Welcome to the 355th issue of the Cool Tricks and Trinkets Newsletter offering weekly insights into new, cool, useful, fun, unusual and interesting sites on the Internet.

- Studio 3D
- Encyclopedia of Philosophy
- Exploration
- Short Takes
- Cheap Cooking
- Magazines Covers From the Future
- 60 Second Story
- The Amazing Adventures of Barking Bob
- Stagework
- Subscribers' Sites

~~~~~ This newsletter is published by A1 Discount Hotels ~~~~~

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Studio 3D

Frank Lloyd Wright, who inspired a generation of American architects with his unique style, is generally considered to be one of the great architects of the 20th Century. Ambitious architects will love this website, which combines a biography of Mr. Wright with a 3D introduction to the art and science of architecture.

Architect Studio 3D allows young architects to learn, through an interactive process, how to design a new home. In addition to the 3D design experience, the site also has a wealth of information on Frank Lloyd Wright's life and work, as well as images of many of the homes and buildings he created.

http://www.architectstudio3d.org/AS3d/index.html

Encyclopedia of Philosophy

The Internet Encyclopedia of Philosophy is a non-profit website that provides free information to users all around the world. The site has a volunteer staff of twenty-five, as well as hundreds of contributing writers, professors and editors from the United States, United Kingdom, and Australia.

Visitors can simply browse through the alphabetical index of brilliant philosophers and fascinating topics about "the study of life". The website contains articles and info on subjects in all areas of philosophy, from the writings of Aristotle to the "Neo-Confucianist" teachings of Zhang Zai.

http://www.iep.utm.edu/

Exploration

"Exploration" is the official online research journal of Vanderbilt University. This cool website contains great articles on the latest advances in the fields of Science, Space Exploration, Archeology, Medicine and Technology.

Check out the section on current articles and news, which covers fascinating topics that hover on the scientific frontier such as Nanotechnology, Astronomy, and Quantum Physics. There is also a great feature called "DC Brief", which provides readers with daily updates on developments in U.S. politics that relate to the educational community.

http://exploration.vanderbilt.edu

SHORT TAKES

Guess Which Movie

Movie buffs can test their film knowledge at this cool site. "Guess Which Movie" lets you take the ultimate quiz, by seeing if you can identify a variety of movies based upon a series of ambiguous still shots.

http://www.guesswhichmovie.com/

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miniorgan.com

This charming online museum pays tribute to old electronic musical toys. Browse one collector's vintage collection of keyboards, synthesizers, singing calculators, and musical toys from the 1950's-1980's.

http://www.miniorgan.com/

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The Lawn Institute

Lawn jockeys unite at The Lawn Institute, a "nationally recognized turfgrass authority for over 40 years". The Institute has some useful tips for homeowners on seeding, growing, and caring for your lawn.

http://www.turfgrasssod.org/lawninstitute/

Cheap Cooking

If you are not careful, today's overpriced restaurants and expensive supermarkets can leave your monthly food budget in shambles. Students, parents, and anyone else looking to lower their food bills without lowering the quality of their food, will love this site.

Founded by Ellen Ferlazzo, CheapCooking.com is chock full of culinary-related advice, great recipes and other useful information on how to cook great food on a tight budget. After looking through the articles and recipes, you may want to check out the useful tips on smart shopping and kitchen organization. Bon Appetit!

http://www.cheapcooking.com/

Magazines Covers From the Future

Why bother with the trendy magazines of today when you can read the magazines of the future? This fun website, courtesy of The Magazine Publishers of America, has a gallery of popular magazine covers from the future.

You'll have a laugh looking at the "future" covers of "Time", "Esquire", "Better Homes and Gardens", "Travel and Leisure", and other popular magazines. The designers that put these fake covers together have done a spectacular job of combining futuristic expectations with sharp humor.

http://www.magazine.org/readon/

60 Second Story

In our fast-paced society of instant gratification, many people have abandoned the old-fashioned art of storytelling. For those of you who love original stories but are low on time, the 60-second story provides the perfect solution.

60-second stories are personal works of fiction that are told over the Internet in low-bandwidth video clips. Each story takes a maximum of one minute and one second to tell, and anyone with a Web Cam and a tale can contribute. Watch the top-rated tales, then post your own super short story and compete in one of the next 60 Second Story competitions.

http://60secondstory.contagiousmedia.org/

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The Amazing Adventures of Barking Bob

Cartoon fans will get a kick out of the adventures of Barking Bob. Created by UK-based temp agency Try Temp, Barking Bob spends his days saving the world from the evil exploits of Emperor Xang.

Visitors watching "Bob-O-Vision" can enjoy six great episodes of Barking Bob. Fans can also sign up for Bob's newsletter, download desktop art of the canine superhero, and play the site's original video game entitled "Xang's Disks of Doom".

http://www.barkingbob.co.uk/

Stagework

The exciting special effects and big budgets of Hollywood films make it easy to forget about the elegance of the stage. Created by England's highly esteemed National Theater, Stagework.org is a fresh reminder of how special plays are.

Theater goers will find a treasure trove of information on the Stagework website, which is a true behind-the-scenes experience for both fans as well as aspiring directors, actors and stagehands alike. Visitors will gain insight into the many professions in the theater industry, read about current and upcoming performances, and find listings of industry-related events and workshops.

http://www.stagework.org.uk/

SUBSCRIBERS' SITES - Many of our subscribers have fascinating on-line projects. This weekly section will introduce you to some of these sites. Please let me know about your project so that I might mention it in this section. Write me at ctt@net-market.com

~ John Stoller, CPA - Making IRS problems disappear.

~ The Art of Jeffrey K. Bedrick

~ Homeowner Insurance Consumer Awareness

~ Connies Clay Creations

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OOo-(_)-oOOo--------

When you are deluded and full of doubt,
Even a thousand books of scripture are not enough.
When you have realized understanding,
Even one word is too much.

~ Fen-Yang

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Have a great weekend.

Charles Kessler