We’Re Caught In The Web

It’s no secret that hard-core Internet surfers go to great lengths to maximize their time online.

But a new survey for pogo.com underscores just how far many Netizens are willing to go. For some, it’s literally a life-altering imperative.

* To get more time on the Internet, 20 percent would give up some of the time they spend sleeping, while 7 percent would be willing to sacrifice occasional meals.

* More than one of five respondents - 22 percent - said they are spending less time with family and friends because of their online habits. The percentage was higher among adults age 55 and over (25 percent) than among people under 25 (19 percent).

The survey, conducted by Greenfield Online for pogo.com, was based on 1,000 responses from an Web-based marketing research panel.

If you haven’t already reached your online time limit, here are a few new, interesting or entertaining Web sites to explore:

* Road warriors: The summer travel season begins in two weeks. If you are researching potential destinations, this site provides links to the official Web sites of more than 1,000 cities worldwide (including Spokane).

Officialtravelinfo.com offers consumers a “splash page” on each destination, as well as a hyperlink to the appropriate convention and visitor bureau Web site.

Other features include information about airports and worldwide weather information via a link with The Weather Channel.

http://www.officialtravelinfo.com

* Boinking good fun: For an irreverent, whimsical look at life’s foibles, check out this site, which features animated shorts dubbed The Daily Boink!

Site developers say their mission is to “grow the online audience for gag-a-day hilarity through daily boink! animations.”

A recent example: “Boinking John Malkovich,” which features a medium-sized cutout of John Malkovich’s head getting boinked by a smaller John Malkovich head, echoing the surreal hilarity of the sequence in “Being John Malkovich” in which Malkovich enters his own portal.

http://www.dailyboink.com

* For moms: Bluesuitmom.com, which debuted appropriately on Sunday’s Mother’s Day holiday, offers information and advice geared to executive moms.

Sample topics include stock options, earning more money than your husband, hiring a nanny and traveling for business.

http://www.bluesuitmom.com