The World Weird Web

Most people, unfortunately, don't leave their online home unless forced to. Facebook in particular has taught people to only read what is on their site and actually clicking on links is felt as leaving the comfort of that home.

That does mean missing out on 200 million actively maintained and visited sites of the 1.1 billion out there.

If only 0.01% are of interest to you and have the quality you want that still leaves ... um ... that's around ... well, you can work it out surely.

Where to start though eh?

1. Keep your Facebook, it can sometimes surprise, but rarely.
2. Download / sign into to an RSS app. I, like many, use Feedly.
3. Subscribe to sites you find - like mine for instance 😉

Orrrr, go wild with Fish doorbells! Historic sandwiches! 50 of the weirdest, most wonderful corners of the web – picked by an expert article as there are some absolute doozies inside, my top 5 are:

1: The Fish Doorbell

Fish swim every spring from the Vecht, via the Oudegracht and the canals, to the Kromme Rijn. Right through Utrecht, looking for a place to lay eggs and reproduce. 

Sometimes they have to wait a long time at the Weerdsluis, because the lock gates do not open often in early spring. That is why there is a camera under water at the lock. 

Are there fish in the picture? Press the bell. The lock keeper gets a signal and, if there are a lot of fish, will open the lock. In this way you help fish to continue on their route!

[Chrome translated from original Dutch]

2024 season is done but they'll be back on March 3, 2025! A new spring, a new fish doorbell season.

2: Marine Traffic

We've all seen the flights one, well here's something to track all the boats out there ... for your reasons, I'm sure you have reasons, not for me to question your reasons.

3: National Grid: Live

The National Grid is the electric power transmission network for Great Britain and I wish every country had a site like this catering to their location, genius.

4: Messy Nessy Chic

Vanessa Grall and her cabinet of art, design, fashion and historical wonders that have filled the website for the past 2 decades, delightful.

5: myNoise

Concentrate better with consistent auditory environments that minimize distractions. myNoise sounds are engineered to be easily ignored by the brain, creating an illusion of silence while effectively masking nuisances.

BONUS: Antipodes Map

Answering the question: where would you end up if you tunnelled right through the Earth and came out the other side?

And those are my favourites, but I urge you to read the article as your sensibilities may be different mine, or YMMV as the old kids on the block used to say.

Don't forget to find sites you like and subscribe to their feeds.