees to offset their emissions.
38. Coreix: This hosting center offsets their carbon footprint by partnering with the World Land Trust, which repairs degraded Ecuadorian forests.
39. ThinkHost: ThinkHost uses wind power, and encourages telecommuting for their employees so they can keep extra cars off the road.
40. DreamHost: DreamHost operates on energy efficient servers, and purchases carbon emmission offsets for their servers and office waste.

Guides

For even more information and guidance on green computing and web development, check out these guides.

41. How to Green Your Work: Make your development business more eco-friendly with this guide.
42. Ten Tips for Donating a Computer: Ready to upgrade? Learn how to donate a computer for repurposing in this article.
43. The Green Entrepreneur’s Toolbox: 100 Networking Resources, Guides, and Links: Check out this guide to find helpful green resources like blogs, tools, and organizations.
44. 29 Simple Ways to Become a More Environmentally Friendly Freelancer: This article offers lots of general ways web developers and other freelancers can become more environmentally friendly.
45. Green Computing Guide: This document from the University of Colorado offers lots of tips for greener computing.
46. How to Green Your Electricity: Learn how to reduce the impact of your own computer and more in this guide.
47. Build a Green Datacenter: This article offers advice for creating a green datacenter of your own.
48. 101 Things Designers Can Do to Save The Earth: Aimed at all sorts of designers, this blog offers more than 100 tips and tricks for reducing your impact.
49. Saving Power on Idle PCs: Get an extremely in-depth look at PC energy conservation with this guide.
50. Print Friendly Website: This guide will show you how to create a print friendly website so that your visitors don’t waste paper and ink.

If you’re fortunate enough to have a Wii, you certainly know by now that it’s a really fun and flexible system. But no matter what you’ve done so far, there’s a good chance that you’ve only found the tip of the iceberg. Follow this list to find even more awesome things to do with the Wii.

Internet Channel

The Wii’s Internet Channel has opened up a lot of opportunities for fun stuff, like homebrewed games, Flash, and lots more.

1. Homebrew: You can create games that are fit for playing through the Wii’s Internet Channel.
2. Wiicade: Play arcade games created for the Wii on this site.
3. Watch TV: Check out one of the many video sites online that showcases TV, and you’ve got a virtual on-demand TV program right in your system.
4. Stream Joost: Use this hack to stream Joost videos to your Wii.
5. Browse in full screen: Use this settings hack to enable full-screen viewing.
6. WiiTube: On WiiTube, you can watch videos made specifically for the Wii.
7. Play movies: Tweak your settings to watch home movies on the Wii.
8. Watch YouTube: Watch YouTube on a bigger screen with the Wii.
9. Create a Wii media server: Use this web media server to turn your Wii into a multimedia machine.
10. Stream iTunes: Check out this tutorial to learn how to stream your iTunes music library to the Wii.
11. Stream PC media: Get media from your PC onto the Wii Opera browser to watch PC on your TV.
12. MiiBoard: Find flash games that work well with the Wii on this board.
13. Brag on the forums: Check out the Wii forums to share ideas and brag about high scores.

Miis

Miis are really fun to create and play with, but you can take your Miis to the next level with these suggestions.

14. Enter your Miis in contests: Recently, Nintendo has offered a way for Wii users to create Miis and compete with other artists.
15. Share Miis with friends: Send your funniest and most creative Miis to your friends.
16. Freakify your friends and family: While they’re out of town, give all of their Miis huge eyes or blue eyeshadow.
17. Create celebrity Miis: Try your hand at creating Miss Piggy, Beavis and Butthead, Link, and more.
18. Send unlimited Miis: With this hack, you can distribute as many Miis as you want.
19. Get a real life Wii made: There are a number of services out there that will turn your Wii into a figurine.
20. Create “Special” Miis: Special Miis were created to release celebrity Miis, but you can create your own Special Miis with this hack.
21. Get a custom cake topper: If you’re looking for an interesting wedding cake topper, get one made in your Wii likeness.

Wiimote

The Wii’s Wiimote has turned out to be an incredibly useful tool, great for applications even outside of the Wii.

22. Create head tracking: The Wiimote can be used for virtual reality displays.
23. Pretend your Wiimote is a light saber: Turn your Wiimote into a light saber for the ultimate in Wii-Star Wars geekery.
24. Control your Smarthome: You can use the Wiimote to control a number of things, even a Smarthome.
25. Make a drum kit: Check out this hack to learn how you can turn the Wiimote into drums.
26. Make your nunchuck accessible: Check out this hack to learn how to make nunchuck-controlled games work on just the Wiimote.
27. Control DJ equipment: Check out this hack that uses the Wiimote to control loops.
28. Make your classic controller look like a Wiimote: Use this hack to make your classic Wii controller a little more attractive and fun.
29. Play on the Xbox 360: Hack your Wiimote and nunchuck to play on the Xbox 360.
30. Create your own blaster: With this mod, you can turn any toy gun into a blaster.
31. Correct perspective in digital photography: With the Wiimote, you can record the pitch and roll that a photo is taken at, then use these values to tilt the image appropriately.
32. Wiimote Curtain Controller: Although it’s not practical, it certainly is fun to control your draps with the Wiimote.
33. BlueTunes: This app makes it easy to control iTunes, Winamp, and more, all with your Wiimote.
34. Play air guitar: Rock out with your Wiimote using this hack.
35. Play air drums: If guitar isn’t enough for you, create a Wiimote drum machine.
36. Create a door opener: With this hack, you can open electric locks with your Wiimote.
37. Modify your buttons: Use this program to customize your Wiimote’s buttons.
38. Control the Wii with your head: Using the WiiHelm and its included foot pedals, you can control the Wii without using your hands at all.
39. Play laser tag: Use this script to create laser tag with Wiimotes.
40. Whiteboard: You can turn your library into a digital whiteboard with a Wiimote.
41. Talk on the phone: Mod your Wiimote into a phone for some good, clean, geeky fun.
42. Check your battery: Your Wii’s LED lights indicate how much battery life is left in the controller.
43. Turn your TV into a touchless Microsoft Surface: With this hack, you can control your TV and software with the Wiimote.
44. Control Google Earth: Use this hack to zoom in and out, and spin the globe around.
45. Create a powerglove: You can create your own powerglove with a Wiimote using this hack.
46. Control an electric car: Yes, you can control an electric car with the Wiimote.
47. Play a horse racing game: Check out this hack that puts the Wiimote on a rocking horse to create a racing game.
48. Collect speed data: With a little scripting an ingenuity, you can use the Wiimote as an accelerometer.
49. Connect to your PC: Use this hack to connect your Wiimote to a PC.
50. Clip your Wiimote to the classic controller: Use this clip to play games that need dual-analog as well as motion sensitive controls.
51. Make your own bluetooth transmitter: Check out this hack to learn how to turn the Wiimote into a cheap bluetooth transmitter.
52. Control a robot: Check out this hack to learn how to control a robot using the Wii nunchuck.
53. Track your fingers: Change your sensitivity settings to allow finger tracking on the Wii.

Gaming

The Wii was, of course, primarily made for gaming. Take your games to the next level with these suggestions.

54. Lose weight: With the Wii’s active gaming, you can take off a few pounds following the right regimen.
55. Change your bowling ball color: With this hack, you can customize the color of your bowling ball.
56. Play region free: With the Wii FreeLoader, you can play games from any region.
57. Learn how to cook: With the Wii’s Cooking Mama game, you can pick up cooking techniques.
58. Play Pong: Using a hack in Zelda, you can play Pong on the Wii.
59. Take out your frustrations on boxing: Land satisfying punches on the computer or a friend in Wii boxing.
60. Use it for physical therapy: The Wii has become popular for rehabilitation exercises.
61. Play Tetris: If Pong just isn’t going to cut it for you, hack your way into playing Tetris.
62. Scare the Miis behind you: If you release your ball on the backswing in WiiSports bowling, you’ll scare the spectators.
63. Carry around an SD card: If you’re using an SD card with your Wii game, you can transport it right in the same case with this hack.
64. Improve your sports skills: Practice sports like bowling and golf in the air conditioned comfort of your own home.
65. Throw a 91-pin strike: In the training mode of WiiSports, you can knock down 91 pins.
66. Improve your sidearm pitch: Throw this great pitch using this hack.
67. Throw your ball into other people’s lanes: See what happens when you try this hack.
68. Play on a practice court: Use this hack to change up the tennis court.
69. Learn how to operate: In the Wii’s Trauma Center game, you can see how you’d perform as a surgeon.

Hacks and More

Check out these hacks and tricks for even more Wii fun.

70. Sensor bar: Create a wireless sensor bar for easier, portable Wii gaming.
71. Customize your Wii’s look: You can decorate your Wii in styles ranging from Zelda to Yoshi and Darth Vader.
72. Run Linux: Use a Zelda explot to run Linux on the Wii.
73. Create a laptop: Follow the lead of one brilliant modder and turn your Wii into a laptop.
74. Wireless: Set up your Wii for wireless use.
75. Pulse your light bar to audio: Use this hardware mod to make your Wii’s light pulse along to music.
76. Project the Wii onto a movie screen: Using a wireless sensor bar and some calculations, you can project your Wii onto the big screen.
77. Decide whether to head outside or stay in to play WiiSports: With the weather channel, you can figure out if it’s better to play inside or out.
78. Mod your Wii: Use a modchip to play homebrewed GameCube games and more.
79. Play music: Use this hack to turn the Wii into an MP3 player.
80. Hone your fine motor skills: Take a page from these surgeons, and use the Wii to fine-tune your motor skills.
81. Navigate global news stories, using a globe: Check out the news channel to explore the novelty of reading the news on a globe.
82. Rearrange Channels: If you’ve downloaded a lot of different games or channels, you can rearrange them with this hack.
83. Play classic games: Use the virtual console to download your old favorites on the N64, Super Nintendo, and more.
84. Improve your wireless reception: Use this hack to add an antenna that will bost your network reception.
85. Make a Wii cake: Follow Martha Stewart’s instructions to create a cake modeled after the Wii.
86. Make music: Turn a yo-yo and a Wii into a musical instrument using this hack.
87. Edit photos: On the Photo channel, you can do cursory photo editing.
88. Show off your geekiness with a Wii skateboard: Check out this skateboard painted to look like a Wiimote.
89. Catch your spouse cheating: A soldier returning from Iraq busted his wife, who spent several nights playing Wii bowling with another man while he was gone.
90. Give games as a gift: On the virtual console, you can send games to friends as a gift.
91. Spin the globe: On the News and Weather channels, you can spin the globe just for fun.
92. Compete for most-tuned-in-Mii: Use the Everyone Votes channel to see who knows popular opinion the best.
93. Create a huge picture puzzle: With this hack, you can turn any photo into a 192-piece puzzle.
94. Create your own slideshow music: Put mp3s in your SD card, and you can set a photo slideshow to music.
95. Download photos from your phone: Enable bluetooth on your phone, and you can send camera phone photos to your Wii.
96. Portable presentation system: The system is portable, and easy to hook up to a projector, plus it has an SD card slot, so you can use it with the Photo Channel.
97. Create a poll: If you’re curious about common opinion on a subject, submit your own poll to the Everyone Votes channel.
98. Map yourself: Put yourself on the Wii map, just for fun.
99. Message other Wii owners: Share your 16-digit Wii number with friends and family to share Miis, send messages, and more.
100. Play with non-gamers: Perhaps the coolest thing to do with the Wii is share it with non-gamers. The Wii is a friendly console for grandma, kids, and everyone in between, so it’s a great way to introduce others to gaming.

Whether you’re suffering from designer’s block, or just want to see what your competition is up to, design galleries are an excellent tool. Fortunately, there’s no shortage of them available, and we’ve found 100 of the best.

Searchable

If you’re looking for a specific color, style, or genre, check out these organized and searchable galleries.

1. CSS Gallery: Search this gallery by color, content, date, and more.
2. CSS Warfare: On CSS Warfare, you can find and rank sites in a number of different categories.
3. Design Grabs: Design Grabs features loads of different categories and tags.
4. The Daily Slurp: This gallery has more than 15,000 sites to check out, searchable by color.
5. CSS Vault: On CSS Vault, you’ll find monthly archives from 2003 to the present.
6. CSS Mania: CSS Mania offers a gallery with more than 9,500 sites, all organized by topics.
7. Design Creme: Find some of the best CSS and Flash sites online, searchable by category, tag, and engine.
8. CSS Impress: Find exactly what you’re looking for in this site with easy categories and a great search function.
9. DesignFlavr: DesignFlavr is ultra-organized, with colors, categories, rankings, and more.
10. The Designed Tree: It’s easy to find designs in all sorts of categories on this site.
11. InspirationKing: InspirationKing focuses on high quality sites, and offers an easy way to find them.
12. One Star Gallery: In the One Star Gallery, you’ll find awesome sites categorized by color.
13. CSS Daddy: The designs on this site are heavily tagged and easy to search.
14. CSS Leak: Great design is easy to find on this site with color, rankings, and more.
15. Web Design Gallery: Search the archives of this site by color and more.
16. Designs Creme: On this site, you’ll find awesome designs and all sorts of colors and genres.
17. Crossmind: Find designs by colors, elements, layout, type, and more.
18. Design Shack: On Design Shack, you can find designs based on color, category, or layout, so you’re sure to find exactly what you’re looking for.

Resources

These galleries offer more than just a pretty face, with resources like tutorials, forums, and advice.

19. CSS Elite: This site not only offers great designs in specific categories, but also resources like tutorials and plugins.
20. CSSLove: This gallery has great resources, coding help, and blogging advice.
21. CSSEM: Check out CSSEM for a great gallery, plus interviews, tutorials, and other resources.
22. CSS Ultra: On top of a great gallery, CSS Ultra offers forums and articles.
23. Boxedcss: This site offers highly-ranked design, aggregated CSS articles, and more.