50 Best Irish Books You Should Read This Month

There’s a whole lot more to Ireland than four leaf clovers and Blarney Stones, so use this month’s St. Patrick’s Day celebrations as a chance to delve a little deeper into Irish culture, history and art. Here are 50 great Irish books that will help you learn more about the people and the country and provide a free education on everything Irish for both the more knowledgeable and the total newbie to the subject.

Poetry

Ireland has a long and rich history of great poetry, and you can read some of the best in these works.

1. The Collected Works of W.B. Yeats by William Butler Yeats: Take a look at this book to read works by Nobel prize-winning poet and dramatist Yeats, whose work and activism played a large part in the literary revival of Ireland in the late 19th and early 20th centuries.
2. Collected Poems: Austin Clarke by Austin Clarke: Try out this book to learn more about this poet, whose Gaelic-inspired works were a product of the generation of poets after Yeats.
3. Poems and Versions by Brian Coffey: This book was Coffey’s last major publication and helped cement his place as one of the leading Irish Modernists.
4. Opened Ground: Selected Poems, 1966-1996 by Seamus Heaney: Heaney is a Nobel Prize-winning poet and writer, and this collection of poetry is a great introduction to his writing.
5. Selected Poems by Patrick Kavanagh: Often regarded as one of the best poets of the 20th century, Kavanagh’s poems won him many accolades. Check out this book to see some of his best work.
6. Portrait Of The Artist As An Abominable Snowman by Gabriel Rosenstock: While much of his poetry is in Irish, in this book you’ll find a selection of English language poetry.
7. New Collected Poems by Eavan Boland: Boland has received numerous awards for her poetry and you can find a selection of her more recent works in this volume.
8. Poems 1968-1998 by Paul Muldoon: This Irish poet is well-known for his work, garnering a Pulitzer Prize and a T.S. Eliot Prize for his poems. This book provides an excellent overview of his work.
9. Collected Poems Of George William Russell by George William Russell: Often writing under the pseudonym AE, Russell’s work has been popular with poetry enthusiasts since the early 20th century.
10. Matter of Fact: Poems by Eamon Grennan: This collection of poems put out in 2008 can be a great introduction to this work of this modern Irish poet.

Plays

Learn a little more about Irish drama and its impact through these great works.

11. The Importance of Being Earnest by Oscar Wilde: This play set in Victorian England is still popular today for the humor it displays in satirizing the hypocrisy of Victorian society.
12. Waiting for Godot by Samuel Beckett: While this play may not be for everyone, it was voted the "the most significant English language play of the 20th century" and is one of the most prominent works of the Theater of the Absurd.
13. She Stoops to Conquer by Oliver Goldsmith: This comic play is still a popular work to study and enact today, one of the few works from the 18th century to carry well into the modern age.
14. The Playboy of the Modern World by John Millington Synge: If nothing else, this play is worth reading to see the material that caused riots when it debuted at the Abbey Theater in 1907.
15. The Plough and the Stars by Sean O’Casey: This play focuses on characters in the Irish Citizen’s Army and takes it’s title from their flag.
16. The Shaughraun by Dion Boucicault: Read this play about fugitive and a rival, widely popular in when it was released in 1874.
17. Translations by Brian Friel: Written in 1980, this play deals with issues of language and culture in Ireland.
18. The Steward of Christendom by Sebastian Barry: This modern play is about a man who was loyal to the British during the Anglo-Irish War and the ensuing punishments he receives for his choice.
19. Long Day’s Journey into Night by Eugene O’Neill: Make sure to read this play, as it is consider a masterwork of Irish drama and O’Neill won a Pulitzer Prize posthumously for the work.
20. John Bull’s Other Island by George Bernard Shaw: Shaw is one of Ireland’s best known playwrights, and this particular play is a comedy, and is often one of Shaw’s most overlooked works despite being wildly popular at the time it was released.

Classics

Many classic novels were written by Irish authors. Here is a sampling to get you started.

21. Ulysses by James Joyce: While it is notoriously hard to read, this book rewards those who persevere, winning the Irish writer Joyce a memorable place in modernist literature.
22. The Last September by Elizabeth Bowen: This story published in 1929 details the fictional events at a country mansion during the Irish War of Independence.
23. Finnegans Wake by James Joyce: Those who struggled with Ulysses will have an equally difficult time with this work by Joyce, written in an experimental style that makes it hard to understand. Nonetheless, reading it will make you not only look smarter but actually be smarter as well.
24. Star of the Sea by Joseph O’Connor: Check out this historical novel set in 1847 to learn more about the hardships of the Potato Famine.
25. Gulliver’s Travels by Jonathan Swift: This satire and parody is a fun read for young people and adults alike.
26. The Chronicles of Narnia by C.S. Lewis: While written for children, this book still holds a lot of philosophical and spiritual meaning for adults.
27. At Swim-Two-Birds by Flann O’Brien: Those who want to delve into O’Brien’s oeuvre will find this novel one of his best, with critics often calling it the best and most sophisticated examples of metafiction.
28. Dracula by Bram Stoker: If you’re looking for a spookier story why not pick up this vampire classic?
29. The Life and Opinions of Tristram Shandy, Gentleman by Lawrence Sterne: These fun novels follow the life of Tristram Shandy and employ copious amounts of bawdy humor.
30. Amongst Women by John McGahern: In this novel you’ll read the story of a bitter, old IRA veteran and the fear he strikes into his family who both love and are terrified of him.
31. The Country Girls by Edna O’Brien: Released in 1960, this novel was popular at the time and later made into a movie, telling the tale of two small town girls who set out to find their fates in the big city.
32. The Year of the French by Thomas Flanagan: This historical novel brings into vivid clarity the events of the brief union of the French and the Irish during the Irish War of Independence.

Contemporary Fiction

Check out these more modern works to see what’s coming out of Ireland today.

33. Angela’s Ashes by Frank McCourt: Many are familiar with this stunning memoir of poverty, starvation and struggle written by author Frank McCourt.
34. Everything in this Country Must by Colum McCann: Check out this book to hear the story of a group of teenagers dealing with growing up and the fear inspired by the political climate in Northern Ireland.
35. The Walled Garden by Catherine Dunne: Released in 2000, this book tells the story of woman who has returned home for the first time in many years to care for her dying mother.
36. Beyond by Michael Foley: Set in the 1960s, this book follows one man as he gets caught up in the liberation of the sexual revolution happening in the era.
37. A Wild People by Hugh Leonard: This novel is the first by the Tony Award winning playwright Leonard.
38. Dancing With Minnie the Twig by Mogue Doyle: Readers will find a fresh take on tales of poor, Irish village life in this novel.
39. Undertow by John Deane: This novel isn’t always an easy read as many tragedies befall the characters living on a small Irish island, but hope, perseverance and love still abound in the story to make it a worthwhile read.
40. Any Other Time by John Trolan: Here you’ll find a novel set in the underworld of Dublin, perfect for those who want a read that addresses a more modern issue in Ireland.
41. Big Mouth by Blanaid McKinney: These short stories have come out to much acclaim and are a great way to read Irish fiction without having to commit to a novel.
42. The Gingerbread Woman by Jennifer Johnston: In this novel, a chance meeting changes the lives of a man and a woman with damaged pasts.

Non-Fiction

These books are a great way to not only see the work of Irish authors but to learn about Irish history and landscape as well.

43. The Troubles: Ireland’s Ordeal and the Search for Peace by Tim Pat Coogan: This book offers information and history on the nearly 25 years of violence between North and South that shook Ireland.
44. The IRA by Tim Pat Coogan: This book on the IRA is considered by many to be the definitive one on the subject and as such is a required read for those hoping to learn more about the group and the history that surrounds them.
45. The Making of Modern Ireland 1603-1923 by J.C. Beckett: You’ll find a great historical survey of Irish history in this book, perfect for those with little knowledge of the subject.
46. Modern Ireland 1600-1972 by R.F. Foster: This sweeping history of Ireland is a great read for scholars and novices alike.
47. Oceans of Consolation: Personal Accounts of Irish Migration to Australia by David Fitzpatrick: This book puts a personal face on the many people who immigrated from Ireland to Australia from 1843 to 1906.
48. Armed Struggle: The History of the IRA by Richard English: If you’re still curious about the IRA and the struggles of Northern Ireland, try out this well-reviewed book.
49. Connemara: Listening to the Wind by Tim Robinson: In a similar vein to Thoreau’s Walden this novel takes readers out into the wild to appreciate the true beauty the natural world of Ireland has to offer.
50. Stepping Stones by Seamus Heaney and Dennis O’Driscoll: Learn more about the amazing poet and playwright Seamus Heaney through this award-winning interview.

Google Earth for Educators: 50 Exciting Ideas for the Classroom

Google Earth has opened up potential for students in classrooms around the globe with its bird’s-eye view of the world. Whether you are a veteran teacher looking for new ways to teach old topics or you are a still an education student getting ready to make your debut in the classroom, these exciting ways to use Google Earth are sure to infuse your lessons with plenty of punch. Find ideas for any age student and a handful of virtual tours that will not only help you instruct your students, but might even teach you something along the way.

Elementary

Younger students can have fun with these Google Earth lessons and ideas.

1. Meteors. Have students locate the places around the world where meteors have hit, then use that data to create charts or graphs.
2. My Summer Vacation. Elementary students can explore geography while sharing something about themselves in this lesson.
3. The American Revolution. This activity is appropriate for elementary aged students and traces the paths of America’s founding fathers.
4. Using the Ruler Tool to Measure in Google Earth. This lesson walks teachers through using the ruler tool in Google Earth as a learning resource.
5. Flat Stanley. Scroll down to the May 4th entry here to learn how you can use a Flat Stanley icon to use in Google Earth.

Middle School

These lessons cover a wide range of subjects and are just right for middle school students.

6. San Francisco: visualizing a safer city. Middle school students can do this group project that involves planning to make San Francisco safer during a major earthquake.
7. His Dark Materials: Northern Lights in Google Earth. Read Philip Pullman’s Northern Lights and complete this lesson that uses Google Earth to bring the Norwegian island of Svalbard to life.
8. The Red Badge of Courage. After reading this book, lead students through this lesson plan on the American Civil War.
9. Great Explorers. Study Lewis and Clark in this geography lesson using Google Earth.
10. The World in My Back Yard. This lesson focuses on cultural awareness for 6-8th grade students.
11. God Grew Tired of Us: Migration and Cultural Interaction. Students will watch a documentary film, then study migration and Africa with this lesson. Just substitute Google Earth in place of the 2D maps suggested here.
12. Travels of Odysseus in Google Earth. Map out Odysseus’ travels with this fun lesson.

High School and Beyond

These lessons are great for high school and college students and include literature, geography, history, and more.

13. Around the World in 80 Days. After reading Around the World in 80 Days, have students locate 19 placemarks mentioned in the book. Have them select 19 places they would stop and explain why.
14. Energy Consumption Rates across the USA and the World. Use this lesson plan to have students examine and compare energy consumption rates using Google Earth and several other resources.
15. Environmental Reconnaissance of a Salt Marsh. Students will use Google Earth, field work, photography, and other resources to learn about salt marshes in this lesson.
16. The Boxing Day Tsunami. Explore the causes and effects of the tsunami that occurred on December 26, 2004.
17. A new management plan for Stonehenge. Have students create a management plan to improve the visitor facilities at Stonehenge.
18. Modelling sea level change on the Gold Coast. Take a look at surfing and shrinking coastlines along the Gold Coast in this lesson.
19. The Diamond Trade. Explore the social and ecological impact of the diamond trade using this powerful lesson.
20. All Quiet on the Western Front. Read this book, then study Europe and WWI battlefields.
21. Great Monuments of the World. Teach students about monuments around the world as well as the significance of them.
22. Places Quoted in Shakespeare in Google Earth. Visit 85 places mentioned in Shakespeare’s works.

All Ages

From literature trips to volcano exploration, these ideas are great for any age student.

23. Google Lit Trips. This site provides lesson plans coupling books with Google "trips" students can take. Lessons range from Kindergarten to college.
24. Asia: Continent of Contrasts. Take a seven-day tour across the Asian continent with this lesson.
25. Explore the Arctic with Google Earth. Have students explore the Arctic National Wildlife Refuge with this resource from the Sierra Club.
26. Google Earth Outreach Showcase. See how non-profit organizations are making a difference in areas experiencing disaster and war.
27. Monster Milktruck!. Drive a milk truck around Google Earth here.
28. Spring Sojourn. Teach civil rights history and geography with this lesson created by a real journey taken by a group of high school students and staff.
29. Global Vulcanism Program. Study volcanoes around the world with this site and Google Earth.
30. Real World Math. This site is full of lesson ideas for teaching math with Google Earth.
31. Weather and Storm Tracking Tools in Google Earth. Use these tools to study weather and even track storms.

Virtual Tours

Take these awesome and awe-inspiring virtual tours with your classroom and Google Earth.

32. Art Museums 3D Tour. Students can visit famous art museums around the world with this tour. Couple this tour with inside exploration when you visit the museums’ websites.
33. Google Earth Ocean. Ocean allows students to explore the oceans and all that is within and around them.
34. United States Capitol Buildings. Move your state capital lesson beyond boring memorization with this tour.
35. Cathedrals 3D Tour. Take students on a tour of famous cathedrals across the world with this tour.
36. Geosights of Utah. The geological formations in Utah are like nothing else, so be sure to include this tour in your lesson plan.
37. Castles and Palaces 3D Tour. Students can see castles and palaces in 3D when you take this tour.
38. Libraries. Visit historic libraries with this tour, then visit their websites for even more learning possibilities.
39. Major League Baseball Stadiums. If you are looking for a way to capture the attention of the sports fans in your class, take them on a tour of these baseball stadiums.
40. Google Earth Sky. Take students on a field trip that’s out of this world with this tour that explores space.
41. Great Green Buildings. The buildings in this tour have received the highest level of certification from the Energy Department and offer a good tool for studying environmentalism.
42. Rome Colosseum. Take students on a trip to the Colosseum with Google Earth.
43. Beijing Tour. If your class is studying China, why not include a tour of Beijing?
44. Universities. College-bound high school students will especially enjoy exploring the campuses of some of the most popular universities in the US.
45. National Registry. The American Institute of Architects celebrated their 150th anniversary with this tour of their 150 favorite structures in America.
46. Arc de Triomphe. When studying France, be sure to include this tour of the famous Arc de Triomphe.
47. Skyscrapers Tour. Visit the tallest buildings around when you take this Google Earth tour.
48. Rail Stations Tour. Take a look at the past and present with this tour of rail stations.
49. Sydney Opera House. Students can explore the Sydney Opera House from several angles.
50. Bridge 3D Tour. Students can explore some of the most amazing bridges with this tour.

100 Useful Social Sites for Every Kind of Job Seeker

Whether you’re out of a job, a college student just starting out in the real world, or an old pro looking to make the switch to a new field, finding a great job opening in an economy where unemployment is skyrocketing is a tough task indeed. While finding a job may not always be easy, you can help pave the way to success by using some of the great tools and forums the web offers for those on the hunt for employment. Here you’ll find a list of 100 sites that let you connect with employers, others in your field and potential clients to help get your job search off the ground and your career back on track.

General

These sites cover a lot of ground when it comes to networking and finding a job, so they’re a great place to start.

1. Jobster: Sign up through this site to create a free career profile, allowing you to search for jobs and for employers to find you.
2. JobFox: JobFox is a bit like a dating site, but for jobs, not singles. Create a profile and it will match you up with the job listings you’re best suited for.
3. Monster: As one of the largest job sites on the web, Monster is a great place to start seeing what kind of work is out there.
4. CareerBuilder: Sign up with this site to create and share your resume, search for jobs, and get help and tips with your search.
5. Ning: With Ning, you can search for social networks that meet your interests or if you don’t find one, create your own.
6. FD Career: With this site you’ll create a profile, learn about companies, find helpful articles and join a lively community of professionals.
7. SimplyHired: This site lets you search for jobs from all over the web, then quickly and easily send your stored information to listings that you find interesting.
8. Beyond.com: Find loads of niche career communities on this site, as well as a powerful job search tool.
9. BrightCircles: Stay in touch with your coworkers and business connections using this social network.
10. Koda: Use this site to contact employers you’re interested in working with, look through listings and meet others looking for work.
11. Jobirn: This insider referral network helps give you a leg up in the job search by hooking you up with someone who can actually put in a good word for you and get you job interviews.
12. indeed: Search for jobs worldwide on this site and use it to share and store your work information.
13. Climber.com: If you’re already doing well at work, check out this website that will put you in touch with recruiters and companies looking to hire.

College Grads

These sites cater to those who have their degrees, connecting them with alumni and setting up helpful recruiting connections.

14. Alumwire: Join this online community for information about jobs and career fairs as well as useful tools for getting in touch with alumni in your field.
15. MyWorkster: Go through your college community to find out about job and networking opportunities in your area using this site.
16. Doostang: Those with an Ivy League education can make a variety of useful alumni and business connections through this grad-focused site.
17. Alumni.net: Connect or reconnect with those you knew in school to turn acquaintances into business opportunities through this social network.
18. Brazen Careerist: Young professionals can create a profile, find jobs, network and meet potential collaborators through this site.
19. Zumeo: Join this online network to get connected with internships and find loads of networking opportunities.
20. iHipo: This site is a great place to search for work near home or even a bit more far flung, with networks connecting you with internships and jobs alike.
21. AfterCollege: Sign up for this site to get access to listings and networks for loads of entry level positions.

Resume Help

Make sure your resume is in top shape and accessible to potential employers with help from these social sites.

22. Razume: Upload your resume to this community site and you’ll get access to help and criticism from others who can help you create a better resume.
23. VisualCV: Join this site to make a better, more technologically savvy resume you can send and share with anyone.
24. Emurse: Use this social site to create, store and share your resume as well as enjoy networking and job search opportunities.
25. ResumeBucket: Need a place to store your resume online? This site does just that and more.
26. ResumeSocial: Post your resume to this community and you’ll be able to get free, and hopefully helpful, feedback on improving how you look on paper.
27. Ziggs: This site lets you take control of your online presence, from how you appear in searches to the state of your resume.
28. YaaZe: Create a resume using this site, publish it, and you’ll get updates when jobs that meet your needs become available.

Job Prep and Research

Learn more about companies, job search sites, pay and more through these helpful sites.

29. InterActive Applicant: Join this site to get access to recruitment that lets you not only show off your resume but who you really are as well.
30. InterviewBest: Use this great site to make sure you’re prepped and ready for your next interview.
31. JibberJobber: This site lets you easily manage your job search, with great online tools and opportunities for networking.
32. Job Board Reviews: Find out if the job board you’re visiting is legit with reviews found on this site.
33. Salary.com: Are you being paid what you deserve? Find out from this site.
34. VirtualJobCoach: Job seekers can join this site and get help organizing and managing their job search.

Networking

Why not use social networking for what it was designed to do–network? These sites make it easy to connect with colleagues, fellow workers and potential employers.

35. LinkedIn: This business networking site is a must for those trying to connect with others in their field or just make it easy for people to find out what they do.
36. Facebook: Facebook can be fun for talking to friends, playing games and posting funny pictures but it can also work for business if you create a serious, professional profile.
37. Twitter: Send out daily updates and follow those in your field or who have job openings using this tool.
38. iMantri: Need a mentor to get you on the path to success? This networking site will hook you up with someone who can show you the ropes.
39. Company of Friends: As one of the oldest business social networks, this site has an extensive network of contacts for you to use.
40. Ecademy: With this site you can make connections, share what you know and build your personal brand as you go.
41. Meetup: Find out about professional events, networking opportunities and more through this great social tool.
42. Plaxo: Create a listing of contacts on this site so you can carry your business connections with you everywhere.
43. Xing: Manage your existing business contacts and make new ones through this site.
44. Networking for Professionals: If you’re a professional looking to expand your immediate circle of contacts, give this great networking site a try.
45. WorkNT: Find jobs and employers, post your information, and talk with others on this great networking site.
46. Cofoundr: If you’re more of the type who wants to start their own business, consider using this site as a way to make a myriad of great, useful connections.

Freelancing

If you feel like freelancing is a direction you’d like to go, then check out these sites to find great opportunities and connections.

47. Elance: Find employers looking to hire freelancers for a variety of different projects through this helpful social site.
48. Guru.com: This site is not only a good place to find a job but a great place to get answers to all your freelancing questions as well.
49. Sologig: If you’ve been working in your field for quite some time, you can use this site to find great job listings that require your level of experience.
50. Go Freelance: Through this site you can find work, read articles and promote your skills as a freelancer.
51. MeetingWave: With this online tool you can find people who are interested in your business and decide whether or not you want to meet them in person.
52. iFreelance: Create a portfolio on this site and use it to find employers who are looking for freelancers with your skills.
53. FreshWebJobs: Those who freelance on the web can find programming, development and design jobs on this site.
54. Freelancer.com: Join this site and browse through the listings to find a job that suits your needs.
55. ContractedWork: There’s all kind of short term work to be found through this site, just register and start searching.
56. PowerLance: This freelancer-focused site allows you to search for projects and bid on ones that you’re interesting in pursuing.

Creative

Those working in a creative field can find art- and writing-focused jobs and communities on these sites.

57. Coroflot: Post your portfolio on this design site to showcase your work and help you find jobs.
58. Media Bistro: Connect with others in the content development and media industries on this site, as well as get updates about jobs.
59. Krop: With blogs, a database, and job listings on this site, it’s a great resource for designers looking for work.
60. PoeWar: The Writing Career Center is a great place to find career advice and also find jobs that will advance your career.
61. DesignCrowd: If you want to gain some recognition and even earn a few cash prizes, use this site to find and enter design contests from around the globe.
62. WriterLance: Writers out there who love what they do but also want to make a living can use this site to hook up with and work with potential buyers.
63. Authentic Jobs: Find both full-time and freelance creative jobs on this site or just read what the blog has to say.
64. AltPick: Promote your creative talents and find those looking to pay for them on this community-based site.
65. FreelanceWriting.com: Find links to contests, events, jobs and more on this writing site.
66. CreativeHeads: From animation to programming, you’ll find a wealth of creative-oriented jobs through this site.

Business

Get your foot in the door to the corporate and entrepreneurship world with these resources.

67. Jigsaw: Find a huge collection of B2B contacts on this site that you can use to find work and promote your business.
68. Ryze: Create your own homepage and start networking with other business professionals on this site.
69. Fast Pitch: Got a great business idea? Pitch it to potential investors on this site.
70. Meet the Boss: Those in upper management can make great business connections that can be useful in working collaboratively or changing jobs.
71. Spoke: Using this site you can share your professional info and get hooked up with people that might be good to know in your line of work.
72. NetParty: Those who are young and want to make valuable business connections should consider using this site. It lets you know where and when networking events are being held.
73. InboundMarketing: Find marketing news, training and an online community on this helpful site.
74. JaseZone: Try out this site to create your own personal profile and share your business expertise with others.

Technology

Put your IT, programming and computer knowledge to good use through the job offers found on these sites.

75. Dice: This site lets you search for all kinds of tech jobs and engage in discussions in an online community to boot.
76. 37Signals: Use this job board to find computer related work that fits your needs.
77. ITLance: If you prefer to freelance, advertise yourself or find existing projects through this site.
78. CoderCaste: Find out about jobs, read articles and join in techie talk in the forums on this site.
79. ScriptLance: This site will help you to connect with companies that are looking for programmers.
80. LimeExchange: Ideal for web developers and programmers, this site is full of great job opportunities.
81. nPost: Find tech-related jobs on this site’s job feed and keep up with the latest news on the blog.

Small Jobs

Whether you need part time work, want to work from home or just need a little extra cash, these social sites will help you find it.

82. Care.com: Find work as a nanny, tutor, housekeeper, special needs caretaker and more through this site.
83. HireaHelper: If you’ve got some skills that can help someone out around the house, you can use this network to find a job in your area.
84. Sitters.com: With availabilities for sitters of all kinds–from pets to houses–this site is a great place to find some part-time work.
85. Book a Lesson: Those who want to share their skills and make a little profit at the same time can use this site to book music, sports and arts lessons.
86. TutorLinker: If you’ve got the skills and expertise to tutor students, why not do it in your spare time? This site offers a wealth of networking opportunities to find you a job.
87. TutorNation: Connect with students in need of a little help in their studies through this site.
88. NannyAvailable: Those looking for a more long-term commitment can find a wide variety of nanny and au pair jobs on this network.
89. OneHourTranslation: If you know more than one language, don’t let your skills go unused. Check back with this site frequently to find quick translation gigs.

Miscellaneous

From niche job sites to helpful job search tools, these sites are well worth a visit.

90. Inovahire: Prefer to interview online? This innovative site gives you the option of meeting with employers right on the web.
91. LayoffSpace.com: Out of work? You’re not alone. This site lets you talk to and network with others who are in the same boat.
92. SkillWho: Show off what you can do with this online community designed to let professionals showcase their years of experience, education or whatever else lets them stand out.
93. TalentSpring: Enter your skills and expertise into this network and it will match you up with employers looking for those qualities and abilities.
94. TwitHire: This site proves that Twitter can be a valuable tool in finding a job, letting you track job listings sent out through the site.
95. WhotoTalkto: Want to work for a particular company but aren’t sure who’s important enough to get you a job? This site will show you the way.
96. FindLaw: Use this site to find law jobs aplenty and learn about lawyers and firms in your area.
97. LatPro: Hispanic job hunters who are bilingual can put their skills to use through the postings found on this site.
98. YourOnRamp: Designed with moms in mind, this social network helps women who want to return to the workforce do it in style.
99. MedHunting: Use this site to connect and search for medical jobs in a wide range of fields.
100. PoliceOne: Not finding police work in your area? Try out this search tool to find where the best law enforcement jobs are and to read more about the field in general.

50 Big Ways that Schools Are Going Green

Despite budget cuts at schools across the nation, colleges are still making the move to become greener, more sustainable institutions. And why not? College students have shown that it’s something that’s important to them when choosing a college. Here are 50 schools that have taken on some projects, both large and small, to lower their carbon footprint, reduce waste and teach students about ecological issues.

Green Energy

These schools have taken some of the first steps in using renewable energy.

1. Georgia Institute of Technology: At Georgia Tech, technology doesn’t just mean gadgetry. The school has launched Green IT, a program that looks at power consumption across the entire computing system, from the PC to the server, and attempts to design them to be more energy efficient.
2. The University of South Dakota: A portion of the needed energy at this South Dakota college will now come from a 51-megawatt capacity wind farm in central South Dakota, making the school one of the leaders in renewable energy in the Midwest.
3. Middlebury College, Vermont: This college has built a biomass gasification plant on site, which is designed to reduce the school’s carbon dioxide by 40 percent and the use of fuel oil by 50 percent.
4. Bates College: Bates College gets nearly all of its energy from renewable sources (95% and growing) and is looking to increase its use of biodeisel in the coming years.
5. College of the Atlantic, Bar Harbor, ME: This school has the impressive designation of being carbon neutral since 2007, the first school to do so, and it is constantly coming up with new ways to stay that way and conserve more energy with hydroelectric energy and new, energy-efficient buildings.
6. University of California, Santa Cruz: Students at UC Santa Cruz voted to increase their fees so that the school could buy more renewable energy credits, making the school the sixth largest purchaser of renewable energy in the nation.
7. University of New Hampshire, Durham: This university wanted to reduce its reliance on fossil fuels so it turned to an alternative source of energy. Today, the school gets 85% of its gas from landfill gas as well as using energy often lost in most traditional power plants.
8. Arizona State University: Arizona is the ideal place to get solar energy, and this school is taking full advantage of it, getting almost half of its energy from solar panels by the end of 2009. In the coming years, the school hopes to increase that figure to 100%.
9. New York University: This large university buys enough renewable-energy credits to offset all of its electricity use, helping make it one of the most sustainably powered schools in the nation.
10. Grinnell College, Iowa: The geothermal wells below the parking lot at Grinnell College’s Conrad Environmental Research Area help to heat and cool the buildings, saving the university a bundle on energy costs.

Green Education

Check out these schools that have great educational programs to teach students about living green.

11. Evergreen State College, Olympia, WA: Not only does this school house a fleet of electric vehicles, it also runs a sustainably managed farm where it teaches courses in organic agriculture.
12. Oberlin College, Ohio: For the past few years, Oberlin has hosted Ecolympics, a four-week series of environmentally themed contests between dorms. Students compete to reduce waste, save energy and volunteer for environmental causes.
13. Dickinson College, Carlisle, Penn: This school has created a campus Center for Environmental and Sustainability Education and an organic farm where students can learn about sustainable products while getting college credit in the process. Additionally, the school has eliminated all styrofoam from its dining services.
14. University of East Anglia: At this college, you can major in enviornmental conservation. The school has created an MBA degree in carbon management, so that students will be able to better help businesses large and small manage their carbon output.
15. University of Rhode Island: In addition to programs to reduce the school’s carbon footprint, URI has created research programs on campus to investigate renewable energies, an MBA program in ocean and climate sciences and an undergrad degree in sustainability.
16. University of Buffalo: At U of Buffalo’s Center for Computational Reserach, the research has led to some pretty great discoveries in energy conservation. The school made the move to more energy efficient computing systems saving money and energy and making science more environmentally friendly.
17. California State University in Long Beach: At this school’s College of Continuing and Professional Education, students can take three-hour workshops to help them understand and lower their utlitity bills.
18. Maharishi University, Fairfield, IA: This school has launched a sustainable living degree program through which students take courses on topics like renewable energy, sustainable agriculture, green business, eco-architecture and more.
19. Michigan State University: This university’s Department of Theatre is working on producing a totally green play, using natural fabrics, energy efficient lighting and recycled materials.

Green Eating

These schools work hard to reduce waste and offer students healthier options at mealtime.

20. U of Washington, Seattle: You won’t find loads of processed, imported foods in this school’s cafeteria. The college works to bring in as much local, organic food as it can and is currently the pilot site to test the first compostable paper soft drink cups.
21. University of California, Berkeley: UC Berkely was the first school in the US to have its cafeteria food be organically certified, something its environmentally conscious students appreciate.
22. Yale University: Visit this school and you’ll find that almost half of the food in the dining halls is local, seasonal, or organic. This not only means better quality food but fewer chemicals and less energy to transport it.
23. Bates College, Lewiston, Maine: The dining halls at this school are all about buying local, preventing food waste and using renewnable energy to power their serivces.
24. Willamette University, Salem, Oregon: This school believes wholeheartedly in reducing waste from its dining halls. It is a leader in the nation for recycling and composts over 50 percent of its food waste.
25. Warren Wilson College, Asheville, N. Carolina: This school took composting to the next level. They’ve worked to compost almost all food waste from the dining halls and have even recieved the Outstanding College Recycling Award from the Carolina Recycling Association.
26. University of Massachusetts: Here, officials figured one way to cut down on food waste was to make it harder for students to take more than they need, so the school eliminated trays from its dining halls. Additionally, since there are no trays to be washed, the school saves water as well.
27. Emory University, Atlanta, GA: This Georgia school has launched a new sustainable-food initiative, with the goal of replacing 75 percent of its food supply with local products by 2015.
28. Portland State University: The dining facilities at this school are working hard to become zero waste facilities, meaning all compostables and recyclables will be taken care of.
29. Dickinson College: This school has an incredible record when it comes to earth-friendly dining. 25 percent of the food comes from the school’s own organic farm and over 27 percent of the remaining budget is spend on local food. The school recycles and composts all waste that can be reused from the school and is committed to sustainable and organic products in its dining services.

Green Building

Check out the strides these campuses have been making in creating greener, more energy efficient buildings.

30. University of Colorado, Boulder: All new buildings on this Colorado campus must meet buildings LEED standards, including a new gold standard dorm, allowing the campus to slowly lower the amount of energy it uses and waste it produces. Additionally, the school supplies all incoming students with reusable shopping bags to encouage sustainable living.
31. University of Florida, Gainesville: A new addition to the Gator football complex is certified LEED Platinum, making it the first athletic building in the U.S. to take that distinction and setting the school up for years of saving on energy.
32. Stanford University:This school has taken recycled materials to the next level. The Carnegie Institute for Global Ecology is faced with redwood salvaged from old wine vats and the majority of the building was constructed using salvaged materials.
33. Santa Clara University: The Harrington Learning Commons, Sobrato Technology Center, and Orradre Library at this school boast construction from almost 70 percent recycled materials and design created to reduce waste and energy costs.
34. University of California-San Diego: The new dorms on U of C, San-Deigo’s campus are incredibly ecologically conscious, containing solar thermal heating, new carpet and furniture made from recycled material, energy efficient lighting, low flow plumbing, green cleaning supplies and much more.
35. Santiago Canyon College: This school has a brand new, energy efficient library. This library used vertical perforated solar fins as a way to cool the new space, eliminating a large portion of the costs and fossil fuels needed.
36. Brown University: At this school, all new buildings must meet at least LEED silver standards. Currently, the school has one completed LEED building and seven more under construction, and the other builidings on campus have been outfitted with energy saving measures.

Green Transport

On these college campuses, getting around is a little friendlier to the environment.

37. University of Vermont, Burlington: This school is home to a fleet of biofuel buses, helping students get around and the school reduce the use of fossil fuels.
38. Colorado College: At Colorado College, cyclists can find a friendly atmosphere. The Russell T. Tutt Science Center houses a shower for bicycle commuters and all university buildings are required to have bike racks out front.
39. University of Wisconsin-Madison: Students at this school put their brains to work, aiming to improve the environmental performance of a Vespa scooter. This freshman class worked to improve the mileage by ten percent.
40. Amherst College: At this school the bus service is free but students who drive can still be environmentally friendly as well with a commercial car-sharing program. Since its implementation, the program has reduced demand for parking spaces by 20 percent.
41. University of Minnesota: Students have a wide range of eco-conscious ways to get around on this college campus. Public transportation is discounted for students and the university is currently sponsoring a bike-sharing program with the city that will make 1,000 bicycles available on campus and at public locations around the area.

Conservation

These schools have launched some pretty commendable conservation efforts.

42. University of California, Los Angeles: UCLA recycles as much waste as it can from its college campus, from paper to dining halls to electronics.
43. Harvard University: Harvard has made a big effort to improve conservation in its buildings on campus. The school has installed CFLs, solar panels, and now has 17 LEED-certified buildings and has institued several policies on campus to reduce energy waste as well.
44. University of South Carolina: At this school, small changes have made a big impact, with new flat screen monitors, efficient washers and dryers, a shift to biofuel and a move-out recycling program for on-campus housing.
45. George Washington University, Washington, D.C: Move-outs and move-ins to dorms are times when a lot of garbage is made. This school has created a solution by instituting a green policy on these dates to help students and the environment.
46. Arizona State University: This school has a major project under way to retrofit interior and exterior lighting so that it’s more energy efficient, saving the Earth and a load of money in the process.
47. Middle Tennessee State University: You wouldn’t think students would want to pay more to attend college, but at this school the students did just that. 90 percent of students approved an $8-per-semester fee hike in order to sponsor environmentally friendly intiatives on campus.
48. SUNY Binghamton: This school turned once-boring parking lots into parks with Operation Green Space over the past few years, transforming 81,860 square feet of paved areas to green space.
49. Univeristy of Hawaii: Here, new construction is using pervious concrete to pave the walkways and areas around some of its student housing buildings. This kind of concrete lets water seep through instead of running off.
50. University of Arkansas at Pine Bluff: The university is completing a project to convert all lighting on campus to energy-saving bulbs, helping them decrease energy consumption by about 40 percent in the first year of use alone.

50 Great Sites for Studying Ancient History Online

By Pamelia Brown

If you don’t have time to head out to a museum, travel halfway around the world, or even take a course but still want to learn more about ancient history–not to worry. These great sites offer opportunities to college students at all levels to study and better understand these ancient cultures through videos, photos and much more.

General

These sites cover a range of ancient cultures.

1. Ancient History Sourcebook: This site is absolutely full of useful resources on ancient cultures like Persia, Rome and Ancient Egypt.
2. Exploring Ancient World Cultures: Get an introduction to ancient cultures from around the world using the summaries, photos and information found on this site.
3. BBC Ancient History In-Depth: Check out this site for information on India, the Vikings, Romans, Greeks, Egyptians and much more.
4. Ancient History: Use this site to look for even more resources to help you research or learn more about the world’s ancient civilizations.
5. About.com: Ancient History: This site posts all kinds of information about different ancient historical events and figures from Attila the Hun to the Punic Wars.
6. Best History Websites: Ancient/Biblical History: Through this site you’ll find links to ancient history sites on all kinds of subjects. Sites are rated, so you’ll know if what you’re getting is good or just so-so.

Greece

Use these sites to explore this classical civilization.

7. Perseus Digital Library: Tufts University Library maintains this online collection of hundreds of works of Greek playwrights and philosophers.
8. The Ancient City of Athens: This site contains a large number of photographs that document the archeological remains of the ancient city of Athens.
9. The British Museum: Ancient Greece: The British Museum has an amazing collection of Greek artifacts, a good number of which you can see on this site. Visitors will also get a chance to learn about Greek culture like markets, festivals, daily life and more.
10. The Greeks: Crucible of Civilization: The website for this PBS special offers a great timeline of Greek civilization as well as numerous informative links and stories.
11. The Ancient Greek World: Visit this site to see an online version of the Greek art collected at the University of Pennsylvania Museum of Archaeology and Anthropology.

Rome

As a society that influenced much, and conquered most of Europe and parts of Africa and Asia, you undoubtedly know a little about Roman civilization, but these sites can help you learn even more.

12. Online Encyclopedia of Roman Emperors: Through this site you can look up just about any Roman ruler and their family to learn about them as individuals and their place in history.
13. Roman Law: Roman Law played a role in determining the legal systems we have today, and you can see a great record of it on this site.
14. LacusCurtius: Into the Roman World: Here you’ll find a collection of Greek and Latin texts, helpful free books, and some beautiful photos of Roman ruins and artifacts.
15. Illustrated History of the Roman Empire: This site is an absolute must for learning about the history of the Roman empire, as it offers not only good reading, but images that go alongside to help make explanations clearer.
16. The Classics Page: On this page you’ll find news, information and even games all focused on the lives and culture of ancient Greeks and Romans.
17. Forum Romanium: This site is home to a library of Roman literature, outlines of Roman history, and detailed information about the daily lives and medical knowledge of the Romans.
18. From Jesus to Christ: The First Christians: Learn more about how the Roman empire fell and Christian civilization took over on this site.

Asia

Visit these sites to learn more about ancient Asian cultures like those of China and Japan.

19. Ancient China: Through this site you can learn about ancient Chinese history, culture and philosophy.
20. East Asian History Sourcebook: From religious traditions to Imperial rulers, this site offers a great selection of links to help you learn about China, Japan and Korea.
21. Mysterious Mummies of China: This site is all about the Takla Makan mummies: where they came from, who they were, and the uses of mummification around the world.
22. Timeline of Chinese Dynasties: Chinese culture has existed for several millennia and is divided into numerous dynasties that you can find ordered and explained on this site.
23. Asian Studies Virtual Library: Learn more about the ancient and modern history of East and South Asian nations through the resources on this site.
24. Ancient Japan: Read through this site to get a great overview of Japanese history.

India

Take a look back in time with these great ancient Indian history sites.

25. BuddhaNet: Use this site to learn more about the origins and spread of Buddhism and the Buddha himself.
26. The British Museum: Ancient India: This site offers lessons on the Buddha, geography, civilizations of the Indus Valley, writing and more.
27. ILoveIndia.com Ancient India: Read through this site and click on the links to learn more about the religious history and the biggest empires in ancient India.
28. South Asian History: Ancient India: Visit this site for links to information on all aspects of ancient Indian culture.
29. The Hindu Universe: This site will help you to learn more about the history and origins of Hinduism.

Near East

These sites will let you learn more about the cradle of civilization–ancient Mesopotamia–and the people who called it home.

30. ABZU: Here you will find a map of where to find open access data on the web all about ancient Near East and Mediterranean cultures.
31. Cuneiform Digital Library: This site will help you learn more about one of the earliest written languages in the world–Cuneiform.
32. Hittite Home Page: The links, information and photos on this page will help you learn more about the Near Eastern society of the Hittites.
33. Ancient Near East and the Mediterranean World: The University of Chicago Library offers this interactive and informative collection of historical data on the Near East.
34. Oriental Institute Virtual Museum: Explore the amazing collections of this museum on their fully-featured website.
35. Art of the First Cities: You don’t have to visit the Met to appreciate their exhibits, as this online collection will let you see some of the most famous works from Mesopotamia.

Egypt

Take a look at these sites to find out more about the lives of the pharaohs and the people they ruled throughout the centuries.

36. Duke Papyrus Archive: Look through ancient texts and drawings in this amazing digital collection housed at Duke University.
37. Theban Mapping Project: This site is an excellent place to visit if you’re looking to learn about the Valley of the Kings and Egyptian burial practices.
38. Egyptology Resources: Use this site to find even more resources and information about ancient Egyptian culture.
39. Mark Millmore’s Ancient Egypt: From hieroglyphs to lists of kings and queens, this site offers a wealth of information on this ancient culture.
40. Egypt’s Golden Empire: On the website of this PBS special, you’ll be able to learn about the height of Egyptian civilization during the New Kingdom.

Africa

These sites will help you learn more about some of the great civilizations who have called Africa home.

41. Wonders of the African World: From the kingdoms of the Nile to the ancient city of Timbuktu, this site will help you explore ancient African cultures around the continent.
42. Africa: South of the Sahara: Use this site to find all the information you could want on ancient African cultures.
43. Pre-Colonial Africa: This About.com site will point you in the direction of some of the biggest ancient civilizations in Africa.
44. Kingdoms of Medieval Sudan: Explore the history of this area of Western Africa from the earliest cultures to the later introduction of Islam on this site.
45. NubiaNet: This site can help you learn about ancient cultures like the Kush, Kerma and the Mangbetu.

Americas

Through these resources, you can learn more about the ancient cultures of North and South America.

46. The Sport of Life and Death: The Mesoamerican Ballgame: This site will help you learn about this game of life and death played by ancient Mayans.
47. Ancient America: World of the American Indian: Use this site as a helpful starting point in learning about some of the biggest Native groups living in North America.
48. Ancient America: This site offers information on the Inca, the Maya, the Aztecs and more.
49. Civilizations in America: Here you’ll find information to study the culture of a variety of ancient American cultures.
50. Cahokia Mounds: Visit this site to learn about one of the largest ancient cities ever built in North America.

10 Things You Should Know About Your Aging Brain

In the recent economic downturn, many people have decided to go back to school to help themselves find a better job. Others have made the decision in the interest of keeping busy during a layoff or after retirement. No matter your reasons for considering an education, going back to school is an excellent way to keep an aging brain sharp. Researchers have discovered astounding facts about the aging brain, putting an end to any misconceptions about the inability for older individuals to learn, adapt, and grow. Read on to discover ten things you may not have known about your aging brain.

1. Brain plasticity. The aging brain can continue to grow and learn through a process called "plasticity" that is a natural creation of neural pathways in the brain. After age 50, most people’s cognitive function begins to decline. By encouraging brain plasticity, you can help combat that decline. Keeping your brain active and challenging yourself to continually learn new things will promote the natural plasticity in your brain. Some programs are designed specifically for promoting brain plasticity, such as this one from Posit Science.
2. Brain change. All brains experience change with aging. Some of these changes can begin around age 30, with more significant changes setting in later in life. A combination of both natural and age-related changes contribute to brain changes. The brain will naturally eliminate the least necessary synapses, keeping those that are more important. Also, as your brain ages, such factors as injury, stress, and oxidation can lead to changes within the brain. Despite a belief that brain cells die off as the brain ages, this is, in fact, one way the brain does not change. The brain keeps all its brain cells and can even continue to create new ones throughout life.
3. Factors in brain health. There are three areas of influence that contribute to brain health in which scientists have spent time researching. These three factors are emotional, demographic and social, and biomedical and physiological. Scientists have learned that both depression and how well an individual believes he can function are important factors that contribute to either brain health or brain decline. Socioeconomic status and how well-incorporated an individual is in her community contribute to brain health. Physiological contributors such as cardiovascular health and how much exercise an individual gets can also affect how healthy the aging brain is.
4. Plaques and tangles. Amyloid plaques and neurofibrillary tangles are the focus of much Alzheimer’s research right now. The plaques are found outside neurons, or nerve cells within the brain, and tangles are found inside the neurons. It was once believed that the presence of these plaques and tangles were the cause of Alzheimer’s. Scientists now know that all people create these plaques and tangles in their brains, starting in the mid-twenties. It is now believed that Alzheimer’s is caused by inflammation and the resulting calcification in the brain that results from aging.
5. Dementia. Dementia is not necessarily a normal part of aging. In fact, dementia is rare before age 65, with only 1-3% of those aged 65 experiencing dementia. However, by the time those people reach 85, half of them will have dementia. The most common form of dementia is Alzheimer’s, with 60-80% of dementia cases being attributed to Alzheimer’s. Vascular dementia, or dementia caused by a stroke or a series of small strokes, is the next most common type. Diseases, medications, and toxins can also cause dementia.
6. Middle-age brain. Scientists are now learning that the middle-age brain, while once thought to be on the decline, is actually capable of processing the world differently and, in some ways, better than the brain of a younger person. The brain in middle age sees a more comprehensive view, thus being better able to recognize patterns, which leads to the ability to understand significance of events and recognize solutions to problems much more quickly than a younger brain. The ancient idea of wisdom coming with age now has scientific proof.
7. Forgetfulness can be learned. Unintentionally, you may be training your brain to be forgetful. Synapses that are used more frequently are maintained, while those used less frequently are discarded. If you are building synapses that tell your brain to panic when you have forgotten something, that grow accustomed to misplacing items (such as keys) on a regular basis, or that reinforce your belief that you are losing your memory, then you may well be teaching yourself to do all of these things. Instead, try reinforcing more positive habits, such as always placing keys in the same location, make mental connections to things easily forgotten such as people’s names, and focus on the positives of your working memory.
8. Abnormal brain aging. Genetics may certainly have something to do with abnormal brain aging, as does gender (men experience more abnormal brain aging than women), but other more controllable factors also affect the aging brain. Anything that restricts blood flow can negatively impact brain health. Many common ways blood flow is restricted is from high blood pressure, smoking, being overweight, having high cholesterol, and living with high stress. Diabetes can also affect how the brain ages, as can the level of educational or career attainment you have, depression, and head injury.
9. Exercise. Exercise can help keep a brain working smoothly. Walking three times a week for a minimum of 30 minutes each time is enough to maintain and possibly even reverse cognitive decline in older individuals. Researchers have learned that exercise affects the brain in a number of ways. Exercise has shown to improve concentration and attention in aging adults. It also helps create new nerve cells in the brain, strengthen synapses, prevent the loss of gray matter, and increases blood flow.
10. Salmon. There are definitely certain foods that contribute to a healthy, aging brain. One of the most touted brain foods is wild-caught salmon. Salmon is high in essential fatty acids, low in fat, and has some of the lowest mercury content compared to other seafood. Wild-caught salmon has been shown to reduce depression and and improve cardiovascular health. There is also evidence that salmon can help reduce the risk of stroke and dementia.

100 Free Classic Films Everyone Should See

By Pamelia Brown

While summer blockbusters and new movies can be great, older movies have a lot to offer as well and can show you a wealth of artistry, inspiration for later films and great storytelling. These 100 films are worth a watch and won’t even require a trip to rent or borrow, and can help break up those study sessions for your college courses.

Action and Adventure

These films will take you exotic locales as characters engage in battles, conflicts and more.

1. 20,000 Leagues Under the Sea: Check out the 1916 adaptation of this classic novel for some adventure beneath the seas.
2. Hercules: This film was a hit when it came out in 1958 and follows the story of Jason and the Golden Fleece.
3. Long John Silver: This movie picks up with the adventures of Long John Silver after the events of Treasure Island.
4. Snows of Kilimanjaro: In this 1952 Hemingway adaptation starring Gregory Peck, a writer on his deathbed takes a look back at his life.
5. The Jungle Book: Here you’ll find the first film adaptation of the Kipling novel about a boy who is raised by wolves.
6. Mark of Zorro: Watch this film to see one of the early film adaptations of the mysterious masked Zorro.
7. Dick Tracy: In this 1945 film, Dick Tracy has to put together the clues to figure out the connections between a series of murders.
8. The Iron Mask: Turned into a later adaptation starring Leonardo DiCaprio, this original tells the tale of a twin’s quest, along with the Three Musketeers, to foil an evil plot.
9. Mutiny: Set during the War of 1812, this film shows the power of gold to sway loyalties.
10. The New Adventures of Tarzan: This film from the 30’s shows Tarzan leaving his jungle home to seek out his friend and finding adventure along the way.
11. Battle of Midway: Check out this film to see a dramatic retelling with real footage of the battle between the Japanese and Americans over Midway Island.

Western

Take a look back at this once very popular genre in these films.

12. ‘Neath the Arizona Skies: This film follows a cowboy as he works to protect an oil-heiress.
13. Chino: Starring Charles Bronson, this movie tells the tale of a horse breeder who develops a strong bond with a young man he takes in and teaches to raise, break and care for horses.
14. The Legend of Custer: See the exciting story of Custer’s battle and defeat in this 1968 series.
15. Gunsmoke Ranch: In this film, three men try to warn the local people of the nefarious plans of Flagg, an unscrupulous businessman.
16. The Outlaw: Watch the classic story of Billy the Kid, Doc Holliday, Pat Garrett and a host of other classic western outlaws in this film.
17. McClintlock: Based loosely on Shakespeare’s Taming of the Shrew, this film follows cattle baron George Washington McLintock as he tries to manage his wife, his land and his family.
18. One-Eyed Jacks: In this film, a betrayed bank robber seeks out revenge on his partner, who is now a law-abiding sheriff.
19. Gone With the West: Sammy Davis Jr. and James Caan star in this film that has its entertaining moments despite being widely panned by critics.
20. The Proud and the Damned: In this film, a group of Confederate mercenaries must choose sides when a town becomes embroiled in a rebellion–a choice that may ultimately decide their fates.
21. Deadwood ‘76: Here you’ll see the story of a young man who is mistaken for Billy the Kid, with unpleasant consequences for him.

Comedy

While comedy changes over the ages, these films are sure to elicit at least a smile from you.

22. The Noose Hangs High: In this Abbot and Costello classic, the men are mistaken for messengers and are sent out on a errand by a gangster.
23. His Girl Friday: This romantic comedy stars Cary Grant and Rosalind Russell. Russell’s character is about to leave town and remarry but her ex-husband and former boss recruits her for one last newspaper story.
24. Happy Go Lovely: Watch as one stodgy but kindhearted man learns to live life in this musical comedy.
25. Making a Living: This hilarious Chaplin film is one of 22 different ones you can watch through this link.
26. A Hole in the Head: Directed by Frank Capra and starring Frank Sinatra, this film incorporates music and humor into the main character’s battle to hang on to his hotel and his son.
27. The Gold Rush: Watch this film to see Chaplin mug it up as an Alaskan gold miner who falls hard for the lovely Georgia.
28. The Little Shop of Horrors: This classic musical film tells the tale of a young man who finds a bloodthirsty plant and is forced to provide food for it.
29. That’s My Baby: In this film, a girl and her husband try to pull her father out of a funk through a series of fun musical numbers.
30. This is the Army: WWII soldier Johnny Jones is called upon to develop an all-soldier performing act while balancing his personal life in this film.
31. Animal Crackers: In this Marx brothers classic a painting is stolen and the brothers try to help, though really just hinder, finding it.

Drama

Check out these classic films for some serious drama.

32. The Elephant Man: Based on a true story, this film explores the life of a man deformed by congenital disorder and the relationship he develops with a doctor who helps him live a happier and better life.
33. Dr. Jekyll and Mr. Hyde: This 1920 film tells the classic story of a Victorian scientist with a murderous and unpredictable dark side.
34. The Phantom of the Opera: In one of the earliest film adaptations of this story, the beautiful Christine meets the phantom in the catacombs of the theater where she works.
35. Windjammer: When a rogue ship sinks the yacht of a famous Commodore, he and his passengers are brought aboard as slaves–but not for long.
36. The Great Gabbo: This film tells the story of a ventriloquist who begins relying more and more on his dummy to do the talking for him, to the point of madness.
37. We Dive at Dawn: Here you’ll get to see a British submarine crew battle with a Nazi U-boat in this WWII drama.
38. The Count of Monte Cristo: Based on the classic Dumas tale, this film details the betrayal and quest for revenge of the Count.
39. Abraham Lincoln: Watch this film to learn more about the life and times of Abraham Lincoln through a dramatized retelling.
40. Freaks: This film, a cult classic for its use of real sideshow performers and violent plotline, shows that true monsters are often scarier inside than out.
41. Napoleon: Check out this movie to see a retelling of the life and death of Napoleon.

Film Noir

From dames in distress to shadowy characters, these films are great representations of the genre.

42. D.O.A.: Perhaps one of the most classic of the genre, this film follows a doomed man’s quest to discover who poisoned him before the poison takes his life.
43. Beat the Devil: This 1953 Bogart film mixes elements of comedy into the classic noir tale.
44. Detour: On his way to California a man gets a ride from a stranger, a choice that will leave him in a bit of a pickle when he later picks up a femme fatale.
45. He Walked By Night: This thriller follows a manhunt for a killer engaged in a game of cat and mouse with the police.
46. The Hitch-Hiker: This film from the 50’s revolves around a couple of hunting buddies who pick up a mysterious hitchhiker.
47. Jigsaw: A US District Attorney discovers an unusual group while investigating a series of murders in this 1949 film.
48. Kansas City Confidential: In this classic noir film, a man is framed for a robbery he didn’t commit and must follow the real criminals to Mexico to prove his innocence.
49. Love from a Stranger: After a young woman wins the lottery, she meets a man who she thinks is the love of her life, only to discover after they are married he may not be who he seems.
50. The Red House: The teens at the center of this movie are warned to stay away from the creepy red house, but seek it out anyway in this 1940’s classic.
51. Somewhere in the Night: A marine suffering from amnesia is at the center of this film as he tries to piece his life back together.

Thriller and Mystery

These films are sure to keep you on the edge of your seat.

52. The 39 Steps: In this Hitchcock classic, a couple who can’t stand each other are chased by the police and other mysterious characters.
53. The Cabinet of Dr. Caligari: This horror-filled film is a must-watch for film buffs. It tells the story of a traveling magician and his assistant whose arrival in town always coincides with a series of vicious murders.
54. Dressed to Kill: Get a dose of classic Sherlock Holmes in this film adaptation of the Sir Arthur Conan Doyle Series.
55. Bluebeard: In this film, an artist captures the beauty of his models then disposes of them.
56. The Man Who Knew Too Much: Hitchcock made two versions of this film, and this is the earlier one that tells the story of a couple being blackmailed by having their daughter kidnapped.
57. The World Gone Mad: In this movie a District Attorney and a reporter are on a mission to find a out who murdered a man who discovered a large fraud scheme.
58. M: In this Fritz Lang classic, a group of criminals decide to hunt down a murderer themselves because the increased police presence his actions have brought have made it impossible for them to operate.
59. The Fall of the House of Usher: Check out this 1928 adaptation of the famous Edgar Allen Poe story.
60. The Third Man: Joseph Cotten and Orson Welles star in this international thriller that won an oscar and received multiple nominations.
61. Fog Island: In this film, a man out for revenge sets up traps and tricks on his island home for those who betrayed him.

Sci-Fi

From B-movie silliness to more serious issues, these films offer a great look back at classic sci-fi.

62. The Lost World: In this film, a much maligned scientist is sure that dinosaurs still exists in the high reaches of South America.
63. Killers from Space: This 50’s film takes a look at what an alien attack might be like–in classic B-movie style.
64. Lady Frankenstein: Take a look at this movie for a continuation of the Frankenstein story.
65. The Bionic Woman: On this site, you can watch a collection of episodes from this iconic US TV series.
66. Flying Disc Man from Mars: In this film, Martians come to conquer Earth as they are worried about newly developed nuclear weapons.
67. It Came from Beneath the Sea: This cheesy film is sure to keep you entertained with its hardly-terrifying octo-monster and its cute female scientist.
68. Voyage to Prehistoric Planet: Here you’ll see two astronauts who are exploring the surface of Venus try to escape with their lives after something goes terribly wrong.
69. Invaders from Mars: When strange lights appear in the sky, changes begin happening to the adult in a small town with one man left to question the cause.
70. Last Man on Earth: In this Vincent Price classic, the actor is depicted as the last man on Earth, or so he thinks.
71. Nineteen Eighty-Four: This adaptation of the Orwell novel was made in, appropriately enough, 1984.

B-Movies and Cult Classics

Sometimes movies are so bad they’re good. Check out these titles to stage your own Mystery Science Theater 3000.

72. The Toxic Avenger: In this classic, a nerd is turned into a somewhat deformed superhero after falling into a barrel of toxic waste.
73. Reefer Madness: Every wonder what all the fuss is about when it comes to banning marijuana? This film started it all.
74. Plan 9 from Outer Space: Perhaps one of the worst, and consequently best, horror films of the era, this film sees an evil alien race resurrecting the dead to act out their sinister Plan 9.
75. The Corpse Vanishes: The wife of a mad scientist stays curiously young looking, and as the film develops you’ll discover why.
76. Attack of the Puppet People: In this film, a lonely and slightly mad puppet-master and doll-maker designs a machine that shrinks people.
77. The Bloody Brood: In this early Peter Falk film, a group of beatniks does, well, what beatniks and outcasts do.
78. Manos the Hands of Fate: Widely regarded as one of the worst films ever made, its appearance on Mystery Science Theater 3000 made this awful film a cult classic.
79. Sex Maniac: Loosely based on an Edgar Allen Poe story, this film is an early example of the exploitation genre.
80. Wasp Woman: This 1960’s film follows the head of a cosmetics company who, through using an untested treatment, manages to beautify herself with the unexpected consequence of sometimes turning into a murderous wasp.
81. Carnival of Souls: When their car goes off of a bridge, three friends are assumed dead. One, however, emerges alive and tries to start her life over, but something isn’t quite right.

Foreign

These foreign films will let you see classics from around the globe.

82. L’age D’or: This surrealist classic by director Luis Bunuel will baffle you, shock you and downright confuse you–just what it was meant to do.
83. Rashomon: Lovers of film have to see this Japanese classic that addresses the nature of truth by giving viewers four different accounts of a rape and murder.
84. Un Chien Andalou: Look to this Salvador Dali film for shocking and sometimes gruesome imagery, but an artistic experience well worth having.
85. Battleship Potemkin: Based on a true story, this Soviet film has been the inspiration for many modern filmmakers.
86. Der Golem: Made in 1915, this horror film is inspired by the ancient Jewish legend of the Golem–a clay man who comes to life.
87. Ikiru: Made by acclaimed Japanese director Akira Kurosawa, this film is often considered to be his greatest masterwork and one that takes the harshest but ultimately most compassionate look at human life.
88. Sword of Lancelot: This British film tells the tale of the night Lancelot and his love for the off-limits Guinevere.
89. Fire Over England: In this period film starring Laurence Olivier, a man goes undercover to foil a plot to assassinate the queen.
90. Faust: Based on the classic tale by Goethe, this movie tells the tale of Faust, tempted into sin by Mephisto.
91. Nora Inu: Translating to Stray Dog in English, this Kurosawa film tells the story of a detective who is frantically trying to reclaim his pistol which has been stolen on the train. A manhunt ensues when the gun is used in a murder.

Horror

Make sure to watch these classics with the lights on.

92. Dracula: Explore the classic tale of the battle between Dracula and Van Helsing in this film.
93. White Zombie: A young couple is tricked into getting married on a Hatian plantation only to have the young woman, and several others, turned into zombies.
94. Nosferatu: Perhaps one of the best known and most loved of vampire films, this movie stars Max Schreck as the terrifying Count Orlok.
95. Beware the Blob: In this sequel to the original Blob, the blob is brought back to life and starts consuming everything around it.
96. Night of the Living Dead: Radiation fallout brings the blood-thirsty corpses in this film back to life as a group of people hiding out in a farmhouse attempt to hold them off.
97. Deep Red: An English pianist gets involved in trying to solve a series of murders in this film only to realize too late that the murderer is watching his movements closely in this Dario Argento classic.
98. Dementia 13: In this film a young woman manipulates her family to get a share of the inheritance, but when she moves into their ancestral home she may get more than she bargained for.
99. A Bucket of Blood: This film will make you laugh as much as you’ll be scared, as a young artist becomes murderous in his quest for success.
100. The Ghost Train: Legends of a phantom train haunt the stranded travelers at a rural rail station in this film.

50 Brain Facts Every Educator Should Know

By Pamelia Brown

The brain is perhaps the most fascinating organ in the human body. It controls everything from breathing to emotions to learning. If you work with children, here are some facts that you might find helpful, from how the brain affects learning to facts about memory to interesting facts about the brain that you can share with your students.

Brain Development and Learning

Read on to learn interesting facts about how the brain develops, what can affect that development, and how learning is impacted.

1. Read aloud. Parents and teachers who read aloud and talk often to young children are promoting brain development.
2. Bilingual brains. Children who learn two languages before the age of five have a different brain structure than children who learn only one language.
3. Child abuse and the brain. Studies have shown that child abuse can change the way the brain develops and can negatively affect learning.
4. New neurons. Throughout life, mental activity promotes the production of new neurons in the brain.
5. Handedness. Those who are left-handed or ambidextrous have a corpus collosum that is about 11% larger than those who are right-handed.
6. Brain growth. The human brain continues to grow until about age 18.
7. Stimulating environment. If a child is in a stimulating environment, she has a 25% greater ability to learn . Conversely, if she is in an environment with low stimulation, she has 25% less ability to learn.
8. Creative vs. methodical. Scientists have shown that creative thinkers’ brains work in different ways from the brains of those who think more methodically.
9. Food and intelligence. One study looked at students in New York and showed that those who ate lunches that did not include artificial flavors, preservatives, and dyes did 14% better on IQ tests than the students who ate lunches with these additives.
10. Boredom. Humans have an innate curiosity, but when they have a lack of stimulation, boredom sets in.
11. Learning new things. A study shows that when people are learning new things, their brains change very quickly. Those learning to juggle showed change in the brain in as little as seven days.
12. Music. Children who take music lessons show a considerable increase in the ability to learn.
13. Reading faces. The area of the brain called the amygdala is responsible for the ability to read someone’s face for clues to how they are feeling.

Memory

Learn about the way short-term memory differs from long-term memory, how scent affects memory, and more.

14. Different types of memory. The ability to learn and remember new things is called declarative memory and is processed in a different part of the brain from where the memories of how to do something are stored.
15. Scent and memory. Scent is a powerful trigger for memory. A study indicates that a memory paired with scent can be recalled more easily.
16. New connections. Each time a memory is recalled or a new thought occurs, a new connection is created in the brain.
17. Create associations. Memory is formed by associations, so to promote memory in students, create associations for them.
18. Sleep. The brain consolidates memories while you sleep.
19. No sleep. A lack of sleep may actually decrease your ability to create new memories.
20. Short-term memory. Studies suggest that short-term memory happens as a result of chemical and electrical impulses in the brain, as compared to more structural changes that are associated with long-term memory.

Brain Trivia

From how the brain helps while blinking to early brain surgery, these bits of trivia might come in handy the next time you are teaching about the brain.

21. Blinking. Each time we blink, our brain keeps things illuminated so the whole world doesn’t go dark each time we blink, which is about 20,000 times a day.
22. Laughing. As easy as laughing seems, it is actually a very complex task that requires activity in five different areas of the brain.
23. The purpose of yawning. Yawning often promotes yawning in others nearby. Scientists believe that yawning may have been an ancient social behavior that signaled an event, with others yawning in response. Today, we still hold on to the response, even if we don’t need it.
24. Brain Bank. Harvard maintains a Brain Bank where over 7,000 human brains are stored for research purposes.
25. Disney and sleep disorders. Disney creators used real sleep disorders such as snoring, nightmares, and sleepwalking in many of the characters in their movies.
26. Thoughts. It is believed that humans experience 70,000 thoughts each day.
27. Aristotle. Aristotle mistakenly thought that the functions of the brain actually took place in the heart.
28. Outer space. The lack of gravity in outer space affects the brain in several ways. Scientists are studying how and why, but you may want to hold off on your next trip to the moon.
29. Shakespeare. The word "brain" appears 66 times in William Shakespeare’s plays.
30. Early brain surgery. Archeologists found evidence that primitive brain surgery was performed by drilling a hole in the skull as far back as 2000 BC.
31. Imaginary playmates. A psychological study in Australia showed that children with imaginary playmates between the ages of 3 and 9 tended to be first-born children.
32. Oxytocin and autism. Oxytocin is a hormone that is responsible for promoting social interaction and may help children with autism increase social skills and trust.

The Physical Brain

With this list, you’ll be prepared the next time you need to whip out fast facts about the make-up of the human brain.

33. Water. The brain is made up of about 75% water.
34. 10% myth. If you were taught that humans only use 10% of their brain, then know that is just a myth. Scientists can attribute a function to each part of the brain.
35. Weight. The human brain weighs about 3 pounds.
36. No pain. There are no pain receptors in the brain, so the brain can feel no pain.
37. Cerebrum. The cerebrum is the largest part of the brain and makes up about 85% of the brain’s weight.
38. Gray and white. The human brain consists of about 60% white matter and 40% gray matter.
39. Neurons. About 100 billion neurons make up the human brain.
40. Synapses. For each one of those neurons, there are anywhere from 1,000 to 10,000 synapses.
41. Cerebral cortex. The cerebral cortex grows thicker the more it is used.
42. Yawns. It is believed that yawning sends more oxygen to the brain, therefore working to cool it down and stimulate it.

Amazing Brains

Here are examples of some amazing people and their brains.

43. Daniel Tammet. Daniel Tammet is an autistic savant who can perform astounding mathematical computations, knows seven languages, and is developing a language of his own.
44. Albert Einstein. Einstein’s brain was similar in size to other human brains except in the region that is responsible for math and spatial perception, where his brain was 35% wider than average.
45. Keith Jarrett. This jazz musician, at age 3, was discovered to have perfect pitch, which scientists have been able to pinpoint in the right frontal lobe.
46. London taxi drivers. Famous for knowing all the London streets by heart, these taxi drivers have a larger than normal hippocampus, especially the drivers who have been on the job longest. This suggests that as people memorize more information, the hippocampus continues to grow.
47. Vladimir Ilyich Lenin. After his death, Lenin’s brain was studied and found to have been abnormally large and to have contained numerous neurons in a particular region. Some believe this brain structure may explain his famous intelligence.
48. Oldest brain. At the University of York in northern England, a brain thought to be 2000 years old was unearthed.
49. Ben Pridmore. Ben Pridmore, a world champion memorizer, memorized 96 historical events in 5 minutes and memorized a single, shuffled deck of cards in 26.28 seconds.
50. Henry Molaison. Known for decades as "HM," Molaison underwent brain surgery in 1953 and could not form new memories afterward. He became the most studied patient by those who research the brain. Molaison died about a year ago and donated his brain to science. Currently, it is undergoing extensive research.

100 Inspirational Blog Posts for Homeschoolers

By Pamelia Brown

If you are a homeschooler and are looking for inspiration from other homeschoolers, then this list is a great place to start. Taken from some of the most popular homeschooling blogs from homeschool students, and from both mothers and fathers, these blog posts provide inspiration on homeschooling, family, God, and even food. Enrich your family’s education with these inspirational words from other homeschoolers.

About Homeschooling

From the politics of homeschooling to why some families choose to homeschool, these posts all offer a take on homeschooling.

1. Why I still homeschool. This post describes why one family homeschools their children, despite what others sometimes say.
2. school tour. A homeschooling mom considers a private Catholic school, but opts to continue to homeschool instead. Find out why.
3. How we came to homeschool. Read about this family’s decision to homeschool their children.
4. Why don’t Students like school?. Examine these thoughts on how traditional schools remove freedom from students.
5. Arthur B. Robinson on Homeschooling. This essay likens a child’s education to learning to swim, with public schools throwing students into the deep end.
6. A Call to Homeschool. This young woman explains what homeschooling provided her and why she plans to do the same for her family.
7. A Special Feature on Homeschooling. This homeschooler denounces the media attention in favor of being left alone to take care of her family.
8. Salon.com: Home schooling: How we do it. This post provides links to two articles on homeschooling.
9. When Your Family and Friends Don’t Support Your Homeschooling. Thinking back on the decision to homeschool, this mom remembers the reactions of friends and family–and how different they are today.
10. Success on Paper or Success in Life – Which Would You Choose?. What is your ultimate goal for homeschooling? This post takes a look at one answer.
11. Alternative Education. Take a look at emotional education and how people learn with the thoughts here.
12. Special Needs Children: Bring Them Home Where They Belong. This post takes a look at homeschooling special needs children and offers additional resources on the subject.
13. Reaching Homeschoolers. This homeschooler thinks about how understanding homeschoolers is essential when trying to connect with them.
14. The Outlawing of Homeschooling. This post asks for reflection on what you would do to protect your right to homeschool your children.

Making Things Run Smoothly

Finding what works for each family is at the heart of these blogs.

15. 10 Habits of a Happy Homeschool. From awakening 1/2 hour before her children to having the children play outside for at least 2 hours a day, find out what works for this family.
16. Foreign Language Instruction in our Home. These parents initially disagreed over how to teach German to their children, but through homeschooling, get to embrace both ways of instruction.
17. Travelling with (Homeschool) Kids Step 3: Coming to Terms With "Skipping" School. If you struggle with feeling guilty about not staying on your schedule, then read this post about appreciating the ability to learn outside the lesson plan.
18. Weekly Wrap Up. This mom faces the reality of needing to teach in the manner that is most effective for her rather than depending on what works for someone else.
19. Inspiration. This post offers one way a mom finds inspiration.
20. Establishing a Morning Routine — Maximize Your Mornings. Find out what this mom has to say about her family’s morning routine.
21. Household Ways. Discovering your routine and what works for your family is a gift.
22. Cyber School?. This mom lets her homeschooling take a turn based on her daughter’s informed choice.

Homeschooling Tips and Resources

Find great suggestions and resources to give your lessons a boost.

23. Cameras as Homeschool Tools: 10 Great Ideas. Use these suggestions to incorporate photography into your homeschool curriculum.
24. NASA teaching your kids science. Find out about five science lessons available from NASA that are appropriate for K-12.
25. History Helps. Get ideas on how to teach history in the elementary years based on the Charlotte Mason’s methods.
26. Free Online Homeschool Videos: Math, Science, and More!. Learn where you can get free videos to use with your children.
27. Great Homeschool Resources. This blog post offers seven homeschool resources, including books, Web sites, history lessons, and more.
28. Large Family Workbox System for Homeschool. This large family uses a great system for keeping materials organized.
29. Thoughts on Teaching Fractions and Student Work Ethic. This mother thinks about fractions and what they may signal to a parent and teacher–and how a student work ethic can be reinforced.
30. 35 New Year’s Traditions from Countries and Cultures Around the World. Find out what people around the world do to welcome the new year.
31. New thoughts for school. Eliminating so much reading across all subjects has helped one young learner to move ahead with much more progress on her reading abilities.
32. Happy Phonics–Happy Mama!. A veteran homeschooler shares how she has adapted her phonics lessons and organization.
33. Change and Motion: Calculus Made Clear 2nd Edition. Read about this recommendation for calculus help.
34. Art Cards. Take a look at these art cards and see how one mom incorporates them in her lessons.

Lesson Ideas

These posts offer specific lesson ideas to inspire your teaching.

35. Writing Project for Early Readers. Learn how to make your own word-picture books here for young children who are reading.
36. Respecting our Elders. Use the ideas here to ensure you are instilling a respect for elders.
37. Homeschool Mini Conference. See how these homeschool families set up a mini conference here.
38. How To Write a Lab Report and Keep a Lab Book. High school students can learn this science lesson in preparation for college science labs.
39. Of Haiti and Homeschooling. This mom thinks carefully about how she will teach her family about the earthquakes in Haiti and how she will guide them through the devastation.
40. Marine Biology – Fun Experiments #1. Find out about some fun high school science experiments in this blog post.
41. Handwriting & Brush Painting. This post explores the idea of using brush painting as a tool for reinforcing handwriting skills.
42. Itty-Bitty Book Worm: I Like Me. This lesson features using the book, I Like Me, to reinforce self-esteem and God’s blessings for preschool-aged learners.
43. Commonplace Book (or half-sheet binder) cover tutorial. Here is a great tutorial to help you learn about making and using a commonplace book.
44. Productivity. Find a fun recipe for making bowls from goo and newspaper about half way down in this post.
45. Craft Your Own Board Games. Have your kids make their own board games with this resource.
46. I get to make candy for school?!?. Anne of Green Gables inspired this fun lesson.

Adventure

Homeschool family have the ability to make any adventure a learning experience. See what these families have explored.

47. Climbing Mt. Rainier. These families take learning to new heights.
48. up a tree. Taking a tree climbing class can be fun and educational, as this mother and daughter discover.
49. Christmas Break!. Leaving the lessons behind doesn’t mean the learning stops. This family has a fun adventure learning new skills.
50. Top of the mountain. On the third attempt, this family reaches the summit.
51. Looking Back on Our First Year on the Farm. Homesteading can be a life adventure, as this post demonstrates.

From Homeschooled Students

Hear from these astute homeschooled students.

52. Happy Birthday, Daddy. This young woman remembers her father on his birthday and thanks him for all he has done.
53. ~Ambitions~. This blogger ponders her place in the world in this post.
54. If The Shoe Fits. Choosing to wear skirts on a daily basis can bring the question of what shoes to wear that will look good with a skirt, yet be practical enough for every day use. See what this woman suggests.
55. The Long and Short of It. Find out what this post says about having long hair as form of service to God.
56. Home Making. Now in college, this woman ponders the role of a wife as she reads the book, Home Making.
57. Welcome, {Samuel Ira}. This proud big sister demonstrates the love and thankfulness a new baby can bring the family.
58. Look What I Found…. These photographs not only showcase talent, they also remind the reader to recognize the beauty of the every day items.
59. the value of doing nothing. See what this post says about letting go and giving over to God.
60. Acorns & Autumn. This young lady gives thanks for autumn and all that it brings.
61. "Tight enough to show I’m a woman…". Thinking about how to wear her clothing so that she is both modest and feminine is the focus of this post.

Religion

These homeschooling bloggers share what they have learned in their walk with God.

62. Cultivating Habits. This mom thinks about cultivating the habits of prayer, praise, and thanksgiving to God in order to model these activities for her children.
63. "Whatever you do whether in word or deed, do all in the name of the Lord Jesus, giving thanks through Him to God the Father." Col. 3:17. Reflecting on her work as a mother, this mom realizes that what she does is in the glory of God.
64. Spiritual Lessons from Deaf Dog. A family learns about following God through their deaf puppy.
65. The Path of His Presence. Read these thoughts on choosing to follow the path of the Lord.
66. Gifts. Reflecting on hospitality–truly opening your doors to others– as a service to God is the focus of this blog.
67. All Good Gifts. This post shows the bounty provided by God.
68. Trying on Shoes. Thinking about being a servant to God and to others, this mom recognizes a chance to try again tomorrow.
69. Have Thine Own Way, Lord!. This mom offers up a prayer to help her surrender to God’s plan.
70. It’s a Sacrifice. The pain that sometimes comes into life can be seen as a sacrifice.
71. A quick note to the young men at my table…. A father shares a few words with his sons about keeping the Christian faith.
72. Do You Have Your Child’s Heart? Part 1. Having your child’s heart leads to helping guide them to the Lord.

Family

These posts all have something to say about the special role family plays.

73. Drenching love. This thoughtful post examines the qualities of love and asks readers to think about removing anything that can stand in the way of the love you show those in your life.
74. What I do when I’m not blogging…. Take a glimpse into this family’s life on their farm in Texas.
75. De-Cluttering your Soul—the Secret to Peace and Rest 2010. This post is a great example of a married couple working together as well as the importance of decluttering your life both physically and spiritually.
76. Kicks, Chocolate, and a Vegetarian. This family is experiencing everything from martial arts to vegetarianism, and Mom guides them through it all.
77. Family Time is a good thing!. A father reflects on the importance of family time.
78. More Games. This family connects through a fun day of games and hot chocolate.
79. silly me. Family comes through when they are needed, no matter the weather outside.
80. A Wise Son Makes His Father Glad–How About a Wise Daugher-In-Law?. Find out what this dad learns from his new daughter-in-law.
81. Real pictures, mental pictures. Sharing a winter vacation at the beach with extended family brings joy to all.
82. My Daughter is Writing a Book. Mom guides her daughter through discovering writing for her own pleasure.
83. Christmas Eve at the Bowling Alley. Family traditions are the focus of this blog post.
84. A Mother’s Legacy. This post offers encouragement to mothers everywhere.
85. Sir Todd, The Dragon Slayer. Get a good reminder of how a husband can support his wife with what seems on the surface to be small tasks.
86. This Post Will Make You Hungry. A father helps his son understand how women and men approach the world differently by using a food analogy.
87. The Mom in the Mirror. Children learn about parenting from their parents, as this post discusses.

Food

From recipes to traditions, these posts unite family through food.

88. Winter: A time to rest, learn and prepare. This stay-at-home daughter writes about canning fruits and vegetables as an act of self-sufficiency.
89. Coconut Cocoa Pecan Chocolate Chip Brownies. These brownies look delicious. Find out how you can make them with this blog post.
90. Homemade Pie Crust. Not only do you get to follow along as this young woman makes her first pie crust, but you also get the recipe.
91. Apple Dumplings. These seven sisters make apple dumplings to last all year long.
92. Sourdough Bread, Quilting, and Good Words. Find out how this first attempt at making sourdough bread went, then see what else this young woman is up to.
93. Dec. 25, 2008 – A Homemade Christmas-Jesse Tree & Christmas Morning Treat. Learn about this family’s tradition of making monkey bread as well as their homemade tree.
94. Canning Pork Roast. If you have never heard about canning meat, then you definitely want to check out this post.
95. New Year Goal: Trim the Grocery Budget!. Find out how to make a meal for just a few dollars here.
96. zucchini bread. Try this family’s favorite recipe.
97. Andes Mint Cookies. If these cookies taste as good as they look, you’ll want to keep this recipe around.
98. 2010 Health Goal: Drink More Water!. Learn interesting facts about drinking water and get tips on how to increase your and your children’s water intake.
99. Smockity Cooks: Homemade Country Gravy. Watch this video to learn how to make homemade country gravy without the lumps.
100. More Pie Recipes to Share. Get some delicious pie recipes here.

100 Incredible Lectures for History Lovers

By Pamelia Brown

Ironically, one of the best places to learn about the past is with the technologies of the future, as web lectures abound from renowned lecturers and college campuses around the world. Here you’ll find 100 of these lectures that will help you indulge your history enthusiasm by learning about everything from the fall of the Berlin wall to ancient Egyptian history and just about anything in between.

World History

Explore the history of civilizations around the world through these lectures.

1. Modern Civilization from 1750 – Present: In this series of lectures, you’ll hear from Professor Lynn Hunt on the rise of Western civilization.
2. Atlantic Pirates in the Golden Age: Learn a little more about classic and infamous pirates like Blackbeard as well as a great deal about pirate culture and history in this lecture.
3. Latin America: Two Hundred Years of Solitude: Ernesto Zedillo gives this lecture on the isolation of Latin America until recent years.
4. Invisible History: Afghanistan’s Untold Story: This lecture will show you the true history of the country and explore the ways in which current foreign policy can handle its issues.
5. Over the Edge: Magellan’s Terrifying Travels: Learn about one of the most epic and dangerous sea journeys ever undertaken in this lecture.
6. Re-Membering Africa: This lecture will attempt to tell about African history from the African perspective, untainted by colonialist interests.
7. Marco Polo: Silk Road to China: Through this lecture you’ll learn about the journey Marco Polo took to China using the silk trade routes.
8. The Cold War and American Dominance in the Middle East: Learn what effect the Cold War had on the Middle East and the impact it is still having today through this lecture.
9. Vladimir Putin and the Oligarchs: Professor Marshall Goldman explores some of the major changes that have happened in Russian leadership in the past few decades.
10. Oracle Bones: A Journey Between China’s Past and Present: Check out this lecture for an examination of China that addresses history, archaeology, language, and contemporary culture.
11. Americas Before Columbus: This lecture offers an opportunity to learn about the large-scale cities and advanced civilization that occupied the Americas before the European’s arrival.
12. Japan’s Colonization of Korea: Many may be unfamiliar with this chapter in Asian history, but this lecture will help make it crystal clear.
13. A Voyage, Long and Strange: In this lecture you’ll get an explanation about what happened in the Americas in the years between Columbus’ arrival and the landing of the Mayflower.

European History

Take a look and listen to these lectures to learn about the history of European nations.

14. Nine Jews Who Fled Hitler and Changed the World: From novelists to nuclear scientists, this lecture chronicles nine Hungarian Jews who were lucky enough to escape the Nazis during WWII.
15. European Civilization, 1648-1945: Listen to this series of lectures from Yale to get a great overview of European civilization until the end of WWII.
16. France Since 1871: This series of lectures touches on social, economic and political changes that have occurred in France over the past century.
17. The Fall of the Wall: 20 Years Later: Here you’ll find a recorded discussion on the impact of the fall of the wall and the changes that have happened since.
18. Lives and Landscapes of the French Monarchy: Listen to this lecture to learn about Kings Louis XIV, Louis XV, and Louis XVI and their growing interest in art and landscape design.
19. Milestone of the Revolution: Katie Carroll and the IRA: Learn more about Katie Carroll, a woman murdered by the IRA, and the era of violence the incident ushered in.
20. Fall of the Berlin Wall: This series of lectures will take you through this tumultuous period in history.
21. Verneys: Love, War and Madness in 17th Century England: In this lecture you can learn more about this amazing family through their records and correspondence.
22. After the Victorians: The Decline of Britain in the World: Historian A.N. Wilson explores British history from the death of Queen Victoria to the present day in this thoughtful lecture.
23. Troublesome Young Men: The Rebels Who Helped Save England: Learn why the young men who battled to bring Churchill to power may have made all the difference in British history in this lecture.
24. George III: A Life in Caricature: In this lecture you’ll learn more about one of England’s best known but least understood rulers.
25. History of Paris: Learn how Paris went from being a crowded medieval city to one with sprawling boulevards and numerous cultural landmarks in this video series.

American History

These lectures will help you learn more about the history of the United States from the Revolutionary War to the tumultuous 60s.

26. Nat Turner: A Troublesome Property: In this lecture you can learn more about the man and the slave rebellion of 1831.
27. Abraham Lincoln’s Invention of Presidential War Powers: Check out this lecture to hear more about the creation of this important element of American politics.
28. Race, Religion, and American Politics from Nat Turner to George W. Bush: This three-part series will take you through the early slave uprisings to modern day racial conflicts.
29. The Civil War and Reconstruction Era, 1845-1877: In this series of lectures, you’ll hear about the history of the Civil War and the difficult years that followed.
30. African American History: The Modern Freedom Struggle: Give this series of lectures a try to learn more about African American history and leaders.
31. Boston’s Spectacle Island and It’s Native American Past: This lecture will teach you more about the Native American history of Spectacle Island, once inhabited by the Algonquin.
32. French Ally in America’s War of Independence: Learn how French Colonel Armand Tuffin helped George Washington win some of the battles of the Revolutionary War.
33. Slavery and the Making of America: This series will help you learn more about the history of slavery in the United States.
34. Ken Burns on Thomas Jefferson: This link collects a series of lectures that will help you learn more about this amazing founding father.
35. The Causes of the Great Depression: You can learn more about the reasons for the economic downturn of the 1930s in this informative lecture.
36. 1963 March on Washington: Listen to this original broadcast on these historical marches through this link.
37. Loyalists and the American War for Independence: In an interesting change of perspective, this lecture examines the War of Independence from the Loyalist point of view.

Art History

See and hear about some of the artwork that has reflected distinctive periods in history through these lectures.

38. Shifting Meaning: African Art in the World: Learn about the ways in which African art has been interpreted at home and in the global community in this lecture.
39. Thomas Gainsbourogh: The Substance of Style: In 18th century England, Gainsbourogh’s portraits were the height of fashion. You can learn more about his techniques and the history of the period in this lecture.
40. Marie Antoinette: Patron of the Arts: In this lecture you’ll hear about Marie Antoinette’s love of the arts, especially fine porcelain.
41. Art, Gender and Politics in Egypt: Queen Hapshetsut: Through this lecture you’ll learn more about the woman who was the first to take on the title of pharaoh and the art created around her.
42. Raphael and the Art of Portraiture: Learn more about some of the Renaissance’s most important works in this lecture.
43. Role of the Academy in American Art: The academy played a big role in the European art world but this lecture addresses the impact of such a structure on arts created in the Americas.
44. In Search of Culture: The Birth of the Museum of Fine Arts: Check out this lecture for information on the origins and need for the Museum of Fine Art in Boston.
45. Castiglione: The Art of Being a Renaissance Man: In this lecture you can get some pointers on what it takes to be a true Renaissance man and how Castiglione embodied and encouraged these characteristics.
46. Time for Tea: Women as Patrons of the Decorative Arts 1690-1850: Here you can learn how the introduction of tea to the Western world sparked an interest in the decorative arts, primarily supported by women.
47. Hudson River School of American Landscape Painting: This lecture will teach you about the history and techniques involved with this school of landscape painting.
48. Sensational Scandals on the Eve of the French Revolution: In this lecture you’ll hear about how theater, opera, and painting exhibitions played up the scandals of the months leading up to revolution.

U.S. Presidents

These lectures will let you take a closer look at individual American presidents.

49. Revisiting President John F. Kennedy and the 1960s: Take a look back at the 1960s to learn more about the culture and politics of the time and the president who defined the era.
50. Revolutionary Characters: What Made the Founding Fathers Different: Learn what characteristics allowed the founding fathers to rebel and start a new nation with new rules.
51. Rewriting the Founding: Theodore Roosevelt as Historian: Take a different look at Teddy Roosevelt in this compelling lecture.
52. New Perspectives on Lincoln and His World: Here you’ll be able to learn more about this iconic president and his times.
53. Presidency of Gerald Ford: Don’t know a thing about the presidency of Ford? Not to worry, this lecture will fill you in on the details.
54. Jimmy Carter: Prophet from the Plains: While not a popular president in his time, Carter has gone on to make great strides in international relations. This lecture will help you learn more about his presidency and his persona.
55. Nixon and Kissinger: Partners in Power: In this lecture you’ll hear about the battle between these two leaders to outdo each other and the friendship the two shared as well.
56. Presidents at War: Take a look at this lecture to hear about the lasting legacies of wartime presidents.
57. Presidency of LBJ: Hear from LBJ’s Pulitzer Prize-winning biographer in this lecture.
58. The Clinton Tapes: Wrestling History with the President: In this lecture you’ll get a unique look into the White House, with excerpts from interviews done while Clinton was in office.

Ancient and Medieval History

Head back to the beginnings of civilization with these lectures.

59. The City of Sardis: Approaches in Graphic Recording: In this lecture you’ll learn how new technologies are making it easier to take a new look at this ancient Roman city.
60. Introduction to Ancient Greek History: Explore this series of lectures to learn more about this influential classical society.
61. Roman Architecture: After listening to these lectures you’ll be able to pick out Roman-influenced architectural elements in your own city and understand the principles behind the construction of the monuments the Romans made.
62. Eighth Wonder: The Library of Alexandria: This lecture explores the mythical Library and the wonders it was said to hold.
63. Building Pharaoh’s Ship: This video series will let you see how the Ancient Egyptians went about building vessels for their Pharaohs.
64. Alexander the Great: In this lecture you’ll see how this somewhat unusual man rose to power.
65. The Dark Ages: Learn more about this period of European history when art and culture were said to stagnate.
66. Ancient Olympics: Gods and Athletes: You’ll gain a new appreciation for the Olympics of today by learning about its historical origins in this lecture.
67. What Mummies Tell Us: Take a look inside a mummy to learn about Egyptian burial practices, royalty and culture during that time.
68. The Bible’s Buried Secrets: This NOVA special will explore some of the debated historical issues in the Bible.
69. Medieval Judaism and Christianity: Daniel J. Lasker explains the nature of these two world religions during this somewhat uncouth period in history.

Conflict History

Explore the history of world conflicts through these lectures.

70. Women and War in the Twentieth Century: This collection of lectures from Harvard explores the roles women have played during wartime.
71. Conversation with WWII PT Boat Veterans: In this discussion you’ll hear from veterans who served on PT boats in the Solomon Islands at the same time as JFK.
72. Tuskegee Airmen of WWII: Learn what a big role the work of these brave airmen played in ending racial segregation in the military.
73. Someone Must Survive to Tell the World: Tosia Schneider explains the horrors she endured during the Nazi occupation of Poland and the promise she made to her mother.
74. Baptized in Blood: Moral Reflections on the American Civil War: This lecture takes a look back at some of the complex moral issues that surrounded the Civil War.
75. Ken Burns on the Civil War: This collection of lectures will help give you a well-rounded and informative picture of the history of the Civil War.
76. Baker Street Spies in Wartime Washington: Take a look into the seedy and often deceitful world of the British spies working in Washington before, during and after WWII.
77. D-Day to Berlin: Using never before seen home footage, this lecture will take you through the war from the vantage point of a soldier who was there.
78. Vietnam War and the Presidency: Big names like Henry Kissinger and Alexander Haig participate in this discussion of the Vietnam War.
79. Birth of the Modern Arms Race: This book recalls the history of the Cold War from the Oppenheimer trial to the era of McCarthyism.

Cultural History

In these lectures you will be able to learn more about cultural movements and more.

80. Nonviolence: From Gandhi to Martin Luther King: This series of lectures will give you a thorough understanding of non-violence resistance movements.
81. New Testament History and Literature: Check out this lecture to learn more about the history behind the New Testament.
82. Cultural History of the Great Depression: With discussions of entertainment and contemporary culture, this lecture will show you what life was like during the Great Depression.
83. Jews and Sufis: A Sacred Bridge: Here you can learn more about the relationship between these two Middle Eastern religious traditions.
84. Native Americans: Living in Two Worlds: Learn more about the difficulties in reconciling two ways of viewing the world that many Native American groups have.
85. Homosexuality and Civilization: This lecture will explore the acceptance or non-acceptance of homosexuality throughout history.
86. Buttoned Up and Down: European Fashion in 1905: If you’ve ever wanted to learn more about Victorian fashion, this lecture is a great free way to do so.
87. Piecing Together Our History: In this lecture you can learn more about Asian-Pacific culture in the United States.
88. Alan Turing’s Contribution to World History: Give this lecture a try to gain more knowledge about the scientific contributions of this often misunderstood man.
89. History 2D: Science, Magic and Religion: Here you can learn more about the role of these cultural factors in pushing history forward.

Miscellaneous

These lectures touch on a wide range of historical subject matter.

90. Brown v. Board: Looking Back, Looking Forward: Take a look at the impact of this historical court case in this series of lectures from Harvard.
91. History of Information: This lecture from Berkeley will help you explore the history of the recording, transmittal and storage of information.
92. History of Psychology: From Freud to the modern day, this lecture will show you the history of studying how the mind works.
93. History and Future of Nuclear Weapons: Nuclear weapons have played a big role in modern history and you can learn more about this and where the technology is headed in the coming years from this lecture.
94. History of Jazz: Get a cultural education with this great lecture series on the history of Jazz.
95. A Romp Through the History of Philosophy: From ancient Rome to Existentialism, this lecture will help you learn the big names in philosophy.
96. Crack in the Edge of the World: The 1906 CA Earthquake: Through this lecture you can revisit this deadly natural disaster.
97. Maps and History: Constructing Images of the Past: Learn from this lecture how maps can help you explore not only locations but cultural ideas and ways of seeing the world.
98. First Theorists of History: This lecture will explain the work and ideas of some of the world’s first historians.
99. Well-Behaved Women Rarely Make History: Check out this lecture for a funny look at some of the women who made names for themselves by defying cultural and social expectations.
100. Chinese in America: A Narrative History: This lecture will help you understand the contributions of the Chinese to American history, and the ongoing lives of those who grew up here.