New as of  September 30, 2007...

What price wisdom? Free online - how's that? Organized Wisdom Health offers "human powered and doctor guided search service" on health issues, which includes "Wisdom Cards" on selected conditions, including the conditions' definitions, symptoms, treatments, prevention measures, scientific journal articles, and more. As always, medical information sites only supplement and do not replace the knowledge of your medical condition you and your doctor share. The link is in TO DO: MEDICAL INFO ONLINE. Stay informed, stay healthy!

Online Converter takes it to a new level: over 5,000 units and 50,000 conversions.  Length, temperature, volume, weight, speed, cooking, area, currency, and many more. This handy reference tool from OnlineConversion.com has been added to TO DO: REFERENCE, where you'll find many ways to make life more efficient.

New as of  September 22, 2007...

Intelways is a search portal that lets you choose the kinds of results you're seeking (general, images, news, academic, reference, and more). If you don't select one pathway, the default is Google.  The search page features current headlines in several of these search services. The new addition has been added to NET SEARCH on this site.

FutureMe: Send yourself an e-mail or send it to anyone else, for that matter, in the future. Reminders, anniversaries, life goals. Specify when you want to send it. This novel feature's link has been added to TO DO: COMPUTER HELP SIMPLIFIED.

The Children's Nursery and Its Traditions: A website that links to full texts of many classics in children's literature of the 19th and early 20th centuries - Mother Goose, Grimm and Hans Christian Andersen fairy tales and more. The new link is in JUST FOR KIDS - for kids of all ages.

New as of  September 16, 2007...

Hard-to-find 800 numbers can be a valuable resource! The top 5 are Amazon.com, Ebay.com, Paypal.com and Yahoo.com - browse through alpha listings, find numbers for customer service, billing, corporate headquarters and more. The link to HardToFind800Numbers.com has been added to TO DO: REFERENCE.

Wikitravel is a user-generated travel portal that provides information on world travel from people who have been there. If you're heading out on business or pleasure, check out Wikitravel to find the true insiders' guide to your destination. The new link to Wikitravel is now in TO DO: TRAVEL INFO.

Rare and unusual plants with edible, medicinal or other uses can be located through "Plants for a Future." You'll find access to a 7000 plant database, an edible plant database, a medicinal plant database, and more information about organics, perennials and woodland gardening. The new link has been added to TO DO: GARDENING AND LANDSCAPING.

110,000 Biographies are only a click away. Omnibiography.com includes notables from antiquity to now, and has biographies in all languages. The new link is in LAW LIBRARY: ELECTRONIC TEXTS ONLINE. But before you click through, read on....

Bartleby's Nonfiction Collection includes the works of Darwin, Descartes, DuBois, Einstein, Emerson, Franklin, Paine, Rousseau, Voltaire, Wells, Whitman, and many more. This library is open 24/7. Now click through to LAW LIBRARY: ELECTRONIC TEXTS ONLINE!

New as of  September 8, 2007...

GAO (Government Accountability Office) issues reports that are carefully researched. Since it's so much a part of the news (and will be in the coming week), an assessment of the civil War in Iraq in which the US is involved is a most current topic. The 17-page PDF report that the GAO produced on the situation there, even though it has been revised since its original appearance, still paints a gloomy picture. You need to read it to be informed - click here. The ostrich approach (it's bad news - I don't want to hear it) is outdated and unsafe.

Brushster is a fun way to explore your creative side. It's on the National Gallery of Arts site in their KidsZone, but it will bring out childlike enthusiasm in those of all ages. It's an "online painting machine" which requires Shockwave. If your imagination is still on vacation, you can click one of the AUTO buttons and let Brushster compose a painting for you. The new link has been added to TO DO: ART and also to JUST FOR KIDS.

Remember Tetris? Well, Statetris is Tetris with a point - it will sharpen your geography skills about the US. So now if you're a beauty contestant finalist asked about what can be done to promote knowledge of US geography, you will have a ready answer. And for the rest of us, it's just a good workout for the geography files in our brain. It's in TO DO: GAMES.  This "game" requires not only knowledge but speed. Before you click through, check out the listing below....

TriviaBug is actually anything but trivial. You'll find that the many different categories are like calisthenics for the brain. Bob Boice suggested this one. It's in the TRIVIA Section of this site; however, after you try one section, you'll feel like you've been through a workout.

New as of  September 2, 2007...

August 31, 1997 was one of those dates that where we all remember where we were when we heard the news.  People Magazine has a retrospective of the life of Diana, Princess of Wales, which will remind you of the life preceding August 31, ten years ago. This was a woman who redefined the way the British monarchy approached their relationships with ordinary people, both in her living and in her death. The link is here.

Terms you may have heard and need more specific definitions on are here by the thousands - 20,000 in fact. Topics include accounting, currency trading, investing and speculating, advertising, securities and futures trading. Search by letter or by topic. The new link has been added to TO DO: REFERENCE.

Need some words? AbsoluteLyrics is the place to go.  Lots to choose from. Note, however, if you're looking for Annie Lennox, she's in the A's and not in the L's, so the alpha listing process takes a little second thought, literally. Check it out in TO DO: MIDIS.

5,000 titles would probably add a few bookshelves to your personal library. The top 10 free books at Questia include classics such as Lewis Carroll's "Alice's Adventures in Wonderland," Booker T. Washington's "Up from Slavery," Charlotte Bronte's "Jane Eyre," Charles Darwin's "The Origin of Species," Arthur Conan Doyle's "Adventures of Sherlock Holmes." The new link has been added to LAW LIBRARY: ELECTRONIC TEXTS.

New as of  August 26, 2007...

Language Fitness: Although some think fitness means working out in a physical sense, your fitness may also be implied by how you use language. "40+ Tips to Improve Your Grammar and Punctuation" will work wonders for how people perceive you. Divided into categories, the site allows you to zero in fast on just the help you need. The link has been added to REFERENCE: LANGUAGE.

Sci-Tech portal: Search over 3 million documents, plus patents and government data from the Acoustical Society of America, the American Geophysical Union, the American Institute of Physics, the American Society of Civil Engineers and the Institute of Electrical and Electronics Engineers, among others. The link has been added to the NET SEARCH Section.

Read, listen, learn: "The Enjoyment of Music: Online Tutor" lets you pick a period: Middle Ages, Renaissance, Baroque, Classical, Romantic, 20th Century, then allows you to read up on it, listen to music samples and take a quiz to see how much you have learned. It's free. What have you got to lose? The new link has been added to TO DO: REFERENCE.

New as of  August 19, 2007...

Evaporating e-mail addresses are just what you want when you want to register for a site that requires an e-mail for them to send a validation e-mail to, but you don't want to put your real e-mail address out there for one more spammer to find. And there are two new links added this week that will allow you to choose ways to accomplish this: (1) 10 Minute Mail, which has e-addresses that expire after 10 minutes; and (2) Self-Destructing Emails, which links to 10 free services - e-mails expire after specified time intervals. The new links are in TO DO: COMPUTER HELP SIMPLIFIED.

Temporary loss of moonlight: On Tuesday, August 28, at moon-set, we'll lose the light of the silvery moon, but only temporarily. NASA's Eclipse Page has info on the total eclipse which will be visible on the United States' East Coast. It begins at 4:51 AM EDT and the total eclipse will be visible at 6:37 AM EDT. The link to the Eclipse page is here, and a link to the specific graphic that outlines the East Coast's view of the eclipse is here. Set your alarm, and enjoy!

Madison's Treasures: The Library of Congress has an online exhibit that showcases significant documents from the James Madison Collection, which is the largest single collection of Madison documents in existence. Madison's role in drafting and ratification of the US Constitution and in the introduction in the First Federal Congress of the amendments that became the Bill of Rights are highlighted. Also available are documents relating to family and autobiographical information in Madison's own handwriting. The new link has been added to LAW LIBRARY: HISTORIC DOCUMENTS.

New as of  August 12, 2007...

Genealogy Resources: Two new links lead to resources that will prove helpful to novices as well as to those with some experience: (1) "Searching Your Family Tree," an article by Richard A. Pence on Rootsweb, a good overview on how to begin your research; and (2) Rootsweb Charts and Forms, containing downloadable PDF forms for ancestral charts, research calendar, research extract, correspondence record, family group sheet, source summary, US census forms by year, and more. The new links have been added to LAW LIBRARY: GENEALOGY INFO.

Hurricane Info: 'Tis the season. Two new links are added this week to WEATHERMAX, your severe weather resource on this site. (1) Dr. Gray's Tropical Storm Forecast, from the Tropical Meteorology Project at Colorado State University, and (2) NOAA/NWS Western Atlantic Hurricane Tracking Chart. There are many similar resources linked to on WEATHERMAX, so when a storm is approaching and everyone is jamming the sites, you have an even chance of reaching the resource you seek. Check out the new additions in WEATHERMAX.

New as of  August 5, 2007...

Do-It-Yourself  is not always easy, nor is the correct information easily available sometimes. Dave's Repair offers this handy Do-It-Yourself Instruction Articles Index which lists how-to's on washers, dryers, ranges, refrigerators, dishwashers, microwaves, dehumidifiers, room air conditioners, and much more. When's the last time you enjoyed paying a repair bill? The new link is in TO DO: REFERENCE: HOW-TO.

"Someone will remember us . . . even in another time," so wrote Sappho (ca. 600 BCE). This fascinating collection provides links that take you to passages from over 125 women writers, all who lived and wrote prior to 1700. Considering that it was remarkable that women's achievements survived at all in those early times, this collection features a wide variety of writings. The new link has been added to LAW LIBRARY: ELECTRONIC TEXTS.  Before you click through, read below.....

Mystical Poet born 800 years ago, Rumi is well-read and well-loved. A link to "Celebrating Rumi: An Evening of Mevlana Celaleddin Rumi's Poetry and Sufi Music with Whirling Dervishes" has been added this week. This spectacular program is from the Library of Congress, and is a 140-minute online video on the poetry and influence of the Persian writer. It includes music and dance as well. The link has been added to LAW LIBRARY: ELECTRONIC TEXTS.  Now you can click through!

Whither wiki? Wikipedia is a phenomenon of the web - an online encyclopedia that's as current as the rest of the web, with articles submitted daily and revised as often. If you're looking for Wiki articles, nothing can be simpler than using Wikiseek, and now there's a search box on this site to help you on your way. It's on the NET SEARCH PAGE.

Things that flutter by in your garden don't just accidentally get there - find out how to attract butterflies and protect butterfly habitat. The "Butterflies North and South" website is worth a visit just for the sounds effects on its home page. The site is produced by museums and related organizations in Canada and Peru. The new link is in TO DO: GARDENING, where you'll find lots of interesting info.

New as of  July 29, 2007...

Web cams are a fun way to virtually travel around the country or around the world. This week, 7 new links to web cams have been added to the PLACES TO GO Section on this site:

Midwestern USA: There's a new link to a cam at Grand Haven on Lake Michigan, and a new cam link that shows downtown Columbus, Ohio scenes such as the State Capitol.

Western USA: There are new links to web cams in Santa Fe and Sedona

Eastern USA: A new link to a web cam in DC that shows the U.S. Capitol as well as other landmarks has been added.

Frosty Landscapes: Two new links to Alaska web cams have been added. One shows Mt. Susitna near Anchorage, and the other shows an expansive view of Anchorage.

These links join many others in the PLACES TO GO Section on this site, which has been ferrying armchair travelers around the globe for almost ten years! (Word of caution - don't assume that web cams are not working because it looks dark; remember that the sun sets everywhere at some time - while it may be daylight where you are, it may be midnight at the web cam location!). Happy travels!

New as of  July 22, 2007...

32 New E-cards have been added this week to the POSTCARDS PAGE, which now brings the total to 754 free e-cards you can send, completely ad-free! ALL NEW CARDS appear on the NEWEST SELECTIONS Section of the  POSTCARDS PAGE. They have also been added to their appropriate sections as noted below. New additions are always at the end of their individual sections:

11 new cards have been added to the HISTORIC JAMESTOWN Section of the POSTCARDS PAGE this week: (1) Site of Jamestown on James River, Virginia, circa 1845 (shown at left); (2) Site of Gosnold's Fort, from a publication circa 1888; (3) Silver Plate presented by King Charles II to the Queen of the Pamunkey; (4) Settlers at Jamestown, an 1876 engraving; (5) English Ships of the 16th and 17th Centuries; (6) Ladies' Fashion 1644; (7) Landing at Jamestown with Elaborate Border; (8) Jamestown depicted as of 1860; (9) Captain John Smith exploring the Chesapeake (one of the weekly wallpapers); (10) Captain Christopher Newport Arriving at Jamestown; (11) First Virginia General Assembly with Governor George Yeardley.

13 new cards have been added to the HISTORIC VIRGINIA Section of the POSTCARDS PAGE this week: (1) Oyster Sloops on the Chesapeake Bay, 1896 (shown at left); (2) Marylanders Crossing the Potomac to Join the Southern Army, 1860s; (3) Map of Virginia and Maryland, 1680; (4) Westover, Main Building; (5) Westover, 1875 engraving; (6) Carter's Grove; (7) Carter's Grove Hall and Stair; (8) Lower Brandon on the James River.; (9) Franklin Street, Richmond, 1906; (10) Gamble's Hill Park, Richmond, about 1906; (11) Richmond, circa 1805; (12) Richmond from the James River, 1880; (13) Richmond in Ruins: Civil War. The new cards are in the "Richmond," "Charles City," "Williamsburg," and "Miscellaneous" Subsections.

5 new cards have been added to the HISTORIC NORTHERN NECK Section of the POSTCARDS PAGE this week: (1) Currier & Ives' Washington's Birth Place (see weekly wallpaper featured above this week); (2) Stratford Hall, early depiction; (3) Washington's Birthplace, depicted 1794; (4) Mount Airy, Richmond County, vintage photograph; (5) Historic Christ Church, Lancaster County, vintage photograph;

2 new cards have been added to the MISCELLANEOUS Section of the POSTCARDS PAGE this week: (1) "Outdoors in the Country," and (2) "A Quiet Place in the Country," both of which are opening screens from the much-loved and now defunct BBC comedy series, "Grace and Favour" from the 1980s.

1 new card has been added to the QUOTES & PHOTOS Section of the POSTCARDS PAGE this week: "Primary Rules" is an interesting quote out of time that seems strangely appropriate today.

Also there are 12 new music selections - check here!

The CIA's Family Jewels: A new link has been added to let you access the full report: "CIA Announces Declassification of 1970s 'Skeletons' File, Archive Posts Justice Department Summary from 1975, with White House Memcons on Damage Control," National Security Archive Electronic Briefing Book No. 222, Edited by Thomas Blanton. Posted on the web in June 2007, this document lets you know how secure you are, and by what means it was achieved. Gives you the willies. The link is in LAW LIBRARY: IMPORTANT HISTORIC DOCUMENTS ONLINE. Can you resist the urge to peek?

New as of  July 15, 2007...

VA Tax Lists for Personal Property in 1790 and in 1800 -  - with individual links to data for 58 of Virginia's counties and cities from Binns Genealogy. You can enlarge the page you reach, or you can save it as a .jpg and view it larger on your computer. Also added is a link to Hening's Statutes at Large with a supplemental index of names, which covers years from 1619 to 1792; this resource is from VaGenWeb. All the new Genealogy Resources links are in LAW LIBRARY: GENEALOGY. The Hening's Statutes link has also been added to LAW LIBRARY: HISTORIC DOCUMENTS.

VA Lawyers' Weekly is known for its comprehensive coverage of all things regarding the legal system in the Commonwealth. The Law Blog is VA Lawyers' Weekly's participation in the blogosphere, and you can now access it easily through the new link in LAW LIBRARY: PERIODICALS. The NEWS link on the Home Page and at the top of the What's New Page will also get you there. It's been added to the LAW SECTION on the NEWS PAGE. 

Tide Charts: There are 2 new links added that will help you decipher the tides at Coles Point: (1) Coles Point, VA Tide Chart for Today, and (2) Coles Point Low and High Tides for All of 2007. The links take you to data from MobileGeographics.com and are now linked to through the WEATHER Page on this site, where you'll find an amazing variety of links on local weather, as well as state, regional, national and world weather.

New as of  July 12, 2007...

Update re E-card Notices: On June 29, I posted a PDF document you can access from any of the Postcard Page's sections warning of "junk mail" e-card notices that were arriving in great quantities by e-mail. There's an update. Just as I thought, it's not only junk mail, it's trying to get you to download something very harmful - a variant of the Storm Trojan malware. I've updated the PDF document to reflect current knowledge on the subject, and ask that you not only read it but forward it on to friends with whom you share e-cards. There are ways to tell the fake from the real e-card notices. It pays to be informed. Click here to read the document and follow the link in the document to read Snopes.com's take on the subject, or access the PDF document from any of the Postcard Page's sections. Click here to access the PDF document!

New as of  July 6, 2007...

"Bay, Plain and Piedmont, A Landscape History of the Chesapeake Heartland from 1.3 Billion Years Ago to 2000" is the title of an ambitious research work you'll find fascinating. The 196 page book is presented in .PDF form so it won't take so long to download. A Chesapeake Bay Heritage Project, this important work is credited to Robert S. Grumet, Writer; Lloyd N. Chapman, Project Coordinator; and Robert D. Campbell, National Park Service Chesapeake Bay Program Coordinator. Chapters begin with "The Deep Past, 1.3 Billion to 18,000 Years Ago" and continue through "Paleoindian Life in the Chesapeake Region, 18,000 to 9,900 Years Ago," "Hunting and Gathering Lifeways in the Chesapeake Region, 10,000 to 1,000 Years Ago," "The Rise of Townlife, 1,100 to 500 Years Ago," "Contact and Civilization, A.D. 1500 to 1775," "The Early Republic, 1775 to 1820," "Sectional Strife, 1820 to 1880," "Urbanization, 1880 to 1930," "Chesapeake Metropolis, 1930 to 2000." There are maps which illustrate the kinds of development occurring during each of these periods. This document is now linked to in LAW LIBRARY: IMPORTANT HISTORIC DOCUMENTS. Read up on the area you love!

Evelyn Noel Godman Essay Contest  This annual contest is sponsored by the Lettice Lee Chapter of National Society Colonial Dames XVII Century and honors the late mother of your webmaster. The focus is on colonial topics and occurs annually at Aylett Country Day School in Mary Kay Savage's fourth grade class. 1st Place: Jordan Schools; 2nd Place: Kaitlyn Lowery; Honorable Mentions: Robbie Howeth, Abby Loftis and Wint Parker. Participants also received certificates. Click here to see the photograph! First Place and Second Place winners receive U.S. savings bonds awards of $100 and $75.

New as of  June 29, 2007...

24 New E-cards have been added this week to the POSTCARDS PAGE, which now brings the total to 722 free e-cards you can send, completely ad-free! There's also a new link to a .pdf file giving you the scoop on this weird junk mail that's circulating about e-cards - it will remind you how to tell the difference between a fake card notice and the real thing.

4 new cards have been added from the old days at Colonial Beach.  Shown at left: (1) Colonial Beach Waterfront, obviously some time back! Other scenes include (2) amusements at beachfront, (3) the excursion boat from Washington, and (4) landmarks of the town which include the Episcopal Church, the high school, and the new (then) water tower.

6 new cards have been added from the Tidewater and Eastern Shore areas, including the one at left, (1).showing Virginia Beach's North End from long ago. The others are (2) an aerial view of Chincoteague and Assateague from the 1960s, (3) the Bridge Tunnel from Cape Charles, (4) the Norfolk Toll Booth of the Bridge Tunnel, (5) the old Courthouse at Williamsburg, and (6) the old Nelson House at Yorktown.

8 new cards have been added from bygone Richmond, including (1) this old colorized version of Washington's Headquarters on East Main Street, which now houses the Poe Museum (and which has been fixed up a bit since this photo). The other Richmond cards added are: (2)  the old YMCA at 7th & Grace, (3) an old photo of Grace Street looking east from Eighth, (4) the triple railroad crossing in Shockoe, (5) the old Southern Stockyards which used to be near Boulevard and Broad; (6) Sacred Heart Cathedral; (7) the old Masonic Temple near Broad and Adams; (8) old City Hall on Broad Street.

The remaining 6 new additions include (1)"This Too Shall Pass. Now would be good" shown at lower left, as well as (2) a postcard with a University of Virginia girl from 1908, (3) an aerial view of the business district of Danville from some time ago, (4) the old Robert E. Lee School in Danville, (5) a scenic greetings card from Virginia from years back with scenes from around the state. and (6) a Patomeck Indian Badge from colonial days when Indians carried these badges to cross into other territories.

Check out all  24 of the new cards added to the POSTCARDS PAGE. Also while there, you'll find 4 new superb music selections have been added: "A Nightingale Sang in Berkeley Square," Rachmaninov's "Piano Concerto No. 2 in C minor" and "Rhapsodie," and Ravel's "Une Barque sur l'Ocean"/"Albograda Del Gracioso" from his "Miroirs," contemplative pieces that will add a special quality to your cards.

Spellbinding: Another one of those amazing YouTube videos - this one is a rendition of Mona Lisa that took, in real life, a little over 2 hours, and you can watch its high-speed rendition in just a few minutes. Watch this amazing digital artist shape a great copy of the famous painting from scratch - you'll see his digital palette swoop in and out of the frame. Well worth watching. And the music isn't bad, either. The new link is in TO DO: ART. Enjoy!

New as of  June 22, 2007...

Really spectacular: "Women in Art" is a retrospective of 500 years of portraits of women in Western Art. Not just a static slide-show, this wonderful video morphs from one image to the other, captivating the viewer in a tapestry of centuries. Making it even better is the accompaniment by Yo-Yo Ma, classical violin virtuoso. This YouTube video has been added to TO DO: ART. Don't miss it - it's really terrific! BUT -- before you click through to the Art Section, read the next addition below.....

Spellbinding: SpeedPainting by Nexx is a fascinating video on YouTube that takes you from a blank canvas to the amazingly detailed and almost-breathing portrait of a child. Set against poignant accompaniment, this will impress you with this artist's ability to bring life to digital canvas, with new and sophisticated tools (if you pay close attention, you'll see flashes of the digital palette from which he works). NOW -- you can click through to TO DO: ART. Note: if you're new to YouTube, what you need to know is that the little box at the bottom right of the video screen will expand the image to full computer screen size, and to exit that, simply press ESC.

New as of  June 17, 2007...

Decorative Arts: A new link has been added to the Digital Library for the Decorative Arts and Material Culture: Image and Text Collections, from the University of Wisconsin. The collection focuses on Early American examples. Images may be familiar or new to you, such as textiles, ceramics and furnishings. Both the text and the image collections are searchable. The new link is in TO DO: ART.

GetBodySmart: This site is an "Online Examination of Human Anatomy and Physiology" and allows you to choose from the following systems: Skeletal, Muscle Tissue Physiology, Muscular, Nervous, Circulatory, Respiratory, Urinary. There is also a Histology section with links to other sites with impressive resources. The new link to GetBodySmart has been added to TO DO: MEDICAL INFO.

Reading Lists: American Library Association's "Summer Reading and Learning for Children" arrives just in time for the summer break. This handy resource provides links to many well-known reading lists where you can find something for preschool to college-bound. As always, kids of all ages are welcome at JUST FOR KIDS where this new link has been added!

New as of  June 10, 2007...

Food Safety has been in the news lately, so it's a topic of great interest. Not only should you be concerned about what's in the supermarket - you ought to give a second thought to the conditions in restaurants you patronize. There has long been a link on this site for Three Rivers Health District which shows you results of restaurant inspections in the Northern Neck. Now additional links have been added to cover your trips to Richmond and Henrico, and statewide as well. Check now in TO DO: REFERENCE.

Map from 1704 shows fascinating detail about the Chesapeake Bay area. It's called "A New Map of Virginia, Maryland, Pensilvania(sic), New Jersey, Part of New York and Carolina," and it's part of "The Unveiling of Britain," an online collection of King George III's maps and documents. The map is "zoomable" -- meaning you can choose an area of interest, click on the plus sign, and get a close-up look. It's been added to LAW LIBRARY: HISTORIC DOCUMENTS.

New as of  June 2, 2007...

Genealogy links of importance to Jamestown researchers certainly include the these, which place ancestors at the important historic location in very early dates: (1) "The Living and Dead in Virginia," February 16, 1623, and (4) Jamestown Virginia 1624 Census. Both of these documents are part of the wonderful Rootsweb/USGenWeb resource online. Review them in LAW LIBRARY: GENEALOGY.

Map of the Captain John Smith Chesapeake National Historic Trail is available in pdf format so you can enlarge it as much as you need to see the details. From the National Park Service/US Department of the Interior, you'll find outlines of Smith's first and second voyage (and more), plus locations of interpretive buoys and land-based gateways. The new link has been added to LEARN ABOUT THE NORTHERN NECK.

More about how to search online: (1) A helpful article on the Invisible Web, how to search it: "The Ultimate Guide to the Invisible Web" - note, if you have to ask what it is, you need to read this; and (2) Kokogiak - a book search that searches A9, Google and MSN LiveSearch at the same time and displays the results side by side so you can compare them. These new links have been added this week to LAW LIBRARY:NET SEARCH where you'll find more ways to find things than you ever dreamed of!

New as of May 26, 2007...

Remember to take time on Memorial Day to recall the importance of the holiday. It's not just a long weekend. It's a time to remember those who have served and those who are. See the Memorial Day page by clicking here. On the weekend the Memorial Day page was published, it was also made available to send as an e-card to friends and family. There are now 698 cards in the many sections of the POSTCARDS PAGE!    Additional links for MEMORIAL DAY are here: (1) the National Memorial Day Concert website which gives you all details about the concert on the Mall, and Arlington National Cemetery website, which gives historical information about the cemetery including monuments and memorials and the Tombs of the Unknown.

Remembering: Genealogy is your personal history. Here are 10 great resources that are newly added: (1) Genealogy Genius's free downloadable census forms, 1830-1930, in MS Word to  complete, save and share electronically; and the following from Rootsweb: (2) Westmoreland Co. Early VA Marriages; (3)  Inscriptions on Old Tombstones in Westmoreland and Northumberland; (3)  Westmoreland Co. VA, Old Tombstones; (4)  Westmoreland Co. VA 1850 Census Index; (5)  Northumberland 1782 Tax List; (6)  Fort on the Yeocomico River 1667; (7)  Marriage Bonds in Lancaster Co., VA; (8)  Essex County, VA, 1850 Census Index; (8) Lancaster County, VA 1850 Census Index; (9) Marriages, Births and Deaths, Richmond Co., North Farnham Parish Register; (10) Richmond Co. 1850 US Census Index. These have been added to the LAW LIBRARY:GENEALOGY PAGE, and the link on the Fort on the Yeocomico River has also been added to LAW LIBRARY: HISTORIC DOCUMENTS.

Remember that art is the history of civilization. A link to "Constable's Great Landscapes: The Six-Foot Paintings, an Exhibition at the Huntington Library, California" has been added this week. The exhibit was organized by Tate Britain, the National Gallery of Art, and the Huntington Library. These canvases are the largest and most celebrated of the British artist's works.  Shown at left: "View on the Stour near Dedham" (1822). See these wonderful works through the new link in TO DO: ART.

Remember to learn something new, always. Dance Mat Typing, from the BBC, is a touch-type online typing course for students (of all ages, of course). It's a cartoon approach, but maybe this will get you where you need to be. Try it out in TO DO: JUST FOR KIDS OF ALL AGES, where you'll find great resources for traditional students as well as life-long learners.

Remember to savor the flavor of life, whether it's on a weekend when your family gets together, or just an ordinary Tuesday. Here's a great way to start: Real Cajun Recipes is a site devoted to building an accurate collection of Cajun recipes which have been handed down. There are now "over 1,000 authentic Cajun recipes from authentic Louisiana families." It'll certainly add some spice to your life! Check it out in TO DO: RECIPES TOO GOOD NOT TO BE SOUTHERN.

New as of May 20, 2007...

Celebrate the 400th Anniversary of Historic Jamestowne with 2 new cards! There's now a total of 64 Jamestown cards on this site, and in the 14 different sections of e-cards, you'll find a grand total of 697 choices! No postage, no ads, no problem. Send one or more today from the POSTCARDS PAGE. New this week are: (1) a watercolor-effect card showing the three replica ships in one of their rare joint appearances away from the docks at Jamestown Settlement Park, and (2)  the "Susan Constant," the largest of the three replica ships, on the James River. This photo was taken, as was the above photo, in the early morning of Saturday, May 12, 2007 at Jamestown Island. The weather was overcast, but that certainly wouldn't have deterred the settlers who had already come across the pond to get to this river and this island. See these and 696 other cards in the many sections of the POSTCARDS PAGE!

New as of May 13, 2007...

Celebrate the 400th Anniversary of Jamestown by sending e-cards to friends and family across the country. Within the Historic Jamestown section of the POSTCARDS PAGE  there are 62 card choices currently.  The POSTCARDS PAGE has 14 different sections with a total of 695 cards.  Last week, some of the larger sections that were slow loading were streamlined to load faster. You'll notice the difference. Remember, there are no ads that accompany your cards!

Celebrate the 400th Anniversary by visiting these interesting pages from the National Park Service: (1) What Happened to the Three Ships?; (2) Jamestown vs. Plymouth; and (3) The First Legislative Assembly. You'll find their entire index of Jamestown related pages here. Chances are good that you'll find information you didn't already know, even if you are a history buff! (Note - the picture at left is one of the postcards you can send from the POSTCARDS PAGE).

New as of May 6, 2007...

8 new e-cards  give you 694 choices on the POSTCARDS PAGE! There are three new cards which feature Lady Banks roses - (1) a version of the weekly wallpaper; (2) Lady Banks Roses in watercolor; and (3) Lady Banks Roses with soft edges. Other new e-cards are (4) Bleeding Hearts ; (5) Dogwood from the Northern Neck; (6) a new birthday card with pansies; (7) Hot Pink Azaleas; and (8)Coles Point Tree Peony. These beautiful spring flower photos are all from the garden of Virginia Boudreaux at Coles Point. Send one (or several) today from the POSTCARDS PAGE! Some of the larger sections that were slow in loading (even with thumbnails) have been streamlined. You'll notice the difference in load times!

Straight through to China? Most people say that's where you'll end up if you begin digging in the US. There are surprising answers, however. For example, diggers from the Northern Neck would end up in the Indian Ocean off the southwest coast of Australia, so they'd better pack some diving gear. Check it out! This fun diversion is in TO DO: REFERENCE: GEOGRAPHY and also on the JUST FOR KIDS PAGE (for kids of all ages).

Imagini: Unraveling your "visual DNA" - it's a fascinating experiment and you don't have to register in order to participate. By asking you about different preferences, an analysis is created that assesses your visual DNA, revealing choices you would most likely make. It's interesting! The new link is in TO DO: PREDICTIONS - PERSONAL

E-mail myths  are debunked everyday on Snopes.com. When you get a forwarded e-mail, check it out to see if it's true before you pass it on. Don't just pass on things to your friends without checking. Snopes does an excellent job of checking the veracity of all of those e-mail forwards flying around. The link has been added to TO DO: COMPUTER HELP SIMPLIFIED: INTERNET.

New as of April 29, 2007...

National Archives: "NARA on GOOGLE" is a place where you can check out National Archives Videos. There are three sections of the video selections: NASA History, United Newsreel (1942-1945) and Department of the Interior. See interesting old videos such as "The Eagle has Landed, 1969," "Marines Raise Flag Over Iwo Jima, 1945" or "White Sands, 1938." The new link has been added to LAW LIBRARY:HISTORIC DOCUMENTS where you will find many other items of historic interest to peruse.

Finding People: Virtual Chase's People Finder page has links to Public Records and Public Information, Reverse Telephone Directories, White Pages and Telephone Directories, Finding E-mail Addresses, White Pages Outside of the US, plus articles on conducting research. The link has been added to TO DO: REFERENCE: LOCATOR.

Quotations/Proverbs Search: Can't remember the source of that quote? Want to search for sayings? FaganFinder's Quotations and Proverbs Search will dig for you, and produce results quickly. The link has been added to LAW LIBRARY:QUOTATIONS.

New as of April 22, 2007...

Time to remember: The horrific events of April 16 were shattering, a great theft of lives and potential. Honor those who lives were taken by visiting the Virginia Tech website's photo gallery, and their News section which contains information about memorial observances. By remembering the toll that senseless violence takes, each of us is more likely to discourage others from allowing emotional grievances and mental disorders to build to such heights that they spill over into society at large in such tragic and unending ways. Turn off television programs that portray handguns as vehicles of triumph, and put violent video games in the trash. When this kind of role play turns into reality, the suffering goes far beyond the screen or monitor. Think about it. And remember.

2 new e-cards: With this week's e-card additions, there are now 686 choices for you on the POSTCARDS PAGE. The new cards are a version of this week's wallpaper (shown at top left)  and "A Note from the Rivah," shown at left. Remember - there's a new multi-send feature where you can send up to 8 of the same e-cards to different recipients at one time without their knowing of the other cards sent. Check it out on the POSTCARDS PAGE and enjoy! (April 24th is James Monroe's Birthday - there are 2 James Monroe Birthday cards from which you may choose...)

New as of April 15, 2007...

Medieval Legal History: How do you know about your journey if you don't learn about its origins? A new link to the Internet Medieval Sourcebook's Medieval Legal History has been added this week to LAW LIBRARY: HISTORIC DOCUMENTS. Edited by Paul Halsall of Fordham University, it's part of the Online Reference Book for Medieval Studies.

Science Research Portal: Free portal searches many scientific journals and science databases to find your information. The new link is in TO DO: REFERENCE:SCIENCE RESOURCES.

Just for Kids of all ages: "Everyday Mysteries: Fun Science Facts from the Library of Congress" includes the following categories: Agriculture, Astronomy, Biology & Human Anatomy, Botany, Chemistry, Geography/Anthropology, Home Economics, Meteorology/Climatology, Motor Vehicles/Astronauts, Physics, Technology:General, Zoology. So if you're a student in the classroom or just a student of life, there's something here for you. The link is in TO DO: JUST FOR KIDS!

US Genweb Search: A new search feature of US Genweb allows you to search each state's Genweb holdings. This is a boon for genealogy researchers. The new link is in LAW LIBRARY: GENEALOGY INFO.

New as of April 7, 2007...

By mistake, the additions for April 7's weekly updates were not archived. A first in well over 9 years! However, updates were made, including a fresh wallpaper, which is done each and every week. They should have been archived when your webmaster put up the April 15 updates; however, those updates were done in the middle of three days' worth of CLE seminars (Thurs-Fri and Mon) and Saturday at Jamestown for the Rule of Law Conference. Not a good excuse, but an excuse.

New as of April 1, 2007...

New multi-send feature added to the POSTCARDS PAGE means you can send up to 8 cards at the time to different recipients (without their knowing that you are sending multiple cards).  There is no advertising sent with your cards, ever. There are now 684 from which you may choose!

USPS new rates as of May 14,2007 - whether you're ready for them or not, they are arriving. This new link takes you to the Rates and Fees sheet so you can have them handy when the date arrives. It's in TO DO: REFERENCE.

Easter Symbols, Icons, Legend, Lore and Customs from Hallmark are interesting to read through. The link is here only. Also you'll want to read "Rabbit on the Moon: A Short History of Easter." And have a happy Easter!!!

New as of March 31, 2007...

7 new e-cards added to the web site this week, for a grand total of 683 choices.  Of the new selections, 4 are Easter cards: (1) Easter Bunny (shown at left); (2) Easter Violets Basket, a vintage card design; (3) Bunnies and Chicks, a vintage card design; and (4) the Easter cross, with dogwood. Three of the new selections are dawn photos of Lower Machodoc Creek and of Branson's Cove. Check out the 7 new e-cards on the POSTCARDS PAGE. THERE ARE NOW 24 EASTER CARDS FOR YOU TO CHOOSE FROM IN POSTCARDS PAGE: HOLIDAYS. The multi-send feature hit a minor glitch because the person I need assistance from in Alberta, Canada, is in the hospital. Hopefully this will be available to you in a few days.

Genealogy buffs: What happens to your genealogical data and records when you expire? Have you thought about it? Your webmaster encountered something called a "Genealogical Codicil" this week on the Dillman Family web site, and it's also on Rootsweb's Archive. However, your webmaster revised it and added some things and took a few out, and the result is a "Memorandum Regarding Genealogical Data and Records" that you can make available to your spouse, children, administrator or executor that expresses your wishes. It's in PDF form, available for print-out and completion, in LAW LIBRARY: GENEALOGY INFO.

CostHelper: Never hurts to know what other people are paying for things - CostHelper.com provides a wide array of pricing information and gives you great tips. Browse different categories or search for something specific. The link is in TO DO: REFERENCE: SHOPPING.

Health: Women's Health Specialist Library from the NHS National Library for Health provides a wealth of information on women's health issues. You can browse various categories, which you'll find located down the lefthand margin of the site, or search for something specific. You'll find newsworthy items on the site front and center. The new link is in TO DO: MEDICAL INFO ONLINE. It's especially important with medical information you find on the web to know it's from reputable sources. Only those that pass the sniff test get on the MEDICAL INFO ONLINE Page!

New as of March 23, 2007...

New e-cards: Time to send some flowers to your friends and family to celebrate the arrival of spring! 4 new additions to the POSTCARDS PAGE this week allow you some new choices (there are now a total of 676 e-cards on this site!).  Three of the new cards are flowers from the garden of Virginia Boudreaux at Coles Point, and include bright yellow daffodils, white and delicate peach pansies, and deep blue-violet and bright yellow pansies that are just blooming. The fourth new card is a tiny little wildflower, a dandelion, with the slogan "Bloom where you are planted."  You can see all 4 new e-card choices on the POSTCARDS PAGE! Send one of each, or be extravagant and send a dozen!

New as of March 16, 2007...

"Awaken" is a relaxing meditative online presentation that will put things in perspective, no matter how hectic or unreasonable your week has become. It's one of several good resources you'll find at TO DO: PREDICTIONS: PERSONAL, and it's by Ralph Marston.

Trial info: The US Department of Justice has released the government exhibits in the Irve Lewis ("Scooter") Libby  trial.  They include transcripts of interviews with the defendant and with witnesses, published news reports admitted into evidence, Libby grand jury transcripts, Libby's various calendar entries, transcript and video segments of White House briefings, and various witness' notes and reporters' columns. Interesting reading - the link is here. Libby was convicted on four of five counts, including perjury.

Timely info: If you've ever considered that you are eligible for membership in the Jamestowne Society, this is certainly the year to pursue that project. A link to the Chesapeake Bay Company web site has been added to LAW LIBRARY: GENEALOGY, and you will find information on the local chapter's activities and interesting links to Jamestown information.

New e-card: With all the flu-type things going around, the Northern Neck certainly can use extra get well cards! Here's another one, newly added this week. Check it out, and send it on its way to your friends and family members who are under the weather from the POSTCARDS PAGE. Now there is a total of 672 cards from which you may choose.

New as of March 9, 2007...

Daylight Savings Time is upon us again, and this time it's earlier than usual. DST now begins on March 11, three weeks earlier than usual, whether you are ready for it or not. An important consideration is how your computer will react. Check the new link that's been added to TO DO: COMPUTER HELP SIMPLIFIED which takes you to Microsoft's Daylight Savings Time Help and Support Center.

Brain boosters are like aerobics for your gray matter! Don't let it deceive you that these links have been added to the JUST FOR KIDS PAGE -- these exercises will challenge all ages: (1) Brain Boosters from Discovery.com, and (2) Cyberchase Games from PBS. If you don't use it, you'll lose it. Get started today!

Online Courses, college-level, free - plus educational materials in arts, humanities, business, education, computing, math, language, science and more. Whether you're seriously interested or just browsing, you'll find this new addition of interest. The new link to the Open University's OpenLearn site has been added to TO DO: REFERENCE.

2 New E-cards bring the total to 671 from which you may choose. The new additions are: (1) "Thinking of You" which features a watercolor floral background, and  (2) "Get Well Wishes" against a carpet of varied flowers and plants. The flowers for both of these new e-cards are from the gardens of Virginia Boudreaux at Coles Point. These new additions are on the POSTCARDS PAGE. And don't forget to send ST. PATRICK'S DAY cards! You've still got time, but the holiday is fast approaching. Check out the St. Patrick's Day cards in the HOLIDAYS SECTION of the POSTCARDS PAGE. As always, the e-cards are free of advertising, a rare thing on today's internet.

New as of March 2, 2007...

What? ALT Codes are those nifty things you can do with the ALT key on your keyboard in connection with other keys. If this is new to you, you're in for some nifty new knowledge. If it's old hat, here's a refresher. The new link to ALT Codes has been added to TO DO: COMPUTER HELP SIMPLIFIED.

Why would you need 100 alternative search engines? Well, it depends on how elusive or how specialized the information you're looking for really is. Not just for web surfers, these 100 choices provide you with ways to drill down to find what you want. Thanks to visitor Bob Boice for suggesting this! The new link has been added to LAW LIBRARY: NET SEARCH where you'll find really good ways to get where you're going fast.

When will the Earth be no longer able to cope with the results of global warming? It may be sooner than you think. And you may not have thought of all the ways this issue can impact you - those of us who live at or near sea level have thought of the most obvious one. Check out the Top 100 Surprising Results of Global Warming by clicking here and see if you knew all 10!  (Besides sinking - a sea level result - your webmaster also thinks that mowing grass 10 months of the year should have been added . . .)

New as of February 24, 2007...

5 new e-cards: Now there are a total of 669 cards that you can send free, with no advertising, 24/7. The new additions are (1) Captain John Smith One Cent Stamp from 1907; (2) Pocahontas Five Cent Stamp from 1907; (3) Jamestown Founding Two Cent Stamp from 1907; (4) Machodoc Creek sunset closeup; and (5) Machodoc Creek sunset with sycamores. These new cards have been added to the POSTCARDS PAGE. Enjoy!

Veterinary information for those of us with pets, both large and small: a new section has been added to TO DO: MEDICAL INFO to accommodate this need. You'll find new links there to the Merck Veterinary Manual, MedLinePlus: Pets and Pet Health, and an impressive resources page called Veterinary Medicine Resources on the Web from Iowa State. None of these are intended as a substitute for competent veterinary care, just as additional resources. Check them out in TO DO: MEDICAL INFO

Family Treasures Preservation: Preparing, Protecting and Preserving Family Treasures from the Library of Congress has helpful information on how to handle, store and display family treasures, and what to do if they become damaged. The new link is in LAW LIBRARY: GENEALOGY INFO.

PoemHunter: This handy site will search by poet name, poem title or poem text; chances are good that it's here. This resource was suggested by Bob Boice. Thanks, Bob! The new link is in LAW LIBRARY: ELECTRONIC TEXTS.

Travel Info: The major re-do of the TO DO: TRAVEL INFO SECTION is complete. Last week there were new links added, and with this week's addition, there are now new links to cruise operators and cruise lines and many more resources. You'll find a quick way to scope out your vacation options and your business travel plans all in one place through the newly streamlined  TO DO: TRAVEL INFO!

New as of February 17, 2007...

World at your feet: A major re-do of the TO DO: TRAVEL INFO SECTION this week includes many new links. The re-do will be complete with next week's update, which will include dozens of new sites to visit. When it's finished, you will find information on cruises, hotels, flights, trains, and more importantly, where to find really good travel deals, such as discount tour operators, aggregators, last minute travel opportunities. You'll see that things look different already. Check back next week for the completion of the makeover of TO DO: TRAVEL INFO!

New as of February 10, 2007...

Google Distance Calculator is a handy thing. It lets you zoom in from world scale to community scale. You click on the starting point, then click on the destination, and you receive the miles in between. For accurate driving distances, you may want to click along the various turns of the road. There's a feature that allows you to keep clicking on destinations so you can get mileage for your whole journey. The new Google Distance Calculator has been added to TO DO: TRAVEL INFO.

Whonu? A semantic web search engine with over 300 search sources and the ability to contextualize what you enter. It's so complex in its ability that the demo screencast video is over 20 minutes long. Fortunately, it's so simple to use, you probably won't need to view that. The new link has been added to LAW LIBRARY: INTERNET SEARCH.

US Weather - New links have been added to Plymouth State University's excellent weather resources as follow: (1) Latest Temperature Forecast Maps (US): Max & Min, Today & Tomorrow; (2) Latest Precipitation Probability/Type Forecast Maps, Today & Tomorrow (US); and (3) Latest Forecast Pressure Centers and Fronts (12-24-36-48 Hours). While forecasts still aren't perfect, they are a lot closer than back in the day when we had to go outside and look up. The new links are in TO DO: WEATHER.  

Diabetes Web Search: Search more than 250 current and relevant diabetes sites, including non-profits, government sites, pharma companies and blogs - stay up to the minute on the disease that is challenging a lot of Baby Boomers (with Type II) as well as others. Being informed is being a good patient! The new link is in TO DO: MED INFO: DIABETES.

Valentine's cards are available on the POSTCARDS PAGE, free, with no commercial advertising. 22 new Valentine's cards were added last week. Go check it out! Also - don't forget George Washington's Birthday is February 22 - there are George Washington's Birthday Cards here!!

New as of February 2, 2007...

35 New E-cards have been added to the site this week, bringing the grand total to 665 cards from which you may choose - all free, all without commercial advertising.

1) 22 new Valentine's Day cards have been added - these are from vintage postcards of the early 1900s: (1) Happy Valentine's Day with heart; (2) Be Mine; (3) Boy Opening Hearts; (4) Valentine Couple Dancing (one of the weekly wallpapers); (5) Valentine's Dove and Message; (6) Valentine Gardener; (7) Valentine Girl in Heart; (8) Valentine Greeting; (9) Valentine Hearts - Best Gift; (10) Valentine Lace Lady; (11) Northern Neck Valentine; (12) Valentine Red Lady; (13) Valentine with Roses and Violets; (14) Prisoner of Love; (15) Valentine - Remember Me; (16) Valentine Flower Basket - shown at upper left; (17) Valentine Whispered Greeting - shown at left; (18) Valentine Car; (19) Valentine Knight; (20) Greetings Girl; (21) My Valentine; and (22) Boy with Sled.

2) A new category of cards celebrating Washington's Birthday has been added, especially important for Northern Neck residents, (Westmorelanders in particular), as George Washington was born in Westmoreland County! Celebrate the real date of his birth, February 22nd, not some federally created Presidents' Day that dilutes his importance! The 7 new cards added are: (1) Washington's Birthday (with dates); (2) Birthday Boy with Cherry Tree; (3) Birthday Boy with Hatchet; (4) George Washington with Betsy Ross;  (5) Washington's Birthday: 3 Cheers; (6) Washington's Birthday - Hatchet and Cherries; (7) Washington with  Cherry Tree. In addition to these holiday cards, of course, there are many e-cards of Wakefield in the "Historic Northern Neck" Section.

3) April 28 is the birthday of another President of the United States who was born in Westmoreland County, James Monroe. So a new category of e-cards has been added for this observation as well, and there are 2 new cards there: (1) Monroe's Birthday - Portrait 1; (2) Monroe's Birthday - Portrait 2.

4) St. Patrick's Day will be coming up in March, and 2 new cards have been added: (1) Art Nouveau St. Patrick's Greeting, and (2) Wearing o' the Green.

5) Two vintage cards have been added to holiday sections for future use - and although they're far away in time, you may want to look at them as well: (1) Vintage new year and old; and (2) Vintage 4th of July Boy.

You can see all the new selections on the main POSTCARDS PAGE, and of course they've all been added to their proper sections in POSTCARDS - HOLIDAYS. Enjoy!

New as of January 28, 2007...

Agricultural Weather Center from the University of Kentucky provides a Westmoreland County, Virginia page with an amazing variety of meteorological detail and data, aimed at providing farmers with what they need to prevent crop and animal damage, but of interest to weather buffs in the county and surrounding areas as well. The new link is in TO DO: WEATHER.

Family research is a hobby to some and a profession to others. Now there's a link on this site to the Library of Virginia's basic search and advanced search features from their Archives and Manuscripts Collection, and a new page has been added that contains information on how you can donate your family Bible records to the Library of Virginia, so they will be available online for researchers everywhere. The links to the Library of Virginia and to the new page on Bible records donations on this site are added to LAW LIBRARY: GENEALOGY PAGE.

Norovirus: Noroviruses are viruses that cause acute gastroenteritis in humans, and there have been outbreaks in many states recently. Check out the Centers for Disease Control's Norovirus Page to learn more details about the bug that's making a lot of people ill these days - the link has been added to TO DO: MEDICAL INFO.

New as of January 26, 2007...

Both the Directions Page and the Map Page were updated and redone.

New as of January 20, 2007...

Constitution Finder from University of Richmond School of Law offers constitutions, charters, amendments and other related documents for countries around the world. Browse by country. An interesting and fascinating resource, now linked to in LAW LIBRARY: HISTORIC DOCUMENTS.

Travel Alert: New passport rules for travelers from the US flying to Canada or Mexico or the Caribbean - as of January 23, you'll need a passport to cross the US border. This change doesn't affect those coming and going to Canada by land, just by air. For information about obtaining a passport, click here. Expect it to take up to 8 weeks for processing.

Viewfinder from the English Heritage National Monuments Record lets you visit (or revisit) favorite places in England. Searchable by locality, by place name, by much more. The new link is in TO DO: ART.

New as of January 18, 2007...

All of the links in the following Law Library sections have been checked and updated, including Historic Documents, Virginia, Maryland, District of Columbia and US Government Sections, and Environmental Law.

New as of January 15, 2007...

All of the news links in LAW LIBRARY:NEWS have been checked & updated, including both news sources and online magazines!

New as of January 14, 2007...

Birthday Calculator lets you find out interesting information about your birthday, and about your age. Learn more about how old you are (even in dog years) - and get down to specifics, even to seconds. Find out what phase the moon was in when you were born, and other fascinating facets of your nativity that you didn't know you could live without. The new link has been added to TO DO: REFERENCE:CONVERTERS/CALCULATORS.

Counterinsurgency Manual for U.S. Marines. (Why's this on the web? Excellent question you have there - no answers to date.) Published by the same U.S. Government that doesn't want you to have any privacy, and is paranoid about terrorism everywhere, they've put out their own manual for everyone (even terrorists) to peruse. But as long as it's out there, you might as well benefit from the expertise. Never know when it's coming to a community near you. The new link is in, of course, LAW LIBRARY: US GOVERNMENT. Note: very large PDF file and you will need Acrobat to read it.

Scholarpedia: Feels and looks like Wikipedia, but it's written by scholars worldwide, who are experts in their field, and the articles are peer reviewed. Unlike Wikipedia, modifications must be approved before being added. The new link has been added to TO DO: REFERENCE:ENCYCLOPEDIAS.

Time Tips: Topics are "How to Plan Your Day," "How to Stop Procrastinating," "How to Prepare for Meetings," "How to Handle Paperwork," "How to Delegate," "How to Get Cooperation from Other Departments," "How to Use E-mail Effectively," "How to Say No," "How to Simplify Your Life," "How to Reduce Stress," "How to Prevent Interruptions," and "How to Deal with Telemarketers." If you have all of these covered, no need to visit. Otherwise, you'll probably learn something. The link is now in TO DO: REFERENCE: HOW-TO.

Quoteland: Visit Quoteland if you have a specific sayinge in mind, or if you're just taking a break and want to learn something new. Quotes are divided into topic areas, but you can also search for quotes. There's a Quote of the Week feature, and lots of others. It's been added to LAW LIBRARY: QUOTATIONS. One of your webmaster's favorite quotes is there: "When you come to the end of all the light you know, and it's time to step into the darkness of the unknown, faith is knowing that one of two things shall happen - either you will be given something solid to stand on or you will be taught to fly."

New as of January 5, 2007...

Criminal Law resources added this week include both a blog and a blog search engine: (1) Public Defender Stuff;  and (2) BlawgSearch that lets you search for law-related blogs. These new links have been added to LAW LIBRARY: CRIMINAL LAW and also to LAW LIBRARY:PERIODICALS (the home for blog links on this site).

Wikipedia: This term, spawned by the internet, means an online encyclopedia resource that's written and edited mostly by volunteers. You'll find an amazing variety of articles, over 1.3 million in English alone. The new link has been added to TO DO: REFERENCE:ENCYCLOPEDIAS. Before clicking through, read below. . . here you'll find an amazing variety of resources for most everything you need.

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