WANDER THROUGH THE CAL PALEO MUSEUM
One of the most famous museum resources on the Web, the UC-Berkeley Museum of Paleontology Web site's three-part design - phylogeny, time, and history of evolutionary thought - is free form, allowing you to pick your own path, but you can get help from either the Web Geological Time Machine or the Web Lift to Any Taxon, which are recommended. Without them, you could spend aimless but enjoyable days wandering through the huge amount of entertaining information it presents. Science is emphasized more than show, but the images are intriguing nonetheless. Check out the stunning image of Archaeopteryx. An online catalogue of the museum's collection can also be found. "http://ucmp1.berkeley.edu"
THE BASTARD OPERATOR FROM HELL
This collection of pages tells the bittersweet sadistic tale of a campus system operator who must deal with a suite of demanding users. He handles them as best he knows how - by deleting their files, cancelling their accounts, posting their e-mail in public, and offing them over the phone. The story is divided into chapters and is told in plain text. Limited use of Unix jargon doesn't diminish the tale for normal folk, so go read this if humanity is giving you a hard time and you need a laugh at its expense. "http://www.iesd.auc.dk/~moonboot/Bofh/" "http://www.st.nepean.uws.edu.au/stuff/bofh/"
"WHERE EVERYONE MUST BE SMURFY"
Smurfs, smurfs, and more smurfs. Enough to make you go blue in the face. If you don't know about smurfs, you probably won't find out a lot about them here. However, you will see numerous pictures of the little blue imps. There's even a QuickTime movie. This shrine is, as usual, "under construction". Smurfy to the max. "http://www.umich.edu/~starchld/smurf.html"
VolcanoWorld aims at the pre-college crowd but can be enjoyed by all. It's funded by NASA, so you know it's going to have scads of images from satellites and shuttle flights. The intro page is an index with clickable titles. You can learn about the Earth's latest volcanic activity, pose questions to volcanologists, or tour Hawaii's hot spots - and we don't mean the beach. All appropriate divisions are stocked with images, politely reduced to let you pick and choose. There seem to be two VolcanoWorld sites. The first (as listed below) opens with a cartoon that's pleasant but 72 K big. The second site doesn't employ the picture, so is a bit quicker. "http://volcano.und.nodak.edu/" "http://volcano.und.nodak.edu/vw.html"
YES, IT'S TRUE - THE O.J. SIMPSON WORKOUT VIDEO PAGE
If you're sick and tired of the whole O.J. thing, just skip this one - we'll understand. If you're not, you might be interested in picking up your own personal copy of the O.J.Simpson workout video, the one that shows a fairly fit O.J. performing rigorous exercise routines. So much for the arthritis argument. The tape is available for $19.95 plus shipping and handling. "http://199.170.0.48/home/tornpage/simpson.html"
Hold on to your deadbolts. A certain mysterious "Ted the Tool" presents this complete instruction manual for picking locks. Although much of this site appears to be under construction, it promises to house an entire range of information for novice pickers all the way up to advanced picking degree candidates. Not intended for unlawful purposes, of course. "http://www.lysator.liu.se:7500/mit-guide/mit-guide.html"
Ideal for those with children (and children at heart), the Lego Corporation has established a site featuring pictures of special constructions, suggestions for projects, and a tour of the Lego factory in Connecticut. You can even learn to sing the Lego theme song (..."You'll have fun 'til you collapse for Legomaniacs!...). There's also the LegoWars home page. Described as "a very silly wargame using Lego bricks and minifigs as the building blocks", this game has been so popular that the authors created a new version: LegoWarsII. Rules for both versions are available at the site. Lego Corp.: "http://legowww.homepages.com/" LegoWars: "http://rhf.bradley.edu/~xero/Lego/lego.html"
You like playing golf? Following golf? Inexplicably attracted to golf on TV? GolfWeb is is here for you, with absolutely anything you could possibly want. It's got the latest golf news and special reports; a pro shop of phone numbers and a few onsite WWW ads; tour updates, with live reporting from major events; historical event results; and a public bulletin board for messages and offers. The site is based upon small attractive graphics and is easily navigated. Future expansion will include a directory of courses, resorts, and golf schools. You don't know how long we've waited to use that headline. "http://www.golfweb.com/"
This short but sweet narrative tells of French philosopher Jean-Paul Sartre's attempts to create "a cookbook that will put to rest all notions of flavor forever". Good for a few laughs. Expect to come across the requisite topics of existence, meaning, and obsession. "http://web.kaleida.com/u/danfuzz/info/words/stories/sartre_cookbook.html"
E-CASH AND HOW TO DEAL WITH IT
If you're looking for a pot of gold on the Internet but haven't found it yet, this Dublin-based site just might help. Michael Peirce at Trinity College has organized a home page of articles, reports, press releases, links, and more related to network payment mechanisms and digital cash. Bankers, retailers, and even average citizens might be interested to learn more about the present and future of electronic money handling. "http://ganges.cs.tcd.ie/mepeirce/project.html"
The International Federation of Trekkers, a role-playing Star Trek fan club, now has a home page on the WWW. You can find out how the club chapters - divided into ships - are organized, how to join, and what they do, which ranges from socially-conscious disaster aid to socially-unconscious hanging out watching reruns. The page also contains links to science, environmental, and Star Trek sites of interest, including the Klingon Language Institute and the rival K.A.G. - the Klingon Assault Group. "http://infinet.com/~bobd2/ift/"
NATIONAL AIDS CLEARINGHOUSE INTERNET SERVICES
The CDC National AIDS Clearinghouse is now providing a variety of Internet services, including a listserv of AIDS-related news, an anonymous FTP site, and a gopher server. You can also correspond with the CDC Clearinghouse by e-mailing "aidsinfo@cdcnac.aspensys.com". The AIDS News Listserv address is "listserv@cdcnac.aspensys.com". The listserv sends AIDS-related documents and materials. The FTP site offers the same and Clearinghouse's Standard Search Series. "ftp://cdcnac.aspensys.com/pub/cdcnac" "gopher://cdcnac.aspensys.com:72" and select CDC NAC from the first menu.
Although sponsored by a bank, the Signet Bank Student Loan Home Page offers links to a variety of useful tips for those seeking college financing. There are suggestions for budgeting, information on building a credit record, and descriptions of different types of loans. In addition, you can link to a college guide, "Don't Miss Out: The Ambitious Student's Guide to Financial Aid", which suggests resources, including money for such reasons as "brains and talent" or "because you are an athlete". They missed "because the tuition is unreal". "http://www.infi.net/collegemoney"
Bangladesh, known as East Pakistan until 1971 when it proclaimed independence from West Pakistan, is now a prime spot to visit. This very informative Web site brings you Bangladesh at a glance: historical sites, monuments, tourist attractions, currency regulations, visa requirements, and more. Avoid monsoon season, and visit before it washes away into the sea. "http://www.cif.rochester.edu/users/outcast/bangladesh/tour-guide.html"
SAVE BIG BUCKS WITH THE INTERNET TRAVEL CLUB
Heading for Hawaii? Bound for Berlin? This San Diego-based travel firm offers discounts on select airlines, hotels, and car rental companies. If you do not save double your annual fee of $29.95 during your first year as a member, the Internet Travel Club will refund your money. A commercial site, but hey, it might be useful and it sounds good to us. "http://mmink.com/mmink/kiosks/costa/travelclub.html"
YOU DON'T HAVE TO BE RICH TO TRAVEL THE WORLD
Aimed at student/budget travelers, this site is part of the University of Michigan's Clearinghouse for Subject-Oriented Internet Resource Guides. Assembled by two library studies graduates, this is a well arranged and useful page for travelers of all budgets and ages. From "Fodor's Worldview" to "Planes, Trains and Automobiles", it points to newsgroups, books, government advisories, and more. One nice feature is a synopsis of the travel-related newsgroups that tells you how many postings are made each day. And don't forget to tour the U.S.A. in your Virtual Chevrolet. "http://asa.ugl.lib.umich.edu/chdocs/travel/travel-guide.html"
FOR THOSE WHO HAVEN'T HAD THEIR FILL OF SNOW YET
The SkiAmerica home page is based on SkiAmerica magazine, which is basically a review of resorts aimed at travel agents. Most useful and detailed about East Coast resorts (c'mon guys - Berkeley has "e"s in it), it's worth checking out for the discounts on lift tickets and a free subscription to the magazine. The daily updates of snow, lift, and run conditions is terse but thorough, and covers most of the major slopes across the U.S. and Canada. "http://www.ultranet.com/biz/skiamerica/"
The Salt Grass Trail Ride is an annual event that runs through greater Houston. Its purpose is "to stimulate, promote, and encourage the love of horses, riding, good fellowship,...and the best interest of the Houston Livestock Show and Rodeo Association", its sponsor. The event, a mass of horses, riders, and wagons that kicked up dust Feb. 4-11, is presented in photos organized into daily pages. Read the schedule before viewing the pictures to orient yourself and have a map of the city handy as the site only describes the route in words. An interesting travelogue. "http://www.cybersim.com/sgtr/"
MALL CULTURE COMES TO THE LAST FRONTIER
The Alaskan Center provides online advertising for tours, lodges, and car rentals; online airfare quotes and schedules from an Alaskan travel agent; a calender of events; an impressive collection from Outdoors Outfitters and the trips they offer (great photos of moose, fish, climbing, and kayaking); and even the complete text of Travels with Samantha and other cultural tidbits. In other words, this homey little station offers everything you could ever want to know about Alaska, all from the comfort of your desktop. And best of all, you can tour the Alaskan Mall. Ah, bliss. "http://www.alaskan.com/"
THE THINGS I'D LIKE TO SEE IN CYBERSPACE HOME PAGE
John Makulowich offers a Netwide search service with an intimate, more personal touch. He intends to look for what people request, and list the results on his home page. E-mail: "makulow@clark.net" "http://www.clark.net/pub/journalism/wishes.html"
INTERNATIONAL ORGANIZATION FOR STANDARDIZATION
This site catalogues all international agreements on technical specs and standards, searchable by keyword or reference number. In English: "http://www.iso.ch/welcome.html" En francais: "http://www.iso.ch/welcomef.html"
SASI Software has opened a page to showcase its Market Timing newsletter, which analyzes trends and recommends trades. "http://www.europa.com/~sasi/"
NEW MALL OFFERS TWO MONTHS OF FREE ADS
The Interactive Super Mall, a WWW shopping frenzy, is offering 60 days of free advertising. For complete details, e-mail "html@request.com". "http://supermall.com/"
This document is a compilation of electronic discussion lists, distribution lists, and electronic serials of interest to library professionals. Send the message "GET LIBRARY LISTS F=MAIL" by e-mail to "listserv@uhupvm1.uh.edu" or visit "gopher://info.lib.uh.edu:70/00/tools/netinfo/library".
NATIONAL BUSINESS EMPLOYMENT WEEKLY ONLINE
Selections from the Wall Street Journal's National Business Employment Weekly are available at Career Magazine. Other features of the site include job openings, employer profiles, and a career discussion forum. "http://www.careermag.com/careermag/"
SOURCE DATABASE FOR RESEARCHERS AND JOURNALISTS
NameBase offers access to a cross-referenced database of 80,000 group and personal names involved in the international intelligence community, the political elite, U.S. foreign policy, assassination theory, Latin America, big business, or organized crime. Telnet to "ursula.blythe.org" and log in as "namebase".
"Employment Opportunites and Job Resources on the Internet" is now on the
Web, with updated links and new information. Other job hunt related links
are also supplied. "http://www.wpi.edu/~mfriley/jobguide.html"
%3ariley"
This official Web site offers a range of Lotus information and, for a
limited time, a free copy of Lotus ScreenCam. Info on Lotus Notes and Lotus
InterNotes Web Publisher can also be viewed. "http://www.lotus.com"
EDUCATIONAL SPACE SIMULATIONS SERVER CHANGES ORBIT
The page's server has moved. If you missed the original article, it is a
shuttle simulation run in classrooms. Shareware for the simulations is
available here, too.
"http://chico.rice.edu/armadillo/Simulations/simserver.html"
THE CATAPULT: CAREER SERVICE PROFESSIONALS HOME PAGE
This niftily named site is a springboard to links of interest to career
service professionals. It contains more than 200 links to career and
employment resources found on the Web.
"http://arthur.physics.wm.edu:80/~charette/"
InTechTra publishes for your viewing pleasure daily Hong Kong stock
reports. They are indexed from January 1995.
"http://silkroute.com/silkroute/news" or
"http://160.96.7.121:1080/news/ITTI/index.html"
WEB SITE FOR CURRENCY EXCHANGE AND INVESTMENTS
Parkview Financial has created a WWW site with investment analysis and
investment opportunities, particularly in the area of currency exchange.
"http://www.usit.net/pfi.html"
NEW HOME FOR THE WALL O' SHAME
The incomparable Wall o' Shame has moved. Go, if you haven't yet, and read
about the decline of Western culture. "http://www.milk.com/wall-o-shame"
EXTENDED LOGGING CAPABILITY FOR NCSA HTTPD 1.3
This new version of the venerable NCSA httpd Web server has a couple of new
configuration directives which allow the logging of Referer headers
supplied by the WWW clients, as well as User-Agent headers. A couple of log
analyzers that produce reports based on these directives are also
available. This version also includes a number of bug fixes, including some
performance enhancements and a fix for the recently identified security
problem with the strsubfirst() function. Created by David-Michael Lincke.
"http://www-iwi.unisg.ch/~dlincke/httpd-ext.html"
"ftp://bandon.unisg.ch/pub/users/dlincke/httpd-1.3-ext.tar.gz"
COOL WEB LIST OF LATEST WINSOCK APPLICATIONS
Easy to read Web pages from Forrest Stroud at the University of Texas have
the latest Net applications for Windows sockets. He's built Web pages "for
anyone who has ever wanted to find the latest Winsock applications in one
place". Entries show the latest version and the release date, as well as a
link for downloading. There is a separate page for versions released only
during the past two months. "http://wwwvms.utexas.edu/~Neuroses/cwsapps.html"
NCSA CONTINUES TO IMPROVE MOSAIC
Native versions of Mosaic (all 2.0.0a9) are now available for iX86, Mips,
DEC, and PPC processors. There is even a version for Windows that comes
with a setup program. Mosaic for Windows seems very solid now and includes
some nifty new features. One which should please anyone displaying Mosaic
for the public, or for training, is "Presentation Mode", which expands the
active window to full screen. Printing is another area of great
improvement. But, fair warning, if you don't have 8MB+ and W32S with OLE
running in Windows (or NT/Windows95), don't even think about it.
"ftp://ftp.ncsa.uiuc.edu/Mosaic/Windows"
A QUICK ROUNDUP OF WINDOWS WEB BROWSERS
Despite some rather sophomoric language and graphics, Netscape is still
providing a very functional 16-bit alternative to NCSA Mosaic. Version 1.0N
of Netscape Navigator for Windows suffers from a lack of clear
documentation, but is very popular with users. Printing and the bookmark
menu are still problems. Enhanced NCSA Mosaic, Release 1, as supplied with
"The Mosaic Handbook" from O'Reilly & Associates, is a good 32-bit
browser, but crashes on various systems. However, the book is very much
worth reading and keeping even if the software doesn't work for you. There
are many other Windows browsers, but most simply don't measure up to a
demanding user's expectations. Caveat Emptor. Netscape:
"ftp://ftp.mcom.com/netscape/"
The latest version (4.1) of htmlchek, an HTML error checker with other
useful utilities, is available by anonymous FTP. The htmlchek program
checks for "quite a number of possible defects in HTML version 2 SGML
files". HTML 3 or those with Netscape extensions can be checked by
specifying the appropriate options. There is no claim that the program
understands all of SGML, but it is said to be easy, and relatively simple
to use. It runs on AWK or Perl language interpreters on almost any
platform. You can cruise, and download documentation from
"http://uts.cc.utexas.edu/~churchh/htmlchek.html" or
"ftp://ftp.cs.buffalo.edu/pub/htmlchek/".
Netsurfer Digest Home Page: http://www.netsurf.com/nsd/index.html
Subscribe WWW form: http://www.netsurf.com/nsd/subscribe.html
Submission of Newsworthy Items: pressrm@netsurf.com
Netsurfer Communications: http://www.netsurf.com/
NETSURFER DIGEST (c) Netsurfer Communications, Inc.
All rights reserved. SOFTWARE
Online related software notices and mini-reviews
CONTACT INFORMATION
Netsurfer Digest FTP Site: ftp://ftp.netsurf.com/pub/nsd/
Subscribe E-mail: nsdigest-request@netsurf.com
Include one of the following commands in the BODY of the
message:
HTML Format version: subscribe nsdigest-html
Plain ASCII version: subscribe nsdigest-text
Letters to the Editor: editor@netsurf.com
Advertiser and Sponsor inquiries
to Arthur Bebak: ad@netsurf.com
General Information: info-request@netsurf.com
CREDITS
Publisher
Production Manager
Assistant Editor
Writers and Netsurfers
NETSURFER DIGEST is a trademark of Netsurfer Communications, Inc.