~ Early Web Links ~

A free, publicly available book series teaching ray tracing and path tracing from scratch, written by a veteran graphics instructor who distills course notes into a practical, code-along guide. Readers build a full path tracer step by step, producing impressive rendered images without relying on any graphics API.

JJMK focuses on electricity saving tips and energy conservation, offering guidance on the best ways to reduce power consumption at home. The site covers energy saving devices and practical strategies for cutting electricity costs.

This to That is a practical reference tool that tells you exactly which adhesive to use when bonding any two materials together, covering combinations of ceramic, glass, metal, wood, rubber, vinyl, and more. Running since 1999, the site includes extras like glue trivia, a Glue of the Month feature, and an FAQ, making it a surprisingly charming and genuinely useful niche resource.

A curated index site by a language and gaming enthusiast, linking out to two main projects: a resource directory of free tools, pirated content, and links for Thai and Japanese language learning plus console hacking and emulation, and a personal blog with code snippets and templates. The landing page is minimal but points to a thoughtfully built collection of practical resources across language study, gaming, and site building.

Hosted by the Linguistics Research Center at the University of Texas at Austin, this site offers a structured lesson series for learning Ancient Sanskrit, the oldest known form of the language predating Classical Sanskrit. It features Rigveda readings with glossaries, dictionaries, and linguistic annotations, making it an invaluable resource for students of ancient Indo-European languages.

Ian Fieggen, aka 'Professor Shoelace,' has spent over two decades building the internet's definitive reference on shoelaces, covering more than 100 lacing methods with step-by-step tutorials and thousands of photos. The site is home to the famous Ian Knot, claimed to be the world's fastest shoelace knot, and includes an interactive lacing tool, knot comparisons, and detailed guides on shoelace construction and lengths.

Make Movies is a free educational resource by Stan Hayward that introduces animation and filmmaking to schools, covering lessons on creating characters, writing scripts, and both traditional and computer animation techniques. Sponsored by the Kraszna-Krausz Foundation, the site includes curriculum-aligned materials, an animation database, and links to related resources, making it a comprehensive starting point for young animators.

EdTechTalk is a collaborative webcasting community founded in 2005, bringing together educators to discuss technology, teaching practices, and 21st-century learning through a variety of hosted shows and community forums. With programs like Teachers Teaching Teachers, EdTechWeekly, and Instructional Design Live, it serves as a rich hub for educator-driven conversations about integrating technology in the classroom.

Professor Michael Fowler of the University of Virginia presents a comprehensive physics course tracing the scientific revolutions sparked by Galileo, Newton, and Einstein, from Babylonian mathematics through relativity. The site includes full lecture notes, homework and exam questions, applets, flashlets, and supplementary teaching materials originally developed for high school physics teachers.

Tatsumoto's AJATT (All Japanese All The Time) site offers a comprehensive, free guide to learning Japanese through mass immersion rather than traditional classes or paid courses. Packed with Anki decks, tool recommendations, a FAQ, and a growing library of articles, it champions self-study using spaced repetition and engaging native content.