Top 10 Blogs for Discovering Something New
Looking for inspiration? Tired of the same-old same-old? These blogs are guaranteed to introduce you to ideas, people and sites that you haven't heard of. And as Bill Cosby liked to say, "If you're not careful, you may learn something."
The home Web site for the TED (Technology, Entertainment, Design) conferences features a dizzying array of short (10-20 minute) talks by some of the world's smartest, most entertaining or most forward-thinking people. Check some out and you'll see why TED's motto is Ideas Worth Spreading.
Originally a site from which tech geeks could soak up a bit of culture, MetaFilter is now one of the most intellectually wide-ranging (and entertaining) sites on the Web. Smart commentary on news as it happens mixes with found links that open avenues to the sciences, humanities, politics and the just plain weird.
The folks who bring you the Encyclopaedia Britannica now run daily Web-based safaris into the world of information, explaining the obscure and elaborating on the famous. History, science, the arts--it's all there.
More a creativity generator than a blog, type any word into the Ideas box and this site coughs up a wealth of related music, images, poetry, colors, tweets and much more to get your juices flowing.
Sure, you click on YouTube links--but have you ever just gone to the parent site and cruised around at random? The top videos in each category, and the site overall, change constantly as videos become more or less popular--and increasingly, as both viewers and sponsors drive the site toward specific themes and news events.
Tribe is a community of alternative communities that bridges the gap between mainstream thinking and the alternative world. This portal can connect you with new groups interested in an array of philosophies and lifestyles, and you can go as far out as you like (hint: Burning Man is just a starting point for many Tribe members).
If you want to find a place in the world you've never been to, chances are Lonely Planet has. The guidebook publisher's site makes a fine start to discovering destinations you may have overlooked (so far).
This century-old group will bend your brain in new directions with an assortment of old-school and innovative games and puzzles. Stretch your brain with their vast collection of anagrams, crosswords, palindromes, verse puzzles and more that stretches back to 1893.
Observations: Scientific American
Opinions, arguments and analysis from the editors of Scientific American, who constantly have their ears to the ground for world-changing scientific developments. Recent topics have included artificial photosynthesis, the Moon's newly discovered ice, and how video games can aid stroke victims in recovering motor function.
Collates news, essays and opinion, and book reviews from hundreds of publications and writers and presents it all in a clean, readable format. While leaning a bit toward the Ivory Tower, A&L Daily is still a highly accessible snapshot of what the culture at large is doing on any given day.
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