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c2008 S. G. Rager, unless otherwise noted.Site debut: 11/14/97. Updated weekly: refresh/reload pages to avoid viewing outdated pages

Weekly Wallpaper: This week's choice is a photograph of pink and white geraniums which are in bloom at the entry to the law office. It's a daily reminder of the delicate beauty all around us in nature. It's your WALLPAPER OF THE WEEK, and you can send a postcard version of it from the POSTCARDS PAGE (see other additions to the Postcards Section below).

Monday's Midi is "Deep Waters," a reflective jazz melody for your breaks in the week ahead. Enjoy it as your MONDAY'S MIDI!

4 new cards - Now there are a total of 918 e-cards for you to send anytime, advertising-free. Click on the thumbnails below to see full-sized versions of the cards, and send some today from the POSTCARDS PAGE.

How a chair, rocks, aspirin and a scarf can keep you alive in 12 do-or-die emergencies: this helpful quick read may come in more than handy some day. Read it now and be prepared. The article, by Dr. Pamela Gallin, appeared in Reader's Digest, and the link has been added to TO DO: MEDICAL INFO.

Every day is Memorial Day: For those who have given the rest of their days in the service of their country, and for those they left behind, it is important to always remember. Although this is an unusual link to be placed in LAW LIBRARY: HISTORIC DOCUMENTS, when you think about it, it's about as historic as you can get. Visit the memorable "Faces of Virginia's War Dead from Iraq and Afghanistan" now, from GatewayVa.com.

SITE UPDATED WEEKLY! Scroll down to recent additions, and go to the What's New Archive to see a history of older additions. REFRESH/RELOAD each page, so you're not viewing outdated pages stored in your cache. Visit the Wayback Machine to enjoy past versions of this web site and others. Donate to WENDY'S FELINE FRIENDS to help care for lost and abandoned cats in Westmoreland County (our county shelter doesn't handle cats, if you didn't already know). VA WILDLIFE REHABILITATOR Locations available through the link in TO DO: REFERENCE:MISC (VA Southeast region: Diana O'Connor, Oak Grove 804-224-0596, Wildlife Refuge 804-313-2240).

Science News for Kids presents science news for children ages 9 to 14. Hands-on activities, web resources and other useful materials are available, as well as tips for teachers using science news in the classroom. Read articles in the archive on subjects as diverse as agriculture, dinosaurs and fossils, food and nutrition, physics, space and astronomy, technology and engineering. In a world where there are too few ways to interest children in science, this seems to be a good start. The new link is in TO DO: JUST FOR KIDS, where you'll find lots of resources for students of all ages.

Medline Plus Allergy is a particularly timely website resource this time of year, with pollen counts going through the roof. But it's a year-round concern for plenty of people. This respected resource brings you information from the National Library of Medicine, National Institutes of Health. Learn more about allergies, their triggers, and the consequences. Anaphylaxis, a life-threatening reaction, is the worst of the possible consequences, but you will learn how to better manage your milder allergies as well. The new link is in TO DO: MEDICAL INFO ONLINE.

50 Best Cult Books: The list starts with Kurt Vonnegut's "Slaughterhouse Five," and includes things as varied as Dr. Spock's "Baby and Child Care," and "The Catcher in the Rye," and "Godel, Escher, Bach: An Eternal Braid." The thing that these 50 share in common is that they're described as "books that people wear like a leather jacket or carry around like a totem . . . the book that rewires your head." Whether or not you agree with all the selections, you're bound to find some fascinating reading here. The new link is in LAW LIBRARY: ELECTRONIC TEXTS.

Super Delegate Tracker: PBS has a Democratic Super Delegate Tracker which lets you see at a glance where these mercurial people are landing with their loyalties these days. Doesn't it really amaze you that we go around the globe to bring "democracy" to other countries, but our own idea of democracy is that we aren't content to let a popular vote decide either a presidential election or a presidential nomination? Amazing. Anyway, the link is in NEWS, so keep up with this stuff, okay?

8 new cards - Now there are a total of 908 e-cards for you to send anytime, advertising-free. Click on the thumbnails below to see full-sized versions of the cards, and send some today from the POSTCARDS PAGE.

Computer Tutorials: These tutorials, based on pictures, are free. Learn about Microsoft Access, Excel, PowerPoint, Publisher and Word; OpenOffice Base, Calc, Impress, and Writer; Web layout: Dreamweaver, HTML & CSS; Web graphics: Photoshop Elements and Fireworks, and more! The new link is in TO DO: COMPUTERS SIMPLIFIED.

Notebook Paper, graph paper, lined paper, financial paper, music paper and more - print it right out at home from your own printer. You can do this through the new link to PrintablePaper.net. What's the point? When you live out in a rural area, and gas costs what it does, it's cheaper to print it out on demand than making a run to Wal-Mart. Check it out in TO DO: REFERENCE.

Free shipping coupons: If you shop a lot online, you know that shipping is the glitch - at least, paying for it is. Next time, go to Freeshipping.org and see whether or not there's a coupon for free shipping from the retailer you're going to order from. Costs nothing to check, saves a bunch! The new link is also in TO DO: REFERENCE.

Audio Search Engine: What would you call a Google-type search engine that finds MP3s? MP3gle, of course. This handy search engine will find the songs you've been looking for. It's been added to NET SEARCH.

Pediatrics: Do some reading on your own, learn more about how to care for your children's medical needs. The best patients are the best-informed patients. Here's a link to "Case-Based Pediatrics for Medical Students and Residents, Department of Pediatrics, University of Hawaii John A. Burns School of Medicine, An Online Introductory Pediatrics Textbook." It's been added to TO DO: MEDICAL INFO ONLINE.

100 Calorie Snacks: 20 Choices is a handy web page from the University of Arkansas Division of Agriculture's Cooperative Extension Center. Whether you're looking for snacks for school pupils or for your work day, you'll find healthy, nutritious ideas here. The new link is in TO DO: RECIPES.

12 new e-cards added this week bring the total number available for you to send to 900! This week's additions include flowers from the gardens of Virginia Boudreaux at Coles Point, and from the early colonization site at Henricus Historical Park. Send one or all today from the POSTCARDS PAGE

Pilots and others need very specific weather info. Sometimes it needs to be converted so you can recognize exact conditions you're dealing with. Fort Eustis' Weather Conversion Calculators provide just what you need: calculate distance, speed, pressure, weight, volume, wind chill, surface-cross/head/tail winds, flight level-cross/head/tail winds, temperature, relative humidity, heat stress, height and temperature D-val, density/pressure altitude. And there's even something called fighter index of thermal stress. We can probably all use that one. The new link is in TO DO: WEATHER.

Searching the right way can mean not only finding exactly what you need, but finding it in record time. Phil Bradley's "Finding Information: Search Engines" page looks at the type of information you need, the format in which you need it, and attempts to match your query to a search engine that will be the most helpful. A worthwhile read, this new link has been added to the NET SEARCH page on this site.

New Postcards: Now there are 888 ad-free e-cards to choose from on the POSTCARDS PAGE. New selections added this week are from Washington, DC and the National Gallery of Art. Click on the thumbnails below to see the enlarged version, and go to the POSTCARDS PAGE to send them today:

Alta Vista Image Search sometimes produces different results than the other image search engines do. Try your frequent image searches and see what you come up with! The new link is in NET SEARCH, where you'll find 16 search boxes and links to 35 additional search engines.

Obits: Continuing the experiment with the Alta Vista Image Search, I turned up this Superman frame on a search for obituaries - how unlikely! On a more serious note, I added links to the Rappahannock Record obits and to the Journal obits this week. So now you can speed through every local obits page that's available online. Check out the new Local Obits part of the NEWS Section now. As with the mention from last week, if you're not in the Obits, you're good to go one more time!

Colors of your college degree: You may or may not remember the colors of your institution of higher learning, or of your major. Take a quick refresher course by visiting this informative page from Colourlovers.com. The new link has been added to TO DO: REFERENCE. Before you click through, read on . . .

How to cram for a college exam is an appropriate topic since the end of the school year is coming up. Why cram? Why not? Are you really sure you're exempt from the need to review that last little bit of knowledge you pushed into your head this past semester? Check out the new link in TO DO: REFERENCE. NOW you can click through and see both this one and the new link above . . .

Obits pages are those things we read more often when we get older. Read 4 Obits pages of interest to the Northern Neck through the new links to the Fredericksburg Free-Lance Star obits, the Westmoreland News obits, the Northern Neck News obits, and the Northumberland Echo obits. If your name's not there, you're good for another week. Check out the links in NEWS.

Just for Kids: YouTube has a little bit of everything, and the Elephant Song is really neat. While it's obviously for kids, kids of all ages will enjoy the song. Find a youngster to share it with, or just retreat to your 2nd childhood. It's in JUST FOR KIDS.

Fret no more: Type in the chord you want, and it shows up on the virtual fret-board. A fun short-cut for guitarists. The new link is in TO DO: RADIO/MIDI, from All-Guitar-Chords.com.

E-cards: 4 new e-cards bring the site total to 880 ad-free postcards in 14 sections. The cards added this week include three cherry blossom photos and one of the surf with "Greetings from the Northern Neck." Thumbnails for these new cards are below - click on them to see full-sized versions. Send some now from the POSTCARDS PAGE.

Philosophy Links: What's philosophy got to do with your everyday life? More than you think. Two new links have been added this week: (1) "Top 20 logical Fallacies" from The Skeptics Guide to the Universe. If you read through the material there, you'll be able to tell a false dichotomy from a false continuum, and keep off the slippery slope. (2)"How to Argue" from the New England Skeptical Society, a "guide to examining the premises and logic of arguments - including a list of logical fallacies." The new links to get you thinking are in LAW LIBRARY: PHILOSOPHY .

Easter Cards are among the 876 ad-free postcards in 14 Sections on this site. Easter cards are in the Holidays Section of the POSTCARDS PAGE! and all newly added cards are on the main page of the POSTCARDS PAGE. 22 Easter card designs include a card version of this week's wallpaper. The cards added on Easter are: (1) Easter Sunrise; (2) Channel Marker, Lower Machodoc Creek; (3) Yellow and White Spring Flowers; (4) Life Goes By Fast; and (5) Pathway May Appear. Thumbnails for these new cards are below - click on them to see full-sized versions. Send some now from the POSTCARDS PAGE!

Easter Greeting for you - a cheery thought. Remember Easter egg hunts? Click here! Listen to the Rap Easter Bunny by clicking here! (No - the link at the end of the video doesn't take you to any cards, but the rest of the video is worth your click).

VA Legal Research: This University of Virginia Law Library Research Guide on Legal Research will answer some basic questions. While acknowledging that no general guide provides all answers, because some questions are complex or the law may not have been resolved in that area, this is a good place to start, for the public as well as beginning law researchers. The link is in LAW LIBRARY: LAW RESOURCES.

Newseum presents 553 front pages from newspapers in 55 countries. Click on the thumbnails on Newseum's home page to enlarge and read the front page, at least. A good way to stay informed on the news in distant (and nearby) places. The new link is in the NEWS Section on this site.

No excuses now: 15 new writing resources have been added this week. Whether you're writing for business or pleasure, or to make your pleasure writing into your business, you'll find these helpful: (1) "Eight Steps to Writing So That People Not Only Read and Understand but Even Respond to Your Marketing Message" (E-Zine University); (2) "Conquering Confusing Words" (E-Zine University); (3) "Quick Ways to Clean Up Your Writing" (E-Zine University); (4) "Lifewriting with Steven Barnes," 9-week writing class, a version of what he teaches at UCLA, except this one is free; (5) Purdue University's "Pattern and Variation in Poetry;" (6) Purdue University's "Proofreading Your Writing;" (7) Purdue's "Reverse Outlining: An Exercise for Taking Notes and Revising Your Work;" (8) Purdue's "Effective Workplace Writing;" (9) Purdue's "Handbook on Report Formats;" (10) Purdue's "Documenting Electronic Sources;" (11) Purdue's "Writing a Research Paper;" (12) University of Utah's "Introduction to Creative Writing;" (13) Utah State University's "Technology for Professional Writers;" (14) MIT's "Writing and Reading Short Stories" (free course); (15) MIT's "Advanced Essay Workshop" (free course). Visit them through TO DO: REFERENCE: LANGUAGE RESOURCES: WRITING.

2 new St. Patrick's Day cards for you to send: both feature the timeless shamrock design. It's coming March 17th! Send your selections ofSt. Patrick's Day cards from the Holidays Section of the POSTCARDS PAGE! Total of 870 cards!

Free online literature courses: Two new additions to LAW LIBRARY: ELECTRONIC TEXTS provide free courses: (1) MIT's Introduction to Fiction, and (2) University of Utah's Introduction to Shakespeare. If you're currently a student, or considering going back to school in later life, these courses will prove to be helpful to you. Check them out in ELECTRONIC TEXTS.

Another rate change is coming your way from the U. S. Post Office, so read up on what's going on - the link to the information is here. As fast as they are changing the rates, it doesn't make sense to put it in another section of this site. It's also a good time to remind you that you can send free postcards online 24/7 - no rate changes - from the POSTCARDS PAGE.

Food for thought: A contemplative video called "Realize the Value of Time" has been added to PERSONAL PREDICTIONS this week. There are a variety of interesting links in that section of this website, all designed to getting you to take a few moments and look at things in new ways. Check it out!

Sight-reading music is an important skill for musicians, of course, but also for singers, whether you're an amateur vocalist or just singing along with the congregation. A new link has been added on "How To Read Music" from WikiHow which will take some of the mystery out of how to do it! The new link is in MIDI/RADIO, where you'll find a good selection of music links.

17 Postcards added: new total 868! Click on thumbnails below to see the full-sized versions. Have fun sending them all from the POSTCARDS PAGE.

Missing the Snow this year? It's been a tough year for snow fans in Virginia. This week, I've added 5 links to snowy videos you will enjoy: (1) Winter Song; (2) Tanfield Railway in the Snow; (3) Colorado Roads during Snowstorm; (4) Boston 10-Hour Time Lapse during February 2006 Snowstorm; and (5) Terragen Sceneries with Music. These are all YouTube videos. You can see them full screen by clicking on the far right button at the bottom of the video when you get to YouTube - all you have to do to get back to normal screen size is hit the "Escape" button. Since they are all really escapes, that seems appropriate! Enjoy them in PLACES TO GO!

Art history is not complete without a visit to Chartres. Chartres Cathedral's sculpture and stained glass is legendary. A link to the Image Collection of Chartres: Cathedral of Notre Dame has been added to ART this week. Especially in light of the recent value of the Euro vs. the dollar, armchair travel is particularly enticing. Go see the amazing and breath-taking images in ART, where you'll find lots of other very civilized ways to virtually travel the world's art treasures.

Online stopwatch/countdown: Clever little web gadgets allow you to have your own online stopwatch and countdown. Easy as pie. On your mark, get set, go to REFERENCE! And you can also find the new link in GAMES.

Unified search: Library of Congress - For the first time, search the largest sections of the Library of Congress website from one search box. In beta, this search has been added to NET SEARCH, where you'll find lots of ways to locate what you're looking for on the web. There are now 16 search boxes on the NET SEARCH page, and 34 links to additional search resources.

New Postcards added this week bring the total available on this site to 851 cards. Send a few today from the POSTCARDS PAGE. Click on the thumbnails to see the full-sized versions.

Readers will delight in the resource that is "Petals on a Wet Black Bough." This exhibit is from the Beinecke Rare Book & Manuscript Library at Yale, and features books, manuscripts and illustrations with American 19th and 20th century writers' interpretations of those influences. Authors featured include Stein, Pound, Stevens and Cummings. The new link has been added to LAW LIBRARY: ELECTRONIC TEXTS ONLINE.

Online discounts are yours from RetailMeNot.com. You'll find information on current codes for discounts when you order from an amazing variety of places. Who cares? With the economy in the toilet, we should all care. Take a look. The new link's in TO DO: REFERENCE: SHOPPING. Before clicking through, check below....

1106 Journals, 4,638,765 full text articles from over 130 scholarly publishers. Of these, 1,838,959 articles are free, some do require a fee. All in all, more information than most of us will ever need to know, but should you need to, it's likely here through Stanford University's High Wire Press site. The new link is in TO DO: REFERENCE: DATABASES & REFERENCE.

447 ways to find cheap flights, all with just one search through Momondo. Try it and you will find an amazing variety of fares, some a lot cheaper than you would believe possible. Check it out through TO DO: TRAVEL INFO.

New Postcards added this week bring the total available on this site to 827 cards. Click on the thumbnails to see the full-sized versions. Send a few today from the POSTCARDS PAGE.

Washington's Birthday Reminder: There are a variety of Washington's Birthday cards available for you to send. The first President of the United States was born right here in Westmoreland County on February 22. It took a federal government to move him to a Monday holiday, and make him share "his day" with another President. You can acknowledge his real birthday with a card to friends - check out the card selection in POSTCARDS: HOLIDAYS!

New resources added this week to ELECTRONIC TEXTS ONLINE include (1) The Thoreau Reader: Annotated Works of Henry David Thoreau, which contains books, essays and more and is made available through Iowa State University; and (20 The Transcendentalists Web Site, which presents original content and links to material for the study of Emerson, Thoreau, Margaret Fuller, A. Bronson Alcott, Louisa May Alcott, Nathaniel Hawthorne and others. The site includes a link to what is believed to be Thoreau's last rediscovered manuscript. Readers of fine literature will appreciate these extra opportunities to learn more about important American authors.

More ways to express yourself adequately: Roget's II; The New Thesaurus (3rd ed.) is now available online and provides more than 35,000 synonyms for your use. The new link has been added to REFERENCE: LANGUAGE.

4 New E-cards added this week to the POSTCARDS PAGE make a grand total of 820 free postcards you can send at anytime. Be sure to check out all 4 on the POSTCARDS PAGE where you will find 14 different sections of selections.

Research can be taxing, but it's decidedly less so with the help of a good online resource. LegalBitStream.com's databases of US federal income tax law and estate tax law include case law from the US Supreme Court, US Circuit & District Courts, the Court of Federal Claims and Tax Court, as well as IRS materials databases. If this is your area, this is your resource! It's been added to the LAW LIBRARY this week.

Nasty Bugs can infect your computer and jeopardize all your data. Don't just sit on the sidelines and wait for it to happen. Update your antivirus software regularly, and know what's going around. A new link to the Virus Encyclopedia from VirusList.com will provide you with descriptions of the latest viruses, as well as info on different types of malicious software (viruses, Trojans, worms). You can't afford not to know about this! The new link is in TO DO: COMPUTERS SIMPLIFIED.

Create Your Own virtual concert tickets, virtual vinyl records, virtual cassettes and virtual badges and seals for yourself or for friends. These don't take the place of the real thing, but while you are waiting to become important in the recording world or otherwise, you can make these for free, and smile. The Virtual Generators from Says-It.com for Concert Tickets, Vinyl Records, Cassettes, Official Badges and Official Seals have been added to the GAMES section of this site where you will find an astounding number of other ways to spend time- and have fun!

Armchair Tours: This week there are 9 new webcams and 7 amazing panoramic 360-degree views of places around the world which have been added, thanks to tips from Bob Boice, frequent visitor to this site.

The webcams are: (1) Amsterdram from the RAI Tower; (2) Monaco Live: Monte Carlo Harbor; (3) Panama Canal Web Cams: Miraflores & Gatun Locks; (4) Portugal: Hotel Vivienda Mirando, Algarve; (5) Positano Italy Streaming Webcam; (6) Pyramids: Menkaure, Khafre, Khufu; (7) San Francisco from Sausalito, (8) Talkeetna Air Taxi Webcam: Mt. McKinley; (9) Yellowstone National Park: Old Faithful.

The 7 panoramic 360-degree views are of famous places in the world you may not get to visit, because some of them are relatively inaccessible to the casual tourist. These terrific photographic compilations allow you to look around, down and up, as if you were really there. The panoramas are: (1) Arc de Triomphe, Paris; (2) London Eye; (3) Machu Picchu; (4) Mt. Everest (top); (5) Mt. St. Helens (top); (6) Venice (Gondola Tour); (7) Versailles (Hall of Mirrors). While you may have seen London and Paris, fewer of us have been on top of Mt. Everest or Mt. St. Helens, and not many have seen the Pyramids or Machu Picchu.

No TSA hassles, no passport required. Spur of the moment trips are encouraged in PLACES TO GO, where all these new (or familiar) destinations await!

Language Resources: Three new links to the Language Learning Library provide new and concise resources for those studying (or brushing up on) Spanish, French and Chinese. These additions are thanks to the suggestion of site visitor Jessica Thomas, and have been added to TO DO: REFERENCE: LANGUAGE. You'll find that each of these Language Learning Library sites provide categories of Grammar, Common Phrases, Common Nouns, Numbers, Time, Alphabet, Dictionaries and Culture. The world is shrinking - if you haven't made the effort to study other languages, it's probably time you did!

Tongue-tied no more: The "Bureau of Communication" provides forms you can complete online, send to someone via e-mail, or print out. They are: (1) Formal Apology, (2) Formal Notice: Observance of Holiday, (3) Official Notice: Statement of Gratitude, (4) Official Notice: Acknowledgment of Occasion, (5) Official Invitation, and (6) Official Notice: Airing of Grievance. Don't worry - if the form you need isn't here, chances are good the "Bureau of Communication" is working on it. You won't believe how realistic these look when they are completed. They've been added to GAMES on this site, where you'll find a gazillion other ways to creatively spend your time.

34 New Law Links for professionals and the public:
In LAW LIBRARY: VIRGINIA COURTS: (1) Substitute Judges (VA - by district), (2) Judges & Justices (VA-alphabetical), (3) Judges & Clerk, VA Court of Appeals, (4) Justices & Clerk, VA Supreme Court, (5) VA Circuit Court Clerk's Manual (Civil), (6) VA Circuit Court Clerk's Manual (Criminal), (7) VA General District Court Manual, (8) VA Juvenile & Domestic Relations District Court Manual; (9) VA Magistrates' Manual, (10) VA Court-Appointed Counsel/Public Defender Procedures and Guidelines Manual, (11) VA Indigent Defense Commission Certified Assigned Counsel Lookup, (12) VA Qualified Guardians ad Litem for Children in District 15, (13) VA Qualified Guardians ad Litem for Children by District. (14) VA Combined District Court Judges' Benchbook;
In LAW LIBRARY: LAW REVIEW and in LAW LIBRARY: NEWS (full text resources): (14) George Mason Law Review, (15) Richmond Journal of Global Law & Business , (16) Richmond Journal of Law & Technology (only added to LIBRARY: LAW REVIEW - already in LAW LIBRARY: NEWS), (17) Richmond Journal of Law and the Public Interest , (18) University of Richmond Law Review, (19) Virginia Journal of Law & Technology (only added to LIBRARY: LAW REVIEW - already in LAW LIBRARY: NEWS), (20) The Virginia Law Review, (21) The Washington & Lee Law Review, (22) William & Mary Bill of Rights Journal, (23) William & Mary Law Review, (24) Cardozo Electronic Law Bulletin, (25) Cardozo Law Review, (26) Columbia Law Review, (27) Duke Law Journal, (28) E-Law: Murdoch University Electronic Journal of Law, (29) Journal of Information, Law & Technology, (30) NYU Law Review, (31) University of Pennsylvania Law Review, (32) Web Journal of Current Legal Issues , (33) Yale Law Journal. Check them out in LAW LIBRARY: LAW REVIEW and LAW LIBRARY: NEWS.

Execs & the War in Iraq: What? You thought they were related? Two new blogs have been added to LAW LIBRARY: NEWS:
(1) Footnoted.org, by the author of "Financial Fine Print," reports on the special deals given to CEOs/executives which otherwise would go to shareholders in the form of profits. Very interesting. Can you afford not to check it out?
(2) Inside Iraq is updated by Iraqi journalists working for McClatchy Newspapers. Submitted from Baghdad and outlying provinces, these accounts provide first-hand accounts. Can you afford not to know what "scoops on the ground" really are saying?

Researching companies is made infinitely easier with this new link to Rutgers University Libraries' Company Research site. Read about starting points, then find what you need on public companies, private companies, other companies, international companies, associations, corporate citizenship and social responsibilities, special topics and other guides. This link will help whether you're researching for business or personal interests. It's been added to TO DO: REFERENCE: BUSINESS. Before you click through, check out the new "add" below. . .

Job hunting? Here are "25 Things You Should Never Include on a Resume" from a site which should know their stuff: HRWorld.com is a human resources professionals site. Better to know now than to be unemployed later. The new link is in TO DO: REFERENCE: BUSINESS.

WiserWiki is still in beta, but it's a valuable resource. This wiki originally started with content from "Textbook of Primary Care Medicine" (3rd ed.) by John Noble. It is evolving to become a key source of authoritative, online medical information. WiserWiki can only be edited by board certified doctors to ensure that the information is as trustworthy and reliable as possible. So unlike a regular Wiki, you know that people adding data are qualified. WiserWiki is provided as a free service by Elsevier. The new link is in TO DO: MEDICAL INFO ONLINE.

Futures to invest in include your own! The Chinese Astrology site provides your lucky element, and a rise and fall chart of your life, and lots more. Why know this? Why not? It's an interesting twist on horoscopes, and since at least once, we've had a US President who was guided by astrology, there's nothing wrong with your trying it out. The new link has been added to TO DO: PREDICTIONS: PERSONAL.

Ever wonder if some things you hear (sometimes repeated from usually reputable sources) are true? Although it's in the TRIVIA Section on this site, some of it escapes the Trivia category to land right in the middle of information you should know. The "List of Common Misconceptions" is from Wikipedia. Categories of misconceptions include history, science, religion, technology. Check it out!

New links in the Midi Section just added this week include: (1) Gene Confrey's Midi Page; (2) Alamo's Midi Page; (3) Aria's Music Room; and (4) Mitsu.Sounds midi page. These sites were chosen for the quality of the midi files they have. There's a great variety here in a number of interesting styles. Alamo's page features a great background of "Unchain My Heart" when the page opens. Aria's Music Room and Mitsu.Sounds' pages have great songs, well performed. And Gene Confrey's Midi Page has such good midis you'll think you're somewhere listening to him perform live. All of these sites can be accessed through TO DO: RADIO & MIDI.

Going to the Edge: The Edge Annual Question 2008: What have you changed your mind about, and why? An intriguing website that is guaranteed to give you different and/or fresh insights into things you thought you had long solved for yourself. Why go to the trouble to re-examine what you think? Well, it's quite simple. If you don't re-examine ideas from time to time, you can't be sure they fit who you are today. An idea whose parameters you framed in high school or college may not bear out survival under the glare of everyday life. The Edge Annual Question 2008 link has been added to ELECTRONIC TEXTS ONLINE: PHILOSOPHY.

Spanish is made very much easier by these video podcasts from RollingRs.com. Larry Keim is a junior high school teacher, and these podcasts take you through the basics. When you get to the home page, browse, or go to the Archives link to see the great variety there. The new link has been added to TO DO: REFERENCE: LANGUAGE. Before you click through, read below.....

French and Mandarin Chinese: Before you decide whether or not to sign up for a course, get some inside info. Or, brush up on where you were when you left off. Links to two video podcasts indexed by Sutree and prepared by the BBC have been added to this site: (1) Learning Mandarin Chinese, and (2) : Basic French. You may access these by going to TO DO: REFERENCE: LANGUAGE.

2 New E-cards added this week to the POSTCARDS PAGE make a grand total of 790 free postcards you can send at anytime. One of the new postcards is the photo from this week's wallpaper (shown above at the top of the new updates for the week), and the second postcard is a stunning sunset from last week, showing large sycamores silhouetted against the setting sun. Check out these new listings on the POSTCARDS PAGE and visit the 14 different sections to see your many choices!

Regional Jails' website links have been added to the site this week: (1) Northern Neck Regional Jail; (2) Rappahannock Regional Jail; (3) Albemarle Charlottesville Nelson Regional Jail; (4) Peumansend Creek Regional Jail; (5) Prince William Manassas Adult Detention Center; (6) New River Valley Regional Jail; (7) Pamunkey Regional Jail; (8) Rockingham County Regional Jail; (9) Southside Regional Jail; (10) Central Virginia Regional Jail; (11) Riverside Regional Jail; (12) Rockbridge Regional Jail. Why visit jail websites? Attorneys need to know rules and hours; so do visitors. And no, there doesn't appear to be a site for Middle Peninsula Regional Security Center yet. Also added this week is a link to the Richmond County Sheriff's Office websites. The new links are in LAW LIBRARY: CRIMINAL LAW.

Research Tips: "Six Techniques to Get More from the Web than Google Will Tell You" is good reading. These tips from professional librarians and researchers will help you find what you're looking for in online research. The link has been added to the bottom of the NET SEARCH PAGE on this site, where you'll find 9 other good resources to help you be more efficient online.

New Office: The law office of Susan Godman Rager, P.C. has completed its move a gigantic two doors away. New directions to the office are on the DIRECTIONS page on this site. The office is open for clients by appointment only; call 804-472-4700 to schedule. Consultation appointments are still free. Do not bring children with you to your appointment unless specifically directed to do so by the attorney; you can't pay attention to your children and your attorney at the same time, and your attorney needs to focus on you when you're here.

Added Dec. 26: The New Year is a time for reflection, and the New Year's Poem for 2008 does just that, and gives you a moment to consider the things that are really important to you. Go read the NEW YEAR POEM 2008, and have a happy and healthy celebration and year ahead! You can access the New Year Poem by clicking on the 2008 icon at the top of this page and on the Home Page as well.

Added Dec. 26: 4 New Cards for New Year's! See full-sized versions of these cards by clicking on the thumbnails below. To send them as e-cards, go to the POSTCARDS PAGE : (1) Happy New Year in Virginia; (2) Sailing into the New Year; (3) May the World be Your Marble in 2008; and (3) Neon Happy 2008. Access all 14 New Year's cards on this siteby clicking on the fireworks icon at the top of this page and on the Home Page as well. There are now 788 cards on this site!

Added Dec. 26: Learn about the history and customs associated with New Year's Eve and New Year's by accessing these Wikipedia articles directly by clicking on the links provided below here: New Year's Eve; New Year's.

Added Dec. 22: Popular New Year's Resolutions from USA.gov outlines the top promises made by people to themselves at the beginning of a new year: lose weight, pay off debt, save money, get a better job, get fit, eat right, get a better education, drink less alcohol, quit smoking now, reduce stress overall, reduce stress at work, take a trip, volunteer to help others. Whew! There are links to information on how to succeed at these goals! If you just can't stand to wait until New Year's before thinking about this, get started now by clicking here.

Added Dec. 29:Travel Bonanza: 29 highly specialized links to various areas of the mammoth JohnnyJet travel portal, plus links to public transportation sources in VA, MD and DC, plus info on NYC subway system. No matter where you're going, or where you're coming from (or even if you don't know literally if you're coming or going) you will find helpful travel info in TO DO: TRAVEL.

Added Dec. 29: Feeling Better about yourself and the world that you live in can be enhanced through 4 new links added to TO DO: MEDITATIONS: (1) "A Good Day" makes you think about what one really is; (2) "The Dash" by Linda Ellis; (3)"The Goodness of Life;" and "Rules for Being Human." Whether you're just starting out on this life, or you think you're on the home stretch, there's something here for you.

Added Dec. 29: Brainy Quotes is a great website with quotes in many different areas. Thanks go to Bob Boice for this site suggestion! 6 topic areas have been added as links to the QUOTATIONS section this week: (1) Poetry Quotations; (2) Age Quotations; (3) Art Quotations; (4) Imagination Quotations; (5) Funny Quotations; and (6) Music Quotations. Find your favorites!

Added Dec. 23:Christmas Fun Page gets 3 new terrific games, probably your webmaster's favorites! They aren't stressful, but are lots of fun, and quite beautifully designed. (1) Flight of the Season takes you at breakneck speed over the globe where you are asked to drop presents in chimneys; (2) Snow Bowling allows you to "bowl over" skaters on a pond with a gigantic snowball; and (3) The Crossing, which is a wonderful game, allows you to help fawns cross a creek by providing a bridge under them along the way to prevent them from falling. The designs are really neat, and they're from Orisinal. They're on the CHRISTMAS FUN 2007 PAGE, which I hope you've already been enjoying!

Added Dec. 22: Air Travelers' arrivals can be easily tracked via new links to Richmond International Airport, Washington National (Reagan) Airport, Dulles International Airport and Baltimore-Washington Airport from FlightAware.com. Track current flight activity, arrivals and departures through these newly added links. And air travelers will appreciate the new link to the In-Flight Fitness Guide from APTA which provides simple exercises on-board to keep the blood flowing, the joints mobile and the muscles relaxed while en route. These handy air travel resources are now in TO DO: TRAVEL INFO.

Added Dec. 22:Thank You Notes in 6 Easy Steps, an article in the archive of The Morning News, provides a handy guide for these still-necessary communications that crop up this time of the year. The 6 steps are: (1) Greet the Giver, (2) Express Your Gratitude, (3) Discuss Use, (4) Mention the Past, Allude to the Future, (5) Grace, and (6) Regards. Now, if it were that easy, why would I have added the link? You need to see the details, obviously. The new link, with the article by Leslie Harpold, is in TO DO: REFERENCE. Check it out!

Added Dec. 22:Popular New Year's Resolutions from USA.gov outlines the top promises made by people to themselves at the beginning of a new year: lose weight, pay off debt, save money, get a better job, get fit, eat right, get a better education, drink less alcohol, quit smoking now, reduce stress overall, reduce stress at work, take a trip, volunteer to help others. Whew! There are links to information on how to succeed at these goals! If you just can't stand to wait until New Year's before thinking about this, get started now by clicking here.

8 New Christmas Cards! There are now 784 free postcards on this site, including 100 Christmas cards - no advertising at all on the cards you send. The new ones added on December 15 are:
(1) Christmas Magic: A delicate shell and some golden bells and beads among white lights on the tree with golden script lettering;
(2) Wishes Come True: A teddy bear dressed up with magical powers nestles among Christmas branches;
(3) Believe in Santa: Santa ornament reads: "Believe in me, Virginia!" which reminds us of the article, "Yes, Virginia, There is a Santa Claus;"
(4) Treats for Santa: a basket of ripe red apples hangs on the tree just for the North Pole visitor;
(5) Thinking of You: crystal ornament on tree carries message "Thinking of You at Christmas;"
(6) Peace on Earth: colorful "Peace" ornament on tree brings forth an important message of the season;
(7) Stellar Greeting: a brilliant crystal close-up with "May you never outgrow your belief in Christmas;"
(8) Almost Done! A little mouse has cut out the last letter of "Noel" and is ready to put it up on the banner.
Enjoy these and other holiday cards on the POSTCARDS PAGE . Send them at any time, 24/7, postage-free and ad-free. There are now 100 Christmas cards from which you may choose!

New Additions to the Christmas Fun Page, proving that the fun never stops! 4 new additions include (1) Mrs. Claus' Cookbook, which has tons of holiday recipes, suggested by Carolyn Farmer; (2) Boston Snow Plow, a hilarious game that will convince you that you're not the ideal candidate for this job; (3) "The Life and Adventures of Santa Claus," full text of the 1902 book, by L. Frank Baum; and (4) Christmas Carols Database from Asksam.com, which can be browsed or searched. The CHRISTMAS FUN PAGE is for kids of all ages, so do visit and enjoy!

What do you know about Christmas? How about taking a test just to see. Here's a link (here on this page only) to Aristotle's Christmas Trivia Quiz - see if you can answer 10 questions about the celebration around the world. Give it a try! You may be surprised at what you know, -- or at what you don't!

Tree Decorating 101 (for people with cats, that is): Here's a link that cat folks will appreciate. It goes to "Tree Decorating 101" and reminds us all why some of the fuss and bother just isn't worth it in the long run. Dog lovers, you have to go outside in the cold weather, so you have your problems, too. Take a look at the feline version of trimming the tree.

Christmas Poem 2007: This annual tradition makes its 2007 appearance this weekend. Written on November 14, 2007, it's in rhyme, but designed to get you to think beyond the ordinary hustle-bustle of this time of year, and reflect on deeper personal meanings of this midwinter pause in our ordinarily hectic lives. You can get there by clicking here - or on the stars on the Home Page.

Christmas Fun 2007: This annual page was called the Christmas Activities Page in 2006, but has been completely revamped. There's a new rhyming poem, lots of online Christmas stories to read, Christmas games to play, Christmas music to hear (and the words to sing it with), and cards for you to send. Have fun! Ready to go? Click here or on the little reindeer at the top of this page and the Home Page!!

12 New Christmas Cards! There are now 776 free postcards on this site, including 92 Christmas cards - no advertising at all on the cards you send. The new ones added on December 10 are:
(1) Chesapeake Christmas: A fishing boat from Tangier Island complete with nets is making its way through the Christmas tree on its way home for the holidays. (Shown at upper left)
(2) Christmas Lawyer: Although very few of us put our feet up very often, it can be imagined on Christmas Day at least. (Shown at left)
(3) Teaching the Ropes: Boot camp for the newcomer, no doubt. The real one is Gizmo, your webmaster's cat of 12-1/2 years. (Shown at lower left)
(4) Christmas on the Potomac: Elegant, script-y lettering overlays Christmas tree boughs and ornaments (not shown on this page).
(5) Christmas in Virginia: Happy Holidays: Smiling gingerbread tree nestled in Christmas tree (not shown on this page).
(6) Purrrrfect Christmas: Ziggy, brother to Gizmo, sings Christmas carols on the piano (not shown on this page).
(7) Christmas Wishes: Golden script greeting overlays Christmas tree boughs and ornaments (not shown on this page).
(8) Christmas Seafood Dinner: Tiny Christmas village fish factory still open late at night so Christmas dinner can still be seafood (not shown on this page).
(9) Blessing of the Ornaments: Sort of like blessing of the fleet, but with Gizmo (not shown on this page).
(10) Jamestowne Christmas: Special edition 400th Anniversary Christmas ornament in pewter shown on tree (not shown on this page).
(11) Christmas Cheer: Golden lettering on photo of snowman at snowball booth on tree (not shown on this page).
(12) Christmas Wildfowl: Tree ornament by Ed McAllister of Coles Point, who does really elegant decoys (not shown on this page).
Enjoy these and other holiday cards on the POSTCARDS PAGE.

5 new Christmas cards! There are now 764 free postcards on this site,including 80 Christmas cards - no advertising at all on the cards you send. The new ones added this week are:

(1) Smooth Sailing for the Holidays: This card is the same design as this week's wallpaper, and shows a quaint village scene nestled in snow. The business that's ready to close for the day is Northern Neck Sailmakers, which still has its door ajar.

(2) Old Virginia Department Store: It's a nostalgic reminder of the grand old department stores many of us remember from Christmases past in Richmond, where the holidays not only meant shopping, but visiting Santa and wonderful animated windows.

(3) Meowy Christmas: This happy little sculpture belongs to your webmaster, and is decorated for the holidays with a bright red ribbon - the enthusiasm is contagious - you can just imagine the caterwauling!

(4) Happy Holidays: Memories from days gone by when neighborhood groceries provided the necessities for holidays and for all year long are brought to mind with this little store that's stayed open late to serve the community. The door is still open and the produce hasn't been brought in for the evening.

(5) Coles Point Maritime Academy: This water-based business is decked out for the holidays with colorful poinsettias near the steps and snow on the ground. While the real Coles Point doesn't have a maritime academy, it certainly must in spirit, at least!

Four of the five new cards take their origin from the Christmas village assembled and displayed by your webmaster in 2006. The fifth card, as noted above, started from a sculpture. Proof positive that inspiration is everywhere! Enjoy these and other holiday cards on the POSTCARDS PAGE.

Red and Mondegreen: If you don't know what Mondegreens are, it's time you found out. Snopes.com has a humorous explanation and examples - check it out here!

Updated Dec.1: Postcards Music selections now feature 11 extra songs, including 6 new Christmas tunes. Check out the list through the POSTCARDS PAGE. Note: Christmas songs are listed alphabetically under Xmas - not to get excited, it's simply a shorter word to put in a menu drop-down. Enjoy!

No, the 2007 Poem is not up yet; however, there's no reason for you not to enjoy the CHESAPEAKE CHRISTMAS POEM from last year one more time. It's got a very upbeat version of "We Three Kings," and will put your ability to read in rhyme to the test against the jazz beat and tempo. If you just can't do it, turn down the volume and read it to yourself. But either way, it's still fun! New poem for 2007 on its way at a later time!

Check before sending: Snopes.com is the internet's biggest and best repository of information on e-mail forwards you get and are asked to re-send. With the holidays coming up, no doubt you're going to get Christmas-themed items, so here's the link to the Christmas page at Snopes.com so you can check them out ahead of time before sending them on. The link is here only for the Christmas section of Snopes, but you can always find the main link to Snopes in

	What's New?
	*Updated May 9, 2008*