Slashdot :: Lots of esoteric computer stuff, but also a liberal dose of geek general interest.
Digg :: The poster child for Web 2.0. More timely than Slashdot, but also run by users, i.e., idiots. Interesting if you can get through all the chaff. (Originally a tech-only site; current link goes to a view showing all topics.)
Metafilter :: Posts linking to insightful commentary, relevant history and sophomoric jokes. Lots of good time wasting here.
News Of The Weird :: What more can you say? Lots of it is funny, some is really sad, but it’s all weird.
Reason Online :: The Liberterian Magazine. Don’t worry though; the writers mostly view Liberterianism as a set of guidelines, rather than some sort of inviolate set of never-to-be-compromised principles. It’s usually good for getting opposing viewpoints to the latest political opinions.
Callback :: Run by NASA, this site is full of stories of errors, mishaps and close calls while flying. No real relevance to what I do or my interests, but it’s fascinating. Updated monthly, with archives for about ten years.
8 Bit Theater :: Ever played the original Final Fantasy? Start at the beginning and work up. I laugh; I cry. I don’t like swords.
Minnpost :: The best source for local Minneapolis news. Not necessarily comprehensive, but it’s actually news.
StarTribune :: Formerly the best Minneapolis news source, but it’s been dying a slow death for years now. Less news, more trash.
Google News :: All headlines, all the time. Tends to be trashy, but that’s just what’s out there.
New York Times :: For me, as much magazine as news source, it still has articles you won’t find in the Strib (or you’ll find ‘em reprinted there three weeks later).
Utilities
Weather :: This link is to Minneapolis, but you can get anywhere in the US. Straight from the NOAA source, it’s where all the other weather sites get their info. Late.
MNDOT Traffic :: Up to the minute traffic reports, color coded, and they even have live pics. The only drawback is that you can’t check it in the car.
Movies
Roger Ebert :: Much more than just his intellegent reviews, the site has the Answer Man, essays, interviews, The Great Movies, and more. Good to just browse.
IMDB :: Who was that actress in that one movie with that one guy where that thing happened? This is the place to find out. Don’t mind the star ratings or user reviews; users are usually trolls.
Metacritic :: Aggregates multiple movie review scores into a single rating. Essentially, a cleaner, more streamlined version of Rotten Tomatoes.
Rotten Tomatoes :: Want to know at a glance whether that movie you were thinking about seeing is a steaming piece of crap? One quick glance will tell you. Not foolproof, but better than most.
Love HK Film :: Hong Kong cinema in all its glory. Never seen a movie from HK? Do so. Do it now.
Resources
Hennepin County Library :: More than just an online card catalog, it has sucked up many hours of work time with its sections on Minneapolis History, historical photos, and other random nuggets.
Minnesota Historical Society :: More fun stuff; find death certificates, peruse collections, and lots more old photos. It’s like getting stuck in the Molasses Swamp, only more fun.
TPT programming guide :: OK, so this doesn’t really fit here, but it’s usually entertaining, often informative and besides, it doesn’t fit anywhere else either.
Slashdot :: Lots of esoteric computer stuff, but also a liberal dose of geek general interest.
Digg :: The poster child for Web 2.0. More timely than Slashdot, but also run by users, i.e., idiots. Interesting if you can get through all the chaff. (Originally a tech-only site; current link goes to a view showing all topics.)
Metafilter :: Posts linking to insightful commentary, relevant history and sophomoric jokes. Lots of good time wasting here.
News Of The Weird :: What more can you say? Lots of it is funny, some is really sad, but it’s all weird.
Reason Online :: The Liberterian Magazine. Don’t worry though; the writers mostly view Liberterianism as a set of guidelines, rather than some sort of inviolate set of never-to-be-compromised principles. It’s usually good for getting opposing viewpoints to the latest political opinions.
Callback :: Run by NASA, this site is full of stories of errors, mishaps and close calls while flying. No real relevance to what I do or my interests, but it’s fascinating. Updated monthly, with archives for about ten years.
8 Bit Theater :: Ever played the original Final Fantasy? Start at the beginning and work up. I laugh; I cry. I don’t like swords.
The Tao Of Programming :: Read, and be humbled.
Minnpost :: The best source for local Minneapolis news. Not necessarily comprehensive, but it’s actually news.
StarTribune :: Formerly the best Minneapolis news source, but it’s been dying a slow death for years now. Less news, more trash.
Google News :: All headlines, all the time. Tends to be trashy, but that’s just what’s out there.
New York Times :: For me, as much magazine as news source, it still has articles you won’t find in the Strib (or you’ll find ‘em reprinted there three weeks later).
Weather :: This link is to Minneapolis, but you can get anywhere in the US. Straight from the NOAA source, it’s where all the other weather sites get their info. Late.
MNDOT Traffic :: Up to the minute traffic reports, color coded, and they even have live pics. The only drawback is that you can’t check it in the car.
Roger Ebert :: Much more than just his intellegent reviews, the site has the Answer Man, essays, interviews, The Great Movies, and more. Good to just browse.
IMDB :: Who was that actress in that one movie with that one guy where that thing happened? This is the place to find out. Don’t mind the star ratings or user reviews; users are usually trolls.
Metacritic :: Aggregates multiple movie review scores into a single rating. Essentially, a cleaner, more streamlined version of Rotten Tomatoes.
Rotten Tomatoes :: Want to know at a glance whether that movie you were thinking about seeing is a steaming piece of crap? One quick glance will tell you. Not foolproof, but better than most.
Love HK Film :: Hong Kong cinema in all its glory. Never seen a movie from HK? Do so. Do it now.
Hennepin County Library :: More than just an online card catalog, it has sucked up many hours of work time with its sections on Minneapolis History, historical photos, and other random nuggets.
Minnesota Historical Society :: More fun stuff; find death certificates, peruse collections, and lots more old photos. It’s like getting stuck in the Molasses Swamp, only more fun.
TPT programming guide :: OK, so this doesn’t really fit here, but it’s usually entertaining, often informative and besides, it doesn’t fit anywhere else either.
Points of Interest