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Here is a listing of some cool web sites I've come across in my travels, in no particular order.Gunboards.com - That's right, I'm a gun-wielding maniac! Since many of my regulars who are also interested in firearms have been asking where on the 'Net they can learn more, I've put in this link to one of the best sites around for talking about that particular hobby. It's geared primarily towards military collectors, but there are links and information for all gun enthusiasts.
Amtrak RailSale - Looking for a great deal on a train trip? Check out Amtrak's Rail Sale page, where there are great deals to be had on my favorite way to travel. (But if you book the last seat on the Starlight from here to Seatle without checking with me first, this link is outta here!)
Bartleby.com - Here's another great page chock full of stuff. Access to encyclopedias, quotations, and more. Way to much to explain here, go over and give them a try! (Thanks, "castlewood", for the tip!)
The Merriam-Webster Dictionary - Every word I can think of (and I can think of a lot of words) is in the online version of the Meriam-Webster Collegiate Dictionary, complete with audio pronunciations. Appreciate this site while it's free, before it goes subscription like Britannica did!
The Commodore Zone - This is for all of us who remember the wonderful little computer called the Commodore 64. It had awesome graphics, great sound, and at under $300, was probably the computer that really led the way in putting computers in everyone's home. If you're feeling nostalgic, go over and download one of the C-64 emulators for your PC, and then start downloading all those wonderful games you used to play!
Rex Swain's Homepage - Here's a guy with a great web site for anyone interested in HTML, or many other programming-related topics. The HTML Sampler page is a great introduction to web site design, with real examples of how various HTML tags are rendered by your browser. He also has a test virus so that you can make sure that your anti-virus software is configured correctly. It's perfectly harmless, and you can find it near the bottom of the page.
Britannica.com - This was dropped from the home page because upon last visit I found it to be a shell of what it used to be.
Trader.com - From the good people who bring us Photo Ad and Easy Ad. No more making your way to the shopping center Thursday morning to find an old Buick - now you can do it online!
windrivers.com - Source for just about any driver for any piece of hardware in your Windows machine.
The Museum of Science and Industry at Chicago - This is a great web site. Be sure to take the tour of the U-505, a German U-Boat captured in World War II. It requires the Apple Quicktime Virtual Reality plug-in, which is accessible from the MSI web site. Be sure to also tour the virtual coal mine the rest of the exhibits. It's a trip well worth the time.
Microsoft Terraserver - Arial photos and topographical maps of almost the entire United States. Find your house. See the World Trade Center. Find that road you went four-wheeling on last year. It's all here.
Cookbooks.com - I'm no cook (not even close!), but this web site has even made me look good on more than one occasion!
U-Boat.net - Everything you've ever wanted to know about Germany's U-Boats. Audio interviews with skippers and crew, history, technology, and an incredible listing of virtually every U-Boat put to sea. Not to be missed by the U-Boat or WWII buff, or by anyone with extra time on their hands.
Police Scanners - Want to be reminded of why you don't live in the big city? Listen to live police broadcasts from several major cities.
Yahoo! Broadcasts - More live broadcasts, including Fire and Air Traffic Control.
US Navy Factfile - A listing of United States Navy equipment, including ships, aircraft, and weapons systems. Lots of statistics, photos, and even information on specific ships.
NOVA Online - Web site for PBS' NOVA. Long listing of past shows, with lots of information on the subjects covered on the TV show. For the people who enjoyed the tour of the U-505 at the Museum of Science and Industry, be sure to visit NOVA's Submarines, Secrets, and Spies for a virtual tour of the USS Nautilus (the worlds first nuclear vessel, famous for it's trip under the North Pole in 1958) and the USS Springfield, a Los Angeles class nuclear attack submarine (remember "The Hunt For Red October"?) and see how far we've come in fifty years.
Online Library Catalog - The San Luis Obispo/Santa Barbara County Black/Gold library catalog. Search for books, place holds. It's just like being on the computer at the public library.
TopThemes.com - Want to jazz up the ol' desktop? This site has about 1000 desktop themes you can download.
Theme World - Couldn't find the theme you were looking for at TopThemes? Here's another 5000 for you to browse through.
Feathers and Fur - Don's miniature horse and exotic bird web site.
Boatwright's Arms Lockers - Mike's antiques and collectible firearms web site.
Slonet - The best Internet access in the world. They're the one that I've used for five years, and the one I sign people up with at the shop. One-on-one service like no other. If you've forgotten what customer service from an ISP is, Slonet will be a pleasant surprise. Slonet is a non-profit community access organization, so don't expect a front page full of ads here. Lots of local information.