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Special Features: Informational & Fun Websites |
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Laptop Screening At Airports: This site highlights the Transportation Security Administration's (TSA) new "checkpoint friendly" laptop bag procedures. The updated process enables you to keep your laptop in its bag during screening if a clear x-ray image of the laptop can be obtained. Manufacturers have stepped up to the challenge of designing appropriate bags, and the site features photos of both "OK" and "not OK" styles. Visit the site to learn more about the do's and don'ts of streamlined screening. Recipe Repository: What's for dinner? Or breakfast? Or your next holiday party? The answers are just clicks away on this recipe-packed site. Search by nutritional benefits, cooking method, prep time, or star ingredient. And check out the bonus features like Daily Recipe, Tools and Quizzes, and Free Newsletters for even more food and cooking information. Sport-ese: The Olympics are over and fall sports are in full swing. Are you on top of your game when it comes to knowledge of sports clichés and jargon? If not, you'll want to visit this site, which lists those phrases you tend to hear again and again in a variety of sports situations -- teams on the rise, a lost game, in the locker room, etc. You can even look up phrases you've heard in a non-sports context, or take the site's quiz to determine your sports cliché savvy. Cyber Safety: The Family Online Safety Institute (FOSI) is an organization that works to make the online world safer for children and their families. The website includes information about FOSI's activities, events, and projects, as well as resources for parents, children, web developers, teachers, and policy makers. Useful tools for parents include The Parents' Child Protection Guide, Children's Bill of Rights, and a Family Online Safety Contract that can be printed for parents and kids to sign. Got a Gas Guzzler?: Tired of spending a small fortune each time you fill up? Thinking about trading in your van or SUV for a more fuel-efficient vehicle? This site features a handy calculator that shows how long it will take before you pay off the balance of a vehicle purchase, how much per month you could expect to save on gas, and how soon you'll really breakeven and start saving money. Is It Just Me?: This entirely self-descriptive website allows you to find out if you're unable to access other websites because of a malfunction in your system or theirs. Type in any URL and get instant feedback as to whether or not the site is actually "down." If so, there's nothing to do but wait it out. If not, it might be time to call your favorite computer geek. Survey What They Play: If you want to make sure your kids are playing appropriate video games, get to know this invaluable online resource. The site is loaded with information about thousands of video games, including reviews from experts and comments from readers. Find out which games are most popular and which ones are new. You can search for suitable games based on brand, genre, age, and rating, or even post your own comments. Drive In For Big Fun: Quick! Before summer ends, check out a drive-in movie! Use this website, "dedicated to the history, preservation and promotion of outdoor theatres," to help you find a drive-in (BIG screen) movie theater in your area. View photos and find contact information for drive-ins in the U.S., Canada, and Australia. Don't forget to stop by the "Reminiscing at the Drive-in" page to read letters from those with fond drive-in memories. School Support: This back-to-school season, consider providing help to a struggling school. Pick a local classroom, or have the site pick one for you, and donate funds that can be used for supplies, educational games, and other materials. If you are a teacher, you can use the site to register your classroom for assistance. Or start a program in your school or community. With teachers spending an average of $1,200 per year of their own money for classroom materials, they can use all the help they can get. Find Funds Fast: A search on this site could prove to be the rainbow that leads to your pot of gold. MissingMoney.com features a database of records showing unclaimed assets required to be turned over to states. Examples of assets that might be waiting for you include stocks, bonds, mutual funds, bank accounts, safe deposit box contents, uncashed checks, insurance policies, utility deposits, and unclaimed tax, retirement, or mortgage insurance refunds. The interface is easy to use and returns results within seconds. Momentary Awe: Travel Photography: Catalin Marin's travel photography site features stunning photographs from her travels around the world. The site attracts fellow travelers who want to find out more about the places listed on the site before they visit. The Road Best Traveled: This summer consider making a car trip that's more about the road itself rather than the final destination. Selected roads throughout the U.S. have been designated America's Byways based on natural, historic, or cultural qualities. No two are the same, yet all reflect something uniquely American. The National Scenic Byways Program website provides maps and directions, ideas on stops to make, photos, visitor information, and links to related travel sites. Wonderful World of Watermelon: Nothing goes over better at a picnic than a big, juicy slice of watermelon. Not only is watermelon delicious, it's also versatile, nutritious, and relatively inexpensive. The National Watermelon Promotion Board website offers great recipes, tips on decorations, games and activities for kids, and suggestions on how to make watermelon part of a healthy diet. Fight Bac!: Keeping bacteria from spoiling your next picnic or cookout is easier than you might think. The mission of the Partnership for Food Safety Education is to educate the public about safe food handling, and they recommend following four simple steps: clean, separate, cook, and chill. Their website offers details on these bacteria prevention methods, as well as facts on the causes, symptoms, and challenges of foodborne illness. Phoenix Mars Mission: NASA's Phoenix spacecraft landed on Mars in late May and is busy collecting data to help determine if Mars could support life, what the history of water is at the landing site, and how the Martian climate is affected by polar dynamics. Follow the progress of the fascinating Phoenix Mars Mission at this site. Read the latest news, view photos and videos of the spacecraft and its surroundings on Mars, and download materials to learn more about the science, technology, and engineering involved in space exploration. Convenient Conversion: Sometimes communication in the digital world requires speaking a different language. In computing terms, this often means converting files to new formats. Zamzar is a free, online file conversion service that allows you to change image, document, music, video, and other types of files into various formats. The service involves four simple steps, and converted files are sent directly to your e-mail account. This site comes in handy, for example, when you receive an e-mail attachment that you can't open with your computer's software. A Grateful Nation: Memorial Day, celebrated this year on May 28th, is a time to remember the ultimate sacrifice made by so many to support our country. This site is a comprehensive resource about Memorial Day, and includes information on the holiday's history and special events as well links to museums, memorials, and cemeteries honoring fallen heroes from the Civil War to the present day. You'll also find opportunities to offer support to U.S. troops currently deployed. Will the Third Time Be a Charm?: The upcoming release of Spider-Man 3 promises to deliver the excitement and fun we've come to expect from the first two movies. Spider-Man 3 reunites Tobey Maguire and Kirsten Dunst, and follows the adventures of the super hero as his suit turns from red to black, giving him greater powers but posing new challenges. Check out the official site to see the trailer and get the behind-the-scenes scoop. Find Your Celebrity Look Alike: Ever been told you that you look like a famous celebrity? Now you can see for yourself in seconds ... and it's free. Simply go to this site and upload a full-face photo, and the search engine will compare your face with thousands of celebrities. You'll instantly receive photos of your celebrity matches, along with a percentage figure for each. You could be 76% Shania Twain, for example, and 67% Laura Linney. It makes a fun break on a busy day. Discover a Unique Style of Vacation: You've been on a cruise. You've stayed in plenty of hotels, cabins, and cottages. But have you ever taken a houseboat vacation? Houseboating lets you (and your family and friends) enjoy the amenities of a luxurious condominium while you move to a different lakefront spot whenever you want a change in scenery. This site includes a variety of articles geared for houseboat beginners, and includes links to places you can rent a houseboat in the U.S. and Canada. Slow Down and Save: Every five miles an hour you drive over 60 mph is like paying an extra 20 cents more per gallon of fuel. Clearly, it pays to slow down, especially since the cost of gasoline typically rises during the summer vacation season. You'll find lots more fuel-saving tips when you visit this site, including advice on driving more efficiently, keeping your car in shape, and planning and combining trips. You can also download the 2007 Fuel Economy Guide to help you choose a more efficient vehicle -- a move that can save you hundreds of dollars every year. Get Growing: April is Lawn and Garden Month so it's time to get growing. To plant the seeds of inspiration, you may want to visit this comprehensive landscaping site. It's an excellent resource for planning your next yard project, and includes information on all aspects of landscaping from selecting the right plants for your climate to adding beautiful and practical pathways. And because things aren't always rosy, this site also offers advice on controlling weeds, insects, and disease. Top Picks in NASA Pics: It's the next best thing to being there. Each day NASA posts the Astronomy Picture of the Day on this site, along with a brief explanation written by a professional astronomer. You can see our fascinating universe in all its glory, and get a close-up feel for the stars and planets so far away. In addition to the Astronomy Picture of the Day, check out selected photos dating back to 1995. Reel Reviews: If you don't get your fill of stars on the NASA site, come here for detailed reviews of new movies in theaters and those coming soon. These reviews include handy links to the stars in the cast that show their other movie credits, as well as lists of similar films under Close Movie Matches. Still deciding what to see this weekend? Be sure to view the new trailers included on the site and take a look at the current top ten at the box office. Wonders of the World: The Ancient 7 Wonders of the World (including the Pyramids at Giza and the State of Zeus at Olympia) will soon have company. This site is gathering a global vote for the New 7 Wonders of the World and millions of people have already voted for their favorite "wonder." Will the new list include the Statue of Liberty? Eiffel Tower? The Kremlin? We'll find out, appropriately enough, when the seven winners are announced on 07.07.07. There's still time for you to cast your ballot, but as with any sort of online voting site, it's best to use a "throw away" e-mail address (like Hotmail) rather than your main e-mail account. Draft Tracker: Keep up with the action of the 2007 NFL draft (April 28-29) with the help of the official NFL site. All the stats you could possibly want are here including prospect profiles listed by position or school, and a team-by-team history of first round picks from 1982 to 2006. NFL.com draft guru Gil Brandt weighs in with results from this year's Pro Days, plus you'll find draft analysis and columns, player diaries, and links to team draft sites. The Top 100 April Fool's Hoaxes of All Time: As judged by notoriety, absurdity, and the number of people duped. Just a lot of plain old fun. Also on the same website check out The Top 10 Worst April Fools Day Hoaxes Ever and The Origin and History of April Fools Day. Astounding Stats: Any idea what the least populated country in the world is? It's Pitcairn Island, which has just 45 residents. What country has the most Internet users per capita? It's New Zealand. And did you know that in Taiwan, mobile phones actually outnumber people? You'll find a world of fascinating facts at this site, which provides a vast central source of statistics comparing nations in more than one thousand categories. Browse around and you'll probably discover a thing or two about your own nation. For example, did you know that the U.S. is the all-time leader in number of Summer Olympics medals? March is Women's History Month: According to the U.S. Census Bureau, women now outnumber men in this country (152 million compared with 148 million). If women of the past are any indication, today's women will continue to make valuable contributions in every field. This site celebrates Women's History Month with a look at groundbreaking American women throughout the years. For example, did you know that Victoria Chaflin Woodhull was the first female presidential candidate in 1872? Check out the list of Firsts in Women's Achievement, the History of Women's Suffrage, and the National Women's Hall of Fame. It's an inspiring tour through the lives of amazing women. Laughter on Ice: For the first time in the history of the sport, two men (Will Ferrell and Jon Heder, star of Napoleon Dynamite) compete as a figure skating pair. That's the premise behind this lighthearted comedy from DreamWorks, which promises to spin, lift, and jump its way through laugh after laugh. (The skating costumes alone are worth a chuckle.) See the trailer at this site and register for updates on special events and promotions. Wealth of Money Tools: Different stages of life generate different types of financial decisions. Should I buy or lease a car? How much house can we afford? How much should I save for college? How long will my money last once I retire? This site contains a broad range of step-by-step financial worksheets to help you find the answers you need. It's easy to use and a smart resource for making informed choices about buying, saving, investing, and borrowing. Join the Fun of Fantasy Baseball: The free fantasy baseball game, MLB.com Open, starts a new season on April 2nd. So now's the time to join the fun and compete for the $10,000 prize. The easy-to-play game is designed for fantasy participants of all skill levels so anyone can take a swing at it. Play with your friends in your own private league or test your skills as an individual against a random group of eleven other participants. Get complete contest rules and register online, then check out the site's stats on team records, players, draft action, and more. What's Your Health Risk?: One way to take better care of your health in 2007 is to educate yourself about your disease risks. This site, developed over the past ten years by the Harvard Center for Cancer Prevention, can help you discover your risk of developing five important diseases -- cancer, diabetes, heart disease, osteoporosis, and stroke. Simply answer questions about your health, background, and lifestyle with easy-to-use interactive tools and get personalized tips for preventing disease. Knowledge is power and Your Disease Risk gives you the knowledge you need to make smarter, healthier choices. Track The Travels Of $10s And $20s: Ever wondered where your paper money goes after it leaves your wallet at the checkout counter? Well a guy by the name of Hank Eskin was so curious that he started a website in 1998 called WheresGeorge.com so he and others could track the travels of U.S. currency. All you need to do is enter the denomination, series, and serial number of any U.S. dollar bill, as well as your current zip code. The site will then follow the movement of that bill, giving you the average speed in miles per day and the actual travel time between exchanges of the currency. Stargazing: Hollywood's numerous awards ceremonies are in full swing with the Grammy Awards and Academy Awards in February and the excitement continuing until the Emmy's in June. If you've always dreamed of seeing your favorite stars in person, seeing-stars.com is your insider's guide to making it happen. Here you can find out how to catch a glimpse of the stars as they arrive in their limos, sit in the audience of the American Music Awards, or even watch an actor get his star on the Walk of Fame. If you're really starstruck, check out this site's pages on where the stars live, shop, play, and dine -- and even where they're buried. Give It A Try: If one of your New Year's resolutions is to expand your charitable giving, give this unique site a try. JustGive is a nonprofit organization whose mission is to connect people with the charities and causes they care about and to increase overall giving. They'll help you find the charities most meaningful to you from more than 1,000,000 nonprofits. You can also buy a charity gift certificate, start a charity wedding registry, track your donations, and get a tax summary at the end of the year. Super Bowl Legend: Legend has it that annual stock market trends are predicted by the winner of the Super Bowl. According to what's known as the "Super Bowl Indicator," a triumphant team from the old American Football League (now the American Football Conference) foreshadows a down market, but a winner from the old NFL (now the National Football Conference) means the bulls are coming. Learn the origins of this famous legend here and take a look at how accurate the "Super Bowl Indicator" has been in the past at predicting Wall Street's ups and downs. New Passport Site a Hub for Travelers: In an effort to enhance security and efficiency at U.S. borders, new passport requirements went into effect on January 23, 2007. All air travelers entering the U.S. from Canada, Mexico, and the Caribbean (excluding Puerto Rico and the Virgin Islands) must now show a passport, even if they are U.S. citizens. The Travel Industry Association recently launched this "one-stop shopping" site to simplify the process for passport applicants. It features links to appropriate agencies for U.S., Canadian, and Mexican citizens and explains how and where to get a passport. Hit the Slopes: If you want to go skiing but aren't sure where, this site is a great place to start. There's a mountain of information including links to nearly 8,000 sites offering ski resort details, snow sports news, and vacation-planning resources. You can get current conditions at virtually any ski resort in the world and view snow cams at locations from Aspen to Zermatt. International Polar Bear Day: February 27th is International Polar Bear Day, a great time to learn more facts about our furry friends. For example, the five "polar bear nations" in which the bears are found include the U.S. (Alaska), Canada, Russia, Denmark (Greenland), and Norway. Explore this site to check out common myths and misconceptions about polar bears, see the photo and video gallery, and find out how you can support polar bear conservation projects. Hot Recipes for Cold Weather: Gathered here are 10 favorite recipes for winter meals -- hearty comfort foods guaranteed to warm up your spirits on even the coldest days. There's Mexican Pizza, Slow Cooker Chicken Curry, Swiss Eggs, Herbed Oatmeal Bread, Monte Cristo Sandwiches, Crock-pot Beef Stroganoff, Indulgent Mac & Cheese, and more. If you're not hungry now, you will be after getting a taste of this site. Iditarod: Get Ready for the Race: The Iditarod trail sled dog race is unlike any other event in the world. Each team of 12 to 16 dogs and their musher cover 1,150 miles across mountain ranges, frozen rivers, dense forests, desolate tundra, and windswept coastline. The adventure begins on Saturday, March 3rd. To get ready for the action, check out the official site of the Iditarod now. You'll find an interactive trail map, information on this year's teams, a history of the event -- even a glossary of mushing terminology. Become an Iditarod Insider and you'll also have access to daily video clips throughout the race and live streaming video events. Charlotte's Web On The Web: When E.B. White spun his tale called Charlotte's Web, families everywhere fell in love with the book about loyalty, trust, and sacrifice at Zuckerman Farm. This month, a live-action adaptation from Paramount opens in theaters. The all-star cast features Julia Roberts as the voice of Charlotte and Dakota Fanning as Fern, and also includes Steve Buscemi, John Cleese, Oprah Winfrey, Kathy Bates, Reba McEntire, Robert Redford, and Beau Bridges. Children will especially love the movie's site where they can meet the animals in the barn and be called by name! You can also download games, iron-ons, and bookmarks, or send a Charlotte's Web e-card to a friend. Goodbye To Stains When The Party's Over: A friend spills coffee on your beige carpet. Your 3-year-old smears chocolate on your new sofa. Let's face it -- stains often show up uninvited at holiday parties. When it happens, go quickly to this site for professional tips on stain removal from carpets, upholstery, and clothing. You'll find step-by-step advice for getting rid of everything on the stain "menu" from eggnog to salad dressing. That way, the only thing left after your parties are over will be the memories. Christmas In New York City: There's something magical about Christmas in New York that draws scores of visitors each year. If you can't be there in person, enjoy the next best thing by visiting this site. Take an online stroll down Fifth Avenue and see the hustle and bustle of shopper-filled streets. Peek into the holiday window displays at Macy's, Lord & Taylor, and Saks. Gaze at the giant tree at Rockefeller Center. The Big Apple is bursting with holiday spirit and you can get a taste of it here. Holiday Help For Any Elf: Are you scurrying around trying to finish last-minute holiday projects? This site is as stuffed as a Christmas stocking with helpful resources including lyrics to carols, festive recipes, and lots of fun games. We particularly liked the collection of free holiday clipart images you can download and use for e-greetings, gift tags, or invitations. To download an image, simply right click on it and select "Save Picture." Reviewing Regifting: Regifting (giving as a gift something one previously received as a gift) has gained in popularity since comedian Jerry Seinfeld first coined the term a decade ago. In fact, more than half of adults in a recent survey found regifting acceptable. After all, it does save time and money. If you're new to the concept, learn when and how to properly regift in the section called Regifting 101. You can also chuckle through real-life regifting stories, like the woman who received a fondue set with chocolate and marshmallows packages enclosed that had expired two years ago. Oops! This Site Gets Popular Vote: Here's a non-partisan site that covers a lot of political ground including voter information, campaign finance updates, news and blogs, poll results, and political humor. Click on any state to see who is running for office. Get links to campaign websites. Read the headlines from newspapers across the country. If you want to stay informed on politics this month, this online resource could be just the ticket. Too Much Turkey?: Once Thanksgiving dinner is done, what do you do with all the turkey that fills up your frig? Sure, you can make turkey sandwiches. But if you're hungry for something a bit more exciting, get inspired at recipegoldmine.com. From Gobble Gobble Casserole to Mexican Turkey Tortilla Soup, there's a recipe here to please any family. Play Jeopardy! Online: If you can't get enough of Alex Trebek and this hugely popular game show, try your hand at the online version. It's fast-paced fun that covers the same kinds of categories you see on TV. Or test your music knowledge with the new online Rock & Roll Jeopardy! You can also find out how to become a contestant, take a 360° set tour, check out the message board, and even buy a Jeopardy! ringtone. Without question, this could be the answer to a dull afternoon. All Lit Up: Here's a holiday movie that takes a humorous look at the competitive "sport" of Christmas decorating in the suburbs. When new neighbor Danny (Danny DeVito) sets out to create the biggest holiday light display in the world, it turns the neighborhood into a nightmare. Steve (Matthew Broderick), a suburban dad and Christmas enthusiast, finds his previously well-planned life suddenly turned upside down. In theaters in November, this electrically charged family film has the power to light up the season. 100 Snapshots Every Hour: A 2005 Webby Award winner, this fascinating site offers an ever-changing view of world events. Each hour, 10x10™ collects the 100 words and pictures that matter most on a global scale and presents them in a single picture postcard. The pictures and corresponding news bites are retrieved automatically from three international news services - Reuters World News, BBC World Edition, and New York Times International News. Simply click on any of the 100 images to read the corresponding news stories. Essential Reading Before Flying: To check or not to check? We suggest you check out the site of the Transportation Security Administration before you pack for your next plane trip. Posted here is the most current and detailed information on airport screening procedures and baggage contents restrictions. Take a few minutes to review the rules and you can spare yourself some annoying surprises at the terminal. Carve Out Time For Pumpkins: After you go to the pumpkin patch, make this "cutting edge" site your next stop. It explains absolutely everything you need to know about pumpkin carving to get ready for Halloween night. Learn how to select the right pumpkin, which tools to use, and how to create masterpiece Jack O' Lanterns with the help of stencils. You'll even get tips on extending the lifespan of your creations and photographing them successfully. Discover Geocaching: Searching for a new hobby? Explore Geocaching -- the adventure game for GPS users which began in 2000. Participants hunt for caches (boxes with a logbook and little treasures) that have been placed all over the world in both remote locations and cities. Location coordinates are posted online but the challenge is actually getting there and finding the cache. When you do, you take an item from the box and leave one of your own. This official site provides all the directions you'll need to get started. Poor Pluto Gets Demoted: On August 24, 2006, the International Astronomical Union (IAU) formally downgraded Pluto from an official planet to a dwarf planet. Feeling a little sorry for little Pluto? Find out more at this NASA site, including details on the New Horizons mission that will reach Pluto in July 2015 - the first visit of its kind. Scientists hope the long journey will finally answer questions about the mysterious dwarf planet's surface properties, geology, and atmosphere. |
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