TIME's 50 Best Websites of 2009.

Time Magazine recently released their list of the 50 best websites of 2009. I've heard of most of them, but some were new, so I spent some time going through the list.

Here are a few of my new favorites:

WolframAlpha - You can "Enter your question or calculation,and WolframAlpha uses its built-in algorithms and a growing collection of data to compute the answer." So for example, you can enter a date and it will tell you al bunch of information about that date like the day (if you enter a year), things that have happened, what the weather was like that day... etc. You can enter the name of a city... even a calculation problem! It's pretty neat. I put in my birthday and found out I was born on a Saturday, that I am 31 years 4 months 18 days old, the sun rose at 5:38 am that morning, and there was a waxing cresent moon in the sky!! Whoa.

Academic Earth - Did you know you can now watch full video lectures on subjects like Advanced Placement (AP) Test Prep, Biology, Chemistry, Computer Science, Economics, Engineering, Entrepreneurship, History, Law, Literature, Mathematics, Philosophy, Physics, Political Science, Pre-Med, and Psychology. I mean, why even GO to college people?? (I'm totally just kidding about that). It is so cool though, the selection of things you can learn. I plan to start with literature and then maybe some pre-med.

Internet Archive - This site kind of scares me because it is so awesome!! They are basically backing up the internet! You can look at what a website used to look like using their wayback machine... Or watch one of almost 200,000 moving images, listen to live music archives, other forms of Audio, and read from over a million and a half texts. The website states, "The Internet Archive, a 501(c)(3) non-profit, is building a digital library of Internet sites and other cultural artifacts in digital form. Like a paper library, we provide free access to researchers, historians, scholars, and the general public." How wonderful is that? Very! Want to watch an episode of Betty Boop?

Consumer Search - This is a website where the opinions of the top rated, and most qualified reviewers are gathered on pretty much anything you would ever want or think about buying. They rate and review products and let you know what is the best one! A very helpful thing if you are unsure about what is the best product to buy. They rate everything from cars to catfood to baby products... even chocolate! Now you know where I will be going before I buy that next electric toothbrush.

and finally,

Pandora and last.fm- I love music. I love FREE music even more. These websites will play only the music you like and suggest music that is similar to your indicated style and mood. If you like a song give it a thumbs up! Hate it... thumbs down it and it won't be played again. :ast.fm even recommends concerts that are in your area according to the music style you listen to. Very neat! There are other websites out there like this, but I like these sites the best.

There are several other sites I liked... check them out yourself when you have a couple hours to spare. The internet rocks!