A “BIT-Y” CHRISTMAS GIFT

Or, Websites that should be Daily Doses

If you have enjoyed even one of the amateur postings at my own blog, http://resistence-is-possible.blogspot.com, then you definitely should make daily pilgrimages to the following internet sites which are consistently good:

NEW WAYS TO THINK

http://dilbertblog.typepad.com - a daily compilation of the non-cartoon, offbeat wisdom and out-of-the-box thinking of cartoonist, Scott Adams. Invariably humorous, but more importantly, thought provoking. Go to the archives for “Appease on Earth” if you want to see what I mean.

PROGRESSIVE NEWS

http://www.truthdig.com - a daily compilation of progressive oriented video clips and political cartoons. Humor, typically pointing out hypocrisy in national leaders, seems to have a priority. It’s also a good spot to get clips of Jon Stewart’s “Daily Show,” which although played for laughs has some of the most astonishing and newsworthy newsclips you’ll never see on main stream tv.

http://www.buzzflash.com - also a daily compilation of progressive oriented articles, largely humorous in orientation (assuming you count satire, sarcasm as humor). In addition, it’s a relatively complete source for linking directly to other key progressive publications and sites.

http://www.commondreams.org - a daily compilation of serious progressive oriented both pure news articles and political commentator columns. These are traditional journalists and pundits for the most part. Sign up for the free newsletter.

http://www.prwatch.org - the nonprofit Center for Media and Democracy is essentially anti-spin, a “sniff” test on whatever propaganda the media or government is spouting.

http://www.counterpunch.org - more anti-propaganda inoculations, this time by F.A.I.R., but focused exclusively on journalists.

http://www.crooksandliars.com - the title says it all.

POLITICAL CARTOONS AND PURE HUMOR SITES

http://cagle.msnbc.com, http://cartoonbox.slate.com, http://www.comics.com, http://www.gocomics.com, and http://www.jibjab.com, - together they amount to a potpourri of cartoons. If you can’t find what you want at one of these, you just don’t like cartoons.

http://www.theonion.com - Unlike the live semi-fake news “Daily Show” mentioned above on the Comedy Channel , this is truly fake news, written version. Think Mad Magazine for the post high school graduate.

http://www.comics.com/comics/pibgorn - to single out one particular non-animated “cartoon” that manages to be quite different in its panel, try this one. Beautiful artwork, borderline sexiness and unusually literate. In one story arch stretching over Fall 2006, the artist staged the entire “Midsummer Night’s Dream.” It was set in 1930's Chicago, but his characters recited Shakespeare’s original iambic pentameter wording throughout.

TERMINAL CUTENESS

http://www.cuteoverload.com - if these photos don’t make you smile, nothing will. Bah Humbug to you too, Scrooge.

http://www.mycathatesyou.com - a photo site that even the Scrooge pre-ghost visitations would like. The shots here are the opposite of the Cute Overload site mentioned above, but it still manages to make you smile if you don’t mind a little snarkiness.

EXCELLENT MAGAZINES YOU PROBABLY NEVER HEARD OF THAT ARE FREE ON LINE

http://www.naturesbestmagazine.com - best nature photos anywhere.

http://www.thenation.com - in depth reporting from a liberal perspective.

http://www.wired.com - the Rolling Stones for Geeks.

http://www.seedmagazine.com - geek science.

http://www.mentalfloss.com - cocktail party fodder.

http://www.greenlightmag.com/magazine.php - yes, Virginia you can live greenly.

http://grayssportingjournal.com - for the intellectual hunter and fisherman.

http://www.saveur.com/index.jsp - better than Emril and without the annoying “ Bam” all the time.

AND, ONE FINAL MAG YOU PROBABLY HAVE HEARD OF, BUT IT”S FREE HERE

http://www.discover.com - science stories longer than Popular Science, but easier to understand than Scientific American.

Now you can’t say you didn’t get anything good for Christmas. Best of all, you can give all these to other without it costing you a dime. Spread the cheer in the new year. Cut and paste all or any portion of the above in an e-mail to anyone you think would enjoy it.