INTERESTING WEBSITES 1

vSide
www.vside.com
vSide is a 3D virtual world where you can listen to music, chat with friends, shop at the mall for clothing
and accessories, or just hang out with mates at in your apartment. Sounds a lot like real life, which begs
the question: why would you need to do this in a virtual way?
Because it's fun!
You'll expand your musical tastes and broaden your networking horizons as people from all over the
world mingle and chat in an informal atmosphere. The software is all pretty intuitive, with menus and
clickies to perform actions like dancing and lounging on the sofa. There are some very funny dances if
you scroll through the options, and the people I met in the clubs and bars have all been pretty friendly
and cool.
This is basically just a glorified chat room, with a definite lean towards people who like music. Watch out
for the live DJ and music events staged in the world, where you can party on down all night without
running the risk of getting blisters from too much dancing. Lovely.
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Nethackz.com
nethackz.com
Nethackz.com is a place you can go to for down-to-earth tips and tricks on making your online life more
productive.
This is an excellent blog all about internet productivity, whether at work or at play. There are hundreds
of great ideas and suggestions to ease your online stresses. Whether it's 25 Mobile Apps for people on
the go or a video of Kevin Kelly, the founder of Wired magazine, talking about the next 5,000 days of the
internet , there's a range of stuff here that is essential reading if you like to spend a lot of time online.
Typically blog style in its layout, you'll find recent posts on the main page panel, with a link to
categorized sections a little lower on the right. They're not going to win any prizes for the design, but
here the content is king, with links to some really useful applications and websites thrown in to boot.
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Great American Road Trip
www.speedysroadtrip.com
I am going to introduce you to a couple of young men now who have been keeping me amused and
entertained over the past few weeks. They're called Rhett & Link and they are part of the ever growing
and popular phenomenon of ‘intertainment’, as they have coined it.
Start with their Road Trip site, as this is how I found these guys. Here we see our hapless heroes taking a
road trip across America to bring us the inside story from Los Angeles to Maine.
Not only are these videos great entertainment, and actually somewhat informative, I love the design and
execution of the website. It is sponsored by a brand, but the advertising is handled in an understated way
and doesn't dominate the content in any way.
When you're done with the road trip there is plenty more of these crazy boys to enjoy at
www.rhettandlink.com, where you'll find archives of previous shows and a weekly live broadcast, which is
attracting something of a cult following.
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Hedgehog Launch
www.armorgames.com
The State Assembly of Minovia Cay have fallen critically behind in the race to conquer space - and they
need your help citizen. Welcome to Hedgehog Launch on the Armor Games website.
The object of the game is to launch your hedgehog as high as you can until he breaks through the Earth's
atmosphere and goes into orbit. Collect coins on your trial launches to boost your finances and upgrade
your equipment. Steering the little blighter takes a bit of getting used to, but persevere and you're
rewarded with a nice little animation as he floats around in space.
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IMVU
www.imvu.com
I love to chat, and judging by the millions of people who frequent the 'net's many global chatrooms, I am
not alone. If you're one of the many chataholics on the web you can add this site to your list of cool places
to hang out.
What makes this chat client fun to use is the ability to create an avatar to express yourself physically, as
well as a personalised environment where you can hang out with your friends. I know that's nothing new,
but I like the styling and ease of use of this version of the classic avatar chat room, and there are plenty
of other people there for you to enjoy it with.
After choosing a name and a basic avatar appearance you're given a choice of accessory add-ons; this
means clothing and furniture to populate your room. Use the See More Choices button to scroll through
the selections. The next step allows you to attach the chat client to an instant messenger address book,
so it's super-easy to invite all your contacts to join you.
Next, you will need to download the chat client and after installation you can watch the brief tutorial to
get to grips with the basics.
You can express yourself with emotes, and use the furniture in your room to sit on in a relaxed and
informal atmosphere. As well as being able to invite your contacts to private chat sessions, use the public
rooms button at the bottom of the window to see the selection of IMVU community chats you can join.
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mobyko
www.mobyko.com
Talking of mobile phones, ever lost yours? Losing all the contacts in your mobile phone has to be one of
the most annoying things in modern life, not to mention all of the pictures and video clips you might have
saved.
This awesome site allows you to save all of your contacts with just a few simple clicks of a mouse in a
completely automated process that made my jaw drop.
After choosing the phone you are using and then registering, you get sent a four digit pin. Enter this in
the website and it will send you a sync text which you need to show and then save. Before this process
the website reminds you to copy your simcard contacts onto your phone too, as it only accesses the phone
memory directly.
The next screen explains what to do next, which will vary from phone to phone. Follow the instructions
carefully then enter your pin and click save. Again, the website will now give you instructions on how to
proceed with activating the sync profile with your make and model of phone.
Mark the items you want to save and when you click OK you will see the site instantly connect to your
phone and upload the details. One particularly cool application of this site is to use it to transfer contacts
onto a new phone with the minimum of fuss.
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edopter.com
www.edopter.com
This site may look quite simple but I love the concept. It's a place for people to share thoughts and ideas
on what might become the next in-vogue trend - everything from TV shows, to food tastes to fashion
accessories.
Posts range from the brilliant to the bizarre. Take a scroll through the front page selection or use the
tabs at the top to browse a trend, launch a trend or see how it works. Each trend section contains an
overview, the pitch and a space for images, videos and chat to be placed.
If you agree with a trend just click the "get in" button. You'll need to be registered for this function,
which is simple and quick. When browsing by Trend use the Sort options at the top to direct your search.
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Closer To Truth
www.closertotruth.com
If you've taken the time to browse this website you'll have discovered that you can watch any episode you
may have missed on TV online. That's not just because we're super generous and helpful, it's a service
that more and more TV broadcasters are providing these days.
One fine example is the PBS show Closer to Truth. I had actually never heard of this show until I found it
online, and I am really glad they put it on a website because the content is right up my street.
In this series the world's leading scientists, scholars & artists debate the fundamental issues of our times.
Programme themes contain issues such as How the Universe Began, and Will the Internet Change
Humanity?
Click the Video Archive link for a full list of the online shows, together with a brief description. You'll
need the Real Audio player installed, and there is a download time to sit through before the programme
starts playing.
You can also use the tabs across the top to browse the content by subject category. Clicking a link to a
show here will open a page with more information, along with tabs across the top so you can read the
transcript or watch the show.
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Buzz Off!
www.t-enterprise.co.uk
T-Enterprise is a company that makes flash games and virals, including Buzz Off. In this Flash game you
have to nuke the nasty mites before they reach the bees in the middle, without doing too make damage to
their honeycomb.
It's a very simple game, and not one of the best on the 'net, but the reason I wanted to show it to you is
that it highlights a very real problem facing the honeybees of Great Britain - the invasion of the vorroa
mite, which has taken the wild honey bee population to the brink of annihilation.
Click the Bee-Day link to learn more, where you'll also find links to external websites that have covered
the plight of these busy little bees.
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DNA Art
www.dna11.com
Deoxyribonucleic acid (DNA) can be a beautiful thing. DNAis not only useful for forensic science, but can
also be turned into some pretty funky art.
Each person's DNA is completely unique, and the people behind this website are offering to make you an
equally unique work of art from a sample of your own DNA. Of course this comes with a price tag, but I
think the website is quite interesting in its own right.
Click About Us and Overview to learn the basics. There's a nice report from CBC News streaming here
that tells you all about it. This is a really cool idea, and was even featured in an episode of CSI: New York.
Art meets science meets the building blocks of life - how very next century.
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Photonhead
www.photonhead.com
Are you crazy about digital photography? Can't get enough of your pixelated picture maker? Digital
cameras are still all the rage and this site today provides a place where you can sate your desire for more
info.
It doesn't just cover digital photography, although it's definitely the bulk of the content. The guides on
the opening page are simple and self explanatory. From beginners to buying guides, to tips and tricks
and loads more.
Each section is split into palatable chunks, so you jump straight to the issues that have you confused -
and let's face it, as cameras get more complex there is a tendency to think they are more complicated.
But a quick scan through the pages here will soon make you realise that it's often just a question of point
and click.
I really like the addition of the photo editing guide. One of the beauties of going digital is that you can
tweak and twist your pics into amazing works of art. All it takes is a little imagination and some technical
know-how.
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Jump The Shark
www.jumptheshark.com
When ever I hear that my favourite TV series is going to have a new season made, I am always a little
nervous. Often, the sequels don't match up to the originals, especially with reality TV shows, which seem
to get further from reality the longer they run.
Jump the Shark is a phrase that was coined several years ago by the makers of the website with the same
name. It basically means when a series of shows has reached, and then gone past, its peak. Here you'll
find plenty of opinion about the popular TV shows of our age,and more than a spattering of TV shows
from ages gone by.
There is a simply mind-blowing list of shows covered, which you can browse in a number of ways through
the navigation panel on the left. Clicking a show title brings you to the vote page, with a very short
description and the top reasons voted why this show might have "bitten", this being the terminology the
site's creators use for reasons why it has jumped the shark.
Use the See All Reasons button to expand the list of bites, and if you don't see your personal reason listed
you can mail the sites creators to hae them add it to the list.
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Geekologie
www.geekologie.com
I am a geek. I freely admit it. You probably have at least a tendency towards geekiness too if you're
reading this page. Don't worry, it's never been more fashionable to be a geek.
This is a blog dedicated to all things geek. It's geek chic dedicated to the scientific study of gadgets,
gizmos, and all things awesome, from the guy who pimped his Subaru to look like the Ghostbusters car,
to the PC on wheels made out of lego, to the lawn chair that's made out of lawn.
Like any traditional blog you can scan through the most recent entries from the opening page, or use the
archives drop down on the right to review old posts, with the top six coolest entries laid out underneath.
This is one of those blogs you could browse for hours and if you have a top tip for the site's creators to
include, click the Contacts link and send them a message.
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10 Ways
www.interact10ways.com
There are many different ways to look at art, both literally, and figuratively speaking. Our first site today
is from Getty Images, one of the best known image banks in the world.
This is a simply awe-inspiring website, filled to the brim with stunning images and ways to explore them
through 10 separate, uniquely structured virtual paths. It's a site you will get lost in as you wander
through the immense collection - and don't let the opening graphics fool you, this is one highly
sophisticated piece of web design.
Click the opening image to enter the sub menus, split into categories such as Light, Information,
Memory, Space, Time and Emotion. Clicking a sub menu takes you to a page displaying the two exhibits
in that section. Each exhibit can be launched in a new window, and then you are free to interact with the
contents and discover what is inside.
I can't tell you which exhibit to visit first as they are all amazing. From the never ending journey of
images in Information, to the engrossing interactions that allow you to measure your emotions pictorially
in Emotion.
All brilliantly presented and beautifully created. Well done Getty, a real winner.
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Make
www.makezine.com
If you prefer more of a hands-on approach why not check out Make, which aims to bring the do-it-yourself
mindset to all the technology in your life.
You can scan through the main sections using the links across the top. There's the Make blog, the
magazine itself in an online format, videos and podcasts, projects, and of course the obligatory
community with a relatively quiet forum which is none-the-less an interesting read.
All sections are well worth exploring, but I want to drag your attention to the videos and podcasts. Here
you'll find a quirky selection of weekend projects you can do at home - such as making your own PDA
notebook out of some quite unexpected materials.
Click the video link at the top to launch the video section. You can now browse the videos using the nav
panel on the left. I really like the learn to laser graffiti video - which teaches you to tag buildings in a
totally non destructive way. Not sure I'll ever do it, but the guys who present it are fun
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The IT Room
www.theitroom.com
If that wasn't geek enough for you, how about this next site. Home grown mini-series are becoming more
and more the rage at the moment.
This site is kind of off the wall, and might not appeal to everyone. But if you have a quirky sense of
humour and don't mind laughing at yourself, you should have plenty of fun exploring these pages. The
site's creators basically make mini episodes, which are part comedy, part drama, and many of them based
on stories submitted by real visitors of the site.
There's a selection of popular episodes displayed on the opening page. Just click the link below the
thumbnail to launch the player.
You can vote on the episodes, and comment on them too if you fancy. Or why not use the tab at the top to
write a story of your own on which future episodes might be based?
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Screaming Bee
www.screamingbee.com
Ever heard your voice on a recording, like an answer-phone message, and thought 'I don't sound like that
do I?' People rarely like the way their voice sounds when they hear it played back. With our next piece of
free software you can do something about that.
Download the free version of MorphVOX, which is the junior edition. No registration is needed and the
set up is very simple. The software will step you through an optimisation process on installation and then
you can start playing around with the sounds.
You will need a microphone installed, for obvious reasons, and the free version comes with three basic
voice types - male, female and little people. If you want more options you can download additional voice
packs but you'll need the pro edition, which is not free after the trial period.
This software is simply a bit of fun, though it can be used in conjunction with any voice comms program
you use, such as Ventrillo or Teamspeak, which are popular with the online gaming community.
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wetpaint
www.wetpaint.com
What do you do if you have a hobby or past time that a lot of people are interested in, and you want to be
able to create a site that everyone can contribute to?
The answer is wiki. At wetpaint you can learn how to make simple and effective wiki pages in three easy
steps.
Wiki is a piece of server software that allows users to freely create and edit Web page content using any
Web browser. Whilst you don't need to use this site to achieve that goal, it takes all of the hard work out
of the process so even the most technically inept surfers can take part.
Click the link to play the tutorial on the opening page for an overview. When you're ready to get started
just click the big green GO. Now just follow the steps, choosing who you want to be able to view and or
edit the pages, a basic template for the design, and then inviting the people you want to participate.
It's fast, totally free, and you don't have to be a genius to make compelling pages - you just need some
interesting content and a bunch of mates to help you out.
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My Classic FM
myclassicfm.com
Online radio is booming, but myclassicfm is far too cultured to boom.
The design of this website is not particularly sophisticated, but that doesn't really bother me as a majority
of the time you are using the page you won't actually be looking at it at all. You can of course learn about
all of the shows and presenters by exploring the menus and sub menus, but the bulk of the content can be
accessed through the left hand navigation panel.
Click How to Listen to launch the live broadcast feature, or listen to any of the shows you may have
missed over the past seven days. The Podcasts and Downloads section holds the keys to plenty of content
for you to sign up for. If you click on Music and then Playlists you'll find a useful tool to help you find
composers or tracks you have just heard.
Do beware though, if you have a bandwidth restriction on your connection, listening to or watching
anything that is streaming will really suck it up quickly.
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Ideal Bite
www.idealbite.com
The premise of this nicely designed site is to deliver a daily tip for green living into your email inbox. Just
sign up and it's totally free. The tips claim to be convenient, inexpensive and to make you feel good, with
a little sprinkling of fun thrown in for good measure.
If you don't want your inbox spammed on a daily basis you can read the tips online in the website's
library. Check the top ten tips section for the most popular bites. They include everything from the most
economical use of car air-conditioning, to how to spot phantom loads on your electricity supply - such as
mobile phone chargers and electrical equipment on standby.
Each daily tip has a bunch of other stuff tied to it, like quick facts and interesting titbits. It's a little nibble
of what does you good every day, so go on, spoil yourself.
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Lifehacker
lifehacker.com
Tech tips, tricks & downloads for getting things done is this blogger's tagline, and a thoroughly suitable
tagline it is too.
With definite leanings towards nerdyness, Lifehacker keeps it real with a hard working editorial team
publishing lots of tips each day - linking through to other bloggers, tech sites, download sites, basically
anywhere they find something they think might interest you.
Anything from how to be a great tipper to where to download software that will let you hide sensitive
documents in superfast time. Browse the site at your leisure using the section links across the top or use
the search tool if you're looking for something specific.
You can even sign up for a daily tips mailer or RSS feed for lifehacking on tap.
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Dimdim
www.dimdim.com
With the price of fuel skyrocketing, and more and more people being concerned about global warming,
you don't get much more forward thinking than signing up to beta test an open source online meeting
room - hosted in virtual space.
No downloads, no fees, just access the online meeting room through any browser and you can share
powerpoint presentations, voice, text and webcam images, even the activity on your desktop computer.
This means you can step guests at your meeting through anything you want, either web pages,
spreadsheets or design documents, just as easily as if they were sitting there with you.
Click to watch the slideshow or demo to learn more about what this powerful application can do. There is
even a 'launch video' streamed from the site if you want to see it in action.
Because this is very new I'm afraid that's the closest you'll get to seeing it in action until they are ready
to invite you on board for beta testing.
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Chow
www.chow.com
This slick and tasty looking site is a foody's heaven. It's a multimedia feast crammed with audio, video,
photos, blogs - and of course the obligatory community forum.
The recipes and party tips, cooking guides, primers and equipment reviews are aimed at a younger
audience, which means the style and language of the presentation are much fresher than a lot of other
sites of this nature.
Articles cover food, food culture and food trends - and of course there are lots of delicious recipes for you
to get your teeth into, many of them submitted by visitors to the site.
But for me the section of this site that really sings is the videos section. As well as lots of How To movies
and cooking guides, there are interviews and features with people who are passionate about food.
Check out the wedding cake artist under the obsessives section. Simply stunning.
I have to say, thought, that the streaming was more than a little clunky on a lower powered PC. Definitely
not a place for narrowband surfers to hang out.
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Ted talks
www.ted.com
Next up, if you're passionate about technology, entertainment and design, there's a place on the web for
you to get your fill of information. You want to be talking to TED.com.
The website is based on a series of annual conferences where the world's most fascinating thinkers and
doers are challenged to give the talk of their lives in 18 minutes. The website offers up more than 200 of
the best talks from the conferences, free for you to enjoy.
Soak up the atmosphere as Deborah Gordon enthuses about ants , Craig Venter vents about the creation
of synthetic life , and then why not take a little time out and enjoy the Raspyni Brothers joking around
and juggling with beanbags ?
I really like the way this site navigates, as the thumbnail sections slide out and react to your mouse
pointers presence. With the navigation panel clearly displayed on the left it's a breeze to get about. The
only thing you'll be stuck with is how to find enough time in your day to get your fill.
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bubbl.us
www.bubbl.us
Talking of creative thinking, our last site today houses a funky little tool to help you brainstorm and
collaborate.
We've all seen an ideas map - where notions and thoughts are linked together with boxes and lines to see
where connections can work and not.
Click Start Brainstorming to begin and enter the root of your thinking where it says State Here. Hit Enter
to save your text and another box appears. Click it in the middle to enter another thought and then you
can start building the map.
You can change the colour and position of various boxes, using the clickys around them to make
additional links and paths to progress. Just have a play around, it's pretty simple to get the hang of.
Signing up is simple and free and then you can save your brainstorming maps and share them online, just
give your map a name and click Save on the right to enter the registration process.
So now you have the ideas, inspiration and the tools to get creative.
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WinkingSkull.com
www.winkingskull.com
The human body is an amazing piece of architecture. Man has been studying anatomy since at least
1600BC, when the ancient Egyptians first began to map the way our bodies work.
Whether you're studying anatomy, cramming for an exam, or just have a curiosity to find out more about
what makes you tick, this is an amazing website.
Navigate through each region of the body by clicking the links in the navigation panel on the left. Every
part of the body is covered, literally from head to toe, and beautifully illustrated with interactive
diagrams that peel away the layers of our anatomy for all to see. You can click the labels on and off so
you know exactly what you're looking at.
If you register, which is free, you can even use the site's extensive self-testing exercises, which ask you to
place the labels on the diagrams in an allotted amount of time; skilled labellers could rank among the
website's most brainy users.
One slight flaw, I couldn't register with Firefox on my PC, and after contacting the site's owners they say
there are also issues with Safari on the Mac, which they are working hard to fix. Just try another browser
if you're have problems signing up.
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TEAMtalk
www.teamtalk.com
Eric Majdalani, from Montreal in Canada,is crazy about UK football, or soccer as it's called in some
countries. He says that TEAMTalk is an absolute must.
Not being a big footie fan myself I will have to take his word for it that the information is solid, but from a
purely aesthetic point of view I really like this suggestion. Laid out magazine style it's simple to surf with
all the important information, such as Premier league standings and news headlines, clearly shown on the
opening page. There's also a link to Live score updates from sportinglife.com if you want to be right up to
date.
Interested in other leagues? Use the menu bar across the top to switch between areas where you'll find
results, analyse and more in-depth information about the teams and their players.
As well as a wealth of nicely written articles and features, there's plenty of fun stuff too. Check out the
Interactive tab for quizzes and competitions; there's even a Fantasy Football league green button under
the Home link at the top.
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Clusty
clusty.com
Clusty is different from other well-known search engines because it sorts your keyword results into
themed files of 'clusters'.
For example, a search for the word "pearl" can be split into sections listing jewellery, Pearl Harbour,
Oysters, and even the music group Pearl Jam.
Using the site is simple. Just type the keyword in and the clusters are listed in a panel to the left. Use the
tabs in this panel to direct your search to results from a particular source, or even to sites with a given
extension, which is useful when looking for information on a government or country specific site.
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Me.dium
me.dium.com
Surfing the web can be a solitary pursuit. Sure, you have messenger and emails popping up from friends,
but it's not quite like hanging out, sharing a joke with a mate about something you've seen. Or is it?
For an increasing number of people that's exactly what surfing the web is about. I'm hooked on Me.dium,
and if you're the sociable type then I think you will be too.
Click the three dots in the centre of the screen to learn more. There are three panels of reasons to use
this software, each of which invite you to sign up and download at the end. Rather annoyingly you have to
use the back button if you want to read all three before taking the plunge.
That said, I was sold on the idea pretty quickly, so signed up and then downloaded the plugin. You'll need
to tell your browser that the Me.dium site can edit your settings, but the website even steps you through
that before the download.
After restarting your browser the plugin will display a people map in the sidebar - just use the View menu
to switch that back to History or Bookmarks if you want to.
There is so much you can do with this panel. If you invite friends to the network you can see when they're
online, what pages they're surfing, and you can even jump onto the same page and send them a chat
message. You can also make friends with new people by making your presence public.
And if your friends are rubbish and surf pointless websites, medium has its own selection of
recommendations based on your internet activity.
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PicLens
www.piclens.com
With the web being such a visual medium, aesthetics are important and the terribly thoughtful people at
Cool Iris have given us a totally new way to look at images, on a 3D wall no less.
Head on over to piclens and hit the download button. If you want to find out more there's a very nice
multimedia presentation under the Tutorials button, but trust me, download it. It rocks.
Once the plugin is installed - and you'll need to tell your browser to allow editing by the site again - you
can go to any site that supports the plugin and view all the images on a 3D wall in a dedicated full screen
environment.
Sites that support the plugin are places like Facebook, MySpace, Flickr, Deviant Art and Google image
search, so there is no end of relevance to this app.
Pop along to Google to familiarise yourself with its remarkably simple operation. Seach a term - pick
something image rich, like galaxies, or cute kittens, whatever takes your fancy - and when the search is
returned click the special Piclens arrow in an image.
You can now use the slider at the bottom to zoom along the wall. click an image to zoom in, and use the
slideshow controls if you just want to sit back and enjoy. You can link back to the originating page of the
highlighted image by clicking the link in the top left hand corner of the screen.
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The best of YouTube
www.bestofyoutube.com
Now, a vlog, or vidlog, video blog that I wanted to share with you.
Whever you call it a vlog, vidlog or video blog, the video podcast is a growing attraction on the world
wide web, and what better to blog video-style than the king of online clips, YouTube.
This is a simple site with simple intentions - select the best of the YouTube posts and deliver one each
week to its audience. You can sign up for free and have the podcast fed direct to your desktop or even
your iPod; I found signing up through iTunes the easiest option.
You can also surf the previous episodes on the website - 300+ choice YouTube moments and growing. So
shut the office door, plug in your headphones and try and keep a poker face, as some of these videos had
me literally laughing out loud.
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Tim Matheson's Productivity blog
www.timmatheson.com
Finally, a blog which I found through looking at what other Me.dium users were surfing.
It's not really clear how often Tim posts to this blog - rolling down the entries on the opening page it
seems to be random, perhaps only when he finds something he deems post-worthy. But whether it
averages out as once, twice or even three times a month, there's a massive archive of brilliant posts that
will have you immersed in Tim's world for hours.
His posts are mainly centred around improving productivity. Thoughts and links to stuff he's found on the
web - my suspicion from the vast collection of links here is that Tim Matheson probably spends too much
time surfing the web to be considered productive himself!
Check out the How To section for some pretty neat examples of the stuff that he finds: like how to make a
virtual reality headset using a Wii and some safety goggles, or how to make a hollow book to hide your
valuables.
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Wetpaint Please Touch
www.wetpaintpleasetouch.com
Time to release the artist in you. I like this fun little app that helps you unwind by splashing some paint
about, and then invite your friends to contribute in making a collaborative work of art.
Click Paint to begin and you're presented with a blank canvas. There are some tools laid out along the
street to help you create, like a paint ball gun, a spray can, a roller and various brushes.
Click the colour slider at the bottom to change the colour you're working with, and you can even add
pictures from your hard drive to the wall. Watch the paint meter on the left as you work - once you've run
out you'll be asked to save and send your pic on, so that friends can add to it.
Check out the Gallery button if you want to see the kinds of things others are creating. You can even add
to these works by clicking Contribute to Group Art Project.
So go on - express yourself.
----------------------------------------
Twitter
www.twitter.com
Twitter is a real enigma. I can't quite decide if it's an incredibly cool curiosity, or an utter waste of pixels.
But it's got a lot of people in a bit of a twitter.
Twitter's a place where you can post messages about what you're doing - no matter how pointless or
uninteresting that may be as, long it is not any longer than 140 characters. You can twitter in public, or
keep it between friends.
The opening page is simple and attractive, if a little cryptic. Click the buttons for What, Why and How to
learn what limited information the site's creators feel you need, then follow the very simple registration
process under Get Started.
The first task the website will perform is to search through your contacts in Yahoo, Hotmail and Gmail
etc, for people who are already registered with Twitter. Select from this list the ones you want to network
with, and then choose who else in your contacts you'd like to invite - though bear in mind they will get an
email from Twitter asking them to join up, so choose carefully the people you think won't mind this.
When you log into the site you'll have a notice board of twitters from the people you're following. Expand
this list by heading to the public timeline. Clicking on a Twitterer opens a page of their twitters with all of
their contacts - just click Follow if you want to add them to your network.
This application works with Instant Messenger and your mobile phone through SMS, but be aware that
your phone provider may charge you for receiving automated texts from the web.
We are also twittering, so if you want to know what is coming up on Click, why not add us to your
network of friends.
-------------------------------------------------
Koozak
www.koozac.com
Time for some more fun now, after all, this is the main purpose of the internet, right? Koozak's a new
gaming craze that's caught somewhere between Tetris and Sudoku.
Be warned, this game is utterly addictive. The idea is simple, its execution not so much. Falling blocks
must be arranged to make the sum total you see in the top right hand corner. Use your cursor keys to
move the falling blocks left and right, and speed them up by pressing DOWN.
When the numbers add up, the block will explode. The more blocks in a sum, the more points you will
score, but you're going to have to do some pretty swift mental arithmetic if you want to succeed.
This has to be the ultimate in brain training, but I am sure I will be seeing numbers fall in my sleep
tonight.
------------------------------------------------------
www.boingboing.net
Finally, Boing Boing, a blog filled with wonderful things, oddities and curiosities that the team of
bloggers have found and gathered together in one place for you to enjoy at boingboing.net.
The entries on this site are pretty random - gathered by the authors, who you can find out more about by
clicking on their name. They seem a pretty well qualified bunch and very media savvy, which is I guess
the reason the content of the blog is so interesting.
There is everything here, from elephant artwork to 1960's toy commercials. Hitting subscribe allows you
to sign up for the RSS feed, and even a vidcast, where the contributors chat about interesting things with
interesting people.
------------------------------------------
Wonder How To
www.wonderhowto.com
The web is full of how-to guides and step-by-steps, but there is nothing quite like seeing a process
demonstrated live. This is why our first site today, which is rich with great video content, caught my eye.
Here you'll find a multitude of how-to guides in video form, covering everything from making a 3D dragon
that follows you with its eyes, to squeezing a spot in the proper way.
There's a clip of the day at the top of the home page, and under that are three columns of fresh, hidden
gems and hot video picks for you to peruse. When you're through looking at the recommended picks, you
can dig deeper using the category menu.
There is so much here to see, pulled from literally every corner of the web, it's a delight. And likely to
suck up half your day, so be warned.
Of course, like any site of this type, there is some adult content to be found, so best not to let minors
browse here alone.
-------------------------------------------------
Chromasia
www.chromasia.com
From the bizarre to the beautiful now, and a personal blog by a photographer from Blackpool in the UK.
Chromasia features the work of David Nightingale.
Unusually for a blog there are no words on these pages, just beautiful imagery captured on film and
presented in a slide show format for the world to enjoy. To take control yourself click the About tab at the
top. Here you'll find information on the artist, together with links to his collections of photos.
David lives by the sea, so there are a lot of beautiful coastal shots with rich colours and wild landscapes. I
love the beachcombing section where all sorts of things that have washed up on the beach become
objects of art; whoever thought a broken buoy could be such a stunning sight?
---------------------------------------------------

Windows Directory Statistics

sourceforge.net/projects/windirstat
Another download now, and a useful hard disk analyser that speaks volumes with visuals. It's called
Windows Directory Statistics.
After download and installation you're presented with a fairly basic interface. Specify the drives or
folders you want to analyse and then go make a cup of tea or something while the software does its thing.
They say pictures can speak a thousand words, and I guess in the case of the visual map you get here,
they'd be right about that. Knowing the size of a folder and all its sub folders can be really useful when it
comes to spring cleaning your data to make a bit more room. It's a function that even the latest versions
of Windows doesn't perform.
----------------------------------------------------------
Packet Garden
packetgarden.com
And we finish with another visual treat. This is definitely one curiosity that will appeal to everyone from
tecnhophobes to outright geeks - want to grow a virtual planet based on your internet traffic?
It's called Packet Garden, and you'll pick it up on the website of the same name. Another quick download
and you need to follow the readme instructions depending on what platform you're installing it on.
You need to install the WinPcap software before you install Packet Garden, then just launch the program
and you're ready to go. When you launch it you need to click Start Packet Capture to begin recording
your travels, then just go ahead and surf as normal.
When you've been active a while pop back into the packet garden and click to grow a garden from your
traffic. The longer you leave it the busier the planet, and you can adjust the sensitivity under Configure,
but bear in mind the lower the number the longer your garden will take to display.
There is even the option to fly through your world by clicking on Visit World, but personally I have found
this to be a bit buggy and it keeps crashing the software - sort it out packet garden.
-------------------------------------------------------
WooMe.com
www.woome.com
Speed dating is all the rage these days; that's where you literally spend five minutes chatting to lots of
different people to see if you make a connection. This billion dollar dating phenomenon has invaded the
web.
The idea of this site is to meet five people in five minutes. You'll need a webcam & working microphone to
take part. Registration is simple and free, and the usual dating site profile options are there for you to
complete. But the real fun starts when you sign up to a session. Click the Sessions tab at the top to see
what's on offer, and if you don't like the look of any of them why not start your own session.
Before signing up to a session you can use the big green button on the left to check your equipment is up
to scratch. Then you just have to sit there and sparkle with charm as the site's software takes care of the
rest.
WooMe is still in beta testing and is completely free for you to hook up with anyone else on the site. But if
you decide you've been wooed, you'll be asked to pay $1 to get each other's contact information.
------------------------------

Backofmyhand.com
www.backofmyhand.com
You know your own neighbourhood like the back of your hand, right? Know all the best places to eat, and
all the best shops to splurge your cash? All the best spots for a romantic walk? Well, isn't it about time
you shared that with the world??
Backofmyhand.com is a place where you can do just that, using the architecture of Microsoft's Live Local
website.
If you're not familiar with this powerful mapping tool, Backofmyhand has a nice easy tutorial that steps
you through the process of making a 'collection'. You'll need to register, but if you have a Hotmail or
Messenger account you can use your Live ID to log in.
On completing a collection in Live Local you'll be given a URL. Use this when you click the button on the
backofmyhand website to Submit a collection so that other users of the site can see your suggestions.
Use the panels on the left to define your search, or you can just click through the popular and
recommended collections. Selecting a collection will launch the Live Local website with map markers &
pictures describing the entries that have been highlighted.
----------------------------------------------------------------------
NewsNow
www.newsnow.co.uk
It's difficult to remember what life was like before the internet. Certainly as a journalist I rely on my 'net
connection to keep me up-to-date with what's going on in the world - but with literally billions and billions
of pages to consult, cutting your way through to the news that matters can seem like a daunting task.
NewsNow is a portal site that feeds the headlines you need directly to your browser, so you can quickly
identify the stories you're looking for.
The opening page is clear and concise, with news headlines listed in palatable categories. Each section
displays the most up-to-the-minute headlines, taken from over 30,000 news sources and updated every
five minutes. A small graphic of a flag will tell you the originating country of the article, and grey text
beside it tells you when and where it was posted.
For more targeted headlines you can either use the dropdown menus on the left or, if you're looking for a
particular story, you can search for it; though it's worth noting you can only type one keyword in here, so
you're likely to get a multitude of different results to select from before reaching the information you
want.
----------------------------------------------------
Poodwaddle
www.poodwaddle.com
This page is essentially a one-stop-shop for all the useful little apps you might want on your homepage -
from diaries, to calculators, to world clocks to search tools. All graphically very pleasing and extremely
easy to use.
Take a look around the default layout to see what you can have. I really like the World and Earth clocks,
both listed under the Popular Pages section. These clocks display real time statistics about things like
population growth, barrels of oil pumped and garbage created.
To lay out your own page preferences just click the Editor link on the left. You can now move items
around the page by dragging them with the handle. Use the minus sign to get them off the page, and the
plus sign for a pop-up of new apps you can add.
All this is stored in your computer's memory using cookies, so there is no need to register or log in, and
each time you visit the site all your preferences & notes will be there for you to see.
-------------------------------------------------
Weebly
www.weebly.com
It seems like every man and his dog wants a website these days, but making something that looks good
and functions well isn't as easy as it sounds.
I can't promise your dog will be able to use our first site this week, but for any humans out there who
need help designing a website, Weebly is a must.
The first thing that strikes me about this site is the simple and accessible design, which is good news as
this ethos will be applied to your site too, making it a much more pleasurable surf.
Registration is painless and speedy, then you jump straight in and name your website. This brings you to
the build interface. Check out the tabs across the top first to familiarise yourself with the tasks ahead,
and notice the sub-menus that appear on the left as you switch between tabs.
Everything about this site is drag and drop, so it's very simple to use and the number of options is
startling. Begin with an overall design. Just hover your mouse over the thumbnails to see a preview. The
pictures included there are placeholders which you can change for your own images, but make sure you
have a picture with the right dimensions if you want it displayed correctly.
You can now begin to add new elements, including text, pictures and even video by linking to a YouTube
or Google video file.
Clicking the link to More will also let you add elements like Google maps and RSS feeds. Use the Pages
tab to add additional pages and even a blog.
Once you're happy, click to publish and you're presented with a URL where people can view your site.
There's even a link to create your own domain name, but bear in mind you'll have to pay for that if you
want it.
-----------------------------------------------------

Lego Digital Designer

ldd.lego.com
If, like me, you spent a lot of time building things from colourful bricks as a child, you will probably enjoy
this app as much as I do.
After a quick installation you are ready to build your very own creations, and best of all you don't have to
register unless you want to participate in the Lego community and upload your creations for other users
to see.
Start the application and you can choose between building one of the starter models or choose Free Build
to create your own models from scratch. If you go with the starter model you will get a selection of half-
built Lego creations which you can finish off. And if you need the how-to instructions, click on the
Building Guide mode and it will give you the option to watch the item being built, or alternatively you can
generate a step-by-step building guide which you can then print out.
If you want you can also import other people's models into the designer. For that you need to click on the
Gallery tab and then click on the creation you like and then click to download. This will prompt you to
save an .Lxf file. Once saved go back in to designer and import the file whilst in build mode.

If you get bored of virtual building and would like to be able to get your hands on the real thing then you
can also order the necessary bricks for your creation and Lego will package it up for you.
------------------------------------
RecipeMatcher
www.recipematcher.com
Do you ever come home after a long day of work, look in the fridge but can't think of anything to cook
with the stuff that is in there? If the answer is yes you might find RecipeMatcher very useful.
You type what's in your pantry in the green box then choose from the dropdown menu what kind of
cuisine you want to cook. Click 'show what can I make', it will then generate recipes you can cook with
the ingredients that are in your fridge.
On the right hand side it indicates the amount of ingredients you have and on the left what you will still
need to buy. You can do the same with drinks and impress your guests with a cocktail.
You don't have to register to use the site but that does mean you have to type in what is in your pantry
every time. If you choose to register and log in, the site gives you the option of saving your pantry and
creating an electronic grocery list. You can also save your favourite recipes as well as submitting your
own.
------------------------------------------------------
Bee Dogs
www.beedogs.com
I know you've come to expect a certain level of quality here on Webscape - sites of particular coolness,
applications you can put to use on a daily basis, stuff you absolutely, positively, definitely can't live
without. And that's why you NEED to know about Bee Dogs.
Bee Dogs bills itself as the premier online repository for pictures of dogs in bee costumes. And I have to
say, I'd be hard pushed to disagree.
It contains photos of dogs in bee costumes. Dogs. In bee costumes. Photos. Lots of photos. Of dogs.
Wearing bee costumes.
Browse the galleries, upload your own, or even adopt a bee dog. If you really, really want. Proof that
you'll find anything and everything on the web if you look hard enough. Including Bee Dogs. Dedicated to
dogs. Wearing bee costumes.
------------------------------------------

Le Gourmet
www.legourmet.tv
How do you fancy salmon barbecue with tropical salsa? Flemish stew? How about a vegan barbecue?
That's a barbecue with no animal products; you don't actually barbecue a vegan…

Le Gourmet is a broadband TV channel that should add a recipe or two to your repertoire. This is what
video on demand was made for, in my opinion.
Click across the tabs on the right until you find a topic you're interested in, and you can then watch a
well -presented video on anything from finding the perfect steak to choosing the best knives.
The presenters seem to know what they're talking about, and the whole thing looks as if it's been filmed
by amateur cameramen, but amateur cameramen who know what they're doing.
The top part of the site looks good. The menu animation is nice and smooth, and you can see it's been
designed in the age of Vista. Underneath the main video and menu there's a rather messy paragraph on
each of the presenters, along with information about the broadband gourmet network, although at the
moment this seems to be the only site.
Although the list of recipes is not enormous, it is growing every week. And I have to say I would have
expected the recipe to be listed in text form alongside the video - as it is you have to click on a link, which
opens a second browser containing the recipe. But all in all it's a polished site that could become quite
successful if they can keep the videos coming.
-----------------------------------------------

The Machine is Us/ing Us

www.mediatedcultures.net
Do you know what web 2.0 actually is? The media is often guilty of bandying the phrase around like
everyone's on the same page, but there are so many elements and influences to Web 2.0 that it's often
difficult to pin down what we mean. My final pick this week is a short video that explains all.
I first found it on YouTube, where it's had more than a million views, but the definitive version is at
Mediated Cultures.
What follows is a simple four-minute brainteaser made by Michael Wesch, a professor in anthropology at
Kansas State University in the US. He uses a montage of different computer screens to take us on a
journey from the written word to the birth of the web and on to how we got to the linked-in nature of
ideas, people, and things making up Web 2.0.
I'll leave you to watch that in your own time but don't miss out on the rest of the site, which hosts a
wealth of content - not only Professor Wesch but also his undergraduate students discussing how the 'net
has changed the way we relate to each other and our understanding of reality.
If you prefer YouTube just search under mwesch and you'll get a list of videos from his students with
their thoughts on the subject too. You can take part in the debate online, or just sit back and watch.
Thought-provoking stuff and very Web 2.0 - if you know what I mean!
-------------------------------------------

Flickr Places
www.flickr.com/places
Over the past few years the website Flickr has allowed millions of people around the globe to store, share
and browse hundreds of millions of photos. It's great for exploring photos by photographer, the tag
associated with the pic, even the time it was taken. And now it's also great for exploring photos by place.
Accessible from within Flickr, Places allows you to explore photos of more than 100,000 locations around
the world - from cities to entire regions.
Images can be browsed by interesting and recent photos, groups, tags, or featured photographers of that
place. If you're an avid traveller, these "places" pages are a useful way for you to see diverse images of
the world in a way you wouldn't otherwise have imagined.
As well as perusing photos of everything from day-to-day life to iconic images, you'll also find you can
discover interesting details from just about every place on the map - whether it's a well-known city like
London or a small town - even if it's just local information like regional maps, weather and current time.
In terms of mapping enhancements, you'll notice a new, improved world map where you can easily view
popular and up-to-date themes represented by so-called "hot tags". Clicking on a tag will take you to a
selection of current photos from that location, providing a glimpse of the interesting and newsworthy
things going on there.
It's enough to keep you going for quite a while - currently, there are more than 30 million public geo-
tagged photos on Flickr. Quite amazing.
-------------------------------------------------------------

Wallpaper Slideshow
www.gphotoshow.com
Finally, a small but almost perfectly formed little application which lives on, or rather under, that desktop
you'll be browsing.
Wallpaper Slideshow lets you control the images which give your desktop that personal touch.
It's a free download of just over 2MB. You have to install a totally unrelated wallpaper LT toolbar for your
browser when you install the main program, but you can also cleanly uninstall it at any time.
The application lives in the system tray in the bottom right of your screen, and it's from there you
configure it to your taste. You can add single images or entire folders full of pictures from anywhere on
your computer.
And you'll find other options, like how long you want each image to stay up and whether or not to
randomise them.
One thing to note though - running it does take up a little bit of RAM, the exact amount will depend on
your image. So I would think twice about installing this if you have an older or slower computer.
-------------------------------------------------------
vzaar
www.vzaar.com
Think of web 2.0, and you'd probably think of user generated content and rich media, like video.
The video sharing site YouTube has become the poster boy for the next generation web, bringing untold
amusement to millions around the world.
But, as sites like VideoJug have demonstrated, video can be genuinely useful too. VideoJug showcases
short videos as useful how-to guides on around 30,000 topics. And we shouldn't be surprised that video is
finding its way into other realms too, like Vzaar.
Vzaar offers up the promise of a video bazaar, using video to buy and sell your products on eBay.
If a picture is worth a thousand words, imagine what video could do to bring your products to life. And
that's exactly what vzaar does, giving you an easy-to-use tool to help promote your listings on the auction
site, with the minimum of fuss.
Once you're signed in with your eBay ID, you can watch a tutorial video. The main screen of interest is
the uploading one. Once you've inputted your eBay user id, you can begin uploading in earnest.
The ethos here is that less is more, so your creations must be two minutes or less, though if your file is
longer it will trimmed down for you.
The site caters for most common video formats like avi, mp4, mov etc, and each file can be a maximum of
100MB. The other restriction is that you're only allowed to upload a total of 1GB a month, though as the
site develops I hope they'll introduce a feature to increase that.
----------------------------------------------------
preview.getbuzzword.com
Over the past year or so there's been a real move to push applications that live on the desktop into the
online world.
Adobe made news a few months back by announcing that a basic version of Photoshop will soon exist as
on an online app. Now they've bought a company which has developed a sophisticated online word
processor, and it's creating quite a buzz.
Buzzword is a flash-based application which, because it lives on the web, doesn't require any download
onto your PC apart from the basic flash player.
In its look and feel it's definitely way ahead of Google docs.
The menu system is in the form of toolbars which whizz across the screen once you've selected one. It
looks great, and while it doesn't have the functionality of Microsoft Word, you can do things like
automatic spell-checking as you type as well as insert tables, images and lists.
While a few basic features are notable by their absence, like word count and copying and pasting to and
from desktop apps, support for new features is being added all the time.
Once you've finished your document you can save it in a regular doc or rtf format, and import it into your
desktop word processor.
-------------------------------------------------
m.netvibes.com
We featured the desktop version of Netvibes earlier this year. It's a fabulous site, showing you at a glance
all your favourite content which you customise using RSS feeds.
If you're not familiar with RSS feeds, don't be scared off, they're simply a way of automatically delivering
updated content either through a dedicated RSS application or through a site like this.
So you can automatically see on one page all the latest headlines, weather, sports news, basically
anything and everything that's important to you.
Now Netvibes has gone mobile.
On your phone, you simply head to m.netvibes.com and log in to your account. Then you can see
everything that you'd see on your desktop client. This means your user account which holds all the
information about the feeds you've subscribed to, along with Meebo, the application which hosts all your
instant messaging clients.
Altogether a great example of integrating our home and mobile information needs.
----------------------------------------------------

Idée Labs
labs.ideeinc.com
There are many wonderful things to see on the internet, and a plethora of unique and innovative ways to
see them. I want to kick off today with a set of tools I discovered while researching the nature of colour.
There are three applications here, and they showcase the visual search technology developed by Idée Inc.
Let's start at the top with the multicolour search lab. You can choose either the Flickr or Alamy set of
images, then just make a choice of up 10 colours on the right to return an incredible array of pictures
that match that colour criteria. The display updates as you add more colours from the palette and you can
click on an image at any time to view its source.

The Visual Search Lab only samples Alamy pictures, and here you can add search terms that describe the
nature of the image - such as bright, smooth, fluffy etc.

Finally the BYO Image Search gives you the option of uploading your own image and being returned a
selection of pictures from the Alamy set that match the colour palette in yours.
Three fascinating tools that will have you looking at images in a whole new way.
--------------------------------------------------------
www.horsesmouth.co.uk
Starting a new job or college course can be a daunting experience, especially if you're moving into an
entirely new field. Sometimes you just need to talk to someone who's been there before, and that's the
premise of this site.
This social enterprise website is all about connecting people with mentors who can guide them through
the trials and tribulations they will face. Whether you want to become a mentor and pass on your pearls
of wisdom, or you want the support of an understanding person who knows what you're going through.
There are currently almost 5,000 mentors registered with the site covering subjects as wide ranging as
family and relationships to vocational training and choosing a career. And if you can't find a mentor on
your subject, the website invites you to send out a call for help.
Use the menu on the left to scan the categories, then scroll through the available mentors to read their
profiles. If you find one you want to contact, you'll need to register, which requires a mobile number for
them to send a verification code to. The service is also only available in certain countries, but there is a
good global coverage.
-------------------------------------------------------------------------
Great American Novel
www.greatamericannovel.com
One internet phenomenon I have discovered and got into recently is DENs, otherwise known as Digital
Epistolary Novels. These are stories told through a series of documents, in this case emails, IMs and
other electronic communications.

Here you can download and read Intimacies by Eric Brown, a former English professor and computer
geek. There's nothing to install, just click the executable file to launch the book and you'll be presented
with a somewhat familiar looking interface through which you access these fictitious communications.

It feels a bit voyeuristic reading someone else's emails in such a blatant way - but it's a really interesting
way to unfold a story, despite the somewhat simple look of the interface. The character development in
this novel really works for me and I can't wait to see what happens next.
----------------------------------------------------------------
Talking Pets
www.talkingpets.org
This site houses a fun little widget that allows you to upload a picture of your treasured pet and make a
fun talking postcard to send on to friends and family.
Just choose the pic, resize and add an appropriate mouth, then you can either type an original message or
use one of the preloaded passages of text. The voice will change depending on which name you choose.
The voices are a bit scary to say the least, but it's a fun way to send a personal message. And you can
even add your creation to your Facebook profile to amuse visitors with a funny message.
------------------------------------------------------------
The Compulsive Traveler
www.compulsivetraveler.tvThe site's mission statement reads 'Travel video stories from 65 countries that
inform, educate and entertain', and they certainly do that.
As well as being well filmed and edited they feature some really interesting content that sits somewhere
between travelogue and historical or natural world documentary.
A featured country is displayed on the opening page, just click the arrow to play the top film and there
are links to further films from that country laid out below.
Click People, Places or Categories to link to the various ways you can browse the site's content. Clicking
All Videos at the top will bring up a huge page of thumbnails linking to every film in the archive. Now all
you have to do is make a cup of tea and sit back and enjoy.
Travel without the jabs, long flights or airport delays. It's enough to make you compulsive about it.
-----------------------------------------------------
Planet SciCast
www.planet-scicast.com
If you'd told me that science can be fun when I was in school I wouldn't have believed you, but when I
was in school there weren't websites like this to enjoy.
Here you'll find films and experiments on all things scientific. The interesting thing about the content
here is it has been submitted by users of the site, so it's really varied and often very entertaining - take
the young lad making a turboturd out of sulphuric acid & sugar.
Navigate using the panel on the left. If you think you have the talent to contribute to the site take a look
at About SciCast. There is even a competition running at the moment which you can find more about on
Submit Film.
As well as the videos there are some great experiments you can try yourself. All experiments come with
an illustrated step-by-step guide, so give in to your curiosity and expend your mind. And obviously make
sure youngsters are properly supervised.
---------------------------------------------------
aniBoom
www.aniboom.com
This website is an absolute humdinger.
Even if you've never attempted animation before you'll be up and running in no time with this website.
There are no downloads and the interface is pretty easy to use once you've figured it out.
There are actually two key parts to this website - take a look under the Create tab for an overview of
both.
MicroSmotion allows you to make animated gifs with your webcam; it's pretty straight forward so I'll let
you work that out for yourself. But if you don't have a webcam you can use the ShapeShifter feature for
your animation fun.
The site lays out exactly what ShapeShifter is, with links to information and a video tutorial you can
watch to grab the basics. When you're ready, launch the ShapeShifter application. You can now place
shapes, resize, recolour and rotate them to create a basic image. But the fun starts when you animate.
Click the green + button to create a new frame, and then adjust the shape on screen in stop-motion style.
You'll need to register to save and export your creation as an animated gif. Then you can send it to
friends or use it on your website or blog.
--------------------------------------------------------------------
Hot Shot Business
spapps.go.com/hsb4/landing
Finally, a little fun for the younger ones. This is a cool game from those nice people at Disney.
You can register to play, but you don't have to - just click the appropriate link. The first step is to choose
a business, be it pet spa, skate shop, candy store or whatever. Along the way the hosts, Jack and Kate,
step you clearly through the game, but you can hit skip if you've heard it all before.
I won't bore you with the mechanics, as it's all pretty straight forward. Just watch out for the news
flashes that pop up every now and then, giving you clues to a possible change in market demand. If you
react correctly and market the new service you'll find you business beginning to boom. Pretty soon you'll
have a mini tycoon on your hands, so you can retire and live comfortably in their incredible mansion.
----------------------------------------------------------------
mscape
www.mscapers.com
Mediascapes are happening all around you, or so claims the tag-line to our opening website.
According to the site mediascapes are location-based games, tours and experiences, driven by handheld
communications devices like your mobile phone or PDA. A bit like a high tech treasure hunt but without
the treasure.
Someone gathers a collection of media - be it sound, pictures or video - and associates each bit with a
specific place. When you wander around that space, which could be a building or even a city, those media
bites are triggered in your handheld device via GPS. It's terribly geeky.
Watch the video 'Girly Geeks play the London mscape challenge' on the opening page for an overview.
There is a download, and you'll need to register. Bear in mind this is the public beta testing phase of the
project, so there may still be some hiccups in the system to discover. But if you want to participate, or
even make your own game, there's an excellent tutorial accessible from the opening page.
----------------------------------------------------------
Fraps
www.fraps.com
If you're a keen PC gamer and think you're pretty hot, why not make your own video and post it on
YouTube so the world can see how amazing you are?
At Fraps you'll find the software you need to capture the screen action and sound from your favourite
game, which you can then edit into funky movies to impress your friends.
Downloading the software is fast and free. You don't even need to register, but the free version does have
certain limitations. Such as the format any screenshots are saved as, and you can only record for 30
seconds at a time, with the website's watermark - in the form of a URL - always shown at the top of your
clips.
To record, you need to select your hotkey and other settings under Movie. Don't forget to tick sound if
you want the game sound included.
When you open the game you'll see the Fraps FPS rate in yellow on the screen. Hitting the hotkey you
have selected turns the numbers red. You are now capturing your performance, so make sure you're
being leet.
Files are saved as .avis in the destination folder you set. You can now use these with any video editor to
hand to create your own movie masterpiece to post on the web.
----------------------------------------------------------
PaperToys
www.papertoys.com
If you're totally buzzed by all the technology-driven toys on the market today, or maybe just a bit too
cheap to keep feeding them with batteries, why not go back to basics with some toys made out of paper?
You won't find any wii's around here, just a great collection of printables you can stick together to make
your own toys. It's a brilliant way to keep your kids occupied without plugging them in to any tech.
As a parent you will have to stay around for this play as there are scissors and glue involved - we learnt
our lesson at Click when we left Spencer unsupervised while making a dinosaur! Some of the models are
very complicated too, so it's definitely suitable for all ages to enjoy.
The toys are all listed on the opening page, just click a link and then choose a link to which version you
want to print underneath the following image. Some are coloured for you, others not. You decide - just
remember to colour in the templates before you cut them out and stick the together!
A couple of the toys don't have links to a clean printable version below. This is a bit confusing, but if you
right click the image and choose to save it, you'll find you can open that up and print it from your desktop
too.
----------------------------------------------------------
Radiopaq
radiopaq.com
Internet radio is a bit old hat now, especially with all the media rich websites you can find online. But
there is still a time and a place for a good radio station, and Radiopaq provides a friendly place to find
them.
Here you'll find literally thousands of stations and a good spattering of podcasts for your listening
pleasure, all wrapped up in a good-looking interface that's a breeze to navigate. Again this site is in beta
testing, so make sure you use the feedback button if you find any glitches.
You can listen for free, just remember your bandwidth will be sucked up by the feed.
If you choose to register you can get additional features, such as a place to store your favourite podcasts
so the latest editions will always be waiting for you when you log in.
----------------------------------------------------------

handbag
www.handbag.com
We girls usually have a sizeable collection of handbags and shoes. Personally, I have a larger collection of
video games and consoles than I do shoes and handbags, but that's not to say I don't like reading up on
girly fashion and stuff every now and then.
This is a site I like to dip into to satisfy my feminine side. It's stuffed with fashion and beauty, celebrity
and entertainment. I like the way the site is laid out, with dropdown menus beneath the tabs so you can
quickly jump to the content you're interested in.
The last tab houses Handbag TV, for those that want to just sit back and watch. Nicely filmed and well
put together, there's some great films here if you want to look like a fashionista.
Overall the content is as gritty and frank as it gets for a girly rag. If you embarrass easily you should
probably avoid the sex tips section, which are handled tastefully but are still somewhat forthright.
-----------------------------------------------------------------

www.sampleswap.org
This is an old favourite of mine. I featured it here on Webscape a couple of years ago, but since then it
has grown immensely and is definitely worth pointing you towards again.
It's basically a forum where musical types get together to talk about their passion, swap ideas and, as the
title would suggest, rights-free loops and samples that you can use in the creation of your own musical
masterpiece.
This understated and functional site allows access to the hundreds of samples through the links below the
logo at the top of the page. You can browse the drum loops, melodic loops, vocals and more, but you'll
need to be registered and logged in if you want to download the aif files, which are similar to a wav and
can be imported into your music creation software to begin tinkering with yourself.
Download individual samples by right clicking the download link and choosing save as, or you can build a
basket of sounds for which a link to a zip file will be delivered to your email after clicking the 'download
basket now' link.
----------------------------------------------------------------------
www.slideshare.net
This is a site that is simply bursting at the seams with PowerPoint presentations on pretty much any
subject you care to mention. Register free for the full range of features, then you can start browsing the
vast archive of publicly usable slide shows.
You can email them on, share them with friends or even embed them in your own website or blog. From
informative to artistic or just plain fun, PowerPoint presentations never looked so cool. I think teachers
especially might be interested in using or sharing their work through this site.
Because public submissions are not screened by the site, you may occasionally come across unsuitable
material; some people just can't resist spoiling a good resource. Use the 'Flag' option beside the
presentation to bring it to the site's attention, as the terms and conditions are very clear in this area.
And when I contacted the owners about one poster in particular they were super fast and efficient in
their response. Thanks a lot slideshare, great work.
------------------------------------------------------------------------------
The Virtual Cave
www.goodearthgraphics.com/virtcave
Ever been potholing? I tried it once and was terrified to be squeezing myself into sunken crevices of rock
with no light and plenty of green slime under my hands and knees. I vowed I would never take another
trip underground, but I think I have changed my mind. virtually of course.
This site uncovers the many dark and damp mysteries of the world of caves, and you don't need to don a
jumpsuit and head lamp in order to enjoy them.
Keen caver and photographer Dave Bunnell has amassed this vast collection of information and pictures
from his 35 odd years of experience underground. Split into four key sections covering the different
underworld realms, take a virtual tour in pictures and words. There are some amazing sights, such as the
incredibly cool glacier caves, and some hot and steaming action inside lava tubes.
------------------------------------------------------------------------------
The Periodic table of Videos
www.periodicvideos.com
From geology to chemistry now - a veritable feast of classroom fun that I certainly wish I'd had the
chance to watch when I was in school, then I might not have done quite so badly at the sciences!
The periodic table is one of those cumbersome things that you just have to learn if you want to do well at
science. But how can one get enthusiastic about a bunch of nonsensical letters laid out in a grid?
The crazy academics at the University of Nottingham have put this site together. There's a video
explanation including cool scientific experiments for each of the chemical elements in the periodic table.
Far from being boring and nonsensical, these guys make learning about science look fun, and more than
a little dangerous!
-----------------------------------------------------------------------------------
timeforone.com
www.timeforone.com
This site is aimed at people who travel alone, be it for work or pleasure, who want to know what to do,
where to eat, and where to relax in London without feeling uncomfortable about being without a
companion.
Separated into table for one, play for one, away for one and spa for one, the editors of the site have
reviewed a massive range of activities and locations where you will be welcome and comfortable on your
tod.
As well as the many London based recommendations, away for one takes the wider world under its wing.
You'll need to register, which is easy and free, then peruse the suggestions from Paris to Brazil and
beyond.
There are pictures and comments from the sites reviewers, and often booking details and special offers
for users of the site, but bear in mind you're under no obligation to book the trips in this way if you want
to surf around for a better offer yourself.
------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
NerdTests.com
www.nerdtests.com
How much of a nerd are you? Come on, be honest now. if you're watching this there at least the chance
you have leanings towards nerdiness.
This is just a little bit of fun. There are two main categories of tests - those created by the site and those
created by users of the site. Click Nerdest tests for the site generated ones and choose which test you
want to take. My favourite is the basic nerd test. I scored 95 - which makes me a nerd god.
I am not sure if I should be proud or ashamed. Use the text at the end to embed your result into a website
or blog and share your rating with the world.
-----------------------------------------------------------------------------
Google Moon
www.google.com/moon
We haven't actually visited Google Moon on webscape before so I thought it was about time we strapped
on our moon boots to take a gander.
Like other similar Google sites, it really delivers. The interface will be very familiar if you've toured
through Google Earth, with the moon's surface laid out before you with markers where certain events
took place. At the widest magnification click a marker to zoom in and explore other markers, complete
with text information, links and point of view photographs from the various lunar visits they are relevant
to.
There's no download to endure, so you can just dive in and have a look round. Use the thumbnails across
the bottom to skip through the various entries directly.
-----------------------------------------------------------------------------------

text-image.com
Head over to text-image.com, load up a picture from your hard drive, make a few simple choices about
how you want the image displayed, then in a few seconds you'll see your image converted into a binary
styled replica of itself. Why? Oh, stop asking awkward questions. It's just a bit of fun and a geeky thing
you can copy and paste into a blog or such like.
Check the links to the ASCII and Matrix styled converters too. And thanks very much to the author, Patrik
Roos, who made this and posted it on the web for us to enjoy. That's what I love about the internet.
------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Blender
www.blender.org
Big budget animated films are all the rage; Pixar, Disney and Dreamworks have all made a name for
themselves in this genre. But how would you like to take a foray into the world of pixelated pictures with
something like this?
Far from being a big budget production, Big Buck Bunny was actually made using open source software
that you can download for free yourself at Blender.
Download and installation is pretty straightforward. What's more daunting by far is launching the
package and trying to figure out your way around the interface.
If you're familiar with 3D animation software it'll all look pretty familiar. I am told it is more intuitive than
most professionally available packages, because it has been designed by the kind of people who will use
it.
But for newcomers there's a great tutorial that will see you from noob to, well not exactly pro as the title
suggests, but certainly able to start doing some simple modelling and animation.
But persevere and you'll be amazed by what you can create. Like An Elephant's Dream, also made using
Blender.
The text and screenshot tutorial is really great for stepping you through the processes to your animation,
but some people prefer a more visual medium, so I just want to show you Super3boy's series of 26 films
on YouTube that address some of the more complex activities once you have your feet under the table. I
am finding them incredibly useful. Start at number one and work your way through.
Pretty soon you'll be Blending like a pro and posting your own short films on YouTube.

--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Free Fonts
www.getfreefonts.info
If 3D animation is a bit too much for you, you can still exercise your creativity in your everyday
correspondence. Don't get stuck in a rut with boring old fonts like Times New Roman and Arial, try some
of these free fonts instead.
I love the quirky selection of fonts on these pages, which are sure to brighten up any letter, email or
presentation. Tantrum Tongue, Bubblebath, Easily Amused - they have great names, don't they?
You can search the fonts alphabetically then browse through the pages till you spot something that suits.
There are two and a half thousand fonts to choose from, with the sample text displayed beside each
download link so you can see what you're getting. Simple and functional, this site delivers exactly what
you'd expect with the minimum of fuss. Lovely.
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Throw Me
petersbn.members.dynasigns.de
Here's a game that has me totally addicted, despite the highly annoying music and sound effects.
Well worth a visit as long as you have some time to spare, I found it incredibly hard to drag myself away.
Start by swinging your mouse back and forth to build up momentum and when you're ready to throw, hit
the space bar to see the little eyeball fly!
Keep your hand over the space bar as you get the chance to boost your flight occasionally if your eyeball
lands on a cloud - the longer you leave it to relaunch the little fella, the less powerful the boost.
Your go ends when he hits the ground and will fly no more - but use your space bar again and you have a
limited amount of stamina to give him a lift and hopefully hook onto one of the cranes along the hillside,
which gives you another chance to launch him in outer space.
-----------------------------------------------------------------------------------

Celestia The BBC is not responsible for the content of external internet sites.
Celestia is the programme that is taking us to the moon, and anyone can download it for free from the
website.
Based on a genuine star catalogue, Celestia is as real as can be. It allows you to navigate your way
around the universe, visiting stars, planets and moons.
It is not easy to start off with - even if you turn it up full speed, it can take a while to get anywhere - well,
that black stuff is not called space for nothing, you know.
If the enormity of space causes you to get lost, and it will, you can use the Go To Object window to take
you straight to a star or planet, wherever you were heading.
Once you reach the object, Celestia will fill you in with the facts and figures as well as some spectacular
visuals. You can explore the planets in our Solar System, the one hundred thousand million stars in our
galaxy, or even move beyond - outside the Milky Way. The scalability of this simulation is incredible.
Celestia is a fully working planetarium in your computer.

www.shatters.net/celestia
------------------------------------------
Back on Earth, here is a blog that takes you right across the globe with some astounding photography.
Stuck In Customs is regularly updated by photographer Trey Ratcliffe. Trey uses special techniques to
create these striking images.
It is hard to put your finger on what makes these photos feel so realistic yet so unreal at the same time.
I discovered the answer in one of Trey's blog entries. It links to a detailed tutorial he has written on
something called High Dynamic Range photography or HDR.
HDR is a software technique where you adjust the contrast ratios on the photographs. When you do this,
you can see a great range of intensities between light and dark areas.
HDR photos show the world looking less like a camera sees it and more as our eyes perceive it.
The only drawback to HDR is that Trey believes you need to show the pictures very large to get the full
effect, so his blog can be a bit slow to scroll through.

http://stuckincustoms.com
---------------------------------------------

British site constantcomedy.com does exactly what it says in the URL - streaming comedy videos by both
professionals and amateurs in a kind of never ending talent contest.
No need to sign up to view, but if you do, you get to vote off videos you do not like and if enough people
agree with you the performer gets the axe and the next funny man or woman takes centre screen.
You can choose the videos you think you will like by category on the left-hand side or just browse through
them in the video section.
Again - signing up means you can upload your own funny video for people to watch and vote on.
If you like your laughs stand-up style this is the site for you - and while there are some absolutely tragic
performances - it is not hard to find some truly funny people.

www.constantcomedy.com
-----------------------------------------------------------------------------

This next site that I am about to show you features really amazing photographs - but my reason for
including it here is not the art work.
Color.slightlyblue.com is the url with no www and it is the search technique here that I want to draw
your attention to.
The opening page features lots of pretty photographs, but if you take a closer look you will also see all
the photographs share the same colour theme which matches the background.
On the top left-hand corner is a colour selecter. Drag your mouse to a colour you like and see the effect.
The background changes and so does the pictures, all again matching the colour at the back.
It is a very nice and easy way of searching for photographs with particular colours in them.
All these pictures are collected from various artists with Flickr accounts and all of them are part of the
creative commons licence which means you can download and share the photos with others but cannot
use them commercially.
If you want to save any of these pictures to your hard drive you will need to sign-up for a Yahoo account
in order to log on to Flickr.

Color.slightlyblue.com
----------------------------------------------

Zuza Fun The BBC is not responsible for the content of external internet sites.
This site is full of beautiful photographs and interesting videos. There is something for everyone here.
All the navigation sections are listed on the right-hand side, click on one to jump to the section that
interests you the most. I clicked on "Cats sleeping positions" under recent comments - these are really
beautiful funny pictures especially for cat lovers like me.
If you want to post your own material, you can email site's creator, it seems like a one man crew though
so it might take a while before you see your own post up there.
And before I go, one last suggestion, check out "Beautiful nature photos" - these images really are
breathtaking.
www.zuzafun.com
-------------------------------------------------------

Not so long ago Microsoft announced its new imaging technology Photosynth. It is an application which
will turn your photographs into a 3D experience. It is not even in beta yet but the preview gives you a
pretty good idea about its potential.
The software will analyse photographs and look for similarities, thus understanding how the contents of
the pictures relate to each other, ie next to it, in front of it etc. The point is to create a new way of looking
at photos, in context rather than one by one.
In the opening page, click on Technology Preview and you will be prompted with a little Activex
download.
Once up and running, try out the buttons at the top left-hand corner. One will place red beams into the
3D environment, telling you where each photo was taken from. Another will toggle between 3D and 2D.
I loved the 3D fly, as it really puts the picture in perspective.
You cannot yet try out the software with your own photographs, but click through the collections because
they are really worth exploring.
You need to have a pretty powerful PC and a good connection if you really want to enjoy Photosynth.

labs.live.com/Photosynth
-------------------------------------------------------------

If you are looking for an all singing all dancing media player which will play just about any file format and
you want it to be open source, then look no further than VLC: a free download available from
VideoLan.org.
Long known to the web wise, VLC is the ultimate multimedia application. So, what is so special about this
player?
Well it can chew up and spit out just about any sort of media file: MPEG, DivX, OGG, DVD - in fact it
would be quicker to list the file formats it does not support.
The technology is open source and is constantly being updated by developers in 20 different countries.
There are also different versions of VLC for pretty much every operating system around. All your
multimedia problems solved with a quick download and it is free.

www.videolan.org
---------------------------------------------------
Want to make Hollywood style animations on a shoestring budget? You do? Then try your hand at the art
of Machinima.
Machinima animations make use of video game engines to try and help budding moviemakers realise
their vision.
Machinima.org.uk is great site for fans of this type of movie making, providing a resource data base as
well as a gallery containing numerous animated examples.
If you fancy trying your hand at making your own machinima, the site has a Getting Started section on
the front page. This provides a handy guide to making your own masterpiece.
There are links to software which will help with editing, graphics tweaking and audio and most of these
bits of software are open source and free.
So if you fancy becoming an animation master forget pen and paper, break out your favourite videogame
instead.

Machinima.org.uk
-----------------------------------------------------
The White Island
www.thewhiteisland.com
I love a good mystery, especially one which I can interact with and solve puzzles and clues in order to get
to the bottom of. Luckily for me the internet is full of great mysteries to be solved. Sadly for me, they are
often so compelling I get wrapped up in them for hours - as happened when I visited The White Island.
You follow the adventures of Elizabeth Pearl, an aspiring DJ and archaeologist who has come to Ibiza to
live and work for the summer as a research assistant for the Society For The Preservation of Ancient
Ibiza.
Introduced by Pete Tong, the story revolves around a missing USB stick containing the famous DJ's latest
tracks, and a mysterious message, as events involving 12 ancient symbols and the world's biggest DJs
unfold.
I'm not going to go into too much detail about the website itself, as discovering the secrets it holds is half
the fun. You'll read Elizabeth's blog, watch CCTV footage suggesting she's involved in the missing tracks,
and be asked to solve some most cunning puzzles - all in your quest to unravel the mystery of The White
Island.
-----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Improv Everywhere
improveverywhere.com
Talking of random entertainment - have you ever been walking down the street, minding your own
business, when you see something really odd going on? If so you might have inadvertently been a witness
to an improveverywhere stunt.
They're basically a group of people who like to gather in large numbers and perform random acts of
street theatre in order to amaze, perplex and entertain both us and themselves.
The blog on the opening page runs through the most recent stunts, but take a look under Missions if you
want to experience their full repertoire. Each mission is nicely explained with text and photos, and then
there is the all important video of the event taking place. Marvel at the camera flash experiment, where
700 'agents' lined the Brooklyn Bridge to create a wave of flashing light.
Then there is the human mirror, where dozens of pairs of twins completely confounded passengers on a
subway train. My favourite though is Frozen Grand Central Station, when over 200 Improv everywhere
agents literally made time stand still in this famous railway station.
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Ian Fieggen
www.shoe-lacing.com
If you think that website was good at tying people up in knots, take a look at my final offering.
Simple yet brilliant, the content is king here. This guy Ian seriously knows how to tie his shoe laces, in
every which way you can think of.
I think this site will probably appeal to trainer-wearing teenagers more than your average office worker,
but if you have ever wanted to keep up with the cool kids then you won't go far wrong if you start at the
bottom.
----------------------------------------------------
UBIK.com
www.ubik.com
Many modern mobile phones come internet-ready, so if you're a website host it would be pretty smart to
make sure you have a mobile friendly version of your site for maximum coverage. UBIK.com is an
awesome site where you can create just such a place in a few simple steps.
On the opening page there are some examples of sites created with this software. Click on a thumbnail to
open the web emulator which allows you to see how the site can be browsed when it goes live.
When you're ready to create your site there are just four simple steps. Now you need to add your own
content to the pages. It's all really intuitive - just click and load, switching between the pages in the panel
on the left. Remember, you'll need to work from the bottom up to change the links, as you have to name
the page you want to link to before it will appear in the options.
When you're done it's just click to publish. Register with the site and after activating your account you
can finish the publish process and be delivered a URL where it is hosted. Easy.
--------------------------------------------------------
Zabidoo
www.zabidoo.com/push
Talking of content for your mobile, it can be hard to find specific web pages to browse on your handset.
What is the point of an expensive internet-ready phone if you can't find anything worth surfing? At
Zabidoo you can load up your favourites for browsing on the go.
It couldn't be easier to use the site. Plug your mobile phone number - remembering to include the country
code - into the box provided, and then click to download. A message will be sent to your phone which
asks you to download the application, complete with step-by-step instructions. On my phone this was
downloaded to the Games directory, but it might be different for different handsets.
When you launch the app for the first time you'll need to set up an account, then you can start surfing for
mobile-specific content straight away. As well as offering a search box for direct terms, there are some
nice pre-defined categories listed too. I like the site of the day for some random surfing experience.
Do remember, that while you are connected to Zabidoo and any of the sites it leads you to, there may be
call charges from your mobile operator which will depend on your tariff.
-------------------------------------------------------
blinkBox
www.blinkbox.com
This neat new movie site features blockbuster movies and a whole raft of classics and TV series - and is a
100% legal download site, with a natty little twist.
Here you can watch clips, or 'blinks', of the movies on offer and then choose to download them for
purchase or rental at a cost. Aside from the rental and purchases, as a review and trailer destination only
this website really delivers. The clips are nicely packaged and load pretty fast, with a synopsis and
reviews displayed below.
There are over 1500 films on offer, and if you scroll to the bottom of the TV section there's a spattering of
free ad-funded TV for you to enjoy.
The natty twist is that if you see a clip in the Blink section that you like and want to recommend to other
people, you can do so by simply clicking to share this blink and entering their email. If you are a paying
customer you can make your own blinks from your favourite movies downloaded, and even personalise
them with a message.
Now for the bad news - this site is only licensed for UK customers to buy and rent at the moment, but the
site creators tell me they will be rolling out in Europe early next year, and have plans to take on the rest
of the world in the future too. So watch this blink.
--------------------------------------------------------
DLL-files.com
www.dll-files.com
I found this site when I was stumped by a missing DLL message.
DLL stands for Dynamic Link Library, and is a file containing a library of executable functions or data
required to run a program. But you don't need to worry about that. Just note down the name of the
missing file from the error message, plug it into the search box on this site - then download and follow
the instructions for installation. Couldn't be simpler really.
------------------------------------------------
Online Caroline
www.onlinecaroline.com
Is your online life lacking that little spark of excitement? Need an 'always there' companion to amuse and
amaze you with their crazy antics over a webcam? Then Online Caroline might be exactly who you've
been looking for.
Don't worry, I am not actually hooking up the entire worldwide audience of Click with one person! Online
Caroline is an interactive multimedia story - part soap opera, part thriller - which evolves through your
communications with Caroline.
You start by entering a few details about yourself, so that Caroline can personalise her messages to you -
then have a browse around the site to get the storyline going.
Caroline will ask you what mood you're in, what you would like to eat, what you want her to wear - and
you can make her really happy be sending some gifts, but don't worry, like Caroline these are 100%
fictional and won't cost you a penny!
You'll now start getting emails from Caroline, and the story unfolds day by day as you log onto her
website to catch up with the latest news and webcam broadcasts from her home. If at any time you want
to end the friendship, it's just a click away under the 'Dump me' button at the bottom.
If only everything in life were this simple.
-------------------------------------------------------------
bluejack Q
www.bluejackq.com
In a nutshell, bluejacking is sending surprise messages to strangers via bluetooth. This is the first, and
arguably the biggest, bluejacking community website.
The idea is to make people smile rather than anything more sinister, which the website wholly
disapproves of - it has instructions posted on how to turn off the bluetooth feature of your phone if you
don't want to take part in the game.
Everything about the game and its code of ethics is described through links on the left, and there is a
thriving forum for you to share your experiences with the community.
I love this idea of making an impromptu game out of a standard tech feature on a mobile phone. Just
watch out if you have bluetooth turned on, because I might be bluejacking you one day.
-------------------------------------------------------
Stupid Game Show Answers
sgsa.gameshowvideos.com
How many times have you watched a TV quiz show and thought 'oh my goodness, what a silly answer!' I
guarantee it's not as many times as the creators of this website.
This site is full of mirth, at the expense of some pretty dumb people on public television. Click on one of
the categories on the left to access a table of terrible answers for that show.
On the far right of each example there may be the option to watch or listen to the clangers in question.
Now you just need to sit back and enjoy the show and maybe feel just a little bit smug because you're not
quite a silly as they are.
But I wonder just how easy you'd find it under the bright lights of a TV studio?
-----------------------------------------------------------------------------------
The List Universe
listverse.com
I love lists, and if you're like me then our last site today will put you in list heaven.
This is a blog-style site created by just one man, with the help of suggestions from his readership. By that
I mean there is nothing scientific or official about the creation of these lists. But they are fun, and for the
most part quite insightful. And it is certainly the biggest list of lists I have ever come across.
After browsing the list of the moment on the opening page, click through to the archive to access lists
gone by. You'll find anything from the top 10 astonishing miracles to the top 30 failed technology
predictions.
Often the lists are garnished with pictures or video to complete the experience of a coffee table website
you can dip into whenever the mood takes you.
------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Copernic
www.copernic.com
This is a very handy search tool which should speed up your browsing because it doesn't leave you
wading through pages and pages of results.
This application differs from standard search tool in that it simultaneously queries all the major search
engines and over 90 information sources on the web - meaning it can bring back far more thorough
results than many of its peers.
But that doesn't mean it leaves you with thousands of links to trawl through. Even the basic free version
includes enough filtering options, as well as dead link removal, grouping and numerical value scoring to
really help drill down to the information you want.
The interface is a bit daunting at first, but well worth persevering with if you want to get serious about
your searching.
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MSN Video
video.msn.com
This isn't exactly a site, but it pulls content from one of the popular raft of video clip websites available
today.
How many times have you logged on to one of these sites and thought 'that's pretty cool, I want to share
it with a friend?' Now, thanks to the people at Microsoft, you can easily share clips using your MSN
messenger client. The feature is called Messenger TV and you launch it by clicking the activities button
at the top of the Messenger window,
Once you've launched the application and your friend has accepted to do the same you can scroll through
the various menus of the clips on offer. You and your contact can continue a conversation whilst watching
the movie together.
MSN Video has just announced partnerships with Channel 4 in the UK and also has content from places
like MTV and Sony BMG, so there are some great videos to choose from.
Launched in Europe just a few weeks ago, it's currently available in many countries except the US - but
keep an eye out if you're in America, as I am informed the feature will most likely be opened up to you in
the future as well.
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Scribus
www.scribus.net
These days its not unusual for people to be running their own magazine - be it a fanzine, local club
update rag, or pretty much anything you care to think of. To get a professional look you should be using
desktop publishing software, but this kind of program is pretty expensive.
Now, thanks to the wonder of open source software, you can now download a fully functioning DTP
package for free from scribus.net.
This site is not one of the easiest to navigate, but the power of the package behind the site more than
makes up for this.
The software itself is pretty complicated but will look very familiar if you're used to desktop publishing.
Click Support and then Documentation in the right hand navigation panel to access a page where you can
click through to the various tutorials. Then all you have left to do is publish your work!
------------------------------------------------------------
authorSTREAM
www.authorstream.com
authorSTREAM allows you to publish and share your Powerpoint presentations online.
Whether you're an educator looking to share presentations with students, a business person looking to
communicate with clients and colleagues, or just want to share photos and greetings with friends and
family, authorSTREAM offers this service free of charge. You need to register and then you can import
your contacts list and start uploading your presentations.
The options will allow you to make them public or private - and even converts them into an iPod and
YouTube friendly version provided you have met the criteria stated in this section when you built your
presentation.
It'll take a few minutes for the upload to be processed - you'll get an email when it is - then you can click
My Account and the Uploaded Presentations link to get a direct URL and even the coding to embed it and
create a thumbnail if you want to post the presentation in your own website or blog.
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Green Maven
www.greenmaven.com
The 'net is awash with site about caring for the environment, but sometimes finding them can feel like
wading through a landfill.
This is totally organic search engine dedicated to rambling through the green-web. The site description
says it focuses on green, conscious, and sustainable websites so instead of your search term being
applied to the web as a whole, it only gets applied to 'green' pages.
This means you're much more likely to find your way quickly to the information you want.
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The GNU Image Manipulation Program
www.gimp.org
Computers are great for playing with images. Lots of websites ask creative surfers to contribute their
own creations, or you might even have a website of your own you want to jazz up with a few sparkly
images. If so, you can't go far wrong if you ask Gimp to lend a hand.
GIMP is an acronym for GNU Image Manipulation Program. It is a freely distributed program for such
tasks as photo retouching, image composition and image authoring. The terms of usage and rules about
copying are clearly listed in the GNU General Public License.
The website itself is nicely designed. It's well worth taking a gander at the tutorials under Documentation
if you're new to image manipulation, as the interface can look quite daunting to the uninitiated eye.
These will step you through the features of the program, from basic touching up and resizing of
photographs to creating your own icons and 3D floating logos.
A powerful package that's easy to use - and completely free! You can't say fairer than that.
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Disney Print Station
www.printstation.disney.co.uk
The web is a wonderful, colourful and fun place, but it's not a good idea to spend too much time glued to
your computer - especially for the younger ones.
This is a site where you can print all sorts of stuff for your small ones to enjoy offline, all provided free by
Disney.
As you'd expect, the printables all feature popular Disney characters. They range from activity sheets full
of puzzles and colouring in templates, to masks, photo frames and even mobiles and door hangers.
Clicking a thumbnail gives you the option to preview the printout. Remember you'll need to be using a
good quality colour printer if you want to make best use of the bookmarks and photoframes etc.
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Splandoo
www.splandoo.com
Sometimes you see a video online and you want to save it to watch later. It's such a shame that you can't
download movies from the likes of MSN Video, YouTube and Google videos, isn't it?
Actually, you can.
This site is simplicity itself. Just find the video you want to download, use the dropdown menu next to the
URL box to see which sites Splandoo will work with, and then paste the URL into the box provided.
After clicking Download you'll be offered your usual 'Save' dialogue. You need to change the name of the
file to whatever you want to call it with .flv at the end. This will save the file as a Flash movie.
Then you will need a Flash movie player installed on your machine to watch it from your own hard drive
instead of via the web. But don't panic - Splandoo even provide a handy link to download a free player.
-----------------------------------------------------------------------------
I Can Has Cheezburger
icanhascheezburger.com
As we're in a visual mood let's finish with a little bit of fun. Crazy cats and daft dogs are the order of the
day for this website. It's utterly, utterly silly. It asks you to add captions to pictures of cats to make what
the site calls 'LOLs'.
You'll notice from the captions on display that the language being used is far from proper English. It's
known as LOLspeak. It's cutsey, badly spelled and with terrible grammar. Click the link to LOLspeak wiki
at the top to learn more. It's supposed to make the captions funnier - but I guess it's an acquired taste,
and you don't have to use it if you don't want to.
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WorldWide Telescope
www.worldwidetelescope.org
We open today with a trip to the heavens, courtesy of Microsoft. This is by no means the only universe
explorer on the web - we've shown lots of these in Webscape over the years - but I love the way this
application works and there are some really nice guided tours as well.
You'll need to download the 20mb application to start and then launch the telescope package from your
desktop. This interactive application puts a planetarium on your home PC, with a telescope you control as
you zoom around the skies exploring famous landmarks such as the Eagle Nebula (collections/chandra
telescope), the Antenna Galaxies (collections/hubble images), and a little closer to home Mars, Jupiter
and Saturn (collections/solar system).
Use the thumbnails across the top to move between collections. Clicking a thumbnail will make your
personal telescope zoom through the skies to reach its destination. You can control the image further
using the mouse scroll wheel to zoom in and out, while double clicking a location moves that to the centre
of your screen.
Go into the View menu and you can change the location of the telescope you're viewing the sky from, and
even set the date in the past or the future! There's lots more you can do to customize your viewing
experience but I'll let you discover that on your own.
When you're done exploring you can sit back and take a guided tour, accessed through the menu at the
top. Some are better than others, with music and voice rather than just text, and some are very
complicated. But the content is generally fascinating and will cater to astronomy fans of all ages.
It's a big big Universe out there - be careful you don't get lost.
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Poll The People
www.pollthepeople.com
The 'net is full of people with opinions. Far from being a passive viewing experience it's now possible to
add reviews and points of view to many of the websites you stumble across.
The idea of Poll The People is to discover people's top five recommendations in a growing number of
polls. Reading it can be a really useful tool in helping you decide what movies to watch or which album to
buy. Click a link to a category in the middle bar and then choose the poll you want from the menu on the
left.
Once inside a poll you can click the links to find out more about the article mentioned - including user
comments that work a lot like mini-reviews to give you more inside information.
I like the celebrity top fives, where they have asked certain well known people to give their own opinion.
If you want to take part and add your own thoughts you'll need to register by clicking the SIGN UP link.
As well as being able to add your own top fives you can now take advantage of the site's social
networking elements and make connections with people who have the same kinds of opinion as you do.
------------------------------------------------------------------
Searchme
beta.searchme.com
This is a search engine with a difference. As you type in words to search, the engine will auto complete
various subjects you might be interested in and give you some click throughs below.
Click on a section which is relevant and another page opens allowing you to preview the pages you are
thinking of surfing. Click the pages on the right to scroll forwards through the links, and when you've
found a page that suits your taste just click it in the main screen.
Simple, brilliant and really quite useful. You can't ask for more than that in a website.
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In Eyewear
www.ineyewear.com
Finally, a fun little widget that will help you decide what sunglasses to buy.
You can actually buy sunglasses from this site, but you don't even have to register to start trying on specs
from their extensive range of designer styles to see how they'll look on your face.
Click the Revolutioneyes logo on the left to begin, then upload a picture from your hard drive. The
maximum size it can be is 300KB, and you need a good picture of you facing forwards for the best results.
The image will be stored on the site's memory for 10 days, or until you clear out your 'net cookies. Next
click the uploaded photo and resize it to fit in the dressing room window using the slider on the left.
Next step, use the buttons below the sliders to select a brand and then style. Once the glasses are in
place use the slider and dial to fine tune the size and rotation to see how you'll look in a nice pair of Ray
Bans, or Fendis, or even some Oakley ski goggles.

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Moshi Monsters
www.moshimonsters.com
Remember that Tamagochi craze a few years back, when kids when nuts for those electronic pet
simulators that you had to feed, tickle and play with in order to keep them happy? Something similar has
arrived on the web, but it's a whole lot more fun.
The best place to start on this bright and zany looking website is the tour video. It's nicely made for the
target audience and will tell both you and your small ones what to expect. In a nutshell, you are asked to
adopt a pet monster. There are a number of styles, and you can customise by colour and then give a name
during the registration process.
After activating the account you child can log in and start playing right away. You get a room, which you
can customize by spending your 'rox', displayed at the bottom left of screen, in the shops. The higher
level your pet is, the more items are opened up to you.
Earning rox is fun and easy - just head into the gaming sections of Monstro City, or take the daily
brainbuster quiz at home. You'll also need to feed your pet monster - there is food in the inventory - and
tickle him to keep him happy. Click the Help link and then go to the How To Play tab for a full run
through.
Also at the top you can click the Community link, where users can have a peek inside some of the best
decorated rooms and begin building up their friendship tree by leaving notes for each other on the in-
room notice boards.
A lively, colourful and nicely designed website this, and ideal for keeping the young ones entertained on a
rainy afternoon.
------------------------------------------------------------------------
Youniverse
youniverse.com
The modern world is incredibly visual, and in a visual rich environment like the 'net it kind of makes
sense that there is a company offering a social networking portal based on the way you react to images.
To start, take the picture quiz to determine your visual DNA and enter some personal details about
yourself. The next page displays your profile. The pictures you chose in relation to the prompts
apparently tells this website about certain aspect of your personality.
I found it to be reasonably accurate, but I guess the descriptions are vague enough to apply to many
people. Flip through the sections using the tags on the side of the scrapbook, and scroll down the page
below each section to see how your answers compared to the most popular.
When you feel ready to register just click the button at the top of the screen. I like the functionality of
this site - it will store all of the details you have entered so far through the registration.
You can now customize your profile, add a picture, take additional quizzes and start building up a
network on contacts by investigating the people who match your visual DNA in the panel on the right.
----------------------------------------------------
ADrive.com
www.adrive.com
How would you like 50gb of free online storage space with the option to share?
Just click the big black button on this site sign up, then click the link in the activation email you are sent
to complete. Once logged in, managing your files is really simple, though the downloader/uploader runs
on java so you'll need to have that function activated to work successfully.
Click on My Files at the top, then use the Upload feature to begin backing up data from your hard drive.
The site is still in beta but the FAQ says they'll be adding a feature to automatically back up all the files
on your computer soon.
Once your files have uploaded you'll see a link giving you the option to share them. Click this link to add
the file to your shared drive, and a URL will be generated for others to click on to access that file. Simple.
------------------------------------------------------------
Graphita.com
www.graphita.comThis site lets you do fun and silly alterations to your digital pics. Don't expect any
artistically enhancing features like redeye reduction or colour filters; this place is all about fakes noses,
silly glasses, outlandish hats and amusing captions.
You'll need to register to save any pictures so you might as well do that straight away. Upload a picture
from your computer and then select it from the bottom panel before clicking Continue.
I found that uploaded pictures don't work in the edit screen unless you are registered, but as this site is
still being developed some strange behaviour is to be expected. If you come across a problem, let them
know.
Alternatively, if you're lacking inspiration or the material to work with, why not have a play with one of
the preloaded pictures, also available in the bottom panel.
Once you've selected your pic it will open up in the edit window. Use the tabs across the top of the
options panel to add your objects and any caption text, then just click save.
Clicking 'My Pictures' at the top of the home page will open your personal gallery, where you can use the
buttons at the bottom for various ways to share your work. Again, some of the options are not yet
clickable until a little further down the road.
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Jooce.com
www.jooce.comAccording to Jooce.com, 500 million people access the 'net from cybercafés each day. If
you happen to be one of those people, or you just want a consistent experience when browsing the web
from multiple locations, consider this place.
The idea of this site is it brings the functionality of your personal computer at home to any computer you
might happen to sit down at, even if you don't actually have a machine at home. You'll be able to access
files, email, instant messaging, storage and lots of other applications.
The first step is to register and reserve your own private space on their servers. Next up, enter your
instant messenger account details and click the green arrow to confirm. Be warned, when you want to
talk to a contact Jooce will send them a message inviting them to sign up every time you text them
through their ordinary IM client.
Next click the Forward arrow to run through all the options and set up your desktop how you want.
There's a useful Tips run through when you first start up, teaching you everything you can do with Jooce.
As well as being able to use this virtual desktop in exactly the same way as a normal desktop - storing
files, making folders and chatting to your friends - there is also a public desktop, known as a Joocetop,
accessible through the green desktop icon at the bottom.
Here you can allow friends to access and share files you have placed on it. It works in exactly the same
way as the regular desktop, but through your Jooce instant messenger client contacts can open up your
Joocetop, and vice versa, making sharing files and information a breeze.
As well as being a really useful tool, I love the way the interface looks and works. Though if you're stuck
using an older machine on a low bandwidth connection, you might find it all the animations make it slow
to load.
------------------------------------------------------------------------
King.com
www.king.comKing is a social gaming website with over 80 games to play and over 196 million games
played per month. Interestingly, over 70% of King's players are women, and the stable of games is vast
and very appealing. I especially like the word games.
Just browse through the sections and have a go. You'll need to register if you want to progress through
the later levels, which will also allow you to take part in the multiplayer games and sign up for
tournaments, many of which are free to enter.
But you can dive into any of the single player games to try them out with no set up at all. Competing in a
tournament will earn you prize jewels, which you can use to unlock additional features on the site.
The only downside is that the annoying music and sound effects might drive you crazy quite quickly.
--------------------------------------------------------------------
Animoto
animoto.com
Picture sharing sites are all the rage, but don't you wish you could add a little more pizzazz to your album
distribution? How about adding a banging rock tune and having the pictures animate on and off in a
video you can post on YouTube? But that would be far too much work, right? Wrong.
Click Get Started to begin using this brilliant site. You'll need to register to make either a 30 second
short, which is completely free, or full length film, which you have to pay for!
Next, choose to upload pics from either your computer or a photosharing site. 15 shots is ideal for a 30
sec short. Uploading them might take a few minutes, depending on your connection speed and how many
pictures you have chosen at what resolution.
Once done, use the buttons at the bottom to rotate, spotlight or add more pics from another location.
Then add a banging tune. Click the Music tab at the side and choose either from their selection or a track
off your own computer. Now you are almost done. The next screen asks you to enter a name and some
details about your video, then just click Create Video and wait while the website does the fancy bit.
You can start working on your next video while you wait, then click My Videos at the top to review your
work. After playing the video you can choose to do a remix, altering the pics and the music. A link to view
it will also be mailed to you.
Finally, use the buttons at the bottom to distribute your film - either straight to YouTube, emailing to
friends. Later on in the beta phase they will be adding the option to download to your iPod.
-----------------------------------------------------------------
ReallyWorried
www.reallyworried.com
If you're fretting about something, anything at all, this site offers to be a guiding light in the troublesome
walk through life.
Here you can share your fears with the world at large, and hopefully get practical advice and information
from someone who has been there before.
That's the basic premise of this website. It's not offering expert opinions from a paid entourage of
staffers, but rather provides a simple yet glossy forum in which people from all over the world can offer
advice and encouragement on any manner of topics big and small, from global warming to body image.
Just type what your worry is into the search box provided then see if anyone else is having the same
concerns. You'll need to register if you want to post your own worries, or respond to other people's. And
be warned some of the editorial can be quite grown up; there are several conversations about adult
subjects on the site.
-------------------------------------------------------------
Retirement matters
www.retirement-matters.co.uk
One fast growing demographic in the world of the internet is the retirement generation. As more and
more silver surfers realise how much being online can enhance their life, there are also a growing
number of tools available to suit their particular needs.
This is one such resource. It's is a portal to the kind of information those who are coming to the 'net late
in life might be interested in.
It's not the most technical website in the world, but then again you don't want it to be. It was set up by
people already in their 50s who specifically aimed it at the generation who find the calculator confusing!
There are links to news sites, travel sites, healthcare information and a lot more, all listed clearly on the
left in bold contrasting colours and buttons to make it a little easier to see. I especially like the Penpals
feature, which allows surfers to correspond with each other in a very straightforward way.
Some of the information, such as links to care services and retirement homes, is aimed at a UK audience,
but there's a lot more to this great portal that the whole world can benefit from.
It's one of the few independent sites aimed at the older generation, by the older generation, that I have
seen on the web. So well done to its creators.
----------------------------------------------------------
TStools
st.tstools.co.uk
If you're wondering whether you're actually getting the connection speeds to the 'net that your service
provider has promised, pop yourself along to this site and find out for yourself.
Operation couldn't be easier, despite the slightly scary looking front page. Just choose the download
location to test from, pick a download size to test, and click in it to start.
Remember to close any bandwidth hogging software such as downloads, games, software updates or
streaming radio and video before you start, as this will impair your results.
The following screen tells you exactly what your download speed is. It's very useful if you think your ISP
might be overloading its network and giving you poor service as a result.
------------------------------------------------
MyGame
www.mygame.com
Games and virals are all the rage, and with this website you can make your own viral game to send round
to your friends.
For starters there's a whole bunch of ready-made games here you can enjoy. Just peruse the opening
page at your leisure. I really like Qink, a cunning colour puzzle game with a Japanese style.
Or even the game Stunt pilot which had the guys in the Click office distracted for hours.
But if you click the tab to Create Games at the top you can start having some very silly fun. Just choose a
game from the simple templates. Upload your pic and then masque it and size it to fit the game. Choose a
background, give it a name and hey presto: silly games to amuse all.
One final touch, if you register with the site you can save your game, allowing players to show off their
high scores for the world to see.
-------------------------------------------------------
Photoshop Disasters
photoshopdisasters.blogspot.com
Finally, a very quick look at a fun little blog recommended by a viewer from Finland, Daniel Lawrence.
We all know that pictures in newspapers and magazines are frequently heavily edited. Sometimes the
artist's work is not as good as it could be, and this blog has very helpfully taken note of all these
graphical gaffs and pointed them out for us to have a good giggle at.
Just waste a few minute browsing the archives - use the links panel on the left to go back to previous
months. You'll find everything here from glossy ads to movie posters. Of particular note for me is the
cloning used to make the famous 20th Century Fox splash page (Thursday, April 24, 2008). It's so obvious
once it is pointed out!
----------------------------------------
GORP.com
gorp.away.com
If cave crawling in Carlsbad or fly-fishing in arctic Russia sound like your idea of a perfect break, then
consider GORP.com your travel guru. It stands for Great Outdoor Recreation Pages.
This site is rammed to the seams with amazing ideas for adrenaline-packed adventures as far from or as
close to home as you care to travel.
Use the tabs across the top to access the various guides. If you're looking for something specific use the
handy little search box just underneath.
There's a Tip Of The Week for the hardened traveller, and the Gear Guy offers some sound advice for
those of you planning to travel off the beaten track.
Get inspiration for your next trip in the Activity Guides section, and when you're ready to book the site
links to various travel sites where you can organise your trip.
It's worth remembering you are under no obligation to use these though, and you might find a cheaper
deal if you look for it yourself.
-----------------------------------
Tripit
www.tripit.com
Once you have your getaway booked, it's time to sort out your itinerary. For me this used to mean
countless bits of printed paper all stuffed into a folder. But not any more.
Tripit is simple yet effective. It takes all your travel documents and plans and combines them into one
comprehensive and easily digestible itinerary.
According to the website they can work with tickets and booking forms from most travel companies and
airlines.
It's worth remembering this website is a work in progress at the moment. It isn't finished, so there may
be some wrinkles yet to iron out.
Once you've registered, all you need to do is email them your travel documents and the snazzy automated
software will work them into an itinerary - even including weather forecasts, city guides and tips on
where to go and what to do once you're there!
If the website can't work with a document you send they'll mail you a note to tell you, and you can just
pop onto the website and add the details manually without too much effort. There is even the option to
get details on your mobile or PDA and have your itinerary mailed to you .
------------------------------------------------
e Boo Boos
www.ebooboos.com
Many items listed for sale on the popular auction site, eBay, go unnoticed and are sold for a steal because
of a simple spelling error.
The site is simplicity itself to use. Just select the flag of the country you want to search in the yellow
search box, and type the name of the item - correctly spelt - in the box below. You can add words to
exclude from your search, and even specify a category section and how you want the results to be sorted
- by price, or time left to run on the auction.
You'd be surprised how many people spell their auction details wrong. With no spell checker attached to
eBay, items like handbags and even designer labels names like Armani, can go for a steal at the minimum
bid specified by the seller. If you want inspiration on what to search for the e Boo Boos site even has a
selection of example search words in the panel to the left.
A nice trick is if you don't find what you want on your first search you click on another flag and you can
search that country's site as well. Happy bargain hunting!
------------------------------------------
Free rice
www.freerice.com
I like to test my brain on puzzles and word searches and such like. While this site is quite simple in
design I actually found the content nicely challenging, and the premise behind it gave me a warm glow
inside.
The idea is you have to state the meaning on a word from a multiple choice of four. For every word you
get right, the site will donate 20 grains of rice through the UN World Food programme.
You can see the donation piling up on the right and can play for as long as you like. So if you know your
cognomen from your glissade and have a few minutes to spare, why not do some good? 20 grains of rice
isn't a lot, but it all adds up.
-----------------------------------------------------------------
TBS Dept of Humor Analysis
www.tbshumorstudy.com
The study of humour is a serious business, or so they would have you believe at TBS, where they have set
up a very serious department of humour analysis.
TBS is a TV network that brought us the likes of Seinfeld, My Name is Earl and Family Guy and now they
have put together an amusing, off the wall little site to promote their work.
As well as having some great content, this is a really nicely designed website.

It comprises a humour lab full of ridiculous short films and a ludicrous video about this fictitious
department, all presented and narrated by the eminently amusing John Cleese.
Once you've watched your fill, and played about with the very funky interface a bit, pop along to the
survey section and add your thoughts to the mix.
It's not as boring as it sounds. These are quirky little interactive questions that will be used for absolutely
nothing. All in a hard days work at the humour labs, it seems.
-----------------------------------------------------
Picnik
www.picnik.com
This is a wonderful online application to help you create masterpieces from your digital photographs.
Sometimes the best compositions can be ruined by redeye or bad exposure, and this little app will not
only sort out these basic issues, but is also incredibly easy to use.
Simply click Upload Photo and choose a file from your PC, or you can use one of the buttons to upload
from the photo sharing websites they support.
The edit tab allows you to make basic changes, then add special effects, shapes and text under the tab
marked create. You can play around with your pics for free, without even registering. You can even save
your work to your hard drive or any of a number of popular photosharing websites they support.
There there is of course the obligatory Premium service, which allows you to pay if you want a wider
selection of tools & fonts to use in an ad-free envirionment.
Finally, if you've used the application to make your own postcard or e-greeting, you can email it on to the
people of your choice, again wihtout registration, but you will have to put in your own email address.
-----------------------------------------------------
Navy
www.navy.com
The US Navy ofers a pretty cool little game. It's free and a good challenge.
NTE: Strike and Retrieve is a hefty old download - 126 mb to be precise, so get the download running and
go off to do something else for a while.
You'll need to register so that they can analyse your performance, which the terms and conditions state is
used to help them benchmark future recruitment standards.
Don't worry though, you only need to put in your email address, so you won't be getting a knock on the
door from a recruitment officer any time soon.

The game is a combination of tactics, skill and hand-eye co-ordination. The controls take a bit of getting
used to as you pilot your sub aqua vehical through a hostile and treacherous terrain.
You'll need to figure out the right combination of equipment to complete each mission, with a terribly
annoying officer's voice giving you firm encouragement along the way.
-----------------------------------------------------
deputydog
deputy-dog.com
In the writer's own words, this is a blog about stuff. Mainly interesting architecture, clever design,
geographical oddities and so on, and he doesn't use capital letters to define his punctuation. So get over
it. Life is too short to worry about these things.

Not only is the content of this blog awe-inspiringly imaginative, but it's really well written. Topics are as
wide ranging as '10 annoying brilliant offices' to the 'top 10 physically modified people', with oodles of
images and very readable commentary to draw you in.

Click the popular link at the top to jump to the most highly rated entries. Seven amazing holes is the most
peculiar subject to have dreamt up, but utterly incredible to look at and read.
I don't know where this guy gets his material but he is a true online genius. Thank you Deputy Dog,
whoever you are.
-----------------------------------------------------
RocketLife
www.rocketlife.comDigital photography is great. Having folders and folders full of random pictures in no
particular order is not so great. So why not create a digital scrapbook at RocketLife?
You'll need to install the free application. It's only 1mb and you do it by clicking the green button to get
started. Annoyingly it only works with Internet Explorer 5.5, but it is only a new site so hopefully they will
get their act together and launch it for other browsers soon.
Once installed you're ready to roll. Just click the Add My Photos button to load up some pictures; they
recommend a folder containing at least 30-40 photos, but you can go up to the hundreds if you so desire.
Now click the Customize tab and you can use the various tools to re-order your scrapbook, or just use the
automatic design tool to let the software do the thinking for you.
Once you're done click the Preview tab on the left to review your album. You can now open this project at
any time and enjoy flicking through it.
There is always the option of purchasing a physical copy from the website, but like so many great things
on the web you only pay if you want to. You can just enjoy them in digital form if you prefer.
The only downside with this application is you cannot share your albums across the web, but it's a funky
little tool none-the-less.
-----------------------------------------------
GIFWorks.com
www.gifworks.comAnother great way of expressing your creativity online is through animated gifs. These
are small graphic files often embedded in websites and such like. You can customise your own for free at
GIFWorks.com.
Click the Free online GIF tools link at the top to begin. It's a bit small but it opens a page outlining your
options with a few tips to get started.
Click File/Open image to get started on your gif, which you can pull from the web or your PC's hard drive.
Remember kids, it has to be a GIF, either animated or not. There's also a link to the Animation Factory
website here, where you'll find oodles of royalty free images if you're stuck for some content to play
around with.
Once you have uploaded your GIF you can perform a lot of standard editing features online, such as
cropping, resizing, colourising and adding special effects. Pretty soon you'll have a GIF that is perfect for
the space you want to place it. Just click save and use one of the two options to store it on a remote FTP
site of your computer's hard drive.
One funky little feature I like is the ability to make your own animated text banners and buttons. Just
choose New 3D Text under the file menu and then scroll through the options in the page that now opens
to complete.
-----------------------------------------------
The Compulsive Traveler
www.compulsivetraveler.tvThe site's mission statement reads 'Travel video stories from 65 countries that
inform, educate and entertain', and they certainly do that.
As well as being well filmed and edited they feature some really interesting content that sits somewhere
between travelogue and historical or natural world documentary.
A featured country is displayed on the opening page, just click the arrow to play the top film and there
are links to further films from that country laid out below.
Click People, Places or Categories to link to the various ways you can browse the site's content. Clicking
All Videos at the top will bring up a huge page of thumbnails linking to every film in the archive. Now all
you have to do is make a cup of tea and sit back and enjoy.
Travel without the jabs, long flights or airport delays. It's enough to make you compulsive about it.
-----------------------------------------------
Planet SciCast
www.planet-scicast.com
If you'd told me that science can be fun when I was in school I wouldn't have believed you, but when I
was in school there weren't websites like this to enjoy.
Here you'll find films and experiments on all things scientific. The interesting thing about the content
here is it has been submitted by users of the site, so it's really varied and often very entertaining - take
the young lad making a turboturd out of sulphuric acid & sugar.
Navigate using the panel on the left. If you think you have the talent to contribute to the site take a look
at About SciCast. There is even a competition running at the moment which you can find more about on
Submit Film.
As well as the videos there are some great experiments you can try yourself. All experiments come with
an illustrated step-by-step guide, so give in to your curiosity and expend your mind. And obviously make
sure youngsters are properly supervised.
-----------------------------------------------------------------------------
aniBoom
www.aniboom.com
This website is an absolute humdinger.
Even if you've never attempted animation before you'll be up and running in no time with this website.
There are no downloads and the interface is pretty easy to use once you've figured it out.
There are actually two key parts to this website - take a look under the Create tab for an overview of
both.
MicroSmotion allows you to make animated gifs with your webcam; it's pretty straight forward so I'll let
you work that out for yourself. But if you don't have a webcam you can use the ShapeShifter feature for
your animation fun.
The site lays out exactly what ShapeShifter is, with links to information and a video tutorial you can
watch to grab the basics. When you're ready, launch the ShapeShifter application. You can now place
shapes, resize, recolour and rotate them to create a basic image. But the fun starts when you animate.
Click the green + button to create a new frame, and then adjust the shape on screen in stop-motion style.
You'll need to register to save and export your creation as an animated gif. Then you can send it to
friends or use it on your website or blog.
-----------------------------------------------------------------------------
Google Sky
www.google.com/sky
Google sky is where you can take a tour of the heavens, cruising through galaxies as you tour planets and
stars many millions of light years away. Just like their popular Google Maps, you can pan, zoom in and
out, and search for particular far off destinations.
For example type Saturn in the search box provided. Click the planet symbol to see text about its most
recently recorded position, then use the zoom bar to glide through open space towards your destination.
The thumbnails across the bottom jump you to various different sections such as solar systems,
constellations and the Hubble telescope showcase. Click one for further thumbnails to see the stunning
space images. Clicking Home here brings you back to the top level menu.
-----------------------------------------------------------------------------
Hot Shot Business
spapps.go.com/hsb4/landing
Finally, a little fun for the younger ones. This is a cool game from those nice people at Disney.
You can register to play, but you don't have to - just click the appropriate link. The first step is to choose
a business, be it pet spa, skate shop, candy store or whatever. Along the way the hosts, Jack and Kate,
step you clearly through the game, but you can hit skip if you've heard it all before.
I won't bore you with the mechanics, as it's all pretty straight forward. Just watch out for the news
flashes that pop up every now and then, giving you clues to a possible change in market demand. If you
react correctly and market the new service you'll find you business beginning to boom. Pretty soon you'll
have a mini tycoon on your hands, so you can retire and live comfortably in their incredible mansion.
-----------------------------------------------------------------------------
mscape
www.mscapers.com
Mediascapes are happening all around you, or so claims the tag-line to our opening website.
According to the site mediascapes are location-based games, tours and experiences, driven by handheld
communications devices like your mobile phone or PDA. A bit like a high tech treasure hunt but without
the treasure.
Someone gathers a collection of media - be it sound, pictures or video - and associates each bit with a
specific place. When you wander around that space, which could be a building or even a city, those media
bites are triggered in your handheld device via GPS. It's terribly geeky.
Watch the video 'Girly Geeks play the London mscape challenge' on the opening page for an overview.
There is a download, and you'll need to register. Bear in mind this is the public beta testing phase of the
project, so there may still be some hiccups in the system to discover. But if you want to participate, or
even make your own game, there's an excellent tutorial accessible from the opening page.
------------------------------------------------------------------------
Fraps
www.fraps.com
If you're a keen PC gamer and think you're pretty hot, why not make your own video and post it on
YouTube so the world can see how amazing you are?
At Fraps you'll find the software you need to capture the screen action and sound from your favourite
game, which you can then edit into funky movies to impress your friends.
Downloading the software is fast and free. You don't even need to register, but the free version does have
certain limitations. Such as the format any screenshots are saved as, and you can only record for 30
seconds at a time, with the website's watermark - in the form of a URL - always shown at the top of your
clips.
To record, you need to select your hotkey and other settings under Movie. Don't forget to tick sound if
you want the game sound included.
When you open the game you'll see the Fraps FPS rate in yellow on the screen. Hitting the hotkey you
have selected turns the numbers red. You are now capturing your performance, so make sure you're
being leet.
Files are saved as .avis in the destination folder you set. You can now use these with any video editor to
hand to create your own movie masterpiece to post on the web.
------------------------------------------------------------------------
PaperToys
www.papertoys.com
If you're totally buzzed by all the technology-driven toys on the market today, or maybe just a bit too
cheap to keep feeding them with batteries, why not go back to basics with some toys made out of paper?
You won't find any wii's around here, just a great collection of printables you can stick together to make
your own toys. It's a brilliant way to keep your kids occupied without plugging them in to any tech.
As a parent you will have to stay around for this play as there are scissors and glue involved - we learnt
our lesson at Click when we left Spencer unsupervised while making a dinosaur! Some of the models are
very complicated too, so it's definitely suitable for all ages to enjoy.
The toys are all listed on the opening page, just click a link and then choose a link to which version you
want to print underneath the following image. Some are coloured for you, others not. You decide - just
remember to colour in the templates before you cut them out and stick the together!
A couple of the toys don't have links to a clean printable version below. This is a bit confusing, but if you
right click the image and choose to save it, you'll find you can open that up and print it from your desktop
too.
------------------------------------------------------------------------
Radiopaq
radiopaq.com
Internet radio is a bit old hat now, especially with all the media rich websites you can find online. But
there is still a time and a place for a good radio station, and Radiopaq provides a friendly place to find
them.
Here you'll find literally thousands of stations and a good spattering of podcasts for your listening
pleasure, all wrapped up in a good-looking interface that's a breeze to navigate. Again this site is in beta
testing, so make sure you use the feedback button if you find any glitches.
You can listen for free, just remember your bandwidth will be sucked up by the feed.
If you choose to register you can get additional features, such as a place to store your favourite podcasts
so the latest editions will always be waiting for you when you log in.
------------------------------------------------------------------------
Club Penguin
www.clubpenguin.com
We've shown you websites where you can chat online, but what about your children? Many parents worry
about safety for their brood, so it's nice to know there are places for the mini surfers out there to have
fun and make new friends.
Disney's Penguin club is one such place. it's a chat portal where youngsters can interact safely and
securely in a moderated environment using an account that is controlled by their parent or guardian.
The site is bright and colourful, though a little complex until you get used to it - so make sure you look at
it ahead of time if you want to impress your kids!
Click Play to start and then choose your penguin and give it a name. Add password and parent's email
address for activation - and make sure you check your bulk mail folder if you have a spam filter running.
Next you can choose either Standard Safe Chat with word filters or Ultimate Safe Chat, which only allows
predefined phrases to be used.
Once a parent or guardian has replied to the activation email you can click Start to log in and begin
making friends. Select a region and then server, based on population.
Move about the screen by clicking on the area or zone you want to move to. There are loads of games and
features to explore and enjoy, and use the tab at the top of the screen if you want to show the chat logs
as well as just speech bubbles.
All the basic features are free, but if you want to decorate your own igloo and have multiple options on
styling you'll need a subscription account - click Membership on the front page to find out more.
---------------------------------------------------
Quick Online Tips
www.quickonlinetips.com
I've shown you a lot of plugins for your browser over the years. It seems like every day someone comes
up with a cool new widget to make your life online a little easier. This site has gathered together 50 of
the best for Firefox.
It also contains much more than just the Firefox section. Clicking Popular at the top is a great place to
start. Scroll through the long list of categories for your downloading pleasure. You'll find amazing tools
for things like Youtube and Digg, stuff for bloggers and so much more.
Look under Top Firefox Tips for the collection of extensions. Each one has a short description and a link
to the page where you can download it.
Now, this is a portal site, so remember any downloads will be happening off-site. Be sure to check their
terms and legitimacy before starting any downloads.
If you want to stay informed as the content changes you can subscribe to their blog either by email or
through an RSS feed. And if you're in any doubt about what an RSS feed it, there's a nice Youtube video
from Technorati embedded on the page.
---------------------------------------------------
Lefore
www.lefora.com
I am a bit of a forum junkie. They're places where you can hold a structured discussion on pretty much
any topic you care to think of, and if you can't find a forum with a topic that suits you why not make one
yourself?
This site is awesome because it allows even the least technical people to start their own community with
a form based editor to set up your forum. Click to begin then enter an address and the sign up details
you're asked for. You're now instantly logged in and offered two themes for your layout and are stepped
really clearly through the stages you need to set up your forum, making it shine with personality and
appeal - provided that is you've picked an interesting topic! Click the blue text by the step counter at the
top to advance through the steps.
Use the tabs across the top of the admin panel to continue refining the qualities of your forum. One really
important bit is to add your own categories with short descriptions so that people can post their
comments in an accessible order.
I've set up a forum for you to have a play in at clickpeople.lefora.com. Pop along and make a post! But
please bear in mind this is unofficial and unmoderated, so the usual caveats about places where anyone
can post apply. And I will be checking in periodically to make sure you're all behaving!
The forums are media rich and users can add polls and embed pictures and video. The only downside to
this site it there doesn't seem to be a way for people to search the forums that are available, so you'll
have to make sure people know where it is yourself if you want them to join in. Ideal for linking from a
blog or personal website though.
---------------------------------------------------
flauntR
www.flauntr.com
There are lots of picture editors available online, but I really like this one because of the funky interface
which is really easy to use - and it makes working with other online resources a breeze.
You'll need to register and when you log in you can start working straight away by loading up a picture
from your PC, or even your online photo storage account, such as FlickR, Facebook and Picasa.
Once you upload a picture it's stored in your album, where you can access it any time to do work on it. To
do this click and drag it from your album into the workspace in the top half of the screen.
Click the arrows on the right of the divider to minimize the album, then use the tabs across the top to
switch between activities such as editing, adding text and arty stylizing.
Two features I really like are profilR & mobilR, where you can easily resize the image to be perfect for
your phone of social networking profile. You can even make your pic into a postcard using the templates
under the StyleR tab.
Once you've finished working with the image you can save it and share it using the buttons along the top
of the workspace.
---------------------------------------
We Tell Stories
www.wetellstories.co.uk
Story-telling is one of the oldest professions in the world, but Penguin has brought it bang up to date with
thisinteractive website.
Here they offer six stories that unfold over six weeks in various unusual formats.
For example Slice takes the form of two blogs, from the perspective of a young girl and her parents, and
The 21 Steps follows the journey of the author on Google Maps.
I'm not going to spoil the plot for you by talking about the stories, just pop along and immerse yourself in
the authors' worlds for a few minutes and you'll soon understand a lot more about it.
There's information about the stories, the authors and the classic fairy tales their works pay homage to in
the panel across the bottom.
---------------------------------------
GORP.com
gorp.away.com
If cave crawling in Carlsbad or fly-fishing in arctic Russia sound like your idea of a great getaway, then
consider GORP your travel guru - it stands for Great Outdoor Recreation Pages.
This site is rammed to the seams with amazing ideas for adrenaline-packed adventures as far away or as
close to home as you care to travel.
Use the tabs across the top to access the various guides, or if you're looking for something specific, like
sandboarding through desert dunes, use the handy little search box provided just underneath.
There's a tip of the week for the hardened traveller, and the gear guy offers some sound advice for those
of you planning to travel off the beaten track.
Get inspiration for your next trip in the activity guides section, and when you're ready to book the site
links to various travel sites where you can organise your trip.
It's worth remembering you are under no obligation to use these though, and you might find a cheaper
deal if you surf around looking for it yourself.
---------------------------------------
Virtual Barber Shop
www.youtube.com
This YouTube video had me squirming in my seat with delight and amazement, and I am not saying any
more than that or I'll spoil it.
I'm not going to labour the point but please just put on some headphones and close your eyes. You
honestly won't regret it.
---------------------------------------

RDM+ The BBC is not responsible for the content of external internet sites.
Now, ever fancied accessing your desktop while you are thousands of miles away to retrieve that one
vital piece of information you forgot to take on the road with you?
We have mentioned services like LogMeIn before - a free download that sits on your PC and allows you
to access it from any other computer in the world. It is brilliant and can be a lifesaver.
Well now there is an application which takes it a step further.
Shape Services offers a variety of applications which allow you to access your home or work PC from
your mobile phone.
The one we are interested in here is RDM+ - Remote Desktop for Mobiles. There is a free seven day trial
version after which you have to pay $30 (£15).
Once you have installed the application you are away.
You will see the screen of the remote computer appear on your mobile phone and using your keypad or
touch screen you can operate the mouse and keyboard of the remote computer.
Quite amazing really, and definitely a great party piece to show off to your friends. But it can also be
genuinely useful - say if you need to retrieve that important document.
Now you can locate it on your desktop computer and e-mail yourself an attachment to your webmail
account.
Of course browsing through a two inch screen is not quite the experience of a 19 inch monitor. But
overall, a fascinating application well worth trying out for a glimpse of what the future will bring.
--------------------------------------------------------

It seems like every man and his dog wants a website these days, but making something that looks good
and functions well is not as easy as it sounds.
Well I cannot promise your dog will be able to use our first site today, but for any humans out there who
need help designing a website, Weebly is a must.
The first thing that strikes me about this site is the simple and accessible design - which is good news as
this ethos will be applied to your site too, making it a much more pleasurable surf.
Registration is painless and speedy, then you jump straight in and name your website. This brings you to
the build interface. Check out the tabs across the top first to familiarise yourself with the tasks ahead and
notice the sub-menus that appear on the left as you switch between tabs.
Everything about this site is drag-and-drop, so it is very simple to use and the number of options is
startling.
Begin with an overall design, just hover your mouse over the thumbnails to see a preview. The pictures
included here are placeholders which you can change for your own images but make sure you have a
picture with the right dimensions if you want it displayed correctly.
You can now begin to add new elements, including text, pictures and even video by linking to a YouTube
or Google video file. Clicking the link to More will also let you add elements like Google Maps and RSS
feeds.
Use the Pages tab to add additional pages and even a blog. Once you are happy, click to publish and you
are presented with a URL where people can view your site.
There is even a link to create your own domain name, but bear in mind you will have to pay for that if you
want it.

www.weebly.com
------------------------------------------------------------------------

Computers have become an essential part of our daily lives. The information we keep on them is valuable,
sentimental and often vital.
So what happens if you lose your computer in a fire or theft?
As scary as it is to think about, disasters do happen and you have two choices in life. Bury your head in
the sand and hope it does not happen to you, or back-up, buddy.
The safest option is to store your data off-site, and Mozy offers that very service all wrapped in a user-
friendly interface.
Now, Mozy does provide a paid for service for both home and professional users and if you have a lot to
back-up it is worth considering the fairly inexpensive monthly fee.
But you can store up to 2GB completely free if you are a home user. Click the MozyHome tab at the top to
find the free sign-up button.
There are a few personal details to fill in and the final registration page offers you more free space for
referrals, which is a nice touch.
After confirming your e-mail address you get a link to download the back-up software.
Next step, install and then go through the configuration wizard, which will bring you to a page where you
can select the back-up sets you want, such as e-mail and contacts, financial information and photos and
images and even your browser bookmarks.
If you are on the free account the capacity bar at the bottom will tell you when you are over the limit.
The next dialogue tests the speed of your connection and then you are told how long the back-up will take
to complete. Be warned it will likely be a long time for the first back-up, but will be a lot quicker after
that.
Finally, make your choice about when you want the back-up to start then click Finish to finish.

https://mozy.com
------------------------------------------

It is difficult to remember what life was like before the internet.

Certainly as a journalist I rely on my net connection to keep me up-to-date with what is going on in the
world, but with literally billions and billions of pages to consult, cutting your way through to the news
that matters can seem like a daunting task.
News Now is a portal site that feeds the headlines you need directly to your browser, so you can quickly
identify the stories you are looking for.
The opening page is clear and concise, with news headlines listed in palatable categories. Each section
displays the most up-to-the-minute headlines, taken from over 30,000 news sources and updated every
five minutes.
A small graphic of a flag will tell you the originating country of the article, and grey text beside it tells
you when and where it was posted.
For more targeted headlines you can either use the drop-down menus on the left or if you are looking for
a particular story you can search for it. Though it is worth noting you can only type one keyword in here,
so you are likely to get a multitude of different results to select from before reaching the information you
want.

www.newsnow.co.uk
-----------------------------------------------------------------

I want to show you another site now that is dedicated to delivering the news.
There is no shortage of sites like this on the web, but what makes The New York Times site stand out for
me is the variety of interactive tools they include to help you do more than just passively read what is
happening in the world.
The design, in the style of a laid out newspaper is familiar, but somewhat complex at first glance.
Each headline is displayed with a passage of text introducing the story and icons linking to video, sound
and other great interactive content where it is available.
Let us take the example of the debate analyser for the US elections, you can watch a video of the filmed
debate - Democratic or Republican, with the text transcribed to the right and the option to jump to topics
within the programme.
All very useful, but the real heart of this interactive gizmo is under the transcript analyser tab.
Here they have laid out the entire debate in a visual format that allows you to analyse and compare the
participants words. Just type a word in the search box at the top and the word count analyser will tell you
who said what and how many times.
Hover your mouse over the marks in the transcript map and a pop-up will let you read that section of
text. I found this tool invaluable in helping me see through the rhetoric and get an impression of what
issues were really important to the candidates.

www.nytimes.com
------------------------------------------------------------

Poodwaddle is essentially a one-stop-shop for all the useful little apps you might want on your homepage.
From diaries, to calculators, to world clocks, to search tools. All graphically very pleasing and extremely
easy to use.
Take a look around the default layout to see what you can have.
I really like the World and Earth Clocks, both listed under the Popular Pages section. These clocks
display real time statistics about things like population growth, barrels of oil pumped and garbage
created.
To lay out your own page preferences just click the Editor link on the left. You can now move items
around the page by dragging them with the handle. Use the minus sign to get them off the page and the
plus sign for a pop-up of new apps you can add.
All this is stored in your computer's memory using cookies, so there is no need to register or log in, and
each time you visit the site all your preferences and notes will be there for you to see.
If only everything in life were that simple.

www.poodwaddle.com
-------------------------------------------------------------------------

The BBC is not responsible for the content of external internet sites.
To kick off with, here is an application by Lego. If like me you have spent a lot of time building things
from colourful bricks as a child, you will probably enjoy this app as much as I do.
You can find the link to download Lego Digital designer at http://factory.lego.com/
After a quick installation you are ready to build your very own creations. And best of all, you do not have
to register unless you want to participate in the lego community and upload your creations for other
users to see.
Start the application and you can choose between building one of the starter models or choose "free
build" to create your own models from scratch.
If you go with the starter model you will get a selection of half-built lego creations which you can finish
off. And if you need the how-to instructions, click on the building guide mode - top left, third button - and
it will give you the option to watch the item being built or alternatively you can generate a step-by-step
building guide which you can then print out.
If you want, you can also import other people's models into the designer.
For that you need to click on the gallery tab on the website, then click on the creation you like and then
click to download.
This will prompt you to save an lxf file. Once saved, go back in to designer and import the file whilst in
build mode.
And if you get bored of virtual building and would like to be able to get your hands on the real thing, then
you can also order the necessary bricks for your creation and Lego will package it up for you.
But still, there is plenty to get on with, without spending a penny.

http://factory.lego.com/
----------------------------------------------------------

Do you ever come home after a long day of work, look in the fridge but cannot think of anything to cook
with the stuff that is in there.
If the answer is yes, you might find this site very useful.
Recipe Matcher is pretty easy to use. You type in what is in your pantry in the green box, then choose
from the drop-down menu what kind of cuisine you want to cook.
Click "Show Me What I Can Make", it will then generate recipes you can cook with the ingredients that
are in your fridge.
On the right-hand side it indicates the amount of ingredients you have - and on the left what you will still
need to buy.
You can do the same with drinks and impress your guests with a cocktail.
You do not have to register to use the site but that does mean you have to type in what is in your pantry
every time you use it.
If you choose to register and log in, the site gives you the option of saving your pantry and creating an
electronic grocery list.
You can also save your favourite recipes as well as submitting your own.

www.recipematcher.com
--------------------------------------------------------------------------

We can sometimes forget the wonders planet Earth has to offer. Lovearth.com should help us remember
what an incredible planet we inhabit.
Originally designed to coincide with the BBC film Earth, this site has grown into a resource of its own.
As you would expect with a natural history site, there are tons of gorgeous wildlife images and video from
across the globe, including shots of animals on land and beneath the waves.
For more insight into how these images were created for the original film there is a really detailed blog
from the film makers.
And if you want to find out about any of the wildlife featured there are enough articles and images to
keep any budding David Attenboroughs happy for months.
The real gem in this site though is the animal tracking section. This follows the movements of tagged
elephants, whales and polar bears. The data is linked to Google Maps so you can see the kind of terrain
or where in the world these animals are.
A great site and a must for wildlife enthusiasts everywhere.

www.loveearth.com/uk/
--------------------------------------------------------------------

Apple's iPod is perhaps the most successful MP3 on the market, but with the help of some free
applications, you can unlock the full potential of Apple's neat little box.
The latest generation of video iPods will allow the user to purchase and watch TV shows and movies from
the iTunes store, but what about converting video files from your computer which are saved in formats
that iPods do not support.
Take a trip over to Videora. This utility will only work for Windows users. Just download the Videora iPod
converter 2.5 and once installed you are confronted with a simple interface.
This allows the user to convert any video file into an iPod friendly format.
Just click on the straightforward wizard and follow the step-by-step instructions for file conversion.
The utility will also auto resize video to the best possible resolution and aspect ratio for use with video
iPods. A cool little app, which lets you take all of your video with you on the move.

http://www.videora.com/en-us/Converter/iPod/
-------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------

So if you need a fun or flashy bit of graphics to liven up an e-mail or document a visit to the Open Clip Art
Library might reap rewards.
As the name suggests this site contains 10,000 images, which are copyright free and available free for
download.
You will need to sign-in to use the site, but once you have, the libraries are easy to browse by either using
the search option or simply browsing the available clip art.
And if you are a graphics maestro there is also the option to add your own "works of clip-art" to the
library.
Just head over to the public domain section and submit your masterpiece to the library.
If there is a particular piece of clip art you would like to see and you lack the requisite skill to make it
yourself, click on the requests section and appeal to the clip art community to knock up the image you
are after.

www.openclipart.org
----------------------------------------------------------------------
If you are like me, you will have loads of applications installed on your computer. I have got OpenOffice,
Firefox and a few cute little games.
And you know, when I use someone else's computer or one in the Click office - it really annoys me that
they do not all have my favourite apps installed on them.
Well I now have a brilliant way of taking them all with me.
It is called PortableApps and it is basically a suite of free programs which, instead of installing to your
computer's hard drive, you install to a portable drive - maybe a USB key ring or other portable storage
device.
Then whenever you plug your portable drive into a computer you can run your apps.
It appears as an extremely well presented menu that is accessed from your deskbar and as standard
comes with portable versions of programs like OpenOffice and Firefox.
Clicking on one of these will install and run it from your portable drive - no need to install it on the
computer itself.
What is also brilliant is that you can download loads more applications from the parent site - anything
from games, to magnifying glasses, to photo editing software.
The lite version of the suite is 30MB, the standard version is a heftier 89.5MB - but even that should
easily fit on a USB memory stick. And then you just keep adding and adding free software, and take it,
and your documents wherever you like.

www.portableapps.com
------------------------------------------------------------

The issue of climate change has been growing for a number of years now and you will certainly find quite
a bit about it online.
The current buzz phrase is "carbon footprint" - your carbon footprint is the amount of greenhouse gasses
you and your lifestyle produce in a year.
And if you have been wondering just exactly how much that is, you can work it out on the web.
There are many carbon footprint calculators around, and to be honest I think they are all far too
simplistic to give you an accurate reading. I have certainly got many different results.
But being aware is one step and this calculator on the BP website has caught my eye.
It is a flash-based site with little pictures which illustrate your lifestyle as you enter details about it.
Your country, type of accommodation and the number living there are all important, so you enter them
first.
Then as you continue to tell the calculator all about your home, your lifestyle, and how energy conscious
you are, you can see the graphs at the top of the screen begin to grow.
I found myself almost not wanting to look as I entered my details.
But it was when I started detailing my travel for the past year that things really started to get
embarrassing - you can see just how much CO2 the various methods of transport generate.
At the end of the process, you are given your carbon footprint - the number of tonnes of CO2 you
generate in a year.
You are also told how you compare to your country's average.
Click "What you can do" and "Quiz" on the left of the site and you will find suggestions on ways you can
cut down your CO2 emissions.
As I say, there is loads of carbon footprint info all over the web - read, digest, calculate and then of
course it's up to you to decide what to do about it.

www.bp.com/carbonfootprint
-------------------------------------------------------------------

IrfanView
The BBC is not responsible for the content of external internet sites.
We have mentioned free photo editing software on Click before but I want to draw your attention to one
in particular - and it is thanks to a guy called Irfan from Austria.
IrfanView is one of the most popular graphic and photo editing suites on the web and it has just had an
upgrade.
At 1MB it is a tiny download which is both powerful and efficient so it runs smoothly on older or slower
machines too.
As well as the usual cropping, rotation and colour correction - IrfanView sorts out red eye and offers a
variety of creative effects.
A couple of features caught my eye. Load an image and press enter - the programme's screen furniture
disappears to offer a full screen display.
Now left click to go back and right click to go forward - an easy way to show off your photos at your own
pace. There is a slideshow option too.
Another great feature is the ability to create a panoramic photo by stitching your snaps together. Many
cameras are now sold with this sort of software but if you do not have it yet this is an easy way to make
great vistas quickly.
Although IrfanView only works on PCs and not Macs at the moment, it does support a wide range of file
formats. And this is where it performs another great trick! If you want to change a whole folder of
pictures - say from Tiff to Jpeg - you can batch convert them all in one go.
The update offers lossless image cropping, support for flash video and adding text to your creations.
You can also import up to three other image-editing packages to work within the IrfanView programme.
It is worth noting that Irfan has kept this app small and effective - so if you want some of the fancier
features you will need to download a plug-in from his homepage.

www.irfanview.com
---------------------------------------

Now once you have amazed yourself with what you can do with IrfanView, it would be rude not to amaze
your friends. Why not send them a link where they can download your creations or any other large files
for up to three months after you save them.
The site you will need is GigaSize and it lets you upload up to 10 images or other files at a time of up to
300MB each in size - that is almost half a CD.
If you sign up for a free account that limit goes up to 600MB per file. You just browse to find what you
want to send - add the files - one at a time unfortunately - and then click upload and share.
You are limited to 1.5GB in total for the free account and upload speeds are limited too so an average
photo will take about one minute to send.
But once the files have uploaded you can blog the contents - make it findable in a number of social
networking and recommendation sites like Delicious and Digg or send your mates an e-mail which
contains the magic link allowing them to download your files at any time over the next 90 days.
If you get the people you send to regularly to sign up to a free account too - they will find your links
easier to download with less waiting time and fewer ads which pay for the service.
The premium edition offers a permanent folder so your files never disappear. Check the sites terms and
conditions for use - and please note: copyrighted material is not supposed to be shared using this site.
www.gigasize.com
------------------------------------------
Now, we usually think of e-mail as a way to instantly communicate, but what happens if you want to
freeze e-mail to send at some point way down the line?
MailFreezr is a website which stores your mail for - wait for it - up to a century - and then finally pings it
into cyberspace. All you do is fill out a few details on a basic form and voila, a missive ready to send in
the future, so you never have to miss that cousin's anniversary ever again.
MailFreezr's creator says messages are secure and confidential and will be sent on time, though filling in
e-mail addresses on the web does make you prey to spam harvesters.
Aside from the obvious problem that e-mail may well not be around in 50 or 100 years, the biggest
drawback of Mailfreezr is that you can only freeze an e-mail in yearly increments.

www.mailfreezr.com
-------------------------------------------------------------------------
I-Am-Bored.com is a site to head for when you are idly surfing for something to engage or simply titillate
the grey matter.
The sites on it are updated all the time so you should never tire of the site itself.
The recommended links are usefully categorised so you can find the latest additions, most popular or top-
ranked stuff.
And you can also use it as a kind of directory as it lists themes like entertainment, technology along with
weird stuff and bizarre. Registering allows you to bookmark your favourites and rank sites you have
found here - all of which should ensure you are never staring into empty space ever again.

www.i-am-bored.com
-----------------------------------------------------------------

Now if you think that all of this staring into a PC screen is unhealthy, this site should rectify that.
Gyminee is a fitness and workout tracking site, which allows users to keep a strict eye on their fitness
regime.
The site makes use of a couple of visual interfaces, which report back on the effectiveness of your
training regime via a number of graphs and diagrams.
The site is still in beta stage but is accepting free testers. It is necessary to enter some login details to
join, but once this is complete you are presented with your own profile page, which is reminiscent of a
social networking site.
Enter your objectives, from weight loss to muscle growth and the site creates tracking tools appropriate
to your goals.
For example, clicking on the locker room tab provides a graph which tracks the user's progress
depending on the data added after a workout.
For info on the sort of training regime that might suit you, the workout section contains a library of
different programs. Some of these have frightening titles like Killer Abs - but you know what they say? No
pain, no gain.
A nice touch is that some workout programs include instructional videos.
Users can also keep a track of their diet via the nutrition tab, and there is an element of social
networking in the gym buddies option. This allows users to try and find workout buddies both real and
virtual via the forums.

www.gyminee.com
------------------------------------------------------------
FutureMe.org
www.futureme.org
Aside from the obvious problem that email may well not be around in fifty or a hundred years, the biggest
drawback of Mailfreezr is that you can only freeze an email in yearly increments. If you want to a slightly
more sophisticated service, then head down to FutureMe.org.
Here you can choose precisely which date you want your email to be sent. To prevent misuse of the
service you have to sign up and confirm the email address you want to use as the sending address.
Then after logging in, you're away; just fill in the fields and you're off. It's that simple. You can make your
mails semi-public too, soother users can read them randomly on the site itself.
FutureMe.org is primarily designed so you can make a statement or prediction about yourself, not
tomorrow or next week but some point a little further down the road.
And to stay true to that philosophy, the site actually prevents you sending an email less than three
months into the future. As the founders make clear, this site is not a reminder service.
---------------------------------------------------------------------------------------

With the growing popularity of social networking sites and online gaming communities, people's circles of
friends can often extend across the continents.
Buddymapping helps you keep tabs on your virtual contacts.
Using the architecture of Google maps this site allows you to create your own personalised maps and
then invite friends and contacts to pin themselves to their location, adding a picture, e-mail or web
address and even a link to their MySpace or Facebook pages.
Just register using your e-mail address and password to begin, then give your map a title and description
and a dedicated URL extension that makes sense.
Once done you can e-mail this URL to others in your community, or link to it from a forum or website.
Participants only need to click the orange button to add themselves to the map, no registration is needed,
and you will begin to build up a picture of where you all sit in the world.

www.buddymapping.com
--------------------------------------------------------------------

Ever found yourself out and about on business and you need to make a change to that Microsoft Word
document or spreadsheet?
Or had to make a last-minute tweak to the sales presentation and horror of horrors you realise that you
have incompatible software.
Well now you can word process on the move through an internet browser. No fuss, no frills, and no file
format issues.
The website is called ThinkFree. You will need to register, then you can choose to upload any documents
you want to be able to work with.
You get 1GB of free space which should be plenty for day to day use. There is a premium service that
provides much more storage space and cool drive syncing features, but you do not need to sign up for
this to take advantage of the basic features.
Once you load a document you can choose to open and edit it, either using Quick Edit with limited
options, or the more complicated Power Edit with many of the features you see on your desktop word
processor.
The site's software is compatible with most basic MS Office features so you should have no problem
making changes to existing documents or you can choose to create a new document from scratch and
have it available for you to edit wherever you happen to log on to the net.
One feature I particularly like is the ability to share your document over the web which allows others to
work on the page.

www.thinkfree.com
----------------------------------------
If you have a passion for independent film, you do not necessarily have to make your way to obscure
cinemas in the back part of town to indulge it.
All you need is a broadband connection and a couple of key URLs like Last Independent, sent in by Kevin
Powis.
Despite the website's title, there are lots of sites like this out there, just do a search for independent films
and you will see, and I agree with you Kevin, the standard of work on this website is generally really
good.
To be honest I do not think much of the design. It is too magazine-like, too busy.
Although having said that, finding your way to the films is really easy. But best of all, this site is free.
There is plenty of content you can access without even having to register, and whilst there are plugs and
advertisements for the sponsor's video production business, they are unobtrusive and do not stop one
enjoying the films.
There is even a link on the opening page inviting you to submit your own films if you are that way
inclined.
There are a couple of caveats that go along with this recommendation.
Bear in mind that these are independent films, so some might not appeal to your taste, or young children,
but there is a ratings system to guide you to the right content.
Also, do not even think about trying to watch this streaming media unless you are running a pretty fast
broadband connection.

www.lastindependent.tv
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------------

If you fancy yourself as a bit of an independent film-maker then you are going to need some decent kit to
play with, and this next site provides all the information you need to get you up and running as a low
budget production.
Camcorder Info is one of the most thorough review websites I have seen in ages.
Again, the presentation is again a little magazine-like, I do not mind that so much with this kind of
reference site.
The main thing here is function, and navigating your way around the articles and reviews is a breeze.
There are featured reviews laid out on the front page, and clicking a link in the left-hand panel will take
you to a sensibly ordered menu system to access everything else. I found the articles well written and
engaging.
The full kit reviews go into loads of detail, with screenshots of the tests and photographs to really help
you understand the camera before you buy it.
A must-read if you are new to buying camcorders is the article under Buying A Camcorder, which gives
some really useful tips about considering your budget and applications before making any decisions.

www.camcorderinfo.com
-----------------------------------------------------

The next site I am going to show you is a gem suggested by a friend of mine, Adrian Wells.
It basically allows you to create animated text gifs online, and then save them to your hard-drive for use
on websites, e-mails, and anything else you care to decorate.
For those that do not know, an animated gif is just a picture file that moves. You usually need to install
special software to create them, but at 3D Text Maker you can do it without any downloads or installs,
and all for free.
The layout is brilliantly simple.
Just make your selections using the tick boxes and drop-down menus, and then type the text you want
animated into the box at the bottom.
There are plenty of really funky fonts to choose from, as well as other tweaks for colour, tilt and style of
animation etc, that will help you make the work your own.
When you have finished creating your gif, it will be displayed at the top of the page.
To keep it, right-click and choose "save image as", or click hold if you are a Mac user.

www.3dtextmaker.com
-------------------------------------------------
I thought I would finish this week with a couple of quick URLs that came to my attention as I browsed
around the web.
This first one contains an amazingly simple idea that anyone who buys CDs to burn in a spindle, will find
really useful.
PaperCDcase is just that - a couple of pages that contain templates and instructions for printing out and
making your own folded paper CD cases.
Not only does this make them very cheap, but it is also good sense environmentally.
All you need to do is type out the details for your CD case and click to create.
You will need Acrobat Reader installed, which is free, and then you can print out the paper in the usual
way.
Now, simply fold as instructed by the diagram and voila - instant, disposable, fully biodegradable CD
cases.
www.papercdcase.com
----------------------------------------------------
End of Internet

http://www.shibumi.org/eoti.htm
-----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------

If you're looking for an all-singing, all-dancing open source media player which will play just about any
file format, then look no further than VLC. Long known to the web wise, VLC is the ultimate multimedia
application.
VLC can chew up and spit out just about any sort of media file. MPEG, DivX, OGG, DVD - in fact it would
be quicker to list the file formats it doesn't support.
Because the technology is open source it is constantly being updated by developers in 20 different
countries. There are also different versions of VLC for pretty much every operating system around.
All your multimedia problems solved with a quick download - and it's free!

www.videolan.org
-------------------------------------------------
Want to make Hollywood style animations on a shoestring budget? Then try your hand at the art of
Machinama.
Machinama animations make use of video game engines to try and help budding moviemakers realise
their vision. This is a great site for fans of this type of movie making, providing a resource database as
well as a gallery containing numerous animated examples.
If you fancy trying your hand at making your own Machinama the site has a Getting Started section on
the front page. This provides a handy guide to making your own masterpiece. There are links to software
which will help with editing, graphics tweaking and audio, and most of these bits of software are open
source and free.
So if you fancy becoming an animation master forget pen and paper, break out your favourite video game
instead.

www.machinima.org.uk
----------------------------------------------------
Bootdisk.com is a great resource for people that want to get ever so slightly technical with their PC. It
has features and guides on tuning up your PC and links to other sites with even more information.
But this place is a must if you need to boot up your PC from a floppy disk, for example if you have had a
disk crash or wanted to format a hard disk or simply not boot via Windows.
You download any of the files from the site. Once you run the file, it writes a floppy disk that you can boot
your PC from.
If you are into developing that skill there are sections on creating boot CDs and even showing you how to
boot up using a USB stick. The site is aimed at techies, so take a friend if you are scared by naked bits
and bytes.
www.bootdisk.com
------------------------------------------

FreeCodecs.com is dedicated to the little bits of software that translate your audio and video files into
something your computer can use. Called codecs, they allow something like Windows Media Player, or
whatever software you use to listen or watch with, to read new files. Basically, if you have a file that you
want to play and you can't - you come here.
For example, the XP codec pack has just about all a Windows XP user would need to play audio and video
from the web.
There is a Vista pack too, although I thought that came with everything including the kitchen sink. And if
you want to learn more there is a Guides section that explains some of the finer points of codecs.
This 'What codecs should I use?' article that tells you how to go about finding the right piece of software
to play your audio or video file. Just about all of them are free and, according to the site, have been
scanned for spyware and viruses.
www.free-codecs.com
------------------------------------------

Staying with the technical theme, one of the problems with finding out what to do with a file is finding out
what software made the file. The trick to finding out is the three letters at the end of the file name -
called the file extension - like .exe or .doc. But what if it's .msg or .zip?
You need FileInfo.net, a massive list of file extensions along with the name of software that can read it.
So if you are confronted with, say, a .UUE file extension, you go to the UUE entry and find out not only
what kind of file it is but what software you need to make it work.
The site also lists files by their role, so if you have trouble telling your .ini file from your .idx, file this is
the place to go.
www.FileInfo.net
-----------------------------------------------
Stardates in Star Trek FAQ
Have you ever wondered what it meant when the captain of the Enterprise said "stardate 47622.1"? This
site explains Star Trek stardates. And who said the web was pointless.
If you want to know why the Star Trek original series had dates that were four characters long and The
Next Generation ones had five, this is the place to go.
There are other resources here for the interested reader - not least 'A history of ships named Enterprise'.
Surely a must for everyone.
starchive.cs.umanitoba
---------------------------------------------
Coffee has been a fantastically popular drink for more than a thousand years, and without it Click
wouldn't happen. if you drink it I have the web resources just for you. 1aaa American Green CoffeeBeans
is run by a coffee distribution company and has loads of information for anyone interested in coffee.
Perhaps the best place to start is the section on preparing and serving coffee, with a breathtaking list of
the different ways of preparing your brew; the Click team are working their way through them all.
There is also a fantastic resource on the Error! Hyperlink reference not valid. available and how they
are processed, which discusses the difference between Arabica and Robusta coffees, and gives a very
interesting explanation of how 'monsooned beans' are made.
They also provide a very detailed history of coffee drinking, including a list of dates when coffee was
introduced to certain countries. There is even a page suggesting that coffee could be good for your sex
life.
Worth a read.
www.gardfoods.com/coffee
---------------------------------------------
Having shown you all about coffee how about doing some DIY coffee, and roasting your own beans.
Sweet Maria's is another coffee distributor,this time focusing on bean roasting. Like the previous site, it
has tons of information about the equipment and the beans it sells. In fact the site has the temerity to
suggest it is a virtual coffee university - and to be fair there is an astonishing number of articles about the
subject.
Reading one article I discovered that the chemical formula for caffeine is C8-H10-N4-O2, although I think
that is perhaps a fact too far.
But it's on the subject of roasting beans that the site really shines. There is an astonishing amount of
information on green beans and where they come from, what they taste like, and pictures of where they
are grown
Then the home roasting page talks you through all the things you need to do, and supplies tips and hints
in a PDF for you to print out. If you are really enthusiastic it shows you how to make your own roaster.

www.sweetmarias.com
--------------------------------------------
Finally, a download for iPod users. I know a lot of people that get very frustrated when using iTunes with
their iPods, and here are a lots of programs on the web that are written make life easy for users, and this
is one of them.
Yamipod is a terrific little program that is exactly what the internet is all about. It's a small freeware
program written by someone who had an idea and then, when it worked, distributed it. You download
onto your PC, Mac or Linux machine and run it - it automatically senses your iPod and gives you a listing
of the tracks on your machine.
The screens are well laid out and easy to understand, and you just drag and drop your music files into the
Windows Explorer-like front end. The program doesn't have to be installed - when you run it, it is loaded
directly into memory and works right away. I know someone runs it from their iPod, enabling them to
swap files on any machine. Simple, effective and free.
www.yamipod.com
----------------------------------
Over the years there have been some classic TV game shows. For me, the sign of a good game show is
when you find yourself shouting the answers from the sofa, and of course shouting abuse at the
contestants if they get it wrong. Because, of course, you could always do better couldn't you?
WeDigTV is a collection of completely interactive versions of popular game shows. They're all official
versions of the original shows, and most include footage specially shot for the site.
For example Deal or No Deal includes over 1000 different pieces of flash video, to take into account all
the permutations of boxes and the amounts you can have remaining at any point. You're even grilled by
the hosts of the UK versions of the show.
A really nice touch is that you appear as an avatar, inserted into the picture, even swinging on your chair
while you're waiting to answer.
There are some things to watch out for. First, don't be put off by the terrible twosome who welcome you
to the site. They're the most dreadful part of the experience - click straight past them to the network
guide. It's here that you choose your game, and you can switch from one game to another at any time.
Secondly, just as the games are close to TV quality, so are the adverts. The games actually go to
commercial breaks halfway through! Okay, fair enough, the website has to make money somehow, and
the breaks are in keeping with the style of the site.
Thirdly, when you start a game you can choose to play it for fun, free, or you can choose to pay. The only
advantage paying gives is that you don't see the ads, and you stand a very small chance of winning some
of the money that other players have paid. The creators of the website say they don't take any of the
money players pay - it's all redistributed amongst the top 10 players of the month.
At the moment only UK versions of the games are represented, but in the future the site hopes to film
different versions for different countries.
All in all, good fun, and a site that makes full use of broadband and flash.
www.wedigtv.com
-----------------------------------
Ever wondered why ice-cubes you make at home are cloudy, whereas ones you get in restaurant are
clear? Me neither.
But once Lifehacker had told me how to make clear ice-cubes instead of cloudy ones, I wondered how I'd
gone through life without knowing. The answer is to boil your water twice, before freezing to get rid of
the impuruties.
Lifehacker is a site dedicated to collecting little tidbits of information to make your life a bit easier. Many
of the tips are computer-related, and include downloads, like tips to make your Vista look more like OSX,
and vice versa.
Did you know, for example, that the neat new stack feature in OSX Leopard, which is a nice way of
organising your desk bar icons, is also available in Vista?
But if tech isn't your thing, there are also clippings on exercise, frozen foods, cooking, and more.
The site is basically a portal for tech and lifestyle tips pulled from other sites. In order to submit clips for
the site, you need to register, and to comment on other posts, you have to audition - a nice touch that
implies that there's some quality control going on here.
It's not a site you're going to need every day, but the occasional visit could make for an interesting
browse.
www.lifehacker.com
---------------------------------------------
Finally, a completely different type of game. I've always loved the adventure games you used to see a lot
in the 80s. You'd be stuck in a room with a number of different objects which you had to use correctly to
get out. Well, this next site has brought it all back.
MuseLock is a point and click adventure puzzle game from France. You can choose either English or
French at the start, and then you're plunged into darkness.
You wake up in a locked room with some furniture and some odd electrical devices. Navigate by clicking
on the direction arrows, and pick up and investigate the objects you find along the way.
To tell you much more would be to spoil the fun, but needless to say your first job is to work out how to
get out of the room. All you have to help you is a bit of paper containing some cryptic messages, some
orange juice, and a projector showing some odd looking symbols.
Pretty soon you'll be dismantling the equipment, opening doors, killing the power and, if you're not
careful, blowing yourself up!
A couple of the puzzles were a bit illogical, but all in all it's an enjoyable game to get your grey matter
working.
www.20six.fr/muselock
----------------------------------------------------

Have you ever wanted to host your own talk show? Our first site this week is helping to take podcasting
to a whole new level, making it easy for anyone to chair their own live chat programme.

While you're summing up the courage to host a show yourself why not take a look at some of the efforts
of others. The front page offers up shows that are running live at the moment but it is easy to browse the
entire archive if you like. Be warned - there's limited censorship here so choose your programmes
carefully. They are split up into subjects down the left hand side but if you want to catch a live show they
are listed in the main section.

If you want to join in you'll need to register on the site. Live programmes have a JOIN NOW symbol next
to them and, depending on the style of show, you'll be able to text in or call in to them. To take part you
will need to download a 14MB application.

Once registered you can start your own talk show and let anyone join in the debate or just allow friends
to take part. The site has an excellent FAQ section which runs you through everything you need to know
to listen, join in, or play host. Happy chatting!

www.talkshoe.com
----------------------------------------

Windguru is a specialist weather site dedicated to providing detailed forecasts about the wind! If you
windsurf or sail, or even enjoy flying a kite, Windguru aims to take the guesswork out of when would be
the best time to do it! If you don't want to register the site limits you to looking at predefined areas - but
it is global, and forecasts offer an hour by hour summary up to seven days in advance.

While the site offers a paid-for service, which includes maps and customised forecasts, the free section
has plenty offer most windsurfers and 'blows away' the general forecasts you might otherwise have to
rely on.

www.windguru.com
-------------------------------------------------

Whether it's design, travel, music, or nights out Coolhunter basically struts around the planet stuffing all
the best bits in its napsack to show off to us lowly drudges, who surely are not worthy of such precious
gifts.

I dare you not be impressed by the gems the team have come up with in the architecture section. The
same can be said for cars or what the coolhunters label Transportation. Some of the fashion items are a
little off the wall, but it makes for a really interesting and surprising site which focuses more on the wow
factor than anything of great substance.

www.thecoolhunter.net
-----------------------------------------------------------

Time for some gaming of a different type now, with Samurai Sudoku.
The commuter's favourite just got tougher, with this interlocked X-shaped game. Just like the ordinary
sudoku, you have to fill the lines and grids with sequences of numbers from one to nine - the difference
here is you have five games all overlapping each other.
Each nine by nine grid must adhere to the same rules as normal sudoku, the trick is getting the right
combination in those crucial overlap boxes, which must obey the rules for both grids they are inside. The
full instructions are clearly stated on the left, and you can use the hint and solve options at the bottom if
you really can't work it out.

www.samurai-sudoku.com
----------------------------------------------------------------

If you you love the movies but never get time to go, you're going to love Angry Alien Productions.
This site houses the Bunny Theatre library - a collection of 30 second films where animated bunnies re-
enact the entire plot of popular movies such as Jaws, Star Wars and The Shining. Just click on a
thumbnail to load the movie of your choice.
It's worth noting that some of the cartoons, like the films, contain adult content or language, although
nothing too outrageous. But there are warnings on all those that do so you can easily avoid them if you're
likely to be offended.
This is just supposed to be a bit of sit-back-and-watch fun. When you've had enough of the movies, why
not check out this interview

www.angryalien.com
------------------------------------------------------------

If you're an online auction addict you'll know that the trick to grabbing the super bargains is to snap up
them at the last possible minute, and that's where Lastminute Auction can help you.
The site is suitable for searching eBay auctions in America, the UK, Germany, Italy and Australia, but can
be used by anyone because you can still snap up bargain buys from abroad if you're willing to pay the
postage. Just click the flag in the top right hand corner for the country that interests you.
The site will then display a list of auctions that have up to one hour left and feature items that are
currently on bids of under one dollar. Obviously some of the items will not be worth more than a dollar,
but many of them will be, and this is where the super bargains can be snapped up. Clicking the item will
launch you into the eBay site so you can place your bid - good luck!

www.lastminute-auction.com
----------------------------------------------------------------

Pictures can tell a powerful story, and Pixel Press is dedicated precisely to this concept.
Its aim is to provide a forum for documentary photographers to display their work. Often thought
provoking, always surprising and sometimes distressing, the stories told on these pages are not all
current affairs and news - although they do go there sometimes. These stories cover everything from an
American perspective on the war in Iraq, to a South African view of Christian worship and religious
ritual.
Click on contents to get to the main stories and archives. All you need to do to enter a story is click on a
thumbnail, but they all work differently once inside. Some have pop up captions when you roll your
mouse over, others ask you to enter a series of subpages and read the text that goes with the pictures.
My only complaint is that it is sometimes quite fiddly to move around. But the stories are often powerful
and very revealing as they come from an insider's view point. A word of warning - this website can be
quite heavy going definitely and is not one to lighten the mood.

www.pixelpress.org
--------------------------------------------------------------

StickScene.com, which was sent in by Roger from the UK, is a brilliant idea, and should help kill a few
minutes at the end of your lunch break.
Think you're a bit of a movie buff? Why not test out your knowledge by trying to guess the name of the
movie from the stick man recreation of a scene or the poster? Choose whether you want to start playing
from a particular puzzle or just take a random selection and click the appropriate link. The next page
displays your image. There are clues you can choose to reveal on the right - and you type in the movie
when you think you have it just above.
That's it. There are no prizes, no running high scores. It's just a bit of fun. You can even submit your own
entries using the link in the top navigation bar - but to do this you'll need to register with an email
address first.

www.stickscene.com
----------------------------------------------------------------

They say a picture is worth a thousand words, so if you don't have much time to catch up on the
important events happening in the world, a great place to get a head start is at Reuters.
Here you'll find some amazing slide shows available to watch for free. Editor's Choice in the middle panel
brings you the best of the uploads from the last 24 hours for completely up to the minute editorial. Just
click to launch then use the arrows to scroll through the selection.
Under picture stories you'll find a selection of slide shows telling a whole story, picture by picture. But
for me one of the best sections is Pictures of the Month. This slide show has two panels, one for the
image and one for a description of what you're seeing. There are some powerful images in these pages,
revealing many aspects of world events. A real education for the eye and the mind alike.

http://photos.reuters.com/Pictures/
---------------------------------------------------------------------------

If you found that a bit of a tough workout for your brain you can get into shape in a more leisurely fashion
at Games For The Brain.
From soduko to jigsaws to word puzzles and more, There are plenty of brain busting time wasters here
for you to enjoy. It's not terribly sophisticatedly presented, but that doesn't stop it being plenty of fun -
and nice and quick to load for you narrowband surfers.
On the opening page just click the link to the game you want to try. There are tests for your memory,
your logic and strategy. Once you select a game the instructions are very clear and simple, and you'll be
told whether you're right or not after submitting your answer. When you've had enough you can switch to
a new game using the links that are now at the bottom of the page.

www.gamesforthebrain.com
-----------------------------------------------------------------

Are you the type of person who likes to tinker? Do you love to take your old electronics items and such
like, and get inside them to see how they work? If you are, this next site is a dream come true, just don't
pull apart anything you can still make use of, or it could easily turn in to a nightmare!
Take It Apart is the ultimate tinkerer's destination. Dissecting electronic gadgetry, just for fun, is the
website's tag line - and there is also a disclaimer advising you not to actually do this, on the opening
page. But for some the urge to get out their screwdriver is just too strong, and those people will find
plenty on these pages to relate to.
Scroll down the opening page for a list of categories on the left, from music to gaming devices and all
sorts of other bits and bobs. Most sections contain step by step text and picture guides to the disassembly
process, but occasionally you'll find a video too - like the one for the PS2.
My favourite was their dissection of a hard drive, not recommended if you are squeamish about surgery
on disks.

www.takeitapart.net
-------------------------------------------------------------

Ever wondered about the roots and truth behind those Urban Legends that are passed around school
playgrounds and at dinner parties? Wonder no more, instead point your browser towards Snopes.
Here you'll find a fantastical collection of tales from the long tradition of urban legend - and the author of
the site's research and interpretation of whether or not they are founded in reality.
The proliferation of email communication has speeded the spread of urban legend up incredibly. How
many of you have received an email warning you of some dastardly new way a thief of criminal is
identifying possible victims? Now, rather than worry yourself sick, just pop along to this site and check
out the facts.
The sections are listed on the opening page, with a simple key-word search also available. With bright
and cheery graphics and an example of the tale followed by an assessment of its accuracy, the site is very
easy to digest. And the red, green and clear bullets beside each heading allow you to instantly see
whether the tale is fact or fiction.

www.snopes.com
------------------------------------------------------------------

More words now, and a great etymological reference site that gets right to the root of the matter.
The Online Etymology Dictionary is the place to go for the answers any questions you ever had about the
roots of modern English.
The layout is really simple - just use the alphabet links to move to each section, or you can use the search
box in the middle to look up a particular word. You're returned a paragraph about the word's history and
how it came into being. Clicking the little book beside a word will jump you to dictionary.com for a
definition and pronunciation guide.

www.etymonline.com
--------------------------------------------------------------------------

Finally, a little more reading for those who are interested in learning more about the state of our planet's
natural resources.
The Wolf at the Door is the home of a load of information aimed at educating the beginner about Peak
Oil. This subject is all about when the planet's natural reserves of fossil fuel, namely oil, might finally run
out.
There are lots of different opinions on this subject, and plenty of data on the web if you care to search for
it. What I like about this site is it takes data and statistics from a number of solid resources, and explains
the facts as the author sees them, in a way that is easy for anyone to understand.
Do bear in mind this is only the author's opinion, based on the research he has done and the way he has
interpreted it. In his own words he's not an expert, just someone who is concerned enough to find out
more. If you feel the same way, the layout is simple, and the text very easy to digest. Well worth a read as
part of a wider overall picture of the environmental dangers that our planet faces.

www.wolfatthedoor.org.uk
-------------------------------------------------------------------------------------

The Internet is a great place to learn about things that interest you, from sport to art, from culture to
science. Our first site today is a fine example of this - a collection of texts about religion, mythology,
legends and folklore.
The Internet Sacred Text Archive contains so much information it's easy to feel daunted, but the subject
headers in the left hand navigation panel are clear and to the point, so you shouldn't have too much
trouble finding your way to the content you want.
Access their Nostradamus section to read the great visionary's predictions, and marvel at how accurate
some of them were. Here you can also read about such intriguing subjects as UFO's, Alchemy and
Atlanis. Or you can use one of the other links to research subjects on religion, traditions, and a whole
host of other fascinating topics.
The sections themselves are obviously text heavy, so might be best printed out to read away from your PC
- and it's all completely free, which we like!

www.sacred-texts.com
-----------------------------------------------------------------

Next up, a quick look at a site that may interest you if you're planning a trip to the UK or America, and
want to take in something a little bit different.
If you're a telly addict, then why not get yourself along to a TV studio and see the shows you love actually
be recorded? Don't know how? Well point your browser towards Applause Store.
The US section is due to come online soon, but you can already book tickets to UK TV shows absolutely
free. Big Brother, the X-Factor, The Brit Awards - they're all featured here. You'll need to register to
make your application, then just click the Show Schedule link at the top to see what's on offer. Fill out
the application form below the show of your choice, and you'll soon be informed if you've managed to get
the tickets you desire. Simple. And lets face it - tickets to see Terry Wogan live in a TV studio must be
worth booking a trip to the UK for alone!

www.applausestore.com
--------------------------------------------------------------------------

Time for some random file-swapping fun now at file-swap.com.

This really is a random experience, as you have no control over what files you get back, but the first step
is to click on browse and find a file on your PC you're happy to swap. It could be audio, graphics,
animation or just a picture - but you must be sure you have the rights to publish this file for open
distribution before you go ahead.
Once selected you hit the swap button, and confirm your rights to do so at the next dialogue box. You're
then given a link to download a file in return. Leave feedback with the provided buttons to rate the file,
and then go ahead and swap another if you feel like it.

www.file-swap.com
------------------------------------------------------------

Along the same lines as the last site, Question Swap is a place where you can swap questions, ideas and
answers with people from all over the world in a public forum format.
I am quite addicted to this website. It's fun, informative, and a little off the wall. The idea is simplicity
itself - you write a question, anything you like, in the box on the opening page. Then add you email
address, which apparently will never be shared or disclosed, and click to Ask you Question.
The next page presents you with a question someone else has asked, the idea being that you keep the
chain of events ticking along by answering their question as best you can. When another random user has
answered your question it will be mailed directly to you. My first question took about 10 minutes to come
back to me, but they are selected at random from the unanswered pool, so don't bank on getting a reply
as fast as that every time.

www.questionswap.com
-----------------------------------------------------------------

I love to read a good magazine, but in today's fast paced, high tech world we've come to expect more
than just a couple of flat pictures surrounded by column after column of tiny text, which is why I often
choose to read magazines online.
Another Magazine is one that I found quite recently, and I'll admit, it initially caught my attention
because of the extended feature and photographs of Jude Law. Some stunning photographs here, and an
interview that really captures a side of the man I hadn't known about.
Not only does this site have video and pictures that change as you're reading the article, but if you click
the music player in the top right hand corner of the screen it'll play you some music too. The stories have
somethng for everyone, covering fashion, people, art and literature.
You'll need to register to access most of the features, which requires an email address and password only
(be aware: I can't actually find a privacy policy on this website, and have put a call in to the publishers to
find out why), but when it comes to an email address only I trust my spam filter to protect me so have
gone ahead and registered anyway.

www.anothermag.com
------------------------------------------------------------------------------------

At usHOTstuff.com you can find the personal pages of a guy who would appear to have dedicated the last
30 years of his life to researching chilli peppers. I would never have guessed there was so much to them!
The design of the website does scream 'personal pages' but that doesn't really bother me, and it should
load a lot faster than all the flashy stuff you often see.
All sections can be accessed from the central panel, and the titles need no explaining. I love the pepper
heat scale - scroll down for the Scoville Units table that will tell you the comparative heat of certain types
of chilli.
Also of note is the Medical Uses section and an eye watering account of the worlds hottest chilli - the red
savina habanero - which is over 50 times hotter than a jalapeño!

www.ushotstuff.com
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------

If you need something to cool down after eating too many chillies, how about a trip to the snow?
If you snow sports fans just can't wait until December you need to pop along to Snow Forecast to find out
where to go. This well designed website has everything you could ever want to know about snowfall
around the world, and it loads nice and quickly despite being heavy on images.
First, scroll to the bottom of the homepage for tips on where you'll find the snow today. It's worth noting
that some elements of this website are premium - in other words paid - content, but you can access the
long range forecast for the top five resorts, the basic interactive maps, and loads more for free. The
weekly snow editorial under Resort Weather is also free, and offers a pretty good round up of what's been
going on in the popular ski resorts this week.

www.snow-forecast.com
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------
At why do you do what you do? you can express your answer to that most ambiguous of questions and
read what other people have said about their own lives.
The idea is you take a photo of yourself anywhere, anyway that you like, adding the text of what you want
to say to the picture. Some people do this by holding up a piece of paper while the picture is taken,
others add text afterwards in a graphics package. It's really up to you to be as novel and creative as you
want.
There are clear and simple instructions about uploading an image, and to access the gallery just click any
of the images on the opening page. You can then scroll through them one at a time using the next button
at the top, or jump ahead using the thumbnail below.

www.wdydwyd.com
------------------------------------------------------------------------------

Ever wondered what our world looks like from outer space? Well, now you can see for yourself from
cyberspace, with the help of the space imaging gallery at Space Imaging.
There is loads to explore on this site, and all logically laid out for easy access. You can click through to
the gallery itself to browse the collection at your leisure - or take in the world by continent using the links
to Europe, Asia & Middle East etc, using the links under the Global section.
There's also links in the news section leading you to images of regions where major natural or made-
made events have taken place - such as the 2006 winter Olympics, or to view pictures of the effects of
hurricane Katrina.

www.spaceimaging.com
-------------------------------------------------

A stunning, information packed site now, that I found when I was researching a trip to Egypt recently:
Eternal Egypt.
You can browse this site in English, French or Arabic, and can also choose from Flash or text-based
versions, which is great for those of you on a narrowband connection. Just make your selection from the
opening page to be transported to the land of Kings.
Here you can delve in to over 5000 years of Egyptian civilisation. Take an interactive walk through the
tomb of Tutankhamen, or the famous pyramids at Giza. Click Multimedia in the left hand navigation panel
to access these sections. In this section there are also online web cams offering up some breathtaking
scenes, and you can jump to various different times of the day - fancy a view of the Citadel of the
Mountain at sunset? Sorted.
All of the sections are well worth an explore, but of particular note is Connections, which links the
artifacts, characters and places that really define Egypt, giving you a peek inside the nature of this
country and how its civilisation evolved.

www.eternalegypt.org
-----------------------------------------------

And finally, if you're lucky enough to visit Egypt or anywhere around the world, you'll be wanting to know
what type of power adapter to take along for your hair dryer and laptop - won't you? The two essentials of
any successful trip!
At interpower.com there's a terribly geeky, but really useful guide to the plugs and adapters you need for
any region in the world.
Search the countries alphabetically to find out about voltage and frequency, and scroll down the panel on
the right hand side to discover which type of plug you'll be needing to take. Very useful indeed.

www.interpower.com
-----------------------------------------

We kick off today with a website my nephew loves. He's mad keen on science - although even if he wasn't
I think he'd still love to explore the pages of Try Science.
There are three main sections in this brightly coloured and nicely presented website - Adventures,
Experiments and Field Trips, and they're presented in a good selection of different languages.
In Adventures is a games section called The Grid. It's presented in a slick and futuristic style that really
makes for an immersive experience, but could be a little bandwidth hungry for those running a
narrowband connection. The games themselves centre on solving scientific problems, and a step by step
walk through by the professor will explain exactly how to play.
The other sections are also worth a look - they suggest some activities you can try out at home or in the
field that will help young scientists gain a better understanding of the world around them.

www.tryscience.org
----------------------------------------------------
Next up, an old favourite of mine - a site for those who like to get things done, but don't know how to do
everything: eHow.com.
The website itself is presented in a no-fuss, easy to follow way, much like the eHow guides themselves.
The guides are simple step by step instructions on completing the task to hand, and the website loads
beautifully fast because of its simplicity.
One thing that caught my attention is the introduction of a wikihow tab at the top. This links you to a
wiki-how section that contains guides and instructions on completing loads of tasks, written by people
just like you and me, using the open source, open editing system that has taken the web by storm in
recent years. If something is missing, or you think you can do a job better, just make your own additions
to the wiki pages.
A brilliant idea that will only get better as more people use it.

www.ehow.com
-----------------------------------------------------------------------
And finally, a great little tool that will come in very handy for those of you who have got so used to having
your spelling checked in a world processing document that you keep making typo errors when you fill out
website forms.
What this ieSpell does is check your spelling in text-based web entries, exactly like a word processor. By
text entry I mean anything from browser-based emails, like Yahoo! and Hotmail, to forum and newsgroup
postings, and online blogs and diaries.
After a quick download and install, this Internet Explorer plugin will sit in your tools menu to be called
upon whenever you've typed a passage of text into a web form on the net. Voila! You never need make a
mistake again.

www.ispell.com
-------------------------------------------------
The Internet is full of great interactive content, but sometimes you just want to sit back and enjoy the
ride, so we kick off today with a charming website that should keep your little ones enthralled for ages.
Tiny Planets is the home of Bing & Bong - a couple of odd looking fur balls who come from outer space -
and the animated stories of their adventures. There is some interactive content on this site, which you'll
find in the interactive storybook and games sections. The games are cute and educational, but fairly
graphics intensive so you'll be happier if you're running a broadband connection. Move your mouse
across the active screen to scroll across and see everything that's on offer.
There's also a download section delivering desktop designs and colouring in templates so your children
can spend time away from the computer too. But the sit back and see section can be found behind Video.
The episode of the week will start to play as soon as you enter the section, so make sure you have the
volume turned up and a good comfy chair to hand.

www.tinyplanets.com
-----------------------------------------------
Next up a website sent in by a viewer called Naya. It's a fantastic place to catch up with what's going on
in the world.
The opening page to Online Newspapers might look fairly unassuming, but it links to thousands of
newspapers from all over the globe that have their content online. To use it is simplicity itself. Just click
the arrow by the region that interests you, choose a subsection location, and be transported to another
page listing all the online newspapers for that area. Now all you need to do is use the links provided to
port straight to the newspapers domain.
If you just want to browse the world but don't know where to start, try clicking the link to the 50 most
popular newspapers to see what other people have been reading. A really simple tool that is so usable it's
a dream. Well done for finding that one Naya.

www.onlinenewspapers.com
-----------------------------------------------------------------------

Our first site today is a must see for anyone who is a fan of the movies. The Internet Movie Database, or
IMDb to its friends, is a classic website that has settled many an argument in my house.
This website bills itself as Earth's biggest movie database, and while I don't know what they base that
statement on, if it's not accurate, it certainly can't be far off. Use the search tool on the left to hunt down
a particular title, director or actor using a standard keyword search, or use their categories and listings
to browse through the content at random.
Each tab across the top takes you to a section with featured articles linked in the centre, and if you click
the smaller links just below the tabs you can access areas like their top box office hits lists for various
regions of the world, and a great section which highlights the current news in the world of independent
film.
Easy to access, fast to load, and packed with amazing facts and information. What more could you ask of
a reference website?
www.imdb.com
------------------------------------------------

American Rhetoric is a website that I found fascinating because it helps you to understand the way the
American culture has evolved and developed, and the issues that have been important in the past.
You'll need sound enabled to get the most out of this website since, as one would expect from a website
all about speeches, there are a lot of audio files for you to listen to. But don't worry if you don't have any
speakers to hand as all the speeches are also transcribed just below the audio player and introductory
image.
The featured sections are panelled in the main page, or you can use the links on the left. There are
sections covering all sorts of things, so I suggest you just wade in and have a browse. There is even a
section with some classic movie speeches inside it. My advice is to listen to the links for the most
requested audio files - which contain things like Martin Luther King's "I have a Dream" speech, and other
classic moments in history.
If you are a little more adventurous you can listen to famous movie speeches - there are some terrific
movie moments here from the Saint Crispin day's Address from Shakespeare's 'Henry the Fifth', to the
slightly less historic president's speech from the film 'Independence Day'.

www.americanrhetoric.com
----------------------------------------------------------

Talk Graphics is another one of those excellent forums where literally hundreds, possibly even thousands
of people hang out every day, talking about the things that they love to do. Lots and lots of people enjoy
creating graphics on their computers, for fun as well as work - I should know, I'm one of them - and I
should think a fair few of those people hang out in this crisp and friendly forum.
As with all forums you need to register to make a post, but you don't need to register to read the posts
that are being made and you may well find your question has been asked by someone else in the past
anyway, so it's always worth taking a look before you ask. As with any public access website like this the
usual caveats about content apply, though being a moderated forum you are unlikely to come across
anything too unsuitable.

www.talkgraphics.com
-------------------------------------------------
Planning on escaping the concrete jungle in search of adventure in the big outdoors? Then Gorp is the
perfect place to start.
Packed with information, it is an encyclopaedic resource for active travel and outdoor lifestyle and is a
great place to start if you are looking for inspiration for a summer trip. Under 'Featured Destinations and
Activities on the first page' there are links to the top twelve US destinations for adrenaline junkies, and
information about top road trips round Europe. Click on a tab at the top and the rest of the world is
opened up. To get you in the mood, why not scroll down the page and look at the photo galleries.
Ok, so now you know where you want to go, but if you're anything like me you'll now be wondering what
on earth you should pack. On the right of the page, Gear Guy answers your questions and you can search
his database to find out about the most suitable equipment to take.

http://gorp.away.com
-------------------------------------------------------------
Next up, a site for the more artistic amongst you. Caedes describes itself as the Desktop Wallpaper and
Artist Community.
It is a site where artists, designers and photographers can share their work with others by turning it into
desktop wallpaper and distributing it.
The site's menu is on the left of the opening page. At the top are the galleries, broken down into
categories such as holidays, space and abstract. Click on one of these and hundreds of members' images
can be viewed. Pick your favourite and save it as your wallpaper, or use the search box at the bottom of
the page if you are looking for something in particular.
Don't forget to download the correct size wallpaper for your desktop.
From the opening page you can upload your own images once you have registered for your own free
account, and have others comment on your work. You can also enter your images into competitions, vote
on others and join in on the discussion boards to share tips on camera techniques and contest ideas.

www.caedes.net
------------------------------
Every year we hear about the many disasters that happen across the world, the US Federal Emergency
Management Agency has prepared this site for children to prepare them for when things go wrong.
Fema For Kids is very child-friendly, which it needs to be for this subject matter, and the opening page
has a very chummy introduction by Herman 'the spokescrab for the site'. Yes it is a US government site
but just about all of its information is relevant around the globe.
On the right of the site are clearly set out menu squares, each illustrated with a cartoon. Click on the
disaster area button and a picture menu comes up, warning kids of the possible natural and national
security emergencies. These in turn lead to objective and clear explanations, facts and games about the
disaster in question. Return to the opening page and you will find links to quizzes and games to test your
child's knowledge.
Another fun page tells them how to become a Disaster Action Kid and prepare for the worst in a positive
way. And I have to say I was rather taken with the idea of a big cat dressed as Indiana Jones.

www.fema.gov/kids
-----------------------------------------

For those of you in a nostalgic frame of mind, we kick off today with a blast from the past, at
pocketcalculatorshow.com.
In its own words, the purpose of this website is to "collect and celebrate personal memories of integrated
circuit-based consumer products from the electronics revolution of the 1970s and 1980s". If, like me, you
were at school during that period you will instantly connect with the images and style of this site, and
those young whippersnappers among you who have grown up with an iPod sticking out of your back
pocket will probably get a kick out of seeing how things were in the technological olden days.
To explore this generation of electronics with soul, just use the subject links at the bottom of the page -
there are pictures, descriptions, and loads more in each section. Nerd Watch contains an amazing
collection of Joe-90 style wrist watches that will make you gawk and stare, or why not check out the
history of the boombox, or ghetto blaster?
Under Magical Gadgets you'll find all the stuff that didn't fit anywhere else. Check out the Bone Fone
from 1979. Apparently it "may revolutionize the way we listen to stereo music". A most amusing read.

www.pocketcalculatorshow.com
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------

Next up is Gliffy.com, a brilliant tool for those of you who who want to design a room, or create a flow
chart, then collaborate or publish the information to a website or blog for others to share.
Regardless of your design tool skills you'll soon be up and running with professional looking documents
and floor plans. You'll need to register to begin, and once your account is established you'll be asked to
enter a document name. The next screen is the design space you can work with. The tools here work just
like any drawing package you may have used, allowing you to add lines, shapes and text using the various
buttons around the page.
Use the menu links in the left hand menu panel to access drag and drop items you can place in the
document - just have a browse to see the options. Once you have your design ready you can share it by
clicking "share" and entering the emails you want to send it to - but you'll need to have confirmed your
own email address with the website first, and these people must register with the website too. And
finally, click publish info and then How to Embed for easy to follow instructions on a number of ways you
can publish this document on the Internet.

www.gliffy.com
----------------------------------------------------------------

And finally, as we're in a designing mood, how about Warning Label Generator a website that allows you
to generate your own personalised warning labels in four incredibly simple steps?
The process is so quick and simple you'll be amazed. First choose the overall design by clicking the spot
under your layout of choice. Next pick a warning symbol in a similar way, then scroll down and enter the
text you want displayed in the line boxes provided.
The final step is to click generate warning label - then all you have to do is place a label in your colour
printer, and print away. Completely free, no registration required. A brilliant website.

www.warninglabelgenerator.com
-----------------------------------------------------------------------------

With so much going on in our World today, I think it can only help to learn more about some of the global
issues that are affecting us and others around us.
YouThink! is a fascinating site full of information about world issues such as corruption, conflict and
education. Once I started surfing I spent hours exploring. Most of the articles are aided with quizzes,
graphics and maps to make it more interesting and easy to read.
If you click issues on the top navigation panel you are given a list - a rather long list, alas - of articles on
issues affecting the world today. Click on any one that interests you and you are off. Alternatively, you
can start exploring the site by clicking the week's featured issue.
The Multimedia section is full of games, videos and photos if you prefer learning by playing and watching
rather than reading. If you have kids at home, I also suggest you explore the 4kids section as it is full of
great tools for teaching younger ones about world issues whilst having fun. Some of the entries can read
a bit like an advert for the World Bank, but if you can put up with that you will learn lots.

http://youthink.worldbank.org/
----------------------------------------------------------------------------

Next up a great a website for those of you who like spending time painting and creating but still need a
little bit of guidance.
On ArtisanCam you can watch real artists creating their work, and get great tips on how to create your
own masterpieces.
On the opening page click learner zone on the right hand side to start watching. Here you can choose the
connection speed that best suits you. New artists are featured regularly so when you re-visit you can see
different skills in action. This time I learned all about ceramics and how to make sculptures.
The site is primarily aimed at school kids and their teachers, but it is full of things us grown-ups can
enjoy too. Click the quick links on the home page to access galleries and games, here you can also find
step by step guides on subjects like weaving or plate decoration.

www.artisancam.com
-----------------------------------------------

I stumbled upon this next website when I was trying to organise a house party, and if you also find it a
daunting experience arranging a special night for lots of people, you are going to love it. Evite is full of
good ideas for a putting on a great bash.
It is easy to navigate as everything is clearly laid out on the home page. I started arrangements by
choosing a theme for my party. Once you've decided on a theme and created the invitation, the site
allows you to import your contacts list and send them off. You can also budget your party by using the
budget estimator on the opening page. But bear in mind this is an American website and all the estimates
are in Dollars and based on the US market prices.
The other useful links on the site are drink & food calculators, making it easy to guess how much you will
need to buy and avoid last minute crisis of drinks running out. I found the party checklist very helpful. A
very useful site if you are like me and tend to run around like a headless chicken just before the night.

www.evite.com
--------------------------------------------------------------
Finally a great website if you are interested in aeroplanes and want to learn more about them or want to
start building model planes.
At The Aviation History Online Museum you can find all that you looking for and more. It's not a very
inspiring design but at least it is very easy to find your way about.
There are technical specifications, history and photos of planes from all around the world. The site is
sponsored by an aviation model company so some of the pages have a link at the bottom which will take
you to the sponsor's website where you can buy a model of that aircraft, but you don't have to click if you
are only interested in learning a bit more about planes.

www.aviation-history.com
------------------------------------------------------------------

We start this week with an American site that is just full of information for people having fun doing their
homework.
Fact Monster is a giant educational site aimed fair and square at the American school kid. But don't let
that put you off, because there is tons of stuff here for anyone, anywhere. I particularly liked the Atlas
that gives you all the background information about a country you could need.
There are quizzes on just about every subject which you can try out when you get bored with the atlas.
But my favourite part was in the science area; an interactive periodic table that allows you to click on an
element and it tells you all you need to know, everything from the element's atomic weight to its
discovery date. And if you have trouble telling your Inert Gasses from your Alkali Metals it's all here too.
And because it is American it also has the uniquely American spelling of aluminium - aluminum.

www.factmonster.com
---------------------------------------------------
Fact Monster started me thinking about words, and why there are two spellings for aluminium, so I went
to my favourite words site.
We looked at World Wide Words a couple of years ago and it is well worth a revisit. If there is anything in
the English language you want to know you should try here first. And sure enough there is a piece on how
the two spellings came about.
It is a pretty wordy site so for goodness sake don't come here for the pictures. All the same you can lose
the afternoon just wandering around the site reading the various discussions like where the phrase Top
Dog comes from and the fantastic 'linguistic legacy of Star Trek', which is worth a visit to the site alone.

www.worldwidewords.org
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------

Sticking with the Kids, animals and America, another terrific site is the Kids section of the American
Humane Association.
Again it's aimed at children of all ages and offers hints and tips on caring for animals. The American
Humane association has been going since the late 1800s. It was formed to prevent cruelty to children and
animals, and is at the forefront of lobbying on these issues. This section for children is mostly aimed at
looking after pets and helping wildlife in your garden.
If you want to know what kind of cat would be your best companion, or want suggestions on growing a
mini lawn for your cat to nibble on, this is the place for you. And lastly for children looking to work with
animals when they grow up there is a list of careers in the "ways to help" section.
That's it for me this week if you have any favourite animal sites don't forget to send them in to me.

http://www.americanhumane.org/kids/
--------------------------------------------------------------------------

First up today we revisit an old friend of mine. Last year I showed you a website called musicplasma,
which has helped me to expand my musical horizons. Well, now it's had a face lift, and a change of
dimension too, as the movie world has been added and the website is now called liveplasma.
Live musicplaasma, liveplasma bills itself as a "discovery engine" rather than a search engine. The
premise is that you input the name of a film, director, actor - or an artist or a band - that you like, and it
will return a visually inspiring data map linking your choice with other films and bands you might like
based on a number of fairly complex criteria. These include things like interest, style & epoch... the
closer to the style and theme of your original selection, the nearer it will be on the plasma map - thus
giving you a good idea of how much you will like this new suggestion.
To move about the map click on the grey empty bits of the screen, and to zoom in on a new title and
expand the tree around that one simply click on its name in the map. For movies you can select the title
or the director to expand further. When you do you'll notice one or more links appear in the search panel
that stays resident throughout. These will take you to website pages where you can gain more
information.

www.liveplasma.com
------------------------------

Next up a website that will come in very handy for my work, and I hope will help out those of you who are
interested in learning more about the history of economics.
EH.net is a mainly text-based website covering every aspect of the history of economics. There is loads of
great content to feed the info-hungry mind, including bibliographies, book reviews and encyclopaedias of
information. It's a really great reference tool, and there is even the option of asking a professor a direct
question if you cannot find the answers you're looking for.
The section I particularly wanted to draw your attention to though is How Much Is That?, which you can
link to using the navigation panel on the left. This provides some really quick links to several key
economics statistics, such as 5 ways to compare the relative worth of the US dollar or UK pound, and
various different historic statistics about exchange and interest rates, and purchasing power in the UK
and USA.

www.eh.net
---------------------------------

Finally, a site for our younger viewers now. There is no better way to learn than some hands-on activities,
and do2learn provides plenty of great learning activities to inspire the younger mind.
The sections are listed across the top, and range from activities, to songs and games, and information for
teachers and parents about how to organise an activity. It's really worth just having a browse with your
little one on your knee to see what they'd like to have a go at. The games are fun and very simple to play -
covering things like learning what different colours are and how to recognise facial expressions. You'll
need java enabled to play the games, but they are not graphics intensive, so are fine for a narrowband
connection.
I particularly like the activities section, as I think it's important for children to spend time away from the
computer too. Here you can pick from several great art, maths and writing projects that you can try at
home - with simple instructions and a pictorial step by step guide.

www.dotolearn.com
--------------------------------------------------------------

call to action today for our first website, and you'll find it on the BBC's own pages - it's called the Climate
Change Experiment.
Essentially this is a bit like the SETI@home 'distributed computing' project we looked at a few years ago.
This organisation is asking to use your computer's power to process and analyse data pertaining to the
possible outcomes of climate change.
After saving the download to your hard drive, just click the executable file and follow the on-screen
prompts to install. You'll need to register an account, which you're stepped through when you run the
program for the first time, then the software will automatically begin downloading your first piece of data
to analyse - a climate model spanning 100 years.
The main program window may look complicated, but you really don't need to understand any of it for
your computer to start work, and there is plenty of help on the website if you want to know more.

http://bbc.cpdn.org
---------------------------------------------

Ever wondered what inspires great artists and designers to do the work they do? Well now you can get a
glimpse inside the minds of the creatives at inspireme.tv.
This website is a brilliant concept and unlike many sites of its kind it doesn't rely on interviews and literal
descriptions to get its message across. Instead inspireme.tv asks artists and designers to create their own
short films filled with the images and places that get their creative juices flowing. The movies are quite
abstract, as you'd expect. Interpretations are left wide open, presumably in the hope you'll find your own
inspiration in their content. Click About to read a bit more about the intentions of the site's creator.
Watching the movies is easy. Just click on Home and then choose one of the 5 movies offered on the
opening page. And when you're done watching why not join the discussions in the forum? You'll need to
put a few personal details in to post.
----------------------------------------------

More insights into the minds of others now at Poomoo.

20/20 is the theme of this website. 20 random people were asked to describe something they like in 20
seconds. Click a thumbnail to launch the film. You'll need sound turned on, then try and guess what they
are describing before the 20 seconds is up.
At the end of the film the thing they are describing appears under their name, then you can click and
enjoy the next film. It's as simple as that!

www.poomoo.com
------------------------------------

The Internet is fast becoming known as a great place to hang out and make new friends, in chat rooms
and on instant messaging. But there's nothing quite like looking a person in the eye when you're talking
to them.
If you agree then you need to go there. This is a mammoth webspace, and sadly a fairly hefty download
too, plus you'll need to use Internet Explorer. But aside from all that, once you've downloaded and
installed the software, you can enter a virtual world full of people who, just like you, are looking to
expand their horizons, and maybe their contacts book too.
Watch the video linked on the opening page - Aral's day out - if you want to know more about what to
expect.
As with most chat places, registration is required. Once you enter the world, use the arrow keys on your
keyboard to move around, and basically click on anything that looks like it can be clicked on and you'll
soon start getting the hang of it. The menu bar at the bottom of your screen gives you access to the
various sections.
You can visit other locations, change your look, and even do some extreme sports - though beware, there
are some features you need to pay for, either with hard cash, or by creating in-world items for others to
buy with the virtual currency.
And if all else fails, ask for help. There are plenty of people about who will be more than happy to lend
you a hand.

www.there.com
------------------------------------------------------

Next up, a great website for those that like to read and talk about what they are reading.
Sometimes it is really difficult do decide on your next read, especially when the shops are full of brightly
covered enticing looking books. At Book Reporter you'll find pages and pages of content designed to help
you decide which is best for you.
Laid out magazine style, you can access all the main sections using the navigation bar across the top.
Clicking reviews will bring you to the all important Opinion section - all reviews are written by a regular
team of staff writers and you can find our more about them by clicking About Us in the top corner of the
screen.
I found the reviews themselves generally well written and informative, with information about the author
and excerpts from the book. Each section is well linked to other books by the author and additional
information you may find useful. There are links to buy the books too, but you are under no obligation to
do so through the website.

www.bookreporter.com
-------------------------------------------------------------
Next up a website based on the popular remake of Charlie and the Chocolate Factory - a great site for
kids, and any adult who likes to think like a kid.
Visit this page and dive instantly into the candy-filled world of Willy Wonka's Chocolate Factory alongside
characters like Augustus Gloop, the Oompa Loompas, and of course Charlie himself.
This site is quite image and animation heavy, so could take a long time to load into your browser. You'll
also need pop-ups allowed and your speakers connected to enjoy the musical accompaniment, though this
can get annoying after a while.
This is one of those sites that just needs playing around with as there is loads to explore. You can find out
about the movie's characters, download screensavers and desktop designs. And my favourite part - the
games. Check out Augustus Gloops Fudge Frenzy, which is based on the flash game Rockets. You have to
connect the fudge filled pipes by clicking parts to rotate them and feed rotund Augustus. Leave it too
long and the pressure builds up causing the fudge machine to explode. Yum.
http://pdl.warnerbros.com/wbmovies/charlie/flashsite/index.html
----------------------------------------------------------------------

And finally a perfect example of what the Internet is all about, a specialist subject website on a subject I
had no real knowledge of that has made me want to know more about its subject - aboriginal art.
I stumbled upon Aboriginal Art Online whilst in an arty mood, and found it to be a place where you can
read the fascinating stories behind a great collection of traditional aboriginal artworks, and information
about the artists themselves.
Designed in a style befitting the subject, the sections are clearly linked in the navigation panel on the left.
You can browse information about the art and artists, or the land and cultures.
Choose to view work by region or just jump straight in to the latest additions. Each section contains
pictures and in most cases a story of origin, together with information about the artist. You will see price
tags and information about buying attached to some of the entries, but there is plenty to see for the
curious person who doesn't actually want to buy any art.

http://www.aboriginalartonline.com/
--------------------------------------------------------------
Internet radio is booming - often at quite a few decibels more than it should out of a nearby bedroom
window - and it's also becoming more and more popular among those looking to expand their musical
tastes.
LastFM.com, which was sent by a viewer who signed his email simply GJ, takes the concept of Internet
radio and merges it with another cool Internet gadget we looked at recently, Audioscrobbler. You can
download both the LastFM player and the Audioscrobbler plugin after registration, which requires only a
user name and password, so no security issues there.
Once installed you log in to the player and clicking the spanner icon in the bottom right-hand corner will
allow you to select the option to change the station. Now here's the interesting bit: from here you can
build your own unique play list by typing the names of the artists you like, separated by commas, then
clicking Go to ask the engine to return a list of bands and singers that other people who like that kind of
music listen to. If you downloaded Audioscrobbler previously you'll already be familiar with this concept.
There's loads more to this site, including a great community vibe also based on the music-taste sharing
concept of Audioscrobbler. The quality of the audio stream was great on my system - though the speed of
your connection will play a big role here. And don't forget if you have a capped service, listening to
Internet radio can quickly use up your bandwidth allowance.

www.lastfm.com
--------------------------------------------------------------
Another terrific audio concept next. With the growing popularity of Podcasting - the audio equivalent of
blogging - this next site will come in very handy to those who fancy themselves as a bit of a radio star.
A few weeks ago we featured a podcast site here on Webscape. If, like a lot of Click viewers, you fancy
giving it a go yourself but don't have the technical know-how to record and upload audio files to a
website, problem solved with Odeo.
You can read about what the site has to offer on the opening page, but you'll need to register to use the
features. These include a neat little tool that lets you record audio files and attach a picture, and another
that makes sending them to your friends and family - or even publishing them to your own channel on the
site - really easy. You'll need to give the website access to your microphone, and webcam if you want to
record images, and that happens when you click on the record tool.
Once logged in you have an audio inbox, and all the sections are listed on the right. Listen to the welcome
audio file from Biztone, the site's creator. It'll give you a nice overview of what you can do. You can also
listen to other people's podcasts, but do be aware that as with any public access channel, there could be
some content within those recordings that you might find offensive.

www.odeo.com
--------------------------------------------------------------------

A couple of quick ones now to tickle the alternative fancy. Ever wondered what the way you draw a house
reveals about your personality?
Drawahouse.com is a fun website based on the concept that the way you draw a house reflects who you
are. The first step is to build your house by clicking the link at the top and following the on screen
prompts. Once complete you can colour it in, then give it a name and save it in the gallery of houses.
The next screen will ask you some questions about the way you built the house, and then offer a
psychometric analysis of your personality, which probably shouldn't be taken too seriously. The really
cute thing here is you can mail your house to your friends, and invite them to join you in creating a street.

www.drawahouse.com
-------------------------------------------------------------

Another, slightly more serious test now. Ever wondered if you have any subconscious preferences for
race, type or gender?
You can find out by taking these tests at Project Implicit, a collaborative research effort between Harvard
University, the University of Virginia, and the University of Washington, which aims to gather data about
the way we consciously and subconsciously think about certain things.
Click the demonstration button to read a bit more about the tests, and when you're ready click to proceed
- the tests take about 5 minutes and require speed and concentration, so make sure you don't get
distracted and read the instructions thoroughly.
As well as finding out if you have any subconscious preferences in categories like gender, weight, age
etc, you can click Research on the opening page to participate in a wider research programme. These
questionnaires take about 10-15 minutes, and again require your dedicated attention. They can also be
quite thought provoking, and hopefully will aid the scientists in discovering a bit more about the human
condition.

https://implicit.harvard.edu/implicit/
----------------------------------------------------------

If you use your computer a lot, you're probably getting bored of looking at the same old desktop design
and icons. Pixelgirl Presents holds the answer with a great collection of arty bits and pieces to spruce up
your desktop.
These wallpaper and icon sites are always popular, and despite the girlie name everyone will find lots of
great desktop designs and icon updates to tickle all fancies.
You can access the icons, desktops, articles and tutorials using the navigation panel on the left. There are
MAC & PC friendly options in all categories - nice touch - as well as a selection of resolutions for most
wallpapers, so you should find something to fit your needs.
All the downloads in this section are free to use, many submitted by surfers of the site itself. But avoid
the link to the online shop if you don't want to look at the things you have to pay for.
Of particular note in the tutorial section are the guides on how to change your desktop & icons, both for
MAC and PC users. Everything you need to set you on your way to a contemporary computer creation.

www.pixelgirlpresents.com
--------------------------------------------------------------

Next up, an information packed website I found when surfing for advice about making investments. I
found everything I wanted to know and more detailed at Investopedia.
As the name would suggest, this site bills itself as an encyclopaedia of information pertaining to investing
in stocks and shares. Ever wondered exactly what that entailed? Well, wonder no more. There's a bunch
of great guides to the basics in various types of investments if you click the link to Learn the Basics under
Tutorials in the main navigation panel on the left.
I know the titles of the articles look a bit daunting, but have a read and you will soon be catching on.
They are written in really plain terms.
One of the things I really like about this site is that you can surf the content based on your level of
experience so far. Just click the links to Beginners, Experienced Investors, Active Traders or Retirement
under Home in the links panel along the top of the page to access these areas.
There are also tools and quizzes to test your knowledge - just have an explore and see what you uncover.

www.investopedia.com
------------------------------------------------------------

Are you one of those people who watches a movie, and shouts out - NO! That's not possible!! - whenever
you see or hear something that goes against every law of physics?
If so, then Insultingly Stupid Movie Physics is definitely a place you'll feel at home. It's part of a larger
website at intuitor.com which takes a more serious look at the world of physics & maths.
The sections include a run down of the stupid physics regularly portrayed in movies - such as flashing
bullets and the hero's habit of flying backwards through plate glass windows when shot at from a moving
car. Each description goes through the movie physics, and explains why it's not possible in the real world.
There are also reviews of many modern movies and the physics they employ, and of particular note, a
classroom guide to help teachers relate the subject of physics in the movies to their students. A really fun
way of looking at physics.
www.intuitor.com
------------------------------------------------------------

And finally a little bit of yo ho ho to round off your day. We're talking serious pirate talk here, and an
online world of adventures at Puzzle Pirates.
This website does require a java application to be downloaded to your PC. It couldn't be any more
obvious on the opening page where you click to download, then follow the onscreen prompts to complete
installation and registration.
Next you're prompted to create your pirate's onscreen persona, and then you begin undertaking missions
to earn pieces of eight and make your mark in this world. Like most games this one is best to explore on
your own. All the missions are based on puzzle type games, such as tetris - access them by clicking Ahoy
in the navigation panel on the right.
The other pirates you see walking about are actual players that you get to compete against, so watch out
for any chat you want to join in with onscreen.
One last word of caution before I leave you to explore your new home - there are some options to buy in
game items for real cash, but there is plenty of free stuff to do too, so don't feel obliged to shell out.

www.puzzlepirates.com
----------------------------------------------------------------

In this age where technology is the great enabler, it has never been a better time to work in graphic
design. On the flip side of that coin, it has never been a more competitive industry, so you need every bit
of help you can get if you want to get ahead.
Graphic Design Forum is a great place to hang out if you're interested in, or are already working in,
graphic design. Much more than just a forum community, there are articles, blogs, tips and tricks on
everything from how to layout a magazine to building a relationship with your printer - a vital part of
successful design, apparently.
Well written and entertaining, the articles can be reached using the link at the top of the opening page.
You can also link through to blogs, news and creative resources - as well as the forums themselves, which
are lively and active, and, as far as I can tell, full of very friendly people. You'll have to register to post,
though.

www.graphicdesignforum.com
---------------------------------------------------------------------------

This next site brings the virtual world of the Internet together with the global village that is the real
world, and offers you the chance to travel and meet new friends from far flung places. You'll find all the
details you need at Couch Surfing.
This website is basically a community of people looking for, or offering a 'couch to stay on'. It doesn't
actually have to be a couch, it can be a bed in the spare room, or just enough space in the garden to pitch
a tent. People offer to 'host' other couch surfers for anything from an hour and a nice cup of coffee, to a
couple of months if the fancy takes you.
Obviously with a site like this, safety is upper most. It is never a good idea to meet strangers from the
Internet, and so the websites verification and 'vouched for' tags are really important, as they tell you who
has been checked out by the site's creators, and approved by other couch surfers. Check the FAQs for a
full run down of all the details.
Then just start talking with the other community members. Before you know it you'll be making friends,
and may even decide to go do a bit of couch surfing, or have someone to stay with you. The option is
always there to refuse a guest too, so you should never feel pressurized into meeting someone you're not
comfortable with.

www.couchsurfing.com
-------------------------------------------------------------

If you like cheese, you're going to love this next website, which was sent in by Val from the UK.
Cheese.com is a tribute website to all things cheesy, and I'm not talking about tacky souvenir plates and
fluffy toys. You can surf the cheeses by name, country of origin, texture, or even the type of milk that is
used - i.e. cow milk, goat milk etc. Each entry has a description and photograph to help you select what
delicacies you want to try.
There are some weird and wonderful cheeses in here, and I am definitely going to be a bit more
adventurous with my selection next time I'm in the supermarket now I have an idea of what they will
taste like - and what the fat content is too!
The cheese facts is also well worth a look as it gives you serving tips and storage advice so your tangy
treats will always be at their best. There is also a reasonable selection of cheese related recipes, split into
main meals, salads & vegetable dishes, and starters and snacks. Yum.

www.cheese.com
---------------------------------------------------------------------------
And finally, a quick look at a site for all you fans of scrabble, the popular family game where you create
words out of letter tiles on a grid for the most points possible.
Scrabble Word Finder is the ideal site for those that want to make the most out of their 7 letter tiles.
Simply compile the board as it stands at the moment in the playing area on screen, then put the tiles you
have to hand in the bottom box, and click search. After a short wait the board will be reloaded with your
best scoring option in place.
OK, so some might consider it cheating, a bit. And your opponent is probably going to start asking
questions if you keep running off to the computer in between goes. But it's a nice concept, and well
executed. Plus, I won't tell anyone if you don't.

www.scrabblewordfinder.com
------------------------------------------------------------

'You are what you eat' is a phrase that's become commonplace in today's health-conscious society, but
have you ever considered that you are what you do as well?
Our first site today, We Are What We Do, takes this concept and shows you ways you can improve who
you are by doing things a better way, and was sent to by a friend of mine called Jez.
I like the clean and simple design of this site. The key sections are linked across the top, with one-click
access to feature pages in the main panel. The idea is for you to take small steps towards living a more
eco-friendly and sociable lifestyle by implementing as many of the 50 actions outlined by the website as
you can. We're talking refusing a plastic bag at the supermarket, or reading a child a story, or fitting low
energy light bulbs, or just giving someone a hug!
Sign up for the personal action tracker to keep a score of how you're doing - the privacy policy looks fine
to me.

www.wearewhatwedo.com
--------------------------------------------------------------

Next up a site sent in by viewer Mano J Kamat - a great resource for anyone who wants to know more
about the effects and treatments for AIDS.
It's a difficult subject to tackle this one, but is still a very real and present threat, especially in Africa.
Avert lays out the facts in a plain and un-dramatised way. Presented clearly with one-click access to the
key sections you can find out exactly what the disease is, how it is spread, and what the effects are on
various communities around the world.
Click through the sections in the navigation panel on the left to find out more. Of particular note are the
sections that lead you to country & regional stats and information, the transmission & testing section,
which is a really well informed read about how the disease is spread and identified, and finally the stories
and views section, which contains lots of personal accounts from those suffering with the disease, or who
have friends or relatives who are infected.
It's a real eye opener if you've never really considered yourself to be at risk.

www.avert.com
-----------------------------------------------------------------------

Next up a site for all you English football fans. It's a game that's popular the world over, and at Fantasy
Premier League you get to play the part of manager, picking your dream team from the premiership
league line up.
First of, you'll need to be 18 or over to register and begin playing as there are prizes at stake here, so
make sure you visit the site with an adult if you're not. You'll need to register, which is quick and easy.
After registration you can name your team and choose the strip, then make your selection of players by
clicking their name in the list on the right. Clicking the i button brings up a stat sheet for that player,
together with a photo of them in action. And if you know nothing about football don't worry - clicking
auto-complete at the bottom of the team screen will fill your team with the website's own selection of
players.
Now all you have to do is sit back and watch the results, which are based on the players you have
selected and how they perform in actual premiership league games. You can make substitutions and
transfers along the way, and loads more. The best option is to just have a look round and discover what
you can control.

http://fantasy.premierleague.com/
-------------------------------------------------------------------

Finally, a quaint little website that tells the story of a man who went back in time to an age before the
Internet.
It's A Wonderful Internet is told in the style of that classic movie It's A Wonderful Life. You'll need audio
turned on and then just let the story unfold.
Each page has hidden features a bit like those pop-up page books you used to get as a kid, so make sure
you move your mouse about to discover all the actions. Once you're done with a page click the arrow to
move forward through the story.
It's not too long, and once viewed you probably won't want to come back to it. But it's a nice tale, and you
might find yourself surprised by how much of your life relies on Internet technology!

http://www.itsawonderfulinternet.com/
-------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
'You are what you eat' is a phrase that's become commonplace in today's health-conscious society, but
have you ever considered that you are what you do as well?
Our first site today, We Are What We Do, takes this concept and shows you ways you can improve who
you are by doing things a better way, and was sent to by a friend of mine called Jez.
I like the clean and simple design of this site. The key sections are linked across the top, with one-click
access to feature pages in the main panel. The idea is for you to take small steps towards living a more
eco-friendly and sociable lifestyle by implementing as many of the 50 actions outlined by the website as
you can. We're talking refusing a plastic bag at the supermarket, or reading a child a story, or fitting low
energy light bulbs, or just giving someone a hug!
Sign up for the personal action tracker to keep a score of how you're doing - the privacy policy looks fine
to me.

www.wearewhatwedo.org
-----------------------------------------------------------------------------

Next up a site sent in by viewer Mano J Kamat - a great resource for anyone who wants to know more
about the effects and treatments for AIDS.
It's a difficult subject to tackle this one, but is still a very real and present threat, especially in Africa.
Avert lays out the facts in a plain and un-dramatised way. Presented clearly with one-click access to the
key sections you can find out exactly what the disease is, how it is spread, and what the effects are on
various communities around the world.
Click through the sections in the navigation panel on the left to find out more. Of particular note are the
sections that lead you to country & regional stats and information, the transmission & testing section,
which is a really well informed read about how the disease is spread and identified, and finally the stories
and views section, which contains lots of personal accounts from those suffering with the disease, or who
have friends or relatives who are infected.
It's a real eye opener if you've never really considered yourself to be at risk.

www.avert.org
---------------------------------------------------------------------------

Next up a site for all you English football fans. It's a game that's popular the world over, and at Fantasy
Premier League you get to play the part of manager, picking your dream team from the premiership
league line up.
First of, you'll need to be 18 or over to register and begin playing as there are prizes at stake here, so
make sure you visit the site with an adult if you're not. You'll need to register, which is quick and easy.
After registration you can name your team and choose the strip, then make your selection of players by
clicking their name in the list on the right. Clicking the i button brings up a stat sheet for that player,
together with a photo of them in action. And if you know nothing about football don't worry - clicking
auto-complete at the bottom of the team screen will fill your team with the website's own selection of
players.
Now all you have to do is sit back and watch the results, which are based on the players you have
selected and how they perform in actual premiership league games. You can make substitutions and
transfers along the way, and loads more. The best option is to just have a look round and discover what
you can control.

http://fantasy.premierleague.com
-------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------

I'm sure you all remember that last year we covered Flickr, the photo album sharing site that has taken
the Internet by storm. Well, now they made a great site even better with Flickr.com/explore.
This is basically an extension to the site, where public images that have been rated with high degrees of
"interestingness" can be explored.
Each time you launch the main page a different feature image will be displayed. Click the image to read
the comments that have been made by other surfers, which is a great way of Internet people-watching.
If you want to make your own selection, then pick a month from the drop down menu on the right, then
click a thumbnail on whatever day you like. If you're registered you can leave your own comments under
and image.

www.flickr.com/explore
------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Now, there's certainly no shortage of people talking about the negative effects of climate change just
lately - but maybe there's something positive we can all do to help.
Well, a Canadian programme at NatureWatch believe there is, and you can read about it here. The
website basically encourages schools, naturalists & back yard enthusiasts to start monitoring the nature
in their own area - in particular the sections covered at the moment: Frog Watch, Ice Watch, Plant Watch
and Worm Watch.
Obviously you'll need to be resident in Canada for your data to count in their monitoring project, but
you'll also find loads of great information on these pages about the various sections and why it's
important to keep an eye on nature. Check out the Virtual Worm Tour to see how a worm works in
harmony with the earth - and then click through to Discover Soil Activities in the same section to find out
how to make your own mini eco-system.

www.naturewatch.ca
--------------------------------------------------------------------------

If you've discovered some strange looking creepy crawly whilst out monitoring your worms, take a
picture of it and send it to the lovely helpful people at What's That Bug.
As the name would suggest, this blog site's creators are offering to ID any bug from anywhere in the
world - great news if you come across some strange oddity and don't know what it is, but also great news
for those of us that prefer to stay away from the dark corners of the garden, as surfing this website is
almost as good as discovering the beasties yourself.
Posted blog style, requests for help are displayed on the main page with the response underneath - and
it's a proper little sideshow of weirdness. Scroll down to jump to information about bug specific
categories on the left.
The other sections listed on the left are Carnage and Bug Love, which pretty much speak for themselves.
I love the friendly editorial that goes with these images - these people are clearly nuts about bugs!

www.whatsthatbug.com
---------------------------------------------------------------------------------

And finally, a great website I found when I was looking for information on Middle Eastern literature.
The purpose of Words Without Borders is quite simply to expand the cultural horizons of anyone who
loves to read, by translating into English either the whole of, or excerpts from many of the most notable
pieces of writing from every corner of the world.
There are reviews from many patrons of the site too, to really allow you to get a flavour for the work - and
let's not forget, these translated books are mostly obscure pieces of work from far flung places that would
never normally get translated for an English speaking audience. So make the most of it.
There are books translated from Russian, Arabic and Chinese, and you can surf the contents by continent,
or choose to look at the selection based on the kind of region it's from - coastal, mountainous, etc. I also
found the blog section fun to read.

www.wordswithoutborders.org
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------

I do like a good website about space, and as usual NASA has brought us yet another brilliant interstellar
observatory page.
Since its launch in 1999, NASA's Chandra X-ray Observatory has been recording x-ray images from high-
energy regions of the universe, such as the remnants of exploded stars - and on these pages you can
access their burgeoning archive of great images from deep space.
As well as being very pretty, these pages are also hugely informative. The main sections are listed across
the top, with a new navigation panel appearing on the left as you enter each section.
Start with the About Chandra section to learn more about the project, and how you can track the position
of the observatory in the sky, then have an explore at your own pace. The Multimedia sections under
Resources are where I stopped next - you can't beat a nice bit of interactivity! Try Chandra Special
Features for some really stunning journeys, but be ready for a hefty old loading time if you choose to view
images in high resolution.

http://chandra.harvard.edu/
---------------------------------------------------------------------------------------

Something a little more down to earth now, and a must read if you like to get other people's opinions
before deciding on what book, movie, game or music to sit down with.
Have you ever read a review in a newspaper, and then gone to watch the film, only to find it doesn't live
up to your expectations at all? Well, critical opinion is of course entirely subjective. One man's Oscar
winner is another man's turkey, and at metacritic.com you get to read a whole range of opinions from a
wide selection of critics, thus eliminating the chances of you being led astray by one rogue review.
The concept is really simple, and this makes it super-easy to find what you need. Just choose if you want
to look at Films, DVDs, Music or whatever from the list on the opening page, then pick the title you want
to read about from the panel on the left, which can be sorted alphabetically or by score.
A short synopsis and an average overall score is stated at the top, then the opening comment and score
from dozens of independent reviewers are listed below - just click the links if you want to read the full
review.

www.metacritic.com
-----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------

It's time for our younger surfers to get a little action now.
Noggin is a delightful site full of wonderful images, sounds and activities that should keep the little ones
amused for hours! All the action happens in the main screen - the point here is to just click around and
see what your mouse pointer triggers. Your guide, Noggin the yellow reindeer, will be on hand at all
times to offer help and advice. Use the pointy hands on either side to move to the next section, and when
you're ready to start an activity just click on the door to begin.
There are loads of activities to try, everything from colouring in to matching and counting games. The
animations are cute and colourful, and the narration is just enough to guide without becoming too
tiresome. Plus, I found the screens loaded quite quickly, so your little ones won't be left hanging around
for the fun to start.

www.noggin.com
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------

And finally, if all those bells and whistles have got your stress levels up, then how about availing yourself
of a little iSerenity?
This is one of those quirky little websites that offers to soothe your nerves, and provide a relaxing
environment in which to work or wind down. Just click on one of the 31 environments on the opening
page, then wait for the sound and image file to load in the viewing screen. You might need to turn the
sounds up or down, and there's a slider in this window for you to do so, then just sit back and relax to the
sights and sounds of whale song, birds twittering or cats purring, which my cat's personal favourite.
I have to say though, I can't imagine what possessed them to include motorway traffic or the sounds of a
jet engine - but I guess it's horses for courses. As a baby I used to fall asleep to the vacuum cleaner,
apparently.

www.iserenity.com
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------

In today's global climate, anything that can be done to promote tolerance and open-mindedness towards
other cultures and things we perceive as 'different' is a worthwhile endeavour, and at Tolerance.org
you'll find all the inspiration you need to get you started.
I love the concept of this website; it's all about celebrating our differences rather than fearing them. It
was started by the Southern Poverty Law Center, a non-profit organisation working against bigotry.
The main sections are listed across the top - For Teachers, For Parents, For Teens and For Kids. Within
these sections you'll find articles, news stories, and calls to action on various issues in our global society.
The articles are full of ideas and advice about how you can combat hate and intolerance in your own
community, touching on everything from ethnic and cultural minorities to size and gender.

www.tolerance.org
-------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------

Next up, a brightly coloured and fun site for children, and like so many great websites on the Internet, it
contains a serious educational message, all dressed up to look like a game.
Energy Chest covers what is probably one of the key issues the world will face over the next few decades,
and that is energy supply and use. I love the bright and appealing design, with Joules the robot there to
guide you through the information, and I think it's important that children start to appreciate the subject
at an early age, as they hold the key to the way the energy markets will develop in the future.
Once you enter the site you'll find three main sections - energy in buildings, energy and the environment,
and energy resources. They're all pretty self explanatory, and contain text, illustrations and interactive
activities, all designed to help young minds understand what energy they use, and how it can be saved.
Check out the Teachers Notes in each section too, where you'll find notes about curriculum relevance and
links to further learning material if required. Altogether a very complete resource.

www.energychest.net
-------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------

And finally, we haven't featured any games on Webscape for a while, so here's my favourite of the
moment.
It's worth mentioning at this point that this online game only work in Internet Explorer, which is
annoying in this day and age, but I so love the addictive qualities of Bejewelled 2 that I'm prepared to
make an allowance here.
The purpose of the game is to connect lines of three or more of the same jewel by swapping the position
of a pair of gems. Click one, then click its neighbour, and if a set is made the swap will take and your set
will explode, dropping the tiles from above into the empty space. Watch out for power ups and multi-point
bonuses for maximum results.
I've got to level 9 in classic mode, I wonder if any of you lot can do better? The game is so compelling you
might not thank me for pointing you towards it in the end. Do let us know how you get on though. Have
fun.

http://www.shockwave.com/sw/content/bejeweled2
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------

Sounds Amazing
The Internet is full of interesting and intriguing websites, but one of things I like best is finding a great
educational site that brings a subject to life at the same time as achieving a fundamental academic goal -
and at Salford Acoustics Audio and Video you'll find a fine example of what I'm talking about.
If you're interested in learning about sound then the whole of this website is worth a browse, but the
section I wanted to talk to you about specifically can be found under the Schools link.
The website is called Sounds Amazing, and the content is based on GCSE Key Stage 4 science. It's
designed to help students understand sound and waves, with interactive lessons, demonstrations and
experiments to really help bring the messages home.
The three main lessons - sound waves, wave equation and wave behaviour - can be accessed from the
panel on the left. You'll need speakers plugged in and turned on, obviously. Then just step through the
bright and nicely presented lessons using the arrows at the bottom, interacting when the text calls you to
do so.

http://www.acoustics.salford.ac.uk/schools/
-----------------------------------------------------------------------------------

Italian Food Forever is a site dedicated to the art of Italian cooking, and is a lot more than just an archive
of recipes. Beautifully presented, the site offers an array of articles and journals that really capture the
vibrant passion the Italians have for food, with plenty of photographs to illustrate the facts.
If you're planning a gastronomic trip to this fair land then the Tips for Travelling to Italy article under
Culinary Journals is well worth a read, and if you haven't got time to make the trip in person, you can still
soak up the flavour of the culture by browsing the images in the Photo Gallery.
Finally, the recipe and menu sections are a great resource if you're hoping to impress some dinner guests
with your anti pasta and Pappa al Pomodoro (that's tomato soup to you and me).

http://www.italianfoodforever.com/
---------------------------------------------------------------------------------

I found this next site when I was looking for tips about how to care for my new garden.
Essortment is a collection of tips and advice on virtually any subject you can think of. There are literally
thousands of articles listed here, and all completely free to access. The site itself isn't especially pretty to
look at, but it's clear and well laid out, making it super easy to find your way to the facts you need.
From craft ideas to beauty tips to careers and gardening, just follow the links depending on what you
want to find out about. The articles themselves are brief and to the point, which I like. I now feel fully
prepared to face my first spring as a gardener; I just hope my garden is ready for me.

http://www.essortment.com/
------------------------------------------------------------------------------------

Finally, a little toy to entertain you, and it fits in very nicely with the educational sound website we
looked at earlier on.
The purpose of La Pate a Son is to drag instruments and switches into the main playing area, which in
turn alters the path and sound effects of the little beans that are travelling around the screen. To remove
a widget just click and drag it off the playing area, and then pick up new bits as they pass along the
conveyer underneath to see how they affect things.
Once placed, the orientation of a part can be altered using the arrows that appear when you hover your
mouse over it. It really is just a bit of fun, with no right or wrong way to play. Just have a fiddle and see
what kind of rhythm and sounds you can create. Enjoy.

http://www.lecielestbleu.com/html/main_lceb01.htm
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
With the advances in technology we see on this show it isn't surprising that more and more people are
getting creative with sound and vision, but just how do you keep out of copyright trouble when the law
can be so confusing?
Creative Commons has all the answers, and provides a first class search facility for you to find other
people's creative works to play with, all totally above board.
Hit Learn More and watch the 'Get Creative' movie to fill yourself in on exactly what the site is all about.
It makes for fascinating watching, and contains the basics about copyright law, and a great story about a
band called The White Stripes.
In a nutshell, Creative Commons is a non-profit organisation who have devised a multi-symbol copyright
protection system that allows people to apply certain rules to the use and reproduction of their work,
such as 'you can use this image for charity work, but cannot alter it in any way'.
The copyright process is free, and clicking the big Publish button on the opening page will step you
through the procedure. The other main section, under Find, will take you to a search engine to find
music, video and images published on the Internet, which have been licensed in this way.

http://creativecommons.org/
----------------------------------------------------------

The next site is a must see for any hardened music lovers, especially if you like to read an independent
point of view.
ilikemusic.com has a refreshingly simple goal in life - music news, reviews and information about music
for music lovers. Still an independent, self-funding site, it isn't tied to front page promotions of whatever
band some BigWig record label is trying to push, just honest opinion about all sorts of issues, from James
Blunt to getting a job at MTV.
There are plenty of interviews to delve into, with artists like Gabrielle and Norman Cook, and the
features section simply oozes information. Well written and unfussy, it fits perfectly with the
straightforward layout of the site.
Plus you'll find music videos, demos, and other little gems if you poke around for a bit. Altogether a
thoroughly satisfying website.

www.ilikemusic.com
----------------------------------------------------------------

Our next site is another one of those crazy blog sites that have somehow shot to cult status. The people
who write these blogs often put a huge amount of time and effort into their creation, and A Hamburger
Today certainly seems to fit that bill.
A blog all about hamburgers might not seem like the obvious choice when you're deciding what to write
about, but I have to say I was charmed and fascinated by the colourful and well editorialised entries on
these pages. They might seem like the perfect recipe for high cholesterol, but boy do these burgers look
tasty.
The way a blog works is the central panel contains the latest entry at the top, so scroll down and start
reading backwards if you want to start at the beginning. With photographs and mostly entertaining text,
this site opens up a new window onto the humble hamburger, or maybe it says more about the people
who love burgers enough to write a blog about them? I'll let you decide.
The recipe section is also well worth checking out if you want to build some of the classic meaty treats
you have read about at home, just make sure you watch that blood pressure!

http://www.ahamburgertoday.com/
-------------------------------------------------------------------------------

Finally, a little bit of rhythm for you to tap your foot along to at home.
Cookie Dough Records is where you go, and then click Movies / Music to get to the section we want. I
have to say at this stage, I like the design of the interface and it loads a lot faster than it looks like it
should, always the sign of good coding!
This section has a small selection of flash animation movies by an author known as Dustball. Click on an
icon at the bottom to read information about the idea and vision, and how it was achieved. Try Play More
first. Click the big Play Movie link in the top left corner of the box to be linked to a site where you can
download it to play, which does take a little while I'm afraid, but worth the wait.
Here the artist videoed himself doing the dance moves, then outlined each frame by hand to create the
visual effect. All the sounds come from household objects too apparently; a great work of art. And then
take a look at Spin, a brilliantly funny stop-frame animation, which I shan't spoil for you by describing
here.

http://www.cookiedoughrecords.com/
--------------------------------------------------------------------------

thought you might like to liven up your Internet connection with a taste of the UK clubbing scene at The
Ministry of Sound. This website is simply packed to the brim with tunes, videos and articles, designed to
clear out your ears - and sinuses if you don't turn it down.
The navigation panel on the left makes it easy to jump straight to the content you want, with featured
sections listed in the middle. The Clubber's Guide to Life houses an interesting collection of adult
oriented articles and tips on how to stay healthy and happy, in and outside the club - but remember the
sections about the law and tenants' rights will only be relevant to those living in the UK. There's also a
great section on travel here if you're thinking about taking a clubbing holiday.
However, the main draw of this site has to be the music. There are dozens of tracks and demos available,
including a video of the latest offering from DHT. You'll need to register to access most of the decent
music and video parts of the website.
The main reason I recommend this site though is the excellent commercial-free radio stream. I've been
listening to it a lot lately, and you access it from the Free Radio stream button on the opening page. Do
remember though, if you have a capped download limit with your ISP, having Internet radio on constantly
will really suck up your bandwidth.

www.ministryofsound.com
-------------------------------------------------------------------------

If your style is more Handel than hip-hop then you can sooth your senses with Opus Classical.
Here you'll find information on classical music concerts, festivals and opera in dozens of cities across the
globe; a great resource for music fans who like to travel.
You can browse the content by city and month using the Concert Finder on the right, allowing you to tune
in to the event that will be in your area. For a quick reference guide to the upcoming highlights in a city,
select the desired city beside International Concert Highlights, and the centre panel will change to reflect
your selection.
Listings include programme information and links to where to you can buy tickets.

http://www.opus1classical.com/
----------------------------------------------------------------------

If you're one of these people who likes to listen to talk radio more than music, then you might be
surprised by the vast number of good quality audio blogs you'll find at Podcast Bunker.
This is essentially a portal linking to various podcasting websites, with reviews and user ratings to help
guide you to the gems. There is one difference to this site from a normal portal though, in that it
evaluates each feed for audio quality and content and only includes the best stuff within its listings.
Use the navigation panel on the left to jump to the section you want. The Quick Guide is a good place to
start for the uninitiated, as it provides a full list of recommended podcasts, together with reviews and a
30 second preview so that you can hear what you're getting yourself into.
There are loads of topics to choose from, from sports to food to car technology. Once you select a
programme from the lists you'll find a link to the website broadcasting that show at the bottom of the
description, but it's in tiny writing so quite easy to miss. You'll need to find the link to listen to that show
once you're on the website too - all sites will work a little differently, so just have a hunt around if it's not
immediately obvious.
Finally, for those tempted into creating their own show, click the Tips & Tools link for articles on how to
go about setting up your own unique podcast.

http://www.podcastbunker.com/
-----------------------------------------------------------------------------

We'll round today's list off with one for the younger surfers. This one sent in by Ken Rutkowski, who
says BrainPOP is the best site ever for both kids and adults.
With a bright and colourful design that reminds me of the science study books we used to get in school,
the clear navigation and imaginative presentation make this website feel more like play time than study
time. But don't be fooled by the candy colours and funky animations - these pages contain some fairly
heavy duty educational material, presented in a way that makes it interesting and entertaining to absorb.
The main page links to various sections including Science, Social studies, Maths & English, with links to
featured articles listed on the opening page.
Clicking a section, such as Health, brings up a list of subjects within that field, such as Digestion & DNA.
You'll notice from these lists that there are many more paid areas to the site than free, but there are still
plenty of great free sections to justify a visit without even registering.

http://www.brainpop.com/
------------------------------------------------------------------

How much do you know about the way your body works? If you've ever had a hankering to know more
about your biological makeup, then our first site today should satisfy even the most enquiring of scientific
minds.
Dr Saul's Biology in Motion is an educational resource packed full of exhibits and activities to help you
understand more about the natural world. The presentation is fun and vibrant, with the key sections
displayed right in the centre of the opening page. There are features about everything from Thyroid
glands to Cell division, and the site uses colourful cartoons and simple language to explain pretty
complex subjects.
When you click on a subject a further page opens up allowing you to navigate through the information
that's presented. There are cartoons to watch, and activities to try at home. Sometimes the cartoons
become interactive to teach you more about a subject, so keep an eye out for any instructions to get that
mouse finger on the go.
Learn about things like the fascinating relationship between enzymes & substrates, using a wrench with
nuts & bolts as a metaphor to explain, but watch out for the ads at the top of the articles: they look like
links to other sections.

http://biologyinmotion.com/
-----------------------------------------------------------------------------

toe in the water of another science now - how about revisiting your physics classes? And before you all
sneak off without doing your homework, you could be surprised by how interesting this website is.
Physics.org looks a lot more grown up than Biology in Motion, and it's actually a portal to a world of
physics information. The opening page houses a search facility that allows you to ask a question, and a
nice touch here is that you can put in your age and level of current understanding, so that the right
information can be found to help you.
As you surf you'll notice the links you're directed to have been rated by other users. This can be really
useful in terms of isolating the best information, and if you get the chance you can add your own
comments about a link to help future surfers out too.
Under the search tool there are some links to featured content. Physics life takes you to a Flash
Animation page allowing you to explore how physics manifests itself in the world around you. Click a
building to enter it and see what physics mysteries are revealed, then click on anything with a pop up
menu to learn more; the red words in the text are linked to the search tool, so you can click on them to
discover a list of further material.
All areas are worth a look for the enquiring science mind, but the site of the month archive deserves a
particular mention.

www.physics.org
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------

And finally, if all that learning has fired up your mind for more action, how about winding down with
some brain teasers and puzzles at Braingle.
This site has an appealingly simple layout, which is good because you'll need to save all your brainpower
for the 9000-odd teasers and puzzles it contains! The main sections are tabbed across the top for easy
access. They are Brain teasers, Mentalrobics, Games & community.
For a daily dabble in mind bending antics, the daily brainteaser on the opening page is worth a go. Read
the riddle - use the hint link if you want a clue - and then when you think you have the right answer click
to see if you're correct.
Inside the games section you'll find puzzle games, strategy games, and just plain entertainment games.
Games like word search, sudoku and the old favourite chess. Partner games can be enjoyed with other
players, but you'll need to set up a free account to participate.

www.braingle.com
------------------------------------------------------------------------------

My new year's resolution this year was to take up a sport, and in investigating my options on the Internet
I came across an amazing collection of high-kicking action at Martial Arts Trickz.
Click the logo to enter the main site and then you can start enjoying this fantastic assortment of video
clips and photos of people performing gravity-defying martial arts stunts.
The links panel on the left will jump you straight into the action, or you can start with the Video Of The
Day to get you warmed up; and it really will warm you up - it made me exhausted just watching it.
The video gallery also has plenty of great films, but the author of the site asks that you help him keep
down his bandwidth requirements by right-click saving the file rather than watching it streaming.
There's a reasonably busy forum if you want to chat and share tips with other people interested in the
sport - just don't get into any fights!

www.bilang.com
----------------------------------------------------------------------------

Rat Lab is a non-profit website aimed at spreading a little science love to anyone who will listen, whether
you're thinking about a career in science or are simply curious about the world around you.
A good place to start is the Top Pages selection listed on the left. These are the pages most visited by
other surfers, and contain such high-brow subjects as 'Why do beans give you wind?' and how to extract
DNA in your own kitchen.
If you want to explore on your own, all the main sections are laid out along the top - such as Articles, Try
This, Facts & Profiles. Here you'll find everyday science questions, like 'How does jelly work?', answered
in easy to understand terms.
I particularly like the cheerful design of this website, given that the topics are quite heavy in the science
department, and if you want hands-on experience then the experiments you can try at home under Try
This are bound to capture the imagination.

www.ratlab.co.uk
--------------------------------------------------------------------

The art of Bonsai is a fascinating oriental tradition that can be quite hard to master. But you'll find plenty
of tips and advice on how to care for these tiny trees at The Bonsai Site.
As with all good websites, the navigation panel on the left links you through to all the key areas of this
site with one-click convenience. You'll find topics like Introduction, History, Styles and Maintenance - and
because of the simple and clean design, it won't take ages for the pages to load either.
All the sections are elegantly illustrated with photographs of various bonsai trees, and there is a friendly
and lively forum for those of you that want to discuss your horticultural hobby.
Do bear in mind that the Bonsai seeds and Books sections will take you to links where you can buy bonsai
related goods. There's no obligation to buy from the suggested retailers, and it can be a good place to
decide what you want before trawling the Internet for the best price.

www.bonsaisite.com
-----------------------------------------------------------------------------

Remember Mr Potatohead? Well, now the randomly faced toy has gone up-market with an artistic
interpretation at Mr Picassohead.
On the opening page you can either choose to jump straight in and design your own, or take a wander
through the gallery displaying other people's creations first. To view the gallery just click the link, and
when it's loaded you can scroll through the entries using the arrow button underneath.
When you're ready to begin your own, click the Mr Picassohead logo to return to the front page and then
click the link at the top.
In the creation area you'll find a blank canvass with a list of features beside it. Click a feature to reveal
the choices and then drag and drop whatever you want onto the canvas. Once placed, the controls
beneath the canvas allow you to change the colour, orientation and size. Then add more bits until you
have made a work of art.
You can go back and alter any object you've already placed by selecting it on the page. A box will appear
around it and now any adjustments you make will apply to that feature.
To save your picture and add it to the gallery you'll need to enter an email address - but the privacy
policy, available on the opening page, is short and reassuringly to the point.

http://www.mrpicassohead.com/
------------------------------------------------------------------------------------

With the holiday season behind us, you might want to think about updating your technology. Or maybe
you've been given a gift of a new hi-tech gadget and you're keen to set it up and start using it? Well, this
little gem of a website will be there to hold your hand every step of the way.
Digital Home DIY is an interactive site full of tutorials on how to set up various aspects of a hi-tech digital
home. It covers loads of topics from adding voice chat to your gaming experience, to connecting up your
new High Definition TV.
Navigation is made really simple with a panel on the left, which links through to all the main sections
such as digital imaging, games, home control and home theatre.
The Convince Me section, which opens up first when you launch a project, is a great idea - especially if
you have someone else to persuade before starting the work. Click the tabs across the top to advance
through the various stages of the instruction. When you get to the How To section, it contains a short
movie with a commentary to step you through the task. And of course there's the faithful Print This
Project button if you prefer to work at your own pace.

http://digitalhome.cnet.com/
------------------------------------------------------------------------------------

If you're more interested in self improvement than home improvement, maybe you want to catch up on all
the latest trends and fashions that will be hitting the high street this year.
Fashion net provides a really cool portal that will help you find your way on the web to all the top
designers' websites, and a whole lot more. The ultimate in chic, the front end of this portal is elegant and
minimalist, with links to the 5 core sections clearly marked, and the subsequent Internet trail through to
the information you want really easy to follow.
Click on Fashion ,and you'll be offered a list of choices from all over the world. Clicking Designers brings
up a list of key fashion locations to choose from. Once selected, a list of designers and where they can be
found in that city appears underneath together with, where possible, a link to their website.
If you like to soak up popular & unpopular opinion, checking out some of the fashion blogs is also highly
recommended. This is the kind of site that you just need to wander around and see what you can find, but
don't forget to plug in your Gucci mouse before you start surfing.

www.fashion.net
---------------------------------------------------------------------------------------

If you've hammered your credit cards and ordered lots of items online over the break, you might have
found yourself wondering about the financial security of your details. The Identity Theft Resource Center
is the place to go if you want to set your mind at rest.
This well presented website is aimed at consumers who are looking for tips on how to avoid the risks
associated with identity theft. The menus are clear and easy to follow, and I like that fact that the
straightforward tips and information try not to sensationalise the threat.
There are tips for individuals and businesses, and there's even a section dedicated to those unlucky
enough to have fallen victim to the crime, or think they may have. Taking the Victim Guides tests will
help you assess if you are in danger of being caught out, although it's worth remembering that the
creators of this website are a non-profit organisation based in North America, and so the contacts and
specific laws will generally be aimed at the American audience.
A valuable resource none-the-less, if only to help put your mind at ease.

http://idtheftcenter.org/index.shtml
------------------------------------------------------------------

Finally, an interesting site for those of you celebrating this time of year. If you went to a party over the
holiday break, and tasted a cocktail you'd like to recreate at home, then you could do worse than to get
the virtual bartender to assist you.
My Virtual Bartender is the home of an agreeable young lady who will remember your name and make
small talk with you as you discuss the drinks you want to know about.
Click on Meet Shannon to get started, and very responsibly she will make a statement regarding the
legalities of drinking alcohol if you are under age. You'll then need to click the Meet Shannon tab on the
right to finally get to talk to the girl.
The rest is pretty self explanatory, mainly because Shannon talks you through it herself. Admittedly there
are not a huge amount of cocktails to choose from - but I have picked this site more for the novelty factor
than anything else, and there are a reasonable number of tasty beverages that she can serve.

http://www.myvirtualbartender.com/
------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Our first site today is one for the ladies, but that doesn't mean all you fellas have to turn away. Check it
out too, you could learn something that will earn you serious gold stars with your significant other.
iVillage is a magazine-style portal aimed primarily at American women, but the information presented is
relevant to women everywhere, and even to men who want to know more about the way the female mind
works!
There are sections covering everything from Beauty & Style, to Health & Well-being, and Entertainment,
and the site is beautifully presented, though with all the animated links and gizmos, those surfing on a
narrowband connection may find the site takes a while to load.
It's worth noting that the content is written from a liberal perspective, so some of the articles may not be
suitable for all, although they are clearly titled so you can make a sound judgement before entering.
There are some areas that require registration to access, such as chat and the forums, but registration is
free and the privacy policy looks pretty standard to me.

www.ivillage.com
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------

I'm always going on about how great interactive and multimedia content can really make a website stand
out from the crowd. If you want to know more about the evolution of multimedia technology then it's time
to pay a visit to ArtMuseum.net.
Multimedia: from Wagner to Virtual Reality is an online exhibition all about the development of the
multimedia concept. The other exhibition on the opening page is worth looking at too, by the way, if you
like to experience funky graphics and navigation techniques.
But, back to the multimedia exhibit. Clicking The Project link on the table of contents is a good place to
start, as it will tell you what the site's creators are trying to achieve.
Each section contains text and pictures describing the history of multimedia, with links to other
resources where appropriate. The website itself is not a particularly good example of a multimedia
presentation to be honest, but the story is fascinating and well written. It's a must read for anyone like
me, who likes to think they know all there is to know about modern consumer technology.

www.artmuseum.net
---------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Ever had a question that no-one knows the answer to? Whether it's for homework, a report, or just to
settle an argument between friends, you can be pretty sure of getting a swift and intelligent reply from
All Experts.
To ask a question you need to hunt down an expert. Do so by clicking the appropriate subject header and
then follow the links through to an area of interest. You'll eventually be presented with a list of experts on
that subject. Click View Profile to find out more about a particular expert - you can even read comments
from people they have answered in the past, allowing you to gauge how good an expert they really are.
To ask a question click, Ask a Question - obviously - and then type in the details requested before clicking
to send. According to the website you can expect a reply within 3 days, and often in less than 24 hours.
The best thing is the service is totally free and requires no registration. An email address is required for
them to send a reply to, but the privacy policy seems above board.
Finally, if you want to browse other people's questions and their respective answers you can find a link to
this in the final sub-category section under related links.

www.allexperts.com
-----------------------------------------------------------------------------------

We haven't had a recipe website on Webscape for ages, and when I came across Cooking By Numbers I
simply had to serve it up.
This isn't the most sophisticated website in the world, but the low maintenance graphics should make all
you narrow-banders happy. What appealed to me here was the concept.
Can't be bothered to go to the shops? Just tick the core items you have in the fridge and cupboard, then
let the site suggest a list of dishes you could prepare from those ingredients.
It's brilliantly simple, and there seems to be a reasonable selection of no-nonsense recipes to choose
from. Beside each suggestion is a percentage match score, and if you do need extra ingredients they're
noted here too.
There are other areas of the website to explore - the Tomato Attack game being one of them. Very fast
and furious. I only played it once.

www.cookingbynumbers.com
---------------------------------------------------------------------------------
A quick one from a viewer now. Caroline from Sheffield in the UK sent this suggestion in. It's an online
version of the newspaper puzzle game I see people playing everywhere on the train in the morning:
Sudoku.
Sudoku Fun is another site that should suit you narrow-banders. The main page holds the main game. For
those that don't know it, you have to complete all nine boxes on the grid with the numbers 1 to 9 inside
each square. But, within the whole grid each horizontal and vertical straight line must also contain the
sequence 1 to 9.
The main game is on a timer, and once seven people have solved it correctly it changes to a new game. If
you think you have it correct, hit Enter Solution. You'll need to enter your name if you want your score to
count on the leader board which is just underneath the game - but if you're anything like me, expect to
find out the game was completed several hours ago once you finally have the solution.

www.sudokufun.com
------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------

Anyone who's flown with a commercial airline will probably have experienced the downside of flight
accommodation. Cramped seats, zero legroom - if only you'd known when you checked in that the seat
three rows in front offered so much more comfort. Well, now you can.
Seat Guru is the home of this brilliant resource, where you can check out the seat plan for many of the
main airlines' fleets. You'll need to know the type of plane you're flying in, which you can find out by
calling the airline or your travel agent. You then select the airline from the panel on the left, and select
the plane from the pop up menu.
Here you'll see the full layout of the plane, with the pros and cons of each seat clearly stated. Hover you
mouse over the plan to read the pop-up info. This guide notes everything from extra legroom, to
proximity to noisy areas - such as the toilets. You can even find out what entertainment is going to be
available on your flight by clicking the links in the boxes that appear when you hover your mouse over
Video or Audio.
Armed with this knowledge you can now ask the check-in staff to place you in a seat you know is going to
be comfortable, but make sure you get to the airport nice and early to avoid disappointment.

www.seatguru.com
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Finally, if you are a frequent traveller, you may have found yourself stuck in an airport overnight.
Sleeping In Airports is a light-hearted site full of great travellers tales and titbits of advice for those that
find themselves stuck overnight at an airport, whether you're catching an early flight, or become horribly
delayed.
Everything is clearly laid out on the opening page. Click through to a region to select a particular airport,
or you can just browse the stories and funnies using the links in the main section.
The entries have been added by people from all over the world, and include advice like the most
comfortable or peaceful spot to lay down your head. The best and worst list is a great place to go to get a
feel for what you might read. And after reading about the crowned champion, Singapore's Changi
Airport, I think I actually want to fly there just to spend some time in the airport!
You really do find the strangest things on the web.

www.speepinginairports.net
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I thought we'd start today with something for the very young surfers among you. Anu from India
suggested Starfall as a great place to allow your children to play on the web, where they'll not only have
fun, but will learn to read as well.
It's not always possible to sit and participate in your child's time online, although they should always be
closely monitored. But if your child is learning about words and letters, this website does a really good
job of helping them out when you don't have the time yourself.
The layout is colourful and simple. There are four sections, from the basic ABC's for complete beginners,
right up to assisted interactive books under I'm Reading. In this section you can choose from a large
selection of books in various categories. Any word that presents a problem can be clicked on to hear an
audio file of the word being spoken.
As well as the books there are plenty of games and interactive activities, all designed to help children
understand the sounds letters make, and how the words fit together. The site is in English only. There's
plenty of audio assistance on hand, albeit with an American accent, which might not suit some of you, but
the principles are still the same.

www.starfall.com
---------------------------------------------------------------------------

With all the reports of extreme weather conditions across the globe, more people are becoming
concerned about the impact of modern living on the environment. If you want to know how eco-friendly
your lifestyle is then get yourself along to The Carbon Gym.
This is a UK website, but the principles work across the globe. From the opening page select the virtual
gym, then head on in to the changing room to learn about greenhouse gases and their effect on the
planet. This section is written in really simple terms, and does an excellent job of explaining the problem
of global warming.
At the bottom of this page you're given the option of taking a carbon emissions health check. It requires a
bit of research on your part in terms of how much power you use, and how many miles you travel each
year. If you can't work out your bills in £ sterling then you can choose to enter your amounts in units
instead.
Once you know what your carbon footprint is, it's time head into the gym and learn about ways you can
improve your lifestyle. There are loads of areas covered, from low-carbon travel to managing waste.
The café section wasn't working when I last visited - it should contain case studies to further illustrate
the points. Personally, I don't think this takes anything away from such an eye-opening site.

www.carbongym.com
-----------------------------------------------------------------------------------

At the other end of the spectrum, a viewer called Mohammed Raizuddin sent this next website in, and
it seems he has a passion for skyscrapers.
Regardless of whether tall buildings fascinate you, the pure artistry of the pixel illustrations on
SkyscraperPage is well worth a look. At first I was a little overwhelmed by the sheer volume of
information here, but the search options are logical and clearly laid out which makes it all a lot easier to
digest.
You can check out the skyscrapers in each city by using the cities link at the top and working your way
through to the navigation system to the building you want. On each building's page you'll find details of
its height, purpose, when it was built, and where an illustration is available it will be displayed here too.
I think these pictures, using pixel art, are amazing. Special note should be given to the Evolution of a
Skyscraper and World's Tallest Buildings sections, which are both accessible from the opening page.

http://www.skyscraperpage.com/
-----------------------------------------------------------------------------

Finally, another viewer suggestion. M Aasim Q, from Sokoto in Nigeria, thought the world would like to
see his website, Stick Cricket.
The popularity of this sport in the UK has certainly received a boost with England's long-awaited victory
in the Ashes this year. If you're missing the cricket season and want to keep it alive in the office, then the
multi player game on this website should do the trick.
It will take a bit of getting used to, but the instructions under How To Play are clear and to the point.
Personally I advise taking the time to practice on your own before setting up any matches, by operating
both the batting and the bowling for a few games. Picking the right moment to take your swing is a very
fiddly art.
Once you have the controls mastered you can set up your own office league. You'll need to register for
this part of the website. Once registered you can create a new league, then invite other people to sign up
for it, thereby creating your own office scorecard. Alternatively, you can join one of the existing leagues,
and play with other members of the website.

www.stickcricket.com
---------------------------------------------------------------------------------

There's nothing I like more than a good interactive website - well, almost nothing. Dave Lewis from the
UK suggested our first site of today, and if you're into your dub, you're gonna dig it, man.
Alright, what I lack in street cred I can more than make up for at Infinite Wheel. This charmingly
presented interactive site allows you to create your own banging dub tracks, and the beauty of it is, you
need absolutely no musical talent to begin - trust me on this, I know.
There are nine ways to play - click an icon on the opening page to begin, and then you can jump between
the different sections using the navigation bar across the bottom.
The instructions are limited, as it's usually just a question on clicking on something, or dragging your
mouse pointer around the screen to interact with objects. This will begin loops, and trigger sound effects
that join in on the beat. If a loop doesn't start, hit the left or right arrow key, as that's probably the
trigger. In effect, just have a play and see what you produce - you might be surprised by how funky it
sounds.

www.infinitewheel.com
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------

Now a website that helps you get in tune with your community by providing a system of trading services
locally that is quietly gathering momentum.
The Local Exchange Trading System consists of a global chain of not-for-profit organisations, who
distribute a directory of people offering various goods or services in the same area. For instance
photographers, decorators, gardeners, and even web designers. Traded goods could be something like
vegetables from an allotment, or even home baked cakes.
Instead of trading cash, you earn or spend whatever the local exchange currency has been called. Be it
Hemplets in Hemmel Hempstead, or Hands in Golden Bay New Zealand.
As well as giving information about the system, this website also contains a directory of contact
information for more than 1000 groups in over 20 countries. It's up to you whether you want to get in
touch, but reading the story under the All about LETS link, might help you come to a decision.

http://www.lets-linkup.com/
-------------------------------------------------------------------------------------

Next up, a natty little search tool that was suggested by our very own Dan from the Click office.
Rollyo offers the ability to search the content of a list of specified websites, allowing you to narrow down
the results to pages from websites that you already know and trust.
You'll need to register to make a new search roll, but the privacy agreement looks above board to me.
Within the search roll set-up you can list up to 25 websites, and choose to make it public or private.
There are also directories of other people's rolls - check out the high rollers for some of the most popular
searches on the site.
There are also a number of other add-ons either available, or in the pipeline - click on Tools to find them.
I can't actually get the Firefox Search bar plug-in to work just yet, but then this is a beta website, so one
would expect a few glitches.

www.rollyo.com
-----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------

And finally, some more interactivity. I found a fabulous little toy at box7box.com.
You need to click on Works and then choose the TinyGrow2003 link to launch the toy, which is in
interactive experience that allows you to grow a random digital garden by clicking on the objects that
appear on screen.
Click the centre of the spinning tree to begin. It randomly selects an icon, and a branch grows. Interact
with whatever springs out of that branch and a new seed will be planted in your garden. Keep clicking
the centre panel until it stops spinning, and make sure you get all the seeds off the tree before the sprout
finally blows up.
It's very random, and totally pointless. That's probably why I like it so much.

www.box7box.com
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------

I don't know about you, but I love to ride on a roller coaster. The bigger and scarier the better in my
book, so when a forum buddy of mine, Grim, discovered a demo of No Limits Roller Coaster Simulation, I
couldn't wait to download it and give it a go.
Remember this is a demo, so expect to be reminded at every turn about all the great additional features
you'll get if you buy the full version. But there are 5 thrilling tracks to ride for free in the demo, and you
can even design and build your own unique roller coaster, though you can't save it or ride on it in the free
version, I'm afraid.
The fun of this package is definitely in the ride. Click the download link and once installed you just launch
the software, pick a track, and then click to ride it. By using the mouse you can look around as you ride,
and hitting the H key brings up the other options you have for controlling the experience. You can ride in
any of the cars, or even step outside to observe from the ground.
Hitting F7 will widen and narrow your perspective, and holding down SHIFT will make you go faster;
both options are designed to increase the thrill factor of the ride if you need it. The graphics look good,
and the sound effects are awesome. All you need now is a fan blowing in your face and it's as if you're
actually there.

http://www.nolimitscoaster.de/
---------------------------------------------

Talking of speed, how fast is your Internet connection? Maybe you know what speed your contract with
your ISP is supposed to give you, but if you want to check out how fast your connection is actually
performing then you need to jump onto the Internet Frog.
There are a few useful little tools lurking on these pages, but we want the speed test. Straight away
you're launched into the speed test application, and a progress bar informs you that a test is being
carried out - looking at download speed first, and then upload speed. Many people don't realise that with
DSL connections the speed of connection you're sold refers to download speed, and typically the upload
speed for most home connections is only 256k.
The results are illustrated in a graph, and for more information, such as the quality and consistency of
the service, round trip time and maximum pause time are listed below in the results. For more
information about what these figures mean in layman's terms, click the link under definition of terms.
The rest of the site is worth exploring too. I particularly like WHOIS, which is useful if you want to find
out who registered a website. Just type the domain name in you're interested in and it will tell you the
name, address and details of the person or organisation that registered the site, plus the date of
registration. This can be especially useful if you're going to buy something from a website and want to
make sure they are a valid organisation.

http://www.internetfrog.com/
-------------------------------------------------------------

Next up, another google hack. This time in the form of a quick fire guessing game, and you'll find it on
this blog.
Guess the Google is a nicely presented Flash game that asks you to guess the search term that returned a
montage of 20 images from Google. You can guess as many times as you want within the 20 second time
limit, and there are 10 rounds to play in each game.
Some are very hard, others not-so-hard, and the time limit aspect of the game really gets the pulse
racing. At the end of the round you're invited to add your name, and if you did well enough you'll appear
on the high-score page. Annoyingly, you don't get to find out the answers to the montages you didn't get,
but that doesn't stop the game itself from being addictively fun.

http://grant.robinson.name/projects/guess-the-google/
-----------------------------------------------------------------

Jorge Laranjo sent this site which links the virtual world of the Internet with the real world outside.
The premise of The Postcard Crossing Project is to receive postcards by snail mail from users all over the
world, but you have to send them out too. First you select a country, region and city, and the next page
asks for some personal information about you, including your postal address, which is obviously required
if you want to see cards dropping through your letter box.
Once registered, you request an address to send a card to. You're given a unique ID to put on the card
and then you just pop it in the post. Once the card is received the recipient enters the details into the
website, and your details get put on the list of addresses for mailing out to. In theory for every card you
send, you will eventually get one back - and this could be from any one of the 4000-odd registered users
all over the world.
I think that is a brilliant idea, and I'm eagerly awaiting my first card right now.

http://www.postcrossing.com/
---------------------------------------------------------------------------
With the summer now a distant memory, I wonder how many of you got the chance to take a break? If,
like me, you missed out on a holiday this year, never fear! Thanks to another extension made to exploit
Google's excellent Maps technology, you can now see the wonders of the world from the comfort of your
own computer.
Google Sightseeing is not a part of Google Maps, it simply links to the data found there, but is an
excellent way to quickly locate many of the most popular tourist destinations in the world.
The layout is pretty to the point. You can choose to tour in a number of ways which are listed as tabs
across the screen, or if you already know where you want to go simply type it in the search box on the
right.
All the locations are suggestions by visitors to the site, so if you can't find what you're looking for, use the
link in the right hand panel to make your suggestion. Make sure you read the instructions about how to
link to the Google Map page thoroughly before posting.
There is also the option to add comments to all the places you virtually tour, allowing you to tell the world
what you thought of the picture, or maybe share a real life experience of having been there.

http://www.googlesightseeing.com/
----------------------------------------------------

Karen Emsley from the UK, who says she's recently taken up the art of Contact Juggling, sent in this
next site.
Contact Juggling is the art of ball manipulation - in other words rolling a specially designed ball around
your hands, arms and even various other parts of the body. It's an incredibly impressive act to perform,
though extremely hard to master and will take a lot of practice, but get it right and it looks magical.
The site itself is simple in design, but really well laid out. All the sections are available on the left, with
some essential notes for beginners appearing in the main panel. Click through to the FAQ to start with,
as it will tell you the best areas on the site to get you going. I also strongly suggest taking the time to just
watch some of the videos posted here by the site's creators and various other users. It will give you a
great idea about what can be achieved if you put enough time and practice into the project.
There's so much here to see and try, just surf round at your own pace for the best results. There is also a
lively and friendly forum where you can share your experiences and get help perfecting those killer
moves. Now, go out and impress your friends.

http://www.contactjuggling.org/
---------------------------------------------------

Finally a website suggested by a member of my Yahoo Online group, Nex. It's a site full of stylised
oriental animations and is a real joy to explore.
Tokyoplastic is one of those click and enjoy interactive sites that turns the simple act of navigating its
pages into an experience in its own right, and is a lot more visual that the last site we looked at. It's also
riddled with great ambient audio and music, so make sure you have your sound turned up high to enjoy
the full experience.
Entering the site opens another page with a graphic menu. On all of the pages generally, hovering your
mouse over an active area will set an animation in motion and, where appropriate, reveal some text
giving you a clue as to what's in that section.
You really just have to browse around this site in your own way for the full enjoyment, but my particular
favourite is the Drum Machine - an animated sequence with music and sound effects that is just too off
the wall to describe. You're better off taking a look for yourself.

http://www.tokyoplastic.com/
--------------------------------------------------------

We start today with a website sent in by a Click viewer from London; Andre Parrie calls himself an
Internet Creative, and has developed a devilishly useful little tool for those of you that don't like to leave
home without your homepage.
Protopage really is an amazingly simple tool to use, and yet it provides some excellent features.
Start in the obvious place by clicking to create a new page. The idea of this tool is that you can click to
add boxes containing links, notes, images - pretty much anything digital you want. To edit a box click
Edit, of course, or if you want to add a new links box or sticky, note use the relevant option at the bottom.
Personally, I've included links to my forums and groups, my webmail accounts, and a search, dictionary &
encyclopaedia section too.
I've even put up an image I like, by posting a new sticky and then typing the appropriate source code
around the URL where it can be found. For more information on how to do this click About Protopage and
look at the tip about how to upload pictures. Changing the background and colours is easy too using the
Choose Colours button at the bottom. You can even have an animated background - though obviously this
will affect the loading time.
Finally, to save your page you must register, and choose to make it either public or private. It will now be
available where ever you find access to the Internet, by typing into a browser window the protopage URL
followed by your own unique identifier.
www.protopage.com
-----------------------------------------------
If you have a website or make presentations, you're going to love this next freebie software package.
Powerbullet Presenter is a comprehensive package for making impressive, professional animated slide
shows and presentations - complete with the option to add sound - using the web-based language of
Flash, meaning it's ideal for displaying on websites.
The first step is to download using the link on the left - then follow the path through to the FTP site at
Download.com. After installation you might be a little put off by the amount of buttons and functions on
the toolbar. And whilst a lot of them will be familiar to those used to using graphics and word processing
packages, a lot of them won't be. But it is worth persevering as it's not actually as complicated as it first
looks. There's an excellent and very friendly forum on the website too, where you'll find no end of tips
and lovely people willing to help out with advice.
My top tips for getting started - use the options under the Insert menu to add pictures and text boxes -
you can animate these to come on and off the page using the Animation and Effects button, which looks
like a little wand. Add sound by recording with the mic button, and the page+ button will add a new page
for you to work with. Project & Export, or hitting CTRL+E will save the finished work in a file in your
Documents folder. You can now publish the .swf file to the web for all to enjoy.

www.powerbullet.com
-------------------------------------------------------
Readprint is a free online library containing some of the all time classic reads, such as 1984, Animal
Farm, Wuthering Heights and Pride & Prejudice. All the listed authors have a picture and biography,
together with links to all of their work that is published on the site. It's a great resource if you're looking
for a classic to read.

www.readprint.com
-------------------------------------------------------------------------

This next website was sent in by Chris Hopper. He said he was addicted within minutes, so of course he
sent it to me, because I clearly have lots of time to waste playing guitar solos online!
Guitar Shred Show is the place where you'll find this quirky site, which puts you in the boots of one of the
true masters of shred guitar, Mr Fastfinger. Now, this guy isn't real - at least I hope not with a hairdo like
that. It's a cartoon animation that allows you to trigger killer electric guitar moves using the keys on your
keyboard, to most satisfying ends even if you have no musical talent whatsoever.
The first thing you notice is the loading screens - all made to look like part of the story unfolding. A nice
touch the first time you visit the site, but a little annoying thereafter.
Inside the main menu, clicking the plectrum by Show Off Solo will launch a demo of the kind of effects
you can achieve, but the real fun is to be had behind Lesson & Jam. With the plectrum pointing at Lesson
you can try out the sets one by one, and a printable tablature even appears at the bottom if you fancy
trying to recreate them in the real world.
But the pinnacle of the site resides under Jam - the joys of which I will have to leave you to discover on
your own.

www.guitarshredshow.com
--------------------------------------------------------------

One of the main sources of free software online is so-called open source technology. We have spoken
about it many times before on Click Online, but for those of you who need reminding, open source
software is free in all senses. Free to use, free for you to add to the source code, and free to share
without fear of breaking any laws.
Our first site today is an open source download from Open Office and gives users the choice of a totally
free alternative to a paid-for word processing and office tools suite.
As the opening page states, Open Office is both multi-platform and multi-lingual. In plain speak, this
means you can use it to open and work with documents and presentations from a number of popular
office packages, including Microsoft's own suite. To see the supported languages just click the multi-
lingual link.
You can choose from either the stable and fully tested version, or the beta version, which means it is still
being tested. The beta version is not as stable, but contains more added features. I have been using this
myself for a little over a week now, and have experienced no problems with its operation.
You get a top-class word processor a lá Word, as well as the open source equivalent of PowerPoint, called
Impress and an Excel-lookalike spreadsheet program called Calc. All for nothing, so you cannot really
complain and at the very least it is worth checking out.
If you want to share your documents with people who are not using Open Office, you will need to save
them in the right format. Occasionally you will find that compatibility is not quite perfect and you may,
for example lose some formatting details such as the ability to click on links to open them up in a browser
but this seems a small price to pay for free software.

http://www.openoffice.org/
------------------------------------------------
Next up, a great new communication tool sent in by two viewers, Vivek Sekar and Sudha Ravi, both
from India. It is an encryption tool for e-mail and file transfer.
There is always a lot of talk about protecting your privacy online. I have to say, for most of us the chances
of anyone eavesdropping on our electronic correspondence are extremely slim. But, if it is the kind of
thing you worry about and you are using Hotmail or Yahoo to send your e-mails, Keygloo works a treat to
make sure what is meant to be private stays that way.
The first step is to register and an activation password will be sent to you. Some personal details are
required, but the privacy policy seems fair to me. Once the download is complete just double click
the .exe file to install.
You are given a number of options along the way. You want to choose to install and get a new Keygloo
number as this is your first time of using it. When asked for your Activation Password you need to enter
the code that was e-mailed to you after registration. A few more set up steps, and choices about where to
store data are required, before finalising your account with a password.
Using the software is extremely simple, and very well explained in the online tutorials under Guides,
which you should look at for more tips, as running through it all here will take too long.
It currently only works for Hotmail and Yahoo mail services, and only through Microsoft's Internet
Explorer browser, but this is an early beta version so presumably versions for Firefox, Opera users and
such like will come along soon. They have also released an extension that allows you to integrate it with
Outlook Express which is excellent for using to encrypt in-browser messages and attachments.
Do remember the person you are mailing encrypted data to will need the same software installed to
decode it.

www.keygloo.com
---------------------------------------------------------------------------

am always fascinated by people who can perform tricks and acts of dexterity with everyday objects. I saw
a friend spinning coins the other day, so popped on the web to hunt down a site that would help me learn
this art.
The presentation on Coin Manipulation is not very impressive, but with videos and pictures together with
detailed written instructions to guide you through each trick, it fulfils its primary mission with absolute
precision and those of you with a narrowband connection will probably be grateful for the lack of flash
bells and whistles.
New additions are linked on the opening page, there has not been much activity lately, but if you click
through to the Tricks section you will find plenty of content to amuse.
There is some limited recent activity in the forum too, with some great links to additional content. It is
worth registering if you have a mind to find out more.

www.coinmanipulation.com
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
And finally, a very quick look at an interactive adventure: Quest For The Rest
This is another one of those websites set up by a band to encourage you to experience their music, this
time by The Polyphonic Spree.
I will not go into too much detail as it will spoil the fun for you, but know that the object is to click on
clickable things, your aim being to help the three little people find a way home.
It is not particularly challenging, but the graphics are cute and the music very atmospheric. Enjoy.

www.questfortherest.com
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------------

Font Freak is a great website that offers an impressive collection of free fonts for you to download and
use.
The opening page is a bold and simple statement allowing you to choose which platform you are working
with. Clicking a platform specific link will take you to dedicated pages in that area, but if you click Enter
Here instead you can access the Font Freak pages directly.
The first choice you are given is to automatically download all 4,700-odd of the site's fonts. There is a
charge for this, to cover the bandwidth usage, so choose to download them one by one for the totally free
option. It might take a while though, so it might better to choose just the ones you are likely to use.
Inside these pages, the layout is clean and crisp. Click the format you want on the left and then browse
the fonts for ones that you like the look of. Clicking a font in the box will automatically open your
download manager.
Once downloaded you need to unzip the contents, then install the font by going to Control Panel, Fonts,
and then clicking on File and selecting Install New Font. Your shiny new font will now be available to use
in any supported package, such as word processors, presentations and spreadsheets and graphics
packages.

www.fontfreak.com
-----------------------------
We have seen a few different types of quirky clocks in Webscape over the years and while
Humanclock.com houses perhaps not the most practical of time-pieces, what it lacks in functionality it
more than makes up for in charm.
The human clock is a collection of photographs and images made by people from all over the world to
signify each minute in the 24-hour clock.
To view it just click the obvious link at the top. A new page opens with one picture displayed at the top,
and a number of click links below in case you want to see the other options for that timeslot.
The pictures vary between people holding up signs with the time on them, to photographs of every day
objects made to look like the time. There is also a good spattering of regular signs, such as prices and
street signs that cunningly make up the time. It is fascinating to see all the different types of entry.
The Submit A Photo link will tell you everything you need to know about how to add your own image to
the mix should you feel so inclined.

www.humanclock.com
-----------------------------------------------

The first site I've picked out is the home of The Japan National Tourism Organisation. Like all good
tourism websites, this strikes a healthy balance of information and atmosphere, providing enough
interest if you are planning a trip, or if you just want to soak up the flavours of the culture without
actually leaving your home.
For practical information about visas, health and money you need their Guide to Japan. Once you
navigate away from the opening page, all the sections containing practical information - such as where to
go, what to do, and travel planners, etc. - are listed as tabs across the top, making navigation a breeze.
The Regional Tourist Guides section is definitely worth a visit. It's nicely laid out with some stunning
pictures and plenty of great information about the various regions.
For those not lucky enough to be flying out to Japan themselves, take a look at the Tourist Photo Library.
There are a number of categories you can browse by, which are linked in the grey box at the bottom.
Then just sit back and take a virtual stroll through the incredible sights of Japan.
The Photo of the Week section on the opening page is also well worth a visit in my book.

http://www.jnto.go.jp/; http://211.14.131.72/index_e.html

As we have mentioned before, alternative browsers such as Mozilla's Firefox are becoming more and
more popular, and as a result there are more and more funky plug-ins and accessories being made
available to complement them. Here's one that definitely deserves a mention: Thunderbird.
Available from mozilla.org, Thunderbird is a free email client that works with Mozilla's browsing
technology, and has some intelligent anti-spam measures built in to boot.
If you are using Firefox I'd advise updating it to the latest version first. Clicking About under the Help
menu will tell you which version you are currently running.
Once the download is complete follow the installation instructions. You'll be given the option of importing
all messages and email settings from your current default client, which makes set up an absolute doddle.
It's up to you whether you make this your default mail client; personally I'd suggest playing with it for a
little while before making it your standard mail reader.
I found it a dream to use. It's fully featured and secure. It can handle multiple POP and IMAP mail
accounts, and even allows you to read RSS feeds - a technology used by a lot of web-bloggers & other
websites that change their page content regularly.

www.mozilla.org

If that's given you a taste for tweaking your browser then you're going to need some more plug-ins. The
beauty of these free, open source packages that are becoming so popular is that a healthy community of
software coders is building up around them. Take a look at Mozdev.org to see what I mean.
Mozdev is the home of a large software development community who are dedicated to making quality
free software to complement Mozilla's browsing technology. Click About to find out more.
The idea here is that it's a place to see what's been developed and what's in development to support
Mozilla's browsing software. Click Active Projects for a list of links that are live. There is a large and
interesting collection of plug-ins and extensions in this list - some of which are not complete yet.
Download links generally appear at the top of the extension page and you'll need pop-ups enabled.
I haven't tried many of them myself yet so you'll have to find your own way around and let us know which
ones work best for you. Obviously the usual caveats about downloading strange software apply.

www.mozdev.org

This website was sent in by Paul Whitehead in New Zealand. He said his wife has found this an
extremely useful site for streetmaps - and they've tested it in New Zealand, France and the UK! It's
Maporama.
Aside from the obligatory pop-ups, I found this a clean and intuitive website to use, with an impressive
language selection and an even more impressive database of street maps around the globe. Use the drop-
down menus under maps to find the location you want, or you can enter an itinerary and have the best
route from A to B calculated for you - by car or by foot.
The real joy in this website for me is the map display and settings - far better than any map websites I've
been using to date. Menus on the left allow you to customise the look and size of the map displayed. You
can turn points of interests, such as petrol stations, on or off, and it even tells you what the weather is
like there at the moment.
Once you're happy with your map it can exported to email or PDA, or you can print it and take it with you
so you never have to get lost again.

http://www.maporama.com/

Finally, for those who like to indulge in an intellectual battle of wits online, here's a gaming website
suggested by a viewer called Barry who says he's had many a happy challenge match on kurnik.pl.
It doesn't look very pretty, but it loads nice and fast, and when so many games are available to play with
people from all over the world - some of whom don't necessarily have access to a broadband connection -
I think this is a plus rather than a minus.
You'll need to select your language first - there are plenty available - and then choose from games such as
Chess, Connect Four, Ludo and Hearts. You'll need to set up a user ID and password for scoring
purposes, but no email address is required. The blurb that comes up after your ID is registered is worth a
read too. It's charmingly written and contains some good sound advice about online etiquette.
Once you're signed in select a game, then choose a room and jump on to a table. The rules are available
here for you, too.
This is a Polish site and at the moment the majority of its users are Polish nationals themselves, but they
say they would welcome a more international feel - maybe we can help there? It is fair to say though that
until we do, you'll find the chat aspect of this website a little difficult if you don't actually speak Polish.

http://www.kurnik.pl/

We all love free stuff, right? It's one of the things that makes the Internet so much fun, and image
management software is always a popular choice, which presumably is why viewer Malcolm Pitt
suggested this next download from Faststone.
We've seen a few online image viewers recently, but this one is for offline browsing, editing and
management. It's got loads of great features and is really easy to use - and best of all it's freeware, so you
don't have to pay a penny.
Faststone actually have quite a few free downloads, but it's the Image Viewer 2.20 that we want. To
begin, select Download in the far right of the top row. It's only 2.5MB, so it shouldn't take too long.
Opening the software reveals an interface that should be quite familiar, as it looks like a normal Explorer
window. As with Explorer, selecting a location in the tree structure on the left opens the content
thumbnails in the right-hand pane, but you'll also see an enlarged thumbnail of the selected image under
the file tree.
Once you have the image you want to work with selected, double-click this enlarged thumbnail to open it
full screen. You can now make adjustments such as rotation, resizing, brightness & contrast etc.
Sliding your mouse pointer to the edge of the screen reveals the pop-up editing menus. Check all four
edges as there are menus under each. You can even set up a slide show or make a screen capture,
available under the menu at the bottom.

http://www.faststone.org/

One of the lecturers at Colorado State University - Dr Dave - has uploaded high speed video clips on its
website. Not interested? OK, then ever wondered what an egg dropped on a mouse trap might look like
at super slow speed? Oh, now you're interested. So you want to see these Interesting High Speed Video
Clips.
The layout of the page is very basic, with a random selection listed at the top in Dr Dave's Hall of fame -
such as a jelly cube being dropped from a great height and a dog catching a bone. Beneath that there are
category sections such as appliances, fire smoke & explosions - and stupid human tricks, most of which
seem to involve wibbling various parts of the human body.
If you're interested in the tech behind the clips then the high-speed-camera link in the opening paragraph
will lead the way. I'm not entirely sure I understand the educational value of these clips, but I found them
interesting and amusing none-the-less.
What sex is your computer, or your hat, or your favourite pair of shoes for that matter? Have you noticed
how we have a tendency to assign gender to inanimate objects so that cars and boats are often referred
to as she?

http://www.engr.colostate.edu/~dga/high_speed_video/index.html

What sex is your computer, or your hat, or your favourite pair of shoes for that matter? Have you noticed
how we have a tendency to assign gender to inanimate objects so that cars and boats are often referred
to as she?
That's the idea behind Name My Sex, which was sent in by its creator, Craig Willis from the UK. This is
a place for you to have your say and help decide the overall gender of everyday objects.
This is a fairly new database, and so needs a massive injection of opinion before it really has any ground
to stand on - which is where you lot come in. But despite this, there's still enough content to make it an
interesting read, and I really love the layout and execution.
Everything is accessible from the opening page. In each category section is a list of the items, with any
that are on the verge of turning male or female flagged up.
Clicking view by any entry will open a pop-up window allowing you to read the comments already left and
make your vote - male, or female. This vote in turn opens another pop-up where you can leave a comment
and your name. You don't have to include your email address, but should you choose to do so you'll
receive information about updates to the site, and the privacy policy is very clear and open.
If an item you want to vote on isn't listed, you can submit it yourself from the link on the opening page.

www.namemysex.co.uk

We haven't had a gaming collection for a few weeks, and One More Level contains a couple of corking
good games.
It's an uninspired opening page, with all the games listed in thumbnail format under some fairly basic
categories. The reason I chose this particular website is a game called Spaced Penguin. Here you have to
pull the penguin back on its elastic launcher and try and get it into the waiting ship. Passing through the
fans gives you a better distance score, and the planets have a gravitational pull, so finding the right
trajectory can be tricky at times.
Nucleus is another good one with an educational bent that I've not seen anywhere else. And for some
1980's cult movie nostalgia, the Tron bike race is brilliant - though there doesn't actually seem to be an
end to it.
It's worth a quick mention that I couldn't get Flash to work in Firefox on this website, so I had to use
Internet Explorer. You may also get a security prompt asking you to allow access by external sites. This is
part of the high scoring system and you can click cancel to disallow this access without it affecting the
game play.

http://www.onemorelevel.com/

What do you think your computer does when it's not busy working for you? Wouldn't it be great if users
around the world could pool that power and put it to work for the greater good of humanity? The idea
isn't that new - remember the SETI screen saver?
Now the same kind of thing is happening again, this time at The World Community Grid, which was sent
in by Jeff Thomson in the UK.
The premise is that you register an account, run their software, and your computer becomes part of a
vast network of linked PCs, all putting their processing power to use for worthy causes, such as the
Human Proteome Project. Take a look at About Us and Research for more information.
The software starts working when the screensaver kicks in, so it doesn't interrupt your normal usage.
And you don't need to be online constantly either. Tiny packets of data are downloaded, and then
analysed by the software. When I last looked there were more than 80,000 users who have so far
contributed almost 15,000 years of processing time. Current details of this figure are available under
Statistics.
The website is really well laid out, with a lively and welcoming forum for those questions you still need
answers for. I did have one or two problems when registering my account and posted a note in the forum
in the hope that they can fix it. So let us know - and them of course - if you have any problems.

http://www.worldcommunitygrid.com/

If you don't fancy putting your computer on the treadmill when it's resting, this next website is the
perfect excuse for keeping it awake.
Aardman.com is the home of the Bristol-based animation company who created the very popular Wallace
and Gromit films. But it isn't the plasticene comedy duo that is my reason for suggesting this site, I'm
recommending this website more than anything for the sheer joy that surfing about its various sections
brings. Every button and menu is animated and contains a clunk or a pop or a whiz of some comedy
nature.
Just wander about the site - there's plenty to see, including links to character pages, and examples of the
company's excellent animation work. But start by sitting on the opening page for a few minutes and
clicking on the little characters that trundle by. Most amusing.
For my personal favourite section try Daily Doodles. Here you have to pull out the slates to see some
simple doodles scrawled on them, but the slate housing itself animates and reacts to being opened.
Number seven is my favourite.

Aardman.com
If all those cartoons made you feel like a kid again, then this next website should go down rather well. I
Used To Believe is a charming collection of childhood memories suggested to us by Gunter Morson, and
it's mainly text-based.
The website itself is so well laid out you'll be finding your way to the content in no time. To aid you a list
of categories is on the left, or I recommend taking a look at the Best and Random sections.
All the entries are posts made by visitors to the website describing what they used to believe in when
they were a kid. Some are hilarious, some are bizarre - and some seem, frankly, cruel, but are very funny
none-the-less.
Adding your own memory is easy and requires no registration, and because the posts are moderated you
can be sure you're not going to stumble upon anything too shocking.

http://www.iusedtobelieve.com/

To finish you off with a proper mental work-out, here's a sampling from our own website at the BBC.
I was taking a look around the Sleep section inside BBC Science & Nature and came across this reflex
challenge game called Sheep Dash.
The purpose is to stop the sheep from running away by clicking on the tranquilliser button as soon as you
see one move. Be careful not to click too soon though, or you will suffer a 3 second penalty.
The game is measuring your response time, and gives you a score at the end comparative to the average.
The fastest score I got was 0.2048 seconds.

http://www.bbc.co.uk/science/humanbody/sleep/sheep/

It never ceases to amaze me just how diverse the multimedia content is on the web. No matter what your
hobbies or interests are, there is always plenty of information online, and Veggie Vision is a fine example
of some great free content all about being a vegetarian.
It's still quite a young channel, so don't expect hours and hours of content yet, but they've already
managed to secure a couple of veggie-celeb interviews, and there are some great recipes and reports in
the archives.
To access these archives, on the opening page click the top link and then you'll be inside the main veggie
vision menu section. The three subsections are pretty much self-explanatory, although it's worth noting
that the roving reports will only really interest those living in, or about to visit the UK.
To watch just click a link and then sit back and enjoy the programme, TV style. It's perhaps not the most
imaginative use of the web's delivery capabilities, but it doesn't all have to be interaction. Sometimes it's
nice to just sit back and absorb.
The text links at the bottom of the screen will take you to various sections that tell you more about the
website and what's coming up. And if you want a little online fame yourself, in the My Vision section you
can even submit your own 1-minute video demonstrating your favourite vegan recipe. Good luck with
that.

http://www.veggievision.co.uk/

Our next website was actually suggested by a friend of mine who is a physicist. It's a great resource for
those who want to learn more about the world of physics, but is rather text heavy so I'll keep the run
down brief.
Focus is the home of a collection of articles and letters taken from leading physics publications by APS
journals, which aim to help students and researchers in all fields of physics.
The presentation is clean and magazine-like, with the latest entries linked on the opening page, and
articles from the past accessible through the Focus Archive, which is linked at the top.
Also at the top there are links to the Physics News Update archives, or you can search the image index
from the top navigation bar to find your story.
All Focus stories contain links to the source research papers they describe, so you can dig much deeper if
you need to, and where you see the little movie camera icon there is even some video to have a look at.

http://focus.aps.org/

Eric Feng is a Taiwanese artist who has achieved some notoriety in recent years for his hugely individual
work, which is on display at his website.
Influenced by Chinese brushwork and calligraphy from his early studies in Taipei, and then encouraged
to define his own unique style when he studied further in New York, his work manages to somehow
capture the beauty and serenity of classic tradition and combine it with the cogs and bolts of modern
machinery.
The website itself is wonderfully composed too. Just select the gallery you want from the top menu bar
and use the arrow buttons to cycle through the various works. Check out the animations in the Inside Out
section - especially the Inside Out movie that is linked at the bottom of the page. Incredible.
There isn't much information on this site other than the images and a rather odd written statement from
the artist himself, but then you don't really need information when you're looking at art, do you?
These intricate studies are beautiful, and the crisp cleanliness of the website only serves to enhance their
overall appeal.
http://www.feric.com/

And finally, a quick look at a quirky little thing if you ever fancied yourself as a cyborg... What? You never
dreamt of being a cyborg when you were a kid - perhaps that was just me then.
Maybe a cyborg name would help? Well, this Cyborg Name can help you out there. The process is very
simple Just type your name in the box, pick the style of avatar you fancy, and then hit submit. The
software takes the letters in your name and applies a cyborgesque acronym to them.
If you have your own website or blog then you have permission from the site's creators to download the
graphic displaying your name and avatar for non-commercial use - which is a great way to personalise
your space without any outlay.

http://www.cyborgname.com/

Now that every one has gone crazy for Google Earth here's another download you can go crazy over. This
time it's from the people at NASA and is called World Wind. It is a hefty download I'm afraid, but worth
every one of its 184 megabytes.
Once you've installed it you will still need a broadband connection to use it because, like Google Earth, it
takes data from the main server as and when you need it to display the landscape.
It shows the borders of all the worlds countries with thousands of place names and you can even call up
temperatures from anywhere around the globe and, if you are so inclined, you can even check out
rainfall, barometric pressure and cloud cover as well.
The site is also good if you are interested in more specialist subjects like world weather. NASA's Goddard
Space Flight Centre has produced a set of fascinating animations that demonstrate a variety of subjects
such as hurricane dynamics and seasonal changes across the globe.
Just like Google Earth, though, the real draw is the graphics. For example, have you ever wondered what
it would be like to fly through the Grand Canyon or across the Swiss Alps? World Wind uses NASA's
Landstat satellite imagery and Shuttle Radar Topography Mission data to allow you to zoom in from orbit
and actually fly into and through famous landmarks and geographical wonders.
It's full functions are way too complex to cover here so I'll give you the best tip possible to get you
started: launch the application and click Help followed by Key Chart. Be sure to explore all the different
rotational and zoom options for the absolute best results.

http://worldwind.arc.nasa.gov/

From visual imagery to optical illusions now, with Micheal Bach's extensive collection of optical
illusions.
The layout here is uninspired but does the job just fine. You can either click a particular illusion on the
right, or just dive straight in with the whole tour, which can be found at the top of that list.
Each illusion page contains a detailed description of what you should be seeing and the science behind
the phenomenon. The text looks pretty daunting but is well worth a read as I found it fascinating. In most
cases there are additional controls to help explain the science, the usage of these is also explained to the
left.
When you want to move on to the next illusion you'll find the next and previous buttons in the top left
hand corner. I lost count of how many times I muttered "oh, I see, that's clever" as I surfed these pages,
but to be honest I had to give my eyes a rest every so often as they began to ache!

http://www.michaelbach.de/ot/index.html

This next website, sent in by Richard watching in the UK, contains another really useful little application
that is totally free to download.
Deskpins is the name of the application, and it's such a simple concept, and yet I find it supremely useful.
After downloading and installing it basically allows you to attach a pin to any folder open on your
desktop. This pin has the same effect as the 'always on top' function on programs like media players, but
it can be quickly and easily applied to any folder or program.
Just click the icon in the task bar, and then click to place your pin. When you've finished what you're
doing, a right-click on the icon in the task bar reveals the option to remove all pins, with no complicated
sub-menus to navigate through. Or just click on the individual pins in the windows to take them off one by
one.
I find this most useful for pinning folders to the top so that I can transfer files backwards and forwards,
and for keeping my winTV window on display occasionally when I'm multitasking.

http://users.forthnet.gr/pat/efotinis/programs/deskpins.html

Our first website today, World Wide Panorama, comes from a viewer in Northern Ireland who is actually
a contributor to the site.
It's an excellent website along the same lines as the World War II panoramas one we showed you a few
weeks ago, but this time we're looking at a more general picture of the world.
Peter McCready is the name of our viewer and 360-degree photographer, and you can check out his
contributions here.
This website, which began last year, already contains an impressive catalogue of the world about us,
captured in 360-degree panoramas which can be viewed through Quicktime.
One thing I would like to call special note to is the impressive number of languages that are covered for
browsing - after all, the Internet is a global medium.
On the downside, I found the opening holding page let the rest of the content down a lot. The navigation
is sketchy to say the least and it's still not clear to me which is the best way from that starting point to
the content.
In the end I generally click one of the events, which brings up a link to a collection of panoramas along a
certain theme. These are good, but if you want to freestyle, from here you can click the world map on the
left and choose to navigate around the globe in a number of different ways.
The panoramas themselves more than make up for the poor navigation. Lovingly produced, complete with
informative descriptive passages, and in some cases there's even a sound file to help you soak up the
atmosphere.

http://www.worldwidepanorama.com/
http://ww2panorama.org/

Here's a website to send shivers up your spine, which was sent in by Sam from Ghana. He says he loves
the dark gothic atmosphere of these curious little flash movies and tricks - and I have to say I agree.
It's The Devil's Tramping Ground, and right from the opening page you're drawn in to the spooky
atmosphere. If you don't like ghost stories and other scary stuff stay away.
The menu page is pretty straightforward and doesn't really tell you much about what to expect in each
section. In actual fact what you'll find is a collection of flash movies, mainly with a very spooky theme, to
magic tricks and such like.
The best thing is to just jump in and start exploring, though if you're using a narrowband connection you
could find the loading times more than a little off-putting.
Personally I like the magic trick sections. The Google trick is a fun way into fooling your friends and
colleagues that you can make the middle letters in the word google disappear, but you'll need to practise
your timing a bit first.

http://darkartsmedia.com/DevilsTrampingGround.com.html

Graffiti as an artform has really taken off in recent years, so here's a site that will help you tag like the
masters.
At Graffiti Creator you'll find a fantastic free application that allows you to create graffiti-style artwork in
one of three different type fonts.
The first step is to type the text you want to work with into the box under Create and then click the
Create button. You can alter the width, height and angle using the sliders next to the word, and then you
can start decorating. Just click the effect you want to add on the right, and then use the sliders on the far
left to change the colour.
Clicking the boxed letters on the right will activate and deactivate them, so you can make changes to just
a few letters at a time, and when you're finished you can use the Tile Picker at the bottom of the options
list to place your graffiti on a suitable background.
Use the Print button to print, and if you want to save your work the website suggests you download
Gadwin Printscreen, which is a free screen capture tool. Using the PrintScreen button on your keyboard
together with any art package you already have on your system works just as well though.

http://www.graffiticreator.net/

It's time to settle all those age-old disputes between friends and colleagues with another great little
GoogleHack at Google Fight.
(Incidentally, for those that have expressed concern about overloading Google's resources using these
hacks, each game just acts like another search query, and given the number of queries the website is
geared up to take, there really is nothing to be concerned about.)
Ever had an argument with someone about whose football team or favourite band is the best? Well, now
you can resolve this dispute with the help of Google Fight. The concept is brilliantly simple - just type the
two opposing sides into the spaces provided and click to Make a Fight.
The words can literally be anything you want, and a Google search is performed on each word or phrase
while you're treated to a little fight animation. The outcome is based on number of search results
returned.
OK, it's not perhaps the most scientific approach in the world, but it's certainly one way to end a
stalemate, and most amusing at times.
Check out the fights other people have been having by clicking the link on the left for some more laughs.
www.googlefight.com

How much do you like your music? One of the best ways to discover new bands is through
recommendations from your friends, but how about tapping into the musical experience of thousands and
thousands of people all over the world?
Audioscrobbler is a plugin that connects your computer to music lovers all over the web. You download it
and it monitors your music player, uploading a list of everything you have been listening to during the
day.
It's fairly straightforward to set up - you go to the Get a Plugin page and choose one from the long list.
You need to make sure that you get the correct plugin for the music player you use.
You don't need to register to download the software, but you do need an account to start using it.
Registration is free and easy, and you don't even need to put an email address in, but it will be collecting
information from your computer.
The software works every time you use your media player and the information is collated from all users to
produce charts to show the most played songs.
For people that want to expand their musical horizons the Explore Music section houses a great tool
where you put in the name of a band you like, and it shows a list of different bands and artists that other
people who listen to that band have in their collection.

http://www.audioscrobbler.com/

A viewer who calls himself Pieman, from Saigon in Vietnam, submitted his own website: Noodlepie.
I guess the best way to describe this website is a photo-blog, but it's much more focused than many of the
millions and millions of other similar blogs out there.
Noodlepie is mostly all about the food you find in Saigon, and it uses images and words to paint a vivid
picture of the experience of eating out, Vietnamese style.
Check the category list in the left-hand column to see what it's all about - you'll have to scroll a bit to get
there. That's my only bugbear with this kind of site - there is so much information to display that the
pages can become really long. Find a better way of doing this guys!
It's obvious just how much work has been put in to building up this virtual gastronomic guide, and it's
astonishing how much is revealed about a culture from its traditional food, and these well written and
colourful accounts really do the trick.
If you are planning a trip to Saigon I definitely suggest you have a really good read. The food looks so
appetizing, and this website will help you pick the best dishes first time.

http://www.noodlepie.com/

While we are talking about things culinary, I want to show you Pieman's other site - this is someone who
clearly has a serious passion for food... although you might argue that 'airline food' is that a contradiction
in terms!
This has to be one of the strangest ideas for a website I've seen in a while. Airlinemeals is a collection of
pictures and reviews sent in by people from all over the world, discussing and describing the meals
they've had on planes. I suggest reading the FAQ section for a better insight into what brought this idea
to life - it's an interesting read.
Again, entries are completed blog style, with accompanying photographs. There is a featured meal of the
week on the opening page along with a list of the latest entries, and a surprising number of meals to
peruse using the category panel on the right.
This is a classic web page, in as much as it defies definition: it's an oddity that is interesting, but you're
not quite sure why.

http://www.airlinemeals.net/

Finally, a little thing I found on one of the websites I visit a lot, called Deviantart.
This site is a popular place to post and it changes very quickly. This particular entry is called Grid Game,
and it's a hugely satisfying little toy. All you do is click somewhere on the grid to turn one of the arcs 90-
degrees. If it connects with another arc, it causes that one to turn too - creating a chain reaction that has
a similar effect to popping bubble-wrap for me, complete with cutesy sound effects.
It's not a very strategic or difficult game - though I'm sure one of you will come up with a mathematical
model for connecting the most arcs - it's more a click and watch kind of thing. I once managed to get
1815 in a chain - but to be honest it's most often around 2 to 300. You can play repeatedly in the same
grid, or just click reset if you fancy your chances better on a new board.

http://www.deviantart.com/

With all the talk in the media recently about the discovery of a tenth planet in our solar system, I've been
doing a lot of surfing through outer-space in cyberspace and I came across a great website for anyone
interested in learning a bit more about astronomy.
Although it's called The Nine Planets Solar System Tour, some hasty updating has been done to the title
to reflect the recent discovery. Here you'll find a really concise and well put-together multi-media tour
through what we currently know about the planets in our solar system.
The opening page is functional and a little bland, but the clear tree menu and hot-linked words make
navigation so simple I'm prepared to forgive the lack of imagination. The linked words allow you to follow
a path of information within the website's own pages, or to external sources where appropriate.
Within each planet's pages are well written descriptions, together with pictures and links that allow you
to really get a grasp of how and where they fit in.
For those interested in taking up star-gazing at home I recommend reading the FAQ, and you might even
consider constructing your own cosmic telescope. There's a full explanation of how the website's creator
built his own telescope on the site.

http://www.nineplanets.org/

Before we move on to other subjects, here's a quick look at another massive scientific discovery website
at Exploratorium.
Hosted by the San Francisco-based science museum of the same name, this website is so jam-packed full
of great features, articles and online exhibits that I'm just going to let those that are interested explore
by themselves.
What particularly drew me to it in the context of the nine planets website we looked at last was the 'Your
Age on Other Worlds' section.
Ever wondered how old you would be if you lived on Pluto? Just a tiny fraction of a year-old is how much.
This is because Pluto takes nearly 250 Earth years to make a full revolution around the sun.
Just enter your date of birth to see instantly how many years and days old you would be if you lived on
nine out the ten planets we now know about.
The scientific stuff below is very interesting and explains a lot about the way gravity and solar orbits
work, but is slightly heavy going if you're not interested in this kind of thing normally.

http://www.exploratorium.edu/

A download for you now, a smart little freeware tool called Tugzip, a totally free compression tool with a
really impressive list of supported formats.
From the homepage click on Downloads and choose the latest version. Always with this kind of thing it's
worth checking the FAQs and forum before installing in case there are any known conflicts with your
particular set-up.
Once downloaded just double click the .exe file and follow the installation instructions. There are some
choices to make about configuration, which only you can do I'm afraid - every system is different. If you're
worried about anything I suggest you bang it into your favourite search engine, to check for known issues
before proceeding.
Personally I've gone for the explorer view, and have enabled the explorer shell extension, which allows
compression integration with your normal computer windows. I found a couple of posts saying that this
extension can make the program unstable, but many more posts saying it runs perfectly well - and I've
had no problems myself. In fact I've been so happy with it that I haven't used any of my other
compression tools since I installed it.
Worth every penny in my book, which in fact was zero.

http://www.tugzip.com/

Finally, I simply had to show you the sweetest thing I've seen on the Internet all week, sent in by an
anonymous viewer from the UK. Get ready for the battle of über-cuteness at Kitten War!
Before any cat lovers start getting worried, this is nothing but a war of loveliness based on pictures of
cats and kittens that their owners have posted. It works along the same principles as all these 'rate my'
websites that have sprung up on the Internet, only this time you're voting for which of the two kittens
you're presented with is cutest.
Entering your own kitty is easy to do from the link on the left, where you'll also find links to the highest
and lowest scoring entries and new ones too. You'll have to wait for your picture to be approved and then
let the battle of the fluff commence!
An absolute must-see for any cat lovers like me.

http://kittenwar.com/

Here's a question you don't get asked every day: are you addicted to the click? We've grown accustomed
to navigating our way through cyber-space with the click of a mouse button, but what would happen if
someone were to take that click away? That is, point and click - without the click...
Dontclick.it is the place to go to find the answer to this question. Take the time to read the intro page; it
explains the notion behind the website, which is to remove the need to click from the process of
navigation.
I actually found it harder than I'd expected, though I'm proud to say I have not yet made a single click in
all the times I've surfed the site.
Reading the Understand section will tell you all about the creator's thoughts and theories. It's a good
read, not too scientific and quite brief. I won't go into too much detail about the bits and pieces you'll find
in all of the sections, as finding your way there is half the fun.
There are games, demonstrations, and all sorts of gizmos designed to make you question your need of the
ever-present click.
It really is a pleasure to surf and I had fun exploring.
I will just point out the Autopilot section under the Explore menu, where you can watch recordings of the
mouse movements of visitors to the site and see whether they were able to resist the urge to click in the
first 20 seconds.

http://www.dontclick.it/

This next site is an acquired taste, so I'll keep it quite brief. I know we have a lot of computer
professionals watching this show, and if there are any programmers out there looking for a little mental
athletics to do, take a jaunt along to Python Challenge.
For those of you out of the know, Python is a programming language, and this site houses a game of 33
levels, where you can test your knowledge of the intricacies of coding. The levels come in the form of
puzzles and conundrums, and require a good deal of both programming knowledge and mental dexterity.
I will just warn you that if you don't know anything about advanced maths or computer programming you
won't even get past the first level, and you can't access the solutions until you've found your own way
there first. Let us know how you got on.

http://www.pythonchallenge.com/

Next, a viewer recommendation from Allan Weaver in the UK. He's found a free tool you can download
from the Internet that helps him keep his hard disks' data synchronised.
Allway Sync is the address, just click the download link and then choose the free version.
Once installed, this synchronisation software is really easy to use. Just select the drives you want to link
up in the boxes at either side of the screen, then click 'analyse' to see where they are different, and then
'synchronise' to copy any files across.
This kind of software is great if you have a laptop you take with you on the move or you want to keep
your email archives updated when you've been sending out messages from your handheld device.

http://www.allwaysync.com/

Get your knee pads on and get ready for G-Max Skateboarding.
This is a little flash game - sorry to all you narrowbanders again - that puts you in the boots of a cute little
skateboarder. If you're the kind of person that can be bothered with reading the rules, the How To Play
section is actually quite cute too.
If you prefer to jump straight in to the trick-jumping action, allow me to assist with a few essential
pointers. Choosing a board isn't just about the paint job. You'll notice they all have different attributes,
and you should pick your board carefully depending on the style and skill levels of your play.
Once in the pipe you control things using your arrow keys and C, Z & X keys. Arrow-down drops you in to
the pipe and keeps you in the crouched position when you're on the ground. You should use this position
at the apex of each curve to gain more height. And once in the air a combination of any of the buttons will
earn you either points and office kudos, or a bloodied knee.
Good luck.

http://www.gmaxskateboarding.com/