The Internet is a great destination to go, especially if you really, really don’t want to deal with that blank page of an essay. So, block off your Microsoft Word, stop Facebook stalking, and check out this list. Expand beyond your bookmarks and explore some of these sites. It’s like taking a safari without ever having to get out of your seat!
1) Duolingo. This one isn’t really a time-waster, because you’re doing something phenomenal. If you’re feeling intellectual, learn a new language with my favorite website, Duolingo.com. You can learn Spanish, Portuguese, French, Italian, or German with this great online tool and phone app. It’ll teach you vocabulary, verbs, grammar, and pronounciation through fun games. You won’t even know you’re learning. With Duolingo, procrastination involves no guilt. You’re educating yourself! http://duolingo.com
2) Your Next Read. A website that directs you to the next book you should read, based on a book that you previously liked. You can choose your next book for vacation! http://www.yournextread.com/us/#
3) Meditation Central! Sometimes, you just need to clear your head. This website will help you do that. Unlike most places on the internet, which turn your mind numb, this will help you shut your mind off. http://www.donothingfor2minutes.com/
4) Flikr Bonanza. A photo stream of all the photos on Flickr. A truly visual extravaganza, and you can find some pretty cool photos. http://www.barcinski-jeanjean.com/entries/endlessintrestingness/
5) Get your daily news in chart form. Get your news, current events, and pop culture updates in the form of these fabulous charts. They’re semi-serious, semi-satire charts, and they are amazing. Chartgirl perfect for you visual learners out there. http://chartgirl.com/
6) Weave silk. A visual extravaganza for when you want to be a kid and just draw things. This website will allow you to “weave silk” in psychedelic patterns with lots of colors. I’s a hypnotizing blast. http://weavesilk.com/
7) Browse through Passive Aggressive notes. You don’t want to piss off a passive aggressive person, it seems, or you’ll get a nasty note on your refrigerator/car. Enjoy this collection of the best passive aggressive notes on the internet…or don’t enjoy them. We don’t care. http://www.passiveaggressivenotes.com/
8) The Oatmeal comics. Hilarious and thoughtful comics. You could spend hours browsing through these, especially if you’re new to the site. http://theoatmeal.com/
9) Dear Blank, Please Blank. The new F-My Life or Texts from Last Night time-waster is “Dear Blank Please Blank.” You’ll know why once you check out the website. http://dearblankpleaseblank.com/
10) Fab shopping at fab prices. Wallets, beware this wonderful shopping website. It features limited offers of designer discounts from sellers around the world. Buy clothes, accessories, gifts, and interior decorations for a highly reduced price. It’s truly fab: fab.com
11) Secrets in Postcards. Read secrets from around the world. People send in their postcards with a confession, and they’re posted on line. For you voyeurs out there, here’s a peek into the lives of others. http://postsecret.com/
12) David Thorne, email prankster. My favorite internet comedian/troll http://www.27bslash6.com/. Read Missing Missy and Overdue Account—you won’t regret it. David Thorne is actually the funniest thing that’s happened to the Internet.
13) Guess your location. Geoguessr will drop you in a random location in the world on Google Maps, and you have to guess where you are. DO all the scrolling and exploring you want to try to to figure it out. http://geoguessr.com/ how well do you know the world?
14) Sporcle, trivia capital of the universe. Exercise your brain muscles and get some trivia points on Sporcle. You can have Harry Potter trivia showdowns with your friends. Or, you can try my favorite quiz, and fill in all the countries of the world. Good luck, and get learning! http://www.sporcle.com/
15) Better book titles. Who needs to read the book when you can just see a better book title? These are creative and quite accurate. http://betterbooktitles.com/
16) Stumble Upon. And finally, the website built for discovering the deepest-reaches of the internet. You’ll thank me later. https://www.stumbleupon.com