http://www.madehow.com/

In a world that has the capability to create infinitesimally tiny machines, it may be hard for some to understand how the most basic products are created. This website attempts to answer some of those questions, beginning with information on how accordions are made, and ending with a discussion on the creation of zirconium. For each item, visitors will have the opportunity to learn about the processes involved with their manufacture and assembly. Perhaps users have wondered how the tiny candy corn is manufactured? They need wonder no more after taking a look at this site. The site also takes on more complex items, such as the camera lens and the nicotine patch. Overall, the site contains dozens of such detailed descriptions, and can be enjoyed by persons of all ages and interests. [KMG]

http://www.renaissanceconnection.org/

Using 37 pieces selected from its Samuel H. Kress and European Art Collections, the Allentown Art Museum has created this sometimes silly, but consistently appealing introduction to the art, thought, and society of the Renaissance period in Europe. Start with the Art Explorer section to view works arranged on a timeline, map, or alphabetically, from Andrea del Sarto Madonna and Child, ca. 1510 to Heinrich Yselin Saint Margaret with the Dragon, ca. 1478. Individual images are linked to the site's six thematic sections - Quest for Knowledge, Arts and Architecture, Patrons and Lifestyles, Everyday Life, Trade and Exploration, Science and Technology. For example, selecting Hans Maler's Portrait of Anton Fugger painted in 1525, links to the Patrons and Lifestyles section, where you can discover that Anton Fugger was a member of one of the richest families in Europe. A Maler portrait of Ulrich Fugger, painted the same year and now housed at the Metropolitan Museum of Art, is also included on the site, as well as an image of Jakob Fugger, a wealthy banker. Although geared to middle school students, The Renaissance Connection will be fun for all ages. [DS]

http://www.hayinart.com/
To be quite honest, a great deal happens around hay, whether it be in the realm of landscape painting or the more salacious encounters one may find in risqué novels of the 19th century. Of course, if you were Alan Ritch, the creator of this rather intriguing website, you would probably confine yourself to the rather broad world of hay as it appears in various artistic endeavors, ranging from paintings to poetry. Visitors seeking some background on this rather novel field of inquiry might wish to begin by reading one of Ritch’s background essays, which include “Resting in the hay, 1592-1900”, “Introduction to the poetry of hay”, and “Montana wedding bales”. Even the more casual visitor should not miss the area dedicated to hay poems of the late twentieth century, which includes such works as John Kinsella’s “Wrapping the Hay” and Tom Montag’s visually arresting “Making Hay”. One thing is most certain: Visitors will most likely find themselves increasingly enjoying the nuances of hay after looking through the images and poems offered on this site. [KMG]

http://www.npr.org/templates/story/story.php?storyId=4627437

Since February 2005, National Public Radio has been presenting live concerts that highlight a wide variety of bands, including those that play in the idiom of alt-country and hard-edged classic soul. If one didn’t hear these concerts when they were originally broadcast, they can take advantage of this fine archive offered on this site. The most recent concert offered here (in its entirety) is that of the rather popular group, Belle and Sebastian. All told, there are twenty concerts currently available for users’ listening pleasure. They include performances by James Brown, Sinead O’Connor, Death Cab for Cutie, and Lucinda Williams. As a nice addition, each concert offering also includes links to related coverage from National Public Radio, along with the occasional photo gallery and such. [KMG]

http://www.raybradbury.com/

From the unsettling (yet tremendously effective) story telling of “Something Wicked This Way Comes” to the prescient work of “The Martian Chronicles”, Ray Bradbury has given readers much to think about for the past fifty years or so. This website, developed by Harper Collins (Bradbury’s publisher), contains a great deal of informative and entertaining material about Bradbury, and it certainly merits several visits. From the site’s visually appealing homepage, visitors should start with the “About Ray Bradbury” area. Here, visitors can read a brief biography of the author, which is complemented by a list of his literary awards. Perhaps the most interesting part of the site is titled “At Home With Ray”. This section contains short video clips of Bradbury where he discusses the “world of metaphors”, his work “Fahrenheit 451”, as well as censorship. [KMG]

http://www.lablit.com/

Some might be asking themselves: “What is LabLit?” LabLit.com is “…dedicated to real laboratory culture and to the portrayal and perceptions of that culture-science, scientists and labs-in fiction, the media and across popular culture.” Edited by the researcher Jennifer Rohn, the site contains a cornucopia of material ranging from humor pieces about laboratory life and culture, interviews with scientists and novelists, and a number of surveys and quizzes. From the homepage, visitors can delve right into some of these materials, which also include a number of online forums where lively debates take place on topics such as the perception of science on television and the stereotypes about those working in the field. The site is rounded out by the “Lab Lit List”, which contains an extensive list of novels, films, plays, and television programs that fall squarely into this particular genre. [KMG]