Eye on Earth

Eye on Earth

A visit to www.eyeonearth.eu is a must if you are planning on taking a beach trip to anywhere in the EU. It will help you find your way to the cleanest spots in Europe.

Made by the European Environment Agency (EEA), the website allows users to check the EU water quality ratings for over 21,000 swimming spots in beaches, rivers and lakes around Europe.

It is laid out in a familiar click and zoom map style, so it is really easy to find the watery spot you are heading to marked on the map. You can switch between a graphical and satellite image version of the map by clicking between Road and Ariel.

The flags on the map represent either the EEA rating, or a user vote. See the key on the left for the options.

Once you zoom right in, you will see a tiny satellite picture of the location together with an option to leave your own vote.

As time goes by, this site should build into a really nice resource for beach lovers everywhere looking for a clean and safe spot to swim.

Symmetry Explorer

Symmetry Explorer

At symmetry.sytes.org you can take the images from any web page and creating a symmetrical work of art.

The website uses an image searcher, so query a keyword or phrase of your choosing, to enjoy a selection of symmetrical images. Try clicking some of their suggested links if you lack inspiration.

These images can make a work of art out of the most unlikely objects. Click the link under the pair of pictures to see the original source image.

The only thing the website lacks is a link to go back and try another search. You will have to use the back button on your browser or enter the address again. But that is just a minor distraction from what is a fascinating journey.

The Virtual Cave

The Virtual Cave

I tried potholing once and was terrified to be squeezing myself into sunken crevices of rock with no light, with plenty of green slime under my hands and knees.

I vowed I would never take another trip underground, but I have changed my mind, virtually of course.

At goodearthgraphics.com/vitcave you will be able to uncover the many dark and damp mysteries of the world of caves. Plus, you do not need to don a jumpsuit and headlamp in order to enjoy them.

Keen caver and photographer Dave Bunnell has amassed this vast collection of information and pictures from his 35-odd years of experience underground. The site is split into four key sections covering the different underworld realms.

When taking a virtual tour in pictures and words, you can find sights like the incredibly cool glacier caves in Alaska and Nepal show, and some hot and steaming action inside lava tubes.

COLOURlovers

COLOURlovers

Colours have a big influence on people. You might not realise it, but colours can affect your appetite, mood and energy levels. Advertisers, marketers and designers spend a lot of time and money devising new palettes to appeal.

COLOURlovers is an online resource where you can find inspiration and talk openly about your love of colours with like-minded people.

Whether you are designing your website, considering re-decorating your home, or are a professional in need of a little inspiration - there are literally hundreds of colour palettes and patterns for you to view and download.

The trends tab at the top of the site is interesting, as it picks up on current trends in magazine and website design, which could help you keep up to date and have your design work looking 100% in style.

And if you are the creative type you can even add your own colours and palettes to the database.

Will It Blend?

Will It Blend?

I have no idea what inspired the makers of Will It Blend? But one thing I do know for sure is that you should definitely not try this at home.

The basis of this website is will stuff blend? By that, we mean what will happen if you put something in a blender and hit the on button. We are not talking oranges and whipped cream here - we know they blend - but how about a Rubik's cube, a sports ball or even an iPhone?

Crazy but true, these guys have blended them all and I watched the videos with nail-biting suspense. I particularly like the glow sticks blend for a bit of in-the-dark drama.

There is actually a Try This at Home section too for safe blends, like making chicken soup and grinding your own coffee beans. It is a bizarre collection of videos that I find strangely appealing. Amazing what you can find on the internet.

Irrepressible.info

Irrepressible.info

At irrepressible.info you can find out about amnesty international's campaign to ensure that the world wide web remains a bastion of free speech and expression.

The website states that the internet is a new frontier in the struggle for human rights. It claims governments, with the help of some of the biggest IT companies in the world, are cracking down online freedom.

You can read all about their claims and see how to take action yourself on this clean and simple website.

It is up to you to make up your mind about what you read, and if you choose to sign up and pledge your support, you will be joining more than 80,000 others.

Reading Test

Reading Test

Have you heard about the theory that the brain can make sense of a passage of text with the letters all jumbled up? This works as long as the first and last letters are in place.

On this website you can read the classic bit of text that describes the theory. You have probably seen it as a viral, as I think this one did the rounds a year or so ago.

Well, now some clever spark has created an engine where you can test out the theory on any site you like. Just plug the URL in the box provided and see how it works.