Asia Observer: Claiming to be "a start page for observers of Asian affairs", Asia Observer offers not only the latest news on the region but also features a slew of links to governmental, educational, political and business resources. Countries are alphabetically listed on the main page, and subjects are categorized in the widely imitated format pioneered by Yahoo! Links to major news organizations and newspapers are also on the Home Page along with those of bodies that handle human rights and financial aid. Under 'Academic sources', you will find such useful lists as 'Asian Studies WWW' ("large collection of Asian-related links that are of interest to academics") and one with "300 institutes and centers that conduct policy-relevant studies on Asia". The 'Find an expert' feature, where you can get relevant information on a variety topics related to Asia, should be useful to students and teachers. You can also discuss all kinds of issues in the forum pages. The Home Page is neatly laid out and fairly easy to navigate.

Atlantic Unbound: The online version of one of America's finest, oldest and most respected magazines not only boasts intelligently researched articles on everything from politics and culture to technology and the arts, but also profiles writers of the first rank. The home page is beautifully designed and a joy to navigate, with headings and summaries of the main features and a 'Departments' box that takes you directly to the 'Arts & Culture', 'Books', 'Fiction', 'Food', 'Poetry Pages', 'Politics & Society', 'Technology' and 'Travels' pages. The pieces are extensively hyperlinked, especially to older published writings related to the subject matter. You can actually read articles that appeared in the magazine -- searchable by typing keyword in a box linked to the "online archives" -- as far back as the 1940s, particularly those that have proven amazingly prophetic and visionary. The book reviews are excellent and just about every topic covered is endowed with insight, analytical acumen and admirable style.

Geek Culture: If you spend more than two hours on the 'Net every day, you're probably a geek without even knowing it. But being a geek these days is nothing to be ashamed about. Indeed, as this online celebration of all things geek proves, being an individual with a headful of detailed, useful and occasionally trashy information is leaps better than being a moronic undercover cop who's determined to shake down every slacker type on the street as revenge for his natural lack of intelligence. It's a well-conceived "after Y2K" site that's not only almost a shrine to geekdom but also a portal that promotes "the joy of tech". Every branch of pop culture -- from cinema and music to TV and comics -- is discussed in typically gushy geek style with a fastidious attention to detail. And 'Geek Love' and 'Geek Jane' address the kinds of romantic issues non-smooth young people normally face. The forum pages here are some of the most lively you'd ever encounter, and features like the daily cartoon and 'The Epic Webcomic' should entertain even those who think they're above geeks. The design is simple and effective and every page is a fast load.

Fast Company: The US magazine has been described as the cyber-entrepreneur's Rolling Stone, though from looking at the content at this online version, you'd wonder why. But though it's understandably difficult to give business the rock 'n roll treatment, Fast Company does take a less stilted approach to its coverage of issues related to the information economy. The most interesting pieces here are tailored to help students get a better grasp of the online business structure, and there's a pull-down box that takes you straight to such topics as 'New Ways of Working', 'The Digital Domain', 'Careers', 'Social Justice' and 'New Logic of Competition'. And if you're not satisfied with the features on the main page, there're lots of interesting articles in the 'Archives' section. A quote from Body Shop Founder Anita Roddick, profiled in a recent edition, best sums up the philosophy that drives the Fast Company editorial team: "Find profitable work that has a geniune social purpose -- work that addresses some great need in society."

Fatherwork: We highlighted a site for moms (www.momslife.com) last week, so it's only fair that we focus on one for dads this time. With "over 300 pages of information" on fathering, this family education site is a great resource for parents looking for ideas to forge a more meaningful relationship with their children. There're plenty of touching stories about witnessing childbirths, dealing with teenagers and other father-son/father-daughter issues. And if you're running out of ideas on how to bond with your kids without being a square, there're hundred of suggestions here, most of which are submitted by dads around the world. It's not the best looking of sites but it's quite well thought-out.

George Washington Papers at the Library of Congress: Almost everything the first US President wrote is collected here, and that includes "correspondence, letterbooks, commonplace books, diaries, journals... and notes accumulated by Washington from 1741 through 1799". The knowledge hound will find it all fascinating because it offers a journey into the mind of a major historical figure. But the reproductions of the original manuscripts should pique the curiosity of almost anyone who's intrigued by historical documents. Washington was a man of diverse interests and activities so he had plenty to say about all kinds of things. There's a good introduction to the collection and the 'Essays about the George Washington Papers' are full of insights into the era during while Washington throve. If you find the selections here a bit too dull, you can go straight to 'The Diaries of George Washington'. Definitely a site students and teachers of history and political science, and any self-respecting politician, should check out.

Sept. 24, 2000 To Previous In-Sites®

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