Jeremy G.

I know Dell has been struggling as a company and brand, but I think they still have the best service+computer quality in the industry, dollar for dollar. I ordered a new laptop on their site and got the in-person service package (where you don't need to send it in if you have a problem, they come to you and fix it for you on site) and the package was ~25% less expensive than a computer with the same specs and the same service package from other PC companies (assuming they offer the onsite service which to me is critical because time lost to maintenance issues is one of my top concerns) and ~40% less expensive than Apple. The computer I got isn't super-cool looking or anything, but it works perfectly and doesn't have any issues, which is exactly what I need. I think if you're on a budget or are just want something practical, Dell is still the best place to get a computer or laptop.

Cambridge Nights is the best source of interviews of scientists intended for a general audience that I've seen online. Each interview is about 45 minutes long, which is just long enough to explore each scientists' work. The host is a scientist himself, César A. Hidalgo. He does a fantastic job of selecting interesting guests, asking probing questions that cover the important bits of the scientists' work and keeping the discussion at a high level that is interesting to the viewer. Hidalgo also examines the scientists themselves--their upbringing and career progression, which is fascinating and useful for kids who might be aspiring scientists.

So far, my favorite interviews are with Lant Pritchett (international development, education) http://cambridgenights.media.mit.edu/index.php/2011/lant-pritchett

And also with Juan Perez Mercader (astrobiology) http://cambridgenights.media.mit.edu/index.php/2011/juan-perez-mercader

I don't have a TV. For the most part, it's a good thing. I have more time or work, read, go outside, see people, and watch movies. However, one of the things I do miss from time to time is watching sports. But, thanks to espn.com, I can still watch sports online. And the best part is it's generally cut up into small bits and free. I watched Tiger Woods play a few holes at the 4th round of the Masters and Rafael Nadal win a final set of a tournament on clay. ESPN has done well. American cable companies should be concerned.

Yale Law School has put online an impressive archive of historical documents. If I had the time, I'd love to go through them all, but I have discovered one document I particularly love -- a letter from Thomas Jefferson to his young nephew:
http://avalon.law.yale.edu/18th_century/let31.asp

The letter is fantastic (to me) because Jefferson seems to have tremendous affection toward the boy, but doesn't quite know how to show it. Jefferson's brilliance come across clearly in the letter but there is also an awkward didacticism, as he instructs the boy on how he ought to comport himself and what he ought to learn in what order. Jefferson also says amazing things like, "Games played with the ball, and others of that nature, are too violent for the body, and stamp no character on the mind. Let your gun therefore be the constant companion of your walks."

Of particular use to me personally, Jefferson lists off precisely what the boy should read to be educated. I, having grown up in the underfunded California public school system, had nothing in the way of a classical education and have therefore set out to read the books Jefferson recommends in order. My friends [rightly] laugh at me, but I am delighted to report Oliver Goldsmith's Complete Grecian History was excellent (and only 99 cents on the Kindle!): http://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B002LISR2M/ref=kinw_myk_ro_title
I hope you enjoy the letter and the website as much as I do.

If only I had time to see them all. The UN has designated 911 world heritage sites for their historical and cultural significance (for a full list of criteria: http://whc.unesco.org/en/criteria). Some sites are well-known like the Pyramids of Giza; but some are much more obscure like the petroglyphs of Tamgaly http://whc.unesco.org/en/list/1145 and the Putorana Plateau http://whc.unesco.org/en/list/1234

The website has a wealth of information and photos on each location. I could spend days with their interactive map, just looking: http://whc.unesco.org/en/254

You might have read about Salman Khan in the news. The former hedge fund manager put a few math videos online to help tutor his little cousins. The videos were a hit amongst not just his cousins but thousands of others on YouTube. Since then, Khan has launched KhanAcademy.org and uploaded more than 2100 videos across a variety of subjects. The success of the site has attracted big attention from the likes of Bill Gates who has helped fund the academy.

Personally, if I had had a resource like this when I was a kid, I would have been in heaven. I loved learning on my own and hated learning in school. One of the most interesting ideas to come out of the Khan Academy is that some kids might be able to spend their "homework time" in the evenings watching videos on KhanAcademy.org and then during "school time" kids could do their homework and get help from teachers. This most certainly would work for autodidactic child, but potentially it could work for everyone as it could free up school time for more personal attention and less lecturing.

Bill Gates on Khan:
http://money.cnn.com/2010/08/23/technology/sal_khan_academy.fortune/index.htm

Khan speaking at TED: http://www.ted.com/talks/salman_khan_let_s_use_video_to_reinvent_education.html

I'm a fan of the idea, and I hope it works. Oh, and check out some of the lectures. They're good. Http :// www.khanacademy. Org/video/linear-algebra---eigenvectors-and-eigenspaces-for-a-3x3-matrix? Playlist=Linear%20Algebra

My aunt recently sent out one of those emails warning that US cell phone numbers are becoming public soon. This might be just a rumor (verification, anyone?) but it never hurts to visit donotcall.gov -- the US government's do not call registry -- to block spammers from calling your phone. After you've been registered for a month, you can also use the site to complain about unwanted calls: https://complaints.donotcall.gov/complaint/complaintcheck.aspx?panel=2

Not sure if there is an equivalent resource for other countries, but I think it's a great service for Americans.

The Pew Internet and American Life Project is one of 7 non-profit, non-partisan research organizations started by the Pew Charitable Trusts. It provides free, public information on how people use the internet. I find the work they do personally interesting as it helps me understand how people use technology (like their work on the digital divide: http://www.pewinternet.org/topics/Digital-Divide.aspx), but they've also produced some great research that we've used to make graphics here at SiteJabber like these:

http://www.sitejabber.com/blog/2011/01/19/how-does-age-affect-web-use/
http://www.sitejabber.com/blog/2010/10/11/more-people-are-researching-products-online-before-they-buy/

So, thank you, Pew. Please keep up the great work.

Great site for free audiobooks -- it's a fantastic not-for-profit effort that is well worth supporting.

Making writing clearer and simpler is a worthy cause. Think of all the wasted hours, frustration, and mistakes that result around the world from people trying to decipher poorly written instructions, contracts, and emails. We could all get better.

For Californians, this is the site where you can register to vote. I know it's easy to forget to register, or think it's too much trouble to vote, but I think we're all made better off when we vote. Not only do our votes count, but it encourages us to stay up on civic issues (how's our society doing, who's running things, and how can we help?) and it puts pressure on other people to vote too (my friends are all voting, I should probably vote too).

This site is super-easy to use. It takes about 5 minutes to fill out the voter registration form, and you can always vote absentee if you don't feel like going anywhere.

The American diet has become a bit of a mess. We eat too much of foods that are bad for us and pay for it with our health and taxes (not to mention individual health care costs). Meatless Mondays is a movement to get Americans to skip meat on Mondays, which is a great idea. I love a good steak, but eating less meat is good for us all (and the environment for those who care). This movement will particularly impactful if it can reach schools where it is perhaps needed most (childhood obesity is ever-rising) and eating habits can be influenced for a lifetime.

Their website has useful links to recipes:
http://www.meatlessmonday.com/category/recipes-by-week/

And ways to spread the movement:
http://www.meatlessmonday.com/spread-the-movement/

Tell your friends!

Progress in stem cell research has been amazing and the Harvard Stem Cell Institute website is a great way to keep up on all the latest developments. Doug Melton, the institute's director has done an impressive job and they have developed great public resources like: http://www.stembook.org/ - check it out

An interesting concept where the wealthiest Americans pledge to give at least half their wealth to charity. Warren Buffett and Bill and Melinda Gates started the Giving Pledge to get more people to give, sooner. It seems like a fantastic idea - use public glory, peer pressure, and a sense of moral obligation to increase philanthropy. I hope it works.

Here's an interview about it on Charlie Rose: http://www.charlierose.com/view/interview/*******

I just bought a new computer monitor on this site for a very low price compared to other major electronics retailers (Best Buy, Amazon, etc.). I used Google Checkout to buy it, so I didn't have to give the website my info, and everything came as ordered in slightly less time than they promised. The site's a bit of a mess, but overall it was great experience. What I can't vouch for is Tiger Direct's customer service because I didn't have to deal with it. But if you're looking for a deal on electronics, this seems to be the place to go.

Americans for Fairness in Lending is a great information resource for consumers looking to take out a loan. It has information on abusive practices in everything from payday loans, to car loans, student loans, mortgages, and credit cards. Americans for Fairness in Lending does not take money from corporations, but has a lot of great non-profit partners, like the Consumers Union (the parent of Consumer Reports).

Some people love cars. I am not one of them. However, I do love listening to Car Talk on NPR. And I really couldn't tell you why - their jokes are corny and it's not like I'm ever actually going to fix my car myself. But, the hosts are uniquely charming and the information is fascinating, so I listen. The Car Talk website is great for all sorts of car information (selling your car, fixing your car, etc.), there are also games, online recordings of the radio show, and you can even buy Car Talk merchandise.

Virgin America, in my opinion, is by far the best US domestic airline. The entire flight feels great - everything from the way the plane looks, to the awesome flight attendants, to the Method hand soap in the bathrooms, to the low-cost wifi and laptop plugs in coach, to the entertaining security video (I actually watch it). And the great thing is, it costs basically the same as the other major carriers. Got to love it.

Craigslist never ceases to amaze me. It just works, and it's free for almost everyone (unless you consider the demise of US newspapers a cost - just kidding, sort of). In the last month I rented an apartment, bought a desk, and sold concert tickets all on Craigslist completely painlessly. Got to love it.

Not bad, good value, big selection. I think that pretty well sums up Target.com. In particular, I'd like to point out Target.com's furniture. It's not fancy, but some of it's not bad and if you spend over $50 often items will ship for free. Also most of Target.com's furniture is not available in stores. Also, they show reviews of all their items so you can get an idea of what you're getting into. I think it's a decent alternative/compliment to Ikea.