Hilary Foster, Company Manager of Third Angel, provides her pick of the web.
1. http://www.airline-network.co.uk
Award-winning website offering access to discount airfares from over 130 of the world?s leading airlines. Boringly practical, but an invaluable tool for anyone touring internationally. It?s very easy to use, and unlike many other discount flight websites, you can see immediately what?s available at what price with no hidden extras. I?ve never found a ticket elsewhere that hasn?t been available on this site. Just don?t try to use it in Safari ? Internet Explorer only.
2. http://www.clubtopsy.com
This is my favourite swing dance site with an online radio station ? guaranteed to liven up the office without antagonising those within earshot (unlike that Arab Strap cd your colleague likes to play). OK, it?s tricky to Lindy Hop in a small office but just toe-tapping lifts the sprits almost as effectively. I love it not just because of the music but because it?s one of those sites, run by just one bloke from his back room somewhere in San Diego, that really crosses boundaries of nationality and culture and was what the Internet was made for.
3. http://www.multimap.com
Sorry, another work tool ? this one provides you with a free map of any UK location from the postcode (give or take a few 100 yards). The maps are much clearer than mapquest, printable, you can zoom in better than those at www.ordnancesurvey.com (although you can?t beat them for detail), and it will also tell you where the nearest train station, motorway junction and airport are. Just don?t use their directions ? it sent our technician the wrong way round the M25 so her journey took about 2 hours longer than it should have. Try www.theaa.com for those instead.
4. http://www.weebls-stuff.com
Infantile? Absolutely. You just can?t beat 5 minutes of pure nonsense, created by people with too much spare time, to break up the afternoon; weebls-stuff.com is full of the most popular animations on the web, frequently set to extremely catchy, but ultimately irritating, music that will bring out the inner child in you and your workmates. Not one to look at in the office if you share with those easily distracted, or disapproving of anything less serious than your management accounts. I suggest you search for ?badgers?, ?Kenya? and ?Clive? to get you started, but I?m not accepting responsibility for any missed deadlines...
5. http://www.kelkoo.co.uk
Good for work and play, Kelkoo is a timesaving price comparison site that saves you paying Amazonian tariffs when Tesco would be your best bet. It?s a tad slow at times, and not so good for the less mainstream (particularly books) but if you have the patience it can find you the cheapest high street and Internet prices for everything from cars to computer components to credit cards. It?s particularly handy at Christmas when all the big-hitters start their price wars on goods and delivery costs.
Sheffield-based Third Angel create performance, installation and film for theatres, galleries and public spaces. It celebrate its tenth birthday on 3 October.
t: 0114 281 2044; w: http://www.thirdangel.co.uk