Treasonous Question

[DisgustipatedinCA]

I'm getting into one of those phases where I need to step back for awhile, give politics a rest, and try to develop a more positive outlook. Anyone who has been here for very long will understand this, and the need for a part-time sabbattical.

But my start page is set to the Latest Threads page, so every time I go to look for something else, anything else on the Internet, I get sucked into a DU thread and generally end up grumbling about that SOB Bush or one of his cronies. I'd like to change my start page, at least temporarily.

The problem is, I love the everchanging, dynamic nature of Democratic Underground. I can open a browser, then do it again 20 minutes later, and I have a whole new group of threads to peruse.

Brass tacks: can anyone recommend a website I should investigate for the purposes mentioned above? Preferably, it would be rapidly-changing and combining the best elements of The Meeting Room forum here, National Geographic, the NYT Book Review, Salon's non-political stuff, phytography, spriituality, travel magazines, science stories.

I guess it's a tall order. I'm looking for something that will let me temporarily escape from the clutches of the BFEE but still read smart, incisive articles/threads such as are found here.

Thanks.

[not_in_my_name]

1. I suggest

www.ironictimes.com

[charlie]

2. Metafilter

http://www.metafilter.com/

The linkage and conversation is usually top quality.

[MLEESS]

3. Good website

If you want a break from DU, check out Townhall.com. It gives a pretty good view of the other side. Then when you have your fill of the other side, you can come back to DU all refreshed!

[DisgustipatedinCA]

4. Thanks, but...

Maybe I'll just get a full frontal lobotomy instead. It might be less harrowing.

[not_in_my_name]

5. Please don't go for the lobotomy

it'll turn you into a republican!

[DisgustipatedinCA]

7. Yes, I know

But our new 1-post friend here wants me to do just that by going to townhall.com. I thought that the lobotomy, or maybe a 5-minutes-of-hate session would accomplish the same without me having to read the work of already-lobotomized GOP robot columnists.

[rasputin1952]

9. I just went to townhall.com...

Not only do my eyes need a bleaching, my mouse will onlt 'right click'.

I didn't even get off the Homepage, and already I'm looking for a hammer to get rid of the searing pain in my frontal lobe.

:eyes:

[SlavesandBulldozers]

6. for your comedy fix

www.somethingawful.com
pure hilarity. check out the photoshop friday.

[rasputin1952]

8. There are a few places i go to when I am feeling a...

little 'blue'.

The Hubble Heritage Site is fantastic.

Skeptical Enquirer keeps me in tune with reality.

The Onion is always fun.

Scientific American, when I need intellectual stimulation.

Sometimes I just pick a topic and Google it...I've made some incredible finds surfing Google.

There are times when I have to bail as well; but this site is so addictive, it is ahbit hard to break. If this was a site where there was idiotic rambling, it wiould be just like most of the other 'interaction' sites. However, the BIG difference in here is that there are such diverse ideas, and such wonderful personalities that I just get stuck here for hours on end.

As I've said before, These are the greatest people I've never met.

:kick:

[DisgustipatedinCA]

12. Thank you

I'll look at some of those. Maybe I'll just set trusty google as a start page and go from there.

By the way, complete agreement on the quality of people and conversation here. Sure, there is some stuff that needs to be filtered out once in awhile, e.g., Poll: who do you hate the most, a, b, or c.

Nevertheless, the discourse here, in many of the threads, is higher than one finds in most corners of the internet.

Thanks for the suggestions.

[TrogL]

10. Free Republic

I know, I'm bad.

:spank::spank::spank::spank::spank::spank::spank::spank::spank::spank::spank::spank::spank::spank::spank::spank::spank::spank::spank::spank::spank::spank::spank::spank::spank::spank::spank::spank::spank::spank:

[DisgustipatedinCA]

11. I'm starting to think

that I should change my strategy. If you can't beat them, join them, right?

I'll just engage in heavy glue and gasoline sniffing for 2 or 3 years, try to memorize the "USA! USA!" chant, and join up with my new Klintoon-hating patriot brothers.

For now, I'll try to get accustomed to the new lifestyle by throwing garbage out my car window at every opportunity and shooting at speed limit signs.

[not_in_my_name]

13. Do the glue, but

skip the gasoline - and not for any longer than 16 months. Instead of the "USA" chant, try "Peace is for pussies!" Instead of shooting at speed limit signs, take down Stop signs. And don't forget to empty your car ashtray out the window as well.

I thought since you're thinking of joining them, you might benefit from these guidelines.

[DisgustipatedinCA]

14. Got it

Now if I only had some stepchildren to beat.

[not_in_my_name]

15. I'm sure there must

be kids floating around in your neighborhood . . . just as good. Domestic violence puts you squarely with the other side. And don't forget about boozing it up on Saturday night.