Wicked Cool

Wacky Website: Single Serving Sites

Is This Your Paper on Single Serving Sites? is a long essay on a silly topic—the phenomenon of the "single serving site"—a website that has a dedicated domain name (like www.example.com), a narrowly defined purpose (if any), and only one webpage to express its message or purpose.  The essay itself is sort of amusing, but what pushes it to Wicked Cool status is the author's catalog of 161 known single serving sites.  And the fact that it's apparently a real academic paper (hope it got an A)!

You'll find old friends like webhamster.com, and maybe some new ones, like thebestfortunecookieever.com or dingitsup.com.  Find any favorites?

Haunted Libraries -- Wicked and Cool

Is your library a spooky place this time of year?  Some libraries are spooky all year round!  Check out The Haunted Library Series for the many ways libraries can be haunted.

Wacky Website: The Dogs of Wisconsin Libraries

Sometimes looking at pictures of cute animals is good for your mental health.  Cute Overload (or Lolcats or Loldogs) can usually satisfy that need, but for something a bit closer to home, try The Dogs of Wisconsin Libraries.  Click on "Featured Searches" to meet the canine companions of librarians or other library workers living in Wisconsin.  Cuuuuuuute!!!

Wacky Websites: How to Spend Hours Looking at Web Tutorials

Step 1:  Find a website with the weirdest possible how-to's (or most useful, depending on how you look at it).  Here are some good starting points:

• WikiHow:  Written how-to's, in wiki format -- so if you see any bad advice, you can set the record straight for other folks.
• 5min Life Videopedia:  Short how-to videos.  Many of these attempt to be funny; some of them succeed.
• Instructables:  If anything is wicked cool, it's this site, which combines written instructions, pictures, videos, image annotation, comments, and an amazing range of topics. 

Step 2:  If you're curious, you'll have no trouble finding something interesting to learn how to do.  But if you need a little push, try looking at how to make an invisible book shelf, lavender oil, or ninja mittens.  Or how to create a calmer household.  Or keep your bike from being stolen.  Or clean pennies.  Or win a cubicle war.  It just goes on and on!

Libraries Are for Web People Too!

Check out William Hicks's recent article "Getting the Most Out of Your Library" in Digital Web Magazine -- all about what the bricks-and-mortar library has to offer web professionals (a lot -- but that should come as no surprise!).

Wacky Website: Little People -- a tiny street art project

Are you always on the lookout for little treasures in unexpected places, lost toys, notes in library books, loose change?  (Me too!)  If you go to London, keep your eyes open for these guys -- "Little handpainted people, left in London to fend for themselves."

Picture Book Views of Technology

Ever notice how computers, cell phones, and gadgets are nowhere to be seen in picture books?  Children's author Erica Perl takes a look at why -- and finds some exceptions to the rule -- in this slideshow:

"The Mismatch of Technology and Picture Books"

"Addy Will Know"

Addy Will Know is a fine musical tribute to the modern librarian! It even includes a brain-teasing puzzle that is sure to get you hooked.

Thanks to Trish for the wacky website tip!

Coke and Mentos Fountain

John D. wrote of the Coke and Mentos Fountain at EepyBird.com:

While I am not fond at all of Diet Coke and only tolerate Mentos, I am particularly fond of them combined.

If you haven't already taken a minute to watch the fabulous videos on this site, do - you'll be amazed!

Wacky Website: Gnome Name Generator

Terry the Terrifying Clown of Ulverston sends thanks to Pete G. for notifying her of the Gnome Name Generator at Chimpage Online (a treasure trove of wacky wonderfulness)!