Writers: Aesop

Thousands of searchable, browsable versions of Aesop's fables, in five languages, including English, Latin and Greek, at the University of Oklahoma. <http://www.mythfolklore.net/aesopica>

Politics: Progressive Democrats of America

"We are committed in word and action, both personally and politically, to justice and democracy at all levels, and to the preservation and restoration of natural ecosystems in America and worldwide....We are specifically committed to the realization of new models for achieving local, national and global security that redirect the current wasteful and obscene levels of military spending toward the uncompromising and effective funding of: health and education programs; an end to discrimination; the provision of full and meaningful employment; and an end to poverty for all people....To achieve these goals, we dedicate ourselves to work within the general framework of the Democratic Party and with sister organizations to create a new, democratic, grassroots-based, nationally federated organization." -- from the website. <http://www.pdamerica.org/>

Resource: David Rumsey Map Collection

10,000 hi-res, historical maps. Free to look at, free to capture. <http://www.davidrumsey.com/>

Election: I went for my Hotmail and got Bush's instead

<http://www.albinoblacksheep.com/text/bushmail.html>

Pencil Sharpening: Scrabble Solitaire On Line

<http://www.pizmogames.com/games/inwordz/index.html>

Travel: Tibetan & Himalayan Digital Library

"The Tibetan & Himalayan Digital Library is an international community using Web-based technologies to integrate diverse knowledge about Tibet and the Himalayas for free access from around the world." Search areas include Collections, Reference, Community, Education, and Tools. There are multimedia areas, such as the archive of approximately 1700 photographs taken in Tibet in the 1930s by Frederick Williamson, a British political officer. Also included are thematic collections in such areas as art, architecture, literature and history; interactive maps and models (such as a 3D representation of Meru Nyingba Monastery in Lhasa); electronic journals; translators and dictionaries; digital tools for displaying fonts; and a community section with discussion forums, email lists, blogs, and links relevant individuals and organizations. <http://iris.lib.virginia.edu/tibet/frameset.html>

History: New England

Since its founding in 1792, the Massachusetts Historical Society has been one of the most important research libraries and manuscript repositories in New England. As part of its public outreach, the library offers over 50 digitized online tools, including an Object of the Month that gives detailed information and a digitized image of an important item in the archive, such as a dramatic photograph of the Boston & Albany passenger train from 1885, and an electronic archive of correspondence of the Adams Family (including those legendary letters between John and Abigail Adams) and original documents and papers from Thomas Jefferson. <http://www.masshist.org/>

Webtools: Do you know where your satellite is?

With all this talk about long-distance space explorations to Mars and yonder, it's easy to forget how much crap is up there already. Sebastian Stoff has created this little application to enable budding astrologers, Trekkies and other space fans to keep track of the many satellites circling the Earth. Orbitron is free, but it is "cardware," which means that if you found the program useful, the author politely requests that you send him a postcard. <http://www.stoff.pl/index.php>

The Lit'ry Life: Wired for Books

Developed by the Ohio University Telecommunications Center and the Ohio Humanities Council, this site has high-quality audio recordings of authors reading their own works, video recordings of plays, and an archive of author interviews conducted in the 70s and 80s by Don Swaim on Book Beat, including readings of Beatrix Potter stories and a wonderful performance of Alice's Adventures in Wonderland by Karen Chan, and poetry and short story audio recordings by Andrew Dworkin, Robert Pinsky, Dave Smith, and Bonnie Proudfoot, among others. Interviews include Isaac Asimov, William Burroughs, Anthony Burgess, and Gunter Grass. <http://www.wiredforbooks.org/>

Search: MusicPlasma

MusicPlasma.com claims to be a visual search engine. You tell it your favorite recording artist and it will produce a map to similar acts. <http://www.musicplasma.com/>

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"In this grand complex of tunes, indeed, Tchaikovsky tells all his troubles -- how he was forced into a marriage against his will; how he lost three thousand roubles on Russian government bonds; how his pet dog Wolfgang was run over by the Moscow-Petersburg D-zug and lost an ear; how the concert-master was in liquor at Dresden and spoiled his Romeo and Juliet; how ill he was after eating that gekochter Schellfisch at Prague; how the wine merchant, Oroshatovich, swindled him with synthetic Burgundy; how he lost his baggage between Leipzig and Berlin, and had to conduct in borrowed cuffs; how the summer boarders at Maidanovo played "Monastery Bells" on their tin-pan pianos; how that schuft of a critic at Koln accused him of borrowing his Capriccio in G sharp minor from Offenbach; how his friend Kashkin won a hundred roubles from him at yeralash; how he cut his hand opening a can of asparagus; how melancholy it was to come to fifty-year." -- H.L. Mencken reviewing Tchaikovsky's Sixth Symphony in "The Young Mencken."

Writers: Chaucer

Although you may hate Chaucer from your force-feeding of The Canterbury Tales in HS, back in the day he was famous for his love poems. The Geoffrey Chaucer Web Site, maintained by Jane Tolmier et al at Harvard, has the complete text of the tales, along with interlinear translations that juxtapose the original Middle English text with its modern English counterpart, plus background essays on the writer's life and times, and an extensive bibliography. <http://icg.harvard.edu/~chaucer/>

Music: Official Gershwin Site

Sponsored by the Gershwin estate, the site is an audio and visual tibute to the G.'s legacy, and contains a number of recordings (Ella Fitzgerald's "Of Thee I Sing," Tony Bennett's great "Strike up the Band" with Basie, and Judy Garland's "The Man That Got Away"). Also: a timeline of the brothers' lives, photographs, detailed profiles, and an events calendar of current events. http://www.gershwin.com/

History: WWII Color Pics

Recently rediscovered color photographs of the Secord World War are the feature here. The site is divided into such topics as The Battlefield, Psychology of War, The Home Front, and Social Aspects. Highlights include footage of African Americans in the Armed Forces and a montage of General Doolittle as he and his pilots plan their raid on Japan. The site also has backgrounders on the rediscovery of the color film footage, much of which had been presumed lost. <http://www.pbs.org/perilousfight/>

History: The Israel Museum

Founded in 1965, the Israel Museum in Jerusalem has holdings of Judaica, Old Masters, and archaeological artifacts from the Holy Land. Online exhibits include money in antiquity; sacred animals of ancient Egypt; and A Day at Qumran, which examines the daily life of the Essenes, the sect responsible for the Dead Sea scrolls. <http://www.imj.org.il/>

Grooming: The Online Toothpaste Museum

Over 1000 samples of toothpaste divided by location, brand name and year of production (and a picture, but, unfortunately, but not much else). Still...Scotch-flavored toothpaste? Here. Hopalong Cassidy toothpaste. Here. Browse by country, brand name (Warheads? Here) and date of production (from the late 1800s to the present). There is an "interesting facts" section with such items as a toothpaste recipe that's over 2000 years old. <http://www.toothpasteworld.com/>

Grooming: History of the Toothbrush

"The ... article on the evolution and analysis of the toothbrush was written by Kyle Sembera, a mechanical engineering senior at Lamar University, Beaumont, Tex., as a final assignment for an elective design class. Sembera=92s toothy research project was inspired by course professor P.R. Corder who, during a recent visit to the dentist, found himself musing on the merits of modern toothbrush design." - from the website. <http://www.asme.org/mechanicaladvantage/March2001/toothbrush.html>

Music: The Hidden Song Archive

"The Hidden Song Archive -- a database of hidden and unlisted tracks from albums by all types of artists.... A hidden, or "ghost", track is a song on an album which is not listed on the album sleeve or jacket. On a CD, usually the song is accessed by playing the final track through then going through a brief moment of silence....An unlisted track is different because the hidden song has its own track and can be directly accessed without having to go through the previous song." - from the website. <http://www.hiddensongs.com/>

Pencil Sharpening (+ Edification): Gum Blondes

Be sure to read the bio before looking in the gallery (this could be a museum conservator's nightmare). <http://www.gumblondes.com/>

Architecture: At Ground Zero

This companion site to a PBS Frontline show that "tells the inside story of the first stormy year in the struggle to design the Freedom Tower, the signature skyscraper to rise on the site where the World Trade Center once stood" provides essays and slide shows on the designs themselves, plus video clips, profiles of stakeholders, info about the architects, a chronology, a bibliography, and related links. Not to miss: Paul Goldberger on "The Limts of Architecture." <http://www.pbs.org/wgbh/pages/frontline/shows/sacred>

Resource: Tools for CyberJournalists

Net scribe Jonathan Dube has created "One-stop shopping for your newsgathering needs." Included are links to major news sites, search engines, e-mail look-ups, reference sites, reporters' sites, newsgathering links, and tips on supersearching and verifying data.
<http://www.cyberjournalist.net/supersearch/>

A complete list of J-Blogs (blogs by professional journalists) is located at
<http://www.cyberjournalist.net/cyberjournalists.html>

Engineering: How Everyday Things Are Made

"If you've ever wondered how things are made -- products like candy, cars, airplanes, or bottles [and motorcycles, jelly beans, chocolate, crayons, and golf clubs] -- or if you've been interested in manufacturing processes, like forging, casting, or injection molding, then you've come to the right place....developed an introductory website for kids and adults showing how various items are made. It covers over 40 different products and manufacturing processes, and includes almost 4 hours of manufacturing video. It is targeted towards non-engineers and engineers alike. Think of it as your own private online factory tour, or a virtual factory tour....We are able to cover only a small number of products and processes, but we believe it will give you...a good introduction to the world of manufacturing." -- from the website. <http://manufacturing.stanford.edu/>

Nature: Extraordinary Birds

"From Kundha Kulam's vibrant monsoon marshes to the rugged American Rockies," Extraordinary Birds explores the "intimate links that people have forged with birds." Includes video clips, a talk with the editor of American Falconry magazine, a quiz, links, etc. <http://www.pbs.org/wnet/nature/exbirds/index.html>

Outdoors: A Practical Guide to GPS

National Resources Canada offers Don Bartlett's instruction manual on GPS, including the basic features a buyer should expect of a handheld unit, and the limitations and potential inaccuracies of readings collected by GPS. The site is intended for "hikers, fishermen, hunters and all persons who wish to traverse the wilderness in the full knowledge of where they are, where they have been and where they wish to go." <http://www.dbartlett.com/>

Music: Size Matters

Created by Prof. James H. Cook of Birmingham-Southern College, this site is an interactive tutorial on the king of instruments. The Organ and How it Works is a primer on organ components, such as keyboards, consoles, pipes, chests, cases, and chambers. Organ History goes back to the invention of the first organ, the ktseibios, built by a Greek engineer working in the third century BC. Geographical Tour is a chronology of the organ and its evolution in various locales, including England, France, Germany, Italy and the US. <http://panther.bsc.edu/~jhcook/OrgHist/begin.htm>

The Culture: The Mindset List

"For the sixth year, Beloit College has developed and distributed to the faculty and staff the 'Beloit College Mindset List.' According to co-editor Tom McBride, Keefer Professor of the Humanities at the Wisconsin liberal arts college, the list helps to slow the rapid onset of 'hardening of the references,' in the classroom.

"McBride notes that 'These entering students were born into a world that had developed a screening test for AIDS and where managed healthcare was gaining its first foothold. The Middle East had replaced the USSR and Eastern Europe as our greatest challenge to security. It is a generation which believes in technological innovations and solutions and where digital devices, PIN numbers and calling cards are an integral part of their lives. Despite the fears associated with AIDS and divorce, we should remember that this is a generation that has grown up in a largely successful, prosperous society . . . I believe they are fascinated and vexed by the results of the world they have made,' says Prof. McBride." -- from the website. <http://www.beloit.edu/~pubaff/releases/mindset_2007.html>

Why we love the 'Net #77,414,729: Steve Jackson’s Badger Pages

Badger buff Jackson's comprehensive site makes it easy "for people around the world to find out more about badgers, the threats they face, and how they can be protected": packed with info and photos, well-organized, both by badger species and by specific issue (e.g. conservation, threats, managing badgers in urban settings, etc.), with detailed instructions on how to study badgers properly. <http://www.badgers.org.uk/badgerpages/>

Ooga Booga: GodHatesShrimp.com

A quick overview of dietary rules in the Bible (left to another day are all those other passages referring to how many wives and concubines you are permitted, selling your daughters as slaves, eating your children if you are starving, being gay...). <http://www.godhatesshrimp.com/>

Writers: Shakespeare in Quarto

"On this site you will find the British Library's 93 copies of the 21 plays by Shakespeare printed in quarto before the theatres were closed in 1642." The site allows page-by-page comparison of different quarto editions and copies of the plays and provides a glossary and background information about the writer, his works, and Elizabethan theater. <http://www.bl.uk/treasures/shakespeare/homepage.html>

Pencil Sharpening: This one is harder than it looks...

...at least at the upper levels: <http://www.scenta.co.uk/reverse/>

Research: Reverse Dictionary

"OneLook's reverse dictionary lets you describe a concept and get back a list of words and phrases related to that concept. Your description can be a few words, a sentence, a question, or even just a single word....Keep it short to get the best results. In most cases you'll get back a list of related terms with the best matches shown first." -- from the website. <http://www.onelook.com/reverse-dictionary.shtml>

Fashion: Kimono, Kimono Fabric & Japanese Clothing

"Kimono site has info on japanese kimono, japanese clothing, kimono fabrics, patterns and japanese yukata robes. How to tie an obi sash, how to wear yukata robes, make a kimono, wear hakama pants, types of japanese shoes including; zori, geta sandals and tabi socks." -- from the website. <http://www.japanesekimono.com/>

Good Eatin': "Lemon tree very pretty and the Lemonflower is sweet..."

A celebration of the "citrus fruit used to make lemonade and other fabulous recipes such as ... lemon cake and lemon meringue pie," the site features dozens of recipes; health, beauty, and cleaning tips using lemons; and -- demonstrating a sharp understanding of search engine optimization -- "because the term 'lemon' is also used to describe faulty products such as an automobiles," the site also includes links to some lemon-law resources as well as more predictable lemon-related sites. <http://www.lemonflower.com/>

Good Eatin': The Ultimate Citrus Page (the lemons didn't quite do it)

"...your portal to the world of citrus, the most complete index of links to web pages involving the Florida Citrus Industry and other citrus web sites around the world," the site has numerous annotated links on such topics as the citrus industry, orange juice, recipes, growing regions (including Florida, California, Texas, Arizona, Brazil, and Mexico), and weather. <http://www.ultimatecitrus.com/>

Travel: Baja California

This spirited site by a group of Bajaficionados deals mainly with the needs of the active tourist, with advice on diving and off-road vehicles, local lore, the usual motel and restaurant recommendations, and maps. <http://www.baja.com/>

Transportation: Futuristics

"What is 'transportation futuristics'? Many of us are familiar with covers from Popular Science that depict commuters buzzing around in tiny aircraft and landing on rooftops, or fanciful drawings of vehicles that run on roads, float on water and also take to the air. The basic problem many of us face each day -- how to get from Point A to Point B in the least amount of time with the least amount of trouble -- has inspired many to dream of marvelous ways to solve that problem....In spite of failing at what they set out to achieve, many futuristics, especially those from transportation practitioners, have influenced the design of equipment, facilities or operations. This exhibit examines why these intriguing ideas failed and what lessons we can learn from those failures." - from the website. <http://www.lib.berkeley.edu/news_events/exhibits/futuristics/index.html>

Grooming: History of the Toothbrush

"The ... article on the evolution and analysis of the toothbrush was written by Kyle Sembera, a mechanical engineering senior at Lamar University, Beaumont, Tex., as a final assignment for an elective design class. Sembera=92s toothy research project was inspired by course professor P.R. Corder who, during a recent visit to the dentist, found himself musing on the merits of modern toothbrush design." - from the website. <http://www.asme.org/mechanicaladvantage/March2001/toothbrush.html>

Grooming: History of the Toothbrush

"The ... article on the evolution and analysis of the toothbrush was written by Kyle Sembera, a mechanical engineering senior at Lamar University, Beaumont, Tex., as a final assignment for an elective design class. Sembera=92s toothy research project was inspired by course professor P.R. Corder who, during a recent visit to the dentist, found himself musing on the merits of modern toothbrush design." - from the website. <http://www.asme.org/mechanicaladvantage/March2001/toothbrush.html>

Grooming: History of the Toothbrush

"The ... article on the evolution and analysis of the toothbrush was written by Kyle Sembera, a mechanical engineering senior at Lamar University, Beaumont, Tex., as a final assignment for an elective design class. Sembera=92s toothy research project was inspired by course professor P.R. Corder who, during a recent visit to the dentist, found himself musing on the merits of modern toothbrush design." - from the website. <http://www.asme.org/mechanicaladvantage/March2001/toothbrush.html>

The Lit'ry Life: "The Literary Encyclopedia...

...is a free scholarly publication owned collectively by its contributors, most of whom teach in universities. Its entries represent the state of the art in scholarly understanding....To date we have over 700 distinguished contributors, more than 1650 completed entries and indexed entries on 5150 writers, 14,500 works and 1275 topics." -- from the website. <http://www.litencyc.com/>

Intellectual Property: Free copyright protection

"At one pole...a world in which every last use of a work is regulated and in which 'all rights reserved' (and then some) is the norm. At the other end...anarchy — a world in which creators enjoy a wide range of freedom but are left vulnerable to exploitation. Balance, compromise, and moderation — once the driving forces of a copyright system that valued innovation and protection equally — have become endangered species.

"Creative Commons is working to revive them. We use private rights to create public goods: creative works set free for certain uses. Like the free software and open-source movements, our ends are cooperative and community-minded, but our means are voluntary and libertarian....a single goal unites Creative Commons' current and future projects: to build a layer of reasonable, flexible copyright in the face of increasingly restrictive default rules....Creative Commons licenses are not designed for software, but rather for other kinds of creative works: websites, scholarship, music, film, photography, literature, courseware, etc." -- from the website. <http://www.creativecommons.org/>

Radio: NPRistan

PublicRadioFan lists what's available online from public radio stations around the world, right now. Customize search to find shows by geographical location, music vs. non-music shows, and even, usefully, by audio format (RealPlayer, Windows Media, Quicktime, etc.). <http://www.publicradiofan.com/>

Travel: Cheapest gasoline in your area

"GasBuddy.com can help you find cheap gas prices in your city. It is comprised of 170 gas price information web sites that help consumers find low gasoline prices. All web sites are operated by GasBuddy. GasBuddy has the most comprehensive listings of gas prices anywhere by far. Each of GasBuddy Organization's web sites provides a live forum for consumers to post local recent low and high gasoline prices. Since gasoline prices change frequently and may vary by as much as 20 percent within only a few blocks it is important to be able locate the service station with the lowest priced fuel. GasBuddy Organization web sites allow consumers to both share information about low priced fuel with others as well as target the lowest priced stations to save at the pumps!" -- from the website. <http://www.gasbuddy.com/>

LA site: <http://www.losangelesgasprices.com/>

History: Discover the Ottomans (the empire, not the sofas)

From Bogazici University in Istanbul, "...the leading information portal regarding the history, military, culture and arts of the Ottoman Empire" features illustrated essays in English and Turkish on such topics as military campaigns, sultans, harems, and calligraphy. Includes maps, a glossary, a chronology, and a bibliography. <http://www.theottomans.org/english/index.asp>

Pencil Sharpening: Stack the Cats

Feline Tetris: <http://www.extrabad.com/games/stackthecats.html>

That's Entertainment: The BBC Guide to Comedy

"Info on every TV comedy shown in the UK, from 1936 to today." -- from the website. Find shows alphabetically or by year, talent, "Great Comedy Moments," assorted lists, video clips, et cetera. <http://www.bbc.co.uk/comedy/guide>

Good Eatin': The Stinking Rose

"Garlic Central is a free resource all about garlic - the stinking rose. Whatever your interest in garlic - be it garlic cooking, garlic for health or just general interest - Garlic Central is the place to come....For the technically minded we also have a page on the chemistry of allicin." - from the website. <http://www.garlic-central.com/>

Travel: A great map site, at last

Map24: <http://www.us.map24.com/>

Pencil Sharpening: What are people searching for?

Dogpile's SearchSpy is a moving picture of the human psyche: http://www.dogpile.com/info.dogpl/searchspy/

Good Eatin': La Vecchia Cucina, Santa Monica, CA

Arguably the best neighborhood restaurant in America, La Vecchia Cucina serves northern Italian specialties on Santa Monica's Main Street. Friendly, inexpensive and reliable, the Vec has a full bar, a great selection of wines, and on Sundays a jazz brunch. http://www.LaVecchiaCucina.com/

Labor: Shop Union!

The AFL-CIO Union Label Department's internet shopping site has added many new union-made gifts, products and services and entire new categories, including housewares, lawn and garden equipment, and music (with catalogues and individual websites for many popular artists). Existing categories include clothing, shoes and accessories; books and magazines; artwork and posters; greeting cards and gift wrap; computers; flowers; food and beverages; sports equipment; and toys and games. "Support Good Jobs: Shop Union!" <http://www.ShopUnionMade.org/>

Research: NYPL's Picture Collection Online

From New York Public Library's Digital Library, the Picture Collection Online is a database of 30,000 public domain digital images from books and periodicals, original photographs, prints, and postcards. Primarily dated pre-1923, the collection includes some of the most popular images in the NYPL collection, housed in folders that can be browsed or searched. <http://digital.nypl.org/mmpco/>

Nature: Urban Neightbors

Urban Neighbors, a New York Public Library exhibition, exploits the libe's vast collection for illustrations, dating from the mid-17th century to the 20th, of the creatures that live side-by-side with humans in New York City. The show "celebrates...the abundance of wildlife within its five boroughs. It refutes the canard that pigeons, cockroaches, and rats are the city's only local wild fauna." On line approximately 40 images are displayed in eight sections, including Tiny Neighbors (butterfly, moth), Unwelcome Neighbors (cockroach, housefly, mosquito), Occasional and Unexpected Neighbors (a Humpbacked Whale stranded on Rockaway Beach in 1991). Some of the pictures are by well-known naturalists, such as a bullfrog painted by Mark Catesby and passenger pigeons by John James Audubon, reproduced from plates in rare books from NYPL special collections. The exhibition also includes a sighting log that invites visitors to record unusual animals they have spotted. <http://urbanneighbors.nypl.org/>

Pencil Sharpening: Nearly as addictive as FreeCell

Stereotypes from Eric Meyer Photography is an endlessly fascinating exploration of human physiognomy: <http://www.ericmyer.com/blue/stereotypes.htm>

Jazz: Lionel Hampton -- His Life and Legacy

Hampton died on the last day of August. His site at the School of Music at the University of Idaho includes a brief biographical sketch, written tributes from his peers, including Quincy Jones and James Moody, extraordinary clips of Hampton performances, and affecting audio and video files from his memorial service at Riverside Church in New York. <http://www.uidaho.edu/hampton/index.html>

Architecture: The Changing of the Avant-Garde

MoMA presents a history of modern utopian and visionary architecture, using architectural drawings from the late 1950s to the 1970s donated to the museum by the Howard Gilman Foundation. The main menu is divided into Megastructures (larger, public buildings and complexes) and Postmodern Roots (smaller buildings, retail spaces and houses). Each project consists of two to four drawings and explanatory text. Highlights include ideas by Superstudio, a group of five Italian architects who, in the 1960s, created a set of purely theoretical drawings that impose gigantic, white, grid-patterned structures on natural landscapes such as rivers, ocean coastlines, and the Alps. Postmodern Roots in the 1960s has drawings of projects by Robert Venturi, Michael Graves, James Stirling, Rem Koolhaas, and others. <http://www.moma.org/gilman/main.html>

Writing: Hooks (great opening sentences)

"The idea behind this site is simple, to compile as large a collection of great opening hooks from as many titles, authors, and genres as possible. Of course, what makes a great opening sentence or paragraph is subjective, but we know it when we read it. This database will allow readers to share their favorites with each other and provide writers a chance to see what readers look for in an opening sentence." -- from the website. <http://openinghooks.us/>

“It was the best of times, it was the worst of times, it was the age of wisdom, it was the age of foolishness, it was the epoch of belief, it was the epoch of incredulity, it was the season of Light, it was the season of Darkness, it was the spring of hope, it was the winter of despair, we had everything before us, we had nothing before us, we were all going direct to Heaven, we were all going direct the other way -- in short, the period was so far like the present period, that some of its noisiest authorities insisted on its being received, for good or for evil, in the superlative degree of comparison only.” -- Charles Dickens, over the top in A Tale of Two Cities.

Music: Didgeridoo Cultural Hub

Ever since the first Didgeridoo Festival in Joshua Tree four years ago, I've had a soft spot for this mesmerizing Aussie instrument. Info on making and maintenance, including images, video clips, audio files, and performance techniques. "What is a real didgeridoo and what is a fake didgeridoo? In this website, you will find useful topics that shed light on the complex issues of authenticity and commercial exploitation. We explain what an authentic didgeridoo is and contrast this with a souvenir didgeridoo and didgeridoos of non-Indigenous origin." -- from the website. <http://www.ididj.com.au>

Gardening: Mums the word

"The mission of the National Chrysanthemum Society is to: (1) educate by researching, teaching, and disseminating procedures for the propagation and cultivation of the chrysanthemum (2) improve the standard of excellence of the chrysanthemum (3) promote a wider interest in the cultivation of the chrysanthemum (4) encourage a greater use and display of the beautiful blooms of the many cultivars of the chrysanthemum and (5) increase the bonds of fellowship among growers of the chrysanthemum." -- from the website. <http://www.mums.org/>

Instruction: How to fold a shirt (video)

It works! http://albinoblacksheep.com/flash/fold.php

Music: The 50 Essential Songs of the Twentieth Century

"Thousands of songs are released each year by thousands of artists in an ever expanding array of genres...it's been happening for decades and it's getting harder and harder to figure out what should be in your collection! How is a music lover, casual or devoted, to have any chance of knowing what to buy? What's good? What's going to last? How can a person find the music that matters?" -- from the website. <http://www.cbc.ca/50tracks/vote/>

Jazz: Smooth jazz on line

"Who are we? 'The Island' is our tiny Internet radio station which broadcasts from the village of Fetuna on the island of Raiatéa near Tahiti. It's amazing what a satellite link-up can do. 'The Island' was created as a 'labor of love' of the art of smooth jazz. Our goal is to get away from the standard practice of playing mediocre just-released commercial music, but at the same time provide a place of musical refuge for radio listeners. As the announcer says, '...music designed to make you feel good!' Our music is commercial-free, positive, and non-destructive in its message. At any time during the day you can hear music from great smooth jazz artists such as 'Chieli Minucci, Norman Brown, Warren Hill, Sade, Jeff Golub, Richard Elliot, Marc Antoine, Paul Hardcastle to name just a few.

"The format - We play 'smooth jazz' spiced with music of adult contemporary artists. It's an 80/20% split. The format is designed to appeal to the majority of adult listeners. Songs included in our playlists are songs that are unique in music composition and can stand on their own. You'll hear melodious saxaphones, magnificent percussion, pianos and guitars." -- from the website. <http://www.SmoothIsland.com/>

Travel: Tailgating

"It's a community social. It's pre-game, halftime, post-game and more." -- former cooking school founder Joe Cahn

The self-proclaimed "Commissioner of Tailgating," Cahn travels the U.S., visiting sports venue parking lots to chronicle tailgating — the practice of picnicking, barbecuing, or fine dining from the back of a car, van, or other vehicle. Joe shares site descriptions, preparation and gear tips, trivia, and a tasty collection of recipes. <http://www.tailgating.com/>

Jazz: Frank Potenza

Elay picker and Joe Pass protoge Frank Potenza, who has several CDs of his own and was on '3 Guitars' (with Pat Kelley and John Stowell) and who played with Dizzy Gillespie, George Van Eps, Bud Shank, Mose Allison, James Moody, Harry Edison, Jack McDuff, Red Holloway, Gene Harris, et al, has some sound and video clips on his site. <http://www.frankpotenza.com/>

Books: Free Classics

Planet PDF is offering an assortment of popular classics (Alice's Adventures in Wonderland, Moby Dick, The War of the Worlds, Pride and Prejudice, etc. -- 44 so far), free! <http://www.planetpdf.com/free_pdf_ebooks.asp?CurrentPage=1>

Health: How clean is your kitchen?

"What comes to mind when you think of a clean kitchen? Shiny waxed floors? Gleaming stainless steel sinks? Spotless counters and neatly arranged cupboards?...They can help, but a truly "clean" kitchen -- that is, one that ensures safe food -- relies on more than just looks: It also depends on safe food practices....In the home, food safety concerns revolve around three main functions: food storage, food handling, and cooking. To see how well you're doing in each, take this quiz, and then read on to learn how you can make the meals and snacks from your kitchen the safest possible." -- from the website. <http://www.pueblo.gsa.gov/cic_text/food/kitchen-safety/t_kitchsaf.htm>

Pencil Sharpening: David Hasslehoff, Surrealist

From the Department of No Comment: <http://www.hellonetwork.com/demo/toysclub/video.asp?speed=hook300>

The Lit'ry Life: The Nineteenth Century English Novel

An introduction to the works of Jane Austen, Emily Brontë, Charles Dickens, George Eliot, Thomas Hardy, and William Makepeace Thackeray by a Brooklynn College professor; also has annotated links to related sites. <http://academic.brooklyn.cuny.edu/english/melani/novel_19c>

Architecture: Tall Buildings

The Museum of Modern Art in Manhattan uses tall buildings throughout the world, including the World Trade Center, to illustrate such skyscraper design issues as aerodynamics, structural technologies, skins (the outer surfaces), public space, green technologies, and circulation and escape routes. <http://moma.org/exhibitions/2004/tallbuildings>

Nature: Autumn leaves?

"How does autumn color happen? ... For years, scientists have worked to understand the changes that happen to trees and shrubs in the autumn. Although we don't know all the details, we do know enough to explain the basics and help you to enjoy more fully Nature's multicolored autumn farewell. Three factors influence autumn leaf color... " -- from the website. <http://www.na.fs.fed.us/spfo/pubs/misc/leaves/leaves.htm>

Products: Search Engine Belt Buckle

"The Search Engine Belt Buckle is a PDA which shows 24 hours of all the bizarre and banal things people are looking for on the web. Art project or pointless hack? That’s for you to decide, but all we know is that people are searching for some pretty freaky stuff out there, so why not put in a belt buckle and get on the scene like a sex machine?" -- from the website. <http://www.engadget.com/entry/6833839062762584/>

Music: The Black Woodstock

Wattstax's website site is a companion to PBS' P.O.V. documentary about "Wattstax, the 1973 documentary directed by Mel Stuart. In August 1972, seven years after the Watts riots, the legendary Stax recording label staged a benefit concert in Los Angeles for 90,000 people. As time went by, it became known as the Black Woodstock." Includes vintage reviews, soundtrack highlights, an interview with Mel Stuart, and links to related information. <http://www.pbs.org/pov/pov2004/wattstax/>

Public Policy: The Cost of the War in Iraq

"War affects everyone, not just those directly involved in the fighting. This webpage is a simple attempt to demonstrate one of the more quantifiable effects of war: the financial burden it places on our tax dollars." -- from the website. <http://costofwar.com/>

Why we love the 'Net #77,414,728: The Shitty Tipper Database

Check out the gossip and glossary for more fun: <http://www.bitterwaitress.com/std/>

Pencil Sharpening: Bash a Penguin

Bet you can't bash just one: <http://n.ethz.ch/student/mkos/pinguin.swf>

Pop Culture: Accoutrements

Serious fun: Parasite Pals is the newest oddity from Accoutrements, the potato gun people: <http://www.accoutrements.com/>

Parenting: Infectuously (sic) Cute Plush Microbes

"Most folks never realize how cute microbes can be when expanded 1,000,000 times and then fashioned into cuddly plush. Until now, that is. Keep one on your desktop to remind yourself that there is an "invisible" universe out there filled with very small things that can do incredible damage to much bigger things. Then go and wash your hands. Lather, rinse, repeat." -- from the website. <http://www.thinkgeek.com/cubegoodies/toys/6708/>

Surrealism: Meat sculpture

<http://www.surrealcoconut.com/meat_gallery_home.html>

Research: Cuban and Cuban-American Studies

This site by the Institute of Museum and Library Services and the University of Miami's Digital Library Initiatives provides online access to research materials held by the Cuban Heritage Collection. Begun in 1999, the project has currently preserved more than 3,500 items and created nearly 14,000 digital images, including sections on moderate Cuban politics from 1952 to 1965 and Afro-Cuban diasporan religions. The Cuban Memories section includes brief descriptions of such topics as the American colonies in Cuba at the turn of the 19th century.
<http://digital.library.miami.edu/chcdigital/index.html>

Pencil Sharpening: Uses ping-pong balls (the goldfish wouldn't bounce)

If you thought the BBC's Wastebasket-ball was addictive (see LOL 31.8.04), you'd better stay far, far away from "Win a Goldfish": <http://www.microprizes.com/mp45.htm>

New World Order: The Resistance

The ACLU, the organization that challenges government actions that threaten civil liberties, should change its slogan to "Now -- More Than Ever." The site has updates and materials on federal legislative issues, including criminal justice, drug policy, immigrant rights, national security, and more. Hot topics: the Patriot Act I and II, the Flag Burning Amendment, the Victims' Rights Amendment, and Government-Funded Religion. <http://www.aclu.org/legislative/legislativemain.cfm>

Labor: Newswire

"The Department of Labor offers a free electronic subscription service, which allows citizens to receive notifications by e-mail alerting them to newly available information. Subscribers get updates on their items of interest automatically without having to return to the Web site to check for changes." <http://www.dol.gov/dol/email.htm>

Research: Nextaris - get organized

"Nextaris is your one-stop, time-saving, personal Internet information toolkit. It provides the tools you need to effectively use information on the Web:
* one-click Search across the major engines
* automatic tracking and accumulation of personalized news
* one-click capture of web pages/content to personal online folders
* secure sharing of folders -- access from anywhere at anytime
* simple 1-2-3 publishing; your folders, blogs, or web pages
* easy creation of social networks / communities of interest
* private messaging -- virus- and spam-free; and much more
Best of all, Nextaris offers all these tools in a single interface and it is 100% web-based, meaning there is nothing to download or install." -- from the website. <http://www.nextaris.com/>

Security: No more personal data at media sites

"BugMeNot.com was created as a mechanism to quickly bypass the login of web sites that require compulsory registration and/or the collection of personal/demographic information (such as the New York Times)." -- from the website. <http://www.bugmenot.com/>

Webmastery: Spam Avoidance

"Mailinator [is a] no signup, instant anti-spam service. Here is how it works: You are on the web, at a party, or talking to your favorite insurance salesman. Whereever you are, someone (or some webpage) asks for your email. You know if you give it, you're gambling with your privacy. On the other hand, you do want at least one message from that person. The answer is to give them a mailinator address. You don't need to sign-up. You just make it up on the spot. Pick jonesy@mailinator.com or bipster@mailinator.com - pick anything you want (up to 15 characters before the @ sign). Later, come to this site and check that account....Mailinator accounts are created when mail arrives for them. No signup, no personal information, and when you're done - you can walk away - an instant solution to one way spammers get your address. Its an anti-spam solution for everyone. The messages are automatically deleted for you after a few hours." -- from the website. <http://www.mailinator.net/>

Search: Blinkx search tool

Using self-learning algorithms to understand the context of what users are reading on their computer screen (such as emails, websites, articles, etc.), Blinkx works in the background to instantly connect to related information on the web, suggesting content from news sites, websites, videos and blogs. It is not designed to replace current search engines, but is an additional way to use information on the web. For now, Blinkx is compatible only with systems running Windows 98 and above. -- from the website, more or less. <http://www.blinkx.com/>

Design: WhatTheFont!

"Ever wanted to have a font just like the one used by certain publications, corporations, or ad campaigns? Well now you can, using the WhatTheFont font recognition system. Upload a scanned image of the font and we'll show you the closest matches in our database!" -- from the website. <http://www.myfonts.com/WhatTheFont/>

Good Eatin': "Bad Bug Book"

"This handbook provides basic facts regarding foodborne pathogenic microorganisms and natural toxins. It brings together in one place information from the Food & Drug Administration, the Centers for Disease Control & Prevention, the USDA Food Safety Inspection Service, and the National Institutes of Health." - from the website. <http://www.cfsan.fda.gov/~mow/intro.html>

Performance: Olde English Sketch Comedy

A recent effluence of a brand of comedy that stretches back through Beyond the Fringe and the Goon Show to English music hall and vaudeville: <http://www.oldeenglish.org/>

History: The Battle of Britain

"These pages catalogue the official reports of the most important event in Royal Air Force history, the Battle fought over Britain between the 10th July and 31st October 1940. For the first time, the complete Fighter Command Operational Diaries for the period have been published in full, day by day over the whole period the Battle. Supporting this official text are a series of pages detailing such facets of the Battle as the Commanders, the Aircraft and the changes in Tactics on both sides as the situation developed. Although some of the Fighter Command claims of the time (i.e. numbers of German aircraft shot down etc.) have since been proved to be greatly exaggerated on some days, it nevertheless does give a unique insight into the RAF's perspective of the Battle of Britain." -- from the website. <http://www.raf.mod.uk/bob1940/>

Nature: Frog Cam, singing frogs, and much more

Frogs have been around for more than 200 million years and now range in size from half an inch (the Cuban tree toad) to 15 inches (and 7 pounds: the goliath frog of West Africa). At the American Museum of Natural History's frog site read an introductory essay, peruse pics and general info on a number of frog species (for example, the Budgett's frog, which can puff up its body with air, arch its back, and scream like a cat in order to frighten predators, or the seriously beautiful dart poison frogs of Central and South America), find out about the creature's reproductive cycle, enjoy the sounds of peepers from Madagascar, and check out the live "FrogCam." <http://www.amnh.org/exhibitions/frogs/?src=e_ce>

Nature: U.S. Fish & Wildlife Service's "Birds, Birds, Birds"

"The U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service is the principal Federal agency charged with protecting and enhancing the populations and habitat of more than 800 species of birds that spend all or part of their lives in the United States." Its site is a clearinghouse for data on the agency's education and research programs (such as the Waterfowl Population Surveys that have been conducted for over half a century), and includes Birdscapes Magazine and fact sheets on migratory birds. The Laws, Regulations, and Policy section contains policy statements, hunting regulations and the text of legislation (such as the Migratory Bird Treaty Act). <http://birds.fws.gov/>

Outdoors: American Trails

"American Trails is...[a] nonprofit organization working on behalf of all trail interests, including hiking, bicycling, mountain biking, horseback riding, water trails, snowshoeing, cross-country skiing...American Trails members want to create and protect America's network of interconnected trails....Our goal is to support America's trails by finding common ground and promoting cooperation among all trail interests. We're involved in everything from training trails advocates to providing increased trail opportunities for individuals with disabilities." -- from the website. <http://www.americantrails.org/>

Mythology: The Pantheon

The mob of Greek gods and goddesses is always abustle and this site will help you to keep up. If you haven't been by in a while, start with the essay on the creation of the world out of chaos, then the piece on the creation of mankind. The section on the principal gods contains an interactive family tree, from Uranus and Gaea to their gaggle of great-grand children -- Apollo, Artemis, et al. Plenty of links to other sites dealing with mythology and a list of suggested readings. <http://www.the-pantheon.com/>

Writers: Beckett

Established and maintained by Tim Conley and Allen Ruch, Apmonia, devoted to Samuel Beckett's life and work, includes plays, interviews, a biography, and an image gallery, plus links to Beckett listservs and discussion groups. Well? Shall we go?:
<http://www.themodernword.com/beckett/>

Good Eatin': For those too lazy to chew...

...Krispy Kreme has introduced liquid donuts:
<http://www.local6.com/money/3569016/detail.html>

Film: Archive

Thousands of films and documentary clips from the Smithsonian's collection from the late 1800s to television commercials. <http://www.archive.org/movies/movies.php>

History: Life in Elizabethan England --A Compendium of Common Knowledge --Elizabethan Commonplaces for Writers, Actors, and Re-enactors

"The organization on any particular page [is]: short, brief, snappy, 1-lesson-at-a-time. One topic per page, one page (no more than two) per topic. One factoid per paragraph. Where there is more than enough to fill that guideline, break it up, put it a little further away, give it another snappy title, cross reference it. Just don't get bored with it. Pick it up any time, and learn one new thing. This is history for the MTV generation. These aren't essays, they are fact bites." - from the website. <http://renaissance.dm.net/compendium/index.html>

Pencil Sharpening: Puppet Master

Make the skeleton puppet walk and dance.
A toy? A game? Or something more sinister?
You decide: <http://starterupsteve.com/swf/wireframe.html>

Pencil Sharpening: Etymologic

Fun word game:
<http://www.etymologic.com/index.cgi>

-------------------------------------

Bush at Yale: "Our paths crossed in a most interesting way in sophomore year, when a classmate of mine wrote an expose for the college paper about the physical hazing at Deke house. Apparently, initiates had been branded with hot irons - the delta on their backside. The editor asked if I would illustrate the article. So the very first cartoons I did for the Yale Daily news were about Deke and George Bush. It became a minor scandal on campus - and it was the first time Bush was interviewed by the major media. He told the New York Times it was just a coat hanger, and, you know, it didn't hurt any more than a cigarette burn. It does put one in mind of what his views on torture might be today." -- Gary Trudeau in Rolling Stone 2004.

Music: Russian Classics

This Soros Foundation-supported project contains over two dozen recordings by some of Russian's most prominent soloists and bands. Examples include piano pieces, such as Chopin's waltzes by Nahum Shtarkman, Rachmaninoff by Andrei Diev and Listz by Alexis Golovin, orchestral works such as Tchaikovsky Symphony Orchestra of Moscow Radio playing Bruckner's Fourth, and lovely Russian choral music by a host of composers as performed by the Russian State Chamber Choir Komi. Also here, the 1958 recording of the Laureates of the First Tchaikovsky Competition, with a performance by Van Cliburn. <http://classical.music.ru/>

Environment: "Noah's Ark for the Internet era"

"What is ARKive?...It is the Noah's Ark for the Internet era - the world's centralised digital library of films, photographs and associated recordings of species, accessible to all via the world wide web....ARKive is leading the virtual conservation effort - finding, sorting, cataloguing and copying the key records of species, and building them into a comprehensive and enduring audio-visual record....However, this recorded material is scattered around the world, held in a variety of commercial, specialist and private collections. Until now the records have been inaccessible to the general public and unavailable for scientific and educational use." - from the website. <http://www.arkive.org/>

Civilization: The History of Sanitary Sewers

"The purpose of this website is to house this dynamic collection of materials about the evolutionary development of sewers over the past 5500 years, and to provide a location for the sharing and distribution of information to others....This website is an educational, non-profit endeavor. Its intent is to offer some insight into the history of sewers and the role its operators, engineers, and builders may have played in making our environment, homes and communities better and healthier places to live." - from the website. <http://www.sewerhistory.org/>

Statistics: How long do we have?

And the days dwindle down...: <http://www.ssa.gov/OACT/STATS/table4c6.html>

Privacy: We Like to Watch (article)

"Ubiquitous sensors and massive interlinked databases are propelling us into the post-Orwellian era. Are we ready to know everything about each other?"
-- from the article. <http://www.spectrum.ieee.org/>

Planning: Professional Journals about Highway Transportation Issues

"Public Roads is the bimonthly magazine of the Federal Highway Administration (FHWA). Reading Public Roads is the easiest way to keep up-to-date on developments in federal highway policies, programs, and research and technology." -- from the website <http://www.tfhrc.gov/pubrds/pubrds.htm>

"Focus, which is published monthly by the U.S. Department of Transportation's Federal Highway Administration (FHWA), has expanded its scope and is now covering the implementation of innovative technologies in all areas of infrastructure. This includes bridge technology, pavement technology, asset management, program administration, winter maintenance, and work zone safety." -- from the website. <http://www.tfhrc.gov/focus/focus.htm>

"The Research & Technology Transporter is where you can find the latest information on Federal Highway Administration (FHWA) research and technology. Whether you want to find out about ultra-thin whitetopping, pedestrian safety, new congestion-pricing options, what manual has the latest highway statistics, the Interactive Highway Safety Design Model or what kinds of new thin-bonded overlay for bridges is being developed, the Transporter has the story." -- from the website. <http://www.tfhrc.gov/trnsptr/rtt.htm>

Writers: Shakespeare -- trivia

"Trivia about the world's most famous playwright....William Shakespeare facts are few and far between. While we know alot about the playwright's works, Shakespeare facts concerning the Bard's personal life are less forthcoming." - from the website. <http://www.absoluteshakespeare.com/trivia/facts/facts.htm>

Writers: Shakespeare -- on the reliability of texts

"Shakespeare: Subject To Change is: Accessible: You are on the receiving end of resources and expertise brought together from different parts of the globe...Multisensory: You watch, read, hear, interact, and create your own variation. Rich content: You can examine digitized versions of rare documents and prints, or clips from multimillion dollar films ... Self-directed: You make the choices -- go in any direction or sequence, at any pace. ... Shakespeare's language eclipses that of the average person today. His enormous vocabulary included over 27,870 different words. The average person today uses between 7500 and 10,000 words. While some of Shakespeare's language may seem archaic now, much of what he wrote is still used in everyday conversation." - from the website. <http://www.ciconline.org/bdp1/>

Good Eatin': American Egg Board (recipes)

"A hen requires 24 to 26 hours to produce an egg. Thirty minutes later, she starts all over again....The egg shell may have as many as 17,000 tiny pores over its surface. Through them, the egg can absorb flavors and odors. Storing them in their cartons helps keep them fresh....Eggs age more in one day at room temperature than in one week in the refrigerator....About 240 million laying hens produce approximately 5.5 billion dozen eggs per year in the United States....White shelled eggs are produced by hens with white feathers and ear lobes. Brown shelled eggs are produced by hens with red feathers and red ear lobes....To tell if an egg is raw or hard-cooked, spin it! If the egg spins easily, it is hard-cooked but if it wobbles, it is raw." - from the website. <http://www.aeb.org/recipes/index.html>

Public Policy: What is single-payer health insurance? (animation)

"I'm a medical student, computer geek, health policy wonk, weblogger, health care activist, and all around good guy. I promise. I believe that the current health system is a mess: disorganized, wasteful, inefficient, and many times, harmful. My goal is to educate." -- from the website. <http://www.grahamazon.com/sp/whatissinglepayer.php>