okay, so here's a cheap question put out to any and all:

aside from personal computer stuff (email, banking, etc) what sites do
you check onto every day?  What icons do you keep on your menu bar?

I'm interested to know what other people do with their daily interest,
but I myself am SOOOO bored with the world news, endless bloggers from
all parts of the blogosphere, waiting another week for Rove to get
indicted, the latest shootings, bombings, natural disasters, blame
games . . .

last week I trashed almost all my menu icons and put on the one for this site:
http://www.cloudappreciationsociety.org/gallery/

am looking for:   positive news, intelligent humor, non-fluffy
inspiration, something I can
take with me into my day . . .

any suggestions?

***

---

Request for Question Clarification by sublime1-ga on 31 May 2006 00:30 PDT

timespacette...

StumbleUpon provides me with a virtually endless supply of interesting
sites. If you install their toolbar in IE, you can click an icon and be
instantly whisked away to some of the most interesting sites on the net,
as selected and rated by its plethora of members. You can also set your
preferences to show you sites on topics you prefer, and filter those on
topics you'd rather avoid. Finally, you can click a thumbs-up icon in 
the toolbar to rate the site and save it on a list of your favorites,
creating an instant list of bookmarks. There's more, but that's the 
best of it, for me.

StumbleUpon
http://www.stumbleupon.com/

Let me know if this satisfies your interests...

sublime1-ga

---

Request for Question Clarification by pafalafa-ga on 31 May 2006 08:38 PDT

If I may offer another suggestion:


http://web-owls.com/


A cool, new blog, if I may say so myself....some of the GA researchers
are frequent contributors.


pafalafa-ga

---

Clarification of Question by timespacette-ga on 01 Jun 2006 20:00 PDT

okay, it's been a few days . . . and there are some great suggestions
below from DARs and commentors alike ... thanks ... and I hope others
who come across this question will continue to add to it  ...  but of
course I, for one, won't know it when they do because the blasted
email notification function is still not back  ;-(

anyway, I'd like to ask czh-ga to post her comment as an answer  --  please!

I can't for the life of me figure out how she knew I loved to knit,
since I don't think I've ever posted a question that had anything to
do with knitting . . . and since I live in a rural area where there
are no knit shops, I'm happy to report that I just received in the
mail today a sampler of wonderful yarns from an online source ...
ahhhh!

but when I get back from my break from the web there will be a whole
new menu bar waiting to explore

and for Probonopublico, for your ongoing work in public service, there is this:

http://www.cloudappreciationsociety.org/gallery/index.php?showimage=1631

which proves beyond doubt that God Himself actually does have a locus
in the universe; in fact He emanates from the general area of Brighton
/ Hove in the UK.  ( I always suspected this )


***

---

Clarification of Question by timespacette-ga on 01 Jun 2006 23:02 PDT

Ha!!   I've got it!    It was the Road Kill Mittens question!!!!

http://answers.google.com/answers/threadview?id=706942


clever, you.  

: - )

***

Dear timespacette-ga,

I?m glad you liked my comment and I?m posting it below. 

------------------------------------
I think there's only one solution. Go cold turkey! Turn off your
computer and don't touch it for a day, a week, or whatever time span
you can stand. ;-)

http://answers.google.com/answers/search?q=%22Asked+by%3A+timespacette-ga&qtype=all&btnG=Google+Search
Searched all questions for "Asked by: timespacette-ga. Results 1-10 of about 137.

http://answers.google.com/answers/search?q=timespacette-ga&qtype=all&btnG=Google+Search
Searched all questions for timespacette-ga. 
Results 1-10 of about 268.

I've enjoyed your questions and comments over the years and the range
of topics covered leads me to believe that drastic measures might be
necessary. I believe you need to take a break from absorbing the web's
offerings and instead discharge your creative energies and express
yourself.

I bet your writing and artictic output might get charged up by taking
a brief hiatus from the web. I like Julia Cameron's suggestion of
making a commitment to a weekly artist's date. My latest discovery is
a cozy knitting shop that's filled with the most yummy yarns and they
encourage you to fondle the merchandise.

http://www.knitting-yarn-store.com/images/yarn7_big.jpg

Spending time on the web can be isolating -- even if your family is in
the same room. Cook a nice meal and hang out. Plant a garden.
Contemplate the sunset. Share your gifts of talent and energy with
people who don't have enough of either. Connect with the "real" world.
Fill your emotinal buckets.

On the other hand, if none of this applies to you, I think Google
Earth might be just the ticket.  Use it to continue your explorations
of your neighborhood and travel destinations, San Francisco
neighborhoods for your son, the Hawaiian Islands and its vocanos and
all the places mentioned in your political questions.

This could be very dangerous. Google Earth can be addictive.

http://earth.google.com/

Enjoy!

~ czh ~
------------------------------------



I?m thrilled to hear that you like to knit. Customers sometimes assume
that Google Answers researchers are psychic. I guess we have
occasional moments of inspiration. I don?t knit but I love to play
with texture and color. Here are some more knitting links, just for
the sheer pleasure of it.

http://www.maplesplendor.ca/yarn.htm
http://www.maplesplendor.ca/images/yarnmohairbrushedcolor.jpg

http://www.the-knittery.com/yarn.htm
http://www.the-knittery.com/images/manos2.jpg

http://www.fabulousyarn.com/fabyarnsmain.shtml
http://www.fabulousyarn.com/rimini/rimini_blue200.jpg

http://www.fabulousyarn.com/fabyarnsmain.shtml
http://www.fabulousyarn.com/art/rhino_raspberrydetail.jpg

http://www.knittersreview.com/yarn.asp
http://www.knittersreview.com/images/yarns/hand_paints_swatch_large.jpg


In addition to the yarn shops, I also suggest that you get familiar
with Kaffe Fassett. His books are amazing and inspirational. He
started out knitting and went on to quilting, needlepoint, mosaics and
other hand crafts. Several years ago I had the chance to attend a talk
he gave at the World Affairs Council in San Francisco. At least half
the audience wore sweaters, shawls and coats they?d knit from his
patterns. His enthusiasm was infectious and it was a memorably fun
evening. I note from his website that he is sponsoring two workshops
in the fall in Oregon. Maybe you could give yourself a present and go.
Will you be empty nesting when your son leaves for San Francisco?

http://www.kaffefassett.com/
Kaffe Fassett Studio, London, England

http://www.kaffefassett.com/knitting.htm
http://www.kaffefassett.com/images/Kaffe-Sweaterrowan-300w.jpg

http://www.kaffefassett.com/calendar.htm
Kaffe's Calendar for 2006

October 20-22, 2006 
Workshops with Kaffe and Brandon.
For further information please contact the 
Yarn Garden via email sales@yarngarden.net
www.yarngarden.net
McMenamin?s Grand Lodge. Portland, OR
http://www.thegrandlodge.com/index.php?loc=59&category=Location%20Homepage

----

October 23-24, 2006 
Knitting and patchwork workshops with Kaffe and Brandon.
For further information please contact 
Jean Wells via email jean@stitchinpost.com
www.stitchinpost.com
Sisters, Oregon
Retreats are held at Lake Creek Lodge
http://www.lakecreeklodge.com/


When you get bored with knitting, you might want to check out the
works and books of Andy Goldsworthy.

http://images.google.com/images?hl=en&q=%22andy%20goldsworthy%22&btnG=Google+Search&sa=N&tab=wi

Enjoy!

~ czh ~

czh -- yes, Kaffe Fasset comes from the family who owns the Nepenthe
Restaurant and Phoenix Gift shop in Big Sur, CA near where I grew up. 
His creations were in that shop way back in the dark ages and I was a
teenager and used to drool over them, but he's done just amazing
things since then.  Yes, I will be 'empty nesting' but my resources
are somewhat limited at the moment; we'll see. Right now I'm knitting
an heirloom (40's) style camisole undershirt with 50/50 angora and
silk; elegant and simple.

thanks again,

ts


***

Good Question, Timely One

The only icons I keep on my Desktop are for my favourite programs and
links to My Computer, My Desktop and the various Drives.

I do have  a lot of Internet Favourites listed in various folders. I
have an 'A List' that I check every day. This includes my Banks and
Credit Cards, my own Website and the Guardian Crossword. I download a
crossword every morning and knock it off as soon as I can.

I also have a 'Links List' which includes stuff that I check
periodically like my Website Stats and Google Answers.

I have other folders for 'Government' (National Archives, Companies
House, Inland Revenue) 'Books', 'Mail Order', 'Research' and
'Theatres'.

Whenever a Test Match (cricket) is being played, I also log into to
see the score from time to time.

All the Best

Bryan

You might have tried all these things and gotten bored with them but I
would just want to show why the web is still cool for me.

Skype - The phone bill is slashed almost 90% but its not only that.
May mom who is miles away from us in the US can now join in our weekly
Bible Studies because of Skype. Imagine doing that on a regular phone
line.

Google Adsense - I haven't earned much from it but I really think the
concept is cool. Only ads that matter to your readers are shown. It's
like as if I am watching the NBA finals and the ads I only get are
Spaldings, jerseys, etc. Not an ad for the latest jeans.

Google Answers - I always see it as God's blessing for me and my family.

I patrol a number of programming News Groups

- I also find GA very interesting
  Sometimes because it gets me digging
  Often because I'm impressed by the tenacity and ability of Answerers
  Occasionally because I can contribute
  But mostly because it is darn amusing

I've not found many other NGs or Blogs that interesting

Skype - or just general VOIP - is a killer App - I might get it.
- just inertia prevents me

Why not join (free) the Internet Scrabble Club at http://www.isc.ro/

Players from all over the world compete in matches - not like your
ordinary scrabble online game.  Beware though - it's very addicting. 
:)

No Icons on desktop. A couple of favourites on Internet Explorer e.g.
Virtual Florist, just to brighten a friends day. Only site I seem to
look at daily is Google Answers, enough variety here. I think I might
be a tad addicted!

I'm NEVER bored online, always finding interesting thigs to read and
learn...At the end of my workday, I allow myself to visit these sites
for relaxation, in addition to Sublime1-ga's suggestion,
http://www.stumbleupon.com/ and Pafalafa-ga's suggestion
http://web-owls.com/:

http://www.fredmiranda.com/   Beautiful photography


http://www.worth1000.com/     Amazing and odd Photoshopped images


http://www.buzzle.com/        Some news, a modicum of fluff,
inspiration, interesting reading


http://www.cartoonstock.com/directory/t/the_new_yorker.asp        Cartoons!


http://dsc.discovery.com/      Discovery Channel Online



Enjoy! I have hundreds of sites in my Favorites/Bookmarks!

Crabcakes

well, this is good . . . more!  more!  more!

thank you sublime1-ga  ---  stumbleupon.com is really very fun!  the
reason I stayed up 'til 1am last night.

and pafalafa-ga . . . I was wondering what the GARS do for relaxation, thank you

Bryan, thanks for a window into your world ...  I didn't know you had
a website!  Would you post it please? re: crossword puzzles . . . the
NYTimes crossword drives me nuts, so I don't think I would be up to
the Guardian Crossword, since I am so rusty on my Brit.  In fact I
think I'll give tlspiegel's suggestion a try, and just stick with
online Scrabble.

easterangel-ga and frde-ga -- I feel like my great grandmother did a
long time ago; she never could get used to telephones. I hate to admit
it, but I don't even know what Skype is.  My 18 year old son is about
to move to another state; would Skype be good for us?   Any page you
know of that could give me a layperson's explanation?    And then
there's Google Adsense.  I don't have anything to advertise; kinda
wish I did.

aussitpp-ga   --  I wish I could afford to send bouquets; although I
think the Barcalounger Bouquet for $49.95 is perhaps just over
boundary of good taste!  Anyway, it's the thought that counts, right? 
thank you.

anyone else?

ts

***

oops!  sorry, crabcakes .. .. .. don't have time to look right now ..
will check in later ... cheers!

TS, you'll enjoy ISC.  :)

You might enjoy browsing around How Stuff Works:
http://netforbeginners.about.com/gi/dynamic/offsite.htm?zi=1/XJ&sdn=netforbeginners&zu=http%3A%2F%2Fwww.howstuffworks.com%2F

Urban Legends 
http://www.snopes.com/

Timespacette,

I bet you would enjoy the Straight Dope Message Board.

http://boards.straightdope.com/sdmb/

There's something there to please everyone. And something there to
offend everyone, too. It's a lively mix of discussion, opinion,
debate, and frivolity. Folks of various political leanings (mostly
leftish) and various religious orientations (mostly agnostic/atheist)
post on the SDMB. Most of 'em have a good sense of humor and a keen
mind. A 30-day guest membership is available free of charge; if you
are hooked, you can become a full member for fifteen bucks a year.

Wow, bored with the World Wide Web..

besides email, banking, and regular necessities(?) I check GA
(sometimes its a bit slow but I like reading interesting questions and
comments)

than I check google news, drudgereport.com and when I am in touch with
whats happening in the USA and the world (reading only interesting
articles)

I play online tournaments! Lol
myleague.com has leagues that host almost as many games as you can imagine!

but mostly msn messenger is my living room lol

Virtual Flowers are FREE!

www.virtualflorist.com

Dear timespacette-ga,

I think there's only one solution. Go cold turkey! Turn off your
computer and don't touch it for a day, a week, or whatever time span
you can stand. ;-)

http://answers.google.com/answers/search?q=%22Asked+by%3A+timespacette-ga&qtype=all&btnG=Google+Search
Searched all questions for "Asked by: timespacette-ga. Results 1-10 of about 137.

http://answers.google.com/answers/search?q=timespacette-ga&qtype=all&btnG=Google+Search
Searched all questions for timespacette-ga. 
Results 1-10 of about 268.

I've enjoyed your questions and comments over the years and the range
of topics covered leads me to believe that drastic measures might be
necessary. I believe you need to take a break from absorbing the web's
offerings and instead discharge your creative energies and express
yourself.

I bet your writing and artictic output might get charged up by taking
a brief hiatus from the web. I like Julia Cameron's suggestion of
making a commitment to a weekly artist's date. My latest discovery is
a cozy knitting shop that's filled with the most yummy yarns and they
encourage you to fondle the merchandise.

http://www.knitting-yarn-store.com/images/yarn7_big.jpg

Spending time on the web can be isolating -- even if your family is in
the same room. Cook a nice meal and hang out. Plant a garden.
Contemplate the sunset. Share your gifts of talent and energy with
people who don't have enough of either. Connect with the "real" world.
Fill your emotinal buckets.


On the other hand, if none of this applies to you, I think Google
Earth might be just the ticket.  Use it to continue your explorations
of your neighborhood and travel destinations, San Francisco
neighborhoods for your son, the Hawaiian Islands and its vocanos and
all the places mentioned in your political questions.

This could be very dangerous. Google Earth can be addictive.

http://earth.google.com/

Enjoy!

~ czh ~

Well, if you're bored then why not try:

www.bored.com


Also:

www.refdesk.com

One more to the lists..

http://www.howstuffworks.com/

My favorite site is:
http://www.fark.com
It makes fun of the news.

I'm bored with the web also. I'm considering taking a pen and paper to
the library, finding some interesting books, and recording the
subjects, so that I can research them on the web.

@timespacette-ga 

Skype is one of a number of voice over internet carriers
- some work 'computer to computer'
- others work from computer to local telephone network, in which case
there is a small charge

I've not used it, but friends have called me 'computer to 'phone',
very long distance, and it cost pennies.

Apparently you can also get handsets that simply plug into a USB
socket, that strikes me as the neatest solution.

If your son is moving to another state, then I would definitely look into it.

Incidentally Skype was recently bought out by EBay, which makes a heck
of a lot of sense, although personally I would have poached their key
personnel and set up from scratch.

My view is that the Telco companies are going to find that their only
source of land line income will be from DSL line rental. That makes
perfect sense, telephone networks are really a fixed cost, and the
concept of charging by call is extremely dubious.

Cold Turkey sounds waaaay too harsh!  Here's some fodder to pass the time online:


The Swarm
http://www.swarmthe.com/go/swarm
(Note the nav arrows in the lower right, also --be sure to check that
"adult thumbs" are turned OFF there too)

Internet Tourbus
http://www.internettourbus.com/

Reddit
http://reddit.com/

Digg
http://digg.com/



Ma.gnolia
http://ma.gnolia.com/about

Connectea
http://www.connotea.org/

Jookster
http://www.jookster.com/



A Quick Tour of the Internet 
http://www.personal.usyd.edu.au/~doug/tour.htm



And just because they are unique and unusual:

We Feel Fine
http://www.wefeelfine.org/wefeelfine_pc.html

The Spleen
http://www.mcad.edu/home/faculty/szyhalski/Piotr

Very Good

refdesk.com

<a href="http://www.jookster.com/">http://www.jookster.com/</a>

Well I like to listen to books and plays so I frequent 
http://www.bbc.co.uk/radio2/
Click on Listen again. 

Also Wisconsin Public Radio has Chapter a Day, and they archive 7 days
worth of the readings. www.wpr.org

Instead of crossword puzzles I like Cryptograms
http://www.cahlander.com/crypto/today.cgi
Click on the Text Version

Since I am farming I relaly enjoy this website, which is not just
about tractors. The group over here will tell you how to build a
house, mix and pour cement, basically this is a very talented group.
Check out Rural Living or Projects www.TractorByNet.com   There are so
many interesting discussions form this group that I frequently go off
and research different topics based on the discussion.

Hi timespacette-ga,

I love Nepenthe and always make a point of stopping if I'm traveling
down the coast. It was fun getting to know you better. Thanks for the
five stars and tip, too. It looks like the comments provided a lot of
interesting web destinations for future exploration.

Enjoy!

~ czh ~