ho are you, and where did you come from? You can probably find the answer at the great-granddaddy of genealogy sites Ancestry.com. Many years ago, my husband decided to research his progenitors. This site was almost like a family bible for finding his kin, and it's gotten even better since then. You can build your own family tree, search U.S. and even world census, voter, birth, death, marriage, military, immigration and emigration lists, collaborate with other members, as well as learn about records and genealogy. You can buy genealogy books, hire an expert through the site, and even explore by way of DNA. There is a monthly charge for many of the site's services, but there are things you can do without cost, too, helping you answer those time-honored questions about your origin.

ure. Clean. Clear. Good water is all of these things, and so is the Web site The World's Water. It's so clean and well-organized, in fact, that it's almost hard to believe the volume of information it offers until you drill down into the site. The Data section focuses on recent times, with tables in PDF, Excel and plain text formats about 2008-2009 water matters worldwide. The Conflicts area has a timeline and list of battles over water from 3000 BC to 2009 that are sortable by region, conflict type, and date as well as a map showing where they happened. The site also offers Other Resources like a climate bibliography and air to water models. Indeed, this companion site to the biennial book The World’s Water is as sweet as the subject it covers.

hatever you can do, he can do smaller. That's easy to believe when visiting Moyer Made, the site of one Jim Moyer. While some people would consider it a feat to build a full-size engine, Moyer has built four miniature ones - that actually run! On the site, he tells the story of each engine and shares photos of the completed machine and some of its parts as well as offers specifications. I particularly enjoyed the pictures of the crankshaft of the world's smallest working V8 engine in, presumably, Moyer's hand. There are also videos of that little Corvette engine running, something you have to see to appreciate, and links to sites of interest to people who like tiny engines. Like Moyer's work, the site may be small, but it's powerful.

ery funny. That's the point of British comedian John Cleese's site. Like the mind of actor and writer Cleese, who is perhaps best known as one of the members of Monty Python, the site is a bit of a jumble. It has more than 30 podcasts; the Cleeseblog, which features videos, comments and a Twitter feed; The World of Cheese, which provides an opportunity to buy Cleese T-shirts and other paraphernalia; and a forum where the Cheeselets romp. These Cleese fans from around the globe do indeed drop by to share obscure John Cleese references. Of course, you can follow Cleese on Twitter or sign up for his email list, which he calls John Cleese's Nigerian Lottery, which you win every time it hits your inbox. Now that's funny!

hat a pearl of a site! Indeed, pearl-guide.com is a perfect place to learn about one of nature's most beautiful creations. Its 3,000 members - pearl dealers, farmers, traders, wholesalers, hobbyists, authors and consumers - have contributed more than 50,000 pages of information about their favorite gem. You can learn about natural pearls, cultured pearls, pearl history, pearl terms, pearl cultivation, care and grading. Oddly enough, though, there are a limited number of pictures of pearls or people finding, grading or even wearing them. But there's an active forum, where you can ask questions and discuss pearls, even if it's as simple as how to care for the ones your great-grandmother gave you. If you want to know anything about pearls, this site is quite a find.

JANUARY 2010

o native. That's just what you can do after visiting PlantNative. This fascinating site's Oregon-based hosts want to encourage use of native plants in mainstream landscaping to "promote biodiversity, preserve our natural heritage, reduce pollution, and enhance livability." And they've gone about it in a very productive way. When you search by state or region, you find a snapshot of the happiest flora for that area and why and where it does best. You can also find out more about each plant by digging down, as well as find nurseries and community services in your region and nearby areas. They also recommend helpful books, offer a naturescaping guide, and the site has a regional area for professionals. Yes, this site makes it easy for people to feel like a native.

et's make friends. At MakingFriends.com, that's not all you'll make. If you like crafts - or need them for classes, parties or group activities - you'll find them here at this jam-packed site, thanks to owner Terri, a former graphic designer, and her tough team of researchers (all of whom are under the age of 12). Fortunately, there are many ways to find what you want, with drop-down menus for themes, materials you are working with, what you're making the crafts for, as well as subject categories and holidays. You can find coupons, sample offers, contests and sources, paper doll and pony bead patterns. There's even yucky stuff for kids who don't like crafts, and the site's newsletter keeps you posted on what's new and fun, all of which makes it easy to make friends.

core! If you're ready to make a change for the better in your life, the site 43 Things is ready to help you set your goals, record your progress, and make your dreams a reality. It also lets you cheer on other site users who are working to achieve their goals, and it's all free. The site offers a really helpful tour to help you understand how it works, and it's easy to get started - you don't even have to create an account. It's even easier to be inspired by the stories posted in the "did it" section, where you can find out how long it took others to achieve their goals, and they felt about them. Of course, you can comment, see recently cheered accomplishments, new and popular goals, as well as learn about other people and their dreams. Indeed, everywhere you click and read, you're already a winner on this site.

hy don't we talk about this. Some people believe you can work out nearly any problem by talking it through. That's the focus of Mediate.com, a site dedicated to "Everything Mediation." And it just might be here. You can find mediation news, read and view more than 5,000 articles and videos about mediation, find mediators in every U.S. state, read blogs that focus on mediation, find books and services for mediation professionals, and find mediation events and organizations. There's information for professionals and those who are learning about mediation or need it. With all of its easily accessible content and more than 4 million visits annually, it's reasonable to believe the site owners' claim that it's the "world's leading mediation Web site." And that's something worth talking about!

hat sounds ideal! That's the point of idealist.org, an interactive site that helps "people and organizations exchange resources and ideas, locate opportunities and supporters, and take steps toward building a world where all people can lead free and dignified lives." Despite its idealistic goals, this is an intensely practical site. You'll find jobs, organizations, consultants, internships, programs, people, videos, images, speakers, events and volunteer opportunities. There are blogs, daily alerts and forums, and it's all in English, Spanish and French! The site makes it incredibly easy to connect to individuals and groups by location, interest, language and keyword, giving us all great hope that idealism lives.