At the Academy Awards, they say it’s an honour just to me nominated. We’ll see if the same holds true for the annual Webby Awards, presented by the International Academy of Digital Arts and Sciences to the top Web sites in more than 30 categories. The awards will be presented on June 18 at a ceremony in San Francisco, and the winners are allowed only a five word victory speech for posterity.
Last week we covered Fashion to Government and Law categories. This week will cover Health to Music.
Because I got a late start this year, Cybernaut will continue to list nominated sites even after the awards are handed out. The point is that all of the nominated sites are excellent, maybe even useful, and that’s a rare commodity on the Internet these days. If you want to spoil the ending and find out who won, visit www.webby awards.com.
Health
Breast Cancer Action ( www.bcaction.org ) – "Breast Cancer Action carries the voices of people affected by breast cancer to inspire and compel the changes necessary to end the breast cancer epidemic."
Dr. Spock ( www.drspock.com ) – That’s "Dr. Spock", not "Mr. Spock", so put the rubber ears and phaser away. Dr. Spock is a respected author and physician who has focused on parenting and child health.
Life Clinic ( www.lifeclinic.com ) – This membership site allows you to assess your health, talk to physicians, and track your diet and overall health.
Planned Parenthood Golden Gate ( www.ppgg.org ) – There are heterosexual people on both sides of San Francisco’s Golden Gate bridge, and this site provides leading edge planned parenthood information and advice for them.
TeenWire ( www.teenwire.com ) – A hip approach to sex education that grown up experts have contrived to appeal to teens. It’s a little hokey, like commercials for Frosted Flakes and Sunny D, but there’s a lot of good information.
Humour
F***edcompany.com ( www.f---edcompany.com ) – A complete backlash against corporate culture based on actual f***ed companies, the moves they make and the language they use. Like a celebrity dead pool, pick the companies you think are going down.
Heartless Bitches ( www.heartless-bitches.com ) – If a guy is hard-headed, ambitious, and a player with the ladies, he’s the man. If a woman is the same way, then she’s a heartless bitch. Rather than fight this disparity, this site celebrates Heartless Bitches, past and present.
LegoDeath ( www.legodeath.com ) – An online house of horrors, constructed entirely out of Lego – and hopefully by adults.
The Onion ( www.theonion.com ) – A personal favourite of mine. It’s a spoof newspaper that goes further than anyone has gone before. Give it a couple of issues, and you’ll be hooked.
SatireWire ( www.satirewire.com ) – Kind of like The Onion. Not as funny or original maybe, but there’s a broader range of satire to enjoy.
Kids
Channel One ( www.channelone.com ) – A news station aimed at teenagers and young adults, discussing the issues of the day. There are regular features on music, entertainment and sports.
American Museum of Natural History ( www.ology.amnh.org ) – The natural sciences, packaged and presented in a format that can help younger kids in their own studies.
Pinhole Spy Camera ( www.pinholespy.com ) – Basically, this site will guide your child through the construction and use of a pinhole camera, but with an urgency you’re not going to get from an arts and crafts guide. It’s all part of their spy training.
SFS Kids ( www.sfskids.com ) – The San Francisco Symphony presents a cool and interactive music education Web site, complete with a little toy piano you can play.
TeenWire.com ( www.teenwire.com ) – Also nominated in Health.
Music
All Songs Considered ( www.npr.org/programs/asc ) – The PR in NPR basically stands for public radio, or a network of over 640 radio stations in the U.S. and around the world. If you want to get your music played, you can audition on this site, or listen to other submissions.
Freemuse ( www.freemuse.org ) – Because censorship issues in music haven’t been resolved by Tipper Gore, the Moral Majority and those little Parental Advisory stickers.
Hearts of Space ( www.hos.com ) – New Age musaz, I mean music, on public radio. The motto here is "Timeless Music for a Changing World."
Live365 ( www.live365.com ) – Listen to over 40,000 Internet radio stations free. You’re not going to get local news and traffic reports, but you will be able to hear the kind of music you like.
LOOPLABS (www.looplabs.com) – That’s "Loop Labs", not "Loo Plabs." Loop Labs is an online music mixer that allows you to create and record your own funky sounds by combining different recorded loops. Pretty unbelievable stuff.
