Usual suspects
I'm afraid I'm really busy in work, so for today, I'll just list a couple of the old reliables - entertainment for anyone not quite as busy as me!
www.onion.com
the original and best spoof news site on the web - the number of web awards it has won are well deserved, and it's always worth a look if you're in the mood for a giggle!
www.p45.net
has been re-launched, and although it doesn't quite live up to the reputation its original form created, there are still some good laughs to be found here - just takes a bit more digging!
www.blather.net
another spoof site - can be pretty funny sometimes.

I know that I'm really relying on the old reliables here, but I promise I'll put more effort into searching later in the week!

- posted by Neil Ward @ 10:17 AM 0 comments

 
I'm back!
Well, much better today, and I'm back in work (busy as usual!), so here's a couple of sites I've been looking at today:
www.p45.net/ejitsguides/index.html
P45.net has returned. Admittedly, not in its wondrous original form, but there are a few gems to be found here, especially at these ejits guides - hilarious!
www.instbankers.com
My college for the year - The Institute of Bankers - my credit card nearly cried last week when I paid my tuition fees for the year, but I just keep telling myself it'll be worth it when I get those qualifications! Also, it's a pretty nice website, and I know from last year, it'll be an invaluable tool over the next few months.
http://store.apple.com/1-800-MY-APPLE/WebObjects/AppleStore.woa/72001/wo/O952SupQPzUt2V81akn1judwngT/0.0.9.1.0.6.59.0.0.1.0.7.1.1.1.0 I know, it's a bit of a messy link, but it should work. This is the website for the mini iPod. I want one. I need one. I've given up drink for the next 7 weeks, so I'm getting one!! Getting it next pay day (3 weeks to go!), in either blue or silver - either way, I can't wait!!


- posted by Neil Ward @ 2:26 PM 0 comments

 
poor old me!!
I've been really sick the last few days, hence the lack of posting. Had to leave work after 3 hours on Thurs, cause I had killer headaches, and I've been in bed in Marino ever since. Ventured down to my local net cafe in Fairview to write this post, but starting to feel pretty lousy already!!

Promise I'll be back to my regular posting self next week when I'm better, I can feel my bed calling me back!!!

- posted by Neil Ward @ 6:42 PM 0 comments

 
some sporting sites
www.leedsunited.com
As a Leeds fan all my life, this is a site I've been very fond of for years now, but especially since we've been relegated, it can be very hard to find more that titbits of gossip about the Whites on any other sites.
www.skysports.com
Simply the best website for live sporting updates on anything to which Mr. Murdoch has the rights - check out the Murphy's live scoreboard for football updates as they happen (and by the way, their service for the Ryder Cup last week was terrific too)
www.nba.com
The only site to visit if you're looking for details on the NBA - my favourite part is www.nba.com/sixers , but that's purely because I'm a 76ers fan!
www.football365.com
you've heard a football story/rumour, and want to find out how likely it is - this is the site to hit, always giving accurate advice on how likely a rumour will prove to be.
www.wimbledon.org
I know, I'm getting a little ahead of myself, but the features available on the Wimbledon website are always impressive, and I can't wait to see what improvements they make for this year..

- posted by Neil Ward @ 11:52 AM 0 comments

 
music today!
www.hotpress.com
I'm a hotpress member (I joined while drunk at the weekend!!), and like this site - it has archives of 25 years worth of music, entertainment and political articles, most of which are very well written!
www.kazaa.com
what can I say - p2p rocks - free downloads of any tune you like (as long as you don't use too excessively, I'm sure the music industry won't come after you!!) Just make sure you download the pay version as opposed to the free version, it's a little more secure, and viruses are easily downloaded here, so the more protection you have the better!
www.itunes.com
i can't wait for the Irish launch (getting a baby iPod next month, I'm sooo excited!)
www.napster.com
still a pretty good music download site (just not as good as the old free version!)


- posted by Neil Ward @ 5:46 PM 0 comments

 
Sites I hit a lot!
www.365online.com
Banking 365 is my saviour, allowing me to check balances/transactions/make transfers etc all at the touch of a button. God bless Bank of Ireland!
www.vodafone.ie
What can I say, 300 free text messages each month - how can I resist?
www.eircom.net
mostly use eircom for email (until such time as I get an invitation to open a Gmail account!), but also use their hosting services (you get 20MB free hosting space with free accounts, or 100MB with subscription accounts) for some websites I'm building.
www.nixers.com
I always have an eye out for a part-time job, and this site has pretty comprehensive listings of what's available. They also have some novel jobs from time to time (dog walker, mystery shopper etc!)
www.citigroup.com
OK, I work for them, but it's still nice to keep an eye on what we're up to!!
www.betdaq.com
My favourite betting website - it's also on my mind because I had a few successful bets on the Ryder Cup over the weekend!


- posted by Neil Ward @ 12:18 PM 0 comments

 
People I'd love to meet
www.mckellen.com
The official website of Sir Ian McKellen - probably the leading actor of his generation (Gods and Monsters still stands out in my mind as some of the finest acting of the last 10-15 years), and a leading gay rights campaigner (Ian has strong links to Stonewall, a site I have previously listed here) - this is the person in the world I would most like to meet.
www.knuttel.com
This is the website of artist Graham Knuttel, and gives some interesting insights into the man behind those strikingly colourful images we see so regularly (think back to those billboard ads for the BMW 5 series a few years ago). I only heard of his tapestry work on this site, and must confess to having developed a burning desire to see these in the flesh as a direct result! Definitely one of the most important artists of his generation, and mine!
www.remhq.com
One of the people I have wanted to meet since I first became aware of music is Michael Stipe. Unfortunately, I have been unable to locate an official website for him, but this is the bands site, giving loads of details on touring, recording etc. etc.
www.yo-yoma.com
The greatest classical musician I have ever heard play (someday I would love to hear him live), and the man who made me fall in love with the cello's haunting tones - Yo-Yo Ma, I salute you!!
www.microsoft.com/billgates
How can anyone possibly pretend not to admire the second richest man in the world (I believe he was recently overtaken by the founder of Ikea, whose name currently eludes me). Also, his devotion to various charities remains outstanding (it is rumoured that his kids stand to inherit only $10Mn each, with the rest of his vast estate going to charity)



- posted by Neil Ward @ 12:24 PM 0 comments

 
some art websites for enthusiasts like me!
www.imma.ie
Irish Museum of Modern Art - I'm going on Sunday, and really looking forward to it, cause I've never been!!
www.nyaa.edu
New York Academy of Art - ideally where I'd love to study. In fact, probably the only way I'd ever go back to being a full time student.
www.blueleafgallery.com
This is a Dublin gallery I really like. They were originally based in Fairview (very close to where I'm living now), but moved to new premises at Lower Pembroke Street a few years ago, where they have exhibited work by artists such as Rasher, Philip Lindey, David Newton and Liam de Frinse, among others. In a relatively short space of time, they have become one of the most respected galleries in Dublin.
www.thebridgegallery.com
Officially, my very favourite gallery! I've walked past this gallery hundreds of times over the last few years, while walking down the quays. However, it was only about 3 months ago that I ventured in for the first time, and immediately fell in love!! I love absolutely everything about this place, from the work itself (ranging from oils to etchings, and from ceramics to glass) to the exposed brickwork and metal balustrades which give the main gallery a unique atmosphere. Pity though, the website doesn't nearly do it justice.

- posted by Neil Ward @ 3:49 PM 0 comments

 
Some personal favourites
www.anthonyfinucane.com
A personal favourite of mine - Anto's a nice guy, and this blog has been running for years - still well worth a read.
www.p45rant.net
If you have anything to get off your chest, this is the place to do it! Start a new thread on anything you care to rant about, or feel free to pass comment on what's bugging someone else
www.leedsunited.com
I have to include this one - I'm a life-long Leeds fan, and though we're struggling in the Championship at the mo, we'll be back in the Premiership soon - you just mark my words!

- posted by Neil Ward @ 1:35 PM 0 comments

 
a few entertaining sites for those of you who may be bored!
http://www.blather.net/shitegeist/000361.htm
Will Bush lose the election because there is no Florida left to vote?!!! - It's a spoof site along the lines of P45.net (oh, how I miss that site!!)
http://www.bored.com/
most of what's on this site is rubbish, but there are a few gems if you look hard enough!!
http://www.onion.com/
still probably the funniest site on the web, it cracks me up day after day!!!

Enjoy!!


- posted by Neil Ward @ 3:59 PM 0 comments

 
quick post
I'm afraid it really will only be a couple of sites today, as I'm in an internet cafe at the mo...
www.sitemeter.com
nifty little site that gives you the html coding for a visit counter for your website.
www.betdaq.com
Have to mention them today, cause I've had a couple of successful betting days in a row!! Thank God for internet betting on football and tennis, otherwise I'd never bother!
www.nixers.com
nice site I used to use when looking for part-time jobs in college. I've returned to it recently to find that it's of even more interest to me now, than it was back then!!

That's all for today, but I will try to update again tomorrow...

- posted by Neil Ward @ 5:40 PM 0 comments

 
one last one for today
one simple question
absolutely brilliant, drop a few quid to this site if you have a paypal account
- posted by Neil Ward @ 9:47 AM 0 comments

 
just a couple!
just a couple of sites for now:
download.com
really good site for downloading. Most programs you'll eventually have to pay for if you want to keep using, but most of them can be downloaded for 30 day trials - really nifty if you're working on a once-off project.
google.com
I know they were on my list yesterday, but I got approval for their Adsense with search program this morning, so they're still one of my favourites today!
stonewall.org.uk
Stonewall fight for justice and equality for the LGB community - pity they don't operate in Ireland!
daily kos
a left-wing political analysis/rant blog, this blog gets about 260,000 hits a day, and regularly causes outrage in the US. I enjoy this site pretty regularly, it's nice to read about American politics from a source not controlled by Rupert Murdoch!!
if Bush were running against Jesus...
This is quite simply the funniest thing I've seen in ages - just taking the piss out of the anti-Kerry ads launched by the Bush campagn - absolutely brilliant!!
Kerry-Edwards 2004
Finally, I'm feeling quite political today, so go to this site to read about/support/make donations to the John Kerry-John Edwards 2004 US presidential election campaign (come on, that idiot has to be removed from office - think of Kyoto, Afghanistan, Iraq, gay marriage etc. ad infinitum)

Well, this ended up being a longer post than expected, but I'd better go for now - other blogs to update!
- posted by Neil Ward @ 9:19 AM 0 comments

 
New site
Well, as some of you may have read on my personal blog - I've been thinking over the last few days about setting up a second blog - specifically to publish the top sites I've recently visited, and how I found them/What I like about them/Why I think they justify inclusion. By doing this, I can leave my personal blog free for personal stuff, as a lot of my recent posts have been in relation to cool sites I've come across.

Anyway, since the purpose of this blog is to list my sites of the day, here are a couple to get you started:
http://blog.zmag.org/bloggers/?blogger=chomsky
This is Noam Chomsky's very own blog, and has kept me interested recently. It's good to see his razor-sharp political commentary has lost none of its bite...
http://jim.com/canon.htm
Sophal Ear's fascinating thesis on The Khmer Rouge Canon 1975-1979. I came across this purely by accident, while looking for articles on the political tensions of Sierra Leone, I somehow came across this thesis on Cambodia's brutal Khmer Rouge, and after a little investigation, discovered that Mr. Ear has gone on to become a widely respected voice on this period of Cambodian history.
www.p45blogs.net
This is a site I never tire of - sister site of the formerly excellent www.p45.net (no longer operating), this is a collection of blogs that has entertained me for hours at a time - best read while sitting at an office desk!!
www.gaydar.com
This one is still the only credible chat/dating service for the gay community. Others have come, and tried to conquer, but no one has yet come near. Roll on the juggernaut, I've made some great friends through this site - Aidan, Uly et al, take a bow!!
www.google.com
The undisputed champion of the net at present. While I love the search engine, I also love blogger (yes, this site is powered by Google), and the Google toolbar (from which I can update this site, and which also includes a pretty nifty pop-up blocker), not to mention Google compute (donate your computers spare time to scientific research, and take it from me, you won't notice any difference in your pc's operating speeds - how cool is that). Still wish I had got to beta test Gmail though!!!

Well, that's a flavour of the sites that I'm hitting at the mo, but I will update this very regularly, as I tend to get pretty bored with most sites after a while. In the future, I may also have other contributors to this site, giving an even broader array of interesting sites to keep you amused.

For now though, I bid you adieu!



- posted by Neil Ward @ 2:40 PM 0 comments