I can honestly say I live on the Internet. When asked for my permanent address, I automatically input my IP number and browser preference. As a person spending 20+ hours on the web daily, I’ve seen the wonders it has to offer—from great blogs, web applications, community websites and many, many free Xbox 360 rewards. Hundreds of new sites appear online everyday and It can be a challenge to keep up. This where I come in—with my “internetz” Ph.D in hand (don’t forget the pop-up blocker lotion!), I’ll set out on a monthly digital quest to find 3 awesome sites you must know about.

1. Raptr.com
If you have not yet heard about Raptr.com (not to be confused with Rupture), you must be living under a rock. Opened officially on September 30, 2008, Raptr has taken off with Godspeed. It is thee FriendFeed for all your gaming handles:  Xbox Live gamertag, Spore ID, WOW, STEAM, and more. Share with the world what games you are playing and have your current activity delivered to Facebook, Twitter and FriendFeed. Personally, I can’t sleep at night if I don’t spam my daily activities on Twitter, and neither should you!

The two components that make up Raptr are the website and its software application (PC/OSX). Its online component allows you to view your friends’ feeds, activities on the site, discover games and even have some recommended to you! The software works like an instant messaging client, displaying what your friends online are playing. If you are in the need to stay connected, go to Raptr.com to make your free account!

2. Mixtube.org

The Internet today is all about sharing.  I, for example, share my activities, pictures, books I’m into, movies I like, and even pictures of naked women with clown make up (I kid!). However, sharing music nowadays can be a tricky task. With the shutting down of sites like mixtape or expensive loyalty fees threatening music services such as Pandora to  quickly go the way of the 8-track, where does that leave us? Rising in popularity is the upload of music videos or mp3s in video format (usually accompanied by *GREAT* pictures of the artists on rotate) to YouTube. Using YouTube as a jukebox is handy, but there is no way of sharing what you’re watching as you’re watching it.

This is where mixtube works its magic. Using what’s already available to us, it allows you to create music playlists based on Youtube URLs for free. After you are done gathering all your videos, grab the URL of your playlist to share with your friends. You can also see what other playlists users are making in the service and expose yourself to new music!

3. Game-Releases.net
With the holidays rapidly approaching, we’re entering that time of year where big budget blockbusters and sleeper hits are hitting shelves faster than the average consumer can keep up. Keeping track of game releases is not for everyone. Release dates fluctuate from game to game or in worst case scenarios, they don’t release at all. As much as I love to be online, I simply cannot keep checking dates on sites that are hard to navigate and give me more information than I really need. Can a girl just have a game title and a date…please?

Like an answer to my prayers, Game-Releases.net gives you a simple calendar with games being released that month for every system. Don’t care for PSP games? Just turn its filter off and “TA-DA!” you only get the information you WANT. “But, you still need to visit a boring o’ website and type in an address!”, you say? Not if you can help it! They also offer an RSS feed with the same filters offered on the website as well as a widget you can use on any website. So really, you have absolutely no excuse to be lame and not answer questions in a snap. When is Dead Space releasing? How about Gears of War 2? Go! Now! Find out for yourself.

So there you have it folks! You are now three sites closer to becoming an Internet awesomeneer. Already Internet awesome, you say? Have a site that is so full of win, you must share? Then shoot me an email at thepinksage@yahoo.com with your recommendation!