| COOL SITE ARCHIVE |
| The Medicinal Herbs Guide is a great online resource for those who are interested in learning more about herbal remedies. Browse the guide alphabetically to learn about everything from Aconite to Yohimbe, including each herbs “botanical” and “family” name, as well as a brief description of its common medicinal uses. |
| Soundflavor is the easiest way to find music that you like, make and share great playlists, and meet people with similar musical tastes along the way. Check out “Browse Songs by Sound.” Pick the genre, instrument, year, etc. for a list of recommended tunes. |
| Birthday Facts You probably didn't know it at the time, but quite a lot was going on in the world on the day you were born. Enter your date of birth at this fun site, which will then tell you the day of the week that you were born, as well as other fun facts such as what season you were born in, how long until your next birthday, and how many days, hours, and seconds you have been alive. |
| How To Become An Astronaut When you ask most children what they want to be when they grow up, it’s usually a close call between “Fireman”, “Superhero”, and “Astronaut”. For young people who dream of a career in space travel, this article details some of the more practical guidelines to follow if you want to end up with "The Right Stuff". |
| Unfortunately much of the mainstream media is covered in fluff, and so every year some of the most shocking, eye-opening stories don't get their fair share of air time. This interesting piece, courtesy of ForeginPolicy.Com , lists ten stories from 2007 relating to Iraq, Immigration, and other controversial topics that didn't quite get the news coverage they deserved. |
| This frightening website, aptly entitled Best-Horror-Movies.Com, was created by a "crew of guys and girls" who are die-hard fans of the movies and monsters that make up the horror genre. Tip-toe through this scary site, which caters to “the Discerning Horror Freak” and you’ll find every ghost, ghoul, freak, monster, and otherwise frightening creature that ever petrified the Silver Screen. Highlights include a consummate list of the "Top 100 Horror Flicks of All Time", as well as entire sections devoted to “Villains”, “Zombies”, “Heroes”, and “Monsters”. |
| "The Great War: 1914-1918", created by scholar Harry Rusche, is a fascinating website that was originally designed to supplement college courses in World War I Poetry. The site features digitized versions of rare poetry volumes, as well as a section of “Postcards" filled with over 450 original postcards from every country involved in the war. The postcards offer a unique insight into the many elements of culture, government, military, humor, and propaganda that were at play during those trying years. |
| "Truthdig" is an online magazine that provides its readers with extensive coverage of current events and world affairs, as well as thoughtful, progressive articles on a wide range of topics. The content on the site is created by individual experts in each field, who "dig" down to the dirty truth beneath the daily headlines related to "Politics", "The Environment", “Arts & Culture”, and other news topics. |
| Want to impress your family and friends at holliday gatherings?
Did you know that each nation has its own unique way of commemorating Christmas? Have you ever wondered why we send Christmas cards? Decorate an evergreen tree and give it a place of honor in our home? Smooch a sweetheart underneath a parasitic plant? Did you ever wonder how Santa delivers gifts to children all over the world in just one night?
These questions and many more will be answered in this Christmas trivia article that’s chock full of interesting, entertaining, and fun facts! |
| The Internet is becoming the primary means for storing and sharing digital photographs, so it's helpful to have a way to easily edit and update pictures in your online collection. Picnik, a powerful Web tool, gives you that capability, allowing you to apply expert effects with just one click. It also syncs to your favorite photo-sharing destinations, such as Facebook and Flickr, and allows you to edit and post photos right from the interface. |
| The idea behind Pownce is to fill the niche that lies somewhere between Internet messaging, blogging, and file sharing. This is a well-designed Web and software-based sharing tool (with a dash of social networking and personalization thrown in). The site goes quite a bit beyond
Twitter
and its several clones, most importantly by adding file storage and sharing to the basic brief messages that are the common thread running through those sites. |
| When you hear a catchy new song, it’s hard not to tell your friends about it. The opposite is also true: It’s nearly impossible to discuss a song when you haven’t heard it first. Yet there are plenty of blogs and Web sites where music is discussed under the assumption that other bloggers know how a song, album or artist sounds. Dive into the music blogging world of MOG.com, a Web site where enthusiasts can read, blog and network with one another. Starting today, this site will integrate with Rhapsody, the subscription-based music service, so that MOG users, or MOGGERS, can simultaneously blog about and listen to millions of songs that fuel their online discussions. |
| Meet the flagship of the new generation of personal Web portals. Pageflakes lets you build an amazingly customizable start page drawing content from a wealth of information and online tools.
Slick, simple-to-use interface. Pageflakes even surpasses the new My Yahoo!, Windows Live personal page, and iGoogle, which it resembles. Public page and social networking-type capabilities. |
| You probably know exactly how much time is eaten up by the meetings you attend. Now you can calculate the cost, too. Meeting Miser, a widget just launched at PayScale.com, uses the web site's database of 10 million income profiles from 4,000 companies to estimate meeting participants' salaries. Enter attendees' job titles and the company's regional location and the electronic meter calculates (roughly) the cost per second. The meter can also be projected alongside PowerPoint slides - an element sure to startle some life into a ho-hum presentation. |
| Whether you're paying bills, shopping online or need help managing passwords, Billeo combines three great tools into one convenient package to make your online life easier and more secure.
Billeo makes shopping and paying bills online a simple, effortless affair. Streamlines online transactions. One-click access to online accounts. Stores log-in info for financial accounts and personal profiles. Saves online receipts. Tracks spending history. |
| If you are dealing with a law that you think is ridiculous, you can now nominate it for reform. The Small Business Administration's Office of Advocacy's, or r3, is designed to identify and address existing federal regulations that should be revised because they are ineffective, duplicative, or out of date. r3 is a tool for small business stakeholders to suggest needed reforms. Initial recommendations for reform are due by December 31, 2007. See Nominating an Existing Agency Rule for Reform. |
| Mahalo is revolutionizing search engines with a new mission -- to give users a hassle-free, informative and relevant experience. While most search engines depend on complex algorithms developed by a small group of people, Mahalo searches are the result of hundreds of people working to sort out the absolute best of the Web. Mahalo contributors submit search results pages (SeRPs) to a centralized database, called the Mahalo Greenhouse. When the SeRP has a few great links in it, Mahalo publishes it to the Web, giving users access to the search results. Each SeRP includes a completion percentage, indicating how close Mahalo employees feel the results fit their ideal of 100 percent of the best links on the Web relating to that topic. |
| If you are looking for something different and have the time here it is! 50 years in 3 minutes Images set to Billy Joel's We Didn't Start the Fire |
| Zilok is a craiglist-esque online marketplace where you can find rental items and make money off your unused possessions by putting them up for rent.
It's a nifty site that'll get more useful as the community grows. Facilitates the transactions. Provides PayPal deposits to insure your items. A calendar shows when items are available. |
| With the holidays coming ..Do you want a complete list of recalled products including toys? Go to the U.S. Consumer Product Safety Commission's web site. |
| Looking for a unique Christmas gift idea? WHAT IS A CHUMBY? The chumby is a compact device that displays useful and entertaining information from the web: news, photos, music, celebrity gossip, weather, box scores, blogs — using your wireless internet connection. Always on, it shows — nonstop — what's online that matters to you. (I'm thinking it would be great for pictures of new grandchildren.) |
| Are you ready for Thanksgiving, well actually the day after Thanksgiving, Black Friday? That's the day retailers move from being in the red to being in the black by offering great deals. Want to know what those deals are going to be so you can plan your shopping? Go to Black Friday Ads. |
| Legendary physicist Albert Einstein once remarked that "Nothing will benefit human health and increase the chances for survival of life on earth as much as the evolution to a vegetarian diet." It is in this spirit that we present VegCooking.Com, a delicious online reference guide created by PETA specifically for vegetarians, vegans, and aspiring herbivores. Visitors can cruise through this tasty website, which contains a wide range of vegetarian products and recipes, restaurant recommendations, a "Shopping
Guide", and much more. Other cool features include helpful tips on "Becoming Vegetarian", fresh ideas on everyday eating, a Veg Blog, as well as a free "Vegetarian Starter Kit". |
| Whenever there is a major volcanic eruption in the world, you'll see a slew of newspaper articles and nightly news stories covering the catastrophe, all stressing a familiar set of words -- violent, raging, awesome. But the term volcano actually describes a much wider range of geological phenomena. After the 1980 eruption of Mount Saint Helens, in Washington state, it is now venting steam again. Find out How Volcanoes Work |
| Enter your Zip Code on Zipskinny.com to see U.S. Census data and comparisons with neighboring Zips. You will not believe the information you will find there. (Thanks Mary Waggoner) |
| Going through withdrawl yet from the end of the baseball season? True fans will enjoy reading about the history of our national pastime at the official website of The National Baseball Hall of Fame and Museum. Baseball fans of all ages will appreciate the many features on BaseballHallOfFame.Org, the virtual companion of the legendary Hall of Fame located in Cooperstown, New York. There is so much to see on the site, but be sure to check out some of the current online exhibits such as "World Series Programs", "The 3,000-Hit Club", and "A Short History of the Single-Season Home Run Record". Play Ball!!! |
| For many city kids, the most fun activities were after-school games like Stickball, Hopscotch, Handball, Skully, Jacks, and others. Created by two nostalgic friends, Streetplay.Com is a wonderful website that celebrates "urban play" and the great games that defined a childhood spent in the big city. Visitors to the site can learn about the many different types of "Games" as well as their official rules, origins, personal stories, photos, and more. Be sure to check out the section entitled "Streetplay Features", which has touching articles on how this website is using the simple idea of "play" to reach out to parents and children all around the world. |
| There is never a shortage of new, cool, and wonderfully useless gadgets, but how does one keep up to speed on the latest products? "Strange New Products" is a great blog that truly lives up to its name, providing readers with a daily dose of the "weirdest, funniest, stupidest, and ingenious new products entering the marketplace." Take a few minutes off of work and read about the latest consumer oddities to hit the market, or just click on the site's extensive archives. Recently posted "strange new products" include a computerized pillow that stops snoring, a hamster-powered paper shredder, and Birth-Control Breath Mints. |
| All that you see is not real. Newspapers, governments, and other entities began altering photographic images long before digital photography and Photoshop made it easy. Check out this feature entitled "Top 15 Manipulated Photographs" to discover famous image modifications related to Stalin, Trotsky, Katie Couric, National Geographic Magazine, and the massacre at Kent State University in 1970. |
| The ability to shoot a rubber band with speed and accuracy was a highly revered (and feared) childhood talent. Brush up on your shooting skills with "The Guide to Shooting Rubber Bands", a fun and nostalgic site for those of us who used to fiercely engage in rubber band warfare. |
| The "10Questions Presidential Forum" is a great example of how the Internet is stepping in to change the dynamic of the upcoming election, with a fresh new format that promotes honesty and direct communication between candidates and voters. Created by "tech President" in cooperation with The New York Times and MSNBC.com, the 10Questions.Com is using the potential of the Web to expand voter participation in politics. Visitors can submit a question, and then try to garner enough support for their query to get it into the "Top Ten". Once all the participants have voted on the final "10 Questions", both Republican and Democratic candidates will post video responses, which will then be "graded" on their authenticity and substance by the online community. |
| Gastronomes, epicureans, foodies, gourmands, connoisseurs, and geeks? These days an appreciation for fine cuisine is not limited to the regions of the upper-crust, and thousands of self-proclaimed "food geeks" are carving out their own niche in the culinary world. With an online database that boasts over 5,000 recipes, FoodGeeks.com is for unpretentious food lovers and anyone else who appreciates the art of fine cooking and fine dining. Gourmet geeks can use the site to organize their own virtual cookbook, get household tips, find recipes to suit a variety of international and specialized diets, and access the online Food Encyclopedia. |
| DID YOU SEE the 19 LATERAL PASSES that led to a touchdown to win the big game? (College, of course) Click here |
| Techies and the gadget-obsessed among us will want to browse through this cool feature, courtesy of New Zealand's PC World Magazine. The "Top 100 Products of the Year" is the magazine's annual listing of the very best new gadgets, software, hardware, and online services. Scroll down this well-researched list to find the latest and greatest offerings from the wild world of technology. The article reveals the cream of the new crop of mobile devices, digital cameras, websites, laptops, anti-virus software, wireless routers, Web applications, video players, game consoles, and much more. |
| Sports fans are all too familiar with the painfully predictable clichés players and coaches recite during pre-game, halftime, and post-game interviews. While the formulaic expressions have not changed much over the years, at least there is a cool website that faithfully documents and celebrates the timeless "Sports Cliché".
This extensive list of professional excuses was compiled by a dedicated team of sports writers, announcers, and other enthusiasts, who then divided the many sports clichés into categories such as "During the Game", "Fired Coaches", "Loser's Locker Room", "110 Percent", etc. Notable entries include such mindless mantras as "I was just doing my job.", "This team has overcome a lot of adversity.", and "That's too little, too late." |
| With the Holiday Shopping season just around the corner and the growing popularity of on-line shopping, Slickdeals.net is the place to go. You will find daily deals posted for some of the major on-line retailers. You'll be surprised at what deals you'll find. |
| It's hard to follow American politics these days without feeling that our current "2-Party System" is outdated and, well, broken. If you are one of the millions of Americans who do not feel represented by the Democrats or Republicans, you may want to check out this bold new website. Unity08.Com is a new political party with the humble goal of "changing American politics forever" by nominating a Unity Ticket (1 Democrat and 1
Republican) for the 2008 Presidential Election. Read about the inspiration and strategy behind this pragmatic but passionate movement, learn how to draft a candidate, and get details on Unity's plans to hold a ground-breaking online convention. |
| When unwanted catalogs are received, type in the information and get delivery stopped. It´s similar to a no-call list. This article provides information about the purpose and function of the website: CatalogChoice.org |
| It does not take lavish materials to make great art, just an incredible amount of imagination and skill. Check out the work of sculptor Peter Callesen, featured on Oddee.Com, who uses single sheets of A4 paper to create astonishingly intricate "Papercut Sculptures". |
| History junkie? Want to view scans of original documents? Check out: www.footnote.com |
| Take a few minutes to sit back, relax, smile, and watch this wonderful video entitled "The Eight Irresistible Principles of Fun". Created by Box of Crayons, the short movie playfully inspires viewers with a colorful presentation of simple but profound insights into what is really important in life (and fun is definitely one of them!). |
| Stretch, exercise, and strengthen your brain with the help of this mind-bending website, Thinks.Com, a fun collection of online games, puzzles, and thinking challenges to help people of all ages keep their minds sharp. The mentally challenging site boasts a wide range of array of brain games, including "Daily Diversions" of Crosswords, Chess, Code breakers, Sudoku, and Word Search. Other brainteasers include trivia games, as well as classics like "Mastermind", "Peg Solitaire", and the 19th Century French board game "Hare and Hounds". |
| Long before there were printing presses, digital recorders, video cameras, and the Internet, history was passed down from one generation to another through the simple art of Storytelling. StoryCorps, which began in October, 2003 with just one "StoryBooth" in NYC's Grand Central Terminal, has grown into an inspiring national project to preserve our Oral History. Visitors will quickly discover that listening to the "extraordinary stories from everyday people" on the StoryCorps website is truly a special experience. These individual stories provide rare insight into large events like the Great Depression, World War II, the Civil Rights Movement, Vietnam, 9/11, and Katrina, as well the intimate, personal memories that make up the fabric of everyday love, loss, and life. |
| Are you Paying Attention: Digital Learning This video on You Tube is a bit long but it definitely makes you think about how our students learn. |
| TIME-TRAVELLING E-MAIL Yes! Send an e-mail to yourself into the future. You'll be glad to hear from yourself one day. |
Learn all about September 19 - International Talk Like A Pirate Day! Talk Like A Pirate Day Web site.
If, on the other hand, you wish to talk like a Pittsburgh Pirate, Pittsburghese can be found here |
| If you're looking to make sense of your busy family life, Cozi can help. This free service provides a family calendar, a shopping list, and messaging online or via a downloadable program. It's low on features, but the ones it has are excellent and easy to use |
| GalaxyZoo , the project which harnesses the power of the internet - and your brain - to classify a million galaxies. By taking part, you'll not only be contributing to scientific research, but you'll view parts of the Universe that literally no-one has ever seen before and get a sense of the glorious diversity of galaxies that pepper the sky. |
| EasyBib is the quick, painless way to create MLA-style bibliographies without doing the formatting yourself. It's a must-see for students and researchers alike. |
| The Beloit College Mindset List for the Class of 2011 Want to know what today's entering freshmen are familiar with?
Most of the students entering College this fall, members of the Class of 2011, were born in 1989. For them, Alvin Ailey, Andrei Sakharov, Huey Newton, Emperor Hirohito, Ted Bundy, Abbie Hoffman, and Don the Beachcomber have always been dead. |
| The latest feature in Google Earth allows users to view the sky from their computers.It provides information about various celestial bodies, from planets to stars, images from the Hubble Space Telescope, and allows users to take virtual tours through galaxies, including the Milky Way. Current Google Earth users must download a new version from the site. |
| How GPS Works - Have you ever wondered how a global positioning system receiver can pinpoint your location? As long as you have a GPS receiver and a clear view of the sky, you'll never be lost again. |
| What is the heat index that the weatherperson talks about during the summer? - A massive heat wave is afflicting much of the eastern and southeastern United States. Yyou've likely heard someone talking about the heat index. Find out what the heat index is and what it means about the scorching temperatures outside. |
| Investopoedia is a "Source For Investing Education". Includes the most comprehensive investing dictionary on the web as well as articles and tutorials on nearly any aspect of the market as well as a stock simulator, stock community, stock ideas and free tools. |
| The art of juggling has entertained audiences and challenged jugglers for thousands of years. Although it was once confined to vaudeville and music halls, today you can watch juggling competitions on television and see jugglers keep seemingly endless numbers of objects aloft. The term is not exclusive to objects thrown in the air, though. In fact, you could define juggling as using feats of dexterity to manipulate one or more objects. Learn how here. |
| Sudoku is a logic-based number placement puzzle. The objective is to fill a 9x9 grid so that each column, each row, and each of the nine 3x3 boxes (also called blocks or regions) contains the digits from 1 to 9. The modern puzzle was invented by an American, Howard Garns, in 1979 and published by Dell Magazines under the name "Number Place". It became popular in Japan in 1986, after it was published by Nikoli and given the name Sudoku, meaning single number. Number-Logic.com is the web's premier site for Sudoku puzzles! |
| Rocketboom is a three minute daily videoblog based in New York City. They cover and create a wide range of information and commentary from top news stories to quirky internet culture, with a heavy emphasis on international arts, technology and weblog drama. |
| Interactive advertising has arrived at a strange new frontier, called "crowdgaming". Computer systems equipped with video cameras and motion capture software track the the movements of a crowd and use them to control a cursor on a giant screen. It turns a crowd into a human joystick. In a recent trial, movie patrons leaned and swayed in unison, trying to direct a ball bouncing on the screen to knock bricks out of a stack. Each time a brick fell, news headllines flashed on the screen. View the action |
| Gardening mavens can find it all on the internet these days. Have a question or need some ideas? Better Homes & Gardens, davesgarden.com, Garden.org or Organic Gardening |
| Now you can put a hold on your mail at home for a couple of days - and do it over the internet. U.S. Mail can be held from 3 to 30 days by going here |
| Yelp is the fun and easy way to find, review and talk about what's great (and not so great) in your world. You already know that asking friends is the best way to find restaurants, dentists, hairstylists, and anything local. Yelp makes it fast and easy by collecting and organizing your friends' recommendations in one convenient place. |
| Enough to excite an accountant: Check out a Form 1040 from 1913 |
| A new interactive Web site featuring high-resolution aerial photographs of Indiana allows users to zoom in on roads, lakes, fields — and even cars in driveways.
Indiana University and the Indiana Geological Survey host the site — www.indianamap.org — which includes information that can be used by planners, businesses and anyone who wants to see an aerial picture of their neighborhood. The site also includes transportation, elevation and water information. |
| This cool site offers both historical perspective and esoteric information about those select individuals who once held the rank of Commander-in-Chief. Scroll through the site's lists of facts to find out which of our Presidents had military experience, what their original careers were, and tons of other miscellaneous trivia about past presidents. |
| Crossword buffs will want to bookmark this site, which is an online treasure trove of puzzle games. With an arsenal of over 30,000 crosswords, from "Extra-Small" to "Big" puzzles, you are guaranteed endless hours of entertainment. |
| The Eldest Domains Web junkies will enjoy this cool lesson in virtual history, courtesy of the website Jottings.Com. It lists the first 100 registered domain names that are still active on the World Wide Web. |
| Seasoned travelers know all too well that long security lines, delays and holiday traffic are common these days. Those who find themselves stranded at an airport can get help at Sleeping in Airports, a website that lists where the best and worst airports for sleepers. The site also has tips on sleeping safely and comfortably when you're grounded at the terminal. |
| Considerably more civilized than a traditional duel, and more interesting than an old-fashioned coin flip, "Rock Paper Scissors" has been helping make decisions and resolve disputes for almost 90 years. The official RPS website is filled to the brim with any and all information relating to "Ro-Sham-Bo".You will find a host of features including an online museum, info about the upcoming 2007 Rock Paper Scissors Championships in Toronto, as well as a Strategy Guide, an Online Trainer, and profiles on some of the best "players" in the world. |
| Although it can only be used now from the Portage toll plaza to the state line, i-Zoom is the fastest, easiest way to pay your tolls on the Indiana Toll Road. In addition you will be saving money when they increase the tolls later this year. Sign up here. |
| Considerably more civilized than a traditional duel, and more interesting than an old-fashioned coin flip, "Rock Paper Scissors" has been helping make decisions and resolve disputes for almost 90 years. The official RPS website is filled to the brim with any and all information relating to "Ro-Sham-Bo".You will find a host of features including an online museum, info about the upcoming 2007 Rock Paper Scissors Championships in Toronto, as well as a Strategy Guide, an Online Trainer, and profiles on some of the best "players" in the world. |
| The touted finale of the "Sopranos" and the Oscar win by the Scorsese film "The Departed" prove that Gangster culture is as popular as ever. Take a peek behind the silver screen and look at the real "mafia" world at Gang Rule.com, a comprehensive website dedicated to the history and evolution of organized crime since 1890. Search the site by family, individual, or event to find biographical info, photos, articles, and other materials related to these "original gangsters". |
| Enter the wide world of poetry at this great site, which serves as a global forum for poetry, related news, reviews, essays, and interviews with poets. PoetryInternational.Org boasts an impressive collection of literally hundreds of works by modern poets from all over the world. The site's main focus is on sharing translated poetry with the international community, and it does a great job with the help of 20 editors in 20 different countries. |
| Slingbox: Take Your TV With You - "Placeshifting" technology takes your television signal and sends it to you anywhere in the world. With a device like Slingbox, you can watch your TIVO recordings if you're traveling on business or on vacation. In this article, learn how Slingbox allows you to enjoy your favorite TV shows remotely. |
| FactCheck.org helps citizens find out the truth behind their words, by holding politicians accountable for claims made in speeches, press releases, debates, and advertisements. It is a politically neutral, non-profit consumer advocate group that is a valuable tool in cutting through the fog of veracity that surrounds Washington Politics. The site's motto is a quote by Senator Daniel Patrick Moynihan; "Everyone is entitled to their own opinion, but not their own facts." Fact Check diligently monitors current political headlines and debates, and then responds with great articles that inform the public about which politicians are sincere and which ones are using misleading claims, tactics and information. |
| Whether you are a skeptic or you just don't feel sufficiently informed on the issue, "Climate Change; A Guide for the Perplexed" will address all of your questions so you to make an educated choice about this highly publicized issue. It provides objective research regarding the "26 most common climate myths and misconceptions". Articles, major reports, and research accompany each topic so readers can accurately assess the evidence of Global Warming for themselves, and base their position on this important issue on the facts. |
| This online exhibition, courtesy of the Museum of Fine Arts Boston, features a comprehensive collection of Edward Hopper's work. The exhibit, entitled "Edward Hopper", consists of over fifty oil paintings, thirty watercolors, and a moving slideshow of iconic images such as "Automat", "Chop Suey", "Early Sunday Morning", and "Nighthawk". Visitors are immediately immersed in Hopper's world; the bittersweet silence, stoic solitude, and pedestrian beauty that endure as the artist's signature style. Tthere is an interactive, digitized version of one of Hopper's personal sketchbooks, which offers a unique peek at some of the initial pencil drawings of his most famous paintings. |
| Entertain your brain at Pyrogon.Com, home of highly entertaining and addictive puzzle and matching games. Visitors will enjoy hours of challenging entertainment courtesy of original games such as "Ning Po Mah Jong" and "Fruit Frolic" |
| Whether in a Planetarium, through a traditional telescope, or with the help of Hubble, looking into space evokes a natural sense of peace and wonder within us that few things can match. "Astronomy Picture of the Day" displays a new image from our awe-inspiring universe everyday, each of which comes with a quick explanation written by a professional astronomer. |
| When you find yourself telling people that things are a lot more expensive "than when I was a kid", you know you're starting to get old. "How Much is That?" is a great tool that allows you to calculate relative values of money between the years 1907-2005 with a simple click of a button. Maybe that old Cadillac you bought when you were 20 years old wasn't so cheap after all. |
| The Most Misspelled Words This fun feature by YourDictionary.Com lists the 100 most commonly misspelled words in English. Browse down "Dr. Language's" page and you will not only learn the correct spelling of these tricky terms, but also pick up some mnemonic tricks that will improve you're overall spelling skills. Unless you are a recent Spelling Bee finalist or a proper orthographer, you are bound to find a few words you often misspell |
| This made me happy just looking at it. Couldn't help it. Water figures 2007 Photo Gallery by fotoopa at pbase.com |
| You Gotta See Google's "STREET VIEW" Select "street view" to walk around the MGM/NewYorkNY intersection in Las Vegas. Here's how Google pulled it off |
| IF YOU'RE NOT TOO COOL FOR SCHOOL, there's nothing like a brilliant .lecture. Find your interest, get fascinated. This is super for thinkers. http://www.ted.com |
| FunBrain.Com,which is filled to the brim with child-friendly games that actually make learning fun, will keep children entertained for hours on end with its arsenal of creative Math, Reading, and Flash Arcade games. Browse the site by grade level to find cool features for kids, including a collection of Web Books and Comics, educational games like "Grammar Gorilla" and "Math Baseball", Mad Libs, as well reading and arithmetic exercises. There is also a section just for teachers and educators, with practical tools like a curriculum guide, a standards finder, personalized online gradebooks, quiz labs, and much more. |
| The Food Timeline reaches back over 25,000 years into the long history of food in human society. Visitors will read about the dietary habits of Vikings, Romans, Mayans and other cultures, and discover all sorts of interesting culinary facts (fried
chicken is really older than sushi?). Tthis is as close as you will come to tracing the evolution of human food and recipes, from our humble origins of water, salt, and fish to the recent developments of "tear-free onions" and "deep-fried Diet Coke." |
| It is hard to imagine life these days without mobile phone technology. It is much easier, however, to imagine living without the expensive Service Providers, confusing Rate Plans, and bad Customer Service that often come with the territory.
The Phone Scoop is a great consumer resource for mobile phone customers, with a database filled with information on phone specifications, photos, industry news, forums, user reviews, and links to products and carriers. |
| Trivia buffs and random knowledge seekers will love this fact-filled website. Browse through the many fun features on the Cool Quiz website, which is updated everyday with brand new useless info. Highlights include "Bad Predictions", which glimpses back at erroneous historical prognostications, as well as the section entitled "That Explains It!" where visitors can find answers to some of life's most cryptic questions. |
| Edward Hopper's paintings and prints are known for depicted the growing solitude of life in urban 20th Century America, and he is considered to be one of the great modern artists of our country. The exhibit, entitled "Edward Hopper", consists of over fifty oil paintings, thirty watercolors, and a moving slideshow of iconic images such as "Automat", "Chop Suey", "Early Sunday Morning", and "Nighthawk". Additionally, there is an interactive, digitized version of one of Hopper's personal sketchbooks, which offers a unique peek at some of the initial pencil drawings of his most famous paintings. |
| This Is Broken is a blog that harnesses the power of the Internet to empower customers to inform, gripe, grumble, complain, and vent about items they have bought that are, well, broken. Complaints go well beyond simple purchases however, as the blog also posts photos of "broken" signs, packaging, ads, public restrooms, parking meters, and just about everything else you can think of. |
| With gas prices hitting a record high of four dollars per gallon in some places, we all need to be environmentally and financially conscious at the pump. Gas Buddy compiles current data from 180 "price information"
websites, making it a useful tool for finding the cheapest gas in your neighborhood or city. |
| Cinephiles know Stanley Kubrick as the genius director behind such films as"2001: A Space Odyssey", "A Clockwork Orange", "Dr. Strangelove", and "Full Metal Jacket". However only the most die-hard of Kubrick's fans will be familiar with his 16-minute short film called "Day of the Fight". It's a gritty boxing flick he made in 1951 at the tender age of 22, and is now available for all to watch online thanks to independent film house The Mutiny Company. |
| There is a wonderful simplicity to the bicycle, especially when placed in contrast to the modern world so dominated by cars, trucks, SUV's, mopeds, motorcycles, mini-vans, and many other mechanical modes of travel. Bikely.Com is a virtual forum for cycling enthusiasts to share their knowledge of good bicycle routes around the world. Discover beautiful trails, urban bike paths, and great routes in over forty countries, and join the "Bikely" community to contribute your own cycling secrets. |
| The Sleep Site is a helpful online resource for the millions of people who suffer from various sleep disorders to seek help. Browse the section on "Specific Sleep Disorders" such as Sleep Apnea, Narcolepsy, Insomnia, REM Behavior Disorder, and others, and then click on a link to learn more about causes, health effects, and treatments. There is also a separate area of the site for patients, families, and friends, which includes valuable information, tests, news, and tips to help you get your all-important "Z's". Sweet Dreams! |
| Ever wonder what the number one song was the day you were born? Interesting and kind of fun . . . NumberOneInHistory |
| In Western society happiness is an abstract concept, the only "thing" that money can't buy, a coveted yet immeasurable state of being that remains elusive to many of us. "The Happiness Formula" takes an extensive look at the progress scientists, psychologists, and sociologists are making in their effort to understand and measure the components of happiness. Readers will find a host of cool articles on the subject of "Happiness", the result of considerable time spent by researchers in the fields of Science, Psychology, Economics, Political Science, and Alternative Medicine. Highlights include videos on the "recipe" and "power" of happiness, an online test you can take to determine your level of joy, a section of "Happy Tips", and a fascinating look at the extremely content nation of Bhutan. |
| Chicagoans and history buffs alike will enjoy browsing the "The Visual Encyclopedia of Chicago History", where they can read about a range of topics including the Haymarket Riots, Al Capone, as well as excerpts from the Tribune and the Chicago Times and much more. Visitors can easily search the site alphabetically by topic, and then take some time browsing the incredibly detailed "Maps" section. |
| Kids Helath.org is the web's most visited site about children's health. A Webby Award winner, it includes sections for parents (practical parenting infomration and news), kids (homework help and how the body works)and teens (answers, advice and straight talk). |
| Get the Right Television for You and Your Family If you're shopping for a new television, check out the Television Stuff Guide before you buy. Learn about the different TV types (including LCD, plasma and DLP), read reviews, compare prices and get answers to frequently asked questions about digital TV. |
| In the midst of such a tumultuous time in history, Time Magazine presents this fascinating list of "100 People Who Shape Our World".
Browse through the diverse list of "influential" people, which are divided into the categories "Scientists & Thinkers", "Leaders & Revolutionaries", "Artists & Entertainers", "Builders & Titans", and "Heroes & Pioneers". Members of this list cover a wide social spectrum, including inspirational figures Elie Wiesel and Oprah Winfrey, controversial political leaders Hugo Chavez of Venezuela and Ehud Olmert of Israel, and aggressive dictators such as Iran's Mahmoud Ahmadinejad. |
| Sure the idea of being single sounds glamorous, but most of us who are will probably admit that being in love is a much better alternative. Visitors will get a kick out of The Singles Map, a color-coded map of the United States that shows which areas have the highest density of eligible bachelors and bachelorettes. |
| With the help of this website, fans can take a look beyond the game and into the business behind America's favorite pastime. The Business of Baseball site provides great research tools that visitors can use to learn about all facets of the sport, as well as other features including interviews with owners, information on proposed expansion projects and facilities, and articles on current challenges facing the business side of baseball. Batter Up! |
| Our dreams combine verbal, visual and emotional stimuli into a sometimes broken, nonsensical but often entertaining story line. Many theories have been created to explain dreams, but they still represent a fascinating, mystifying subject to most people. Learn about dreams, theories of dreams and the meanings of common dreams. |
| Even the best of us can have a bad day, just as even the most talented artists can create, well, bad art. Film buffs are sure to enjoy this opinionated article by FilmWad.Com, which lists "The Worst Movies by the Best Directors". The list includes relatively underwhelming work by cinematic geniuses like Kubrick, Spielberg, Hitchcock, De Palma, Gilliam, and Tarantino. |
| Librivox.Org aims to convert every single book in the United States public domain into free, downloadable audio files. This non-profit, open source website takes podcasting to a whole new level, with its bold goal of the "acoustical liberation of books in the public domain". The virtual library is filled with thousands of "audiobooks" that have been diligently recorded one chapter at a time by volunteer readers. Download an audio book of interest, browse the latest news on the project, or volunteer your free time and become an official Librivox reader. |
| People spend a lot of time exercising and eating well these days in an effort to stay fit, but what can do we do to keep our minds in great shape? "Hacking Knowledge" offers 77 tips on how tone your noggin into a "faster, deeper, and better" learning machine. It breaks down these valuable tips into more specific categories such as "Health", "Verbal and Auditory", "Recall", "Perspective and Focus", "Self-Motivation" and more. Pick up some great techniques on how to train your brain to improve aspects of your personal, professional, academic, and even spiritual life. |
| With its straight-forward slogan of "Food. Drink. Fun", Chow.Com represents a new generation of food websites that cover a wide range of gastronomic topics for people of all tastes. Whether you are a dedicated gourmet who dines out regularly, an ethnic-food junkie, or a domestic chef making homemade delicacies, you will enjoy getting great tips, recipes, and articles delivered to you through well-written articles, audio, and streaming video. The site also has tons of other cool features, including "Kitchen Confessional" by Nigel Slater, fun blogs about rare delicacies and other unique topics, and helpful "how-to" videos for beginner cooks. |
| EarlyVegas.Com is a virtual tribute to the century of construction and urbanization that turned a small, unknown desert town into one of the fastest growing cities in the world. This site is filled with colorful, historic images from the dawn of Las Vegas, a photographic timeline that demonstrates the evolution of the town over the course of the 20th Century,. its humble beginnings, legendary hotels, the waves of constant renovations and reinventions, and its many cultural phases from the old days of Rat Pack glamour to the mainstream Casino Culture of today. |
| "In the Beginning: Bibles before the Year 1000" is an interesting exhibition that explores the historical and cultural development of the many texts that evolved into today's Modern Bible. Read about the original Hebrew Scriptures, the Torah, the Greek translation of the Bible, the earliest Christian Scriptures, scrolls and codex. This is a fascinating study into the various versions of The Holy Book, from different languages, empires, and cultures that played a part in sculpting the modern version of The Bible. |
| New York City Public Library Digital Gallery The digital gallery of the New York Public Library (NYPL) provides readers and researchers from all over the world with access to over half a million digitized images from its extensive collection. Visitors can search the website by topical sections, which include "Culture & Society", "History & Geography", "Nature & Science", "Industry & Technology", and more. You will also find other rarities from the NYPL archives such as printed ephemera, rare prints, historical maps, illuminated manuscripts, and illustrated books. |
| The top-selling Ipod, the simple yet brilliant "Mac vs. PC" ad campaign, the extensive press about the infamous "Hillary Clinton 1984" viral video, and impeccable design and marketing strategies have sent Apple surging back into the public consciousness. With the motto "We Tease Because We Love", this fun blog reinforces Mac's cult following with a growing collection of surprisingly creative parodies on the companies' trademark commercials. Scroll through the list of Mac Spoofs and you will find video parodies of the popular TV ads that feature comedian John Hodgeman of "The Daily Show"
as a "PC" and actor Justin Long as a "MAC". Highlights include "Mac the Stoner", "Once you go Mac.", and the Novell Linux commercials, as well as hilarious videos made by dedicated PC users dubbing over the original spots. |
| Rhymes.Org is a British website that explores the often shocking origins of popular nursery rhymes, which despite their sweet sounds often have harsher foundations in historical events. Read about the obscure history of popular nursery rhymes such as "London Bridge", "Old Mother Hubbard", and "Ring a Ring o Rosies", and how many of these rhymes were actually used as clandestine vehicles for political dissent and to parody royal and religious leaders of the day. While the hidden meanings behind these seemingly innocent rhymes may be more profound, somber, or sinister, we still think they are a wonderfully comforting way to lull the kids to sleep. |
| Pig Latin Translator A favorite "language" among young people, Pig Latin has been spoken for decades by kids when they want to talk publicly about secret topics. Parents and non-speakers can decode this schoolyard jargon with the help of this fun online translator. |
| BBC News Magazine presents an annual summary of new and interesting information entitled "100 Things We Didn't Know Last Year". Cruise down the BBC's list and uncover gems like Barbie's full name, the British Prime Minister's favorite meal, and the fact that, according to a professor of phonetics, cows actually have regional accents. Eeach listing has a link to "More Details" where you can read further explanations to such recent eye-openers like "the egg came first" and "the Pope's been known to wear Red Prada shoes." |
| Many of us pride ourselves on having developed our own, unique personal philosophy on life. This cool website boasts an "Ethical Philosophy Selector", a series of morality-based questions that visitors can answer to determine how their personal code of ethics matches up with the beliefs of established philosophical thinkers. |
| Check out PersonalDNA.Com. This
sophisticated personality quiz was designed by a team of professional psychologists, with the goal of help people "assess" their personality and reveal their true self. Mine came up blank ... |
| This cool article from PCWorld.Com celebrates the "50 Most Important People on the Web", with a list of the innovators, entrepreneurs, bloggers, and power players who are shaping the virtual landscape of the Internet. Browse this list of the virtual elite, which includes the creators of such online "institutions" as Wikipedia, Craig's List, Skype, Daily Kos, You Tube, and Mozilla. In addition to the creative founders, the article also lists the politicians, venture capitalists, executives, and techies who are mapping out the future geography of the World Wide Web. |
| Take a break from the 24-hour cable cycle of "serious" news with the help of this fun website, created by journalist Jim Romenesko. The Obscure Store & Reading Room scans the Web so that it can dutifully serve up a daily dose of weird news, bizarre stories, obscure tidbits, and other examples of "normal people doing strange things". |
| "Cities Around the World" is a cool website that gives visitors access to over six thousand images of international urban life, courtesy of the slide collections in The American Geographical Society Library. The images, which were all taken by photographers Harold Mayer and Harrison Forman over the course of five decades, capture unique architecture, neighborhoods, streets, people, business districts, and city life in the world's major cities. |
| Here in the States, sushi has quickly evolved from an obscure Japanese cuisine to a bona fide American culinary craze in just two short decades. This delicious website is a great beginner's guide to the wide world of sushi, with tons of information on how to thoroughly explore the culture of raw fish. SushiFAQ.Com can answer all of your basic questions, with information on Etiquette, Health, Sushi History, Recipes, Terminology, and much more. Beginners can spend their time learning the basics of the dining experience, while sushi junkies will get a kick out of reading the rich history of this artful cuisine, and get insider tips on how to shop for fresh fish and prepare sushi. |
| As any doctor will tell you, regular exercise is a crucial part of maintaining a healthy mind and body. This useful site merges modern technology with good old fashioned fitness, making it easy to learn how to workout and plan your schedule from the comfort of your own PC. The Training Station Inc. website has simple, animated examples of over 100 exercises for all different muscles so that you can learn new techniques, keep your routine diverse, and correct bad form. Simply select a specific muscle group, lazily drag your mouse over it, and then get out of your chair and get into the gym!! |
| Believe it or not, U.S. Presidents are just as prone to whimsical doodling as we civilians are. This cool website, from Cabinet Magazine, is an extensively researched account of two hundred years of "Scribbles, Scratches, Squiggles, and Scrawls from the Oval Office". See the random doodles of George Washington, Richard Nixon, Rutherford B. Hayes, Benjamin Harrison and other former Commanders-in-Chief, and read the accompanying analysis by the site's editors. There are other cool features on this unique and fascinating site including an online quiz, and an e-card of "presidential doodles". |
| The incredible growth of the Internet brings tremendous possibilities to change the way we live and work. But how secure is the Internet, and when can you be sure that your personal information is not being viewed by someone else? In this article, discover how encryption and authentication systems work to keep information secure. |
| Stimulate your sweet tooth with the delicious online magazine "Better Baking". This self-described "Magazine for Bakers" is celebrating its 10th Anniversary as one of the Web's premier websites for bakers and the lucky people who get to eat their scrumptious creations. Bakers of all experience levels will want to bookmark this site, which has an extensive Recipe Index to help you bake delectable muffins, cakes, pizza, cookies, and much more. Created by pastry chef, cookbook author and food journalist Marcy Goldman, BetterBaking.Com also offers tons of great original recipes, professional baking techniques, book reviews, and feature articles by master bakers. |
| 1918 Red Sox Performance-enhancing drugs, overpaid players, and expensive ticket prices have cast what one can only hope is a temporary shadow over America's favorite pastime. Sports fans and History buffs are sure to enjoy this online tribute to the 1918 Boston Red Sox, a virtual trip back to a time when baseball defined both the struggle and the glory of our Nation. Read about the legendary 1918 Red Sox team that won an unprecedented 5th World Series, with the help of a young slugger by the name of Babe Ruth. Amidst a tumultuous backdrop of a World War, a devastating Influenza Epidemic, and other Economic hardships, one team from Boston showed how a simple game called baseball could be a cultural beacon of hope for America. |
| The National Sleep Foundation's non-profit website has a wealth of useful information to help you improve the quality of your sleep and get a good night's rest. Those who suffer from medical sleeping disorders, "drowsy drivers", and anyone who wants to maximize their shut-eye will be sure to find solutions to their nocturnal problems at this website. Browse the "Sleeptionary", an online guide to sleep disorders, read polls about the status of sleep in the U.S., and check out the Sleep Shop, and learn about the physiological process of sleeping. Sweet Dreams!! |
| Miranda July, who wrote, directed and starred in the quirky, open-hearted ensemble indie drama "Me, You and Everyone We Know" (2005), has a new short story collection coming out in May called "No One Belongs Here More Than You." If the book is half as entertaining as its web site promotion, it’ll be a must-read. Check it out by clicking here. |
| Not that PhD's are a prerequisite, but ... While we are all unique individuals, and some of us live truly extraordinary, inspirational lives, there are many dudes out there who proudly describe themselves as "run of the mill". Welcome to the "Dull Men's Club (DMC)", a safe place on the Internet where the average, relatively boring guy can share his thoughts, far from the constant social pressure to be "cool and trendy". The official DMC website celebrates "the ordinary", with tons of information and personal stories submitted by dull men
everywhere. Relax and read about a variety of safe activities,
predictable topics, dull things to do, mild adventures, tame thoughts, and semi-interesting stories. |
| Dyngus Day or Wet Monday (Polish Śmigus-dyngus, Lany Poniedziałek, Polewanka or Oblewanka) is the name for Easter Monday in Poland. Though not largely observed in the United States, the day remains informally observed in some areas such as the state of North Carolina, the state of North Dakota, and the cities of Buffalo, New York and South Bend, Indiana. |
| Many great films are based on true stories and actual past events. Film junkies will get a kick out of this cool website, which offers an intriguing glimpse at the real people whose lives became the inspiration for Hollywood movies. Meet the people behind the "reel stories" such as "Breach", "Zodiac", "The Pianist", "Goodfellas", "Hoosiers", "United 93" and other powerful pictures. Read about the real-life subject, and read interviews about their experiences, both tragic and heroic, that inspired the film made in their honor. |
| Media junkies will love this feature by GoodMagazine.Com, which comprehensively lists the 51 best magazines of all time. The list celebrates the "smartest, prettiest, coolest, funniest, and most influential" glossies in the history of magazine publishing. Tthis well-crafted list of legendary magazines lists both the magazine name and the years in which it demonstrated it's "greatness". While there are predictable picks such as the "New Yorker" and "Esquire", some great lesser known magazines made the cut including "Colors" and the "New England Journal of Medicine". |
| Amateur chefs, aspiring gourmets, and loving parents will all appreciate the Recipe Source website. The Searchable Online Archive of Recipes (SOAR) allows you to search through literally thousands of delicious recipes. Search the database by Keyword, Region (for Ethnic Cuisines), or Type of Dish. Foodies will happily find ethnic recipes from everywhere from Armenia to Wales, as well as tasty tips on preparing desserts, healthy meals, Holiday foods, appetizers and much more. |
| The Atlas of Plucked Instruments For all you guitar players out there, get in touch with the history and diversity of your instrument. |
| The Nobel Prize is awarded to individuals who make significant achievements in the fields of Medicine, Literature, Peace, Physics, and Chemistry. The official website offers detailed insight into the history of the Nobel Prize, as well as the accomplishments and individuals that it has honored. Mmany interesting features on the site include a complete history of Alfred Nobel, a Swedish entrepreneur, pacifist, inventor, and author. Once you've read about the founder, read the inspiring stories of Nobel Laureates and the extraordinary contributions they have made to the modern world. |
| "Eigen's Political and Historical quotations", is the Web's largest collection of memorable remarks by public figures and organizations. Designed to be used by students, journalists, historians, teachers, and political scientists, the site is quite easy to navigate. Simply search by author, idea, keyword, or text, and find great quotes by Oliver Wendell Holmes, Thomas Mann, Benjamin D'Israeli, and hundreds of well-known and esoteric figures, both past and present. |
| Get your mind and adrenaline pumping at "Adventure", a great online magazine courtesy of National Geographic. The 'zine is geared toward active people who love adventure and the outdoors, offering inspiring stories about intrepid explorers, daring expeditions, exciting travel destinations, and much more. There is so much to see on the site, including a feature on Mt. Everest as well as other cool info such as Rescue Myths, an Adventure Handbook, Outdoor Survival, and Essential Gear. Be sure to read the article "Fear Itself" by the now legendary photojournalist Sebastian Junger. |
| Winston Churchill made many significant speeches in his lifetime, most of which have become well-known because of their unique timing in History and oratory power. The Churchill Speech Interactive website is a great educational resource that allows users to deeply explore one of Churchill's most memorable orations, delivered in Fulton, Missouri less than a year after the end of World War II. Listen to a recording of the original "Iron Curtain"
address, read Churchill's speech notes, and learn more about the life of this legendary figure. |
| How GPS Receivers Work For less than $100, you can get a pocket-sized gadget that will tell you exactly where you are on Earth at any moment. As long as you have a GPS receiver and a clear view of the sky, you'll never be lost again. |
| With all the talk about Global Warming and changing climate patterns, the public's interest in the topic of Weather has significantly increased as of late. This cool website reports "Extreme & Weird Weather of the World" in cities around the globe, in close to real-time. The site, part of Coolwx.Com, works with almost 3,500 global stations to report extreme weather phenomenon every three hours. Visitors can search forecasts, or browse by meteorological topics such as Blizzard, Temperature, Wind, Thunderstorm, Visibility, etc. |
| For some of us, jigsaw puzzles were a wonderful childhood hobby, for others they represented an exhausting task. Game Design presents "White Jigsaw", a virtual puzzle game that uses no pictures but is highly addictive and will surely test your jigsaw skills. |
| How to Make a Paper Airplane In the old days, kids learned to make paper airplanes from their fellow students or parents. This cool site offers great Flash-animated instructions on how to make a wide variety of high-tech paper aircraft. |
| Most of us just have to look around our houses to find a bookshelf filled with old books, the majority of which we have already read. If you can bear to part with them, avid readers can now put their used books to good use by swapping them with others in exchange for books they want to read. Book Mooch is a free, online community of readers from all around the world that uses a simple "point system" to help people trade tomes, and find worthy homes for their beloved old books. There are lots of other cool features, including an option to use your points to help charities, as well as a tool to create your own personal "wish list" of books.http://bookmooch.com/ |
| The Smithsonian Photography Initiative (SPI) provides the public with access to the approximately 13 million images, housed within the 700 collections that comprise the museum's enormous photography archive. The SPI website has tons of cool features, including a section devoted entirely to the museum's photographic exhibitions, useful learning resources, and the ability to easily locate a specific collection. Be sure to "Enter the Frame", where you can search for images from 19 different Smithsonian museums using "keywords", connect with others who have similar interests, and tag your favorite photos for personal reference |
| Welcome to the machine: Web 2.0 ... The Machine is Us/ing Us |
| The Science Creative Quarterly (SCQ) is a cool web publication, written by a Scientist, which aims to take the formality out of Science and be a virtual platform for all types of scientific writing. The SCQ is actually an online "daily" that is aimed at providing all kinds of well-written scientific literature, with an untraditional flare for creativity and charm. Fascinating topics include "The History and Science of Roller Coasters", "DNA Fingerprinting", and "Global Warming". Ccompete in the "Humor Writing Contest", or just openly "pontificate" your ideas directly onto the site. |
| Mark Twain Quotes In addition to being one of our country's most prolific writers, Mr. Twain was also a highly regarded humorist and one of America's greatest wits. TwainQuotes.Com provides an intimate look into the man known as Mark Twain, with extensive lists of quotations on a variety of topics, newspaper articles, maxims, speeches, lectures and much more. Don't skip the "Special Features" section, which contains more esoteric info about Twain, including missing passages of his writing, and insights into the author's personal life. |
| "You are what you Eat" is a maxim that should inspire you to feed your body the healthiest foods possible. Check out a list of 130 of the "World's Healthiest Foods", including the most nutritious fruits, vegetables, nuts, seeds, spices, grains, seafood, and lean meats. |
| Sure you use Google to search the Web, but you may not be aware that the colorful company's search engine has other hidden tricks. This cool site informs visitors about 15 "hidden Google features", including tracking flight status and packages, getting movie information, weather reports, area codes, and much more. |
| Philologists and wordsmiths with definitely want to bookmark the Online Etymology Dictionary. Not to be confused with a "definition", an "etymology" is a word's "true sense", an explanation of its original meaning and pronunciation dating back thousands of years. Browse this unique online dictionary alphabetically, and you will discover the real linguistic roots of some of your favorite words. Each entry includes the year, original spelling, location, language, and/or author of origin, as well as a brief evolutionary description of the word that demonstrates how it came to its current status in the English language. |
| Harpers.Org is a fascinating political and literary experience that will make you laugh and think in equal parts. Check out this cool section of the site, entitled "Connections", which provides literal access to the "six degrees of separation"
that bind all of us by showing the links between "people, places, things, and ideas". Choose from the different sections, which include "Human Beings", "Human Endeavors", "Nature", "Organizations & Bureaucracies", etc., and you will enter into a vastly interwoven, sociopolitical timeline of our culture. |
| "Americans in Paris, 1860-1900", is a beautiful companion website to the "real-life" exhibition, courtesy of The Metropolitan Museum of Art in New York, The National Gallery in London, and the Museum of Fine Art in Boston, Massachusetts. The exhibit's focus is on influential American artists who lived, studied, and painted in Paris, the "art capital of the world", during the second half of the 19th Century.
Take a virtual tour of the museum and you will meet some of these talented ex-pat artists including John Singer Sargent, Winslow Homer, Thomas Eakins, and Mary Cassatt. In additional to viewing their beautiful works, you will also learn about how the artists' time in France influenced both their individual work and the course of American Art. |
| At one time or another, most of us have found ourselves awake late at night, watching the inexplicably addictive phenomena known as infomercials. This fun website pays tribute to all of the tacky ads, exaggerated antics, plastic hosts, and ridiculous products that comprise the "infomercial experience". Watch hilarious videos, meet memorable characters, and read hilarious commentary on the ludicrous world of the Infomercial. Who can forget the jaw-dropping histrionics of Dr. Ho, Klee Irwin, Tony Little, Miss Cleo, and other stars of this dubious late-night stage |
| If you are fascinated by beer, or Asian culture, or both, you will want to bookmark this cool site. Beer Asia is a fun blog that features reviews and info on pretty much every beer produced throughout Asia. Discover the wide variety of beers from The Orient, find out about popular "wannabe" brews to avoid, and learn about the most popular beers in smaller countries such as Malaysia, Cambodia, Burma, and Laos. Visitors who read the section on "The Top 10 Beers in Asia" will be tempted to get on a plane, fly halfway around the world, and have a cold one. Cheers! |
| Going on a road trip?
The interstate highwy system is so simple and yet I still get lost. |
| In our modern world of large-scale commercialism, it can be quite comforting, and even fun, to create something handmade. Whip Up is a cool blog dedicated to "handcrafting in a hectic world", with daily posts on knitting, needlework, ceramics, crochet and many other old-fashioned, homespun arts. |
| Each year, more than 4 million people come to New Orleans from around the world to be part of what is often billed as the "greatest free party on Earth" -- Mardi Gras! Mardi Gras, also called Carnival in some countries, is celebrated internationally. In this article, we take a closer look at the origins and traditions of Mardi Gras. We also look at some ways to enjoy Mardi Gras both in New Orleans and at home. Learn how Mardi Gras works. |
| Idiot Test Waste a little time at work with this fun "test", courtesy of Browser Arcade. It's easy to take the Idiot Test (we hope), by simply following the instructions to determine whether you are "Brilliant", "Average", "Border-line Idiot", or a full-fledged "Idiot". Good Luck! |
| Basketball buffs who are already knee-deep in the excitement of the current NBA season will love True Hoop, a basketball blog written by acclaimed sports writer Henry Abbott. It is updated daily with the latest news from the exciting world of the NBA. Read about your favorite team, current free agents and trades, basketball history, issues facing the league today, and much more. Other cool features include an "Article of the Week", and sections on Streetball, Sneakers, and International Basketball. |
| Snowflakes And Snow Crystals Are there really no two alike? Of all of nature's wonderful creations, few match the unique beauty of a snowflake. This wonderful website is dedicated entirely to the appreciation of snowflakes and snow crystals. Browse through breathtaking photographs of snow crystals, and learn the physics behind these complex and elegant ice phenomena. Other cool features include info on Snowflake Touring, snowflake-themed stamps, wallpaper, and books, and short time-lapse movies that show the awe-inspiring formation of a snowflake. |
| The Exploratorium, the online museum of Science, Art, and Human Perception, presents "Science from the Poles". This fascinating feature, posted in honor of the upcoming International Polar Year, highlights the important work of scientists at field sites near the North and South Poles. Visitors will watch amazing videos and learn about the latest studies on subjects such as Climate Change, the South Pole Telescope, and other topics unique to the poles. Don't miss the interesting piece on Penguins, as well as the site's videos about "Ice Diving" and "The Beach". |
| Did you see their spectacular Super Bowl pregame show? In only 20 years, Cirque du Soleil has carved out a unique niche in the entertainment industry. It has spread to cities all over the globe and earned rave reviews every step of the way. Go behind the scenes of Cirque du Soleil and learn the secrets of its success. |
| Ask Philosophers Check out the website, where both simple and profound topics are discussed between visitors and a panel of esteemed modern philosophers. Submit your own philosophical query, or browse the list of categories that have been addressed including "Art", "Animals", "Consciousness", "Environment", "Ethics", "Gender", "Race", "Religion", and many more. |
| Few things in nature are as universally inspiring and adored as much as the butterfly. The Butterfly Site is one of the premier places on the Web for complete and current information on butterflies. Visitors will find informative articles by esteemed Entomologist Randi Jones, learn about the biology of butterflies, and view breathtaking images of these beautiful creatures. The site also provides great tips on rearing butterflies, fun facts, live releases, and other cool stuff. |
| Have you ever wanted to just roll out of bed and start your work day without the hassle of traffic, high gas prices and a long commute? Many people are finding that they can get more done by working from home. From hardware to software to making it all work, we'll show you how to set up the ultimate home office. |
| Forget about getting product info from greedy companies that bombard you with advertising, you can get genuine consumer feedback at this great site. ThisNext.Com is a free "shopcasting" network where you can discover and share information about products you love with real people from all around the world. Shopcasting, a linguistic hybrid of "shopping" and "broadcasting", is a new way for people to share their favorite products with other interested people everywhere. Visitors can log in and shop socially, make "wish lists", get recommendations, and learn about the coolest new products in our ever-growing marketplace. |
| Table Tennis Test your skills at one of the most brutal sports on Earth, virtual table tennis. Play an innocent game of online ping pong with a friend, or pick up your paddle and try to take on one of the champions. Or prepare to take on David Yeh or Carl Ackermann. |
| Check out this cool piece from the Atlantic's online magazine, a Top 100 list of "the most influential figures in American History". Scroll through the well-conceived list, which includes legendary ex-presidents, revered authors, civil-rights leaders, and other significant figures in our country's history. |
| Geometry buffs will get a kick out of Famous Curves Index, which features the most famous "curves" around. Learn about the Trident of Newton, the Folium of Descartes, the Cartesian Oval and other legends of the Geometric kingdom. |
| "Portals to the World" is a useful resource created by the Library of Congress that provides selective links to sites that have in-depth info about every nation and territory on Earth. The links, which have been selected by area specialists and Library of Congress staff, are organized alphabetically from Afghanistan to Zimbabwe.
Simply click on your country of interest and you will find tons of information about its Government, History, Geography, Language, Culture, and much more. |
| Students, teachers, and aspiring doctors will love this website, a part of the Howard Hughes Medical Institute's website. The "Bio Interactive Virtual Labs", winner of the Pirelli INTERNetional Award, is a fascinating site that uses interactive labs to explore the systems of the human body. Click on these truly amazing virtual labs, which provide lifelike visual explorations into the fields of "Cardiology", "The Transgenic Fly", "Bacterial Identification", "Neurophysiology", and "Immunology". Each lab is an interactive classroom experience, where users study material, perform virtual techniques, take quizzes, and learn about the science and research beneath these different biological subjects. |
| It's a dark, clear, moonless night. You look up into the sky. You see thousands of stars arranged in patterns or constellations. The light from these stars has traveled great distances to reach Earth. But what are stars? How far away are they? Are they all the same? Are there other planets around them?
Find out how stars work. |
| Fans of management gurus such as Peter Drucker and Tom Peters should check out the daily blog of 800 CEO Read, an online bookstore with 10,000 corporate and organizational customers, including B-schools. Entries range from excerpts to assorted factoids like the average age of U.S. car owners (62 for Buicks, 41 for Volkswagens). authors' podcasts are also available. |
| Winter Driving Tips Hopefully, by the time winter's first storm hits, most people are prepared with a closet full of heavy coats and boots. This winter, make sure your car is as prepared as you are. Going the extra mile by getting your vehicle ready for winter and learning what it takes to drive safely through ice and snow could save your life. |
| Visit TechCrunch.Com to get the latest tech-related news, including information on new online companies and products, as well as profiles of existing companies that are making a commercial or cultural impact on the World Wide Web. Browse the site, subscribe to the daily blog, read through the site's Company Index, and then check out Tech Crunch's archives which date back to its birth in June, 2005. |
| Botanists, students, nature lovers, and anyone who likes wildflowers will enjoy Celebrating Wildflowers, an official USDA Forest Service site, that lives up to its name by providing a ton of information about these beautiful native American plants. |
| The Viral Video Chart is a digital-age version of the "Top 40 Countdown", a daily listing of the top 20 videos on the Net. Visitors will find the latest and greatest clips from the Internet, from big news like Barack Obama on Monday Night Football to organic Web creations such as "Barney is a Gangsta". Highlights include hilarious clips from "Family Guy", "The Great White Shark Song", and a video of an eight-year old weighing in on Bill O'Reilly. |
| Fashionistas, photographers, and designers will want to bookmark this site, which prides itself as being "the original online glossy". ZooZoom.Com is a full-fledged fashion 'zine, complete with a sleek aesthetic, editorial fashion shoots, designer profiles, and a generous helping of fashion advertisements. Click through the glossy pages of the December 2006 issue for the latest fashions from around the world (this month's profile is on Australian designer Toni Maticevski), beauty tips, streaming video of runway shows, and the typically fashionable flora and fauna found in a "real-life"
magazine. The sleek authenticity of ZooZoom.Com begs the ultimate question, are online magazines the future of fashion? |
| For those who take their art literally: http://thomasbroome.se/mm_2.htm |
| This fascinating feature, entitled "A Diamond's Journey", traces the rough path of a diamond from subterranean "volcanic pipes" through the controversial perils of the diamond mining industry and onto the expensive necklaces, rings, and earrings sold everywhere today. Visitors will learn about the gruesome reality of the African diamond industry that gives these stunning gems the dubious title of "blood diamonds", the difficult lives of skilled diamond cutters in India, and how to shop for a fair-trade diamond that does not condone or support the slavery and violence too often connected with this billion-dollar industry. |
| Baby Animals Few sights in nature are more heartwarming than that of a newborn, regardless of its species. Animal lovers will get a kick out of this fun loving website, which boasts great photos of newborn turtles, koalas, rabbits, pandas, puppies, bear cubs, elephants, kittens and just about every other animal in the wild kingdom. |
| Boiling water in space versus on earth. Enquiring minds want to see. |
| Film buffs will get a kick out of Pinewood Dialogues, part of an online exhibition by The Museum of The Moving Image. The "dialogues" are a series of candid conversations with influential, creative individuals from the arenas of film, television, and digital media. Get up close and personal with legendary figures such as Sidney Lumet, Ang Lee, Coppola, David Cronenberg, Terry Gilliam and other pioneers of film and visual arts. Do not miss the "dialogue" with late director Robert Altman, the true visionary and creative inspiration behind "MASH", "The Player", "Short Cuts" and many more classic works. |
| The online show, called "News at Seven," uses an automated computer program to comb online news outlets for major stories of the day and to pair them with video and still photos culled from sites like Google Images and YouTube. The newscast is delivered by an avatar -- a digital representation of a person. In the coming months, users will be able to enter their preferences to create a customized personal newscast based on topics that interest them, with an avatar and background of their choice. |
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