10 of the Best Websites on the Internet: Part one

Sometimes it can be difficult finding new sites to frequent. After all you can only visit Yahoo, MSN, and Youtube so many times before getting bored. Of course, everyone has their own personal collection of sites they visit regularly. I for one am constantly checking my e-mail and online banking despite the fact that I know my balance isn't going to change every hour. I've made it my personal quest to find you the best websites out there. So here is today's selection of the top ten. I hope to update you every week with my top ten new favorites.

1. The Best of Google Video
Instead of digging through all the crap that's on YouTube and the new Google video section, this website does it for you. On this website you will find a very awesome building implosion (Las Vegas style of course), a very sweet looking dog quietly and keeping a small child out of trouble while entertaining the wee one, and a properly terrifying video of some crazy person skiing/hang gliding down a very treacherous looking mountain. It truly is the best of online videos.

2. Games for the Brain
This website has got some real puzzlers. You can test your logic, art history, geography knowledge and a host of other things. If your bored this will keep you entertained for hours. And you won't be wasting brain cells. In fact, all those neural connections you're making will probably make you smarter and smarter.

3. Mr. Picasso Head
This website lets you be Picasso. You choose from an assortment of face shapes, eyes, noses, lips, and hair types. You can change the color of your paint as well as rotate, flip, size up, and size down your pieces. You can save or e-mail your painting or choose to delete it as you see fit. This website will really bring out the minimalist artist in you. Even if you're not very creative by nature. This website makes is so easy!

4. Running Map
Ever taken a jog around the block and wondered just how far you'd run? Well, this website takes the guesswork out of it. Just search for your address or city and create your running route. You can zoom in very close so your distance will be very accurate. You can even save you route so you can look it up later or modify it later.

5. Find Sounds
This is a life saver for filmmakers, animators, or anyone who needs sound effects. You can find everything from a growling alligator to a creaky floor or a blood-curdling scream. They've conveniently divided the sounds into categories such as animals, birds, sports, people, office, and mayhem. The website is also set-up so you can copy the sounds and use them in your material. It's a wonderful website.

6. Similar Minds
If you ever wondered how your mind works, how your personality measures up, or what career would best fit you, this is the website for you. With dozens of personality tests and tools, this website may very well be able to define you... at least psychologically. Have fun with it. Take a test you wouldn't normally take... well... would you normally take a Freudian test?

7. Post Secret
Do you have a dirty little secret? Have you ever had one? This website lets you tell your little secret to the world. Send in a homemade postcard with your secret on it and they will post it on the website. The secrets posted range from humorous ("I became a computer technician so when I had a computer problem nobody would see my girlie pictures.") to serious ("I'm helping my daughter hide her inter-racial relationship from her racist father.") If you're just itching to tell your secret... this is the place for you.

8. Puppy Break
Who doesn't like puppies? Everyone likes puppies. At least in theory. A cute adorable little puppy will cheer just about anyone up. Which is why I recommend this website for when you're having a bad day. As the website suggests... take a "puppy break" and browse the website a little bit. Nothing will melt your heart and give you such a big spark of happiness as these adorable pups.

9. Word 2 Word
So you're traveling to Europe next month? Latin America? South Africa? This is the website for you. With hundreds of links to language learning sources you'll be set to speak your second, third, or fourth language. If you're looking to improve a second language you already speak this will help or if you're hoping to just learn something new, this is a good site to visit.

10. Vonnegut's Rules
Kurt Vonnegut is one of the most well-known writers of all time. This website has his eight simple and useful rules for writing fiction. You may not agree with all of them but they may at least give you some where to start. Some of his suggestions offer interesting ways to start stories and how to go about telling them. this website would be useful for any writer.