How to Waste Time Online

There comes a time each day when one needs or wants to step away from their work for a time. The mind grows weary, the fingers seem to hit every key but the one you want, the brain waves refuse to cooperate.

Sometimes you just need to set aside a few moments, or even hours, to get your creative energy flowing again.

After you take a physical break, i.e., get away from the computer, grab your favorite beverage, walk around for a while, then come back to the computer and - procrastinate.

I probably know better than most anyone how to waste time on, and off (Freecell anyone?), the internet. Here are a few of my favorites:

• Visit various network or cable network sites and read about the actors or actresses. If they have a forum, all the better.


• Sign-up for newsletters on any topic. Have the newsletter sent to your main email account and really clog it up. You can spend hours reading newsletters.


• RSS to your Google Reader or any other reader you would like so that you can get the latest blog post from your favorite websites.


• Endlessly read the latest news. With new headlines popping up all day long, you will never run out of ways to waste time and gain knowledge at the same time.


• Leave comments on the articles that you read. Many times you can leave an anonymous comment and speak your mind with abandon.


• Visit any forum that interests you. I've signed up for more than I can even remember, and every once in a while I check out one I haven't visited lately.


• Work online crossword puzzles and other games.


• Check out Yahoo! Answers and have a blast responding to the numerous questions. I can't even tell you how much time I spent one night on a thread that discussed baby names and asked for suggestions. What fun!


• Read free online books from DailyLit. I love the classics.


• Visit YouTube. One of my favorites. One day I caught up with a whole bunch of Y&R clips. Katherine looks better at 80 than she did 20 years ago. And, there are the great videos like the dancing prisoners, my son-in-laws fishing trip, and all kinds of other ways to waste a couple of hours.


• Keep an eye on all the entertainment sites such as TMZ, Perez Hilton, E! Online. They update all day long so there is always new information coming along that you just wouldn't be able to live without knowing. Right?


• Create as many Squidoo lens and HubPages as possible. Well, that might not be such a waste as you can earn some money, but if you pick enough crazy topics you will actually have fun and make money too.


• Go to photo sites like Fotosearch and Flickr, and have a blast looking at all the crazy and cool pictures people take. Wikimedia has some great photos as well, and I subscribed to their photo of the day so that I can see the best images they offer. I especially am enthralled with the closeup photos of insects. Fascinating.

As you check out the list above, I wanted to share one that I saw quite some time ago, then forgot about. I'm shocked that I haven't returned to the site because it is one of the all time best time wasters.

Remember bubble wrap?

Remember when you were a kid and your mom let you pop the bubble wrap? Maybe you even pop it now. The all time time-waster website has to be the bubble wrap popper site. Click on the link and you can spend hours popping bubble wrap to your hearts content.

I'm sure you can think up lots more ways to waste time online, but this list will get you started.

Review: Historical Twitter

Going by the premise that Twitter did not begin in 2006 as believed, but has actually been around for centuries, Historical Twitter shares what tweets might have come across the airwaves in the past.

The site was started in October 2008, and you should start reading from the beginning so as not to miss anything. Although some people may find a few of the tweets inappropriate, the posts are hilarious!

Historical Tweet examples

For example, if Abraham Lincoln had Twittered it might have read like this:

"Anyone got a more creative way of saying '87 years'?"

Or, Anne Boleyn to Henry the VIII:

"Sorry I lost my head the other night."

Most historical tweets are accompanied by related photos, that are often themselves very entertaining.

Not only does the site allow you to read the alleged historical tweets, but you can submit your own examples.

Twitter defined

For those who don't know, according to the definition in Wikipedia, "Twitter is a free social networking...service that enables its users to send and read messages known as tweets. Tweets are text-based posts of up to 140 characters."

Check out this great site, and leave a tweet or two of your own.

Do you have a favorite humorous site you would like to share? Just let us know.

MSU Rolled Over UConn - 82-73

The MSU basketball team rocked the Motor City last night as the Spartans whipped UConn 82-73! The Izzone was alive and well at Ford Field Saturday night.

Not a long post today - but you can read the story on the Spartans official site.

Here is a link to Coach Tom Izzo's website - CoachIzzo.com

Detroit needed good news and they got it Saturday night. Congrats to all who played a part.

Now, on to Monday night's final against North Carolina! Best of luck to the MSU Spartans!

Bush Out, Obama In

Well, the times they are achanging! President Bush gave a quiet, hardly heard message last night in the midst of drama, The Miracle on the Hudson, according to the Governor of New York.

Soon we will have a new President, with a young family to watch as they grow, probably a new puppy to admire, a stylish First Lady to admire, and a new regime to hopefully lead us into a more prosperous future.

In the meantime, it is colder than icicles in Michigan, frigid really, with temps as low as minus whatever. Clearly too cold to do much but write blog posts and articles, read cool books like The Leavenworth Case (1878), by Anne Katharine Green on Project Gutenberg, and watch miracles take place before our eyes on TV.

Now how could life get much better than that? Well, the obvious answer is for the weather to warm-up, the economy to brighten, and the new President to perform miracles. Will it all happen? Time will tell.

What do you think? Hopeful thinking or wishful thinking?

BellaOnline Mystery Books Editor

I am very excited to announce I am the new Mystery Books Editor for BellaOnline. After four weeks of intense and informational training, I joined a great group of women and men. There are currently about 400 sites on BellaOnline, and the forums are alive and active.

Also, the Mystery Books site has a newsletter that I send out on a weekly basis. I also write mystery related articles, write book reviews, research questions people may ask, and moderate the Mystery Books Forum. Anyone can join us in the forum at any time.

If you are a mystery reader or writer, click on either link above and join in the fun. You are encouraged to join the discussions in the forum.

Potpourri Update

Well, it is nearing the midnight hour for this year. The new year promises to bring it's share of challenges, but also excitement at the same time. I am working hard on BellaOnline as I am in training as the new Mystery Books Editor. Come on over and visit to read interesting articles and chat with other mystery lovers on the Mystery Books forum.

Looking forward to a great 2009 in the writing biz.

What are your plans for the new year? What excites you most about your life?

Healthy Living Coming Soon to Elder Care Cafe

Tomorrow morning at the Elder Care Cafe, a post will announce the upcoming 2009 healthy living initiative. The initiative will include regular posts highlighting living a healthy lifestyle - body, soul, and spirit. A newsletter sent directly to your email box is in the development stage and will kick-off in 2009. Yet to be determined is the frequency of the newsletter - never daily, but may arrive weekly or monthly.

I'm excited about the upgrade Elder Care Cafe has received lately. It was a much needed refreshing and repairing of the site, and now it is ready to enter the new year in style.

If you have any questions or topic suggestions, feel free to leave a comment on the site.

Elder Care Cafe is geared towards the elderly and those who care for them, but any baby boomer or senior citizen will find interesting articles.

We at the Elder Care Cafe, both on the 'net and here on blogger, are looking forward to a fun, healthy, and prosperous new year.

How about you? What are your plans for the new year? Do your plans include living healthy?

Dumb Little Man No Dummy - What We Can Learn From the Great Depression

Do you know how I know Dumb Little Man is no dummy? The two main reasons why I believe Jay White is no dummy:

1. His website is full of practical information regarding tips that will "save you money, increase your productivity, or simply keep you sane" according to his website blurb.

2. He utilizes great guest writers.

Not only did I want to send a shout-out to Jay and Dumb Little Man, but I also wanted to comment on a guest article by Mike Koehler, a multimedia journalist in Oklahoma City. Mike wrote an article titled Seven Good Lessons From the Great Depression that I think is important for people to read.

During these difficult economic times, it is helpful to delve into the wisdom of those who have gone before. And who better to pull from than our parents and grandparents who experienced the Great Depression. I have often heard stories of what my dad and his parents and grandparents endured during that time. A couple of things I personally learned were:

1. Take each day as it comes. I have had struggles in my life and learned that what the Bible says about each day is sufficient unto itself is true. Concentrate on each day and what you can do to see it through. When you keep your main focus on each day, you are better able to work out your problems and struggles. Looking too far ahead could be too much of a challenge when times are difficult.

That does not mean you shouldn't plan ahead, but don't dwell on the negative by believing that whatever you are going through will never end. Keep up your spirits by focusing on a step at a time during the day you are in. Tomorrow will bring its own set of challenges, and blessings.

2. Know that this too shall pass. No matter what is going on in your life, it will pass. The Great Depression did come to an end. The recession we are currently experiencing will someday end. Some say in one year, others predict it will take two years, but the reality is - America will pull itself out of this recent downturn and will rise again. How do I know? Take a look back at history!

3. Going back to the basics may not be fun, but it is necessary in order to recover financially, physically, spiritually, or in any other area of one's life.

For years we have heard talk of inflated prices, the inflated housing market, inflated this and inflated that. Well, what was rising so high, by the laws of the universe, had to come down. That's just the way it is. As the economy hits bottom, it will begin to rise again. It never hurts to go back to the basics of good financial management, stop excessive spending and high-end living, and start living a more practical lifestyle. How many young families with their 2.5, or less, children really needed the huge mega-square-footage houses they thought they had to have?

Almost 80 years ago, the Great Depression hit. It was a horrible time for most people, and hopefully we will never sink to that level of living again. But, during this recession there are a number of steps we can take in our personal lives to help the economy get back on track.

Studying the past mistakes of others is a good step in the right direction. Utilizing the knowledge and practical tips from bloggers and writers such as Jay White and Mike Koehler, and applying those ideas to our lives, will enhance our daily walk and help us through these distressing times.

What do you think? Do you have a blog or author that has provided you with tips or inspiration? You are welcome to share your thoughts and ideas in the comment section. We would love to hear from you.

World AIDS Day 2008

The 1st of December, World AIDS Day, is the day when individuals and organizations from around the world come together to bring attention to the global AIDS epidemic.

This year is the 20th anniversary of World Aids Day. The theme this year is leadership, reminding leaders of their promise to do what they can to help eradicate AIDS. Many leaders over the years have made promises they have not kept.

Now is the time to remind world leaders that AIDS is a world wide problem, and needs world wide attention to find a cure; to stop the invasive disease that has taken so many from us over the years.

According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), "around the world, 33 million people are living with HIV with nearly 7,500 new infections occurring each day. An estimated 3 million people are now receiving antiretroviral treatment in low and middle-income countries.

In the United States, CDC estimates that about 1.1 million people are living with HIV. These numbers will most likely increase over time...As expected, as the number of people living with HIV grows, so does the opportunity for those with HIV to pass on the virus to others.

CDC currently estimates that approximately one in five persons living with HIV in the United States is unaware of his or her infection and may be unknowingly transmitting the virus to others. Since anyone can be at risk for HIV, CDC recommends that adults and adolescents between the ages of 13 and 64 years of age be routinely screened for HIV infection in healthcare settings. Pregnant women in the U.S. should be screened for HIV infection as part of their routine prenatal testing.

Individuals can:

Get tested for HIV. To find a testing site center near you, visit hivtest.org or, on your cell phone, text your zip code to Know IT (566948).

Participate in the Facing AIDS campaign. Take a picture of yourself wearing a red ribbon and add the photo to the "World AIDS Day 08" Flickr group*, your social network profiles, Twitter, blog, and/or Web site before December 1. Leave it up for at least a week.

Stand up against stigma, racism, and other forms of discrimination associated with HIV/AIDS.

Donate time and money to HIV/AIDS organizations.

Organizations are encouraged to:

Promote World AIDS Day in your organization. Useful materials are available at hivtest.org

Encourage employees to get involved in World AIDS Day.

Educate staff about HIV/AIDS.

Develop HIV/AIDS policies for the workplace."

AIDS is a worldwide problem that touches many millions of lives. Please encourage the leadership in your area of the world to keep promoting AIDS research, prevention, and testing.

Cry Me a River: Rock's Saddest Songs List

Rock's Backpages gives us a list of the 20 most heartbreaking songs of all time. I am familiar with many of the songs and this list brings back a lot of memories.

Roy Orbison, The Righteous Brothers, The Everly Brothers, Otis Reading and ABBA are all favorites. One of my all time favorite sad songs is George Jones singing He Stopped Loving Her Today. Tears come to my eyes every time I hear that song. And who can ever forget Roy Orbison's emotional rendition of It's Over? That song stays with me long after his voice fades out.

The blurb at the end of the article says: Read more about all these artists at www.rocksbackpages.com. Over 13,000 articles by the greatest writers from the finest rock publications of the last 50 years.

What is your favorite sad song? What drew you to the song?

Check Out My MySpace Page

Actually, I have two MySpace pages - one under my name, Edie Dykeman, and the other under a pseudonym, Gail Monroe, that I use for my fiction writing. I started the latter last year and it is in the process of a face-lift.

The former is up and running with a beautiful blue theme, and highlights my article writing. You can check it out here.

If you have a MySpace page, you are welcome to share it in the comment section. I just joined Facebook and LinkedIn, and have utilized Twitter for a while now.

The web has really become a social gathering place. Most of the time it is fun, but, wow, what a time waster when I should be hard at work.

Are you active in forums or on social network sites? If so, which ones and what do you like about those sites?

Calendars of the Bizarre, Funny, and Crazy Continue

Another great yearly calendar site is found at BrownieLocks. She and the three bears have developed a fun and crazy site. Now that 2009 is up and running, you have no excuse to miss an important holiday.

Since my birthday is January 23, I thought I would share with you what special events "we" can enjoy around that time.

January 22:

Women's Healthy Weight Day
Answer Your Cats Questions Day

January 23:

National Handwriting Day
National Pie Day - so that's why I like pie!
Snowplow Mailbox Hockey Day - popular here in Michigan

January 24:

National Compliment Day
Belly Laugh Day

January 26: (My mother's birthday)

National Peanut Brittle Day - Mom loved making peanut brittle!
Bubble Wrap Appreciation Day

Click here for the rest of January's monthly, weekly, and daily lists.

Check out BrownieLocks.com for your special dates and enjoy a fabulous and fun 2009.

Know What Holiday This Is? Find Out Here!

For those who like to celebrate even the most obscure holiday, this handy website will keep you from missing out on your favorite date. At Holidays For Every Day, you can find a monthly and daily list of the most important (to you) dates.

For example, today is:

17- World Peace Day
17- Homemade Bread Day
17- Take a Hike Day (Not sure if that is you taking a hike, or you telling someone else to take a hike)
17- National Farm Joke Day
17- The Little Mermaid Day 1989

Tomorrow:

18- Calvin & Hobbes Birthdays 1985
18- Mother Goose Parade
18- William Tell Day
18- Mickey Mouse's Birthday (1928)
18- Superman Death Anniversary 1992
18- Teddy Bear Birthday 1902

Wednesday:

19- National Carbonated Beverage with Caffeine Day (Glad to see this day!)
19- Play Monopoly Day (My sister and daughters would love to honor this date)
19- Pop Tarts Birthday 1965 (My girls loved these!)
19- Little Red-Haired Girl's Birthday (Peanuts Character 1961)
19- Gettysburg Address Delivered (1863)

See how much fun you could have with all these celebrations! In these stressful times, celebrating the unique, quaint, and obscure should have a place on your calendar with those dates that are considerably more prominent.

Of course, this all leads up to the biggest dates of the year, New Years Eve and New Years Day. And,

27- National Fruitcake Day

28- National Quilter's Day
28- No Interruptions Day
28- Eat Vegetarian Day
28- Card Playing Day
28- National Chocolate Day

29- Opposite Day
29- Bowling Ball invented (1862)

30- Let's Make a Deal Day First aired 1964

31- Make Up Your Mind Day
31- New Years eve
31- You're All Done Day

Just sayin'...

What is your favorite holiday to celebrate? Do you have an obscure or unusual anniversary date you would like to share?

How to Read Free Books by E-mail

How would you like to read a book for free? You can receive daily e-mail installments by registering at Daily Lit. I just signed up to receive Pride and Prejudice by Jane Austin, to arrive early in the a.m., just in time for my early morning coffee.

The site now has 1,000 books, many of them free. I did see a few for a fee, but the fee was under $10.00.

Each installment only takes five minutes to read, and the site has many classics including The Adventures of Sherlock Holmes and War and Peace.

The registration is free and easy, just like receiving the installments.

So, which book did you choose? How do you like this service?

More Humor on Blogspot

Just added Indian Jokes Unlimited, found here on Blogspot, to the blogroll list. If you love or need humor in your life, check out this blog. The author advertises that they are Indian jokes, but really they are for everyone.

Some of the jokes are laugh out loud funny and will lift the spirits of anyone who feels down in the dumps.

For a good time...

Have you found any sites that can add LOL moments? Please leave the info in the comment section. Laughter every day keeps depression away!

Movies in Michigan

Recent exciting news in Michigan is the 42-percent tax break recently passed for those who make movies in Michigan. Already, a number of Hollywood writers and producers are lining up at the door to take advantage of the tax break.

Michigan already has had a plethora of famous names in movies, TV, and music. Madonna, Kid Rock, Jeff Daniels, Oliver Stone, Timothy Busfield, just to name a very few, and this year we even had a Survivor from Pinckney and have an upcoming Extreme Makeover: Home Edition showing in early November. A number of movies have already been filmed here over the years.

One notable movie was Somewhere in Time with Christopher Reeve, Jane Seymour, and Christopher Plummer filmed at the Grand Hotel on Mackinac Island in 1980. I had the privilege of staying on the island a year or so after filming was completed, and I toured the Grand Hotel. The remodeled areas of the hotel, due to the film, were still in evidence.

An article in yesterdays Lansing State Journal on Moviemakers of Michigan highlights much of the available talent this state provides.

Of special note: Postmark Paradise was written by Williamston's Dan Slider (My hometown). Also, in 2002 Jeff Daniels filmed Super Sucker in Jackson, MI where I was living at the time. Much excitement ensued! Several women I know played extras in that movie.

I actually got to meet Jeff and his wife at the Purple Rose Theatre when my daughter was an intern at the theatre. Very nice guy!

Not only will the movie crowd bring much needed dollars to this struggling state, but also an excitement destined to lift the spirits of Michiganders everywhere.

So, are you excited about this news? Are you willing to play a part in a movie? Which actor or actress would you most like to meet?

Blogging from iGoogle

Blogger has given us a way to blog directly from iGoogle. Therefore, this is basically a test blog. Looks like I can post on any of my blogs from one spot, instead of going to the dashboard. This is especially good for quick and easy posts.

Actually iGoogle is a cool page. It has all kinds of things in one spot - a great big clock with the time and date, a place to enter your zip code for the weather, YouTube videos, top stories, and this blogger tool.

Do you ever go to iGoogle? Or are you a Yahoo! fan like myself?

Woman Arrested for Virtual Murder

In the you-got-to-be-kidding department, a 43-year-old Japanese woman whose sudden divorce in a virtual game world made her so angry that she killed her online husband's digital persona has been arrested on suspicion of hacking, police said Thursday.

So, a word to the wise - next time you consider doing-in someone's avatar, you better think twice. Could get you in a lot of trouble.

Click on the title of this missive for the rest of the story.

What mayhem have you gotten yourself into online? Anything you care to share with the rest of the world, well, at least with this elite readership?

Slow Cooker Recipes You Do Not Want To Miss

WAPITI 3
© Picturefan1414 | Dreamstime.com

Description:
Wapiti Elk in the Wells Gray National Park B.C. Canada


During the fall and winter there seems to be a plethora of new slow cooker recipes available. At the fantastic All Recipes site there are several recipes you must try, whether having a football viewing party or for a tasty after work dinner.

In a former life, I did roast pheasants several times (not the same pheasant), so I think I might enjoy the Slow Cooker Pheasant with Mushrooms and Olives. That sounds pretty good.

If you or someone you know has recently bagged an elk, you may want to try one of these two recipes. For stroganoff lovers, there is the Onion Elk Roast Stroganoff. And then the sandwich lovers can try Mom's Shredded Elk Sandwich.

Then there is the BBQ sandwich you are sure to enjoy: Slow Cooker Barbecue Goose Sandwich.

These recipes beg the questions:

1. Should we forward these on to Sarah P.?
2. What in the world would we serve for dessert?

If you try any of these recipes, please let us know the results. We anxiously await your opinion.

Good News From Williamston, MI

These two pictures were taken by Lloyd Rodriguez in January 2008. One is the water tower and other is one of the railroad outbuildings next to the tower. It was obviously a typical Michigan winter day.


In these times of economic hardship, today encouraging news came out of Williamston, MI, my hometown. Six new businesses officially opened their doors today, with plans for several more over the next few months.

Several of the business owners acknowledged times were tough, but they believed that the time was right to venture out as a business owner.

There are still a couple of storefronts that are boarded, but the Mayor assured everyone those buildings will house businesses by this time next year.

I sure hope so. Williamston is a great community and I am glad to see we are attracting new business. A business based a few towns away from us acknowledge the other day, that if everything works out they will move their entire business to our industrial park outside of town. What a wonderful thing to see another new business.

Click on the title above to see the Williamston, MI official website.

How is your town doing? Anything positive happening in these difficult times?