blogs
Gawker.com
This gossipy New York City-centric blog gathers celebrity (and Segway) sightings and other random bits of news that make Gotham sound like a small town. Quick Links at the top of the home page include Daypop.com, where you can search for other blogs (or news sites) on every conceivable subject; the Word Bursts and News Bursts track what everybody's buzzing about. And just when you think you've had enough, go to wibsite.com/wiblog/dull.
brain food
Howstuffworks.com
A perennial favorite, redesigned to accommodate even more material. Learn the basics about car engines, ice hockey, hypnosis, mortgages, sharks; search by channel (computer stuff, money stuff, entertainment stuff, etc.) or keyword. The ShortStuff library (see PeopleStuff) addresses such questions as 'How do I become an astronaut?' and 'What are frankincense and myrrh?' An encyclopedia never tasted so good.
buying guides
ConsumerSearch.com
Distills reviews from several sources to provide bottom-line information and guidance on a wide range of product categories, from bread makers to scanners.
celebrity skeletons
Thesmokinggun.com
Reality shows may have knocked popular culture down a few pegs, but they’ve kept the boys at The Smoking Gun busier than ever. Quite a few contestants from American Idol, Joe Millionaire and others ended their 15 minutes in infamy when the site’s staff reporters uncovered evidence of past run-ins with the law or other embarrassments (fetish film, anyone?). Among this year’s juiciest scoops: never-before-seen transcripts from Michael Jackson’s child sex abuse case (it was settled out of court) and the grand jury testimony that got Oscar-winning director/fugitive Roman Polanski indicted for statutory rape.
employment
CareerJournal.com
A great resource if you're out of work or seeking a career change. Monster.com has more job listings, but this site, part of the Wall Street Journal Online, has better content: news, features and trend stories, plus advice on networking and other crucial job-seeking skills and even what managers have to say from 'the other side of the desk.' Geared toward executives.
home improvement
DoItYourself.com
You just did a cash-out refinancing on your home and want to renovate the kitchen, but, like everybody else these days, you're on a tight budget. Or, you’re newly unemployed so you finally have time to clean out those gutters or insulate the attic. This site will tell you how to do all of these things and more, with step-by-step animated tutorials, shop lists, safety tips and other useful info.
homework helper
Kidspace @ The Internet Public Library
How the kids can have fun at the library without actually going to the library. Under Math & Science, click Experiments and Science Fair Projects for loads of cool links, including Bill Nye the Science Guy’s online labs. From Reading Zone, go to Poetry & Rhymes and you’ll find such delights as Dr. Seuss?Seussville, where you can try your hand at One Fish Two Fish Concentration and other interactive games.
intelligence
Stratfor.com
Members pay $120 a year to read this private intelligence company’s daily briefings examining geopolitical issues in every region of the world. The reports are produced by the company’s team of two dozen in-house analysts based in Austin, Tex., and Washington, DC., with contributions from several hundred independent field sources.
language
Ilovelanguages.com
Comprehensive directory of language websites, from schools to software to translation services. You can also browse by language; there are nearly 200 represented, from Aboriginal and African languages to Yiddish and Yugoslav. The Jobs tab links to lots of employment opportunities for foreign language speakers.
slang
Rapdict.org
Snoop Dogg, et al., explained. Rap terms from 'a' to 'zootie.' Warning: many entries (like that last one) are not suitable for young viewers.
urban legends
Snopes.com
Debunks popular myths both trivial and grave. The What's New section adds stuff almost every day. For each urban legend, there's the claim (e.g.: 'Hostess Twinkies have an indefinite shelf life'); the status ('False'); an example of the information (or misinformation) that's circulating online; followed by the real story (a Twinkie really is a baked good so it does eventually go bad, but thanks to preservatives and a lack of dairy ingredients, it lasts as long as 25 days). For health-related hoaxes and rumors, you might also check the CDC's site.
wireless warriors
HotSpotList.com
Caught the wireless-networking wave? Find hotels, airports, coffee shops, cafes and other hip-happening joints where you can connect to the Internet without plugging your laptop into the wall. Search by city or state, within the U.S. or in 13 other countries.
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