Check out BestPlaces.net for information about cost-of-living, housing, climate, crime statistics and more.

Designed for government officials and their contractors, SustainLane Government provides "an open-source, searchable repository for information and network-building on sustainability issues including green building, energy/ energy efficiency, climate change policy, local food systems, transportation, materials management and overall sustainability management".   Requires free registration.

Commemorate Veterans Day with resources from the Department of Veterans Affairs.

There are still some openings in the Genealogy Research Using Vital Records classes at the Brookdale Library. Hurry, they are filling up fast!

Find wilderness in the city! The Minnesota Valley National Wildlife Refuge and Wetland Management District offers an opportunity to take a walk in the crisp fall air and observe wildlife. The wide variety of nature programs includes raptor spotting, moonlight walks, and canoe tours.

Green Central is at carpoint.msm.com.  Find the top five fuel efficent cars, green driving tips, going green with gasoline and more.

Minnesota State Surplus Services Redistribution Center is the state's redistribution center for state and federal surplus property.  It holds live auctions and redistrubutes  to programs in need. The web site links to occasional state land sales and the cash only Daily Public Garage Sale in Arden Hills. Items for sale include all types of office furniture, tables, chairs, desks, wardrobes, file cabinets, office equipment, machines and supplies, typewriters, calculators, small hand tools and many items of clothing.

Play Consumer Consequences and find out how many  "Earths" of natural resources it would take for everyone to live like you do. American Public Media has developed this interactive game to help illustrate the impact of our modern lifestyles.

May 11, 2008 is the 150th anniversary of the state of Minnesota!  The Minnesota 150 exhibit, now open at the Minnesota Historical Society, highlights 150 people, places, and things that influenced our state history.

Hennepin County has a great website that covers household waste prevention, recycling, reusing and donating household goods. Also look for the A - Z How to get Rid of it Guide.

The Minnesota Tekne Awards are awarded this month.  The Awards honor companies, innovations and individuals that positively impact Minnesota's technology-based economy.  New this year are awards to educators who incorporate technology education in the classroom.  Paul Keeney, an Anoka-Hennepin teacher, is a finalist!  Read the list of finalists, and see all the innovation in Hennepin County.... 

Join us at one of the Hennepin Library's many multicultural events. All events are free, and include Conversation Circles, cultural celebrations, puppet shows, storytelling and much more!

Keep up to date with news articles about state legislative issues for all 50 states from Stateline, an independent element of the Pew Research Center.

Check out the Blue Book of Grammar and Punctuation for help with all those nagging questions about commas, semi-colons, hyphens and more.

Do you know a high school student who is ready for the challenge of college classes? Minnesota colleges offer the Post-Secondary Enrollment Options program for high school juniors and seniors. Students complete high school graduation requirements while earning postsecondary credits. The program is available to private and public school students, alternative area learning centers, charter schools and home-schooled students.

The MnBlues.com website promotes blues music in the Twin Cities and beyond.  Don't forget to check out the CD reviews and list of Minnesota Blues musicians!

A practical look at wide variety of travel-related sites, Traveler's Web, covers reservations, adventure and educational travel, lodging, cruises, special needs travel.

Influenza is a contagious respiratory disease that can be prevented by immunization.   Locate a flu shot clinic listed with the Minnesota Department of Health.

The International Herald Tribune creates, collects and distributes world news, information, entertainment and opinion . Known for it's balanced perspective on all areas of human interest the IHT is trusted and enjoyed by people in all corners of the globe.

World Wide Arts Resources / absolutearts.com is dedicated to connecting the people of the world to the world of art. The Artist/Premiere Portfolio services are the largest and most successful program of it's kind representing over 150,000 works by over 24,000 artists from around the world.

For Somali speakers: An online guide to learning English, written in both Somali and English, with grammar and a vocabulary list of over 600 common English words - Beginning English for Somali Speakers.

The 2009 Diversity Visa Lottery online entry begins at Noon EDT on October 3, 2007, and ends at Noon EST on December 2, 2007. Go to travel.state.gov for more information.