The official Olympic site is so bland and uninspiring it could have been designed by committee. Come to think of it, it probably was. If you want the real human stories of the Games, you can't do better than ESPNet. The coverage is somewhat US-centric, but the Olympics is a ripping yarn, and they tell it well. Check out the Chasing the Dream link for athletes' diaries of their quest for glory. As usual, Yahoo has the best index of relevant sites. Look at their Olympic Teams links for your favorite sport. Now go do those sit-ups. Olympics: "http://www.atlanta.olympic.org" ESPNet: "http://espnet.sportszone.com/editors/atlanta96/index.html" Yahoo: "http://www.yahoo.com/Recreation/Sports/Olympic_Games/"
BOARDWATCH DIRECTORY REVEALS EXPLOSION OF NEW ISP SERVICES
The summer edition of the Boardwatch Internet Service Provider Directory decisively refutes that there is any sort of consolidation going on in the ISP market. Boardwatch found 2461 ISPs in the US, up from 1447 in February. They estimate a population of 6,558,333 customers account for about $1.5 billion in annual ISP revenue. Incidentally, the July issue of Boardwatch has the best comparison of Netscape and Explorer browsers we've yet seen. Any magazine that describes its struggle with chat software as "nothing so much like three nervous monkeys trying to engage in intercourse with a football on a waxed tile floor" is too good to miss. "http://www.boardwatch.com/"
What breaks records, grosses over $90 million in just five days, and is likely to become one of the top grossing films of all time? "Independence Day", a modest little movie consisting of every Hollywood SF cliche ever written and some literally mind-blowing special effects. Fun? You bet. Here's the official site with the usual assortment of multimedia goodies. And for those poor souls who have to put up with the moviegoing multitudes there's the "ID4 Survival Guide for Theater Workers". Remember, watch the skies! ID4: "http://www.id4.com/" Survival: "http://superchannel.pair.com/ID4/"
CERT SECURITY ADVISORY FOR LINUX SYSTEMS RUNNING DIP
CERT has issued a security advisory aimed at Linux systems that use the dip program to access SLIP and PPP dialup services. On a system with dip installed as set-user-id root, anyone with access to an account can gain root access. Programs exploiting this security hole are floating around the Net. Fortunately, a fixed version of dip is available. The security hole exists in versions up to 3.3.7n. Read the advisory for more information. CERT: "ftp://info.cert.org/pub/cert_advisories/CA-96.13.dip_vul" Fix: "ftp://sunsite.unc.edu/pub/Linux/system/Network/serial/dip/dip337o-uri.tgz"
In late June, InterNIC, the Net's domain name registry, eliminated MSNBC's domain because, they claimed, the Microsoft/NBC news organization had not paid their fees. It turns out InterNIC was wrong and had incorrectly shuffled the apropriate e-paperwork. Before shutting down the site, InterNIC had sent MSNBC an e-mail asking for a clarification. When no response arrived, InterNIC went ahead with the decision to terminate the domain. The moral of the story? Don't ignore mail from InterNIC for too long. The full story is at Media Daily: "http://www.mediacentral.com/Magazines/MediaDaily/Archive/1996062801.html" MSNBC: "http://www.msnbc.com/"
Wondering who the real delinquents are? InterNIC is not telling, but Mike Walsh will send you his list of suspended domains if you ask nicely. E-mail: mwalsh@pulver.com "http://www.pulver.com/deadbeat/"
THERE'S NETSURFER, AND THEN THERE ARE THE OTHER GUYS
A few issues back, we reviewed Enter magazine, a site catering to graduating college students. So have a number of other more, shall we say, restrained media outlets. The folks at Enter have a thank-you page with quotes from their reviews. Your mission is to visit the thank-you page, compare the quotes, and determine why Netsurfer "kicks butt on the Web" according to one enthusiast who, for reasons of modesty, shall remain anonymous. "http://www.entermag.com/may/thanks/thanks.html"
Lycos claims it has 51,191,696 URLs in its database as of July 2. And we feel like we've visited every one....
COMMUNITY MEMORY - DISCUSSION LIST ON THE HISTORY OF CYBERSPACE
Computer Professionals for Social Responsibility (CPSR) has a moderated list "to store and record the memories of how this world of interconnected computers and people came to be." Recent discussions include stories about ASCII art, phone phreaking and the Captain Crunch whistle (what the heck, here's the Crunch site, too), and the deep origins of the ARPANET. It's an entertaining read. Anyone curious or with an interest in learning about the history of cyberspace can subscribe by mailing listserv@cpsr.org with a message of "subscribe cpsr-history firstname lastname". Memory: "http://www.reach.com/matrix/community-memory.html" Crunch: "http://www.well.com/user/crunch/"
VIRTUAL MIXER IN VIRTUAL WORLDS, JULY 13
Three 3-D virtual worlds, PointWorld, AlphaWorld, and the Palace, are hosting a mixer party July 13 from 9am - 4pm Pacific Time. It's a great opportunity to check out VR software and join in the fun. Come as a custom avatar (if you know how), or choose one upon arrival. It's sponsored by Match.com, so expect plenty of singles, but attached folks are more than welcome. The announcement notes that part of the crowd will be from France, Belgium, and Quebec, so expect some conversation en francais. Software's available here: "http://www.ccon.org/events/mixup1.html"
FIFTH GVU WEB USER SURVEY RESULTS
This massive survey reached over 11,700 Web users last April and May. Besides the usual demographic questions, this round asked about attitudes toward online privacy, Java, and politics. There are too many interesting results to digest here, so go to the site for a concise, readable summary and all the gory details, including about 200 graphs. "http://www.cc.gatech.edu/gvu/user_surveys/survey-04-1996/"
THE ULTIMATE FOR WEB STAT JUNKIES
CyberAtlas is a good resource for those who like just the Internet facts, ma'am. Marketing types and bean counters can relish tidbits such as America Online being the most popular service in the San Francisco Bay area, and that while 39% of American households contain a PC, those numbers still lag behind the 87% that sport a VCR. "http://www.cyberatlas.com/"
The Texas Humanities Resource Center looks at the history of censorship of the arts since the onset of book burning in the year 1205. A dedicated and original site, it provides startling information: "Alice in Wonderland" was banned in China in 1931 because "animals should not use human language." Add to the list of banned works those of Judy Blume and the celebrated 30,000-year-old sculpture, Dolni Vestonice. This page will shock, amuse, and increase awareness of the controlling forces of censorship. "http://www.humanities-interactive.org/"
You have to, because no-one else could bring together such an amazing collection of Picasso's portraiture in one spot. Oddly, the best Web version of the Museum of Modern Art's (MOMA) Picasso exhibition isn't at that institution's Web page, it's here. Including 220 paintings and pastel/pencil drawings, this collection displays Picasso's private drawings of family and friends. The site's well organized with fairly quick downloads. Definitely worth a visit for anyone who loves Picasso, or wants to learn to love him. "http://www.clubinternet.com/picasso/homepage.html"
To function, armed forces have to make war seem more glorious and patriotic than deadly serious. Propaganda departments work overtime producing literature and images tailored to awaken the spirit of duty, honor, and loyalty to one's country. A sampling of one technique used by the US Government during the Second World War is found at the WWII Propaganda Posters site, full of downloadable versions of the posters that were used to inspire hope during the dark days of fear, rationing, and shortages. Posters extoll the virtues of buying War Bonds and of carpooling, pictures worth a thousand well chosen words. "http://www.openstore.com/posters/"
In an attempt to bridge or burrow under cultural gaps separating artists on either side of the English Channel, British artists' group Bet4 and French counterparts Spirale have come together to present their works. The Web presentation is part of their combined "arts for all" policy. A number of artists using a wide variety of media are represented. "http://www.demon.co.uk/dogdays/bet4spirale/"
NETSURFER REVIEW: "PLUG IN: THE GUIDE TO MUSIC ON THE NET"
This issue, Netsurfer reviewer Joanne Eglash looks at "Plug In: the Guide to Music on the Net", by Ted Gurley and W.T. Pfefferle (Prentice Hall PTR: 1996). "http://www.netsurf.com/nsd/books/book.02.21.html"
EXTRA, EXTRA - LA TIMES ON THE WEB!
The envy of most other metropolitan dailies, Los Angeles Times Web site is superb. Beautifully efficient frame menus take you to major sections or a particular story in a click. Ads are prominent but small and colorful. The wealth of free information here is a netsurfer's dream come true. Whether or not you still read newspapers, and even if you don't live in LA, you can easily get hooked. You'll wonder why you ever thought of reading news on America Online or CompuServe instead of the Web, as long as you use Netscape 2.0 or 3.0. Wow and double wow! "http://www.latimes.com/"
Culture Zone is another of the gazillions of online e-mags. Why should you check it out? Well, slick layout, good music reviews on the Wailing Highway, an excellent featured artist in the Art House, and some fun with the Fashion Police in the Glad Rags section. There might be some confusion with the unnecessary intermediate pages between sections but don't let that deter you from Cultural awareness. "http://www.culturezone.com/current/"
The University of Virginia Electronic Text Library is an academic treasure trove of medieval and modern literature, including prose, poetry, and religious resources. Literary masterpieces in English, French, German, Japanese, and Latin are freely available to all. If you've never read classics such as "The Vicar of Wakefield" or "The Son of Tarzan", here's your chance. Rich sites like this may not put bookstores out of business, but libraries and publishers ought to take note. Where else can you download "Hot-Foot Hannibal", "Baxter's Procrustes", "Buttered Side Down", and "Howard's End" gratis in a few clicks? "http://etext.lib.virginia.edu/uvaonline.html"
ONLINE LEXICONS FOR THOSE TOUGH TEXTS
There are plenty of online dictionaries; here's one with a twist. Enter any URL, and Wordbot puts the page into a frame. It then turns every word into a link to your choice of one of ten online dictionaries (or pick your own by specifying the URL). Click a word and voila - the definition appears in the top frame. Pre-existing links are noted with a distinctive graphic so you can still navigate as usual. While for us it did a fine job with the text, it botched several image links. This is a clever technological demonstration and may be of use especially when reading pages written in foreign languages. "http://www.cs.washington.edu/homes/kgolden/wordbot.html"
If you're one of those hapless souls with a nose for news, a penchant for poking, and the spine for snooping, then get thee to the Journalist's Guide for Finding Data on the Internet. You'll find links to data for potential stories, statistics geared to writers, basic reference data, and topics ranging from aviation to agriculture to "finding people" to the weather. There's also a nifty "Need Help" link that lets you e-mail Profnet, a group of college and university faculty members who are willing to help you nail that award-winning story. Remember us in your Pulitzer acceptance speech. "http://www.probe.net/~niles/"
OH, NORMAN ROCKWELL, WHAT HAVE THEY DONE?
So much for tradition. The Saturday Evening Post (SEP), that bastion of "Life in the Good Old Days", has sold out - they've joined the high-tech world. Before you pause to mourn, we hasten to inform you that although the technology has changed, the game's the same. Featured in the July/August issue, for example, are stories that typify SEP's soothing, sometimes snoozing, style: World's Largest Children's Museum; Celebrating the Olympic Games' 100th Anniversary; and medical information. And don't miss the Saturday Evening Post Art Gallery, featuring Grandma's favorite, Norman Rockwell. "http://www.satevepost.org/"
The Far Side Daily is a little page with a purpose - to collect Far Side cartoons from around the net and publish one each day. A little dose of American humor brought to us from Web Publishing of Australia. Their other featured links include a page of Aussie immigration visa classes - in case you wanted to know. "http://www.ausweb.com.au/FarSide/"
An oh-so-chic e-zine, Salon offers literary excerpts, media and culture reviews, and acerbic observations on everything. Have an opinion on whether entertainment is the downfall of society? Post it to the Table Talk chat zone. Some highbrow stuff, some fluff, but it has a positive reputation among the digerati. Man, don't you hate that phrase? "http://www.salon1999.com/"
Explosive Cargo features a large range of essays and stories which, while based on serious issues, are often rather comic in the style of whimsical self-parody that the editors claim has been severely lacking since WWII. A quarterly magazine, based on the tradition of the likes of Dorothy Parker, it features work from Jim Carroll and beyond, on anything from Mencken to Generation ZZ. "http://www.webpub.com/xcargo/"
On July 16 (we think), you can begin to virtually and safely accompany a real journey through the Amazon rain forest. You'll have guides, maps, equipment, and, of course, images. The canoe expedition through the northwest Amazon basin will beam data and images from faunal and limnological field work to collaborating scientists and this Web site in a grander experiment testing the limits of interactive research. This can be an exciting adventure to tag along with, but it can also be a drag if you don't have at least a 28.8 kbps connection. There are many large images, including several on the very first page, with more sure to follow. "http://sunsite.doc.ic.ac.uk/netspedition/"
WARTHOGS AND PALS IN SAN FRANCISCO
It could take hours to tour the San Francisco Zoo, but you can whiz through the Web site in under 15 minutes and still get a good feel for what's there. Instead of walking, click on the zoo map - up pop descriptions of the animals in that section along with a few photos. Don't worry about your reading glasses because most of the text is LARGE (H3 for you HTML types). Coupled with the white backgrounds and colorful navigational icons, the effect is quite eye-pleasing. Along with information about residents, the site offers hours and directions, information about conservation, volunteer and education programs, and special events. Check out the special New Exhibits, currently a rare white alligator and warthogs. "http://www.sfzoo.com/"
Andrew Michael Chugg's home page showcases his interests: stereograms; scientific paradoxes; space; and radiation. Chugg presents the material intelligently and provides links when his own information is incomplete. Various charts, graphs, and discourses explore radiation exposure, including radon, ozone, and nuclear test fallout. If it's a little dry for you, hop to the Stereograms section and download (relax, it's only 140 kB) a free program to generate your own irritating autostereogram ("Magic Eye") image. Links to other stereo images will have your eyes tearing for hours. Rounding out the offerings is a collection of fascinating papers on paradoxes, space, and gravity. "http://www.netlink.co.uk/users/stereo/"
Eight hundred years ago, great earthen mounds stood in the southern US, the centers of urban gatherings. The US National Park Service is trying to maintain the memory of the grandiose structures. Of the thousand or so known sites, two remain untouched. The Park Service set up this Web site in an effort to publicize the history of the Moundbuilders, as the ancient architects are known, and to promote other preservation activities. Other sections supply lots of interesting tidbits and links for the netsurfer who can't get to sleep. "http://www.cr.nps.gov/"
MEDICAL TERMS AND SPECIALTIES YOU CAN'T PRONOUNCE AND THOSE YOU CAN
A Web site with dozens of medical references; everything from AIDS to geriatrics, health law to organ transplantation, pathology to trauma. And of course, pointers on Web searching. This is really a library of links to medical sites and represents a great deal of work by the author of the site. Some medical areas have a variety of links while others have one or a mere few. If you have been looking for a particular piece of medical info or are simply curious, take a look. "http://www.evansville.net/~wbbebout/"
SHINE ON YOU CRAZY COLORED GEMSTONE
Diamonds may be a girl's best friend, but rubies, sapphires, and opals run a close second. Then again, there are peridots, emeralds, and so many more gorgeous gemstones, we can't possibly name them all here. At the International Colored Gemstone Association site, you can check out the glamorous photos, take the monthly gem quiz (you could win a very precious prize), and learn more about gems in general. For instance, did you know that garnets come in shades of green and orange in addition to red? Did you know that sapphires are almost as hard as diamonds? Did you know that the gemstone industry is making efforts to ban the use of the word "semi-precious?" It's truly a gem of a site. Sorry. "http://www.gemstone.org/"
Jeffrey Browndyke wants his Ph.D. To that end, he is hosting an online neuropsychology survey and he needs participants "regardless of age, location, race, education, or injury status." It takes about ten minutes and you get a prize at the end. Sadly, it's not doughnuts, but hey - it's the thought that counts. "http://www.premier.net/~cogito/project/onp.html"
We said of Enterzone way back in NSD 1.17: "The style borders on chaos, but it's chaos with a purpose." They say we're "essential reading for websurfers and wannabes". Don't you just love it? They've moved. "http://ezone.org/ez/"
NSD 2.7 featured this site, which nestles and nurses Net nascents and others. It's done gone and moved, too. "http://www.austria.eu.net/iic/"
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