Monday, August 29, 2005

Sewanee, TN

http://www.sewanee.edu Sewanee-The University of the South. An outstanding liberals arts college and just a really neat community situated on 10,000 acres of mountaintop domain in eastern Tennessee. Also a great place to bail out to when a category 5 hurricane is bearing down on you in New Orleans.

Thursday, August 25, 2005

Bibliotheca Alexandrina

http://www.bibalex.org The Bibliotheca Alexandrina is one of the most incredible libraries in the world-though, being in Egypt, is something of a hike to get to.

T@B Trailers

http://www.tab-rv.com Way, way cool trailers designed for outdoor comfort adventure and/or low cost retirement living down by the river.

My Architect

http://www.myarchitectfilm.com One of the best documentaries I've seen in a long time. Don't miss this one.

Bio-Chart

http://www.bio-chart.com Feeling blah or great today? See if that feeling corresponds with your biorhythms.

Tuesday, August 23, 2005

Real Milk

http://www.realmilk.com All is not well in the dairy industry. See site for details.

Lebed.biz

http://www.lebed.biz Remember the 16 year old day trader who got fined by the SEC for about $250,000 but was able to hold onto several hundred thousand in stock trading profits? This is his stock pick website.

Monday, August 22, 2005

Orthomolecular Medicine

http://www.orthomolecular.org Know anyone struggling with schizophrenia or bipolar disorder? Steer them to this site that advocates the use of mega vitamins and other nutrients to treat these disorders.

Glidehouse

http://www.glidehouse.com Way cool pre-fab modern style home.

Jack Millers

http://www.jackmillers.com Fantastic south Louisiana bar-b-que sauce.

Deep Springs College

http://www.deepsprings.edu This is a really small college, like 30 students, who live on a ranch way out in the desert somewhere in California. Founded by some eccentric millionaire it attracts a very dedicated student body and alum group.

Ibex Wear

http://www.ibexwear.com Few things stand the test of time like wool. Ibex makes outstanding wool outdoor wear that will be handy to have when society collapses and you're trudging across a cold, barren, windswept plain in search of food. Prior to that time it's also excellent sport and everyday wear.

Sunday, August 21, 2005

Saturday, August 20, 2005

Beck Institute

http://www.beckinstitute.org Site for Aaron T. Beck, M.D. who is the founder of Cognitive Therapy which is a clinically proven means to address and surmount life challenges. Also see: http://www.mindstreet.com

Speedminton

http://www.speedminton.com Super cool new updated badminton like game with a faster shuttlecock and larger racket.

Consortium News

http://www.consortiumnews.com Site for investigative journalist Robert Parry who has researched and written extensively on the Bush political dynasty.

Friday, August 19, 2005

Amas Test

http://www.amascancertest.com For $125 you can have this innovative cancer screening test. That's about the price of 20 packs of cigarettes.

Monday, August 15, 2005

Honey Locator

http://www.honeylocator.com This is one "sweet!" search engine.

Round The World Flights

http://www.circletheplanet.com A good site if you want to buy an airline ticket that allows you multiple stops as you circle the globe. Other sites to study are listed below:

Morris Institute

http://www.morrisinstitute.com Ancient Wisdom for Modern Life-"The mission of the Morris Institute is to bring the wisdom of the ages into modern life in a way that matters."

Thursday, August 11, 2005

Great Buildings

http://www.greatbuildings.com A fantastic site with an excellent search engine to research buildings and the architects responsible for them.

Catholic Worker

http://www.catholicworker.org Catholic Worker, founded by Dorothy Day, is inspired by the premise that the least among us are deserving of dignity. Today over 180 Catholic Worker communities endeavor to promote social justice, mercy, and charity.

Personality Research

http://www.personalityresearch.org Many, many interesting personality tests on this site.

Avesta

http://www.avesta.org A site devoted to the ancient religion of "Zoroastrianism" which at one point was the dominant world religion. They believe in having sacred fires with some kept lit at temples on a continual basis.

General Semantics

http://www.general-semantics.org General Semantics is about the use of language and how it's use determines how we view the world.

Wednesday, August 10, 2005

Qi Journal

http://www.qi-journal.com The Journal of Traditional Eastern Health and Fitness. Website for a magazine devoted to tai chi, martial arts, and traditional chinese medicine with a good selection of online articles.

The Great Ideas

http://www.thegreatideas.org From their Manifesto: Plato's Socrates observed that the unexamined life is not worth living. Our understanding of what he means will lead us to conclude that an unplanned life cannot be lived well. Therefore we ought to seek—a sound and practical plan of life that will help us to make our whole life good.

Grow Home

http://www.mqup.mcgill.ca/book.php?bookid=624 The Volkswagon Bug of starter homes designed by McGill University professor Avi Friedman, winner of the United Nations World Habitat Award. 10,000 of these homes have been built in Canada at a cost of about $40,000 each.

Temple Lodge

http://www.templelodge.com Interesting publisher out of England with a variety of titles worth reviewing.

Ortho-K

http://www.ortho-k.net Special contact lenses that correct nearsightedness. By wearing the lenses several hours day your cornea is shaped to correct vision which is maintained for a period (about a day) once the contacts are removed. Safer than Lasik surgery.

Tuesday, August 09, 2005

Personal Finance Blog

http://www.pfblog.com A good blog by a guy looking to bank a million bucks in retirement savings and portfolio. He discusses his investments, trades, and other financial planning strategies.

Contesting

http://www.contestgirl.com You may already be a winner...if you spend a few moments a day entering contests. A site with an incredible overview of major contests underway. As an experiment I'm entering contests every day for one year and have already won 25 big ones...dollars.

Mercer and Sons

http://www.mercerandsons.com This may be the source for the most durable oxford cloth shirts in America. As soon as my Google Ad Sense money starts rolling in I'm going to buy one.

Monday, August 08, 2005

Phaidon Press

http://www.phaidon.com Excellent publisher of books on architecture, design, media arts, etc. They have a new book out on world architecture that is a 20 pound monster of a book.

Sir Francis Bacon

http://www.sirbacon.org Everything you ever wanted to know about Sir Francis Bacon. Was he the true author of Shakespeare's plays? Great site about a great individual.

Rocky Mountain Institute

http://www.rmi.org The Rocky Mountain Institute is all about energy conservation and how to create a sustainable society. They're also working on a revolutionary car design.

Arts and Letters Daily

http://www.artsandlettersdaily.com Very informative cultural news portal.

John Taylor Gatto

http://www.johntaylorgatto.com Former New York state Teacher of the Year has written a book called The Underground History of American Education. Gatto contends that it's all a plot to make us obedient worker drones who will respond to bells and gold stars when we're not chained to our desks and, oh-oh, he makes a very convincing case.

Technocracy

http://www.technocracyinc.org Here's an idea-let's dissolve the borders of North and South America and replace national currencies with an exchange unit based on energy credits. We'll manage this new "Technate" entity as a single energy using/sharing commons run by engineers and scientists rather than politicians. At least, I think that's what the Technocracy folks would have us do to solve our problems.

Fate Magazine

http://www.fatemag.com This little magazine has been around for decades and is a fun read. All kinds of stories about mysteries, strange occurrances, voodoo, weird mojo, and the like.

Sunday, August 07, 2005

Dr. Bronner's Magic Soaps

http://www.drbronner.com If you are not familiar with Dr. Bronner's peppermint soap then you either did not grow up during the 60's, have never been in a health food store, or have been living in a cave. Dr. Bronner's is perfect to wash off all that cave gunk in order to reenter society. All One! See website for details.

Henry George School

http://www.henrygeorgeschool.org Why today amid leisure and affluence do we have people who are destitute? Henry George, one time candidate for mayor of New York City, sought to answer that question 100 years ago in his book Progress and Poverty. Today we hear of Mark Twain and Thomas Edison from that period yet at the time Henry George was just as prominent. Today the school offers free courses in economics and work continues worldwide to advocate the Georgist philosophy of a single land tax. Also see: http://ied.info

Nomadic Research Labs

http://www.microship.com Site for a guy who has created self-contained bicycle and kayak forms of extended travel transport while connected to cyberspace.

RAWA

http://www.rawa.org Revolutionary Association of the Women of Afghanistan. For the real scoop on the struggle for universal democratic rights in Afghanistan see this site. Even modest gifts of financial or material support can have a real impact on a people who have had to subsist on the bitter bread of war for far too long.

Left Business Observer

Website and newsletter for the business writer Doug Henwood who wrote a book titled "Wall Street" several years ago that didn't win him a lot of fans with the Wall Street Journal. Funny guy and a good read/different take on the business news.

Jung Institute

http://www.junginstitut.ch "I regard it as the noblest task of psychotherapy in our times to untiringly serve the personal growth of the individual."
C.G. Jung

Edward Tufte

http://www.edwardtufte.com Professor at Yale who has published extensively on information design who the New York Times refers to as "the Leonardo da Vinci of data".

Saturday, August 06, 2005

Reference Desk

http://www.refdesk.com Super site with many different reference resources.

National Park Service

http://www.nps.gov Site for the National Park Service. I was going to do a post on Big Bend in south Texas but for now here is the site that covers all of our national parks.

$19 Glasses

Somewhere in China there is an optician making $1 an hour and glad to earn it so that we can have $19 prescription glasses with frames you probably wouldn't want to be seen in public in. Good for an emergency spare though.
http://www.zennioptical.com
http://www.39dollarglasses.com

Bach Flower Remedies

http://www.bachcentre.com Site dedicated to the work of Dr. Edward Bach-inventor of the Bach Flower Remedies. These remedies are certainly interesting and inexpensive but proof of their effectiveness rests with the subjective experience of the user.

Monthly Review

http://www.monthlyreview.org Old line academic socialist magazine with interesting articles and book reviews.

Camphill

http://www.camphill.org Highly innovative and nuturing rural home communities for adults with developmental disorders such as autism and downs syndrome. An inspiring place to visit and worthy of financial support via either gifts or by purchasing craft items produced by the resident members themselves.

Thursday, August 04, 2005

Acres USA

http://www.acresusa.com Let's say you want to chunk city life and head to the country for a simpler lifestyle of growing your own food, snaring wild animals, weaving homespun cloth, chopping firewood, and playing cards by lamp light...well, better take an Acres USA catalog with you. Also see:

Psychohistory

http://www.psychohistory.com Fascinating theories of what psychohistorians call "the science of historical motivations". Psychohistory is a new social science and their methodology is controversial but well worth looking into if you are interested in either history or contemporary events.

Wobenzym

http://www.buywobenzym.com Wobenzym is an all natural enzyme product that is a widely used aspirin alternative in Germany. Know someone with terrible back or other muscle pain who is caught between ulcer causing aspirin products or more powerful medications with difficult side effects? Steer them to this site as Wobenzym is a real alternative with few if any side effects.

Classics Library

http://www.classics.mit.edu Way to go MIT with your free access database to hundreds of classical authors where you can read complete texts online in english translation.

Epicurious

http://www.epicurious.com They tout themselves as the world's greatest collection of recipes which my second sister will welcome as she loves being in the kitchen.

Lonely Planet

http://www.lonelyplanet.com Oh, come on it's not so bad is it? Despite the name Lonely Planet produces superb travel books and their site is an extensive resource for the active and armchair traveler. Also see: http://www.roughguides.com

Wednesday, August 03, 2005

Personality Tests

http://www.cooltests.com A site where you can take free personality tests. There will be more posts on testing sites in the future.

A Pattern Language

http://patternlanguage.com Christopher Alexander is an architect who has sought to define the "nature of order" which is the title of his latest book in a highly acclaimed series on architecture, design, and urban planing.

Frank Lloyd Wright

http://www.franklloydwright.com Website that preserves and extols the works of the visonary architect Frank Lloyd Wright.

Filson

http://www.filson.com Looking for tough wearing clothes and gear when you're living in Alaska or navigating the stone canyons of Manhattan? Check out Filson.

Rivendell Bicycles

http://www.rivbike.com When I hit the lottery I'm getting a Rivendell Bicycle which are handbuilt in Marin, California by bike industry legend Grant Petersen. Great website expounding a cool "retro grouch" philosophy of durable bikes and the simple living good times inherent within.

Brain Builders

Brain Builders by Richard Leviton is an amazing guidebook to exercises, foods, and ideas to sharpen your brain and keep it cookin' well into old age. A fantastic book-you ought to be able to find it used on amazon.com or at your local library.

Urban Almanac

http://www.cosmosurbanalmanac.com This is a smart little guidebook to help the urban dweller stay connected to natures rhythms. Lots of good ideas within to help one address the age old question "how then should I live?"

Tuesday, August 02, 2005

The Nobel Prize

http://www.nobelprize.org Site for the Nobel Prize of Sweden. I enjoying clicking on the site help link and studying all 770 previous Nobel Prize winners. Quite an inspiring collection of individuals.

Surf Music

http://www.surfmusic.com Another great American invention--surf music.

Dome Living

http://www.pacificdomes.com Speaking of Buckminster Fuller here is a source of beautiful domes for day to day and weekend living.

Recreation.gov

http://www.recreation.gov Super website by the federal government on outdoor recreation choices across the nation in parks and other public lands.

Bootsnall Travel

http://www.bootsnall.com Nice website for the independent traveler up for some low cost world adventure travel.

Buckminster Fuller Institute

http://www.bfi.org An institute dedicated to the memory and ideas of the American Medal of Freedom winner Buckminster Fuller who invented, most famously, the geodesic dome. Learn about the geodesic dome, the Dymaxion Car, Dymaxion Map, and the Dymaxion House. Additional information on the nature of Synergetics and Comprehensive Anticipatory Design Science that "advances humanity's options for success". Fuller was the epitome of the pragmatic, solution seeking American spirit. Also see: http://www.worldgame.org

Monday, August 01, 2005

Dr. Alfred Tomatis

http://www.tomatis.com Tomatis Sound Therapy has been used to treat a wide range of behavorial, emotional, and learning issues. Little known but with centers around the world.

Highlander Center

http://www.highlandercenter.org The Highlander Center and Folk School, located in eastern Tennessee, has a special place and storied history in the long march toward expanded democratic rights and human freedom.

Lehmans

http://www.lehmans.com The source for home goods and tools for the Amish lifestyle. If the Amish were to ever use a computer they could browse through all of the butter churns and oil lamps.

Iscador

http://www.iscador.com If you or a friend/family member are ever faced with the Big C (cancer) make it a point to look into Iscador. Here's another good site as well: http://www.cancerdecisions.com

Sunday, July 31, 2005

Game Puzzles

http://www.gamepuzzles.com I love this site and want to buy all 178 games and puzzles listed. The family that games together stays together.

Clark Howard

http://www.clarkhoward.com The excellent website for a talk radio consumer advocate guy with good financial planning and money management information.

Lindsay Technical Books

If you ever wanted to smelt some metal then build your own lathe and machine tools this is the book source for you. http://www.lindsaybks.com

Audiblox

Audiblox is a progressive learning system for regular students and those with learning difficulties. Describing their method as a "multisensory cognitive enhancement program" it is touted as helping a student develop "concentration, perception, memory, and logical thought". Sounds pretty cool. http://www.audiblox2000.com http://www.audiblox.com

Johnson O'Conner Research Foundation

http://www.jocrf.org A fantastic aptitude testing service to help you find your true career path.

Froebel Kindergarten Movement

Friedrich Wilhelm August Froebel (1782-1852) was the founder of what we today call kindergarten with a special emphasis on a specific set of instructive toys known as the Froebel "gifts". Lost through time but now enjoying a modern resurgence it is altogether interesting, hopeful, and encouraging.

YouthSection.Org

http://www.youthsection.org The youth initiative of the Anthroposophical Society. Located at the Goetheanum--School of Spiritual Science in Dornach, Switzerland. http://www.goetheanum.ch

Critical Thinking

http://www.criticalthinking.org How then should I live? Here's a good resource to help you address just such a question.

St Johns Wort

I have become a huge fan of St Johns Wort recently. SJW was the rage several years ago as a natural treatment for mild depression but kind of fell off the map when a study came out that indicated that it wasn't effective. A new study is out that quality, high potency SJW preparations are as effective as Paxil....with few if any side effects. Further study reveals that SJW isn't just good for depression which can encompass a lot of symptoms but can be seen as a soul healing medicine as the SJW deep red oil lights a bonfire of warmth and radiance within you. Can also improve sleep quality. Well worth investigating in greater depth.

Saturday, July 30, 2005

Hydrofloss

http://www.hydrofloss.com This is a fantastic water pik type device that magnetizes the water which in turns does an amazing job keeping you free of plaque. They sell for about $129.00 and are worth investigating.

Weston A Price

http://www.westonaprice.org Weston A Price was a dentist who traveled to the far corners of the globe studying healthy/happy native people and how when they adopted the modern/western diet the dental, physical, and psychological health of their offspring took a nosedive. Super site with excellent articles.

Slow Food

http://www.slowfood.com Hey, chill and slow down and enjoy that organic heirloom squash you're about to eat. That's the slow food movement in a nutshell with their old world/revolutionary ideas about people sitting around a table talking and enjoying a home cooked meal.

Burning Man

http://www.burningman.com If you have ever wanted to run around in the desert with thousands of counter culture types and then burn a huge straw man in effigy look no further.

Mountain Safety Research

http://www.msrcorp.com When society collapses and you're reduced to living in a tent and cooking your meals on a camping stove (if you can find fuel and food) you'll want MSR equipment. Before that time their gear is great for camping too.

Argan Oil

http://www.argan3.com A culinary oil from Morrocco that is new to me and sounds very appealing.

American College of Orgonomy

http://www.orgonomy.org Website for the American College of Orgonomy which studies the theories of the late natural scientist and psychoanalyst Dr. Wilhelm Reich. Fascinating articles on raising healthy children, healing damaged adults, the nature of the orgone, etc.

Friday, July 29, 2005

Hampton Roads Publishing

http://www.hrpub.com Another nice print catalog from a self-help and spirituality publisher with some excellent titles.

Princeton Architectural Press

http://www.papress.com The site itself is great to browse around. However, the free catalog that you can request is a beautifully designed bit piece of print art.

Guardian Newspaper

http://www.guardian.co.uk The Guardian newspaper of London is a great daily read.

Wednesday, July 27, 2005

Honey Wine

http://www.honeywine.com This site is all about Mead--honey wine. Party drink of the Roman Gods. Let the honey wine flow and the good times roll!

Brecht Forum

http://www.brechtforum.org The New York Marxist School. If you live in Manhattan the Brecht Forum is a hidden gem offering lectures, classes, book parties, and a new crib that I need to check out. Keep an open mind when there and hope that any photos taken of you won't derail your future political career in Alabama.

Seaside Florida

http://www.seasidefl.com Seaside is a New Urbanism planned community on the Florida gulf coast between Destin and Panama City. Founded by progressive Birmingham architect Robert Davis and site location for the movie The Truman Show. It was really nice when it was just a few sparse homes and it gets criticized for being yuppieish but it beats the cement condos lining the rest of Florida hands down. The beach at night is just fantastic and the bookstore and restaurants are cool. Next door state park Grayton Beach offers cheap digs and you can always park in town and Ninja camp in the nearby dunes for free.

Tuesday, July 26, 2005

Johrei

http://www.johrei.com Johrei is a very interesting spiritual healing movement out of Japan that also has initiatives in natural farming, flower arranging, and sacred art appreciation. Johrei centers worldwide offer their "channeling the divine light to dispel spiritual clouds and toxins" free of charge or for donations.
http://www.Shumei.org It seems Shumei is a splinter group of Johrei. Beautiful website.

Speick Soap

http://www.speickwerk.de Is there, out of thousands of possibilities worldwide, a single best bar of soap? Speick is a high alpine valerian plant from which a rare oil is extracted from the roots. Discovered by Walter Rau when studying ancient manuscripts about plants and herbs it is purported to relieve nervious tension and it's users often become dedicated fans.

Chef John Folse

http://www.jfolse.com A vast collection of south Louisiana recipes by Louisiana legend chef John Folse who has not only cooked for the Pope but discussed sausage making with him as well. Listen to his weekly radio show link as it's a real hoot of a show.

Finding a Job

http://www.jobhuntersbible.com If you have never read "What color is your parachute" do so even if you're not looking for a job a the moment. Tell anyone you know doing a job or career search to check out the book and it's companion website above. An excellent resource that will save you time and stress when you're pounding the pavement looking for your next paycheck.

NOLS

National Outdoor Leadership School: http://www.nols.edu Outstanding wilderness adventure and education trips. Founded by legendary mountaineer Paul Petzoldt. Semester long trip for students in locations all over the world. Two and four week trips for adults of all ages. Their print catalog is a mini vaction in itself.

World News Translator

http://www.newstran.com A great site for world news sources and translation into multiple languages by Louisiana journalist Rick Perez. With the streaming video links you can watch TV from all over the world.

Monday, July 25, 2005

United World College

http://www.uwc.edu A fascinating school that is a grade 13 program for advanced high school juniors and seniors. One of a network of schools worldwide with the American branch founded by Prince Charles and the late Armand Hammer. The program provides scholarships and grants an accredited 2 year "international baccalaureate" degree. The board of trustees includes Nelson Mandela and Queen Noir of Jordan. The alumni group is very vibrant as well.

Stock Pick Newsletter

http://www.CoolCatReport.com There are hundreds of stock newsletters but this guy has a solid winning record and selection methodology that I'm impressed with.

Friday, July 22, 2005

Cool Magazines

Lilipoh Magazine: http://www.lilipoh.com A neat little magazine covering many different iniatives of the Anthroposophical Movement: Waldorf education, biodynamic agriculture, eurythmy, anthroposophical medicine, the Threefold Social Order, Camphill communities, etc. Read the articles link. Also see:
Dwell Magazine: http://www.dwellmag.com A super architecture and design magazine that all the hipsters are reading.
Metropolis Magazine: http://www.metropolismag.com Another cool architecture/design magazine.
Kiplinger Magazine: http://www.kiplinger.com A good financial planning magazine and even better website.

Wednesday, July 20, 2005

Cool Tools

http://www.kk.org Don't miss this site by the writer Kevin Kelly of Whole Earth magazine fame. Make sure to click on the Cool Tools section.

Sunday, July 17, 2005

Swiss Elixir Tonic

http://www.bio-strath.ch A mixture of B vitamin rich good food yeast, 15 herbs, honey, malt, and orange juice. Made in Zurich, Switzerland for over 40 years in a small lab overlooking Lake Zurich. Over 30 clinical studies attest to it's ability to improve daily physical and mental energy. I drink it daily mixed with water and tea. Superior to any vitamin tablet.

Saturday, July 16, 2005

Cajun Zydeco Rock

http://www.bluerunners.com A great band from Lafayette, Louisiana with an infectious sound that Bruce Springstein has recently been using as bumper music on his latest tour. New CD out that is getting excellent reviews.

Yellowstone Park Jobs

http://www.yellowstonejobs.com They need people right now--not a bad place to spend the rest of the summer w/ room and board included.

Friday, July 15, 2005

Craigslist.org

http://www.craigslist.org If you don't know craigslist.org it's a great community website for cities worldwide. Make sure to check out rants and raves.

Thursday, July 14, 2005

Good Radio Shows

Phil Hendrie: http://www.philhendrieshow.com Very funny satire/a must listen.

WNYC: http://www.wync.org 10 am to 2 pm (Eastern) Fantastic interviews with a wide range of people and topics.

Radio Locator: http://www.radio-locator.com Listen to radio worldwide.

Discount Outdoor Equipment

Sierra Trading Post: http://www.sierratradingpost.com

Make sure to check out the 60% off link. I've found good deals there.

Stock to Watch

Statoil----STO. A Norwegian oil company that has recently run up from $16 to $22 in just six weeks. May be moving up to $30 plus in the near future. They have billions of dollars in proven reserves, are 70% owned by the Norwegian government, and follow a progressive green/ecology code of conduct. They also invest in new energy technologies such as hydrogen. I'm buying it/buy as much as you can. http://www.statoil.com