When it came time to start applying for colleges, I didn't have the most scientific approach. Mainly I focused on schools that had reached out to me based on my PSAT scores. I didn't have the wealth of information available today on the Internet to help me out. If you (or your kids) are starting to look for schools and are feeling overwhelmed by all of the choices available, you may want to check out InsideCollege.com, a website designed to help you find just the right college for your major, your interests and your personality.

Perhaps you're looking for a school with a great women's water polo team. Or one that has an unusual team mascot. Maybe you're shy and would like to find a college for students who have a harder time making connections. You can find lists of colleges that meet these criterion, plus hundreds of other lists, including the basics on admittance, majors and extracurricular activities. And just so you know, if all three of these descriptions apply to you, you'll want to check out Whittier College in Whittier, CA.

InsideCollege.com doesn't actually provide a whole lot of information about each school - you can visit the school website for that - but it does give you links to scholarships that match each school to help you get a head-start on financial aid. InsideCollege.com also offers its own $2000 scholarship for users of the site.

I had fun looking up one of my previous schools... not surprisingly, it's on the list of "Colleges Where Geek is Chic." Go figure.

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Visit InsideCollege.com

Did you know that the Yahoo! Kids website has jokes? You can search on keywords and learn kid-friendly jokes on just one topic. As Thanksgiving approaches, I thought it would be fun to check out jokes about turkeys. Do you have any kid-friendly turkey jokes to share?

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Practice your turkey jokes

Switch Zoo is a clever little site that lets you combine body parts from different animals to create your own unique breed. Choose from 142 animals and then change the head, body and/or tail. How about a zebra with the head of a chimpanzee and the tail of a red squirrel? After reading facts about each of the animals you choose, the site allows you to write a story about your new animal and print it out. Switch Zoo also has games and other activities.

Parents should note that Switch Zoo displays Google ads prominently on the site, which means you're never quite sure what ads you'll see while visiting.

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Visit Switch Zoo

Although some people claim that email is dead for younger generations, your kids may not agree. They may be looking for an email address to keep in touch with friends or out-of-town family. If so, there are a number of good options that help keep kids safe from unwanted correspondents and spam.

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Great Email for Kids

If you haven't already played World of Goo, the game developers at 2D Boy have a treat for you. In honor of the game's first birthday, they are offering it at a "pay whatever you think it's worth" sale through Sunday, October 25. If you've read my review, you'll know that I think it's worth every penny of the regular price ($20), so this is the chance to get a great game at a great bargain.

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• Read the review
• Pay whatever you think it's worth

I took some time out yesterday to play around with Wolfram|Alpha, a "computational knowledge engine" from the same people who brought us Mathematica software. A hybrid between a search engine, a graphing calculator and an encyclopedia, Wolfram|Alpha can solve complex equations, decode scientific formulas, compare stocks, provide historical comparisons, blend colors and play musical notes.

My experiment with the search features wasn't all that noble. I decided to compare nutritional information for french fries from three major fast food joints ("McDonalds fries vs Burger King fries vs Wendy fries"). Wolfram|Alpha gave me the single size nutritional information for each chain (Wendy's has a larger serving size than the other two) and then gave me charts which compared them based on calories, carbohydrates and other fun nutritional facts. If you're wondering, a single serving of McDonalds fries is the smallest, and also the healthiest choice of the three. I also did a search on my name (very popular when I was born) and the ideal weight for someone my height (due to my love of fries, it's much less than my real weight).

Wolfram|Alpha is so different from anything I had ever worked with that it took me some effort to figure out why I'd want to use it. Honestly, I'm still not sure I would. On the other hand, a friend of mine who teaches math at the college level says that he likes to use it in class occasionally. Either way, it was fun to try out and I'll keep it in mind for future uses. Oh, and in case you're wondering, you can compare apples and oranges, too.

If you're intrigued by Wolfram|Alpha, you might want to drop in on October 21, 2009 for their first "Homework Day." From Noon CDT until 2am the next day, you'll enjoy interviews, live Q&A's and examples of how to use Wolfram|Alpha in classroom settings from Kindergarten through college.

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• My Wolfram|Alpha profile
• Try Wolfram|Alpha
• Enjoy Wolfram|Alpha Homework Day

Where the Wild Things Are: The Video Game (on XBox) Warner Brothers

You no doubt have seen a preview of the new Where the Wild Things Are movie. You probably haven't seen a preview of the corresponding video game that launched today for XBox 360, Playstation 3, Wii and Nintendo DS. The game, which is rated either E or E10+ depending on the platform, invites users to play as Max as he explores the Wild Thing's island.

To go along with this release, Warner Brothers has some special promotions. My favorite is a chance to win a wolf costume, a copy of the video game (along with choice of console) and some other cool prizes. The contest ends on November 13 and you can enter daily. You'll need to sign up as a WB Insider which is a free Warner Brothers loyalty program.

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• Buy Where the Wild Things Are: The Video Game (compare prices)
• Enter to win
• A Review of Where the Wild Things Are
• Are You Taking Your Kids to See Where the Wild Things Are?

Miniature Paper Coffin Photo ©2007 Lesley Shepherd, Licensed to About.com Inc.

This list includes some of my absolute favorite free Halloween printables, from a paper coffin to "Doctor Skelly's Magic X-Ray Camera" (from The Toymaker). There are also games and coloring sheets. Hook up the printer and start coloring, cutting and pasting your way to a fun Halloween.

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• Browse the Free Halloween Printables

Gummy Teeth PriceGrabber

Boo! It's October and it's time to start making your Halloween plans, especially if you'd like to do some of your shopping online. Since kids are really the last people you want to have helping you choose Halloween candy, I've put together a list of fun Halloween candy choices (and some non-candy ideas as well) for busy parents who don't have time to shop.

Enjoy! And try to leave some of the candy for the kids...

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• Buy Halloween Candy Online
• Save Money Shopping Online

Do you remember those books that came with either a tape or a 45 record (depending on how old you are) that read aloud to you and beeped to tell you when to turn the page? I loved those when I was little. They gave me some independence when I was still too young to read myself, and they were fun even as I got older. When I got the chance to preview Disney Digital Books online, that's all I could think of:  take those read-along books, add in some Disney magic and brand new technology and you've got something fun and educational.

Up is just one of many newer titles that will be available on Disney Digital Books
Disney Publishing Worldwide

Disney has launched what is, in essence, a web-based e-reader for kids. This growing library of more than 500 Disney titles is available via subscription service. In addition to being able to read books alone or with a parent, kids can listen to some of the collection a la the read along books of my youth, and even creatively manipulate some others by adding pictures and words.

At first glance, you may think that this service is most appropriate for the preschool and Kindergarten set who love Playhouse Disney and the classics. In fact, the Disney Digital Books collection has a wide range of titles including more sophisticated chapter books appropriate for the middle school crowd who love the drama of Hannah Montana and the adventure of Jack Sparrow from Pirates of the Caribbean.

"It is imperative that we, as a publisher, promote reading in every medium where our readers are and to expand the ways in which we deliver meaningful reading experiences to children," said Jeanne Mosure, Senior Vice President, Group Publisher, Disney Publishing Worldwide.  "Disney Digital Books furthers our core mission of getting kids to read more as it combines the stories and characters kids love with the most innovative technology and features.  Our hope is to provide families with new and exciting reading experiences while reaching those reluctant readers as well."

Additional features on the site include a point-based reward system, a customizable virtual room, quizzes and a built-in dictionary. This is not your parents' read-along book collection. (I should add that the site has just launched and there a few kinks they're working out.)

Subscription costs are $79.95 for an annual subscription or $8.95 per month. The rate includes a parent account and accounts for up to three children in your household. Gift subscriptions are also available.

If you're interested in learning more about Disney Digital Books, I invite you to do the following:

• Read my full review of Disney Digital Books
• Get a special peek with Disney Publishing President Russell Hampton today (September 29) 1PM EST (and a free week-long subscription!)
• Try the free trial (access to 8 pre-selected books)
• Enjoy a gallery of sample pages from Disney Digital Books