~ Early Web Links ~

Hosted on Brown University's CS department server, this page offers an educational look at how the internet works at a foundational level. Part of the CS092 course materials, it serves as an accessible primer on the technical infrastructure and concepts that underpin modern networking.

Austin Z. Henley, an Associate Teaching Professor at Carnegie Mellon University, dives deep into implementing the cosine function in C from scratch without relying on math.h, exploring several approaches including Taylor series, lookup tables, and bit manipulation. The post includes performance benchmarks, accuracy comparisons, and code samples, and became popular enough to be discussed multiple times on Hacker News and Reddit.

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.

Grammar Bytes! is a lively grammar instruction site offering lessons and exercises with a no-nonsense, attitude-driven approach to teaching English grammar. It is a go-to reference for students and teachers looking for engaging, accessible grammar help beyond the typical dry textbook.

Created by Dr. Bill Vicars, Lifeprint.com is a comprehensive free resource for learning American Sign Language, featuring a massive dictionary of signing videos, grammar lessons, fingerspelling guides, and Deaf culture materials. With millions of visits logged and thousands of indexed signs covering everything from basic greetings to numbers and lexicalized fingerspelling, it serves students, interpreters, parents, and homeschoolers alike.

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.

Dr. Fred Bortz is a children's science writer and educator whose site showcases his books on topics ranging from subatomic particles to planetary astronomy, school visit programs, and a Q&A section where kids can ask science questions. With approved science education credentials and a catalog spanning the Higgs Boson to Mars exploration, this site serves as a friendly gateway connecting young readers, teachers, and librarians to accessible science literature.

Lucky Uke is a beginner-friendly ukulele learning site created by Defazed, offering self-written articles on getting started and chord work for aspiring uke players. It positions itself as a handy self-learning tool rather than a full course, making it a great complement to lessons or solo practice.

GCSE.com, created by A P Harmsworth, offers award-winning revision tutorials and exam tips for students studying GCSE and IGCSE subjects including English, French, German, ICT, Maths, and Physics. With coursework guidance, revision tips, and downloadable resources, it serves as a practical study companion for UK secondary school students and their teachers.

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.