The internet is not just for porn

By Nicole Dionne

Wolfram Alpha: Calculations, conversions and facts

Wolfram Alpha is the little computational engine that could. Left your TI83 at home? No problem, Wolfram Alpha can do that. Want to know the number of people in Sweden? Done. Need to know how much calcium the moon would contain if it were made out of provolone cheese? No worries, using Wolfram Alpha, I did it for you and it’s fifty-five septillion per cent of your recommended daily intake.

Although Wolfram Alpha’s focus is on computational information, it can also generate a bewildering number of facts about pretty much everything. As demonstrated, you can also use it to do unconventional calculations that seem like they popped out of a ‘did you know’ style of book.



Khan Academy: Brush up on old skills and supplement your lectures

Khan Academy has a ginormous library of videos and practice questions. Most of them are science and math-themed but there are still a significant number of offerings under “Humanities & Other”. Khan Academy is ideal for brushing up on concepts you may have forgotten from high school, or for having supplementary material to help you understand new ideas you’ll be learning in class.



Doodle: Planning meetings

Trying to find a time that works for all the members of your group? That’s what Doodle does best. It’s simple and straightforward. Create a timeframe for your meeting and email it to all those who need to attend. Those invited enter in their availibility and Doodle tells you which times are the best for the most number of participants.

If you’re looking for something to guarantee your groupmates will do their fair share of the work — sorry, you are on your own.



Myfitnesspal: Combating the freshman 15

University courses demand a lot of your time. Even with the best intentions of staying fit, you may find yourself putting off the gym for a little R&R and consoling yourself with ice cream during midterms. Next thing you know the morphsuit you were planning on wearing to the next Den cabaret is a little too tight. Alas, you have fallen prey to the dreaded freshman 15.

Have no fear! Myfitnesspal is here to kick you back into gear!

It boasts a huge database of over a million foods and exercises so you can keep track of everything. There are also blogs and a forum that help to create a caring online community full of support and tips so you can ask questions and get motivated. Apps are available for all types of smart phones, allowing you to update on the go.



Project Gutenberg or Planet Ebook: Free classic literature

Not that you don’t have enough reading to do as it is, but if you find yourself wistfully wishing for some Charles Dickens, it’s free and at your fingertips.