Lifehacker.com provided a simple but informative tip that shows you how to display the date on the menu bar. This of course is for anyone that doesn’t know to look at the iCal icon to see today’s date.

1. In System Preferences, open International and go to the Formats tab.
2. Next to Dates, click the Customize button. Arrange your date in the format you want to appear on your menubar. Use the down arrows on each element to choose between formats (January, Jan, 01, 1, etc.) I chose [Oct 29], as shown.
3. Now, select the entire date format and copy it to your clipboard (Cmd+A, Cmd+C). Hit OK.
4. Hit the Customize button next to Times. Choose the “Medium” format.
5. Paste the date format on your clipboard next to the time format, and hit OK. You’re done!

Head over to lifehacker.com for more details.

If you’ve decided that you need a bit more customizable instant messaging client for your Mac than what iChat offers, Adium is for you. The ability to add extra features and capabilities to Adium is what really makes it a great IM client.

Here are 5 Must Have extra features you can add to Adium to add that customizable feel you want from your instant messaging client:

1. Send TXT Message To Your Contacts

Send SMS / Email - If you ever have the need to send a txt message to a friend but didn’t want to take the time to type out the message and send it from your phone, this plugin is for you. Add phone details to each of your contacts and then right click, send SMS, and enter the message you’d like delivered to your contacts phone. Tell them to jump online, send them a website link, or remind them of lunch the next day!

2. Customize Your Adium Dock Icon

Dock Icons - The possibilities are endless. New Dock Icons for Adium are being added to the Adium website constantly. This lets you add a bit of custom look and feel to your desktop and instant messaging client. Pick from Home, Yoda Duck, and many many more!

3. Open & Close Apps

Opener ‘n Closer - If you find yourself constantly in deep discussions with your friends over your Instant Messaging client but still need to be productive check out this Adium extra. It allows you to launch or close any application on your system by typing a messages in any chat window. Close the apps you aren’t using, or open any application you need for your discussion.

4. Quickly Send Links

Current Webpage - This extra makes it easy to share links to a webpage you’re currently looking at. Once this is installed simpley type ‘%(name of the browser you’re using)’ and a link with the title of the webpage you’re currently looking at will be sent to your contact. No need to take the time to copy and paste.

5. Update Your Status Message

TwitterAdium - Automatically update your status message when you’re away from your computer. Let your friends online see that you’ve gone for a bit to eat, are out at a party, or in the middle of class. With this Adium Extra, you can have your status message automatically display your latest twitter message. Send a txt update of your status to twitter and your Adium client will update your status message!

These 5 Extras add some great customizable feel to Adium but there are many, many, more extras that may just have the feature you’re looking for. What extras do you use? What other extras are a Must Have?

iChat is a great and powerful Instant Messaging client that comes standard with all releases of OS X. While it has its strengths, it also has its weaknesses.

The lack of ability to communicate with the MSN and Yahoo networks and its default way of separating even your AIM, .Mac, and Jabber contact list can cause a lot of clutter on your desktop. If you don’t use chax, you may need to have a separate Space for each IM network you’re using.

If these issues bother you with iChat, then you may be interested in Adium. A free Instant Messaging client that allows you to connect all your IM networks and keep your contacts in one contact list.

Adium has a lot of customizable features and integrates well into the rest of the OS X environment. Although Adium has some great features, it does not have Screen Sharing capabilities, solid video chat, or some of the other strengths of iChat.

Now… if they could just merge their features..

Recently, Airport Security (TSA) announced on their blog that they’ve reviewed the Macbook Air and is now comfortable with seeing the Apple notebook come through security.

After reports of a few individuals missing flights because of security hassles with new new thin Notebook without a CD/DVD drive, TSA send out notification and descriptions of the Macbook Air to its personal so that such problems wouldn’t occur in the future.

Well, Last night I had a flight to catch and originally debated on whether or not to bring the Macbook Air with me. But I had plenty of time to get through security so I figured it couldn’t hurt to bring it along.

Like usual, the security line was long, but I was able to move through the security check and slid the Macbook Air through the x-ray imagery.

At first I thought I was in trouble and would have to deal with some long security questions about my computer as a TSA officer approached me while I reached for my bag. He grabbed the back in front of mine, looked at me and said “IS THIS YOURS!?!?”

I was greatful that the bag wasn’t mine. I explained it wasn’t and the real owner stepped forward. I grabbed my Macbook Air and put it into my briefcase. I had a smile on my face as the security officer started questioning the intentions of bag owner’s use of a flash light on an air plane.

While the TSA officers have been instructed to ignore the Macbook Air as a security check, they’re still worried about flashlights.

Last weekend I was very disappointed with the NCAA when I opened up my laptop and hoped to watch some of the NCAA Tournament games that were not being broadcast on my television over the live internet broadcasts.

I navigated to the NCAA tournament website that has been advertised all across the internet and clicked on the link to watch a game.

A new window appeared but instead of streaming video, I received noticed that my browser wasn’t supported. It mentioned that I could try with a Mozilla Firefox browser so I quickly opened firefox, cut and pasted the URL, and hit enter. TOTAL DISAPPOINTMENT!

Even Firefox was not capable of viewing the streaming video for the March Madness games. How dare the NCAA mock me by putting all the games on the internet but not even thinking about us 7% of the market that use Apple computers.

Although at the time I didn’t search further, I didn’t give up completely. Today, I was pleased to find that a solution to the March Madness problems of Mac users.

WATCH NCAA MARCH MADNESS ON YOUR MAC

Joost, an application that delivers video over the internet, was proudly announcing that this year they’re include a “test” version of the March Madness streaming games. I quickly downloaded the beta version of their software and entered my username and password.

After click explore I instantly noticed the March Madness section of their shows. The first 4 games of the sweet sixteen match ups were listed for this weekend. Game times were listed and I plan on navigating back to test out Joost and its March Madness streaming video.