Bill Gates’ ‘Road’ Show Tours L.A.

Microsoft Chairman Bill Gates will visit the Los Angeles Central Library onWednesday to announce a donation to help the city’s schools and libraries get on the information superhighway.

As part of a tour promoting the revised paperback edition of his book, “The Road Ahead,” Gates will address UCLA students Wednesday afternoon on his vision of the digital future.

Gates is donating his proceeds from sales of the book to programs that encourage the use of technology in education.

* If you’re in charge of preparing a traditional turkey dinner this Thanksgiving, check out https://www.butterball.com. Find out how to prepare a picture-perfect turkey in 10 steps and peruse the most frequently asked questions from among 1.9 million calls to the Butterball Turkey Talk-Line. There are also hints for stuffing, lump-free gravy and other recipes.

* If you pledged to quit smoking during the Great American Smokeout on Thursday, look to the American Cancer Society’s home page (https://www.cancer.org/smokeout/) for words of inspiration that will help you keep your promise. Among the site’s 20 reasons to stay smoke-free: More than 400,000 Americans die from smoking-related diseases each year, and every cigarette a person smokes takes 12 minutes off his or her life.

* If you’re aiming to make the Forbes 400 Richest People in America list, check out the competition at https://www.forbes.com/Richlist/50index.htm.

* Wildlife audio recordist Douglas Quin traveled to Antarctica last month and spent four weeks recording the sounds of wildlife and ice phenomena on the planet’s last frontier. Follow his daily journal, see dramatic photos and hear the sounds of the South Pole at https://www.webdirectory.com/antarctica

* The Black World Today (https://www.tbwt.com) offers news, views and analysis of current events in the U.S. and around the world. Visitors can also bone up on black history, participate in global chats and make their opinions known through online surveys.

* Want to see what your car is worth? Check out the Kelley Blue Book’s new home page at https://www.kbb.com. Just click to select your car make, model, year and other features and the makers of the official Blue Book will estimate the trade-in value of your car. The service is free now, but it may soon charge a fee.

* For the lowdown on computer viruses, which are generally blown way out of proportion, check out https://www.kumite.com/myths. Get the real, technical story behind the claims of urban legends such as the “Good Times” virus. During November, visitors can also vote for the Computer Virus Hysteria Awards.

* Read up on classic rock bands and listen to their best tunes at the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame’s Web site (https://www.rockhall.com). Visitors can also take a virtual tour of the pyramid-shaped museum in Cleveland and e-mail the staff to tell them who you would nominate to the Hall of Fame.

* Chess enthusiasts should check out the Chessmaster Network (https://www.chessmaster.com). There are columns for intermediate and advanced players, a list of upcoming tournaments and an overview of the game’s controversial history. Visitors can also participate in chats.

* Looking for tips on designing a Web page, creating a newsletter or marking a presentation? If so, visit Meaningful Content (https://www.rcparker.com), produced by Roger C. Parker, who has written 22 books on the subject. Visitors to the site can download free templates for Microsoft’s desktop publishing program and learn software shortcuts.

* For a wry look at current events, check out the Daily Muse at https://www.cais.net/aschnedr/muse.htm. There’s coverage of the presidential campaign, the TWA crash and the O.J. Simpson civil trial--all with a twist.

Site suggestions can be sent to cutting.edge@latimes.com