THE PLANETS: TWO OUT-OF-THIS-WORLD WEB SITES
First off is an individual multimedia effort that is large and impressive in presentation and content. "The Nine Planets" is a tour of the solar system with pictures, sounds, and text. Its 60 pages have something for everyone. The second site is brought to you by the masters of space images at NASA who have also produced a CD-ROM for educators. Their presentation is entitled "Welcome to the Planets" and includes "many of the best images from NASA's planetary exploration program". Nine Planets: "http://seds.lpl.arizona.edu/nineplanets/nineplanets/nineplanets.html" Welcome to the Planets: "http://stardust.jpl.nasa.gov/planets/"
LaughWEB is a neat collection of jokes, quips, bumper stickers, insults, even computer humor. Take the hacker's test or tour the "Canonical List of Lightbulb Jokes" (over 900 so far). Though some are childish classics able only to raise a groan in all but the sickest, many are sure to make you most popular at any water fountain. Give yourself a cyber-tickle. "http://www.misty.com/laughweb"
THE INTERNET PANHANDLER ACCOSTS THE NET
The Internet Panhandler is a great concept gone awry. Cheesy ASCII graphics, that greet you before anything else, set the tone. The site has a libertarian bent and a grudge against the city of Seattle, which apparently has outlawed panhandling. Also hidden among the poorly explained links are cries of outrage against censorship of barnyard porn, the dismissal of the Surgeon General, and the government of Singapore. Living up to its name, the site does ask for money and claims to have collected $2.35 from over 1,000 visitors since the year began. That's about what it's worth. "http://cyberzine.org/html/Panhandle/panhandlepage.html"
THE FRANKLIN INSTITUTE VIRTUAL SCIENCE MUSEUM
The first thing you notice about the Franklin Institute's site is the nicely designed graphic on the introductory page. It only gets better from there. The museum offers two virtual exhibits, on the heart and on namesake Ben Franklin - which are impressive enough - but what blew us away were the well organized lists of lesson plans, activities, and resources, and "hotlists" of other Web exhibits and educational sites. WOW! If everything were as well put together as this, we'd be out of a job. Most of the links lead to science sites, and most of those deal with the planetary sciences (geology, climatology, and space science), but anyone could find something of interest in the biblically proportioned host of options. Ben would be proud. "http://sln.fi.edu/"
THIS CRYPTIC EYE HAS BLURRED VISION
Another page for the weary seekers of weird. The Douglass-Truth Institute home page features a Virtual Machine Museum of postcards with paranormal powers, as well as the Flying Turtle cafe where you can purchase a T-shirt that reads "Death before Decaf". For reading, there are the words of Truth: stay alert and eschew violence. You can also try on the Elektric Klown Suit. The only hitch is that accessing any of these forms of enlightenment will cost you a few rubles. Peruse only if bored. "http://www.dnai.com/~dougt"
INTELLIGENCE WORLD REPORT - DAILY SPOOK UPDATES
Intelligence World Report (IWR) is a print quarterly that tracks intelligence agencies and related organizations around the world. Its purpose is to assist the serious study of intelligence agencies. Subscribers also receive daily and priority updates sent via fax or e-mail. Of interest to you - and by extension, us - is the free IWR Products and Services Listserv delivering info on available intelligence products and services. Subscription and other info (including a sample issue) can be requested from publisher Ben Venzke at "BenVenzke@delphi.com". Send him e-mail with your e-address to join the listserv. This information is also on the Web at: "http://www.quadralay.com/Combs/IntelWeb/index.html"
This well organized home page steers you right into the blustery excitement of the 1995 America's Cup, now in its third round and heading for an early May climax. Check out the latest news, photos, general information, shopping, and eventually, the race results. Nifty graphics and photos, too. "http://www.ac95.org/index.html"
So what is a gargoyle, anyway? For the natural and unnatural history of the human and animal figures found on ornate architectural structures, check out this site. You can grimace at images of the grotesque carvings, learn about their origin in the Middle Ages, and take a tour that includes Canterbury and Notre Dame cathedrals. "http://ils.unc.edu/garg/garghp4.html"
Geology buffs and gemologists will enjoy the Rockhounds Info page put together by some motivated folks at Information Dynamics. From pretty pictures to mineral identification software, this is a well organized site for everything rock-related. Check out the close-ups of the Bismark sapphire or the Star of Bombay or gather tips on collecting copper along the Keweenawan peninsula. A listserv mailing list and a searchable database plus links to every Earth science webserver in Europe and the Americas rounds out this well-grounded site. "http://www.rahul.net/infodyn/rockhounds/rockhounds.html"
Now, here's what we call "taking the high road". This nicely constructed home page features a smattering of dramatic climbing photos, data from the Scottish Avalanche Information Service (bet you didn't even know they had avalanches in Scotland), a list of guidebooks from the Scottish Mountaineering Club, a list of climbing walls, and links to related Scottish and climbing home pages. All in all, it's a great site to visit, whether you're a Scottish "rock jock" or not. No kilt jokes, please. "http://www.ucs.ed.uk/~p91152/climbing/"
The Atlas Model Railroad Company has put its catalogue and several books on model railroading online. You get some good pictures and information about models along with pointers to other resources. We didn't see any trains running or steam escaping, but think this is a good place to catch up on model railroading. Follow the tracks to "http://www.atlasrr.com/atlasrr/"
One man, self-described as insane, driven to gathering restaurant reviews: not a pretty picture. But, who are we to question when food is involved? Dining Out on the Web is a good collection by John Troyer, a grad student at UCSF, of his own and other eating sites. So many sites are included, you can be sure of finding a good place to eat anywhere you can plug into the Net. There's even a great clickable map of places to feed in Palo Alto. As if that's not enough, you can add your own reviews using a nifty form provided. "http://www.cmpharm.ucsf.edu/~troyer/dish/diningout.html"
IN THE PINK: MARY KAY COSMETICS
Just to prove that the Net is not the exclusive domain of pimply-faced teenage boys, we ferreted out this site. Come to think of it, this site may actually be of use to them. Looks like Mary Kay has beat the Avon Lady to the information superhighway. Yes, it's true. Now you can shop for your favorite Mary Kay skin care and beauty items from the comfort of your desk. Choose from a list of classic foundations, blushes, eyeshadows, lipsticks, nail care items, and more. Products are fragrance-free and have not been tested on any cute animals. "http://cyberzine.org/html/Cosmetics/cosmetics2.html"
Everything a consumer, counselor, or student could want to know about safer sex, in one handy package. John Troyer, this time as a cartoon illustrator extraordinaire, has compiled a scientifically detailed yet light-hearted info source on safe sex and AIDS prevention. Visit Condom Country, assess your AIDS odds, discuss the risks of oral sex, or just chuckle at the pictures that depict how to use a condom. This site is graphic in places, but the best treatment of this important topic we've ever seen. "http://cornelius.ucsf.edu/~troyer/safesex.html"
The FMNH, for the uninitiated, is Chicago's Field Museum of Natural History, and they have brought the dino portion of their walk-through exhibition "DNA to Dinosaurs" to the WWW. The Web version's science is strictly thumbnail, but this is compensated for by numerous images (paintings and photos), MPEGs of running dinos, and audio files. Most images range from 100-200 K and thus are slow to load, and the button to move on to the next page isn't marked as such, but on the whole, DNA to Dinosaurs is a pleasant experience. Check out the Media_page URL for all the cool stuff without the tour. "http://www.bvis.uic.edu/museum/" "http://www.bvis.uic.edu/museum/Media_page.html"
GLOBAL WEB OF SCHOLARLY SOCIETIES
Bear with us - this is not nearly as boring as it sounds. Providing access to the electronic resources of scholarly societies worldwide, the Scholarly Societies Project is now online. The site offers links to more than 70 Web pages and 100 Gophers, with a collection of subject guides grouped by discipline. Also included are links to full-text archives of numerous publications by scholarly societies. A random selection: Virtual Reality Society; American Folklore Society; Society for Armenian Studies; Business Ethics Teaching Society; and so on. "http://www.lib.uwaterloo.ca/society/overview.html"
POLITICALLY DIRECT: THE "MEXICO OUT OF BALANCE" PAGE
Isn't this a timely site given the current events in that corner of the world? Sponsored by the North American Congress on Latin America (NACLA), the Latin America Data Base (LADB), and PeaceNet, "Mexico Out of Balance" is dedicated to delivering instant access to in-depth information concerning political, economic, labor, and trade issues in Mexico. Current highlights include an interview with Subcomandante Marcos, an analysis of National Party Politics, and an outline of cross-border corporate expansion and labor organizing. Educational and provocative. "http://www.igc.apc.org/nacla/mexico.html"
MARDI GRAS: THE PARTY OF THE YEAR IS NOW ONLINE
The big day is February 28! Fat Tuesday, also known as Mardi Gras, is a wild (to say the least) festival held each year in New Orleans. Now, you can celebrate online with Mardi Gras sights and sounds, a virtual rendition of Bourbon Street and more. While you're there, you can order Mardi Gras merchandise and find general information about restaurants, hotels, and hot spots of New Orleans, too. "http://www.neosoft.com/citylink/mardigr/default.html"
BIG CARS, BIG BEACH, BIG SPRING BREAK
Put 'em all together and you get - Daytona Beach, Fla. What else? We checked out two sites. The America site is a sales pitched aimed squarely at all you Net-capable partying university types, or wannabes, or alwayswillbes. The Internet Business Connection (IBC) site is preferable, with more hotel and dining info, and special sections with updates on the NASCAR Winston Cup Series and Daytona Bike Week. Not only does IBC offer a daily calendar of local events, but they also supply trivia like demographics and surf reports. As a bonus, IBC even has a link to the America page. America: "http://www.america.com" IBC: "http://www.charm.net/~ibc/daytona/db2.html"
CANADIAN COMMUNITIES THROUGH KIDS' EYES
"Our Home", a project organized by Canada's National Atlas Information Service, brings you ten Canadian towns as perceived by the elementary and high school students who live in each. The kids wrote the text themselves, and supplement their words with maps and art - some looking as if it were uploaded directly from Mom and Dad's fridge door. The ten towns are merely samples taken from a CD-ROM with 100 such communities that's offered for sale. Check out the site for the kids' work, for the original and colorful navigating buttons, or to see a bilingual page, something Canadians seem to promote more than Europeans. "http://ellesmere.ccm.emr.ca/ourhome/communit/ourhome/introduc.html"
While Musicware Education has its own product, Piano, as the focus of its Web site, it also provides an extensive list of other music education sites and products. Look at the last link. "http://www.halcyon.com/musicware/"
FOR STRONG STOMACHS AND PORK BELLIES
Quote-Page is a Listserv with the daily stats of a number of commodities futures. To subscribe, e-mail "listserv@PITSTAR.COM" with the message "SUB Quote-page yourname@your.site.com".
"Topher" DeRosia has a Web page with links from "The Big Dummies Guide to the Internet" and "Zen and the Art of the Internet", and explicit instructions on how to use Lynx. A handful of searchers and indexes also live there. "http://grfn.org/~topher"
HTM: HIGH-TECH MARKETING E-ZINE
HTM, a monthly e-zine about marketing resources and tools for high-tech marketing communicators, is available by e-mailing "LISTproc@usa.net" with "subscribe HTMNEWS [Your Real Name]" as the message. Back issues are available at "http://www.bayne.com/wolfBayne/htmarcom.html".
READ THIS, OPEN A COOL SITE, AND LET US KNOW
Web Communications offers its "Comprehensive Guide to Publishing on the Web". The site teaches how to use HTML, set up fill-out forms, "create a Web site which is interesting, attractive, and demonstrates good style", and publicize it. "http://www.webcom.com/html/"
HOW MUCH DO YOU THINK THE FEDS PAY FOR TEST TUBES?
"A Guide to Federal Laboratories and Technology Related Resources on the Internet" is viewable at the National Agricultural Library Gopher. open "gopher://gopher.nalusda.gov", thence "/NAL Information Centers", "/Technology Transfer Information Center", and finally "/Internet Federal Laboratory Guide".
Debit or credit your bank account electronically within two banking days. Associated Financial Services uses the Federal Reserve's Automated Clearing House to process these transactions. You can debit or credit any checking or savings account in the U.S. and Canada. They charge $1.25 per transaction. For more information, e-mail them at "AFS11@aol.com".
The IOMA Business Page is a directory of Internet business resources. Categories include Today's Business News, Finance, Sales and Marketing, Resources by Industry, etc. "http://ioma.com/ioma/"
INTERNET VOICE CHAT FOR WINDOWS
If you haven't heard about Voice Chat yet, you should. This program allows you to talk over the Net. Yep, long distance phone calls for the price of a local net connection. IVC also includes several innovative features, such as an Answering Machine, Call Screening, and much more. It's Windows only so far, with the latest version at 1.1 available at the site below. On this page you can also find lists of people to chat with using Voice Chat. "http://futures.wharton.upenn.edu:80/~ahrens26/ivc.html"
"ALFRED THE BUTLER" SECURELY COLLECTS CREDIT CARD INFO
This neat little piece of software callable from CGI scripts is meant to be used with Web order systems to provide secure credit card transactions. After the user has an order together and submits it to your server, a script invokes Alfred. The program asks the user for a number where they can be reached, and when they would like to receive a call. The Butler schedules the call, and calls the customer at the requested time. Once the Butler has connected with the customer, the credit card information is gathered, and deposited into a file for later retrieval. The data is keyed by a transaction ID number provided by the CGI script, to allow correlation of orders and credit card numbers. For more information, contact Alfred Technologies at "softice@access.digex.net".
TSPLAYER PLAYS SOUNDS AS YOU DOWNLOAD THEM FROM THE WEB
TsPlayer is an application that lets you play any TrueSpeech sound file (.WAV files) while downloading it with a WWW client software. You can play the sound file using any favorite sound file viewers (for example Microsoft's sound system sound finder program) and playing can begin at the moment you start to download. It's another freeware Windows program. "ftp://oak.oakland.edu/SimTel/win3/sound/tsply100.zip"
HTML EDITOR, HTML ASSISTANT FOR WINDOWS
We've been using HTML Assistant by Brooklyn North Software Works for over a year. The latest version is a must-have for anyone working with html files on a Windows machine. It is simple and intuitive to use, and has enough flexibility for the user to define new commands on a pull-down menu. The program will automatically make hotlists from mosaic.ini and cello.ini files. The professional version offers automatic creation of html pages and other goodies for about $US 115 with shipping. Check the home page at "http://cs.dal.ca/ftp/htmlasst/htmlafaq.html" "ftp://ftp.cs.dal.ca/htmlasst/HTMLAZIP.EXE"
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