Just when you thought you’d finished the internet, along comes a collection of sites so great, so fun, so smart and addictive that you feel like you’re back in internet kindergarten.
Do you love sitting around on your arse all day, drinking beer and eating peanuts, but don’t want to lose any more brain cells due to inactivity? Look no further than these gems that have been sifted through the proverbial mud that is the internet. These sites guarantee hours, weeks and even years worth of ongoing procrastination (or productive online activity if you prefer).
These are not the usual collection of sites you’ll see everywhere else. This list is fresh, new, original and will make you not just smarter, but sexier too!
Eyezmaze: Addictive Flash Anime Games
This is one of the best kept secrets on the web. This Japanese genius has been hard at work creating the single-most addictive games you’ll find anywhere.
His simple-to-play but impossible-to-solve flash games are individual pieces of art that will constantly amaze you with their beauty, originality and surprising conclusions.
Warning: Don’t play these games when high … or do and tell me how it goes.
Lernu: Learn The World’s Easiest Language
Esperanto may not be the most widely spoken language, or the most useful, but whatever, it is the easiest language to learn. Studies have shown that students who study Esperanto for a single year are able to learn all other languages with ease … if they can be bothered.
I’ll tell you a secret: There is a community of Esperanto speakers around the world who offer each other free home stays to fellow Esperantists. Imagine being able to travel to any country, anywhere in the world, without having to worry about language barriers or hotel accommodation costs. But Sshhh, don’t tell anyone!
Podiobooks: Audio Books Free to Download
The new wave in book publishing is Podiobooks. The authors of these fantastic novels have generously made all their hard work free to download and listen to under a creative commons license.
There is a never-ending supply of books to listen to. You’ll never need to go to a library or bookstore again. And I know how much time you were wasting in the library.
Griddlers: Sudoku on Crack
Addicts beware: This site will keep you awake for ever and send you blind in the process (no, it’s not THAT kind of site. Get your mind out of the gutter).
Griddlers and Triddlers are sort-of-Sudoku-like puzzles that involve code-cracking concentration in order to solve the paint-by-numbers (literally) designs.
Start simple. They seem so easy and then you realise they’re really, really challenging. The good news is they’ll keep you busy forever! Say goodbye to the family dog now, because he’s only going to live another 7 years.
Product Review Australia: Revenge on Retail
Yes yes, this is Australia-centric. Get over it.
If you’re in the market for a new gadget, toy, movie, machine or even a holiday you can do all your product and services research in one hit. It’s ridiculously good!
These are independent reviews by regular everyday people (plus possibly a few suss ones, but you can figure it out).
If you own or have used something you really love or really hate (or are indifferent to), you can share your opinion on this great site. It is addictive, by the way, because there’s simply so much of your entire life that you can put up for review.
On top of that for every review you write you earn points which you can redeem for little extras like a Breathalyzer keychain or a digital camera. I’m gunning for the keychain.
Triond: A Penny (or a lot more) For Your Thoughts
Hands up who has a blog. Do you have great opinions or a well of knowledge that the world simply MUST hear? Don’t we all? Triond is the one genuinely great online publisher for your personal articles, reviews, poems, stories and photos that really does pay you for your input.
The payment system works according to the popularity of your piece. You can self-promote your work to increase audience numbers, but Triond will help place your works in the most suitable publication at their disposal and you might find that self-promotion is unnecessary.
FontStruct: Free Fonts For Life!
What’s great about this fantastic font site, let me count the ways:
Firstly, it’s free! You can download unique and original font creations for nudda, zippo, nothing etc. That’s so rare in the world of fonts.
Secondly, you can create your own fonts, so that perfect font that you’ve dreamed about is finally a reality.
Thirdly, it’s so easy even a baby-monkey’s amoeba could do it!
Fourthly, true to every site listed here it’s completely addictive.
The Pasquinade: So Wrong it’s Right
It’s all about satire, but not just any old satire. This is quality satire, lampoon if you will … the kind that makes you laugh so hard you somehow end up crying (or wetting yourself a little). It might even offend you, if you’re lucky, but you’ll keep coming back for more.
Check out their range of completely inappropriate street wear, because funny hats are NOT just for Popes!
Watch their crazy shorts (films that is). They even have their own indie production company and are working on a sitcom.
And of course, keep up to date with terrorism across the USA … well it’s in all the news, so something must be happening, right?
September 26th, 2008 at 6:44 am
I bookmarked this one. This is an awesome article and very useful. We’re coming into winter and I want tons to do. Free audio books on download? I’m there!!!
September 26th, 2008 at 8:34 am
This a a great article, thanks for sharing all this information.
September 28th, 2008 at 1:17 am
Thanx for the info! I have already looked at a couple of the above. How in the world do you ever come across them?! Keep up the good work!
February 21st, 2009 at 5:49 pm
good one
May 26th, 2009 at 12:19 pm
Looks nice. I don’t have time to look at them right now, but I noticed you published this ON Triond, and there are like a gajilion free font sites, and even font creation programs that are free. But it looks good.