t's true. Yes, if you are wondering whether an incredible email or Web site claim is for real, Snopes is the place to go. The site rightfully bills itself as "the definitive Internet reference source for urban legends, folklore, myths, rumor and misinformation." Launched by professional researchers Barbara and David Mikkelson in 1995, the site is widely considered the authority on the veracity of claims such as a war-separated couple reunited by a tablecloth, deadly perfume samples,the chunky soup curse, political intrigues galore, and so much more. You can search by keywords - handy for cutting and pasting from emails or sites - browse more than 40 categories, check out the top 25 urban legends, and take a spin with the Randomzier. Wherever you turn, you can trust Snopes to be fascinating and true.

orth thinking about. That's the sort of thing you'll find at Marc and Angel Hack Life. This charming couple shares its original outlook and opinions about life, productivity, hopes, health, work, tech and general self improvement through this fascinating blog. Recent posts shared practical ideas on "30 Things to Stop Doing to Yourself," "95 Questions to Help You Find Meaning and Happiness," and "60 Tiny Love Stories to Make You Smile," any of which could occupy you for hours. Once you have, you can make comments about the articles, and plenty of people have. You can also browse popular posts and the more than 20 categories that range from Aspirations to Weddings. There's some tech stuff sprinkled in, too, as well as links to other sites they like. Well organized and well thought out, this site is definitely worth your time and energy.

aper to pixels. That's been the route for More Intelligent Life. Yes, the lifestyle and culture magazine Intelligent Life is now printed and then trickled out onto the Web during its bimonthly shelf life, then tossed lightly with a mixture of additional features, profiles, interviews and multimedia productions. Under the headings of Ideas, Lifestyle, Arts and Places, you'll find a broad range of articles covering style, food, wine, cars and travel dished up with, as they say, "crisp prose, dry wit and free thinking." When I visited, the Ideas section alone delved into inventions, early childhood and the global arms race. You can check in on the editor's blog, see the most popular and most commented upon stories, search, follow, subscribe and sign up for the site's newsletter, making this Web edition worth the trip.

ould that chair look better by the door or near the couch? Whether you're a professional or just want your house to look like one designed it, Houzz is the site for you. It's no surprise that its own design is handsome, but the organization and its comprehensiveness is unusually impressive. You can browse by seven styles or by 21 different indoor or outdoor spaces, including bedrooms, kitchens, kids rooms, porches and wine cellars. Then browse through 200,000 photos and create your own ideabooks so that you can conceive or actually create the home of your dreams. You can browse through others' ideabooks, ask questions, and look at products. If you're a design professional, the site lets you offer your services, or if you're looking for someone to help you, you'll likely find them among the 30,000 architects and designers listed. It's all free, and all perfectly positioned.