eBay.com
Did you know that you can search by city and state for postcards and pictures? For about $5 one can buy several Ellis Library postcards that show the front entrance.
Submitted by Jack Batterson

Thunderstorm.vaisala.com/explorer.html
Vaisala Lightning Explorer displays recent lightning activity across the entire continental U.S.
Submitted by Jack Batterson

http://www.AllRecipes.com/Recipes/bbq–grilling
See this to get the best BBQ recipes. This is a comprehensive site with recipes, videos and meal plans.
Submitted by Jack Batterson

http://www.traffic.com
Like Mapquest.com and Google maps, this is another way of getting directions from point A to point B. I like getting directions from all three so I can be sure to get the latest information. This site goes further by offering email alerts when there are traffic jams in your area. The alert tells you how fast cars are going, and travel time.

Submitted by Jack Batterson

http://livewxradar.com/modules.php?name=Content&pa=showpage&pid=30
This is another option for weather watchers to use in addition to the Weather Underground. Of interest are the “Really Big HD radar” and “Live storm chasing.” The Live storm chasing provides a live steaming video of storm chasers as they drive across the Midwest searching for tornadoes. For serious weather folks, there is the “cool weather links” page.
Submitted by Jack Batterson

http://www.allaboutbirds.org/Page.aspx?pid=1189

This is the web’s most comprehensive resource for North American birds, bird watching, and bird conservation that is maintained by Cornell lab of Ornithology. The wonderful bird guide includes bird sounds for each bird along with the usual bird information. Another section that would be of special interest are the photography articles that give wonderful tips on taking better bird pictures.
Submitted by Jack Batterson

Use this website to Plan your drive, view the roads, see the weather, and look at more travel information including road conditions in neighboring states:
http://www.kandrive.org/
Submitted by Jack Batterson

http://www.paynearme.com/
This is a rapidly growing alternative way to pay bills for those who do not have a bank account. They can pay online without using a credit card.

Techcrunch described it in a May 10 article:
Here’s how PayNearMe works. On participating partners, e-commerce or merchant sites, consumers can use the PayNearMe option to pay for purchases or debts owed. You simply place your order with PayNearMe and print out the given receipt. You then take that receipt into a 7-Eleven and they scan it and you pay in cash. Once you pay, your order with the retailer or merchant will be fulfilled.

The process is based on a new, free Ria Card, available now at 7-Eleven stores and which can be used to pay more than 3,000 US billers. This card also can facilitate sending remittances to family and friends.

Submitted by Jack Batterson

http://hrs.missouri.edu/training/all-employees/staff-recognition-week-seminars/index.php
The 2011 Staff Recognition Week is scheduled for May 16 – 20.
Human Resource Services is once again coordinating training programs for Staff Advisory Council that will be offered free to employees.

Of special interest are “Understanding Retirement” by HR and the two Bob Almony workshops.
Submitted by Jack Batterson

http://smokefree.missouri.edu/index.php
Starting on July 1, 2011, smoking will be permitted in one of 15 designated outdoor areas on campus.

This new website includes details of the policy change, and a map of the designated smoking areas. There is also information about the smoking cessation programs. The University offers free smoking cessation treatments to students, employees and spouses and some dependents.

Submitted by Jack Batterson