Iceland Issues

Never before have I given as much thought to Iceland as I have in the last 9 months.

My son Josh is spending the first tri-mester of his senior year of undergraduate studies there, returning in about 5 weeks.

The group he is with from the United States was keeping us up-to-date on a blog, which hasn't been updated recently but we get emails now from Josh. Click here to go to the blog and check out the pictures! (Like the one you are looking at right now.)

One of my radio co-horts, JJ Fabini and I were talking Friday about Iceland and he commented about how beatituful the women are in Iceland, and I discovered that he had been to Iceland several years ago with his dad on a trip to Germany and they spent several hours touring the country side.

And if you haven't heard, the economy in Iceland is going thru some hardships, which may serve as a warning to our government leaders. This story was in the Wall Street Journal 4 days ago:

Dispatch From Iceland: ‘We Might Lose Our Country’

Iceland’s central bank today slashed its key policy rate for the first time since 2003 in an unscheduled announcement as the country remains perhaps the hardest hit in the financial crisis. The nation fell into crisis last week on concern that the Icelandic authorities couldn’t back up debt obligations of the struggling, almost entirely domestic-owned banking sector. Meanwhile, international trading in the krona has since all but stopped due to low confidence in the currency. Amid such broad turmoil, sometimes the plight of the average citizen gets lost. Sigríður Hagalín Björnsdóttir, an Icelandic journalist, writes from Reykjavík to a friend in New York.

Hallgrimskirkja, a modernist church in Reykjavik, Iceland. (Getty Images)

Thanks for asking how we are — we’re fine, although the situation here is very strained. It’s such a strange feeling, having your entire perception of reality changed so drastically in a few days. Until these past weeks, we were living in one of the richest countries in the world, and although we were a little worried about the economy, nobody would have imagined anything like this storm. Now, all our biggest banks are bankrupt, our currency is basically dead, it may be difficult to buy food, oil and other necessities from abroad, and we even fear that we might lose our country, just like happened to Newfoundland. Hundreds of people are losing their jobs, many more might be losing their homes, and people’s life savings are either lost or drastically reduced. People are scared for the future, that our state may actually go bankrupt.

Everybody is very tired — watching your country suffer like this is almost like watching someone you love become ill, it’s like suffering from a broken heart. Most of our tycoons seem to have left the country, and the government is under police protection — a first — but it doesn’t seem like people are angry or aggressive. We are stunned, very surprised, that this expansion adventure that made a few people very rich but didn’t really affect the general public, has turned out this disastrous. Yes, people here bought expensive cars, and allowed themselves an annual trip to Copenhagen or to a Spanish beach, but most of us kept working 10 hours a day and kept on as we have always done.

There is also a sense of hope and unity, even a sense of humor — people seem determined to go on with their lives, even if it will be a bit harsh for a while. You can hear people all around say things like: we survived the terrible volcanic eruptions of the 18th century, we survived the frost winter of 1918, we survived famines, Black Death, earthquakes, we’ll survive this. Families and friends are coming together for dinners and chats, at night there are candles burning in the windows in most houses here, and inside people are sitting together, talking, talking, talking. Most of us are hoping something positive will come out of this, that our greed, arrogance and materialism will be replaced by care and gratitude for the more important things in life.

My family and friends are not affected by the storm yet; most of us are government workers, teachers, doctors, journalists etc., and not part of the jet set. None of us have been particularly patriotic up until now, most have lived for long periods of time outside Iceland. Now, however, we feel fiercely loyal to our nation, basically a big extended family, grandchildren of farmers and fishermen, who lost their way on the international markets.

Leaving Home

30 years ago, I left home to take my first full time job on the air at a radio station. If you are leaving home or have kids leaving, share this with them from the Art of Manliness Blog:

Heading Out on Your Own

Posted: 02 Sep 2008 11:33 PM CDT

Image from Omega418

It was back to school for most students in America last week. For many young men leaving for college, this marked the first time in their life they left the nest and heading out on their own.

I remember the first semester I was away from home. I was living in the dorms at the University of Oklahoma in Norman with my friend Alistair. Throughout high school, I was the responsible kid. I made good grades, excelled in sports, participated actively in student organizations, and found time to hold down a part-time job at the same time. I figured college wouldn’t be much trouble.

Boy was I wrong.

I stayed up late with my dorm neighbors playing video games, eating pizza, and watching movies until the wee hours of the morning. . . on a school night. Consequently, I missed a lot of class, but I figured what’s the big deal? The professor’s not taking attendance like in high school, right?

I ate Burger King frequently and got little exercise. I wasn’t involved in any student organizations. I bought crap I didn’t need.

At the end of the semester, I had a 2.6 GPA, a huge gut, and a much lighter wallet. In short, I was a complete mess.

I finally came to my senses and was able to turn my college career around.

So, to help prevent some hapless young man from making the same mistakes I did, I present a list of tips to help you succeed when living out on your own. Whether you’re heading to college or simply starting a newly independent phase of your life, establishing some guidelines for yourself will make the transition all the smoother.

Stick to a schedule. The first time you’re completely away from the watchful gaze of your parents, you’ll be sorely tempted to let it all hang out. But you don’t want your life to go totally to pot. Otherwise, you’ll be crawling home and right back under their watch before you can sow a single of your wild oats. Get a planner, schedule out your week each Sunday, and then stick to your schedule. Trust me on this. In college, if you don’t have a plan for the day, you’re going to end up either sleeping, drinking, playing video games, or some combination of the three. If you want to get stuff done and have a successful college career, make it a habit to plan.

Exercise. In high school, you probably played sports and didn’t have to think much about staying in relatively good shape. But when you’re out on your own, you don’t have the pressure from your coach to push yourself physically. Make it a priority to exercise every day. You really don’t have any excuse; almost every college has a gym that’s close, free, and well-appointed. If you have difficulty motivating yourself to get moving, find a workout partner and agree to meet at the gym or track at a certain time. This will keep you accountable. Also, remember that you don’t necessarily need to go to the gym to get a good workout. Get involved with your school’s intramural sports. And check out the recreational activities available in your new city or town. Half the fun of moving is exploring what’s out there.

Eat right. The summer after my senior year of high school, I dropped a lot of the weight I had gained during my football career (I played center and tried to keep pretty big during the season). Well, I then negated all my progress during my first semester of college. I pounded back Burger King and 3AM Poppa John’s Pizza like it was going out of style. On top of that I was hitting up the all you can eat breakfasts at the school cafeteria. I felt like crap. Instead of following my example, strive to eat a balanced diet. Every school cafeteria and food court offers healthier items. You just have to have the willpower to walk past the greasy junk and grab a banana.

Finally, remember that it’s called a beer belly for a reason. Having an awesome time with your bros will not magically negate the effects of pounding one cold one after the other. You will develop a man gut. And it won’t be pretty.

Get plenty of sleep (but wake up at a reasonable time). My first semester at college, I spent a lot of late nights up doing the dumb things kids do freshman year. When you have an 9AM class, that’s not such a good idea. I’d be a walking zombie in the morning. That’s not the best state to be in when you’re trying to succeed in any endeavor. When you do manage to get some sleep make sure you get up at a reasonable time. Sure, sleeping in until 2PM feels good, but you’ve pretty much slept the whole day away and it’s going to be difficult to get things done. Also, be careful of oversleeping. Sleep too much and you’ll be an empty shell of a man. You’ll feel lethargic the rest of the day.

Limit video game time. Just because you could play video games all day and all night, doesn’t mean that you should. During my first semester of college, video games were my biggest productivity killer. Go ahead, play Super Smash Brothers, just don’t play it for two days straight.

Create a budget. Your first time away from home, may be the first time in your life you’ll have to keep to a budget. If you’re like most students, a pretty tight budget. There are several programs out there that offer ways to budget on your computer. Quicken or Microsoft Money are popular choices. I recommend trying Mint.com. Not only can you create a budget with it, Mint.com will also automatically keep track of your spending so you can see if you’re spending too much on booze or pizza.

Also, don’t let loan money lure you into a false sense of security. It’s not free-for-all money; the more the loans you accept, and the more of it you spend, the bigger the pit of debt you will dig for yourself. The day of reckoning when you will have to pay it back may seem tremendously far off, but it’s not.

Get involved in an organization or two. One of the regrets I had my first semester of college was I didn’t get involved in student organizations. When I was in high school, I remember reading and hearing about all the clubs and activities colleges offered, and I was sure I would plunge into many of them. But it’s easier to lounge around and put it off for another day. You have to make an effort to see what’s out there. Most schools have a Student Club Day where you can go around and find out info about different organizations. Go to that and find a club or two you think you’d enjoy. Getting involved has two main benefits. First, you’ll meet new people and possibly make new friends (possibly even a lady friend). Second, keeping busy keeps you on task. I don’t know about you, but when I know I have jack crap to do during the day, I don’t do a damn thing. However, when I have a full plate on my schedule, I can get a ton done. Quite the paradox. Well, during my first semester of college I wasn’t involved in any organizations nor did I have a job. Consequently, I just sat at my computer and played Command and Conquer II. Lame.

Don’t get a credit card. On your first day of class, you’ll see a group of students standing with a clipboard by a table and handing out t-shirts. Stay away from these people. They’re a bunch of hucksters trying to push credit cards on you. You honestly don’t need a credit card in college. A debit card will be sufficient in nearly every situation. You might say you need it for an emergency, but who are you kidding? You’re just going to use it to buy crap you don’t need.

Don’t go home every weekend. If you’re going to school far away from home, this won’t be a problem for you. But for those of you who are just an hour or two away from your former nest, going home every weekend is a big temptation. I’ll admit it was nice to go home, eat a home cooked meal, and have mom do my laundry. Just don’t make it a habit of it. You’ll miss out on opportunities to hang out with new people and only be retarding your progress of becoming a self-sufficient man. Stay in the dorm, grill a steak, and do your own damn laundry. Cut the cord. You’ll respect yourself for doing it.

Don’t just hang out with your high school friends. Again, this won’t really apply to men who go to school far from their home. But if you’re going to a college with lots of your former high school classmates, there will be a temptation to keep hanging out with the old crowd. Definitely hang onto your longtime buddies, but don’t let them become a crutch. Sure, you’re nervous and don’t know a lot of people and it’s easy to simply get together with your old posse. But college is a fresh start and a new phase of your life. Make an effort to meet new people, attend activities, and get out of your comfort zone. For many men, the guys they meet at college will become their lifelong friends.

Learn basic home-ec schools. If you’re a guy whose mom did everything for him, then moving out will be a shock to the system. Even if you aren’t overly coddled, make it a point to start doing things for yourself before you leave home. Make an appointment with your mom or dad and learn some basic self-sufficiency skills. Here’s a short list of things that are good to know before you head out on your own:

• How to cook 2 or 3 good meals
• How to do the laundry without turning your briefs pinks
• How to iron a shirt
• How to shine your shoes
• How to sew on a button
• How to tie a tie
• How to clean (this should be obvious, but some men are overly-coddled and haven’t a clue on where to begin)

Remember to have some fun! You’re finally on your own and becoming your own man. No man need be a responsible straight arrow all of the time; a goodly amount of late nights and rascally hi-jinks are in order. Live it up and enjoy yourself! You’re not going to get this experience again for the rest of your life. Just remember to take your fun in moderation and you’ll be on your way to success.

As you look back on your first time leaving home, what advice would you give to a young man striking out on his own? Drop a line in the comments and share your sage advice.

Download Your Free Guide to Being a Gentleman in 2008.

Check Out These Related Posts:

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• 5 Personal Finance Discussions To Have Before Getting Hitched
• Make Your Resume Pop

100 Research Sources

I found this yesterday. With two of my kids slaving away at college, this list could help them.

Or if you are just curious about something, happy clicking and digging:

100 Extensive University Libraries from Around the World that Anyone Can Access

By Alisa Miller

Universities house an enormous amount of information and their libraries are often the center of it all. You don't have to be affiliated with any university to take advantage of some of what they have to offer. From digital archives, to religious studies, to national libraries, these university libraries from around the world have plenty of information for you.

Digital Libraries

Capturing images of manuscripts, art, and artifacts, digital libraries are an excellent way of both preserving the past and sharing it with everyone.

1. Harvard University Library. Browse through 24 different collections ranging from cultural images of eastern Asia to 19th century American trade cards.
2. Yale University Library: Digital Collections. Find ancient manuscripts or read a classic all preserved digitally courtesy of the Yale University Library.
3. Indiana University Digital Library Program. Download manuscripts from Isaac Newton or view photographs, film literature, and music from the collections at this library.
4. Michigan State University Digital and Multimedia Center. Find several texts from authors such as Joseph Conrad, Aesop's Fables, cookbooks, and texts on orchids or veterinary medicine in PDF format.
5. Columbia University Libraries Digital Collections. Browse through one of over 10 different digital collections that range from medieval and early Renaissance manuscripts to architectural drawings or visit the online exhibitions for even more.
6. Purdue University e-Archives. Find information on Amelia Earhart to Purdue history in the collections at Purdue's digital archives.
7. Rutgers University Digital Library Projects. Learn about the history of alcohol, New Jersey, Italy's people, and much more in this diverse digital library.
8. Ohio State University Libraries Collections. See photos of Bird's expedition to the South Pole, learn about the women of Burlesque, and more in these digital archives.
9. Syracuse University Digital Library. Find interesting information on the history of the New York area as well as recordings of popular WWII songs.
10. Ohio University Libraries Digital Exhibits. Learn about Ohio history, visits from important people, read WWII papers, and more in these archives.
11. Brown University Library, Center for Digital Initiatives. This collection includes such interesting topics ranging from Abraham Lincoln, Napoleon, and African American and Yiddish sheet music.
12. JSU Houston Cole Library Digital Collections. In addition to profiles of several local historical figures, there is a collection of oral histories from people who lived through historic eras of the early to mid 20th century in America.

International Digital Libraries

These digital libraries either have a focus on a culture other than that of the United States or are housed in another country.

13. The Digital South Asia Library. Sponsored by University of Chicago, this library provides images, reference material, statistics, indexes, and more all focusing on South Asia.
14. Cambridge University Library Digital Image Collections. Study ancient texts, photographs from the late 19th century through the mid 20th century, Pascal's Treatise on the Arithmetic Triangle, and more.
15. Nagoya University Library. The manuscripts in these digital databases are in Japanese, as are most of the sites (with some English and French). Whether you know any Japanese or not, if you appreciate the beauty of ancient Japanese manuscripts, you can randomly click through these sites and find some beautiful images.
16. Ryukoku University Electronic Exhibition. The digital collection from this university in Kyoto, Japan offers glimpses of art and manuscripts with descriptions of each in English.

Texts

These libraries offer books or texts for you to read online and free of charge.

17. Universal Digital Library. Hosted by Carnegie Mellon University, this site offers one million online texts touching on literature, the arts, and science.
18. The Perseus Digital Library. Find Greek and Latin classics, English Renaissance, and more on this site. Currently, a newer, more modern version is in testing, so feel free to give that a try too.
19. The Oxford Text Archive. Scroll through these digitally preserved texts for access to hundreds of classic texts. If the text is available for download, it will be designated "free" to the right of the link.
20. Kelvin Smith Library eBooks. This listing ranges from links to full-text reference material to style guides to classic dramas. They also have an exclusive collection of early American and British books.
21. University of Chicago Library EOS. Find image-based electronic texts available to all from the University of Chicago's collection.
22. The University of Adelaide Library e-Books. This Australian library offers free texts to all. Browse by author, title, chronology, or theme.
23. Literary Resources on the Net. Hosted by Rutgers University, you can find any number of classic texts here categorized by category.
24. The Internet Classics Archive. Find major classics, including some Chinese and Persian texts, on this site hosted by MIT.
25. Renascence Editions. Find English language texts written between 1477 and 1799 at this site hosted by the University of Oregon. Scroll through the alphabetical listing to find texts by author.
26. The Beck Center for Electronic Collections. This collection of resources hosted by Emory University offers projects such as Women's Genre Fiction, The Belfast Group, and the W.B. Yeats Collection, all of which provide downloadable texts pertaining to each topic.
27. Carrie: An Electronic Library. Hosted by the University of Kansas, this online library offers several collections with focus mainly on history and social sciences.

Medical Libraries

These libraries offer medical information for both the professional and the lay person.

28. Welch Medical Library. This library, courtesy of Johns Hopkins Medical Institutions, offers a search feature for articles published in medical journals and online. They also have Subject Guides under the "eResources" section that offers links to topics ranging from Alternative Medicine to Grants and Funding to Writing and Publishing.
29. The University of Texas M.D. Anderson Cancer Care Center. Each page at this site provides a wealth of information explaining about specific types of cancer as well as topics related to cancer such as pain, fatigue, and genetics.
30. Duke University Medical Center Library Online. Get databases, journals, tutorials, tools, and more at this medical library.
31. Lamar Soutter Library. Courtesy of University of Massachusetts, this library offers plenty of information for the general public with access levels clearly labeled on most resources.
32. Michigan Ear Institute Medical Library. Find several articles about diagnosis and treatment of ear issues in this online library intended for both professionals and laypersons.
33. South Carolina Department of Mental Health. Geared toward both the professional and clients and their families, this site offers a wealth of information from the diagnostic stage to treatment.
34. Encyclopedia of Psychology. This site run by Jacksonville State University provides links to anything related to psychology. Read about organizations, learn about the major theories, or find out about a career in the field.
35. Children's Hospital Boston Interactive Features. Click on these features to make neurons fire, see cell growth as you travel through cancer stages, create red blood cells, and more.
36. Tufts Open Courseware. Tufts University medical school has put several medical courses online for anyone to access.
37. Bastyr University. Focusing on natural health medicine, this university library offers a nice database with resources for natural medicine.

Legal Libraries

Whether you are studying the law or are just interested in it, these libraries have information for you.

38. UCLA Online Institute for Cyberspace Law and Policy. This archive provides a rich resource for all formative laws taking place between 1995 through 2002.
39. Berkman Center for Internet & Society. A part of Harvard Law, find publications and research that pertain to Internet law.
40. Emory Law Ready Reference. This site offers links to free primary and secondary research sources. Find an Internet Legal Research Guide among many other guides.
41. Santa Clara Law Library. Find lots of legal resources available on the Internet as well as legal research guides here.
42. Cornell University Law School Legal Information Institute. Find procedures, codes, and more at this resource for public legal information.
43. New Jersey Digital Legal Library. Hosted by Rutgers University Library, you can find papers on New Jersey law and legal history here.
44. Tarlton Law Library. From the University of Texas School of Law, this library offers access to plenty of information for the general public.
45. USC Gould School of Law. This library provides users online access to journals, legal resources, and electronic resources.
46. Wise Law Library. In addition to the databases, this site also offers links to helpful legal websites, research tools, and library tools courtesy of University of Colorado Law.
47. O'Quinn Law Library. From University of Houston, this library has access to databases as well as a few special collections available online.

National Libraries of Europe

The following libraries are both national libraries that offer a glimpse into the culture and history of the country they represent as well as hold affiliations with universities.

48. National and University Library of Bosnia and Herzegovina. This library is open to both those affiliated with the university and general readership, but note that there is not an English version available.
49. The National and University Library in Zagreb. This library in Croatia offers collections of ancient papers and manuscripts available online.
50. Copenhagen University Library. In conjunction with the National Library, this site offers a wide range of materials available in both English and Danish.
51. National and University Library of Iceland. Look at ancient maps of Iceland or explore the multiple databases available on this site. Some areas are restricted to those associated with the university.
52. National and University Library St. Kliment Ohridski - Skopje. Available in English, this library of the former Yugolslov Republic of Macedonia offers a limited amount of information online, but you can access some databases. Members of the library have access to more sections.
53. National and University Library of Slovenia. The digital library offers access to many national treasures of Slovenian history. Much of the website can be navigated in English.

Religious Studies

From various types of Christianity to Judaism to Buddhism, these libraries offer an opportunity for religious research.

54. Hartford Seminary Library. Find books, dissertations, and more on Christian theology here. Some access is restricted to students of the seminary.
55. Brigham Young University Digital Collections. Click on "Text Collections" for a wide range of available texts including children's literature, sermons of John Donne, and a huge collection of Mormon literature.
56. The Divinity Library, Vanderbilt University. Get the revised common lectionary, access their many free databases, and read guides on how to do religious research at this library.
57. University of California Library Religious Studies. Use research tools, use library guides, and browse through the religious studies collection at this library.
58. Flora Lamson Hewlett Library. Research with the online databases, take advantage of tutorials, and more at this site.
59. The Catholic University of America Library. Research religious studies, philosophy, and canon laws at this library.
60. Ostrow Library at American Jewish University. Search databases, take advantage of suggested links, and more at this library focusing on Jewish culture and civilization.
61. Digital Library and Museum of Buddhist Studies. Hosted by National Taiwan University Library, this site offers scriptures, tools, and more to help your study of Buddhism.

Specialized Selections

From maps to architectural images to information on deafness, these libraries offer a very specialized collection.

62. University of Illinois at Urbana Champaign. Study topographical maps from around the world at this library.
63. Texas Tech University Libraries 3D Animation Lab. Learn the basics and find some handy tools to get you started with creating your own 3D animation.
64. United Nations University Library. Browse through this online library with the mission of solving global concerns and bringing peace worldwide.
65. News and Newspapers Online. A service of the University Libraries of The University of North Carolina at Greensboro, this library will help you find current news anywhere in the world.
66. SPIRO. Courtesy of University of California, Berkeley, you can find over 270,000 architectural images in both slide and photograph format.
67. The Hong Kong University of Science and Technology Library. Find two online collections that offer images of ancient Chinese maps.
68. Documenting the American South. Hosted by the University of North Carolina, you can find full texts by various authors that document the Southern Americana heritage.
69. University of Minnesota Human Rights Library. Read more than 85,000 human rights documents at this online library.
70. Gallaudet University Library. This library has an extensive section on deaf research including statistics, deaf people and animals, ways librarians can communicate, and more.
71. Hargrett Library Rare Map Collection. View more than 800 maps ranging over a 500 year time span in this online collection from University of Georgia Libraries.

Academic Research

Whether you are researching Mark Twain or war in the 20th century, these libraries offer resources to help you.

72. HighWire Press. Hosted by Stanford University, this free repository holds journals and other academic articles available to the general public.
73. Mark Twain Project. Co-sponsored by the University of California, you can find texts, documents, and research available online about the life and works of Mark Twain.
74. Project Euclid. Sponsored by Cornell University, this site offers online resources for math and statistics.
75. NARCIS. Hosted by Royal Netherlands Academy of Arts and Sciences, this database provides access to scientific papers based out of the Netherlands.
76. The World of Dante. Study Dante's Inferno online courtesy of the University of Virginia. It has been tagged using SGML (Standard Generalized Markup Language) to enhance the interface and study of this poem.
77. Southwestern Writers Collection. Texas State University houses a huge collection of manuscripts and information on southwestern writers. Much of the information is available online in the archives.
78. Peace and War in the 20th Century. From McMaster University Library in Ontario, this library provides records, case studies, a time line, and more focusing on war and peace around the world in the 20th century.
79. Internet Public Library. Founded by University of Michigan School of Information and hosted by Drexel University's College of Information Science & Technology, this incredibly comprehensive library has plenty to offer.

American Universities

These American university libraries have plenty to offer to anyone who takes the time to explore what is available.

80. University of Texas Libraries. Browse through the multiple libraries and museums available on this site. Some access is restricted to those affiliated with the university, but there is plenty of information for the general public.
81. Georgetown University Library. Search you databases, journals, and special collections at this combination of both the Lauinger Library and the Blommer Science Library.
82. Princeton University Library . This library offers lots of information for the general public. Be sure to check out their incredible reference database too.
83. LSU Libraries: Special Collections. While only parts of these special collections are available online, you can learn about the oral history of Louisiana, rare books, and the Civil War.
84. University of Nevada, Reno Libraries. Find Basque books and films, information on Earth sciences and mining, and maps and history of the Nevada area at this library.
85. Washington University Libraries. Ask a librarian, find journal articles, and browse through reference sources here.
86. Howard University Library System. Students and non-students alike can take advantage of the databases, catalog, and faculty papers.
87. University of Delaware Library. In addition to access to five libraries, you can also view a digital collection, instructional media collection, and other special collections.
88. University of Virginia Library. This library offers a good selection of labs, such as the digital media lab, which the general public can access portions of online.
89. J. Willard Marriott Library. From University of Utah, this library offers a good selection of special collections, digital collections, and more.

International Universities

Travel around the world from your computer and learn what these international university libraries have to offer.

90. The University of Edinburgh. The resources here are available to the general public; however, most licensed electronic resources are not available to non-university people.
91. The Library at UCD Dublin. While much of the information is restricted to either those associated with the university or visiting scholars, the general public can access electronic resources including eBooks, online reference sources, and more.
92. University of Oxford Bodleian Library e-Resources. This library offers a good selection of resources available to all ranging from digital archives to research articles written by Oxford authors.
93. Bibliotheque de la Sorbonne. Check out the electronic resources for the biggest selection available to the general public at this library. The site is completely in French.
94. Free University of Berlin Universitatsbibliothek. Research 700 databases and 20,000 journals in this university's digital library. The site is available in English, but some of the pages may only be available in German.
95. Roskilde University Library. Of the open-access services available at this library, there is a good mix of information in both English and Danish.
96. Stockholm University Library. Search the databases, e-books, and e-journals available at this library. Not all information is accessible by the general public, but what is available is clearly marked.
97. University Library Ghent. This library in Belgium offers digital databases with historic photographs and more, a section with a five-year focus on architecture, and much more. Some of the site is available in English.
98. Open University of Catalonia. Search for information in English, Spanish, or Catalan in this library that offers an online collection ranging across many topics including the arts, philosophy, labor sciences, law, marketing, tourism, and more.
99. University of Zurich. This university has made several libraries and online databases available for use. There is a mix of resources in both English and German.
100. National University of Singapore Libraries. Get links to information about Singapore from government to statistics as well as the ability to search the university databases.

Free back to school computer downloads

I heard a discussion on the radio this week about the cost of sending kids to school. We have two left in our family that are in their college days.

Saving money with as little sacrifice as possible has always been a fun/frustrating game for parents.

This is from an email I received this week:

Back-to-school downloads

Behold, our favorite back-to-school downloads. See the other five.

1. WordWeb - If you think the Web has rendered offline dictionaries moot, think again. An intuitive, integrated interface and huge database of more than 150,000 root words and 120,000 synonyms make WordWeb essential freeware for aspiring writers.

2. Typing Master Pro Typing Tutor - The rise of technology has made it imperative for all students to master the standard QWERTY setup. This top-rated app includes well-designed lessons, games, and personalized exercises to teach or improve skills.

3. Zotero - Today, online research is the name of the game, but recording and citing sources is still as important as ever. This free extension for Mozilla Firefox puts reference information directly in your browser, while letting you add and manage notes.

4. Graph - This free software for drawing 2D graphs of mathematical functions includes a vast number of predefined functions, and it's easy to add your own. It also calculates length and area of functions, as well as first and second derivatives.

5. StudyMinder Homework System - Academic commitments only get more complicated as you advance through your school years, and it's best to master your schedule as soon as you can. The publisher of this feature-packed organizer also offers a free Lite version and a portable version for U3 drives.

More Useful Websites (the College Edition)

I have two kido's doing the college thing. Abby heads back to Purdue this month, and Josh starts his senior year in Maine next month except, for the first couple of months he'll be studying in Iceland!

So the other day the DLM blog had these tips for the college-bound:

11 Things You Shouldn’t Leave For School Without

Written by Sasha R. Lahijanian, a reader of DLM that has no agendas to advance or blogs to promote, she just wants to help people.

A simple list to simplify your life.

When you first arrive at college you will be introduced to problems that you never knew existed. While no list will ever include a solution to all of your ills, this one hits on some things that you may not have considered.

Here are some cool and fairly undiscovered websites which will solve many of your everyday issues.

Trust me - finding these sites now will save you a ton of time.

• Campusi.com – Instead of looking through dozens of different websites for books, this websites finds the cheapest books offered on the internet, and shows the prices from all the other websites as well.
  


• GetChunkit.com – Instead of clicking from link to link, this add-on is able to mine every link on a web page and pulls out the information for you. Makes researching 10x faster.
  


• Instacalc.com – Online calculator that can do everything, and allows you to share your calculations with others online.
  


• Ottobib.com – Enter the book’s name or ISBN, and this website does your bibliography for you in any format.
  


• Bugmenot.com – Bugmenot lets you find and share disposable logins for popular websites that force you to register. Also use “email.bugmenot.com” for quick disposable email accounts.
  


• Teleflip.com – Have your emails forwarded to your phone as text messages.
  


• eFax.com – Nobody has a fax machine in school. So when you want to receive faxes, just use eFax. eFax will give you a phone number that you can give to people, and your faxes will show up in your inbox.
  


• Qipit.com - Take a photo of your school notes or other documents, and this service will turn them into a readable, taggable document.
  


• FranceRadio.net – Because you need to stop using Youtube for your music. And because downloading at school is a no-no.
  


• Zoho.com – If you love free things and can’t stand Microsoft, then this office suite (and much more) is for you.
  


• A hug from your dog.

What other sites or apps can you recommend to a new college student? Let us know in the comments.

Sasha

Tips for Young and Not so Young

It's never to early to start, nor is is too late:

Dumb Little Man - tips for life

7 Things I Wish I Had Known the Day After College Graduation

Posted: 19 Jun 2008 03:06 PM CDT

Written on 6/19/2008 by Jim who writes about money & personal finance at Blueprint for Financial Prosperity.

If you are a new graduate, congratulations! Everything you've worked for during your college career has come to fruition. If you thought college was fun, this next chapter has the potential to be way more fun. You can stop doing homework, at least for a little while, and actually relax at night and on weekends (and be able to pay for it!).

I graduated college several years ago and, in looking back, wished I knew then what I know now about personal finances and money. I've distilled these ideas into the seven tips you see below. None of them are difficult to do, they're just difficult to remember. If you can do all of these tips you'll be ahead of the curve.

Set It and Forget It Retirement
When you start your new job, the last thing on your mind is what you'll be doing when you retire in forty years. However, what you do now will pay big dividends in forty years so be sure to take advantage of the retirement options you have.

Contribute to a 401(k) or 403(b) retirement plan if you can, especially if your employer offers to match a percentage of your contribution. Contribute to a Roth IRA to the maximum every year you can because, hopefully, eventually you will earn too much to contribute and you'll want to take advantage of tax-free growth while you can.

Need proof of this: If you contribute only $100 a month and it appreciates at 10% a year for forty years, you'll end up with over $632,000. Set it and forget it.

Seek Mentors
Find people who know more about the world than you do and learn as much as you can. One of the greatest lessons you can know as a young person is that you don't know a damn thing. All the greats always credit the ones who came before them, the giants' whose shoulders they stood on - find your giants.

Continue Learning
You may have just graduated college but don't stop learning. If your new employer offers education reimbursement, use it and use it as quickly as you can. Education reimbursement is like getting a raise in your salary. And, when you've completed yet another degree, you'll be able to command more in the marketplace for your skills and knowledge. All that costs you is time and effort.

Always Be Networking
Networking is really the fancy term for making new friends. Find opportunities to meet new people by participating in as many things as you can. Join local groups interested in what you like, attend work functions (especially if they're geared towards new employees), and actively participate in local charities or philanthropic groups. Friends give life richness, make as many as you can.

Pay Off Debts
If you have any credit card debts from your freewheeling college years, begin paying those off in earnest. Credit card debt is a weight that will hold you back from your dreams as long as you let it. Your dream isn't to sell your future so you can have fancy new clothes or glittery new electronics, your dream is to make a good life for yourself and the ones you care for. Credit card debt, and other debts, are holding you back so get rid of those 20% a year interest rate behemoths as soon as possible.

Keep Rent Low
When you move to a new place, don't immediately go for the swanky new apartment. You just spent the last four years living in college dorms or off-campus housing, hardly Ritz-Carltons, so don't go locking yourself into high rents for the next year. If you keep your rent low, you can save more and spend more on other, more important, things (like paying off debts).

Enjoy Life, Have Fun!
I went to an engineering school where a lot of people spent a lot of their time hitting the books. I had my fair share of fun but there comes a time when you need to start enjoying life and not focus 100% on work. Remember work-life balance. You can burn the candle at both ends in college because it was only four years, you may be working for forty... your candle isn't as long as you think. Work hard, but remember to play as well or you'll end up miserable.

Congratulations once again and go celebrate!

-Jim

10 Tips for College Success

2 out of 5 kids in my family are still in College. My son has 1 year to go, my daughter will be starting year 2 in the fall.

This is for them, and everyone:

Simple to Read, Hard to Execute: 10 Ways to Save Money in College

Posted: 04 Jun 2008 06:04 PM CDT

Written on 6/04/2008 by Soo L. of womopo.com - practical tips and advice for men.

There are many costs involved with going to college including tuition, books, housing, entertainment, and food. These costs can quickly add up and make life after college a financial nightmare.

To avoid getting into a sticky situation yourself, here are ten practical money tips for you, the college student. Try some of these tips to lower the amount of debt you end up with, and to help clear your head after graduation. If you are the parent of a college student, send them this list.

1. Be Careful Of Promotions On Campus
   There are certain companies and organizations that make money by preying on naive and unsuspecting college students. Some examples of this are credit card companies, loan companies, and employers looking for dirt cheap labor. Just be aware of the people out there hoping to make an easy buck off of you. Regardless of the endorsements, read the fine print.
   
   
2. Don't Eat Out All The Time
   It may be convenient and tempting to eat out frequently, but it can end up costing you a lot of money. Start keeping track of how many times you eat out every week or month, to see how the costs add up. You might be surprised by how much money you spend on food.
   


3. Use Your Credit Card For Emergencies Only
   With all of the expenses associated with going to college, it can be very easy to rack up a lot of credit card debt. So instead of making poor decisions with your credit card, save it for emergencies only. It is easy to overspend and spend without thinking when you're paying with plastic, but when you pay with cash, things are very different.
   


4. Commute To School
   Living off campus and commuting to school is an option that can help you save a bundle of money. This is especially true if you go to school on an urban campus, where rent can cost a lot of money. The cost of gas, insurance, parking, and maintenance can be far less than paying for rent in many cases.
   


5. Buy Books Online Before The Semester Starts
   Most college students know that buying books on campus can be a big rip off. The profit margins at college and university bookstores can be as high as 50%. The main reason why students buy from these book stores is because of convenience. It's so much easier to get your books on campus and go right to class, but the costs are just too high. If you plan ahead and buy your books online, you can save yourself hundreds of dollars per semester.
   


6. Consolidate Loans
   Do the math and find out if consolidating your school loans will make it easier to pay them off in the future. In many cases, loan consolidation can help simplify and reduce your overall debt and interest payments.
   


7. Get A Part Time Job
   If you have time outside of your academic and social life, consider taking on a part time job to make extra money. Having a part time job will give you some extra cash to pay for the things you need and help you avoid adding more to your debts. Many schools offer work/study programs that pay students tax free.


8. Max Out Financial Aid And Scholarships
   Find financial aid and scholarship programs to help pay for your education and other expenses. There is probably a scholarship program for your particular major, ethnicity group, or background. Most of these scholarships require a simple essay and resume and can be well worth the time and effort put into applying for them. The bottom line is, if you're not maxing out the amount of financial aid and scholarships you receive, you're leaving money on the table.
   


9. Take Advantage Of Student Discounts
   Ask around to find out about restaurants and entertainment venues that offer discounts to college students. You can get discounts on meals, movie tickets, concert tickets, and clothing just for having a college ID. If you're going to spend money on these things anyway, you might as well try to get a discount.
   


10. Study Hard
    The best way to save money in college is to make the most of the money you're spending. If you study hard and do well academically, the thousands and thousands of dollars you spent to go to school will have been that much better spent. So do the best you can and make the most of your tuition dollars.

College is expensive and is getting more expensive each year. Most college students are unprepared to face the financial burdens that are required to earn a degree. With these ten tips, you’ll have a better chance of maintaining your financial health throughout college.

-Soo

Tired of School?

This is for those of you that feel like you want to chuck it all and get a "joe" job.

(Sorry to all my friends named Joe.)

Remember there is an alternative to the struggles you are going through with school and work and life.

But you have to learn how to say, "Di ja wan' fries wid dat?"

Stick it out, or figure it out.