Five Sources for Free Entertainment Online

During these lean economic times, we're all on the look out for how to cut some cash corners, and one of the first things to go is the entertainment budget. No new DVD's and no trips to the theater, but that doesn't have to mean no fun. Here are 5 ways to have some fun absolutely free. All you need is your computer and access to the internet.

Webcomics

Whether you're someone who reads every graphic novel they can get their hands on, or merely takes the occasional look at the funny pages, thanks to the broad palette of the internet, there's a webcomic out there that's sure to entertain you. Some carry on epic stories, inching along from week to week, while others are simply good for one-panel chuckles, but either way they're a great deal of fun.

Check out:
http://www.xkcd.com
http://www.qwantz.com
http://garfieldminusgarfield.net/
http://www.drmcninja.com/

Podcasts

Podcasts are a simple idea, pre-recording what would have in the past only been a radio broadcast and releasing it onto the internet without the annoyance or meddling of real broadcasting. Podcasts can be about anything, ranging from devilishly productive and educational subjects such as learning a foreign language, to music, to humorous banter about films or current events. If you've got iTunes all you need to do is open up the Podcast section of the music store and give 'em a listen, free of charge. If you find one you like, subscribe to it, and have it downloaded for your listening pleasure automatically.

Check out:
The Ricky Gervais Podcast
Ask a Ninja
President Obama's Weekly Address and Key Speeches
They Might Be Giants Podcast

Flash Games

Itching to play some video games, but having trouble validating the ever-ballooning cost of a new console or game? Much like all of life's other problems, the internet holds the solution in the form of small, in-browser, community-developed flash games. These days the internet is littered with websites that do nothing but catalogue volumes of fun and free flash games for you to try. With action-adventure, sports, puzzle, and strategy games all represented, there should be something for everybody.

Check out:
http://www.addictinggames.com
http://www.popcap.com/
http://www.handdrawngames.com/DesktopTD/Game2.asp

StumbleUpon

I have to caution you before downloading this astounding little Firefox extension. it is truly addictive. Once you download it, there's no going back, and your productivity will never be the same again. We all know that the internet is filled with more gems than a diamond mine, but the coolest stuff isn't always the easiest to find. StumbleUpon lets you cut right to the chase and adds a button to your toolbar that will take you randomly to a cool website, chosen by another StumbleUpon user and picked for you based on your selected interests. Using this tool, the internet will open up to you and blossom like a flower, a flower filled with funny cat pictures.

Check out:
https://addons.mozilla.org/en-US/firefox/addon/138

Television

Are you old enough to remember those dark, horrible days before the internet? Back when dinosaurs roamed the wastelands and all we had for entertainment was that glowing square we called the television? Well as it turns out, that clunky old box is still around! In fact, the shows they're making for it now are bigger and better than they've ever been before. No reason to put up with those elusive television remotes, or frustrating commercials. Television has, free of charge, and entirely legally, come to the internet! Almost all the major networks have decided that for the price of viewing a few 30 second advertisements, you can view their fine programming from the comfort of your own computer. You could catch up on missed episodes, or try out something you've never seen before. You might just end up with a new favorite show.

Check out:
http://www.nbc.com/Video/library/full-episodes/
http://www.fox.com/fod/
http://abc.go.com/player/index?pn=index
http://www.cbs.com/video/