Jeffrey B. Dalin, DDS, FACD, FAGD
For the past few issues in this column, we've been studying Web site design. I hope that you are now well on your way to establishing a quality presence on the Web.
It's now time to lighten things up. We all need a break away from the tough issues in life. What follows are some great sites out there to just plain enjoy ... if you know where to find them! As I read and surf the Net, I am always collecting these "gems." So here's a list of some outstanding and/or fun places to visit as you travel through cyberspace:
Search Engine Watch: www.searchenginewatch.com — This site is filled with links, tips, tutorials, and reviews of the countless number of search engines available on the Web.
Think Geek: www.thinkgeek .com —This is the Sharper Image catalogue for the Web set.
Appliance 411: www.appl iance411.com — This site contains all the information you would ever want to have at your fingertips about household appliances.
My Way: www.myway.com — This is a portal without the ads and popups.
On-This-Day: www.on-this-day.com — This site will provide you with everything you ever wanted to know about what took place on a particular day in a number of different categories.
Refdesk: www.refdesk.com — This site is a great source for facts on the Net.
Do It Yourself: www.doityour self.com — The name of this site is self-explanatory.
So You Wanna: www.soyou wanna.com — This site teaches you how to do all the things that nobody taught you to do in school.
Emode: www.emode.com — Test all areas of your personality.
Mrqe and Metacritic: www.mrqe.com and www.metacrit ic.com — These sites will give you multiple reviews of movies.
Nitpickers: www.nitpickers. com — Some people may feel right at home here!
Kids Health: www.kids health.org — This site offers a lot of helpful information.
Epicurious: www.epicurious .com — cooking, cooking, cooking!
eHow: www.ehow.com — A collection of over 15,000 "how-to" solutions.
City Search: www.citysearch. com — A collection of guides to many different cities.
How Stuff Works: www.how stuffworks.com — Some information that everyone needs at one time or another.
Epinions: www.epinions.com — This is a collection of opinions of ordinary people on just about any product or subject.
Price Grabber: www.price grabber.com — This is a price- comparison shopping guide.
Surprise.com: www.sur prise.com — This site will generate gift ideas.
Edmunds: www.edmunds.com — The best guide for pricing cars.
Finaid: www.finaid.org — This is a great guide for student financial aid.
Wacky Uses: www.wacky uses.com — Another site with information you cannot live without!
Phonespell: www.phonespell .org — Ever try to figure out what word your phone number forms?
Strange Facts: www.sbt.bhme dia.com — This site will help you win trivia contests.
Mapquest: www.mapquest.com — The essential guide to mapping out your trips.
Free Stuff Sites: www.sopra no.com/frees.asp and www.top50 .to — Go to these sites and find links to all of the online free stuff that you can handle.
Word Play: www.wolinsky web.com/word.htm — This site contains some of the greatest word games you could ever find.
Any Who: www.anywho.com — Look up addresses and phone numbers here.
O.K. — you're already short on free time ... and look what I have just gone and done! Give my apologies to your family and have a blast playing around with these sites.
Jeffrey B. Dalin, DDS, FACD, FAGD, FICD, practices general dentistry in St. Louis. He also is the editor of St. Louis Dentistry Magazine and spokesman and critical-issue-response-team chairman for the Greater St. Louis Dental Society. His address on the Internet is www.dfdasmiles.com. Contact him by email at [email protected], by phone at (314) 567-5612, or by fax at (314) 567-9047.