As an inventor, I've always been interested in the inner workings of things. Although nearly everyone on the web knows of these two sites, I think it's time that they were recognized for both their service to the internet community and their exponential growth. They are, of course, about.com and howstuffworks.com.

About.com is owned by Primedia and grew out of a site called The Mining Company. It is based on real people called "guides" of which there are hundreds, organized into 23 "channels," covering 50,000 plus subjects and utilizing over 1 million links. Its business model seems dependent on a kind of "soft sell" advertising at the bottom of each web page.

HowStuffWorks.com is the "brainchild" (pun intended) of Marshall Brain (his real name) and grew from his interest in non-fiction writing for teens. Its business model seems dependent on selling ancillary products and some advertising. I especially like their extension from things to human activities, like "How Christmas Works."

Taking the two sites together as a kind of an encyclopedic resource, a cornucopia of information is available. And, for me, they exemplify the promise of the web.

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