Every school offers a variety of these fun courses, although most typically do not go toward a degree, but instead offer the student time to relax and possibly earn a one-hour elective.  While some traditional schools offer these types of courses through their athletics program (eg. wine tasting at some public schools), but these courses are difficult to take through the internet.  Instead, online courses have begun to offer similar elective programs which allow students the chance to learn about a discipline without the stress of tests and papers.  Well, there might be tests, but they’ll be about as hard as that Yoga test you took at the end of your semester at public school (and that was not hard at all….namaste y’all?).

Everyone needs a bit of fun in their life, including throughout school, which means that most online schools have begun offering these fun online courses for students to focus on something that does not require hours of study.  While online courses are typically part of a degree program for most students, they can also just be taken at your leisure in order to develop some background knowledge about a particular subject.  Who wouldn’t want to get some additional knowledge about cooking or home improvement?  It isn’t worth taking extensive courses in, but the flexibility of online college has made such courses readily available for any student simply perusing the course offerings. 

Learning a little bit about a fun topic without the added stress of grades or tests is one of the better aspects of online college, in the sense that it draws students into the school without forcing them to decide on a degree program.  Simply learning an additional trade that may not lead to a career is fun in itself, especially when you know you do not have to do it every day, but only have to do it on your own schedule. 

However, while MIT may offer only science courses, many other online colleges allow students similar ways to “test” out their many degree programs in different areas of education.  Many of these open online courses are available in a multitude of degree programs and offer a wide range of courses that students would never get the chance to experience otherwise.  Discovering what degree program is better suited for you is part of the appeal of these open online courses and the best courses they depict in their offerings.  Additionally, the fact that fewer schools offer these open courses should not serve to dissuade any potential students, but encourage them of the fact that most online schools offer similar courses, despite the difference in open online schools. 

Online college courses are usually catered to specific degree programs, but many of the best online courses that are offered through open courses allow students to see whether they will enjoy one degree program over another.  The online education industry has revolutionized the college process indefinitely, including the ability of students to preview potential courses through the previous year’s course material.  Whether you are looking into a degree program in the sciences or liberal arts, there are a slew of the best courses to peruse from, such as Ancient Medieval Literature or Modern Theoretical Physics.  Depending on what your specialty and interests are, you can choose from any number of free courses in order to delve deeper into a specific degree program.

The best online courses are more than just simple everyday English or Physics, but instead allow students to experience a new world of educational possibilities that others would not normally have.  Discovering what the best courses are for you is only one step in the education process that will further cement your future career choices and goals. 
 

Tech News

Blogs, online publications and print magazines all head to Twitter to share their latest headlines and talk about the tech news of the day.

1. @computerworld: This magazine tweets about Apple, the Kindle, Google, Microsoft and other top tech issues.
2. @macTweeter: Follow @macTweeter for Apple news, iTunes lists and more.
3. @ITPRO: This UK magazine covers all things IT.
4. @Techmeme: Coming out of San Francisco, Techmeme aims to be the "web’s technology news site of record."
5. @TechCrunch: This popular tech site features product reviews, tech news, and editorials.
6. @slashdot: Keep up with Slashdot’s updating headlines here.
7. @CNETNews: CNET editors share their photos, videos, reviews, and top news stories here.
8. @Gizmodo: Get a steady stream of headlines from Gizmodo, on home theater equipment to iPods to AT&T.
9. @engadget: Gadget geeks will enjoy following this feed for new releases, reviews, and insight into the whole computer and gadget industry.
10. @informationweek: Business students who love technology should follow the news stories tweeted from @informationweek.
11. @MacObserver: This news feed includes more than Mac news: follow it for headlines from Canon, World of Warcraft, Google, the mobile media industry, and more.

Bloggers

Bloggers add to the conventional news and media culture by offering behind-the-scenes commentary, coverage of niche tech topics, and more. Here are some of the best you’ll want to follow.

12. @Scobleizer: Robert Scoble loves blogging and tweeting about the new gadgets and trends coming out of Silicon Valley.
13. @CharlesLau: Charles Lau, the Internet Reviewer, tracks websites and products here and on his blog.
14. @techradar: Get tech news from the US, UK and Japan from @techradar.
15. @labnol: Amit Agarwal is a professional blogger and tech reporter who comments on online education and beyond.
16. @freecloud: Alan Patrick is a blogger who covers broadband media, mobile media and more.
17. @ipostfirst: This blogger may just deliver the newest tech news faster than anyone.
18. @andrewbrust: Andrew Brust is an expert on Microsoft and is the Chief of New Technology at twentysix New York.
19. @nickbilton: Nick Bilton is the lead tech writer for the Bits Blog, from the NYT.
20. @alexlmiller: Alex Miller is a good follow if you want a variety of news and inside stories from media, tech, business and more.
21. @mattbuchanan: Gizmodo writer and blogger Matt Buchanan has a bit of a potty mouth and likes ranting about stupid new products and thinking about yummy snacks.
22. @bloggersblog: Get blog posts about Twitter and tech.
23. @steverubel: AdAge columnist and blogger Steve Rubel tweets about tech stuff, iPhones, technology in real life, and more.
24. @chrisgarrett: Author of ProBloggerBook.com, Chris Garrett likes tweeting about social media, blogging lessons, and more.
25. @editorialiste: Andrew Nusca is an editor for ZDNet and SmartPlanet, but is the editorialiste blogger "by night."
26. @nptechblogs: Get blog posts from tech blogs all over the web here.
27. @LATimestech: The LA Times tech blog tweets about Google Labs, texting, ebooks, new media and a lot more.
28. @mashable: Pete Cashmore, CEO of Mashable, shares blog posts from Mashable. Recent posts cover Facebook, iPhone apps, the TIME Gadget of the Year, and more.
29. @honeytech: The Honeytech blog covers news, downloads and tips for using Google, for web design, open source, and more.
30. @tonykarrer: Tony Karrer is a CTO-for-hire, social media expert, eLearning insider and blogger.

Web Development and Design

If you’re into web development and design as a career choice or just for fun, follow these feeds for inspiration, tips, news and support.

31. @Chromaa: Get helpful tips and web dev news from @Chromaa, a professional and freelance web developer.
32. @webdesignfreak: You’ll find tutorials and articles pointing to useful apps and design tips here.
33. @WebWorkerDaily: If you love web design or development and want to make a career out of it, follow this feed for career and industry tips.
34. @kovshenin: Moscow-based Konstantin Kovshenin tweets about WordPress, shares web design and HTML tutorials, and more.
35. @chrisspooner: Chris Spooner blogs and tweets about web design and illustration.
36. @DesignerDepot: You’ll find cheat sheets, Photoshop tutorials, usability tips and more from this feed.
37. @inspiredmag: Web designers can tune into this feed for daily inspirations, contests and more.
38. @DesignNewz: Find lots of free tools, tutorials and design ideas from @DesignNewz.
39. @RussAdams: Russ Adams blogs for webdesign.fm and shares his posts and commentary here.
40. @naldzgraphics: Ronald Bien shares graphic design tips here.
41. @sixrevisions: Jacob Gube, the creator of Six Revisions, talks about web development, fonts, typography and more.

Programming, Software and Engineering

Computer programming, software and engineering students will want to subscribe to these feeds for news, reviews, tips and clues about Android, Microsoft Windows, Mac, networking and more.

42. @EverythingMS: Windows geeks will find everything related to Microsoft here.
43. @putdotio: This new online storage system is just starting to tweet about its new updates and plans for the future.
44. @MyAndroidCell: They may not follow you back, but subscribe to this feed to keep up with Android releases and gossip.
45. @bit-tech: Gamers and programmers in the UK connect on this site and Twitter feed for news, reviews and more.
46. @smallnetbuilder: If you’re into network design, troubleshooting or engineering, you should visit this feed, from smallnetbuilder.com.
47. @jtackabury: Follow Jon Tackabury for all kinds of software and development discussion.
48. @DownloadSquad: The Download Squad tweets new updates and downloads for Google Chrome, Mozilla products and more.
49. @surya_s: Surya Suravarapu’s feed fuels interesting discussion about software development. Recent tweets share opinions and news about Camel, XML, search engines, Android and more.
50. @ComputerRealm: Luqmaan is a software developer and webtreneur who likes blogging and tweeting about Windows troubleshooting, Internet customization, social media and his own projects.

Personalities

From Tim Berners-Lee to Guy Kawasaki and hackers like Anthony McKay, you can follow your tech idols here.

51. @anthonymckay: Hacker Anthony McKay tweets his views on tech, social media and more.
52. @GuyKawasaki: One of the most successful techies around, Guy Kawasaki is a master of new media, branding and tweeting.
53. @richardlai: Richard Lai is an Engadget editor who lives in London and tweets things like "Samsung Bada needs two more ’s.’"
54. @LanceUlanoff: Lance Ulanoff, the editor-in-chief of PCMag.com, tweets about new gadgets, general tech news, and his love for robotics.
55. @emoltzen: Ed Moltzen is the managing editor for Test Center for CRN, CRNtech, VAR Biz and Channelweb.com, and likes commenting on mobile media and more.
56. @j_timmer: John Timmer, chief science "wrangler" for Ars Technica, tweets about genetics, Verizon, data management and more.
57. @timberners_lee: The real inventor of the Internet.
58. @ohnorosco: Ross Miller is another Engadget editor whose random but fun Twitter feed touches on banjos, new gadgets, troubleshooting, and pubs.
59. @donreisinger: Don Reisinger writes The Digital Home column for CNET.
60. @jack: Jack Dorsey is the creator, co-founder and chairman of Twitter.

Career and Jobs

Use these feeds to look for tech, media and IT jobs and internships across the U.S.

61. @exectweets: Follow this feed to get connected tech execs and news.
62. @Jobs_Tech_LA: If you’re in the LA area and want to find a job in development, technical design, engineering and beyond, check here.
63. @jobsintech: Creative and tech types will find job postings around the U.S. here.
64. @sfmobilejobs: Get digital tech and mobile jobs from around the country (not just San Francisco).
65. @TechJob_Chicago: This is the spot for Chicago-based techies to look for jobs.
66. @SocialMediaJob: If you want a job or internship in social media marketing, product management, community management or a related field, check here.
67. @Web2point0jobs: This feed claims to direct you to the highest paying tech jobs in application development, web design, and more.
68. @Joblighted: @Joblighted is a good spot to find programming and developing jobs in the U.S.
69. @wFreelanceJobs: Look for freelance web design jobs here.
70. @caitjobs: This feed is updated regularly and highlights tech and IT jobs in California.

Media

Learn about the new trends, careers, concepts and discussions in media and new media, from TV to social media and new media marketing.

71. @ryanlawler: Ryan Lawler writes for GigaOm and New TeeVee, and you’ll find tweets about Hulu, Vevo and other online media sites here.
72. @tconrad: Tom Conrad, the CTO at Pandora, tweets about business travel and all sorts of online media trends.
73. @fforward: This feed is a true mix of media, art and design, highlighting what’s new and beautiful and car design, gadgets, and more.
74. @juliaroy: Julia combines a talent for fashion and digital media in her job as Coach’s senior manager of new media.
75. @NewTeeVee: If you want to know what’s next for TV, check out this feed.
76. @JesseNewhart: Jesse is a multimedia and new media strategist who tweets about blogging, real-time web, Google, and more.
77. @douglasi: Douglas Idugboe is a new media evangelist who shares marketing tips and social media advice.
78. @themediaisdying: Learn how to break into the changing media industry with better pitches and a cutting edge education.
79. @tomkennedy: If you’re interested in changing the way we receive news, you’ll want to follow @tomkennedy.

Gaming

Whether you’re a game designer or just seriously into the world of online, virtual, and video gaming, check out these feeds.

80. @GeekSpazz: GeekSpazz tweets about social media and gaming here.
81. @fourzerotwo: Robert Bowling is a creative strategist who makes video games like Modern Warfare 2.
82. @Kotaku: Get game reviews and news from @Kotaku.
83. @gamergeeks: This gaming community tweets reviews, asks for user input, shares new game releases and apps, and more.
84. @8bitfix: You’ll find out when games and extra releases for products like Assassin’s Creed 2 and Transformers are available when you follow @8bitfix.

Tips and Research

Even if you’re a tech-savvy student, you probably run into trouble with your computer, network or iPhone at some point. Follow these feeds for tips and advice from the pros.

85. @10steps: If you work with Photoshop, you’ll find tutorials and tips here.
86. @ismashphone: Get iPhone tips here.
87. @tinyhacker: Get general tips for iPod Touch, RSS feeds, eBay, file sharing and more.
88. @IBMResearch: IBM geeks can ask questions and keep up with research projects here.
89. @howtogeek: Follow @howtogeek if you have computer problems or just want to learn basic troubleshooting tips.
90. @linuxhub: Linux users will find tips and hacks here.

Entrepreneurship

Get inspired to start your own tech business when you follow these ambitious tweeters.

91. @radtech: Ryan and Zach share advice, tips and troubleshooting for Mac, iPod and iPhone.
92. @sandieman: Rob Sandie is the co-founder and president of viddler.com.
93. @Jesse: Jesse Stay is the CEO of SocialToo.com and tweets about social media, web development and more.
94. @N3W_Media: Ed Stivala is the founder of a UK-based digital agency and consulting group, N3W_Media.
95. @ryanblock: Ryan Block has quite a resume: he’s the co-founder of gdgt and is also a writer and editor for tech pubs.
96. @davemorin: Dave Morin is an entrepreneur in the tech and social media industries who works for Facebook.
97. @StartupPro: Martin Zwilling is a veteran startup mentor, angel investor and tech expert.
98. @chrishogg: Chris Hogg is a social media expert and CEO of the user-generated news site Digital Journal.
99. @Woork: Antonio Lupetti is the founder of Woork Up, a web community for web designers, tech news and digital inspiration.
100. @davidlano: David Lano loves Apple, web design and development, and starting new projects.

Getting One

Before you buy an ebook reader, you’ll need to consider your reading habits, budget, user reviews, and ebook formats.

1. Consider how — and how often — you read: Are you really going to use the Kindle? If toting around books and magazines is no trouble for you, you may not need to bother with one. If you’re a frequent traveler, however, a Kindle could be a good investment.
2. Check reviews: Sites like Laptopmag.com and others post reader and editor reviews of various ebook readers.
3. Look for coupons: Just because they’re new and trendy doesn’t mean you have to pay full price. Look for online coupons and discount codes before checking out.
4. Check for updates: Make sure you’re not buying a model that’s about to be outdated when a software update is slated to be released the next month.
5. Evaluate your reading material: Kindles and other ebook readers are best if you want to read magazines, novels and newspapers, not reference books.
6. Consider buying used: Amazon.com sells used Kindles in supposedly very good and "like new" condition at heavily discounted prices.
7. Consider technical support: Don’t just pick your ereader based on how it works and looks: remember to inquire about tech support quality and availability.
8. Think about format: Ebook readers come in PDF, MOBI, AZW (for Kindle), and LRF (Sony Reader), so you need to consider what kind of format the books you’ll be buying come in, and if they’ll match up.

Downloading

Here you’ll find places to download ebooks for various devices.

9. Barnes & Noble eReader: This eReader application can be downloaded to your iPhone or iPod Touch, BlackBerry, PC or Mac.
10. iTunes Audiobooks: Use iTunes to download popular and classic books for your iPhone or iPod.
11. Palm eBook Store: If you have a Palm, head to the product’s ebook store online, which hosts over 37,000 searchable titles.
12. eReader.com: In addition to finding books, you can download the most current software for Android, iPhone, BlackBerry, Windows, Mac and more.
13. Find eBooks: Microsoft Reader: You can search for eBooks for your Microsoft Reader from here.
14. The eBook Store from Sony: If you have a Sony Reader, browse categories like cooking, bargain-priced, philosophy, history, fiction and literature, and more to find ebooks.
15. eBookMall: On this site, you’ll find ebooks for different formats, plus reviews and software.

General Reading Tips

Make your reading experience more comfortable and efficient when you follow these tips.

16. Give your eyes a break: The electronic ink on an eReader means that you’ll strain your eyes less than if you were reading off an LCD screen, but you still need to take a break every once in a while.
17. Turn off wireless if you want to read on an airplane: You can read your book offline on an airplane.
18. Consider battery life: Make sure your battery is fully charged, especially if it doesn’t have a long battery life.
19. Fix glare yourself: Some reviewers complain that the Sony Reader is too vulnerable to glare, but you can find anti-glare accessories to fix the problem.
20. It’s better by the pool: You’ll ruin it if you drop it in the pool, but one reviewer notes that his Kindle stood up better to random splashes than the paperback books of his neighbors.
21. Get a cover: If you’re feeling nostalgic for "real" books, get a protective cover for your Kindle that opens and closes like a real book.
22. Explore: One of the best things about an ereader is that you can find all kinds of books that you might not even think to look for in a bookstore, and books that may not be carried in traditional bookstores.
23. Keep a reading list: Re-order your reading list online so that you can check off books when you finish them.
24. Be careful with your spending: It’s easy to browse books and add them to your list, but remember that you’re paying for all those titles. Make sure you really want to read a book before you pay for it.

Free eBooks

Before buying titles, look for ways to read books for free.

25. Consider audio books: Use an iPod or iPhone to listen to audio books, which may be free.
26. World Public Library: There are collections for kids’ books, world studies, Christian classics, Asian literature, and a lot more.
27. Barnes & Noble Free Books: Barnes & Noble has a free ebook section here, including titles form James Patterson, Jules Verne, and others.
28. Bibliomania: Get study guides and more for over 2,000 classic books, short stories, poems and plays.
29. Use a meta search engine: eBook Searchr finds ebooks by searching over 340 book sites.
30. Free-eBooks.net: You can read books online or access them in PDF or Mobipocket format.
31. ManyBooks.net: ManyBooks.net lets you search books for PDA, iPhone or eBook Reader here.
32. Get free documents and reference books: Use MemoWare to find reference books, novels, papers, reports and other reading material for ebook readers.

Kindle

Below are tips and shortcuts for using the Amazon Kindle.

33. Sync it with your iPhone: Kindle released an app that lets you read books on your iPhone that you’ve already downloaded on your Kindle.
34. E-mail Word docs and pictures: You can e-mail word documents and images to your Kindle so that you can easily view them from anywhere.
35. Internet doesn’t work in all countries: Kindle’s 3G extends to most European countries, but John Biggs recommends downloading your Kindle book onto your desktop and then dragging the book over to your reader via a USB cable if you’re outside a network area.
36. Choose it over a paperback: You might think a small paperback is more convenient than a long Kindle, but the Kindle is actually more lightweight than most paperbacks.
37. Read blogs: You can read blogs on your Kindle through BlogLines or FeedJournal.
38. Find the Kindle clock: Press ALT and T keys on the home screen to view the current time.
39. Speak Menu Options: Kindle is adding two new options to help blind readers navigate the reader more easily.
40. Save words you’ve looked up in the dictionary: Highlight a word and its definition to save it to My Clippings, where you can keep all of the words you need to reference.
41. Get Google Maps and GPS: When your Kindle is in browser mode, you can access Google Maps and GPS.
42. Hold down other keys to avoid pressing "Next page:": If you keep accidentally pressing the "next page" button, press any other keys as you hold your Kindle in place.
43. You can now download PDF: The newest version of Kindle supports PDF documents.
44. Use text-to-speech: If the book you’re reading is approved for text-to-speech, you can rest your eyes and turn any download into an audio book.
45. Access Gmail and Yahoo! mail or messenger: Use mobile versions of these applications so they’ll work on Kindle.
46. Go to Kindle Store: Just press ALT + home to get to the Kindle store and search for more books.
47. Find out how much free memory you have left: Press the MENU button to find out how many more books you can download.
48. Bookmark shortcut: Press ALT + B to add or remove bookmarks.

Sony Reader

Sony Reader users will figure out how to sync their device with a Mac, import files to their PC, and more.

49. Make your Reader and Mac work together: This tutorial will help Mac workers find out how to partially fix the incompatibly problem with Sony Readers.
50. Use the batter for up to two weeks: One of the Sony Reader’s best features is that its battery lasts for up to two whole weeks.
51. Import files from your Reader back to your PC: You can save files to your eBook Library on your regular computer, too.
52. Read Google Books on your Sony Reader: This Sony Reader PRS-500 owner discovered a hack to read Google PDFs on his ereader.
53. Set bookmarks: Press the Mark button at the bottom left of your device to "fold" a corner of the page.
54. Turn off audio for longer battery life: If you want your Sony Reader to last longer, make sure you turn off the audio player.
55. Zoom: Zoom works at small, medium and large levels, but only at small and medium for PDFs.

Barnes & Noble Nook

The new Nook from Barnes & Noble is gaining a following due to its ability to share books and other features.

56. Buy it at Barnes & Noble: If you want to buy a Nook, the only place you can get it is Barnes & Noble.
57. Search over a million books: Through Barnes & Noble’s network, you’ll have access to over 1 million titles.
58. Reading Now: Reading Now acts as a virtual bookmark to let you highlight, bookmark and annotate passages.
59. Lend books: Unlike other ereaders, the Nook is licensed to let you lend books to friends for up to 14 days.
60. Sample before you buy: Like the Kindle, the Nook allows you to preview books to make sure you really want to buy them.
61. Get an extra memory card: If you don’t want to delete any of your 1,500 books or periodicals, get a memory card for extra storage.

Microsoft Reader

Here you’ll find all kinds of tips and tricks for using the Microsoft Reader.

62. Copy books to Windows Mobile: Follow this guide to transfer ebooks to your PC-connected Windows mobile.
63. Disable auto pagination: Here you’ll find tips for disabling auto pagination after you’ve already opened a book.
64. Manage the eBook catalog: If your catalog is corrupted and gives you the error message "Microsoft Reader is no longer able to access this book," follow this guide.
65. Microsoft Reader supports text, images, audio and HTML links: Plans to support streaming video are in place for future release.
66. Sealed ebooks: Microsoft protects books from modification by sealing them.
67. Inscribed ebooks: Another way to protect books from copyright and illegal sharing is to list the purchaser’s name on an ebook’s cover page.
68. Read In: This new tool lets you create your own ebook content even with Microsoft Word 2002 or 2003.
69. Drawings: With this tool, you can circle words and add scribbles to your book.
70. Increase font size: Microsoft Reader lets you create large print editions.
71. Notes: Add notes to your ebook’s margins with your Microsoft Reader keyboard.
72. Rotate and Resize: Choose to view your book in portrait mode, which fills up the whole screen, or landscape mode, which lets you view your Tablet desktop too.
73. Customize your library: You can customize your homepage, or Library, by organizing books by date acquired, title, author, last read, or size.
74. Riffle Control: Right-click the page number to turn the page or skip ahead to another page.
75. Back up books before upgrading: To avoid erasing your books, back them up before upgrading software.
76. Store annotations: Keep track of all your notes by storing annotations, bookmarks, drawings and highlights in one spot per book.

Accessories

Here we highlight some accessories to help customize and protect your ereader so that it will last as long as you need it to.

77. Screen protector: Keep your Kindle screen scratch-free with a screen protector.
78. Get a light: When you want to read in bed, get an attachable light for your ereader.
79. Book case: This protective case looks like a laptop glove and features an exterior pocket.
80. Travel charger: Keep a travel charger handy so that you can read on the plane ride home, too.
81. USB cable: For some ebook readers, you’ll need a USB cable to work offline or move your library around.
82. Cover: Keep a cover on your Kindle or ebook reader at all times to protect it from spills, splashes and scratches.
83. Car adapter: When you’re riding shotgun, you can charge your Sony Reader with this adapter.
84. Screen cleaner: Keep your screen clean so that you don’t have to strain to read each page.
85. Rear cover: This accessory for the Nook replaces the back panel with a colorful hardshell.
86. Matte Screen Film Kit: Another accessory for the Nook, this kit includes an anti-glare matte film and cleaning cloth.

Security and Protection

Keep your ebook reader safe, private and secure with these tips.

87. Put it inside a dummy book: People will think you’re just reading a regular book and not an expensive Kindle.
88. Waterproof protection: Use a waterproof cover if you’re reading at the beach.
89. Don’t show it off: Don’t let your ego turn you into a target. Read your ebook reader as inconspicuously as possible.
90. Take it with you to the restroom: Some people leave their laptops at the table when they use the restroom at a cafe, but ebook readers are even easier to swipe.
91. Hide embarrassing books: Watch this CNET video to figure out how to hide the fact that you’re reading embarrassing books when people want to check out your Kindle.
92. Don’t let strangers borrow it: You’ll find that some people just want to hold your Kindle or ebook reader because they’ve never seen one before, but don’t hand it out to strangers.
93. Keep it safely away from drinks and food: Avoid the risk of spilling anything on your reader by keeping it away from drinks.
94. Decrease font size: To keep others from reading your Kindle over your shoulder, decrease font size.
95. Lock it up whenever you can: Ereaders are hot commodities these days, so be sure to lock it up in your desk, trunk or suitcase whenever possible.

Miscellaneous

From limits on downloads to personalizing your ebook reader, here are more tips for your ebook reader needs.

96. Personalize your ereader: Some readers feel disconnected to the idea of ereaders because they don’t have the same smell or feel of physical books. Customize it with accessories and make a point to remember each place you take your ereader to make if more personal.
97. Watch out for downloading limits: Some Amazon books have limits on the number of times they can be re-downloaded, which can be a problem if you want to read the same book on different devices. Unfortunately, there’s no way to check if you’re approaching the limit, but just know that this is always a risk.
98. Read copyright rules before downloading content: If you’re downloading content directly from the web, make sure you’ll be able to access it on your ereader legally.
99. Take it to the gym: Take your ebook reader with you when you work out. Just make sure you never leave it unattended.
100. Take it camping: Take your ebook reader camping if it has a decent battery life. Download ghost stories ahead of time if you’re worried about losing a network connection.
101. Join a book club: This blogger shares her experience with starting a child’s book club with her Kindle.

Education, Politics, and Government

These posts highlight the intersection of education, politics, and government.

1. An open letter to President Obama on schools, education, and teaching. Kenneth Bernstein has written a powerful letter to the president asking him to carefully examine how his administration approaches education reform.
2. Comparing House and Senate School Facilities Programs in the Student Loan Bill. Learn about the legislation surrounding the first attempt of the federal government to fund much-needed K-12 school building repair, renovation, and construction.
3. Why Is the Secretary of Education Lobbying on the Health Care Bill?. Frederick Hess wonders about the propriety and intentions of Arne Duncan’s involvement in gathering support for the health care bill.
4. Two Things Edwonk Wants Back From The Mid-00s: Stock Prices & Pre-Political Hess. Edwonk counters Hess’ concerns over Duncan’s political involvement and offers a view from the other side.
5. Whatever Happened to that Student Loan Bill? This post provides information about the status of the student loan bill as well as an interesting perspective on why those in the education sector may be so interested in the health care bill.
6. Skeptics of Standardized Tests Weigh In on ESEA. Forum for Education and Democracy is a group working to educate politicians on the benefits of project-based education over the current standardized testing model. Find out what they have to say and what they are doing to create change.
7. Race to the Top Versus the Money Chase. Paul Peterson discusses his views on why teachers’ association’s political involvement may prevent productive reform of the teaching profession.
8. saved by the stimulus, or adventures in accounting. This post explores the effects of this summer’s stimulus package on education, and more specifically, teachers, and wonders at why it has taken so long for funding transparency to become available.
9. Throwing Teachers Out Of Their Homes And Onto The Streets? Take a look at how funding problems can result in a worrisome situation for educators.
10. Revisiting the No-Washington-Meddling Doctrine. This post highlights one reason why there is tension over the NCLB/ESEA reauthorization.
11. Why Business Leaders Should Not Be in the Driver’s Seat. According to Diane Ravitch, schools should not be run like a business or by business leaders. She explains why in this thought-provoking piece.

The State of Education Reform

Examine the current state of education and education reform with the information in these posts.

12. What Arne Duncan Thinks of No Child Left Behind. This article was written just after Duncan was appointed as Secretary of Education. Find out what he had to say then about NCLB and other education reform issues.
13. Transcript: An Hour With Arne Duncan. Here is a more recent look at what Duncan has to say about the state of education and education reform. Find video footage, a link to a full transcript, and analysis of his talk within this post.
14. Race to the Top and the Status of Education Innovation. Find out about a report recently released that rates public schools on innovation in categories such as management, technology, and finance.
15. ISO an article that fills in the bubbles—I mean blanks. Linda Perlstein asks for some transparency in the current administration’s approach to education policy.
16. Thompson: Is Our Education Policy Folks Learning?. John Thompson thinks about policy reform by looking back at the early days of NCLB and wonders if anything has changed.
17. I’m Thankful …. for the Discord? This post illustrates why disagreement and discussion is important in finding solutions for education reform.
18. Parent Power on Facebook. Learn how the Internet is empowering parents to make important changes to education policy.
19. Read Growing Pains: Scaling Up the Nation’s Best Charter Schools. Not only does this post provide an opportunity to learn about some of the struggles with charter schools, but it also provides links to some of the politics behind getting this information publicly released.
20. Non-Learners. Lynne Munson takes a look at the inability of the leaders of Partnership for 21st Century Skills to learn when faced with sound advice.
21. Common Core Standards update. Get an update on the Common Core Standards Initiative and what is in the works for public education.
22. School Reform Retreat? This blog post shares an editorial piece from the Wall Street Journal that wonders if the Race to the Top initiative is really all that it was originally touted to be.

Specific Reform Issues

From innovation in education to charter schools to teacher evaluation, these posts focus on specific issues being debated in reform discussions.

23. School District Consolidation: What Happens When You Assume. Take a look at a few of the problems with school district consolidation with the information here.
24. Leigh McGuigan: Turning Around Low-Performing Schools. McGuigan looks at ways to turn around low-performing schools in order to better serve students and ensure better quality teachers.
25. Leigh McGuigan: On Innovation. Using examples from her experience in Cleveland schools and the thoughts of Clayton Christensen and his book Disrupting Class, McGuigan offers suggestions to make significant changes in schools through innovation.
26. Data Visualization for the Classroom: Part I. The Science Goddess presents a useful way of looking at student assessment to look beyond simple numbers and percentages and instead focus on whether or not the class is understanding the concepts being taught.
27. Charters show the way forward. This post describes the attributes of successful charter schools and posits the idea that all public schools should adopt the same qualities.
28. Social and Economic Goals of Schooling. With so much of a child’s life devoted to education, it is important to consider the goal of the education beyond just achieving a high-paying job. This post provides perspective on what other considerations might be of importance.
29. Teacher Magazine: NCLB Definition of Professional Development Scrutinized. Take a look at an issue of professional development that was a part of the original NCLB, but not monitored or enforced, and see what is being said about it.
30. Pay Bonuses for AP Teachers Only?. This story about bonuses for AP teacher performance highlights the issue surrounding the idea of incentive-based pay.
31. Metaphor Quest. Learn how testing students in school should be like a swimming test with this blog post.
32. School Choice Reduces Crime, Increases College-Attendance, and Makes Your Breath Smell Better. All except that breath thing, the thoughts here demonstrate why school choice should be a possibility for students.
33. Sunday Commentary: How Should We Measure the Achievement Gap?" Corey Bower thinks about measuring and closing the achievement gap in schools here.
34. A canard worth torpedoing. Take a look at why the view of for-profit education may not be such a bad one after all.
35. What’s Needed to Make Sure Innovation Is Working?. Check out this online conversation about innovation in education and what could make it successful.
36. Getting Real About Teacher Evaluation. Renee Moore debunks two myths about teacher competency and lays out suggestions for more successful teacher evaluation.
37. One Bar For All?. Dr. Pezz suggests that science and math achievement should be tailored to the individual student’s abilities in this post.

Primary and Secondary Education

These posts look at reform issues specific to primary or secondary education.

38. The Outcry Over Preschool Test-Prep and ‘Gifted’ Kindergartens. This post takes a look at the idea of prepping very young students for test-taking as well as other issues such as early labeling of children as "gifted" and unrealistic expectations for preschoolers.
39. Urging Solutions on ‘Chronic Absence’ in Elementary Schools. Discovering exactly why absenteeism is occurring in elementary schools, especially among those in poverty, is the first step in solving the problem, which negatively impacts the learning for these young students.
40. The Proliferation of Federal High School Intervention Programs. Learn about a few federal programs to help reduce the high-school dropout rates and find out if they are successful.
41. After high school, what happens? This post highlights the need for data collection to measure the success (or lack thereof) of the educational system that delivers students to college.
42. College success gap. See the statistics on the success gap of college-bound minority and low-income students as well as some thoughts on why this gap may be occurring.
43. The Other Thirteen. While many alternative schools provide an opportunity for educating students who might not succeed in a traditional school, this post makes a strong argument for why keeping a focus on reform in traditional schools is still important.
44. Willingham on Online Teaching. This post includes a link to an article in The Washington Post that describes how teachers’ relationships with online students in K-12 environments are strong and actually have benefits over the relationships formed in a traditional classroom.

Higher Education

Take a look at what’s going on in the world of higher education reform with these posts.

45. At Long Last, Department of Education Puts the Interests of Students First. This blog post describes preliminary proposals that will help regulate and prevent against unscrupulous for-profit colleges taking advantage of working-class students.
46. Higher Ed by the Numbers. The data in this post provides many good reasons why student loan reform is desperately needed.
47. Claiborne Pell’s Unfulfilled Legacy. Set against the backdrop of the Pell grant, this post describes why the cost of college must be addressed and corrected.
48. We need more reporting like this…. This post shares an article out of Canada that explores the international problem of an increasing gender gap on campuses.
49. Tuition Tax Turmoil. In the ongoing discussion of the high cost of a college education, this post describes yet another increase in the cost of school and the uproar over it.
50. Fast Track, Slow Ride, Grow Up. Nancy Flanagan proposes that extending college and putting off entering the real world doesn’t do students any favors.

1. Confessions of an Heiress: A Tongue-in-Chic Peek Behind the Pose, Paris Hilton: Socialite Paris Hilton has since lost her inheritance after doing time for a DUI, but in this autobiography from 2004 — which Hilton wrote with Merle Binsberg and Jeff Vespa — readers get an inside look into the superficial partying and primping lifestyle that made her famous in the first place. Publishers Weekly notes that there’s nothing scandalous in the book, which really just appears to be another medium for Hilton to talk about beauty products, travel and fashion. Ironically, Hilton also makes a point to reiterate her believed role as a model for young girls, encouraging them to be confident and learn from their mistakes.
2. Star: A Novel, Pamela Anderson: Pamela Anderson’s 2004 debut novel is really just the thinly veiled account of her early years finding fame in Hollywood and dating rock stars, told through the fictional heroine Star Wood Leigh. Publishers Weekly calls the book "lighter-than-air," pointing to an excerpt in which Leigh has sex with several people all at once.
3. The Adventures of Abdi, Madonna: Madonna wrote a pretty controversial book about sex early in her career, but now she’s moved on to children’s stories. She’s written a series of books for young girls and tweens — The English Roses — but Madonna has also tried writing for more multicultural audiences. In The Adventures of Abdi, Madonna writes a story about a Middle Eastern boy who encounters "ruthless rogues, savage snakes and deadly dungeons" on his journey to deliver a necklace to a queen.
4. Please, Baby, Please, Spike Lee: Film producer and director Spike Lee is known for creating such powerful, controversial and violent movies as Malcolm X, 25th Hour and Summer of Sam, and the fact that he also writes picture books for young children may surprise some fans. Please, Baby, Please, published in 2006 and written by Spike Lee and his wife Tonya Lewis Lee, follows a little girl who innocently makes trouble for her mom as she spills cereal, refuses to go to bed, and splashes around in the bath.
5. The Tinkerbell Hilton Diaries: My Life Tailing Paris Hilton, Tinkerbell Hilton: During the height of her popularity, Paris Hilton was often photographed carrying her teensy chihuahua, Tinkerbell, as she shopped and flitted about New York and LA. And in this book, Tinkerbell shares all the behind-the-scenes stories from life with Paris. It’s clearly meant to be a parody, but the whole premise is just silly.
6. The Truth About Diamonds, Nicole Richie: Paris Hilton’s best frenemy also got in on the celebrity tell-all trend when she published this book in 2006. Richie, who at the time was tabloid fodder for her trip to rehab, rivalries with Hollywood starlets and socialites, and reality show The Simple Life, uses the character Chloe to share all the gossip about her own life. One Amazon.com reviewer notes that "one of the best parts about this book was trying to figure out who each fictional character represented in real life," even though there is "hardly any plot to speak of."
7. L.A. Candy, Lauren Conrad: Another reality show star-turned author is Lauren Conrad, who started her career on the MTV series Laguna Beach, which followed the lives of privileged, catty high school students in Orange County. Conrad eventually got her own spin-off series when she moved to LA, called The Hills, and her first novel L.A. Candy is basically the "fictionalized" book version of Conrad’s own life and features a heroine named Jane Roberts, who is given her own reality TV show based on Sex and the City. The lines between reality and entertainment are blurred at an even more surreal level in this novel, as readers will be following the based-on-real-life story of a teenager with her own reality show, written by a teenager who used to have her own reality show.
8. sTORI Telling, by Tori Spelling: Tori Spelling was a 90s It Girl when she joined the cast of the original 90210, a popular TV drama created by her father Aaron Spelling. In this book, released in 2009, Tori Spelling recounts all of the rumors, gossip and catty rivalries that characterized her life, including her fights with her mother, her nose job, and childhood in Beverly Hills.
9. Sexual Intelligence, Kim Cattrall: Actress Kim Cattrall is best known for playing the sexually liberated PR executive Samantha Jones on one of HBO’s most successful shows, Sex and the City. And in this book, Cattrall explores sexual exploration through photos, interviews with experts, and a curious mixture of poetry and science, as described on Amazon.com.
10. Swan, by Naomi Campbell: Supermodel Naomi Campbell is one of the most successful models of all time, having walked and appeared in campaigns for Versace, Armani, Roberto Cavalli, and other top designers. Campbell was also one of the first black models to enjoy such mainstream success, but her often violent outbursts hurt her public image. In addition to modeling, Campbell released a book in 1996, during the height of her career. Swan is the story of "the world’s best supermodel" who steps down as representative for the Swan beauty line and who must lead a search for the next It girl, all while managing a scandalous, re-surfaced story about a murdered sister and the turbulent life in the fashion industry. Library Journal finds that it "is not essential purchase."

Gaming

These documentaries focus on gaming systems, specific games and the people who play them–often to an obsessive degree.

1. Second Skin: This documentary takes a look at groups of gamers who play MMO games like Second Life, World of Warcraft and Everquest.
2. The King of Kong: Watch as these gaming geeks battle it out to see who’s the real champion of Donkey Kong.
3. Chasing Ghosts: Beyond the Arcade: Hear from the 1982 world videogame champs in this documentary.
4. Once Upon Atari: Learn more about one of the first video gaming systems in this documentary.
5. Get Lamp: Check out this film to learn about the early computer games that relied on text rather than graphics to tell the story.
6. /afk: This film explores the obsession that can sometimes result from playing online games.
7. Gold Farmers: This film will help you learn about the people who collect gold in online games to sell it for real world money to other players.
8. TILT: The Battle to Save Pinball: If you’re more of a fan of pinball, you’ll appreciate this documentary about the history of the game.
9. Playing Columbine: After creating an offensive and violent game based on the Columbine tragedy, this filmmaker and programmer explores some of the larger issues of violence in video games in this documentary.
10. Video Game Revolution: Learn how the early video games of the 1960’s went on to spawn the multi-million dollar video gaming industry of today in this film.
11. 8 BIT: Check out this film for more information on how video games have influenced music and art.
12. Rise of the Video Game: This documentary series will teach you about the history of video games, from the start to the present day.
13. Video Game Invasion: Hosted by Tony Hawk, this film will show you how video games went from a novelty to an obsession for developers.
14. Playing to Win: In this documentary series you’ll be able to see inside the video game industry and learn about everything from virtual worlds to healthy games.
15. Flashback NES: If you were lucky enough to have an NES back in the day, you’ll love this nostalgic look back at the system.

Robots and Artificial Intelligence

Learn more about new and historical developments in AI and robotics technology through these documentaries.

16. Ciao Robot: This film takes a look at the growing interest in roboethics.
17. The Great Robot Race: Check out this episode of NOVA to learn about this amazing event where driverless cars race across the desert.
18. Love Machine: Here, you’ll be able to see what scientists envision the future of robots to be like, and how our human interactions with them will be.
19. The Man Behind the Curtain: The life of amateur artificial intelligence researcher Chris McKinstry is often a troubled one, and this film follows his path to self-destruction.
20. 2001: HAL’s Legacy: Arthur C. Clark’s book saw the year 2001 as already having the sophisticated technology to build artificially intelligent computers like HAL, but this film shows how close or far we might actually be from that goal.
21. Gearing Up: In this documentary you’ll see what goes on at the FIRST Robotics Competition.

Computers

These great documentaries will help you learn the history of the computers we use today.

22. The Machine That Changed the World: Here you’ll be able to learn loads about early computer history.
23. Triumph of the Nerds: This documentary series focuses on the rise of computing empires like Apple, IBM, Windows and more.
24. Revolution OS: Use this film as an opportunity to learn more about the open source movement.
25. Welcome to Macintosh: Curious to learn more about the computer and gadget empire of Apple? Then check out this great film.
26. Aardvark’d: 12 Weeks with Geeks: In this documentary, four interns are brought to New York and given just 12 weeks to design, refine and ship a program.
27. The Code: Learn more about Linux through this film.
28. The Code-Breakers: This documentary shows how poor countries are using free and open source software for development.
29. Microprocessor Chronicles: Computers wouldn’t be what they are without microprocessors, and you can learn about their history and development here.
30. Nerd TV: In this documentary series you’ll hear from some of the biggest names in computing, technology and programming.
31. Creation of the Computer: In this short documentary you can discover the developments and individuals that helped the computer get where it is today.

The Web

Find out more about where the web came from, how people use it for business and how it’s affecting society in these documentaries.

32. BBS: The Documentary: Go back in time and see the heyday of the BBS (bulletin board system) and the people who used it for a variety of purposes.
33. Code Rush: This documentary follows developers at Netscape in 1998 as they rushed to release a new browser to compete with Microsoft.
34. Nerds 2.0: This great PBS documentary will take you back through the history of the Internet.
35. E-Dreams: Follow the rise and fall of Kozmo.com as it profits from the dot.com bubble and suffers after its burst.
36. Startup.com: Learn more about the birth and failure of the new media company govWorks.com in this film.
37. Download: The True Story of the Internet: This series will help you learn about the history of the Internet.
38. 24 Hours on Craigslist: Check out this documentary that follows the people behind a single day’s posts made on Craigslist.
39. Home Page: This 1999 documentary addresses the creation of web blogs and personal web sites.
40. Hyperland: Made in 1990, this film will be a nostalgic romp back to the earliest days of the Internet.
41. We Live in Public: This film follows the life of dot.com entrepreneur Josh Harris over the past ten years.

Hacking and Piracy

These films will show you the darker side of computer geekdom.

42. Hackers Wanted: Here you can learn about some of the big names in hacking throughout history.
43. Hackers are People Too: This film, made by hackers themselves, aims to show that hackers are ordinary people just like anyone else.
44. Good Copy, Bad Copy: Check out this film to learn more about issues of copyrights and Internet peer-to-peer sharing.
45. Freedom Downtime: This film offers sympathy to convicted computer hacker Kevin Mitnick, who the filmmakers feel has been misrepresented and vilified.
46. Hackers: Wizards of the Electronic Age: Hacking didn’t always mean what it does today, and this film takes you back to the original meaning and some of the first hackers.
47. In the Realm of the Hackers: In this film you’ll learn about the teenagers in the hacker community of Melbourne, Australia in the late 80’s to the early 90’s.
48. Cyber War: Learn how one young man hacked into the CIA’s computer system and the ongoing wars between hackers and security systems.
49. Steal This Film: This film documents the movement against restrictions on intellectual property
50. The History of Hacking: Use this movie to learn more about where hacking came from and how it came to be what it is today.

Negative Tech

Check out these films that examine some of the less than positive ways that technology can be utilized.

51. Architects of Control: This documentary explains how new technology has made it easier than ever before to control how people think and act.
52. Big Brother, Big Business: Learn how technology is being used to monitor just about everything you do or say in this film.
53. Holes In Heaven?: Learn how High Frequency Active Aural Research Programs could be posing a danger to our very atmosphere.
54. Pandora’s Box: In this television documentary series you’ll see how developments like nuclear power, cybernetics, systems analysis and more have been put to ill uses.
55. The Invisible Machine: Electromagnetic Warfare: This film explains that you may not be able to see electromagnetic waves themselves but the destruction they invite is evident.
56. Info Wars: Today warfare can be waged with information as well, and this film shows the battles between media, corporations and individuals.

Music

These documentaries focus on technology-based ways of making music.

57. Nerdcore Rising: Learn about a group of self-proclaimed nerds who have started a music genre all about rapping about things like video games, computers and geek culture.
58. Moog: Check out this documentary to discover the life and history of the founder of the synthesizer.
59. Blip Festival: Reformat the Planet: If you love video games and music why not combine them with the stylings shown in this movie?
60. Theremin: An Electronic Odyssey: Through this film you can learn more about the development and uses of the theremin.
61. Better Living Through Circuitry: This documentary takes a look at electronic music and the dance culture that developed around it.

Environment

Give these documentaries a try to learn about new technologies that could help society live more sustainably.

62. Who Killed the Electric Car?: Electric cars seemed like the wave of the future–that is until they were all destroyed. Follow this film to learn more about the demise of this more environmentally friendly means of transportation.
63. Cold Fusion: Fire from Water: Learn more about this potentially amazing source of energy through this film.
64. Here Comes the Sun: In this documentary you’ll hear about the incredible potential for using solar energy to power our cities.

Food Technology

Food today is often far from natural and these documentaries show the real engineering and technology behind it all.

65. Food Inc: You’ll never look at your food the same way again after viewing this documentary on where food comes from.
66. The Future of Food: Take a look at the way many of the foods in your pantry may have been modified in this documentary.
67. Our Daily Bread: This film offers up a relatively unbiased look at industrial food production and high-tech farming.

Geek Culture

With a love of technology often comes a love of other geeky things, and these documentaries take a look at these groups.

68. Monster Camp: This unique camp allows campers to transform into heroes, monsters, and other creatures to bring fantasies to life.
69. Darkon: This documentary follows the triumphs and defeats of a group of people playing LARP games.
70. Trekkies: If you’re a Star Trek fan or just want to learn more about these fervent devotees check out this interesting and sometimes funny documentary.
71. Comic Book Confidential: This documentary will take you through the history of the comic book and some of the biggest names to ever write and illustrate for it.
72. A Galaxy Far Far Away: Those who prefer Star Wars will enjoy this cross country romp in an attempt to figure out just what it is about these films that draws so many people to them.
73. Quantum Hoops: Watch as this incredibly academic team at Caltech attempts to win at least one game to end their season.

Space

These movies will show you some of the people and technologies that make space exploration possible.

74. Five Years on Mars: Check out this documentary to learn about the Mars rovers Spirit and Opportunity and the discoveries they’ve made in their years on the planet.
75. A Funny Thing Happened on the Way to the Moon: This documentary takes the viewpoint that much of the United State’s space exploration in the 60’s was a hoax. Whether you agree or not, it’s an interesting expedition into the history of space travel.
76. For All Mankind: This documentary is about the 24 men who traveled to the moon, changing human history.
77. Apollo 11: The Untold Story: Learn how close the lunar mission of Apollo 11 actually came to disaster in this riveting documentary.

Mathematics

Learn more about the math behind it all in these informative documentaries.

78. Fractals: The Colors of Infinity: This short documentary will help teach you about the history and uses of fractals.
79. The Story of Maths: In this documentary series you’ll get a chance to learn about the history of the field of mathematics.
80. Fermat’s Last Theorem: Watch as determined mathematician Andrew Wiles works to prove Fermat’s Theorem in this interesting film.
81. Dangerous Knowledge: This documentary from the BBC takes a look at four of the world’s premier mathematicians.
82. Hard Problems: The Road to the World’s Toughest Math Contest: Follow along as some of the United State’s most gifted students compete in this worldwide math competition.
83. N is a Number: This film tells the story of a man who, despite having no home or job, was one of the most prolific mathematicians in history.
84. Fractals: Hunting the Hidden Dimension: If you’ve ever wanted to delve into the complex world of fractals, this film will help you to do so.

Biotech and Genetics

Check out these titles for an opportunity to learn about advances in genetic engineering.

85. Patent For A Pig: The Big Business of Genetics: This film will let you learn more about how engineering animals has become the norm and a pretty profitable industry for food producers.
86. Building Gods: This documentary explores some of the most pressing questions behind humanity, artificial intelligence and genetic design and the impact they might have on our very souls.
87. Exploring Life Extension: New technologies have made it possible for people to live longer and look younger than ever before, as this film shows.
88. Life Running Out of Control: Check out this film to get a perspective on the ethics of genetic engineering.

Military Tech

Learn more about how technology is developed and utilized by the military and the CIA in these documentaries.

89. The Manhattan Project: This documentary will let you learn more about the nuclear technology that led to the development of the first atomic bomb.
90. Battle of the X-Planes: Follow Lockheed and Boeing as they battle it out for the biggest defense contract in history in this film.
91. The KGB, the Computer and Me: Even in the early days of computing there were hackers, as this story of a 1986 battle between a computer developer and a KGB agent shows.

Miscellaneous

These documentaries cover everything from typefaces to iPods.

92. Objectified: This documentary examines our relationships with manufactured objects and the people who design them.
93. Helvetica: Learn more about this ubiquitous font in this documentary.
94. Game Over: Kasparov and the Machine: Garry Kasparov is a great chess player, but this films documents his biggest challenge: a computer named Deep Blue.
95. Light Fantastic: Check out this BBC documentary to learn more about the amazing power of light.
96. Gizmo!: This 1977 documentary tells the story of some improbable inventions from the past.
97. The White Diamond: Renowned director Werner Herzog shows the amazing jungle airship and how it plans to explore the rainforest.
98. The Way Things Go: Learn about these artist’s amazing kinetic sculpture and how it eventually self-destructs.
99. The iPod Revolution: This documentary will help you learn about Apple’s amazing development of the iPod.
100. Bill Gates vs. Steve Jobs: In this 2003 documentary, filmmakers try to figure out who is the more powerful figure in computing.

General Literary Criticism

These blogs offer literary criticism on a broad range of topics, genres, and authors.

1. The Reading Experience. Daniel Green focuses on contemporary literary fiction, with an emphasis on American literature.
2. Asylum. Get detailed analyses of mostly contemporary literature, with several non-fiction books making the list, as well as author interviews on this blog.
3. The Valve. A collaborative blog, the authors here write about their own particular literary interests and open the comments for discussion.
4. Waggish. David Auerbach provides literary criticism on European works on his blog.
5. A Momentary Taste of Being. In addition to his thoughts on literature, this blogger also shares interesting tidbits about books and what others are saying about literature.
6. This Space. Stephen Mitchelmore writes predominately about European literature on his engaging blog.
7. ABC of Reading. Thomas McGonigle writes critically about books as well as the people who write them.
8. The Elegant Variation. Mark Sarvas’ popular and sometimes controversial blog contains everything from literary criticism to book reviews to discussions about his own writing.
9. That Shakespearean Rag. Check out the commentary here from Steven W. Beattie, a writer and critic from Ontario.
10. pseudopodium. With an unusual format, this blog shares bite-sized morsels of criticism.
11. Salonica. World literature, almost exclusively non-US literature, is the focus of this blog.
12. The Existence Machine. Richard Crary provides his literary criticism here.
13. booklit. Set up as book reviews, these posts provide in-depth analysis and critique of a wide range of fiction and non-fiction.
14. Tales from the Reading Room. These posts aren’t just reviews of books, but analyses of genres, explorations of theory, and so much more.

Literary Criticism and More

These bloggers include other aspects in their critiques, such as film and politics, or also include other information in addition to literary criticism.

15. Blographia Literaria. Andrew Seal emphasizes literary criticism in his blog with plenty of other interesting side journeys such as film and poetry.
16. A Piece of Monologue. Literature, philosophy, and film are featured on this blog that specializes in news and analysis of "modernism, continental philosophy and the work of Samuel Beckett."
17. Jacob Russell’s Barking Dog. Poetry, literature, and politics exist side-by-side in this blog.
18. One-Way Street. Find analysis of literature, film, and politics in an attempt to make sense of life.
19. Chekhov’s Mistress. Bud Parr blogs here about all things literature as well as movies, family, and other topics that he always manages to tie back to literature.
20. Literary Jewels. Literary criticism resides alongside poetry and more in this blog.
21. Blog of a Bookslut. Just as you might gather from the name of the blog, the literary criticism here frequently contains adult language, but the content is first-rate.
22. Letters from a Librarian. This librarian writes in-depth about the books she’s reading as well as shares other fun bits of information.
23. Nigel Beale Nota Bene Books. Literature, book collecting, author interviews, and much more are all featured on Beale’s blog.
24. PhiloBiblos. Links, reviews, and discourse on all things literary are featured on this librarian’s blog.
25. Surroundings. Poet Rob Mackenzie includes a good amount of literary criticism in his blog that also touches on the business of poetry, politics, and more.
26. Caustic Cover Critic. While the premise here is to critique the book covers, this blogger also provides solid commentary on the content inside the books as well.

From Academia

Find out what the professors and students have to say about literature in these blogs.

27. Perplexed with Narrow Passages. Christopher Vilmar is a professor at Salisbury University and blogs about literature, books, and university life.
28. Blog Meridian. Find original poems, comments on teaching, and other topics sprinkled among the literature, film, and art criticism found here.
29. A Commonplace Blog. This English professor at Texas A&M writes about literature, academia, and writing.
30. Text Patterns. Alan Jacobs offers commentary on reading, writing, and research and their connection to new media and technology.
31. The Pinocchio Theory. With a heavy emphasis on literary theory and support from unexpected sources, Steven Shaviro shares his thoughts here.
32. Novel Readings. Professor Rohan Maitzen shares the topics being discussed in her classes, along with her critic of the works.
33. Steve Ersinghaus. Literature, teaching, and academia are all featured on Ersinghaus’ blog.
34. The Little Professor. Dr. Miriam Burstein blogs about Victorian literature as well as academia.
35. zunguzungu. A PhD student at Berkeley, Aaron Bady puts down his thoughts on literature and politics here.
36. The Mumpsimus. Matthew Cheney writes about a wide variety of literature with a penchant for the unusual.
37. Red, Inc.. The students at Susquehanna University include literary criticism, book reviews, and more on this blog.
38. The Classroom Conservative. Canadian professor Craig Monk blogs a week-by-week detail of his classes as well as his thoughts on academia.
39. Ludwig Richter’s Blog. Literature and philosophy are the focus of this professor’s blog.
40. Maitresse. This PhD student in Paris writes frequently on the women writers of England and France in the early half of the 20th century.
41. Necromancy Never Pays. Find detailed analyses of books from this English teacher.

Specific Authors, Genres, and Periods

Focus more specifically on a particular author, genre, or time period with the literary criticism here.

42. Wuthering Expectations. 19th century literature takes the stage on this blog, with a few meanderings into modern literature as well.
43. The Long Eighteenth. Check out this blog for literary criticism and scholarship discussions on the 18th century on this blog.
44. Torque Control. Written by the editors of Vector, a critical journal of the British Science Fiction Association, the posts here include scholarly insight on works from the genre.
45. Vertigo: Collecting & Reading WG Sebald. While much of the content here surrounds the German writer, Sebald, some posts touch on other novels with embedded photographs.
46. In the Middle. This medieval studies collaborative blog features new books examining medieval works as well as the bloggers’ own scholarship on the topic.
47. Wynken de Worde. Early modern literature (specifically Shakespeare and Renaissance drama), history of book making, and early modern culture are the subject of this blog.

Specific Approaches

These three blogs feature the theories of three noted literary critics.

48. The Educated Imagination. The work of Canadian literary theorist, Northrop Frye, is the subject of this entertaining blog.
49. OnFiction. This collaborative blog explores the psychology of fiction by trying to understand how fiction is created and how readers engage in fiction.
50. Contra James Wood. Not only can you find literary criticism on this blog, but you can be sure it will be in opposition to the thinking of famed literary critic, James Wood.

Fun Stuff for Readers

These gift ideas range from the elegant to the whimsical and are sure to please.

1. Hand-made books. There are a wide variety of hand-made books, from the trendy to heirloom quality, available to use as a special journal, for keeping book lists, or just to appreciate the artisan’s skill.
2. Personalized book. Create a memorable gift when you commission a custom book documenting a lifetime, a family, or whatever your story.
3. Music. Find the perfect background music to play while your reader indulges in her favorite book. Try Beethoven for Book Lovers or Brahms for Book Lovers, available in CD or MP3 download.
4. Discount membership to a bookstore. Many bookstores offer discount memberships for a small annual fee. Purchase a membership for your book lover so they can enjoy discounts all year.
5. Donate to a library. If your reader is more the public library type, make a donation in his name to the library he frequents.
6. Recycled book gifts. There are lots of fun ways to recycle books like these custom-made book boxes.
7. Yard art. If you have plenty of money burning a hole in your pocket, then take a look at these garden statues of children reading.
8. Gift basket. Give a pre-made gift basket full of yummy goodies to enjoy while reading.
9. Key chain. This key chain is simple and elegant enough for a man or woman while proclaiming the owner’s love of reading.
10. Magnets. Magnets are a fun and easy way for your book lover to show off what she likes about reading.
11. Coffee accessories. This coffee mug shows everyone that its owner enjoys reading, as does this coffee wrap for drinks on the go.
12. Shakespeare umbrella. Keep the rain off your favorite book lover with this Shakespeare umbrella.
13. Charles Dickens action figure. This playful gift is just right for the book lover with an interest in Dickens. Other literary figures are also available.
14. Trivial Pursuit: Book Lover’s Edition. If the Literature section of the regular Trivial Pursuit game is your book lover’s favorite section, then this game is sure to be right up his alley.

Books about Books

These books are all about books. What more could a book lover want?

15. The Book Lover’s Borrow Book. This book has perforated book marks with a place to write your name on each. When you lend a book to someone, write your name on the bookmark and include it in your book. Write the name of the person to whom you loaned the book on the stub. Both you and the borrower have a record of where the book belongs.
16. What I’ve Read Mini Journal. Just the perfect size to keep in your handbag, this small journal provides a place for book lovers to keep a record of what they’ve read.
17. Books to Check Out. This spiral notebook is an excellent place for book lovers to keep their list of books to be read as well as favorite quotes, a place to keep track of books on loan, and a pocket for book review clippings.
18. Booknotes: The Booklover’s Organizer. This organizer offers various ways to keep lists of books you want to read and also includes a section just for book groups.
19. Reading Group Journal: Notes in the Margin. With a place to keep record of 18 books, this journal provides a place to take notes, write down discussion topics, write favorite quotes, and even has online resources for book groups.
20. Good Reading: the Magazine for Book Lovers. If your favorite reader just can’t get enough about books, then try this magazine subscription that will provide monthly issues with an Australian perspective.
21. The Children’s Literature Lover’s Book of Lists. If children’s literature is your book lover’s favorite genre, then this book is a must.
22. A Passion for Books. How about giving a book all about books? This book covers everything from stories to essays to cartoons…all about books.
23. Book Lust. Compiled by a librarian and long-time book reviewer, this book provides suggestions for reading depending on the mood you are feeling.

Accessories for Reading

While a book is really the only thing a book lover needs, these accessories will make the experience that much more enjoyable.

24. Book rest pillow. Sitting up in bed reading is much more comfortable when you have a pillow made just for reading.
25. Book light. With so many to choose from, a book light is a gift you can give in any price range and in any number of designs.
26. Bookmarks. From bamboo to beautiful jeweled styles, you can always find a bookmark to fit the personality of your book lover.
27. Personal embosser. The personal embosser is an elegant way for book lovers to add a personal touch to their book identification.
28. Book tote. Many book lovers like to have a tote bag they can carry when attending book group, for their trip to the library, or to use at the book store in place of a plastic bag.
29. Book darts. These little book marks are a great way to indicate exactly where your book lover left off last time he was reading.
30. Book covers. Reusable book covers are a great way to protect books that travel around with their owners.
31. Bookends. Book ends will always come in handy for those who collect the books they read. Try something whimsical like these fish bowl bookends or these A to Z bookends.
32. Magnifiers. Some readers, especially those whose eyesight is beginning to fail, enjoy using book magnifiers to help with their reading.
33. Book weight. If your reader can’t put her book down while eating or is busy holding a baby, then a book weight may be in order.
34. eBook reader. If your book lover is high tech, then a device like a Kindle or a Nook is the perfect gift for reading books electronically.
35. eBook reader accessories. He already has a Kindle? Then try accessories such as a screen protector or a cover for his eReader.
36. Audio books. For avid readers who are always on the go or have long commutes, audio books are a great way to listen to books when your book lover doesn’t have time to read.

Furniture for Book Lovers

From a relaxing massaging bed rest to a unique book bench, this furniture is specialized for book lovers.

37. Concealed bookshelf. This silver book shelf mounts on to the wall, then the books stack on top of it. The effect is stunning and the price is right.
38. Reading table . Use this at your bedside or at a comfy chair for the ultimate in book reading comfort.
39. Massage chair. These chairs take relaxing with a good book to a whole new level.
40. Massaging bed rest. This gift takes the pillow to a whole new level with ultra support, a light, a cup holder, and a massage.
41. Lap desk. Another solution for reading in bed, a lap desk props the book up just right.
42. Desk lamp. If your reader enjoys books at a desk, then a desk lamp is a great gift.
43. Bookshelves. Every reader can use more space for books, so consider bookshelves for your next gift.
44. Faux bookshelves. Whether your book lover wants to add decoration to a bland wall or want to hide a secret doorway, these faux book shelves are a truly unique gift.
45. Globe. While this isn’t directly related to books, can you really imagine a library without a globe? If you are feeling more practical, then take a look at these globe bookends.
46. Stack of Books Bench. This signed, limited edition bronze bench that looks like a stack of books doesn’t even have a price given on the website, but it would truly be an original gift.
47. Big Cozy Books. Designed for libraries, these giant books make great furniture for a reading room anywhere.

Coffee Table Books

These books are visually stunning and open up worlds beyond the ordinary.

48. The Polaroid Book: Selections from the Polaroid Collections of Photography. This book features some outstanding polaroid photographs sure to please anyone with an eye for beauty.
49. American Photobooth. Learn the fascinating history of the photobooth and see endearing photographs taken from these DIY photo shoots from across the years.
50. Graffiti World: Street Art from Five Continents. Take a look at the work of the very best street artists from around the world in this stunning book.
51. Walker Evans: Signs. A human story can be told powerfully through the signs posted, and Evans captured the story and history in his work.
52. Pop Surrealism: The Rise of Underground Art. This thought-provoking book may challenge your ideas of underground art.
53. A Photographer’s Life. Famed photographer Annie Leibovitz published this book as a memoir of her life as a photographer and includes both personal photos and photos from assignments.
54. Through the Lens: National Geographic Greatest Photographs. The photographs from the National Geographic have long been held as some of the most breathtaking. Get 250 of the best ever in this book.
55. In Focus: National Geographic Greatest Portraits. Another National Geographic book, this one specifically features portraits with some of the most famous, including the "Afghan Girl" with the piercing eyes.
56. Anonymous: Enigmatic Images from Unknown Photographers. These striking photographs are all taken by anonymous people and capture the imagination.
57. Found Lives: A Collection of Found Photographs. Similar to Anonymous, this book is also filled with pictures from unknown photographers that capture moments of everyday life.

Cook Books and Food Books

These books are great options for the book lover who also enjoys food.

58. The Book Lover’s Cook Book. The perfect book for book lovers who also love to cook, these recipes are inspired by famous works of literature such as tamales from Like Water for Chocolate and blueberry pie from Charlie and the Chocolate Factory.
59. Roadfood Sandwiches. Get recipes for some of the best sandwiches in restaurants across the US in this book.
60. Good Eats: The Early Years. Get recipes from some of the earliest shows from Alton Brown’s popular food science and cooking show, Good Eats.
61. Mastering the Art of French Cooking. This famous book by Julia Child has enjoyed a resurgence in popularity recently and is always an excellent gift for the cook who also treasures a good book.
62. Chez Panisse Cafe Cookbook. Alice Water’s distinctive style shaped cuisine across the country, and this book shares some of her secrets from her Chez Panisse Cafe.
63. Kitchen Confidential. Anthony Bourdain’s best-selling book provides a whole new look at restaurants that will leave you laughing and reconsidering your next meal out at the same time.
64. The Omnivore’s Dilemma. This widely-read book has been at the heart of discussions and controversy since its publication.
65. What to Drink with What You Eat. This is the ultimate guide to understand how to match the beverage of your choice with food, including wine, beer, coffee, and more.
66. The Little Black Journal of Wine: A Wine Lover’s Record Keeper. If your book lover also enjoys wine, this is the perfect combination, allowing him to jot down tasting notes in an elegant journal that can go anywhere.
67. Cook book holder. A cook book holder not only keeps the book open to the right page, but props the book up for easier viewing.

Classics Reprinted

These classics have been reprinted to feel more like the original.

68. Penguin Hardcover Classics. With titles including Pride and Prejudice, Great Expectations, and Wuthering Heights, these books are not only visually stunning, they are guaranteed to please.
69. Little Women. This reprinted edition includes much of the original diction that was edited out of the dialog as well as a beautiful illustrated cover.

Clothing and Jewelry

While t-shirts are represented here, so are purses made from books, cuff links, and banned book bracelets.

70. T-shirts. There are many places to find literary-themed t-shirts for men and women. Here are some, also check out Cafe Press or Literary Rags.
71. Sleep shirt. If your book lover likes sleep shirts, then she may go for this one.
72. Baseball cap. Keep the sun off your mystery-lover’s head with this "M is for Mystery" baseball cap.
73. Book purses. These purses are made from recycled books.
74. Sherlock Holmes cap. Does your book lover like to dress up? Then he may like this Sherlock Holmes cap. Now all you need is the pipe.
75. Bookworm charm. This little bookworm charm will look good on a necklace or bracelet for your book lover.
76. Cuff links. For those men in your life who love reading and dressing with style, these silver book cuff links are a one-of-a-kind gift.
77. Book locket. A silver book that is really a locket, this necklace is not only pretty, but made in Thailand and is part of the Fair Trade movement.
78. Banned books bracelet. Does your book lover have a social conscience too? She might like the banned book bracelet as a way to show both her love of books and free speech. Don’t like the bracelet? Try the necklace.
79. Ralph Waldo Emerson bracelet. This classic silver band with a quote from Emerson makes a great gift for a man or woman book lover.

Paper Goods

From note cards to journals, these paper goods make excellent gifts for just about any book lover.

79. Calendars. Calendars are available for the wall, desktop, and more.
80. Prints and posters. Help your book lover decorate in literary style with prints or posters.
81. Postcards. Postcards make a great stocking stuffer for your book lover and come in many designs.
82. Note cards.Note cards are a simple yet elegant gift that never go out of style.
83. Bookplates. Personalized bookplates are a great way for book lovers to label their books and are available many places online for you to personalize as a gift.
84. Journals. For jotting down notes, making lists of books, or just writing her thoughts, many book lovers enjoy getting blank journals. Most bookstores offer them across a wide variety of styles and price ranges.
85. Bumperstickers. If your book lover drives a car, let him show off his passion for books with a bumpersticker.
86. Post-it Notes. These make great stocking stuffers for readers. They can be used as book marks and also serve as a great place for the reader to keep notes is she doesn’t want to write in her book.

Gift Sites Inspired by Specific Writers

See if your book lover’s favorite author is listed below to find entire gift sites devoted to one writer.

87. Mark Twain. Get books and ornaments all inspired by this classic American writer.
88. Harriet Beecher Stowe. This online store from the Harriet Beecher Stowe Center should be online any day now to offer handcrafted items, jewelry, and more.
89. Flannery O’Connor. From the O’Connor Perpetual Calendar to bumperstickers to peacock feathers from the birds this writer loved so much, this and more is available from the Andalusia website.
90. Jane Austen. This site offers quite a selection of Jane Austen goods as well as books and movies made from her books.
91. Edgar Allan Poe. The Poe museum offers spooky t-shirts, a commemorative stamp, Poe dolls and figures, and much more.
92. Dr. Seuss. Find everything from cards to clothing to collector’s items at this site devoted to those who love the work of Theodor Seuss Geisel.
93. Maurice Sendak. The Rosenbach Museum is the only authorized source for many Sendak items, including signed books and prints, unsigned books, and toys.

Rare Books

If your book lover collects rare books, check out these sites that provide listings of the rare books they have to offer in order to find just the book or author you are seeking.

94. Bauman Rare Books. Bauman offers books in a variety of categories from literature to photography to children’s books.
95. Powell’s Books Rare & Collectible. This famous bookseller in Portland offers a wide range of rare and collectible books here.
96. Alibris Rare & Collectible. Search through signed books, first editions, collectibles, and truly rare books or just search by title.
97. AbeBooks Directory of Rare & Antiquarian Booksellers. This site has a listing of rare book sellers from around the world and links to search and browse at each.
98. Bookworks. From Chicago, this online bookstore specializes in used and rare books.
99. 12th Street Books. Find used, rare, and out-of-print books from this shop located on 12th Street in Austin, TX, but offering their books online as well.
100. MacDonnell Rare Books. This bookseller has over 30 years in the rare book field and is a member of several respected rare book associations.

Despite its already heavily criticism by educators, the program has received an influx of students around the globe and has offered much lower rates for students from poorer nations who do not have the same chances as students from more Western nations around the globe.  Drawing his ideas from the boom in social networking, the online college offers students the same opportunity as many students in Western nations receive, despite the fact that the school is based out of Israel.  However, the school is based on an English background, indicating that most students need to have a basic understanding of the language.

However, Reshef’s innovation is still one of the most revolutionary advances in education of the time.  Many traditional schools in third-world nations are nearly exclusively private, and without an education requirement, more and more young adults are slipping further off the road to education.  However, online colleges have opened up a new potential realm for them, as long as there is an open library or internet café near their town.  Open online courses initially began with classes from prestigious American schools like MIT and Stanford, but have slowly progressed to include a wide array of classes from around the world.

Open courses typically allow students to gain knowledge that they would otherwise have to attend a full course to earn, or at least pay for the cost of.  The University of the People requires a small enrollment fee and an English proficiency entrance exam, but other than that, is open to students of any race, from any country.  While studies have yet to be performed to indicate whether the school is a lasting endeavor (it is one of the only non-profit online schools), educators have criticized the process due to its lack of payment for scholarly faculty.  These educators contend that without the for-profit status that most online schools maintain, the school will fail despite its best efforts.

Thus far, however, the school has opened up a new world for many hopeful students around the country who have dreamed of the chance to earn a free education, and thanks to Mr. Reshef, one such school has answered their dreams.