Type your word in the text field, and click to launch a Java applet window that will have your word as the nucleus and a bunch of synonyms and antonyms surrounding it. Each has a node, which if you place your cursor on, will display a dictionary meaning and examples of usage.

Clicking on an affiliated word will immediately bring that one to the centre and spawn a range of its own.

A column to the right lists meanings according to nouns, verbs and adjectives, while a 'history' section akin to the one in your browser lets you easily retrace your steps.

The thesaurus is helpful when you need to find simpler words to replace jargon. It can also help news reporters who, given the current political scenario, need to find 10 synonyms of scam in order to prevent all articles from reading alike!

Bloody Finger Mail

'For those times when ink just doesn't cut it,' send your foes email written in blood, freshly dripping from a gory finger.

Don't slice your own digits yet. Log on to this site and use your cursor to manipulate an eerie hand into scrawling the message. Next just type in the recipients address and hit 'send'! If you're particularly proud of your work, add it to the site's gallery.

When your victim clicks on the link in his mail, he'll see that same finger begin to write your words in blood. Virtual, of course.

Also check out the 'Last Writes' -- blood mail that has recently been sent by others. There's a sinister thrill in anticipating what that finger will write next.

Gimpsy

What would you like to do? asks Gimpsy, a search engine containing 'only interactive sites that allow users to perform various activities'.

Type in your answer and you'll find a list of sites that could help you conduct your task.

Its logo is clearly a take-off from Google's but where results are concerned, it still has some catching up to do. However, it seems to be evolving. The homepage has a list of categories that you can go through. Some of the ones I found useful were:

I want to calculate

I want to download

I want to learn

I want to play

I want to translate

E-fluentials

When you come across injustice, do you email the authorities concerned? After checking out Web sites, do you occasionally send them your feedback? Do you make online friends often?

If so, chances are you have a tremendous e-fluence. This short quiz will confirm whether the way you use the Internet makes you influent online.

See how well you exploit the Web's potential for communication. Being e-fluential entails being 'in the know, and helping to shape the attitudes and opinions of other online users through your ongoing interaction and communication.'

If you are part of the 'online movers and shakers', you can join the site's panel. If not, find out six secrets of e-fluentials and you'll probably get there soon!

Also Read -- Solve Rubik's cube online -- Childish beliefs and origin of phrases -- Sherlock Holmes, physics, coureware online -- Serial killers and popularity contests -- Haunted places, secret to longetivity

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