Abstract: A filtered drinking straw for reducing the amount of impurities in an aqueous solution and method for using same. The straw comprises a tube having a passageway containing filtering medium and plugs positioned in the tube to keep the filter medium in the straw. The plugs permit passage of the aqueous solution therethrough but not the passage of the filter medium. A first filter medium comprises granular, activated carbon (GAC) and/or bone char to deodorize and absorb impurities, especially organic matter including nitrates and fluoride. The second filter medium is preferably in the form of fine metal strands formed into a batting. Such strands may be spun or woven from high purity zinc and copper alloy. The first plug is a standard plain plug comprising polyolefin plastics such as polyethylene and polypropylene. The second plug is a carbon plug which could be impregnated with silver. The third plug is made with bactericidal, virucidal and fungicidal material.

Abstract: A user interface is configured to identify and display each of the one or more service providers servicing the user's computing system. The interface also identifies the presence information that is being supplied to the service providers by the user's computing system for publication. The presence information that is provided to the service providers can include, but is not limited to, the name, alias, location, and network status of the user. A user can make global or discrete customized changes to the presence information that is provided to each of the service providers through the user interface. Modifications made to the presence information can also be made automatically to reflect a new condition or status in the user's presence on a network that is provided by a service provider.

Abstract: A file system shell is provided. One aspect of the shell provides virtual folders which expose regular files and folders to users in different views based on their metadata instead of the actual physical underlying file system structure on the disk. Users are able to work with the virtual folders through direct manipulation (e.g., clicking and dragging, copying, pasting, etc.). Filters are provided for narrowing down sets of items. Quick links are provided which can be clicked on to generate useful views of the sets of items. Libraries are provided which consist of large groups of usable types of items that can be associated together, along with functions and tools related to the items. A virtual address bar is provided which comprises a plurality of segments, each segment corresponding to a filter for selecting content. A shell browser is provided with which users can readily identify an item based on the metadata associated with that item.