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--TECHSPEAK EXPLAINED WHATIS.COM www.whatis.com Plain-English encyclopedic explanations of all things tech, from general computing terms like broadband to the more obscure jargon you come across in product manuals.
--TUNES OF THE TRADE SPUN www.spun.com Think of it as a fantastic music store, minus the crabby clerk in the Ramones T shirt. Buy new and used CDs, DVDs and games; exchange your old goods for store credit. If something isn't in stock, Spun will e-mail you when it arrives.
--TV CRITICS TELEVISION WITHOUT PITY www.televisionwithoutpity.com It takes some time to read through each snarky episode recap of popular TV shows like Dawson's Creek and Ally McBeal, but you'll find yourself sucked in by the critics' love-hate relationship with the programs they spend so much time analyzing. You'll also laugh out loud. The site was formerly known as Mighty Big TV.
--URBAN LEGENDS SNOPES www.snopes.com Was a bound pair of hands found atop a building near ground zero? (Yes.) Were a bunch of 9/11 domain names registered before the attacks? (No.) Urban-legend hobbyists David and Barbara Mikkelson debunk non-WTC myths too.
--WORLD NEWS BBC news.bbc.co.uk If international news is your bag, the Brits do it best. In-depth articles on what's happening around the globe, plus cool multimedia features. Coverage of the U.S., in partic-ular, is worth a look for the BBC's detached perspective.
--'ZINEs SALON www.salon.com A fresh blend of news and features, from Washington politics to counterculture book reviews. Some articles (including adults-only fare) require subscription, but the comics are free. When you're done, you can head over to Slate www.slate.com for more.