I remember getting an encyclopedia as a kid – it was a big deal.  We couldn’t afford an Encyclopedia Encyclopaedia Britannica and got Grolier’s instead (I guess it’s the difference between Harvard and a state school).  My dad’s first job in America was selling encyclopedias door-to-door, and I wondered whether the industry would survive the internet.  Wikipedia was the potential stake in the heart, except it’s not a true authority.  You know that the facts are right in an Encyclopedia Encyclopaedia Britannica.
EB wised up and has unveiled Britannica Webshare – …

I tried 3 podcasts today – Notes in Spanish: Inspired Beginnners, Spanish Para Todos and SpanishPod. I have to say that I was disappointed in all three of them. I’m can’t say whether they are really poor or not, but after Coffee Break Spanish, they seem to lack organization and verve. It may well be that Coffee Break Spanish works for me, so perhaps these podcasts shouldn’t be counted out unless you try them yourself.

We need to learn Spanish to prepare for life in Costa Rica. I had a lot of fun immersing myself while we were there, and except for one occasion at a bus terminal where I was completely dumbfounded, I was able to communicate well enough. It would be really helpful to learn some of the grammar and improve my vocabulary for our return to Costa Rica.
I’m always on the lookout for free online resources since I spend a lot of time at a computer. I’m getting close …