Top 10 Official Websites

Ok, once again, the title of my list confuses the hell of even me. The word "official" basically means that it isn't the creation of a single person. For example, "amazon.com" would count because its a website with a huge list of employees. The way I look at it is that it is any site that isn't an individual blog, or I know the person who created it. I also didn't include search engines, because while they are in some ways a site, its not based on a single topic, and I only go to them to reach other sites. In the end, this is just a list of my ten favorite websites; the ones I truly need in my every day lifestyle.

10. Gamefaqs: Sneaking into the last spot on the list is the simple website gamefaqs. A site I use to check on reviews, videogame boards, and faqs if I am truly stuck on something. Basically it is the most complete site on videogame information there is, so I can't completely ignore it. I visit it quite frequently for those reasons, and just to follow the hype surrounding certain games or systems.

9. Last.fm: This is the first of two sites that Thiell introduced me to. Last.fm is probably the site I spend the least time on, because in some ways it really isn't that exciting. However, I love lists (as you can tell by this blog) and last.fm is basically just one huge list that keeps track of all the music you play on your computer. After over five years of last.fm, you start to get a huge comprehensive list that truly begins to show your musical taste. That and you can discover that you truly do listen to "Where'd You Go" by Fort Minor more than any other song by a great deal.

8. Blogger: Without blogger this list wouldn't exist. Basically, I enjoy the site because it allow me to publish these lists, but doesn't make me seem that dorky because I am not posting it directly on facebook (of course, I always post the link of facebook to get viewers). Also, while not perfect, the interface is pretty simple, and I can create multiple blogs so that the Don Awards don't get mixed in with the lists. But best of all, there was this one time a girl from Wisconsin found and commented on my blog, and that was just outright stellar, so blogger definitely gets me out there (and if you search my name, it sometimes comes up)

7. Sidereel: As an entity, the carousel of websites I have used to watch tv shows, has been a key to my internet usage. The problem is that few sites have actually remained stable and effective, although sidereel is the one long running one throughout. If I miss a show this is where I go, and how I catch up on Parenthood, Community, among other shows. I also chose this site over Netflix (the other site I watch tons of tv with) because I think of netflix first and foremost as a company and not as a website, and its hard for me to separate the site as a separate entity. In most ways, though, sidereel is representing the array of sites I have used for television using, something I am glad exists now on the internet (plus sidereel saved my mother once from missing an episode of Supernatural, and made me seem like a hero)

6. Entertainment Weekly: The passing of the torch from tvguide.com to entertainment weekly occurred when they swiped Michael Ausiello away. This is one of the core sites I check numerous times every day, due to the fact it is the site with the most updating news on television. Also, they typically have the best television recaps, specifically in Gossip Girl, LOST, and most of all Survivor (which I enjoy Survivor EW friday almost as much as the actual new episode). Ausiello is the key to the site however, because he is one of the individuals most involved in the television business, and will also write the fun articles like who deserves to win the Emmy. I feel like I have betrayed TVguide.com for Ew.com, but the change has happened, and it needs to be noted.

5. Wikipedia: My go-too source for pretty much every piece of information. When I need to know if any of my bands are producing a CD soon, I check out wikipedia, or if I want solid information about the facts about a videogame or tv show. The information is endless, including television episode lists for every single show I've ever thought up. But the real advantage to wikipedia; it is the one site I have consistently used for school to get information, because even about things like psychopathology the information is solid, and understandable. Really, it is exactly what it claims, an encyclopedia which is alot easier to search through, and filled with alot more details. Its not the most exciting site on the list, but one I would be sad to see vanish.

4. Sporcle: The big mover on the list. This site is the second site on this list to be introduced to me by Thiell; although this time on three different occasions. The first was a lost quiz, which was entertaining, the second a castlevania one... It wasn't until the third one, a sports based one, that I realized this site was literally filled with quizzes, and not lame multiple choice ones, but rather quizzes that recognized the words you inputted. There is a mass amount of choices, and they can fit your every move. Clearly I spend a chunk of time on sports and gaming quizzes, because I know alot in those areas, but I also try all types of other areas, like baby names, corporate slogans, geography, etc. It is one of the greatest de-stresser in my life, because when things get aggravating, I can just distract myself with one of the quizzes.

3. ESPN.com: I have no idea why espn gets the ".com" in its name, probably because when I hear the name espn, I think of the television network first. With that said, ESPN.com is my computer homepage, because in truth sports are a huge part of my life. I mean, there is almost always something big happening like expansion or free agency, and a ton of differing opinions about those topics. Plus you can get the humoring (but at times annoying) articles by Bill Simmons, and Power Rankings... an updating list of the best teams in sports (I feel like each week it becomes more and more clear that I like lists). Truly its hard to explain that I love ESPN, but in the end I just do... especially for NCAA Basketballs Bubble Watch!!!

2. Facebook: Facebook has its share of problems, I won't deny it, yet I am there more than any other website probably. Its a habit, but I just can't resist clicking on the site non-stop to see what people are up to (most of which I don't even care what I read). I was never a myspacer, and for awhile I didn't even want a facebook account until Tracy and Connie, among others, forced one upon me. However, it does keep one in touch with people, as much as one would hope it wouldn't, and can also at times keep you humored. Plus, its how I link to my lists and talk about sports to the few that care. That's the other nice thing, you have about 200+ friends, so sometimes the most surprising people post on stuff, and that pretty sweet.

1. Yahoo: What interests me is that if I broke yahoo into two groups (yahoo games and yahoo sports) yahoo probably would have two of the top three pages, but in the end I decided to count yahoo as one super entity. First off, yahoo games. 99% of the euchre I've played in my life has been on this website (and I also have gone through a pool, go fish, hearts, and gin phase on the site) playing the game with and against real people, and getting a rating based upon it (although that doesn't overly matter). However, while I love yahoo games, that wasn't the section of the website that won it for them. Yahoo fantasy sports are what its all about. I love fantasy sports, because it allows me to care about teams other than my core groups, and players specifically on them. I do them year round, in pretty much every sport, and if I do real well, I get a trophy (well, a picture of a trophy) on my yahoo profile. It sounds dorky, cause it is, but I'd rather by a huge geek with fantasy sports, then without. I mean, come on... even my girlfriend Sam is going to play fantasy football in my league, which truly shows that it can bring everyone together (just for note, fantasy basketball is my favorite of them all, however)