We've long been fans of Wikipedia here, the ever-growing online encyclopedia written, edited and fact-checked by netizens. So those of us who are incapable of home improvement projects even the slightest bit more sophisticated than the most basic IKEA self-assembly are pleased to see that the concept has been transported  to the Do-It-Yourself world. At wikiHow , you can find alphabetized listings of how-to guides that offer advice on everything from bathing a frisky kitten to building your own darkroom. Best of all, the site lets hapless and hopeless users submit their own pleas for others to come to their rescue with tips. The site, it seems, is perfect for people like this writer, whose Habitat lamp has been collecting dust on the floor for the past six months waiting to get hung from the ceiling.

Crazy Coffins

Now, inspired by a wonderfully fanciful exhibit in the German town of Kassel, it's time to consider creative alternatives to the standard coffin. The caskets on display  -- manufactured by the English company Crazy Coffins -- range from the romantic (the Canal Boat Coffin) to the hip (Skateboard Coffin) to the just plain weird (the dumpster option).

But while the cooky caskets on show in Kassel are certainly inspiring, Crazy Coffins aren't the only ones in the bizarre burial business. The Ga people in Ghana have become famous for their fanciful burial boxes  resembling cars, mobile phones and peacocks. As one African e-shopping Web site writes, "These coffins are to die for." And finally, the slightly more staid offerings  from "Art Caskets," which provide containers bedecked with military motifs, religious themes and even one model called the "Fairway to Heaven" for the golfer in the family.