文章基本信息

标题：Surf the day away at these sites
作者：Julie Kanago Central valley
期刊名称：Spokesman Review, The (Spokane)
出版年度：2001
卷号：Jul 9, 2001
出版社：Cowles Publishing Co.

Surf the day away at these sites

Julie Kanago Central valley

For years, experts have warned that television turns children who spend their time sitting in front of the tube instead of reading and exercising into vegetables.

If these experts think television is such a destructive phenomena, they obviously haven't done much 'Net surfing.

There are millions of ways to waste time online, ranging from Webcams of growing grass (www.amused.com) to interactive bubble wrap (www.2211.com/pop.htm). The following is a sampling of the more intriguing time wasters:

* Twenty Questions (www.20q.net/): This experiment in artificial intelligence actually manages to guess what you're thinking ... most of the time. Help add to the database by playing.

* I-Sketch (www.isketch.net): While playing pictionary with users from around the world, you quickly learn that nobody can draw a decent platypus.

* Oracle of Bacon (www.cs.virginia.edu/oracle/) University of Virginia students created a program to determine the number ot "steps" between Paulie Shore and Kevin Bacon. Sadly, cartoon characters and stunt animals are not included.

* Sissyfight (www.sissyfight.com): Tease, scratch and tattle on your opponents to survive recess with your self-esteem intact. School uniforms not included.

* Magnetic Poetry (www.prominence.com/java/poetry/) Create your own works without disturbing the pictures and take-out menus on your refrigerator.

* Hampster Dance (www.hampsterdance2.com/) Who could forget this cultural icon? Try not to let the music stick in your head ...

* Zork Online (www.csd.uwo.ca/Infocom/) Your parents probably remember this one -- a series of interactive, text-based adventure games. Download them here, and resist the temptation to scream "Hello, Sailor!" in crowded places.

* Neopets (www.neopets.com): Create your own virtual pet to feed, play with and care for. In addition, there's a huge menu of games, including a battle dome to challenge other pets. It's the ultimate in addictive procrastination!

There are many more out there -- a good place to start is the "Procrastination Aids" category on Yahoo. Above all, don't forget there's nothing more dangerous than putting off your procrastinating.