Business students and professionals alike can greatly benefit from gorging on their forebears' biographies, memoirs and autobiographies — no matter their demographic. But considering difficulties faced by both historical and contemporary women, it makes sense that the female executives, entrepreneurs and innovators would seek out role models with whom they can better identify. Please do not take this listing as a comprehensive guide to the lives behind the stories, but rather a small sample for contemplation before further inquiry. It attempts to list a nicely broad swath of industries, perspectives and backgrounds, from fashion to some harrowing Bolivian mines…and all that sits between.

1. Chanel: A Woman of Her Own by Axel Madsen: Gabrielle Bonheur Chanel revolutionized fashion with her keen creativity and business acumen, and this biography peers into the celebrated woman's life and times. Author Axel Madsen blends the deeply personal with the impressively professional, painting Chanel as a three-dimensional individual enjoying high glamour and suffering wrenching tragedy.

2. On Her Own Ground: The Life and Times of Madam C.J. Walker by A'Lelia Bundles: Although she weathered an incredibly difficult life of poverty and oppression from an early age, the brilliant businesswoman and philanthropist Madam C.J. Walker eventually earned the "first black female millionaire" honor after developing and marketing African-American hair care products. She also opened up some great career opportunities for African-American women, ensuring them more options beyond domestic servitude, providing important historical and cultural context (and commentary) for biographer A'Lelia Bundles.

3. Global Girlfriends: How One Mom Made It Her Business to Help Women in Poverty Worldwide by Stacey Edgar: This autobiography chronicles the humble beginnings and subsequent success of Stacey Edgar's Global Girlfriend initiative, though it focuses more on her work than her personal life. This amazing business offers up career opportunities for oppressed women worldwide, offering them fair pay, a nurturing environment and opportunities for creativity and growth.

4. Self-Made Man: One Woman's Year Disguised as a Man by Norah Vincent: More of a sociological work on arbitrary gender perceptions and roles than a straight-up business piece, Self-Made Man nevertheless provides some fascinating insight into uniquely masculine struggles. Norah Vincent lived as a man for an entire year, even taking on a sales position that sheds light on some issues male workers face that their female peers might not ever realize.

5. Oprah: A Biography by Kitty Kelley: Until the iconic lifestyle guru herself finally gets around to publishing her memoirs — and, come on, everyone knows she probably will! — most readers wanting to know more about Oprah Winfrey's life turn towards this popular, albeit unauthorized, biography. Through a series of interviews, she hears what relatives, friends and lovers have to say about one of America's most successful, hardworking and humanitarian media moguls.

6. Honeybee: Lessons from an Accidental Beekeeper by C. Marina Marchese: The founder of Red Bee Honey reflects on her fascination with all things apiary, gleaning plentiful professional and personal lessons in the process. Even those without any real connection to or interest in the natural world and cosmetics — C. Marina Marchese sprinkles her memoir with some cool recipes — can still walk away from this autobiography with something to ponder.

7. Autobiography of Mother Jones by Mother Jones: As one of the most influential working-class labor leaders in the United States, Mary Harris "Mother" Jones' passion for socioeconomic justice earned her the moniker "The Most Dangerous Women in America." Regardless of one's political leanings, reading her autobiography opens up an interesting historical perspective on business and economics.

8. Let Me Speak! Testimony of Domitila, a Woman of the Bolivian Mines by Domitila Barrios De Chungara: Another landmark piece in the worker's rights movement, this time taking readers inside the horrific conditions of Bolivian mine shafts. Both a glimpse into history and a treatise on keeping employees as safe and healthy as possible, Let Me Speak! looks at big business through the eyes of its most marginalized demographic.

9. Barbie and Ruth: The Story of the World's Most Famous Doll and the Woman Who Created Her by Robin Gerber: Ruth Handler co-founded Mattel with her husband Elliot and launched the iconic Barbie doll in 1959, changing the entire toy industry (and, many say, perceptions of women's bodies) forever. But her life was not an easy one, and she spent her remaining decades creating prosthetics for fellow women who underwent mastectomies.

10. The Road to Someplace Better by Lillian Lincoln Lambert: The daughter of poor Virginian subsistence farmers, Lillian Lincoln Lambert eventually shattered molds as the first African-American woman to graduate from Harvard Business School. Her amazing, inspiring autobiography chronicles the passion, hard work and occasional desperation that went into her eventual academic and professional success.

11. Martha Inc.: The Incredible Story of Martha Stewart Omnimedia by Christopher M. Byron: Love her or loathe her — no real middle ground apparently exists — Martha Stewart undeniably left an impact on business and media alike, particularly when it came to profiting off traditional homemaking activities. In this detailed biography, Christopher M. Byron explores her controversial public life, staggering financial success (some of it actually legitimate!) and personal history.

12. Suits: A Woman on Wall Street by Nina Godiwalla: Suits tells the very real story of a Zoroastrian banker who finds herself interning in the Manhattan offices of J.P. Morgan Chase — and discovering some highly disconcerting things about Wall Street's treatment of minorities and women. Nina Godiwalla presses on with the hopes of pleasing her parents, particularly her father, but ultimately concludes that such a high-pressure, low-tolerance atmosphere just doesn't gel well with what she needs and wants.

13. Seducing the Boys Club: Uncensored Tactics from a Woman at the Top by Nina DiSesa: Although more of a guide than a straight-up biography, McCann Erickson New York advertising executive Nina DiSesa certainly pulls from her own life to offer up advice. Many of the concepts regarding "making it in a man's world" might seem gendered to some readers, but it nevertheless provides an interesting — sometimes disheartening — glimpse at patriarchy's role in the corporate world.

14. Life on the Line: One Woman's Tale of Work, Sweat, and Survival by Solange De Santis: Solange De Santis put her investigative journalism skills to work on a GM assembly line in Ontario, keeping a detailed diary for 18 months. From there, she pointed out some startling safety, health and sexual harassment violations, but pointed out that the workers certainly did pour a hefty amount of blood, sweat and tears into their responsibilities.

15. The Dressmaker of Khair Khana: Five Sisters, One Remarkable Family, and the Woman Who Risked Everything to Keep Them Safe by Gayle Tzemach Lemmon: Despite the Taliban ripping away her teaching career and shoving her under veritable house arrest, courageous and clever Kamila Sidiqi used the opportunity to flex her entrepreneurship muscles in defiance. When her father and brother were forced to flee, she ended up in charge of her five sisters, keeping them alive through semi-underground seamstress services.

16. 20 Years at Hull-House by Jane Addams: Women and men alike working in the nonprofit sector — and general readers with a particular interest in humanitarianism and philanthropy — might want to pick up this classic memoir about a successful, influential settlement house. Jane Addams and her partner Ellen Gates Starr kept Hull House operating for over two decades, helping new immigrants better adjust to American life by forging tight-knit communities.

17. Seaworthy: A Swordboat Captain Returns to the Sea by Linda Greenlaw: Whether working on land or the sea, the captain of swordfish vessel Seahawk offers up some incredible stories and advice regarding leadership, bravery and pressing on despite severe setbacks. Following a decade-long separation from fishing, Linda Greenlaw reflects on her return and the challenges she faced as the only American woman leading a swordfish boat and expedition.

18. All Things at Once by Mika Brzezinski: Best known as the co-host of MSNBC's Morning Joe, Mika Brzezinski opens up about all the issues associated with trying to having a career, a husband and children — and unfortunately often neglecting the latter in favor of the former. For seasoned and novice businesswomen alike, her successes and failings can serve as valuable lessons in what to do and not do when simultaneously working and starting a family.

19. Tough Choices: A Memoir by Carly Fiorina: Carly Fiorina never really set out to be a businesswoman, but ultimately ended up serving as Hewlett-Packard's CEO of Technology for 6 years before her 2005 dismissal. Once amongst America's most powerful corporate women, she eventually published Tough Choices as a rumination on life in the boardroom — and how her decisions ultimately came to shape her rise and fall.

20. The Letters of Sylvia Beach by Sylvia Beach: Literature aficionados recognize Sylvia Beach as the Shakespeare & Company owner and operator partly responsible for Ernest Hemingway's career. But her influence spread much, much further than that, and this work collects her correspondence with such luminaries as Gertrude Stein, James Joyce, F. Scott and Zelda Fitzgerald, Ezra Pound and plenty more.

1. "You should be women and yet your beards forbid me to interpret that you are so." from Macbeth. Shakespeare uses this line to showcase just how unattractive the witches in the story truly are, withered, wrinkled and apparently quite hairy. So unattractive are they, that both Macbeth and Banquo jokingly question whether they are really human at all.
2. "There's small choice in rotten apples." from Taming of the Shrew. Here's a Shakespearean gem that you can apply to contemporary life. Keep it in mind the next time you have to vote in an election or are trying to pick a favorite reality TV star.
3. "Methink thou art a general offence, and every man should beat thee. I think thou wast created for men to breathe themselves upon you." from All's Well That Ends Well. This harsh criticism is doled out on Porolles by Lafeu in this Shakespearean tragi-comedy, perhaps justly so because he is a bit of a scoundrel. You might know a certain someone in your life who could quite aptly be applied to this quote.
4. "I desire that we be better strangers." from As You Like It. This polite little barb is the perfect way to suggest that you spend less time together, as Orlando and Jaques would like to do in this play. The interplay between them, with insults firing back and forth, is well worth a read for any literature lover.
5. "Thou art a boil, a plague sore, an embossed carbuncle in my corrupted blood." from King Lear. Well, tell us how you really feel King Lear! Oddly enough, after calling his daughter a disease and a boil, he tells her he will not chide her. Though one has to wonder what he considers the words he just said.
6. "Tempt not too much the hatred of my spirit, for I am sick when I do look on thee." from A Midsummer Night's Dream. Ah, unrequited love. Shakespeare deals with it in a humorous, though somewhat pathetic, manner in this interplay between Demetrius and Helena. Of course, his rebuttal of her feelings is easily applicable to just about anyone you are loathe to spend time with.
7. "Four of his five wits went halting off, and now is the whole man governed with one: so that if he have wit enough to keep himself warm, let him bear it for a difference between himself and his horse; for it is all the wealth that he hath left, to be known a reasonable creature." from Much Ado About Nothing. Forget about half-wits, this man gets by with only a fifth! This brutal exchange takes place between Beatrice and a messenger who believes Signor Benedick is quite the man, but she sets him straight in a moment.
8. "Foul spoken coward, that thund'rest with thy tongue, and with thy weapon nothing dares perform." from Titus Andronicus. As Shakespeare's bloodiest play, Titus Andronicus is packed full of insults like this one, declaring someone all talk and no walk in a much fancier, more literary way. Perfect for challenging others to duels and feats of strength, if you're into that sort of thing.
9. "She hath more hair than wit, and more faults than hairs, and more wealth than faults." from Two Gentlemen of Verona. She may be dumb and full of faults, but if she's wealthy, Launce sees this woman as a good match. This humorous exchange shows that male or female, modern or ancient, people have always been goldiggers.
10. "No longer from head to foot than from hip to hip, she is spherical, like a globe, I could find out countries in her." from The Comedy of Errors. If this Elizabethan barb doesn't bring a smile to your face, nothing will. Save, of course, the ensuing discussion between Dromio and Antipholus about where each country is located on her body. A bit gross, but not nearly as sexual as it sounds.
11. "It is a tale told by an idiot, full of sound and fury, signifying nothing." from Macbeth. This famous quotation from Macbeth is one you should know just to know, not just for insulting nature of it. Here, Macbeth uses it to describe the futility and ephemeral nature of life itself but it is often used in popular literature to take a shot at those seen to be full of hot air.
12. "Away, you three inch fool!" from Taming of the Shrew. Nothing cuts someone down to size like, well, accusing them of being small. And three inches is pretty darn small.
13. "Drunkenness is his best virtue, for he will be swine drunk, and in his sleep he does little harm, save to his bedclothes about him." from All's Well That Ends Well. In this scene, Captain Dumain's character is given a once over by Parolles, who isn't such a nice guy himself, and perhaps doesn't have much room to talk. Nonetheless, the implication that someone is at their most pleasant when passed out and wetting themselves has some serious power to damage a man's self-esteem.
14. "You are now sailed into the north of my ladies opinion, where you will hang like an icicle on a Dutchman's beard." from Twelfth Night. The imagery in this insult is priceless. Not only will this poor fellow be looked upon coldly from here on out, but he'll also have the displeasure of hanging out in a Dutchman's beard. Who doesn't love a good jab at the Dutch?
15. "I do wish thou were a dog, that I might love thee something." from Timon of Athens. When Timon is moping about, he declares his hatred for mankind and wishes that his friend might instead be a cute little furry companion instead. Out of context, this makes for an even more potent insult.
16. "If you spend word for word with me, I shall make your wit bankrupt." from Two Gentlemen of Verona. In a battle of wits, some people are simply ill-equipped to fight, which is what is suggested in this Shakespearean quip. Memorize it, and you'll be better armed to fight your own battle of words.
17. "You have such a February face, so full of frost, of storm and cloudiness." from Much Ado About Nothing. Telling someone they look absolutely miserable sounds a bit nicer when you phrase it as a simple case of "February face" like Shakespeare did in this encounter between Benedick and Don Pedro.
18. "I'll beat thee, but I should infect my hands." from Timon of Athens. Followed up with gems like, "Were I like thee, I would throw away myself" and "Would thou were clean enough to spit on" this exchange is insult gold and well worth a read if you're looking for a laugh or something to match your sour mood.
19. "I must tell you friendly in your ear, sell when you can, you are not for all markets." from As You Like It. Those who didn't make out the best in the looks department may not be able to be quite so choosy when it comes to finding a mate, a fact which Shakespeare points out quite adroitly and humorously here. This is one you might want to just think instead of saying out loud, as it could make you a new enemy.
20. "Thou art a base, proud, shallow, beggarly, three-suited, hundred-pound, filthy worsted-stocking knave; a lily-liver'd, action-taking, whoreson, glass-gazing, superserviceable, finical rogue; one-trunk-inheriting slave; one that wouldst be a bawd in way of good service, and art nothing but the composition of a knave, beggar, coward, pandar, and the son and heir of a mungril bitch." from King Lear. If this isn't the king of all insults then it would be surprising to see what could possibly be worse. This rant from Kent insults just about every facet of the character of Oswald and can't possibly have left much more than a shred of dignity to his name.

1. Working Title Playwrights Blog: Working Title Playwrights discusses making new plays happen for developing playwrights.
2. Essential Theatre: Essential Theatre provides support for the creation of new dramatic literature through this blog.
3. The Jobbing Scriptwriter: Phil Barron's blog is a playwriting blog that's not for the faint hearted.
4. The Office of Letters and Light: The Office of Letters and light encourages writers to reach their creative potential.
5. Adam Szymkowicz: Adam Szymkowicz has advice for new playwrights, as well as interviews with playwrights.
6. Playwright Now: Stephen Gregg helps student playwrights and more on this blog.
7. Culturebot: Culturebot overloads with culture, sharing arts, culture, and ideas.
8. Damian Trasler's Secret Blog: Damian Trasler's blog discusses secret information about life, plays, and Canada.
9. Plays and Playwrights: The NYTE Small Press is all about publishing plays by emerging playwrights.
10. Playwrights Foundation Blog: This foundation is dedicated to supporting American playwrights and the development of new plays.
11. ArtsBeat: Read ArtsBeat to take a look at culture in the US.
12. About Last Night: About Last Night takes a look at the art scene in New York.
13. The Pen is Mightier Than the Spork: James Moran is a writer sharing his experiences on this blog.
14. Write Here, Write Now: Lucy Hay is a script editor, screenwriter, and feminist.
15. Everything I Know I Learned from Musicals: Chris Caggiano's blog explores musicals, with reviews, news, and more.
16. Weebelly: Weebelly is a playwrights blog dedicated to all things play building.
17. Happy Publishing: Happy Publishing has inspiration for aspiring playwrights.
18. NaPlWriMo: NaPlWriMo is National Playwriting Month, and offers great ideas for playwriting.
19. Culture Monster: Stay on top of culture in LA with the help of Culture Monster.
20. Economic Revitalization for Performing Artists: Check out this blog to learn about revitalizing the profit system for performing arts.
21. New Play Blog: Read about the development of new plays on this blog.
22. How to be a busy poet and still live in poverty: Mark Niel blogs about staying busy as a poet.
23. The Subversive Copy Editor Blog: Carol is a senior manuscript editor with great advice for aspiring playwrights.
24. Jamespeak: Read James Comtois' ramblings as a playwright and armchair thinker on Jamespeak.
25. Script Frenzy: Get inspired to write scripts with this blog.
26. Theatre Thoughts Blog: Read about all things theatrical on the Theatre Thoughts blog.
27. On Theatre and Politics: Matthew Freeman's blog explores his work as a playwright and freelance writer.
28. Writers Write: Writer's Write is a great blog for writing and publishing as a playwright.
29. Upstaged: Upstaged explores the world of theater in New York and the US.
30. Gabrielle Fox Playwright: Gabrielle discusses her work as a playwright, screenplay, and short story writer.
31. Travalance: Travalanche shares a variety of observations from Trav S.D., a playwright and more.
32. New Jersey Young Playwrights: This blog is all about supporting young playwrights in New Jersey and beyond.
33. We Play Different: Check out this blog to learn about creating plays.
34. Caviglia's Cabinet of Curiosities: Caviglia's blog focuses on TV, theatre, art, movies, and even cephalopods.
35. Summer Play Festival Diary: SPF Diary takes a look at playwrights and interns on this blog.
36. Friends in Film: Friends in Film help actors and writers get into the film business.
37. Ruben Carbajal: Ruben's blog offers playwriting and copywriting in blog form.
38. Theatre, Culture, Politics & Stuff I Like: Read playwright David Johnson's blog about the theater industry and his work.
39. Ronald McCants: Ronald McCants' blog is all about what's happening now with American playwrights.
40. David J. LeMaster: David J. LeMaster is the Parkinson's Playwright writing about adventures in theater, literature, incurable diseases, and optimism.

1. Musical training helps develop language and reasoning: Students who have early musical training will develop the areas of the brain related to language and reasoning. The left side of the brain is better developed with music, and songs can help imprint information on young minds.
2. A mastery of memorization: Even when performing with sheet music, student musicians are constantly using their memory to perform. The skill of memorization can serve students well in education and beyond.
3. Students learn to improve their work: Learning music promotes craftsmanship, and students learn to want to create good work instead of mediocre work. This desire can be applied to all subjects of study.
4. Increased coordination: Students who practice with musical instruments can improve their hand-eye coordination. Just like playing sports, children can develop motor skills when playing music.
5. A sense of achievement: Learning to play pieces of music on a new instrument can be a challenging, but achievable goal. Students who master even the smallest goal in music will be able to feel proud of their achievement.
6. Kids stay engaged in school: An enjoyable subject like music can keep kids interested and engaged in school. Student musicians are likely to stay in school to achieve in other subjects.
7. Success in society: Music is the fabric of our society, and music can shape abilities and character. Students in band or orchestra are less likely to abuse substances over their lifetime. Musical education can greatly contribute to children's intellectual development as well.
8. Emotional development: Students of music can be more emotionally developed, with empathy towards other cultures They also tend to have higher self esteem and are better at coping with anxiety.
9. Students learn pattern recognition: Children can develop their math and pattern-recognition skills with the help of musical education. Playing music offers repetition in a fun format.
10. Better SAT scores: Students who have experience with music performance or appreciation score higher on the SAT. One report indicates 63 points higher on verbal and 44 points higher on math for students in music appreciation courses.
11. Fine-tuned auditory skills: Musicians can better detect meaningful, information-bearing elements in sounds, like the emotional meaning in a baby's cry. Students who practice music can have better auditory attention, and pick out predictable patterns from surrounding noise.
12. Music builds imagination and intellectual curiosity: Introducing music in the early childhood years can help foster a positive attitude toward learning and curiosity. Artistic education develops the whole brain and develops a child's imagination.
13. Music can be relaxing: Students can fight stress by learning to play music. Soothing music is especially helpful in helping kids relax.
14. Musical instruments can teach discipline: Kids who learn to play an instrument can learn a valuable lesson in discipline. They will have to set time aside to practice and rise to the challenge of learning with discipline to master playing their instrument.
15. Preparation for the creative economy: Investing in creative education can prepare students for the 21st century workforce. The new economy has created more artistic careers, and these jobs may grow faster than others in the future.
16. Development in creative thinking: Kids who study the arts can learn to think creatively. This kind of education can help them solve problems by thinking outside the box and realizing that there may be more than one right answer.
17. Music can develop spatial intelligence: Students who study music can improve the development of spatial intelligence, which allows them to perceive the world accurately and form mental pictures. Spatial intelligence is helpful for advanced mathematics and more.
18. Kids can learn teamwork: Many musical education programs require teamwork as part of a band or orchestra. In these groups, students will learn how to work together and build camaraderie.
19. Responsible risk-taking: Performing a musical piece can bring fear and anxiety. Doing so teaches kids how to take risks and deal with fear, which will help them become successful and reach their potential.
20. Better self-confidence: With encouragement from teachers and parents, students playing a musical instrument can build pride and confidence. Musical education is also likely to develop better communication for students.

1. Roots (1977): Alex Haley chronicles the story of his own family across many generations. Beginning with Kunta Kinte, an 18th century African who is captured and sold into slavery in the United States and tracing Kinte's life and the lives of his descendants in the U.S. until he comes to Haley himself. This film gives a thorough look into the history of one African-American bloodline.
2. Glory (1989): Considered one of the best civil war movies ever made, Glory is the true story of how Colonel Robert Shaw leads the first all-black volunteer company in the United States Civil War. Shaw and his company not only battle the enemy, but also struggle to fight the racism and prejudices within their own Union army.

3. Amistad (1997): Based on the true story of a slave mutiny that took place aboard a slave ship traveling from Cuba to the United States in 1839 and the legal battle that followed. This film examines the fundamental definition of personhood and freedom.

4. Malcolm X (1992): Based on the book "The Autobiography of Malcolm X" by Alex Haley, Malcolm X tells the story of the provocative leader's journey to civil right activism through religious conversion.

5. A Raisin in the Sun (1961): Based on the screenplay by Lorraine Hansberry (who was the first black female playwright to make it on Broadway), this film examines the struggles a young black father and husband encounters when trying to support his family during a time plagued by racism and segregation.
6. The Rosa Parks Story (2002): This film tells the iconic story of Rosa Parks, whose refusal to obey a Montgomery, Alabama segregation law prompts the first major Civil Rights demonstration in the country.
7. The Autobiography of Miss Jane Pittman (1974): Based on the novel by Ernest J. Gaines, this television movie was one of the first films to explore African American characters with true depth and sympathy. The film follows Jane Pittman as she recounts memories of being a young slave in the American South at the end of the Civil War to her views on the current civil rights movement when she is 110 years old.
8. The Color Purple (1985): Based on the Pulitzer Prize winning novel, The Color Purple explores the challenges an African American woman growing up in the early 1900's in the rural south faces. This film delves into issues concerning poverty, racism and sexism.
9. To Kill a Mockingbird (1962): Based on the award winning novel by Harper Lee, this movie follows the lives of a young white family in Alabama as Atticus Finch, the father, represents a wrongly accused black man in court. The story explores justice, innocence, race relations, and ethics as Atticus' children are forced to see the horrendous prejudice within the small town they call home.
10. With All Deliberate Speed (2004): This documentary examines the landmark Supreme Court Case decision in Brown v. Board of Education with interviews from people directly involved in the case.
11. Their Eyes Were Watching God (2005): Based on Zora Neale Hurston's 1937 novel, this movie follows Janie Crawford, an independent black woman, through her several marriages as she gains a sense of self worth and identity.
12. Introducing Dorothy Dandridge (1999): This movie explores the life of the pioneering performing artist, Dorothy Dandridge. Introducing Dorothy Dandridge follows the young star through her early days, performing with her sister, to her Best Actress Oscar nomination, and finally to her premature fall to prescription drugs.
13. In The Heat of The Night (1967): This 1967 film tells the story of an African American homicide detective from Philadelphia who becomes involved in a murder investigation in a small town in Mississippi that is plagued by overwhelming racism and prejudice. In The Heat of The Night won five Academy Awards, including Best Picture and best Actor.
14. 4 Little Girls (1997): An historical documentary directed by Spike Lee detailing the 1963 Baptist Church bombing in Birmingham, Alabama that killed four young African American girls attending Sunday School. The tragic event is recalled by the girls' families and friends, while others comment on the event's broader consequences in civil rights legislation.
15. Heat Wave (1990): This television movie, set during the Watts Riots in 1965, tells the story of Los Angeles Times reporter Robert Richardson. Richardson is the only journalist on staff able to cover the story because he is black and white reporters were unable to gain access to the area and the rioters.
16. Conrack (1974): Based on the autobiographical novel The Water Is Wide by Pat Conroy, this film features a young teacher who is assigned to teach a group of all black students on an isolated island off the coast of South Carolina. While he finds that the student's are nearly illiterate and extremely neglected by the state educational system, he is faced with issues involving racism and segregation deeply wrought within the community.
17. The Great White Hope (1970): Heavy weight champion boxer, Jack Jefferson (based on the life of real boxer Jack Johnson), struggles to withstand the blows of racism and hatred, while thriving in a sport formerly ruled by white men.
18. Sounder (1972): Based on the novel by William H. Armstrong, this movie tells the tale a loving yet poverty stricken family of black sharecroppers living in Louisiana during the Depression. Sounder portrays a young boy's coming of age as he learns to read while his father is in prison.
19. Cooley High (1975): Set in Chicago in the 1960's, this story centers on a group of high school friends from "the projects." The story begins as a humorous depiction of life in an urban high school; however, the plot quickly changes when the two main characters are accused of a crime they did not commit. This film addresses issues of racism and discrimination.
20. Guess Who's Coming to Dinner (1967): This film was the first movie to approach the subject of interracial marriage in a positive manner. As a young white American girl brings her young African American doctor fiancé home to meet her parents, the film depicts the discomfort her family and friends feel about her new fiancé.
21. A Soldier's Story (1984): Set near the end of World War II, this movie examines the life and death of an African American sergeant who was in charge of a racially segregated unit. This movie deals powerfully with issues of racism and segregation in the U.S. Army.
22. Something the Lord Made (2004): Based on a true story, this movie illuminates the obstacles a young black man encountered on his path to becoming a heart surgeon. Something the Lord Made dramatizes the relationship between Dr. Alfred Blalock and Vivien Thomas as they pioneered heart surgery techniques in Baltimore in the 1940s.
23. A Great Day in Harlem (1994): This documentary tells the story of photographer Art Kane's 1958 iconic photograph of all the great jazz musician of the era.
24. Eyes on the Prize (1987): This documentary discusses the Civil Rights Movement from 1952 to 1965. The filmmakers used only primary sources, such as archival footage and real interviews with persons immediately involved in the events being discussed. The film puts special focus on the everyday people who influenced the cause.
25. Ali (2001): This film is a dramatic biography of great boxing icon Muhammad Ali from 1964 to 1974, recounting the boxer's capture of the heavyweight title, conversion to Islam, criticism of the Vietnam War, banishment from boxing, and reclaiming of the title in 1974. Ali depicts the great social and political upheaval the United States was thrown into following the assassinations of Malcolm X and Martin Luther King, Jr..
26. Men of Honor (2000): This film dramatizes the courageous story of African American sailor, Carl Brashear, who dreams of becoming a U.S. Navy Master Diver in 1948. Men of Honor illuminates the racism and prejudice Brashear encountered and surpassed in order to achieve his goal.
27. Do the Right Thing (1989): This highly controversial film depicts a neighborhood in Brooklyn on the hottest day of the year. As the temperature rises on this little street, so do the tensions between the characters inhabiting it. Do the Right Thing explores race relations and stereotypes through its depiction of violence and unease on a small urban street.
28. Remember the Titans (2000): This film takes place in 1971 in Alexandria, Virginia at a newly desegregated high school. Based on a true story, Remember the Titans explores the challenges a newly appointed African-American coach faces when coaching the now racially integrated high school football team.
29. Akeelah and the Bee (2006): Akeelah Anderson, a young black girl from South Los Angeles, strives to participate in the Scripps National Spelling Bee. Akeelah and the Bee takes a profound look at issues of education in low socioeconomic African-American communities.
30. Bamboozled (2000): Directed by Spike Lee, this satirical film uncomfortably explores race depiction and stereotype in the media. As a Harvard educated black writer becomes fed up when his tame ideas about modern black families are ignored, he devises a plan to point out stereotyping and prejudice in the media. He proposes a risky show with African-American actors in black face. To his shock and surprise, the network and, in turn, America loves it.

Education

1. US Department of Education: Americans wanting to keep track of social justice in the public education system would do well to follow this feed.

2. Teach For America: The Teach for America program sends educators to schools in desperate need of reform and attention, providing a window into the myriad issues demanding addressing.

3. Education Week: Official Twitter for the eponymous periodical, which supplements its material with even more news and insights.

4. Jose Vilson: A middle school math teacher tirelessly crusades for education reform, particularly as it relates to the needs of often marginalized inner city students.

5. Ramel: This Shorty Award winner holds a PhD in educational leadership and knows a thing or two about establishing effective classrooms.

6. Education Update: Follow Education Update for a consistent, active resource turning its attention towards making permanent, valuable changes to the public school system.

7. edutopia: Get inspired to work towards instilling the best solutions for education reform through this essential feed.

8. TeachHUB: Teachers from grades K through 12 network and share ideas about what works, what doesn't and what needs changing in the world of education.

9. ACSD Whole Child: Join the movement pushing towards serious education reform ensuring every child in America receives the best possible schooling.

10. getschooled: Education completely transcends the classroom, and anyone wanting to fight for social justice should stay on top of what's going on with America's kids — and what needs doing to keep them motivated and learning.

LGBTQIA Rights

11. GLAAD: Media and cultural critique dissecting various depictions of the LGBTQIA community and its members form the bulk of this organization's Twitter content.

12. Genderfork: Human sexuality does not exist in a series of binaries, and Genderfork celebrates the wide world of identity and presentation without judgment.

13. Gay Civil Rights: The LGBTQIA movement fights for equality and social justice using many of the same nonviolent tactics as the earlier Civil Rights campaign.

14. David Badash: Editor of The New Civil Rights Movement David Badash continues his passionate crusade to ensure equal rights for LGBTQIA individuals and organizations.

15. Human Rights Campaign: Right now, HRC exists as the largest American group fully dedicated to promoting LGBTQIA equality in a society frequently ignoring their needs.

16. Pam's House Blend: Both the Pam's House Blend blog and Twitter deliver straightforward, strong and unapologetic commentary on LGBTQIA rights.

17. CourageCampaign: Although based in California and often tweeting about state and local issues, this progressive organization still concerns itself with LGBTQIA social and political change on a national level as well.

18. Queerty: Queerty's tweets revolve around the news and views shaping today's LGBTQIA community and its never-ending fight for equal treatment in society.

19. SLDN: Don't Ask, Don't Tell may have been overturned, but that doesn't completely end the struggle of the LGBTQIA enlisted in the American military.

20. DLP_Gamma: Delta Lambda Phi defies prevailing fraternity stereotypes by offering up a welcoming, progressive community for gay and bisexual men.

Medical Research and Care

21. Be The Match: Join the Be the Match Registry and help save thousands of lives by donating bone marrow whenever the need arises.

22. AIDS.gov: Keep track of what the American government (and, of course, other organizations) are doing to promote AIDS awareness and prevention, dispel myths and find a cure for the devastating disease.

23. St. Jude: This pediatric hospital focuses on treating (hopefully someday curing) cancer and providing healthcare for families unable to afford it.

24. Komen for the Cure: Follow the Susan B. Komen Foundation's official Twitter for the latest news and opinions on breast cancer research.

25. Texas Children's: As part of the world's most advanced medical complex, Texas Children's Hospital offers up some of the best research and advice on keeping kids as healthy and safe as possible.

26. RHMC Global: The Ronald McDonald House has a presence in 52 regions and nations, and all of them deliver amazing services to sick children in need of medical care — and, of course, their families.

27. American Heart Assoc: For individuals and families wanting to keep their hearts healthy and prevent potentially deadly diseases and conditions, this Twitter is an essential follow.

28. American Lung Association: Stop by the American Lung Association's official feed for excellent advice on preventing, treating and someday hopefully curing respiratory disease.

29. CDC_ehealth: Stay on top of the latest stories regarding public health and safety and what can be done to stop outbreaks before they start, courtesy of the Center for Disease Control.

30. Amer. Diabetes Assn.: Regardless of whether or not one is — or know someone who is — afflicted with diabetes, this Twitter warrants reading and promotion.

Mental Health

31. Take5toSaveLives: It may not update much, but Take5toSaveLives and World Suicide Prevention Day are still handy names to know.

32. Joe Pantoliano: As the founder of No Kidding, Me Too, actor and activist Joe Pantoliano hopes to destigmatize mental illness and see patients treated as social equals.

33. Eating Disorder Hope: Rather than shaming women and men with eating disorders, this organization treats them with dignity and respect when promoting awareness and encouraging psychological help.

34. Mario Rocco: Ask for permission to follow this feed and receive updates on news and strategies from the mental health community, especially as they pertain to destigmatization.

35. BringChange2Mind.org: This organization's strategy for lifting the stigma off mental illness is as straightforward as it is admirable — provide accurate research on the subjects at hand and destroy the surrounding myths.

36. Mental Health NIMH: Visit the National Institute of Mental Health for detailed (but accessible) research on a wide variety of psychological topics.

37. StampOutStigma.co.uk: Check out what this organization does to educate the United Kingdom about mental illnesses, ensuring the safest and healthiest life possible for patients.

38. End The Stigma: End the Stigma wants to…well…end the stigma of mental illness. It isn't terribly active, but it does offer up some good advice and links.

39. Hope4MentalHealth: Follow this Twitter feed for some highly informative — if not outright inspiring — new from the front line of mental health destigmatization and treatment.

40. APAHealthyMinds: The American Psychological Association consistently posts updates enlightening the world about myriad mental health issues.

Poverty, Hunger and Homelessness

41. Habitat for Humanity: Not everyone will agree with the Christian bent of Habitat for Humanity, but it's still an amazing organization devoted to building and repairing houses for the impoverished and homeless.

42. Architecture for Humanity: Much like Habitat, Architecture for Humanity also brings together design, construction and development professionals together to keep poverty-stricken families in safe, healthy homes.

43. Goodwill Intl: Goodwill International's Twitter serves as the central hub for local satellites worldwide, keeping visitors informed about its myriad charitable offerings.

44. Spotlight on Poverty: Follow this Twitter feed for the latest news on poverty statistics and what individuals, businesses and nonprofits are doing to reduce its influence.

45. We Can End Poverty: One of the United Nations' Millennium Development Goals revolves around ending extreme poverty on a global level, using physical and virtual resources alike.

46. Picture the Homeless: Homeless people band together with the ultimate goal of addressing their conditions, the similar conditions of others and poverty.

47. Homeless World Cup: This annual event brings together homeless individuals worldwide for sport and opportunities to improve their lives and the lives of others.

48. Poverty in America: In spite of its paused update schedule, the Poverty in America Twitter is essential reading for anyone hoping to combat the issue right at home.

49. Share Our Strength: Just because America enjoys First World nation status doesn't mean people don–t starve here. Share Our Strength seeks to end hunger right here, right now.

50. Kim Doyle Willie: FeedTheUS.com and the US Hunger Summit/National Discussion both call this oft-delayed, but still provocative, Twitter feed home.

Racial and Ethnic Equality

51. Minority Thought: Minority Thought dissects journalism and makes statements about race relations and stereotypes in today's world.

52. The NAACP: One of the oldest Civil Rights organizations in the United States continues its work establishing racial equality.

53. Racialicious: Look at pop culture through a racial and ethnic lens, learning about how the media still perpetuates many stereotypes and misconceptions.

54. Muslimah Media Watch: The MMW focuses on dissecting media depictions of women both of the Muslim faith and those from predominantly Islamic nations, questioning many of the misrepresentations along the way.

55. DREAMActivist: Race and undocumented work are not interchangeable concepts, though there remains many overlaps. This impassioned activist hopes to see the tenets of the DREAM Act someday come to pass.

56. ColorOfChange.org: Created as a reaction to the government's infamous Hurricane Katrina relief, ColorOfChange.org hopes to better engage the African-American community in the political sphere.

57. DOJ Civil Rights: While not exclusively about racist issues, the Department of Justice still concerns itself with ensuring equal rights for all who feel marginalized by the mainstream.

58. RaceProject.org: The Project on Race in Political Communication hopes to bring together the academic, media and political communities and facilitate discussions about the role of race and ethnicity in society. And, of course, what can be done to close any gaps.

59. Du Bois Review: For the academically-inclined, this journal offers up some incredibly in-depth, provocative articles on race and society.

60. ADL: Anti-Defamation League's goals revolve around fighting Anti-Semitism worldwide and preventing and addressing issues of discrimination against and stereotyping the Jewish peoples.

Third World Aid and Fair Trade

61. Fair Trade Federation: For consumers and businesses hoping to keep ethical products on the market, this Twitter is an essential follow.

62. World Fair Trade Org: Over 350 businesses band together in order to promote fair trade initiatives worldwide and end the exploitation of Third World labor.

63. Awava: Check out Awava for beautiful handmade goods from Uganda, created to stimulate and end their economy without exploiting its workers.

64. OperationOF: Obstetric fistula kills 1 in 26 African women, and OperationOF hopes to decrease its impact one childbirth at a time.

65. Peace Corps: Keep track of what American volunteers are doing to improve the lives of impoverished communities around the world.

66. Enough Project: Ending genocide and other crimes against humanity is the Enough Project's top priority. While not an issue exclusive to the Third World, it still horrifically impacts many of the planet's most impoverished and volatile regions.

67. Living Water Int'l: Obviously, not everyone will agree with this organization's Christian message. But that does not detract from their incredible devotion to delivering quality water to regions of the world without it.

68. charity: water: charity: water dedicates its resources towards providing clear, sanitary water to communities in the Third World.

69. Doctors w/o Borders: Participants in the Doctors Without Borders programs head to developing nations and deliver advanced medical care for those who have none.

70. UNICEF: The United Nations Childrens Fund keeps a Twitter feed updating visitors on its efforts to ensure the rights of every kid on the planet — most especially those in poorer corners of the globe.

Women's Rights

71. THE LINE Campaign: A website and a film, THE LINE encourages women to decide for themselves when, how far and with whom they chose to engage in sexual activity.

72. Hollaback!: Victims of street harassment and assault band together to fight for their right to leave their homes and offices without fear.

73. Take Back the Night: Regardless of victim's gender or gender identity — and the gender and gender identity of the perpetrator — Take Back the Night offers up a safe, supportive community for sexual assault and rape survivors.

74. Planned Parenthood: Planned Parenthood stands at the forefront of reproductive rights in the United States, teaching women how to care for their own sexual health and providing them with options when an unwanted pregnancy occurs.

75. PBS' To The Contrary: This fearless, all-female news team delves into myriad cultural topics, including women's rights, race, families and more.

76. Feministing: Follow this feed for the latest news and views on feminism and women's rights from around the world, with plenty of attention paid to issues of race, sexuality, gender and gender identity.

77. IWHC: Anyone wanting to learn more about women's, sexual and reproductive health should check out the painstaking work by this global initiative.

78. Name It. Change It.: No matter a female candidate's leaning, Name It. Change It. stands up for her right to have the media analyze her with the same language and standards as her male counterparts.

79. WeAreTheRealDeals: This amazing group stands firmly against society's unfairly narrow perception of attractiveness and strives to promote positive body image.

80. Men Can Stop Rape: Women aren't the only ones standing up for their rights. Males involved with Men Can Stop Rape earnestly hope to change the cultural memes allowing such atrocities to occur

1. Chris Abani Muses on Humanity: Chris Abani reflects humanity in this TED talk. He tells the stories of people standing up for themselves, being compassionate, and more.
2. Omar Ahmad: Political Change with Pen and Paper: Omar Ahmad explains that a hand written letter is a superior political communication tool. Watch this TED talk to see why old fashioned correspondence can be more effective in politics and beyond.
3. Gordon Brown: Wiring a Web for Global Good: UK Prime Minister Gordon Brown wants to use the Internet for global good. His talk discusses how we can use interconnectedness to confront challenges around the world.
4. Peter Eigen: How to Expose the Corrupt: Peter Eigen, of Transparency International, explains how social problems can be traced to government corruption with global companies. Follow this talk to learn about counter-attacking this corruption.
5. Mallika Sarabhai: Dance to Change the World: Mallika Sarabhai is a dancer, actor, and politician that believes the arts may be the most powerful way to change the world. In this talk, Sarabhai tells a story in dance.
6. Fields Wicker-Miurin: Learning from Leadership's "Missing Manual": Unfortunately, there's no official user manual for leadership. However, Fields Wicker-Miurin shares stories of remarkable local leaders that can offer exceptional learning for leaders.
7. Tony Robbins Asks Why We Do What We Do: Why do we do what we do? Watch this talk from Tony Robbins, with a cameo from Al Gore, to learn about the invisible forces that motivate people.
8. Patrick Chappatte: The Power of Cartoons: Can a cartoon change the world? Patrick Chappatte's talk discusses how cartoons can illuminate issues and bring people together.
9. Julian Assange: Why the World Needs WikiLeaks: On the controversial website WikiLeaks, classified documents and video are shared with the world. The website's founder is in trouble with authorities, and he explains why he does it and what he's accomplished.
10. Michael Sandel: The Lost Art of Democratic Debate: Have you debated lately? Michael Sandel's talk discusses the art of civil debate, and offers a refresher on debate skills.
11. Joseph Nye on Global Power Shifts: Joseph Nye discusses global power shifts, specifically between China and the US. Nye's talk explains the global implications as power shifts around the world.
12. Michael Sandel: What's the Right Thing to Do?: Harvard professor Michael Sandel discusses ethics in this talk. Consider the worth of a human life, torture, stealing, and more.
13. David Cameron: The Next Age of Government: David Cameron, leader of Britain's Conservative Party, explains how people empowered by technology are becoming more powerful than governments. This talk discusses how this phenomenon can be used to create smarter policies.
14. Noah Feldman Says Politics and Religion are Technologies: In this talk, Noah Feldman discusses why politics and religion are similar technologies. He explains that although they are different, they connect and manage groups of people.
15. Karen Armstrong: Let's Revive the Golden Rule: Consider religion's role in the 21st century with Karen Armstrong's talk. She discusses whether dogmas divide or unite us for the common good.
16. Doris Kearns Goodwin on Learning from Past Presidents: We can improve politics today by studying the past. Doris Kearns Goodwin's talk takes a look at important lessons from American presidents.
17. Jonathan Haidt on the Moral Roots of Liberals and Conservatives: This talk from psychologist Jonathan Haidt discusses five moral values that form our political choices. You'll see the values that liberals and conservatives typically honor the most.
18. Barry Schwartz on Our Loss of Wisdom: Barry Schwartz thinks our society has gone mad with bureaucracy. In his talk, he makes a call for "practical wisdom" to help rebuild our world.
19. Rory Sutherland: Sweat the Small Stuff: Why are we so concerned with big picture solutions to problems? Rory Sutherland's talk explains why we should take a look at better, simpler answers.
20. Evgeny Morozov: How the Net Aids Dictatorships: Most people believe that the Internet helps spread freedom and democracy. But Evgeny Morozov explains how it also enables oppressive regimes to stifle dissent.

1. Philip Markoff, aka The Craigslist Killer: A second-year medical student at Boston University, Markoff's horrible crimes were exposed during a traffic stop South of Boston when Markoff and his fiance were headed towards a casino with several thousand dollars worth of cash in the car. This cash came from a series of brutal robberies, one turned murder, the victims of which Markoff found through Craigslist "massage" listings. While Markoff maintained his innocence throughout the ensuing trial, he committed suicide while in jail before any verdict was reached.
2. Seung-Hui Cho: Seung-Hui Cho, a senior at Virginia Polytechnic Institute was behind one of the bloodiest attacks on an American college. Cho suffered from anxiety and depression, conditions that caused his behavior to become increasingly erratic and intense in the years leading up to the violent attacks. On April 16, 2007, Cho killed two students in a campus dormitory before killing thirty and wounding many more in another building — eventually killing himself. The subsequent investigation of Cho's life showed a young man that was deeply troubled, and signs that concerns about his behavior should have been looked into prior to the incident.
3. Carlton Dotson: Carlton Dotson began college with a promising career in basketball at Baylor University. He ended his career in college and in basketball with a murder conviction. After an argument with teammate Patrick Dennehy while the two were shooting guns, Dotson murdered his teammate with multiple gunshot wounds to the head. Dotson was at first deemed incompetent to stand trial due to hallucinations and psychosis, but later decided to plead guilty after the courts began to suspect that his mental illness was not, in fact, real. Dotson is currently serving 35 years in prison for the murder of his Dennehy, a crime that shook both the Baylor campus and the sports world.
4. Shawn Fanning: With the success of The Social Network, Shawn Fanning is even more of a known name than he was back during his college years. When Fanning was in college at Boston's Northeastern University, he was busy working away at Napster, one of the first peer-to-peer file-sharing programs. While Napster may have been a pioneer in technology, it was also a thorn in the music industry's side, costing them lost sales and motivating a large lawsuit against Fanning. While many still debate whether or not use of the software was technically stealing, the courts agreed with the record companies and Napster paid out millions for copyright infringement.
5. Patty Hearst: Was Patty Hearst really a criminal? Some believe that is still up for debate. Granddaughter of newspaper magnate William Randolph Hearst, Hearst gained notoriety while enrolled as a student at Berkely University. According to her account, she was kidnapped by the Symbionese Liberation Army, who demanded release of members in exchange for Hearst or millions worth of donated food for hungry Californians. In a bizarre twist of events, Hearst announced that she had joined the group two months after her kidnapping and was seen holding a gun during a bank robbery. Eventually arrested for her involvement in this robbery, Hearst claimed to have Stockholm Syndrome, a defense the jury didn't buy, sentencing her to 35 years in prison. Lucky for Hearst, her sentence was commuted by President Carter.
6. Charles Whitman: While the offenses committed by this University of Texas, Austin student may have happened over forty years ago, they still haven't been forgotten. In one of the first cases of large-scale violence on a university campus, Whitman climbed to the top of a university tower and observation deck and used a rifle to kill 14 students and faculty members after murdering his wife and mother in their homes. While Whitman did have psychological problems and was under a great deal of stress, it is believed that a large brain tumor could have played a role in his actions that day. Whatever the reason, the tragedy claimed not only the lives of Whitman's victims but his own as well, as he was shot and killed by an Austin police officer.
7. Frederick Martin Davidson: While being a graduate student and defending a thesis can be stressful, it's no excuse for the actions this engineering major took. At a meeting to defend his master's thesis, Davidson shot and killed three San Diego State University professors, opening fire in a campus classroom. Davidson systematically planned the killings, hiding the gun in advance and even going so far as to chase down two of the professors to kill them. The reason behind his brutal crime? Davidson was frustrated about the progress of his thesis, believing professors were bogging him down with unnecessary work and had suggested he may have been cheating. Davidson is currently serving three consecutive life terms after pleading guilty to the murders.
8. Jared Lee Lougher: Lougher had been suspended from college for only three months when he went on a shooting rampage in Arizona that killed six, including a district court judge and a young girl, and wounded fourteen others– most notably U.S. Representative Gabrielle Giffords. Lougher by all accounts was a troubled young man, and in the months leading up to the shooting had been expelled from Pima Community College for a YouTube video he had posted calling it "the biggest scam in America." Loughner's classmates teachers and saw him as a threat, some even stated they thought he would commit a school shooting. Instead, Loughner took out his anger and paranoia on political victims and some innocent bystanders. He is currently waiting to stand trial for the murders.
9. David Kernell: In a much-publicized incident in 2008, Kernell, a college student, was accused of hacking into vice-presidential candidate Sarah Palin's email account. Kernell gained access to Palin's account by looking up personal information about her and using the password recovery feature to view her password. He then posed several of her emails to an online bulletin board. While not violent, the crime was still a serious one, constituting a felony that could be punishable with up to fifty years in prison. Kernell was convicted in 2010 of the crimes, but was only sentenced to one year federal custody followed by three years in a halfway house.
10. Duke Lacrosse Team: These young men stand out from the others on this list because they were, in fact, found to not be criminals at all. Of course, with all the media attention surrounding the case they may as well have been, as the accusations tarnished their personal and professional reputations and are likely still an issue for many of the young men today. In 2007, three young men on the lacrosse team were accused of raping a student and stripper at a house party. The case garnered an unprecedented amount of media attention, in part because the prosecutors alleged that the incident was also a hate crime. The accusation, which later proved to be false, caused the resignation of the team's coach, the end of the playing season for the lacrosse team and destroyed the reputations of the young men who were accused. No charges were ever filed against the young woman, as prosecutors believed mental illness and drug use may have caused her to believe the stories she told were actually true.

Small Living

These blogs can help you learn to embrace small living.

1. Unclutterer: Get and stay organized with the help of Unclutterer.
2. Zen Habits: Learn to live life a little more zen with Zen Habits.
3. Living Small: Read about the power of small living on Living Small.
4. The Rentables: If you're renting an apartment or home for college, check out this blog on renting.
5. Shoebox Decor: Shoebox Decor discusses decorating small spaces on a shoestring.
6. Small Space Resources: Small Space Resources shares ideas to make the most of small spaces.
7. Small Place Style: Small Place Style has inspirational photos for living in small spaces.
8. Smart Spaces Blog: Learn about Murphy beds and more on this small spaces blog.
9. loving.living.small: This small space dweller blog is dedicated to spaces 1000 square feet and under.
10. Small Living: This blog is all about small, green living.
11. Smaller Living: Victoria writes to live small and prosper.

Furniture & Style

Check out these blogs for smart style in small spaces and beyond.

12. Ikea Hackers: Do interesting and creative things with cheap furniture in small spaces with this blog.
13. The Inspired Room: Get inspired, one room at a time, on The Inspired Room.
14. Fresh Home Blog: Find easy ideas for your small space on the Fresh Home Blog.
15. Re-Nest: Check out this blog to study design for green homes.
16. The Design Blog: The Design Blog offers a guide to livable spaces.
17. LittleDiggs: LittleDiggs discusses the big things that make small spaces livable.
18. Unplggd: Learn about smarter homes with fewer wires on Unplggd.
19. HGTV: Small Spaces: You'll find loads of advice for decorating your small space on this blog.
20. Elizabeth Anne Designs Living: Find style for your home, no matter the space, on EAD Living.
21. Design*Sponge: Small or large, Design*Sponge has great resources for stylish living.

Tiny Houses

Learn how these tiny house dwellers survive and thrive in a small space.

22. This Tiny House: This Tiny House features stories on renovations completed on trailers and other small homes.
23. Tiny House Project: Follow the growth of a tiny house in this blog.
24. The Tiny Life: The Tiny Life features tiny houses and tiny living.
25. Living Large in Our Little House: See how this family lives large in a little house.
26. Small House Style: Small House Style shares images, plans, and more for stylish small homes.
27. Tiny House Blog: Tiny House is about living simply in small spaces.
28. Shedworking: Shedworking offers a lifestyle guide for people who work in garden offices and other shed atmospheres.
29. Tumbleweed: Tumbleweed shares tiny house projects and more.
30. Tiny Free House: Learn about this experiment to create a tiny free house.
31. Door Sixteen: Anna writes about her 19th century row house in Hudson Valley.
32. The Scrap House: The Scrap House is an experiment in building a house of material from dumpsters.
33. hiveMODULAR: hiveMODULAR shares designs of beautiful, modern prefab homes.
34. Living Small: Living Small makes small the new big.
35. Tiny House Design: Tiny House Design shares how less is more sustainable.
36. {the cottage nest}: Jen's blog shares the adventures of a formerly suburban family.
37. Small House Musings: Live large in smaller spaces with Small House Musings.

Small Gardens

Think that your small dorm space means you can't have a garden? Read these blogs and think again.

38. Small Space Gardens: Shirley believes that a sustainable lifestyle begins in the garden.
39. Urban Organic Gardener: This gardener grows his own food and vegetables in the city.
40. Your Small Kitchen Garden: Your Small Kitchen Garden will help you grow your own food in a limited space.
41. Life on the Balcony: Life on the Balcony features gardening tips for apartments and condos.
42. The 6×8 Garden: See how this former farm kid makes a tiny garden work.

Apartments & Dorms

Follow these blogs for a look into small apartments and dorms with style.

43. Glenwood: Glenwood discusses Manhattan living, including indoor plant care and storage.
44. Ron's Apartment Living Blog: Ron shares laws, neighbors, negative energy, and more in this apartment blog.
45. Naked Notes: This blog discusses renting and living in a New York apartment.
46. Manhattan Nest: Daniel writes about decorating his first apartment in Manhattan.
47. Moving to an Apartment: Moving to an Apartment has tips for apartment living.
48. Apartment Therapy: Apartment Therapy saves the world, one room at a time.
49. LoftLife: LoftLife has a guide to style in the city.
50. Lovely Undergrad: Lovely Undergrad shares her guide to dorm decor and more.

One way online degree programs help their graduates continue to learn after school is they give them the tools to sift through and sort the overwhelming amount of information on the internet. This is a skill students don't learn as well in traditional learning environments. This isn't to say that traditional universities don't teach these skills, but that because their curricula is often mixed, there isn't the steep learning curve that online students must climb to be proficient at learning online. In an online course, every learning action is through the internet or some other electronic means of communication. So students have to quickly learn and adapt to these methods.

Furthermore, they become familiar with all of the online learning resources, which many people who aren't as often online fail to discover on their own. Because everything students do in an online course is through the internet, online programs must provide them with a significant amount of online resources. These resources will be both internal and external resources, which means that students who have graduated may still have access to certain types of resources long after they have earned the degree. This is great for students who wish to use the resources to continue to develop their career path as well as their own self-worth.

Finally, because students in online degree programs are often studying and working on their own, they develop a strong sense of self-confidence and self-reliance. They build learning habits for themselves, and these learning habits will stay strong for them, allowing them to continue to learn on their own, perhaps more than those students who learned at a traditional academic institution. Traditional students often learn within a tightly knit community, and so the shock of learning on their own after they graduate can be overwhelming, while online degree students are used to the self-reliance of online learning, and so they can do better on their own as lifelong learners.

Of course, how you keep these habits is up to you. It's really up to your own motivation as a life-long learner. In any case, you should keep in mind that your time studying in an online degree program can be useful to you later in life if you wish to keep learning for yourself.