West Side Stories

No thanks, just browsing

Posted by Karen Waldkirch on Oct. 25, 2007

I suppose that I could blame Al Gore. After all, he once claimed to have invented it. The internet, that is. Or, as I sometimes refer to it: the soul-sucking, mega-time-wasting resource that I simply cannot avoid. Yes, it’s true. Hi, my name is Karen and I’m addicted to the internet.

First of all, it’s obvious. I blog, therefore I am…addicted, that is. In fact, I can hardly remember the world before the internet. (Yes, boys and girls, there was a time when we actually went to the library and did research in books and periodicals when we had to write a paper. Ooooooooooh.)

Let’s face it, the internet is here to stay. And despite the obvious reasons to avoid it - A) Virtually no calories are burned when surfing digitally and B) I really could be doing almost anything more productive – there are some actually worthwhile places to go on the information superhighway.

And so, as a service to you, my 4 or 5 readers, I give you a peek at some of the bookmarks I have in my browser. These are in addition to the links that I have here on my blog (over there on the right side of this page under the heading “I heart these blogs.”) These are just extra little fun places I like to visit. (The sites are hotlinked - click on them to get to the sites):

The Tosa Town Square  – If you haven’t been there lately, well, why not? The discussions are lively, thought-provoking and sometimes very funny. And YES you can remain anonymous. Think of it as our own little witness protection program.

The City of Wauwatosa Website  – OK, fine. It’s not fun, per se, but it’s chock full of info. You can find meeting minutes, updates on city projects, e-mail addresses for everyone in local government and so much more. You can even find out info about the assessed value of your own home (or your neighbors, if you’re kinda nosy.)

Weather Underground Radar - I’m a huge radar geek. If inclement weather is moving into the area, the first thing I think is: “Oooh, I wish I could look at the radar.” Yeah, I know. It’s lame, but pretty fun on a stormy day!

Fashion websites - I am fashion challenged. I couldn’t style my way out of a paper bag. It doesn’t occur to me that something is in fashion until it’s on the sale rack at Target and then, it’s SO yesterday. Style Dash gives tips on the latest do’s and don’ts. Go Fug Yourself pokes fun at celebs who should rethink their red carpet look.

TV News - I grew up in front of the television. (Explains a lot, doesn’t it?) I try to be picky about what I watch. For instance: “The Hills,” in my opinion, can lower your IQ with just one viewing. “The Office,” is just great fun. So if I want to know the latest scoop on TV shows, I check out TV Tattle or Entertainment Weekly.

Well, that’s all for today. Hope you have fun with these sites. But remember, as with anything, the internet should be enjoyed responsibly and in moderation. Now let's all put the mouse down and step away from the computer….but do come back soon! (And be sure to comment or e-mail – we bloggers love to get feedback!)