Internet picks of the week

The Streets Mike Skinner is counting down the days, hours, minutes and seconds to the last album he's going to put out under The Streets band name is released, but he's already moved on. Caught in an artistic stupor, he wrote on his site that he was just going to watch James Bond DVDs and try not to think about "the throbbing sensation engorging my inner soul". In the same blog entry Skinner launched a competition: the first piece of artwork someone tweeted him would be the front cover of his next album and the first piece of audio he was sent would form the background to a new song. He's all for experiments like this and is currently using Twitter like no other artist. He doesn't post on the service himself, but instead uses people's messages and questions to kick off songs and ideas which he posts as short "youstube" videos. It's brilliant, unpretentious, immediate and amusing. Things Magazine Things began as an offline print publication put together by a group of writers and historians from the Victoria & Albert Museum and Royal College Of Art. Since the magazine went from bi-annual to "just occasional", their blog has become their main outlet, with their links on architecture, art, fashion, music and travel making it one of the best link blogs out there. A particular area of expertise is their rooting out of great Flickr collections – from sets of baseball cards to "interesting roadscapes" – and the championing of specialist sites (like The Happy Pontist, which is dedicated to British bridge design). Blog roll: Travel The Titanic Awards Celebrating dubious achievements in tourism from the world's worst toilet to the most embarrassing travel insurance claim. Troyland Home to an impressive collection of airline bags, Thai culinary curiosities and popular Eastern European signage. World Hum Portal curating travel stories, videos, slide shows, audio, tips and book recommendations. JetSetta Quirky travel delights including prisons converted into hotels, a Hello Kitty theme park and the best airports to get stuck in. Roadside Peek Old motels, bowling alleys, drive-in theatres, neon signs, tiki villages and other faded treasures of roadside America. What we learned on the web this week How much stuff cost in 1985 Where to combine town planning and music The chances of sex on Mars seem slim The best easter eggs hidden in famous albums Tron Guy approves of Tron: Legacy Facebook's secret is out Refresh your virtual image with cats The 15 most expensive toys ever bought on eBay How not to apologise