CLICK & DOUBLE CLICK: LOTS OF PRACTICAL AND USELESS INFORMATION AVAILABLE ONLINE

OK, maybe the information isn't earth shattering, but the Internet is full of lots and lots of practical, or maybe useless, information.

Here's a site some reviewers have called the "No. 1 most incredibly useful site." We agree, it's pretty informational and fun.

www.learn2.com

Joni: They call themselves the ability utility. Some very bizarre things you can learn to do. Here's their Top 10 list. 10, checking out a used car. 9. Juggling three balls. The No. 1 thing, tying a necktie.

Peggy: Click to a "2-torial" explaining how to tie two business necktie knots. It lists what you need, what the steps are and an estimate of the time required.

Joni: With cartoon illustrations, they provide detailed, step-by-step directions. You can print out the directions, and they have links to related 2-torials. In this case, how to tie a bow tie and flossing your teeth. Teeth? Perhaps the link is teeth gnashing when the knot goes wrong.

Peggy: The list of topics are virtually unlimited -- learn how to make coffee, tune a guitar, capture a mouse, fix a zipper, make paper airplanes or how to get by in French.

Joni: Here's all the stuff you don't want to admit you don't know how to do.

Peggy: Now we'll never have to admit anything. We'll just have to head to the computer. Look, here's how to burp a baby, change a diaper, defrost a freezer, iron a shirt, remove a stain, groom a cat or fold an American flag.

Joni: Another site chock full of information is

www.infoplease.com

Peggy: This online almanac offers much of the same information available in the printed version, with the assistance of a computer search. Categories include, world, sports, entertainment, U.S., people, business, living, society, science and technology.

Joni: Almanacs provide facts in a hurry and are a great resource for homework or research. The daily almanac with links to famous birthday people, and a new word for the day. Today's word is duende. You can listen to it being pronounced in a wav format. What is it?

Peggy: I have no idea, but if I click I can find out. It's a Spanish word for a goblin, demon or spirit. It also means charm. Hmmm. That may be a little hard to work into the conversation.

Joni: Probably the most famous almanac is The Old Farmer's Almanac. Find it at

www.almanac.com

On Tuesday, there will be 76 days until winter. You can personalize your weather. You will be greeted with a long-range forecast for your area. It doesn't cost anything, so let's give it a try.

Peggy: When they say long range, they mean it. Look Joni, it's your personalized forecast for November through March. It predicts temperatures about 1 degree below normal. Ah ha, it says this is the Harvest Moon, the full moon closest to the Autumnal Equinox. Or you can read the question of the day. Here's one about growing pumpkins.

Joni: It's just an abundance of information. There are Weather Proverbs too: When ropes are difficult to untwist, expect bad weather. Here's a gardening tip: Planning a new flower bed in the spring, cover it now with a heavy blanket of mulch. Get busy, Peggy.

Peggy: For another look at this day in history, let's take a look at The History Channel. Click on This Day in History to learn more.

www.historychannel.com

Joni: Oh, you can find this day in history, automotive history, Civil War history and Wall Street history. Or you can go to your birthday and learn what happened throughout history on your birthday. Let's look at yours.

Peggy: Look "Knock Three Times," by Dawn was a chart-topper back in 1971. I remember that song. Next stop, the Smithsonian Institute has it's own resource area with topics from A to Z.

www.si.edu/resource/faq

Joni: You can learn about astronomy, tropical rain forests or zoology. Or violins. I want to learn more about violins.

Peggy: You can listen to violin recordings from the Smithsonian Collection of Recordings. We can visit the music room at the National Museum of American History, all online, of course.

Joni: One thing we've learned about the Smithsonian Institute, it's a lot of museum all grouped together. Here's chamber music in the music room.

Peggy: Now that sounds like violin music to me. The clips are short, but nice. At the National Museum of American History also has an online exhibit called "What is it?"

Joni: You get a photograph of something odd looking. Then you can check out some clues or the answer. My that's odd looking, kind of looks like a typewriter.

Peggy: You're right. It's The Writing Ball, which dates to 1865. It had a few flaws. One version weighed 165 pounds.

Joni: Ah, this seems the perfect segue to a site that bills itself as Deb and Jen's Land O' Useless Facts.

www-leland.stanford.edu/~jenkg/useless.html

Peggy: We can learn that 1961 was the most recent year that could be written upside down and right side up and appear the same. The next time this will be possible is in 6009.

Joni: The first atomic bomb fell from the Enola Gay, which was named for the unit commander's mother. The second one was dropped from a plane known as Bock's Car. Sounds like a trivia answer.

Peggy: My husband would be interested in knowing this. Tabasco Sauce is made by fermenting vinegar and hot peppers in a French oak barrel, which has 3 inches of salt on top and is aged for three years. No wonder it has such a kick.

Joni: What's your favorite information site? E-mail us at click@semissourian.com

See you in Cyberspace.

~Peggy Scott and Joni Adams are members of the Southeast Missourian online staff.