Trick #1: Get Smart at MIT: On The House!

Do you have anyone in the family who wants to go to a champagne school on a beer budget -- and ice water grades? One top university, MIT, has taken steps to educate self learners of the world by putting the course materials from almost all their undergraduate and graduate courses on the Web. As you might imagine, there are topics spanning the globe. For example, by using the speedy "Search" function you will find over 450 links to real estate content from the many real estate courses available.

They point out that using these materials does not require any registration and is not a degree-granting or certificate-granting activity -- nor does it provide access to the MIT faculty. But the price sure is right -- there is no cost whatsoever.

Talk about free speech!

Trick #2: How to Live to 100!

Do you know anyone interested in living to 100? If so, here's a calculator to help you find out two things:

1. The age you will live to if you continue along your wicked path, and,

2. What you can change to extend your life.

The second part calls attention to good living habits. If a person takes the calculator quiz and scores a 72, he or she will find out how to improve this score. The good news is that your score can improve just by changing your behaviors and the program gives you specific changes -- along with how many years each will add to your life span.

There is no cost to use this calculator and it could give you good motivation to shape up!

Great Place #1: The Best No Cost Security Software

PC Magazine often features its picks for no cost software. This great place shares their experts' thoughts on the best security software. Here they cover software to protect you from spyware and viruses. Among other recommendations is a powerful firewall to keep out the hackers.

As a special bonus you can also check out dozens of additional software programs in the areas of productivity plus utilities, networking, mobility and many more.

Good stuff from the good people at PC Magazine.

Great Place #2: Know Anyone Who's Cranky?

Know anyone celebrating life on the flip side of 50? This simple search function has been designed as part of a move to bring some of the internet social networking to the over 50 Boomers that the xGeners have been touting recently. The search function called "cRANKy" shows the four highest-rated search results based on the editors' and members' ratings. The ratings and opinions of the community determine how cRANKy ranks sites, making this the world's first age-relevant search engine.

This unique search function is just one of the many features and communities these folks have brought to the web. They tell us that "these communities reflect what boomers are most eager to talk with each other about, from 50+ Singles and Six Degrees of Separation (Make New Friends) to Bookoholics, Travel, and Photography."

Interesting place for your friends or relatives who call themselves Boomers!