Who Lives Here is an online venture that allots virtual rooms free to anyone irrespective of country, religion, age, sex and occupation. 'Anyone who understands the meaning of this plan can move into this apartment,' says the Web master or 'manager'.

What exactly is the plan? Using the seamless nature of the Web to foster tolerance among people of all races and religions. Owning 'rooms' in the same 'apartment' would help us transcend the 'borders in this world'.

Send in pictures of yourself, your home and a few knick-knacks. Each contributor is given a room number, and clicking on a particular number is akin to ringing your neighbour's doorbell. For you see a picture of that person's room, with an 'Enter' link below -- just as most actual homes have a doormat with a 'Welcome' sign. Click on the enter link to enjoy a more in-depth visit while also reading a few conversationally written snippets by the room owner.

I checked out room #061, home of Singaporean Melissa Kwee, self-described as "one messy/ lazy mofo" who likes shopping, shooting pool, skating and drawing. She swears her room is "an organised mess" and she isn't kidding: You can see a computer, some posters, and unfinished jigsaw puzzle, numerous odds and ends, a star-studded ceiling and an adorable pet dog. Susana Meza, a Venezuelan journalist, film maker, photographer, poet, has a rather Bohemian room #053 that's "a combination of me and my husband, the things we both like, the movies we adore, the albums we always listen to, the books we couldn't live without".

By giving us a peek into the homes of people from varied backgrounds, this project hops to erode racial hatred that stems from our misunderstandings of other ways of life. While visiting several rooms, we'd undoubtedly notice some similarities that would reinforce the fact that we're all of the same species. And we'd hopefully learn to appreciate the differences.

Language Museum

As the world moves towards becoming a melting pot of cultures, a lot of unique features specific to certain ethnicities fade out. Some dialects, and even languages, cease to be spoken and are in danger of disappearing altogether.

The Language Museum may not exactly rejuvenate these dialects, but it helps give visitors a nodding acquaintance with words and phrases probably spoken daily in the past. Be it Doondo, Dinka or Degema; Mingo, Micmac or Miskito; you can find at least a paragraph in the original script accompanied by an English translation and details of where it is still spoken.

The site eventually expects to showcase 2,000 languages and covers even mainstream as well as state-specific ones like Kashmiri and Naga.

Aim for the Brain

Have you tried solving a Rubik's cube, only to get thoroughly frustrated, pull out all the stickers and rearrange them?

You'll find this online Flash version more interesting. Created 'with solvers in mind,' you can click on the little astronaut icons below for help when you're stumped! Each performs a different function. But we'll let you figure them out yourself! Do keep the volume turned up, though.

Palin's Travels

One of the most seasoned and televised travellers, Michael Palin, now has a home on the Web. Four books detailing different thematic journeys form the bulk of the site.

Throughout, there are interactive maps and dropdown menus that allow you to zero in on a country or city. This will bring up a list of book extracts that focus only on the area of your choice. So, if you are browsing 'Around the World in 80 Days', but only want to scan through Palin's experiences in Bombay, you can easily arrive at the relevant pages and read about his experience at Chowpatty beach from where 'the tower blocks of Nariman Point make the Bombay skyline twinkle like Manhattan'; his description of Victoria Terminus and his visit to astrologer Jagjit Uppal.

The site also serves as a traveller's resource, with specific guides to geography, accommodation, activities, history, nature and transport.

Also Read -- Childish beliefs and origin of phrases -- Sherlock Holmes, physics, coureware online -- Serial killers and popularity contests -- Haunted places, secret to longetivity

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