Jul 17

A few websites to expand your mind

By William Levins

The web is full of websites that suck up your time but return very little useful information. But it's also rich with websites informative and "dare I say it," educational. Here are a few of my favorites.

1. TED.com

I simply love this site. Engaging talks by all types of professionals, from scientists to entertainers. The video clips are generally brief, from 5 to 15 minutes, but they can really open your mind to a world of possibilities with each talk. Truly fascinating stuff.

2. MentalFloss.com

OK, I need to mention it was Elaine who turned me onto this site (she discovered it due to the magazine). It's a hip and smart site that mixes intelligence with some fun. You'll find amusing articles alongside educational discourses on a myriad of topics.

3. USHistory.org

While the entire site is interesting, I truly like the historic documents page. You can read the writings which outlined the basic tenets of the western world and our freedoms.

4. Biblegateway.com

Perhaps I'll take some heat about this one...since religion can be a "third rail" - but I find this site interesting and helpful when debating with my religion literature friends. I'm able to look up the chapter and verse they quote. And to have multiple versions of the Bible online and searchable certainly warrants a nod to its data-driven coolness.