9-11 Resources

The Resource Shelf is a wonderful site. They even have an enewsletter, which is responsible for a number of the posts you see listed in this blog. This particular post is a collection of resources (articles, photos, videos, etc.) about the 9-11 tragedy. Since the Resource Shelf has these items listed already, it's just a bit easier to send you to their site for the posts. Also it gives you another great source of reference resources. If you are a researcher, or someone who just likes to have facts at your fingertips, I strongly recommend regular visits to the Resource Shelf.

75 Years of "Pull it off in one motion and it won't hurt."

That's right a site of Band-Aids. Through a series of events, best left to the webmaster to explain, a large collection of Band-Aid boxes are displayed that go back over 50 years. Along with this is some interesting historical information. An interesting look at package marketing over the last 50+ years.

Things to Come that Came

What most folks refer to as science fiction is sometimes called speculative fiction. Perhaps that sounds like word games to you. But just think about some of the common everyday devices we have today that were speculated on first in science fiction: cell phones, waterbeds, calculators, personal computers, and even Waldo. To see the documentation for this visit this post in RealTechNews. There is a list and posting of over 650 inventions that came to us from science fiction.

Fabulous Holidays

At Fabulous Foods you can find suggestions for food preparations for various holidays and special events. The standard holidays like Thanksgiving, New Years, and 4th of July are covered. But so are special events like Superbowl parties and Summer vacations. The focus here is on food and the site has things to sell but it also has a lot of free info and ideas that can help make your holiday party something a little special.

Halloween is Here

Here are a couple of Halloween sources. They cover the gamut from costumes to safety and even one with appropriate Halloween quisine.

Halloween.com is a wonderful resource. It contains links for finding a costume or a haunted house. You can find safety tips for the holidays or a little Halloween history. If you have other questions it even contains a Halloween search facility.

If you're looking for a haunted house in your region of the country be sure to try Haunted House.com

If you're looking for something a little different for your Halloween party this is not the place to go. This food is LOTS different! Here is a full seven course meal from the Chilled Brain Spread to the Bloody Heart Dessert. And my personal favorite, the Alien Autopsy Shooters for the aperitif. A collection of really creepy recipes can be found at A Successful Halloween Supper Party. NOTE: All items described are edible and also not made of what they look like.

Have a great and safe Halloween!

Bill Gates Wants to Give You $1,000. True or False?

Let's face it. A thousand dollars is pocket change to a guy like Bill Gates. So when you check your email and find a letter from Bill saying he will give you a thousand bucks for simply sending him an email your response might be something like: "It could happen." NOT!

The above and thousands of other urban legends have found their way into our emails. Frequently they arrive imploring us to "Send this message to everyone you know." And of course you immediately send it to everyone you know. Then within five minutes after emailing everyone in your address book, you receive a message from one of the recipients telling you this message is a hoax and you should make arrangements to contact all your friends and tell them you've made a real fool of yourself.

Want to avoid this embarrassing situation? Of course you do.

Next time you receive a message about an incurable virus, an electronic greeting card that automatically sends cards to all in you address book, gas boycotts and more; visit Snopes: Urban Legend Reference Site first. It has hundreds, maybe thousands, of these email hoaxes and legends. (NOTE: By the way. One of the above legends is true. Go to Snopes to find out which one.)

Snopes has information concerning the origin of the legend/hoax, the text of email messages carrying the falsehood, an explanation of any aspect of the story that may have a basis in truth. It's the place I go first whenever I get an email stating the United States Postal Service is going to begin charging $.39/email because it's loosing too much revenue because of email.

Ming Tsai Online

While I may not be one to pull out the pots and pans for supper, I do like spicy food. Apparently so does Ming Tsai, host of several television programs and author of two books. There's a lot of commercial stuff (shopping links) but there's also a lot of free stuff. Weekly recipes are made available along with a recipe archive. Unfortunately I couldn't find any search facility available. Apparently you can also visit Apple's iTunes site and get free downloads of his weekly podcasts by typing "Simply Ming" in the iTune search box.

Sports: The Wonderful World of What If...

If you aren't playing some fantasy sports game yourself, you probably know several folks who are. These are the people that What If Sports is designed for. Not being exceptionally conversant with these type of games myself, I'll defer to WIF's self description.

"We have established ourselves as the Internet's foremost authority on simulation for MLB, NFL, NHL, NBA and college basketball. Whatifsports.com has expanded to include SimLeagues(tm)™ that allow users to create teams of their all-time favorite players and pit them against other user-created teams, as well as Dynasty games that put users in complete control of college sports programs."

Membership is free.

Street Magic

If you like performing magic tricks, StreetMagic might be just what you're looking for. It's a free online magic magazine (Subscribe at Magic Roadshow). It claims to provide information you won't find in books at the public library or even at the local magic shop. Instead it offers techniques for preparing and presenting your illusions to an audience up close. The home page carries endorsements from various magicians and other magic magazines.

Technology Before the 21st Century

At the Museum of RetroTechnology you can view the technology of the past. Look at the mechanical analog computer worked, steam powered bicycles, compressed air gramophones, and the ammonia motor. Find out what they were capable of and how they were used. The site provides insight into where we were and how we got where we are today. Lest you become to critical of the past, just think about this time next century when folks are looking back at our archaic computing technology, lack of functional ground or air transportation, and our dependence on fossil fuels for energy.

Engineering TravelGuide

The National Society of Professional Engineers and National Engineers Week have come up with a Sightseer's Guide to Engineering. The sponsors maintain that nearly everything that makes our lives easier, more fun, and more productive, have been designed by engineers. The sight has info about many places in the country where this is evident. A brief description of the location and then why it is interesting from an engineering point of view accompanies each reference.

Memorial Day from Kim Komando

A lot of sites I post on these blogs are sited by Kim Komando, computer maven of the radio waves, in various newsletters that I receive from her. She also has a website that can be most informative to those seeking additional computer knowledge. This is her Memorial Day site from last May (See how far behind I am with my posts?) that she put together. It contains links to many sources dealing with the history of Memorial Day and the wars since the inception of the holiday.

Kung Hay Fat Choy!

That's the Chinese equivalent of Happy New Year. Sunday, January 29, 2006 will mark the beginning of the Chinese New Year. What follows is a partial list of sites that will explain this holiday, the Chinese Zodiac, the animals, the elements and more. Many of the sites are exclusively about the Chinese Zodiac, others discuss Feng Shui, culture, and other zodiacs. Enjoy!

All About Feng Shui, Astrology on the Web, China Online, Chinese Astrology, Chinese Astrology, Chinese Astrology Year Chart, Chinese Birthday Chart, Chinese Calendar, Chinese Culture Center of San Francisco, Chinese Customs Festivals, Chinese Holidays, Chinese New Year, Chinese Calendar, Chinese Zodiac, Chinese Zodiac, Chinese Zodiac [Ba Zi and Tzu Wei Tou Shu Astrology], Chinese Zodiac Signs, Chinese Zodiac Symbols, Feng Shui Magazine, Feng Shui Store, Horoscope Universe, Info Please Almanac, Kung Fu Magazine Chinese Horoscopes, Legend, Mything Links, Onmark Productions, PhillyChinaTown, Spirit Project, Suite 101: Chinese Astrology, Travel China Guide, Tuvy.com, Year 2006 of Chinese Astrology Red Dog New Year, Zodiac Lore