The S.A.R.C.A.S.M. Awards
Self-
Appointed
Reviewer of
Comedic and
Amusing
Sites of
Merit
The S.A.R.C.A.S.M. Awards are my response to the too-common number of corporate honor-badges for web sites.
Every self-ordained critic has different tastes -- a 50 year-old journalist's idea of "cool" is a universe of difference from mine.
The S.A.R.C.A.S.M. Awards, like any other awards, are all just some schmoe's opinon.
More Sites! More Sites!
If you know a site that needs a little recognition, submit it through e-mail, and I'll check it out. I try to praise the little labor-of-love amateur sites the big media Web pundits overlook. Remember, all selections are based on personal judgement call. But then, so are all the other Web awards.
Looking for sites with:
Some actual content.All-links sites need not apply.
Some entertainment value. Watching a 1024x1024 JPEG webcam of Sid the Amazing Pet Goldfish isn't entertaining.
Some "personality." I'd settle for a complete concept in 500K or less.
A sense of humor. This is a sarcasm award, after all. (Though I occasionally award a non-humor site too.)
A quick advance apology to submitters:
the Web's most unheard of award is
actually getting noticed, since a half-dozen submissions are coming in almost daily.
If get a little backlogged, I'll get back to you ASAP. Seperating the sheep from the goats, as it were, has been a bit
time-consuming. Thanks.
The list of S.A.R.C.A.S.M. Award sites (so far).
Sites marked with a ** are older sites that are now dead links. If you know where these sites have moved on to, please let me know. Thanks.
2001 - Return of the SARCASM awards
K-Says... (May 2001)
"KK" says insanity runs in her family. Judging from her riotous rants, I agree. No one writes commentary this manic if one gets excited by double-coupon day at the Piggly Wiggly. Threatening flight attendants with plasticware is a good sign too -- read it yourself.
Whatever! (May 2001)
Carla Cannon's aptly-titled site takes some well-aimed potshots at pop culture and celebrities. I haven't figured out the landscape, but it's a fun place to wander around. Her plea for Tom Green to give back all his "comedy" money and off himself for the betterment of humankind is worth the cost of admission alone.
Commentalcase (Mar 2001)
A great rant/commentary site. Commentalcase's proprietor, Nason Richmond, must need to clean his weekly conquest's blood from his pen. Topics include "Anyone For Stress," "Renovation TV," "Voto Finish," and "Repubicans Democraps."
Humorcolumnist.com (Mar 2001)
The name says it all. Web columnist Sheila Moss writes lighthearted funny pieces about life and everything in it. She had a very enjoyable style: sort of an Erma Bombeck (but funnier) meets Dave Barry (with less booger references).
Previous years
The Whistleblower Newswire (Nov 98)
Referred by Jangel@aol.com. A muckraking political site that carries "Some of the News They Seem to Lose," and includes some pretty potent satire and very funny animations and cartoons. "Wherever there's a bunch of big guys beating up on a little guy, we'll be there too...holding the little guy down." A bit to the right of my own moderate political views, but I like it anyway.
Confess to Ken Starr (Nov 98)
A great idea by Dick Grogan, who says, "Now that Bill and Monica have spilled their guts, Ken needs someone new to investiage. Help him by confessing!" Fill out the easy forms and submit your own twisted confessions. Dick needs to hear from you closet confessors out there!
Humor Me.com (Nov 98)
Some very funny essays from a fellow online scribe, Marshall Camp. Marshall, however, is good enough to be published. His column appears in the print and online editions of The Oklahoma Daily, as well as in The Internet Herald e-zine and on the University Wire. Notables include "Internet Good Place for Lust, Dogs," "Law School Admissions Test: Sadism or Masochism?" and "If You Can't Beat 'em, Try Lifting Weights."
**Cheat City (July 98)
For video game fanatics like myself, Cheat City has over 400 cheats and codes for numerous video game systems, as well as news on the gaming industry and an extensive links page. A one-stop shop for any exasperated gamer with self-inflicted controller wounds in need of some pixelated guidance.
The C. I. A. (July 98)
Not THE C.I.A., but the Campaign for Idiot Awareness, "THE grass-roots organization dedicated to stamping out intellectual turpitude." A satirical site where one can learn about Idiots in the News (true-life dopey criminals, and Darwin Award winners), feature articles, Congress (shooting fish in a barrel), and how to identify idiots. Visitors can also check out the Idiot Activists' Forum and join the C.I.A. If you're like me -- well, God help you, first of all -- but you'll want to check this site out and fight the good fight.
The Net Enquirer (July 98)
Brian Robertson, author of Little Blues Book with R. Crumb, maintains a great news satire Web site similar to The Onion, only much more bizarre. The weekly wackiness includes Swami River's astrology, MrBGrumpy's film reviews, advice columns, and even a nice game of checkers. Brian says, "We spend nothing on facts and pass the savings on to you!" And it shows! (I mean that in a good way.)
The Daily Smear: One Monkey, One Keyboard (July 98)
One of the more bizarre current-events-and-comments site I've ever seen. The single-page site gets updated often, and includes Ismisms (think Jack Handy's "Deep Thoughts"), Not Quite the News (satirical takes on little soundbyte factiods), and comments about people and places in the news.
The MentaNet News (June 98)
Richard Menta's month-in-review site, á la "The Daily Show" or "Weekend Update." Richard has written some great satire, with stories like "President Sex Scandal Solved! Good 'N Plenty Candy is Blamed," and "The Independent Council Subpoenas God." Also features a Shockwave-powered "newswire".
AltMartha's Recipe (May 98)
Yet another unconventional site for me. The self-proclaimed Kitchen Goddess with an Attitude, whose best credentials are that she has never poisoned anyone, shows how to make gourmet-style recipes using canned and prepared foods. Her logic being there's no reason to cook all-natural when highly trained professionals are responsible for the canned contents and butchers were put upon this earth to keep us from self-inflicted lost limbs. Lots of fun, informative stuff.
The Twin Peaks Humor Site (May 98)
I don't usually get so excited over fan sites, but this site seperates itself from the pack. The TPHS spolights on the lighter comedic side - the fun, odd, and wacky stuff of the David Lynch classic. Homebrewed humor, TP fan stories, parodies, games, assorted Lynchian oddites, and the net's largest current TP link list. Winner of Geocities' A-List Award and a CEA pick.
The Eccentric Playground (Mar. 98)
I want to meet this guy...and get him the proper medication he needs. Come check out a comedy web site with ideas like "clone the Spice Girls and shoot the clones to relieve stress" and "breast implants for dogs". Very funny, very bizarre. Lots to look at: Fun with SPAM, Weird Ass Websites, This Week (Dennis Miller-esque news commentary), Eccentric Consumer Reports, and more! Tell Chris what you think...maybe we can encourage his current behavior.
**NetBoy's Home Page (Mar. 98)
NetBoy, an innocent-looking young male from Indiana, works on a "little undercooked, but still pretty tasty" home page of collected humor. Mirrors of humor from various sites and original stories of Netboy's life, weekly "Headline News," "The Link Game," "Psycho Babble" and connections to various webrings.
**Cloud Nine (Nov. 97)
Cloud's site has funny stuff (a gigantic archive of assorted yuk-inducers), movie quotes and reviews, Signs of the Armageddon (real stories of real stupid people), and original stories of the Spice Girls dying horrible deaths at the hands of Godzilla and the Mortal Kombat fighters, among others (kinda scary, actually). Worth a look!
A Gadzillion Things to Think About (Nov. 97)
Like questions? Check out Gadzillion, the biggest collection of debatable/philosophical/silly questions I've ever seen. Owner Don Fowler says, "It's purpose is to get all members of the family to practice their creative thinking abilities and have fun at the same time." You'll think! You'll chuckle! You'll want to take a look right now!
(*2002*: Thanks to Nikki Barker who updated the site info!)
Brain Candy (Nov. 97)
Julie (WordPlays@aol.com) summarizes her site best: "Great & unusual collections: sarcastic insults by well known people, the dying words of famous people, stupid questions. Word play: malapropisms, funny definitions, occupational hazards, full-deckisms. Quotes, riddles, puns. Hours of fun stuff." Lots of literary nuggets of wisdom and humorous content.
The Republic of Baja Arizona (Nov. 97)
Dick Grogan's (rgrogan@azstarnet.com) Web site dedicated to his home town and state (where the motto is "IF YOU ARE ARMED AND DANGEROUS, WE WANT YOU!"), and his comments on the real-life wackiness of its leaders. Sounds like nice a nice place to visit, Dick... (you know the rest). You sure your town isn't named "South Park"?
B. Fatt & Lazy Movie Reviews (Nov. 97)
You know what you're in for with a site that advertises, "Entertainment for morons like yourself. We review movies with a loving touch." It's rude, crude, cynical, and very funny. Anybody who can slam lousy movies this well gets my vote (Good Burger had underlying homosexual conflicts?)! If you're easily offended, however, consider yourself warned.
Lifesucks.com
A huge page based on the concept of existential futility. Al Kratzer expands on his own comments and editorials with a long list of links to lots of other related wacky sites...how did he even find some of these places? If you're looking for the cynical, irreverant, bizarre side of the Web, come have a look.
**A Life Enhancement Page(Nov. 97)
Man, what's NOT mentioned on this page! A directory of useful information and services on personal interest and growth, education, relationships, health, world view, nature, politics, employment, news, technology, and the Web. Set aside a couple of hours to check it all out.
Prince Etrigan's Principality (Nov. 97)
In the interest of full disclosure, Etrigan is a good friend of mine...but don't hold that against him. The RPGers' Resource Page includes an amazing amount of RPG-related material. The site also includes info on Freemasonry, the Ranting Room, the Tome of Information, Garden State Law Enforcement Officer's Assn., and lots of search engine links.
**The Pulsing Pustule (Nov. 97)
Called "a money-sucking mag of curious drollery" by its publishers, it's a funny, very intelligent online magazine with some great fiction, editorials, and comics. The Web page just has the sample issue, but cheap yearly subscriptions are available.
Jim Rosenberg's Page (Oct. 97)
Check out Jim's page for humorous content including: a daily monologue, weekly columns of commentary, limericks, parody songs, and jokes.
Shara's Page (Oct. 97, Revised Apr. 01)
This is the home page of Shara Rendell-Smock, a Florida resident who has worked as a newspaper features writer, social worker, and freelance writer of computer software user manuals, fiction, and non-fiction books. Her site features samples of her work, jokes, a monthly contest, and much more. It's also the first site on the Author Ring, hosted by Shara.
Trendy Magic - Mysterious Rabbit (Oct. 97)
Online magic with "The Mysterious Rabbit" that will amaze you. Magicians, check out the other neat stuff on the main page too.
Rowena's Page (Sep. 97)
Serialized fiction about single female Rowena, and her struggles through life. Very funny, lighthearted, well-written stuff! Lots of installments here, and well-worth your browsing time to experience.
Lou Minatti's "Weclome to My World"
A truly twisted site that is well worth spending large amounts of otherwise-wasted time. All sorts of weirdness presented in a funny, twisted style. What's here? Hell, what isn't?! UFOs, Unexplained Mysteries, Opinions -- just check it out, okay?
The Comedy Zone
One-stop shopping for humor, hilarity and mirthful missives. LOTS of stuff to cruise through here. (They also gave my These Days and home pages a thumbs-up too, so I REALLY respect their opinions!) Includes interviews, editorials, humor text, the Manly Man advice column, and much more.
**Patrick's Virtual Sock Drawer
A great-looking, content-intensive site. Patrick maintains an HTML Style Guide (essential to beginning designers), the Browserism campaign (protesting sites that hawk browser-specific or graphics-only pages), and an IRC guide, as well as an online java Rubik's Cube, poetry and prose, and a cool quotation database.
Skeleton Closet
Brought to you by Real People For Real Change PAC. A great site that shines a light on ALL of the scandals on ALL of the Presidential election candidates.
**VinylBoy's World of Stuff
Another eclectic aggregation of assorted entertainments. MIDIs, sounds, pics, programs, Nintendo, One-Eyed Pete's World Tour 97, They Might Be Giants Page, Saki Talkin', Strange questions and ideas. (I like this site in spite of the fact it has Beck and Spice Girl fan stuff.)
The Java Arcade
Online playable Java-based videogames (cool!), Chat areas, online services, lots of links, message boards, virtual lounge...what's not to like??
Humor Space
Looking for that daily dose of silliness? Look no further! Filled with files of funny-stuff, JftJ is a lot of fun. The site includes a Humor Spotlight, Dictionaries, Jokes, Quotes & Scripts, Rules & Guides, Stories, Taglines, Test, Quizzes, and Games.
Jurassic Punk
All serious stuff here, but a HUGE site containing info, clips, sounds, and pics from an amazing number of modern movies. Their newsletter will keep you up to date on the newest movie releases, and what's on the way too.
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