"Hidden" Website Unearthed.

OK, maybe you really have heard about this website, but many have not. Click on the blue title above for link.

Topics found in USA.gov include: Benefits and Grants, Consumer Guides, Defense, Environment & Energy, Family Home & Community, Health, History Arts & Culture, Jobs & Education, Money & Taxes, Public Safety & Law, Reference & General Government, Science & Technology, Travel & Recreation, Voting & Elections. I promise there will be at least one area in which you have an interest.

Seven Free Multimedia Tools

Why spend money on expensive multimedia tools when you can use comparable alternatives for free? They may not be an exact replacement, but how can you argue with the price?

PHOTO EDITING: Photoshop
Free: Splashup

WEB DESIGN: Dreamweaver
Free: KompoZer

VIDEO: Final Cut, Adobe Premiere
Free: iMovie, JayCut

For More Tools Visit: Seven Multimedia Tools

Time to Fall Back! Change Your Clocks

Remember, the time change is upon us!

Saturday night/Sunday morning is time for us to fall back one hour.

We hope all SWOSU students enjoy their extra hour of sleep or watching horror movies.

Happy Halloween!

Is Your Cell Phone Safe?

In a recent test of U.S. homes, cell phones were found to actually be dirtier than toilet seats.

“The phones contained more skin bacteria than the any other object; this could be due to the fact that this type of bacteria increases in high temperatures and our phones are perfect for breeding these germs as they’re kept warm and cozy in our pockets, handbags and brief cases. These bacteria are toxic to humans, and can cause infections if they have the opportunity to enter the body.” - Joanne Verran, Professor of Microbiology at Manchester Metropolitan University


There are several things you can do to protect yourself . The easiest is to frequently clean your phone with a clean cloth dampened with rubbing alcohol or a disinfectant wipe. Just be sure not to soak your phone or get any liquid inside, since it is an electrical device.

Federal Trade Commission: Protecting America's Consumers.

Before you make any big purchase or investment, be sure to check out the Federal Trade Commission's website. (Click on the blue title above to link, then click on Consumer Protection, then Consumer Information.)

What you will find is very concise information about a plethera of subjects: Automobiles, Computers & the Internet, Credit & Loans, Education, Scholarships & Job Placement, Energy & Environment, Health, ID Theft, Investments & Business, Shopping for Products & Services, Telemarketing & Phone Service.

Reading these short tips will help you recognize and avoid rip-offs. They will also help you know what questions to ask before you buy - to protect yourself and your wallet. Also available in Spanish.

Sound Effects For Too Quiet Cars?

Hybrid autos are becoming quieter every year. This sounds like a good thing, but totally silent cars pose a risk to pedestrians (especially young children and the blind.) Surprisingly, a hybrid in silent battery mode can only be heard when approaching within seven feet of the listener.

A possible solution would be to get help from Hollywood to create different sound effects for the cars to emit - which would alert pedestrians of approaching cars. Click on the blue title above to link to online article from the New York Times. Auto buyers may get to choose which sound effects their hybrid will make.

Pillbox Beta Announced.

The National Library of Medicine has released a new product in beta called Pillbox. Click on the blue title above to link to website. This website allows you to quickly and accurately identify pills using the shape, color, size, scoring and imprint of the pill being examined.

Links are provided to NLM drug information resources, such as DailyMed and the Drug Information Portal.

Pillbox was created by a partnership between the National Library of Medicine and the Food and Drug Administration and could be especially usefull to pharmacy and nursing students.