153: My Favorite Websites

Supposedly, I use my computer to do schoolwork. But as many of you well know that does not always happen. I spend a lot of my free time putzing around the internet. Here are some of the ways I waste utilize my time: 

The New York Times 

I read the New York Times online everyday. There is seriously no better way to stay informed than to read the NYT. My motivation is two fold: first, to see what's going on in the world. Secondly, as a journalism student, the New York Times is the golden standard. So, I can kill two birds with one stone by staying informed and becoming a better writer one article at a time.

Link: http://www.nytimes.com/

Politico

Politico is one of my favorite political websites. Politico is politics. It's a hotbed for political opinions and everything that is going on in politics. Seriously, these people stalk Congress more than I would ever want to. One of my favorite parts of Politico is their 2012 Candidate Tracker, which has hourly updates of the presidential candidates schedules and campaigns. Want to know where Mitt Romney was this morning at 8:30? Well, he was hosting a rally at the Florence Civic Center in Florence, South Carolina. He will also be in New York City by six o' clock tonight for a fundraiser. If you want to stay political informed, then this is the site for you. 

Link: http://www.politico.com/

2012 Candidate Tracker: http://www.politico.com/2012-election/candidate-map/

CNN

Sadly, I cannot watch the news all day. I do actually have to go to class and do my schoolwork. That's where CNN.com comes in. It's the best news website in my opinion because it's super easy to read and the most important information is at the top. I know the world's breaking stories in about ten seconds. These are not just political stories, but any breaking news. CNN also has uplifting videos that I will watch and opinion articles that I read. It's a great overall website to stay informed on a myriad of topics, not just politics. 

Link: http://www.cnn.com/

ESPN

ESPN is about a synonymous with sports as "Go to hell Duke" is to UNC-Chapel Hill. As an avid sports fan, there is not better way to brush up on my sports knowledge that to check out ESPN daily. ESPN is not just score updates. It's everything sports and then some. I can read about how Tim Tebow visited with a young girl dying of cancer after one of his games. I can then go read about what UNC's crushing loss to Florida State means to college basketball. If you're interested in sports in any capacity, this is the website for you. 

Link: http://espn.go.com/

TSN

No offense to ESPN, but they stink at covering my beloved game of hockey. ESPN is America's sports network, and America does not have the love and appreciation for hockey that our northern neighbor, Canada, possesses.  TSN is ESPN's equivalent in Canada. This website is my go to for anything related to hockey. TSN updates hockey as Politico updates politics. I use TSN to supplement the lack of hockey news and information that ESPN does not provide me. So, if you want to know more about hockey and get a different perspective on sports, check out TSN.

Link: http://tsn.ca/

Pinterest 

Last, but certainly, oh certainly not least, is Pinterest. It is my guilty pleasure, and what I waste (yep, I said it) the most time on. It's addicting. I'm warning you all now, but it's totally worth it. Pinterest is a virtual pinboard, where people can pin things that they see on the internet. There is everything on Pinterest from clothing, shoes and accessories to food recipes, cute puppies and advice on losing weight. I can literally spend hours just looking at everything that has been pinned. It never ends. It seriously never ends. I have gotten ideas for new outfits from Pinterest and new workouts to try. It's so broad, but yet perfect because everything is right there at your fingertips. If you have some free time or just want to do something else with your brain, get on Pinterest. I'm telling you, you won't regret your time spent or ah, wasted on it. 

Link: http://pinterest.com/

And here are two of my favorite videos if anyone is in need of a good laugh. The first one is a political spoof courtesy of Saturday Night Live and Funny or Die and the other is just well, funny.