Picks of the Week: 12th November 2001

What a load of Ballockes! No, we're not being rude - this site contains a fabulous collection of misquotes, malapropisms, and mixed metaphors. We've all been there, meaning to say something intelligent which somehow tumbles out as, "I just wonder what other skeletons will come out of the woodwork." This usually happens in the workplace when you are at your most vulnerable or, failing that, when trying to impress a member of the opposite sex. "I could drink a glass of water out of a cup, no problem," should always be followed with, "I'll get my coat." Elsewhere on the site, you'll also find the addictive meetings pastime 'Buzzword Bingo' - we don't want to give the game away, but it'll have you thinking outside of the box, going forward.

Change A Life

Picks readers on these fair isles will have noticed that the weather has been a bit parky of late. Gone are the rumours of a fair weather winter, only to be replaced by the season of mists we know so well. It's a good time to spare a thought for those who are stuck out of doors during the harsh winter months. The folks at Change A Life have a novel approach to the homelessness problem. They are asking companies for unwanted surplus goods, including everything from toiletries to computers, which can then be used in housing projects and drop-in centres. It seems cardboard boxes won't improve a homeless person's life, but the goods inside the boxes might.

Film Info

Cinemagoers in Ireland could do worse than check out the Film Info site. It does exactly what it says on the label - offering information and listings of the latest movie releases in the Emerald Isle. The most useful feature is the directory of cinemas across the whole of Ireland, although the listings are a bit wobbly in some browsers. Film Info also offers a bunch of fun stuff including the quaint 'Dungeon of Doom' game and film star biographies. The WAP service is not up and running yet and, in general, the site still needs a little work - but this should become an essential resource for Irish film fans.

Historic Houses Association

This informative site provides glimpses of many British historic houses you can visit, for a small admission fee naturally. The Historic Houses Association was formed to, "Represent the interests of Britain's historic houses, castles and gardens that remain in private ownership," and the site includes general information about many of them. The events section is useful, with listings from Murder Mystery evenings to Medieval festivals, and there's a wedding venues database for those wishing to tie the knot in stylish surroundings. Perhaps due to Harry Potter mania we headed straight for the film locations page which features Alnwick Castle, aka Hogwarts.

Team53.co.uk

When you think of skateboarding, the Welsh valleys might not spring to mind, but the two will become inseparable after a visit to Team53. This site is a full-on celebration of the burgeoning Welsh skate scene. To those not in the know, Team53 provides a good introduction to skateboarding and includes hilarious (if painful to watch) galleries of 'bails'. Of course, if you'd rather boardslide without falling on your backside, then check out the 'Trick Tips' section for some expert advice. And the icing on the cake has to be the movies page, featuring our heroes in action - go team!