Nifty computer things to occupy time.....

Another snow/ice event has been happening outside for hours and hours now, actually since before the day began. Ick. But it is January in NH, after all, so it's to be expected. Plain snow is much easier to deal with, of course, but weather's just another thing over which we have no control. We've had to be out and in this a few times today and haven't been plowed out yet, so....triple ick. Heavy, icy, wet snow. Ick ick ick.

So, there's been some time wasting going on over here (that'd be by me) at the computer. I spent a ton of time doing extra work yesterday, so I rationalize a little computer play time today as the weather has put major wrinkles in what I'd otherwise be doing.

And, since I've discovered 3 intriguing new (and free....that's a requirement) fun things to play at on the computer, of course I just had to share :-) Perhaps everybody has known about them for a long time and just I'm among the last folks to find out. Who knows. In any event, if you don't know about them, they're kinda fun. They're not interacting with other people kinds of things, but creative sorts of things. Two of them I really enjoyed and the third, well, despite reading what a "wow" it is as a game, and be careful or you'll be spending all your time playing this.....well, I'm not seeing what all the jazz is about. To me, it's just OK. Others may love it.

The first is this way to make colorful sand pictures on your screen just by manipulating your mouse (or touch pad). It has a kind of soothing feeling to it as well. Seeing the sand drifting down and being able to move around where it goes, change the color at will....a quiet sort of contented fun. Very nice on a dreary "icky" stormy day like today. You will find this activity (it's really not a *game*....no score, you just make your own sand pictures) at: www.thisissand.com

A blank screen will open. Just double click someplace and you'll see this sand drifting down. Move your mouse (or finger) around and you'll move the sand around as well. Press your letter "c" key and you'll get a multiple shaded/colored screen. Move to the color you'd like to select for your sand and double click again. Zappo. You're back to your sand picture and sprinkling that color of sand! There are a few more things to do with this, but it's fun to discover on your own :-)

The next fun thing involves a way to "paint" with your mouse (or finger) Jackson Pollock-like pictures. Very nifty and more active than the sand painting thing. This is found at www.jacksonpollock.org Go to this site and again, you'll encounter a blank screen....UNTIL you begin to move your mouse/finger around and the wild blobs and lines begin to happen wherever you move your mouse. Double click on the screen and presto....a random new color happens. This is very jazzy indeed. Even the most artistically challenged folks can make some cool stuff happen on the screen with this. Despite this not being a favorite style of art for me, it's somehow rather exciting and feels a bit empowering to make all this happen under your fingers. Like venting with art without making a mess!!! Now, who among us wouldn't like that?

The last thing, the thing which apparently lots of people find "addicting" but was just *OK* as far as I'm concerned is a game called "Boomshine". The music which goes with it is rather nice (happy sounding piano music with other instruments which join in....nice....pleasant), so when you give this a try, make sure you have your sound on. You'll find this at www.addictinggames.com/boomshine.html

So, if you have find yourself with some time to occupy while at your computer, here you go! Three kind of cool things to try. Have fun! And stay safe in this icky, icy weather.....