Sun Microsystem's Java has stormed the Net, as you might have heard. A lesser known invasion was launched by Sun's lawyers, who sent missives to registered owners of over 150 domains whose names contained the word "java". Jon Batcheller's JAVAC site, used to discuss the Java and C programming languages, was one of the targets. The site is now a "gripe page" that records the status of the domain-name battle and offers selected articles detailing the case, conciliatory comments from readers of the page, and links to other domain-name fights. Curiously, the page concludes with a long list of coffee (the drink) links despite a link to a letter from JavaSoft's president saying that "Sun wouldn't take legal action against anyone for using Java in its normal English connotations." "http://www.javac.com/"
The irony of this site is that it's brilliant, insightful, and very funny. From debating the hypothesis that Man is inherently good (proof: welfare states and pampered criminals), to fantastic examples of idiocy in the media and society, this is full of good reading. The man who accidently set himself on fire, the cat-loving recluse who was eaten by his felines after he died, the clever links and anecdotal support of man's stupidity - it's all engrossing and reveals a convincing dedication. "http://www.vistech.net/users/donw/misant.html"
With CU-SeeMe and the plethora of Internet phones, webheads need not leave their chairs for social interaction. Now the Distributed Real-Time Groove Network (DRGN) adds real-time interactive music jamming to the list of activities you can perform in your underwear. DRGN software allows disparate users active within a MOO or MUD to connect their midi instruments to produce a single virtual performance. The DRGN page is really just a placeholder that points to the Res Rocket Surfer (RRS) pages, home of the first DRGN network. Sound complicated? Venture on to the graphically rich and creatively designed Res Rocket site and check out the samples (available in RealAudio, IWAVE, or WAV) and you'll be hooked. DRGN: "http://ctdnet.acns.nwu.edu/hugo/drgn.html" RRS: "http://www.resrocket.com/"
ARE YOU ALIVE? ONLY THIS SITE KNOWS FOR SURE
Ours is a culture of celebrity, and from time to time who doesn't wonder whether that certain person who captured our imagination long ago - like Mikey, the Life cereal kid - is still alive? Meet the Dead People Server, an alphabetic pageant of the famous and once-famous who have gone or will go the way of all flesh. This site lets you know on which side of the equation these now-out-of-the-spotlight celebrities reside. The logic behind this limited trove of trivia has a simple, macabre appeal. Some names are linked to sites devoted to the memory of the celebrities. Most are unlinked, but disc jockeys, librarians, genealogists, and gossip columnists may find this long and growing list useful. Some visitors may find it as hard to face as a war memorial. "http://www.scarletfire.com/dps/"
WWWVOICE YOUR OPINIONS AND OTHER ASSORTED NIFTINESS
Put together "because we're nosey", or so the authors claim, wwwVOice is a neat little site composed mainly in question-and-answer format. The unwashed masses offer opinions on such pressing issues as "Will Microsoft's browser replace Netscape" and "Do animated GIFs and scrolling text that interfere with your mouse pointer's query of links, bother you?" These are not easy questions (yeah, right), but the answers provided by our Net brothers and sisters never fail to amuse. The site has other interesting features, the best of which is "Bud Uggly Design", which treats us to a "future" of staggeringly frightening Web page layouts. Try the wicked hard Net trivia challenge. All in all, wwwORth the download time. "http://www.wwwvoice.com/"
When you're a kid, there simply isn't anything more exciting than eating candy out of refillable plastic toys with strange and varied heads. Well, maybe there is, but don't tell that to the creators of the Burlingame Museum of Pez Memorabilia. Visitors to the site will undoubtedly be fascinated by images of the gigantic collection of Pez figurines, but these aren't the limits of the site's offering. There are also sections on what's new in the Pez world, a Pez for-sale page, and a report and images from the recent West Coast Pez Convention. A site to soothe the sweet tooth. "http://www.spectrumnet.com/pez/"
Duckman, USA Network's caustic, abusive, ill-mannered, animated TV star, has somehow garnered an opinion - or is that opinionated - column in Tap Online's TV section. This "pet detective" brings the same wild humor that entertains/offends viewers all over the US to the vast multimedia machine that is the Internet with great success. The site will appeal most to faithful viewers who tune in to Duckman Saturday nights, but anyone who reads the column may become a convert to our hero the duck, and may find that the weekly cartoon becomes necessary to fill the time between columns. "http://www.taponline.com/tap/entertainment/tv/duckman/"
THE NON-LINEAR ADVENTURES OF A 20-YEAR-OLD ANTIHERO
"This page is an example of what can happen when you have too much time on your hands." So begins "George Has Lost His Mind", who has so much time because he nearly lost his life in an alcohol-induced auto accident. As you might expect, the pages lean toward introspection, but without as much remorse as one might expect. George only hurt himself in the accident, though, so perhaps he needs a bit more guilt. Still, this is an entertaining read, with pages skillfully intertwined. The story doesn't even hint of pretentiousness, which is always nice. You should visit before George kills himself, which we don't think is too unlikely. Nice complement to evil/stupid and alive/dead sites, don't ya think? "http://www2.pair.com/gdavis/"
THE INTERESTING ADVENTURES OF MR. REIL
By reading Ron Reil's home page and following the interesting links to longer narratives, you can vicariously participate in his real-life adventures. You can sail with Ron in the Caribbean, join him in looking for gold in Alaska, and go mountaineering or to the West Indies. His adventures continue and include teaching junior high school and raising a family. If you have at least a 14.4 kbps modem and enjoy outdoor adventure, you'll find this a rewarding site. "http://www.sd01.k12.id.us/schools/west/teachers/reil/index.html"
Remember sick-joke books? They're back. Many teens and pre-teens would like the weird, sometimes scatological humor in Jadie's Warped Mind. To say its humor is broad is an understatement. (For example, cracks about bodily functions and parts abound.) Censors may point to this site as a prime example of how the Web can corrupt your mind, and how frightfully easily a self-publisher can become self-indulgent in public. But, as John Cougar Mellencamp asked, ain't that America? Jadie forgoes bells and whistles for balls and thistles. Who can guess the motivation behind this brazen misfit? As Jadie warns: "Huggies are recommended." "http://www.geocities.com/Hollywood/3128/"
"Sci Fi Entertainment", part of the personal "Linger and Link" framed site, offers news, reviews, and interviews with makers of speculative Hollywood films. A recent tour turned up a visit with the writer and producer of the SF blockbuster "Independence Day", a piece called "Be Afraid" with background on "The Frighteners", Melissa J. Perenson's succinct preview of digital video disk technology, and other goodies for movie fans. Web host and writer Ed Flixman needs to work on navigation - it's often hard to find your way back. Even so, the presentation is pretty neat. "http://www.geocities.com/Hollywood/1022/index.html"
The Liberaces of wrestling take the stage to reveal everything from their real names to the grunting noises they make in the ring (a very special RealAudio treat, especially Cactus Jack). This is a great site. From the women in wrestling (like Mildred, who took on all the fellas and earned more than any of them) to all the new wrestling sites (two new each week!), this is great fun and very enlightening. No kidding. Sock it to 'em. "http://www.adscape.com/wrestling/"
No, that's not a typo. Those are the first words of one of our favorite songs, "American Pie" - in Latin. Accomplished by a Latin class at a Wisconsin high school, this Web site features such old standbys as "Light My Fire" (Come on baby, incende ignem meum), "Fire and Rain", and "When the Saints Go Marching In". Memorize a verse and amuse your friends. One warning: no keys to pronounciation are included, so if you have any friends who do know Latin, be careful or they'll be laughing at you instead of with you. "http://www.execpc.com/~nexus/latin.html"
ADVERTISING ICONS FOR EITHER THE FAST OR THE TOTALLY COMMITTED
The Museum of Advertising Icons is another interesting site that requires either 56 kbps access or infinite patience. The front-door graphic is nearly 100 kB in a page of 170 kB plus. If you do venture here, you can view over 650 items from the history of advertising, beginning with a map of the museum and moving on to each display of interest. You'll also get valuable tips on collecting, storing, and displaying advertising icons. "http://www.toymuseum.com/"
It's a shocking concept, but once upon a time, instead of electronic frontiers there were real frontiers replete with wonders and riches, hardship and death. Web designer Rod Davidek of Aurora, Ontario, uses the e-frontier to present "Arctic Dawn: The Journeys of Samuel Hearne", a tale of the Canadian north nearly two centuries ago. Using Hearne's own account of his explorations, Davidek has created a beautiful Web site that is spare in glitz and rich in content. Hearne's narrative is woven via hypertext with his observations of the local flora, fauna, and culture. While perhaps lacking the fame of Roald Amundsen or the infamy of Sir John Franklin, Hearne's tale of discovery is a small celebration of anyone who has stepped willingly and passionately into the unknown. Davidek has established an elegant outpost on the electronic frontier. "http://web.idirect.com/~hland/sh/title2.html"
If you have any interest in the Crescent City, you should check out Experience New Orleans. You can see photos from this past Mardi Gras, which was broadcast over the Net, learn about the local Cities of the Dead (as NSD has in the past), take a tour of Honey Island Swamp, or download the recipe of the month. Even practicalities like how to orient yourself in a flat city are covered. Peppered with fast-loading images and animated icons, this site really serves up a gumbo-ya-ya of info. "http://www.compucast.com/"
Britannia INternet is a phenomenally complete e-zine about (surprise!) Great Britain. Net-anglophiles will find it to be a vast repository of information on travel, entertainment, sports, and a plethora of interesting topics dealing with the British Isles and their population. Some of the topics covered include government, religion, science, and historical locations. All in all, Brittania Internet magazine is a great place to start plans for travel to the United Kingdom, and also for those simply desiring a bit more information on one of the (formerly?) great powers of the world. "http://www.britannia.com/"
New Scientists has a lovely little new escape at its Planet Science site. You must register (free) if you haven't already. The "ecotour" is an overview of the beauty of Australian rainforests, lakes, dunes, tropics, and mountains. Accurate, descriptive, and engaging, this would do well to feature a few pictures beyond a brief map and a great taste of what's on. Register: "http://www.newscientist.com/" Australia: "http://www.newscientist.com/ps/tours/ausindex.html"
Part of Prodigy's struggles against more successful rivals America Online and CompuServe is an attempt to be cool with a community called STIM, a Web-zine for those who dig deviant pop culture. Titles of some recent features are enticing, such as "Brainwash 2000", "Waiting in line to Die: Death at Disneyland", and "Signs of the Apocalypse". The offbeat graphics and animations are great. STIM has plenty of content, but will this well-staffed, ambitious, flashy jumble of a giant propel Prodigy to prosperity? STIM has no idea - it's trying to figure out its purpose with an advertiser's nightmare: "Every month, we pose the question 'What is STIM?' and a member of our STIM family strives to answer it." Good luck. "http://www.stim.com/"
The official Spinal Tap site is available for your online enjoyment. Gather coupling advice from David St. Hubbins. Order a non-crappy T-shirt. Find out the latest rumors. Just don't sign on as drummer.... "http://www.spinaltap.com/index.html"
If you have a secret yen to learn Ada, C, C++, and/or Pascal, check out this Web site. Coronado Enterprises Tutorials are shareware, which means that you can try these tutorials before you pay. The emphasis is on how to write code, although information on theory also is provided. "http://www.swcp.com/~dodrill/"
Effortless, useful and free, TipWorld lets you subscribe to daily bits of wisdom on Windows, Mac, Microsoft, or Lotus; hot new Web sites; the latest bug reports; news and gossip from journalist Don Crabb; and even installments of an amusing ongoing e-mail soap-opera. "http://www.tipworld.com/"
LARRY'S AIRSHIP PICTURE BOOK OF NAVY BLIMPS
Over 50 photos by Larry Rodrigues, a Navy electronics technician aboard blimps from 1954 to 1956 are coupled with stories, some personal, of the history of airship operations. "http://www.GeoCities.com/CapeCanaveral/1022/"
Ignore the irony of service vs. medium and use the Book Searcher Web service to find or sell that rare, out-of-print, or previously owned book. Collectors of eclectic works will appreciate the site most. Professionals in the field can subscribe to a list of desired titles. "http://www.booksearcher.com/"
The Inkspot home page offers access to an online newsletter, a variety of writing resources, and information for authors of children's literature. As a bonus for parents and teachers, there is a link to resources for young writers. "http://www.inkspot.com/~ohi/inkspot/"
It's a bird. It's a plane. It's a Canadian. It's a dog. We've no idea what it actually is, but the Spacedog Web site should spin a few minutes of fun for wee Web wanderers. Good links to kid sites, cool pictures, goofy movies, and stuff to color. A giant leap for puppykind. "http://www.spacedog.org/"
COLLEGE ADMISSIONS AND FINANCIAL AID
If the thought of tracking down financial aid or college admissions info has got you down, your life is about to take an upward swing. Enter the College Guides and Aid Home Page, where you'll find all the necessary resource material, helpfully pre-evaluated, in one locale. "http://www.collegeguides.com/"
John Faherty, a technology consultant for Digital Equipment, has fashioned one of the most useful and technically impressive Web sites we've ever stumbled upon. Forget "browser torture tests" - Faherty's Web Multimedia Tour introduces and presents practically every extant Internet multimedia format in the categories of Audio, Video, Animation, Virtual Reality, and Person to Person (Internet phones, IRC, etc.). Each technology is explained in detail with embedded examples and instruction on incorporation into your own pages. Complete links to sites for product downloads or for more detailed technical information round out the sections. If you've got a VRML plug-in, be sure to take the 3-D version of the tour. Finish up with a glance at the "What's new" in multimedia technologies and check out the "Site of the week". Bookmark? For sure. "http://ftp.digital.com/webmm/fbegin.html"
So, you've got a Mac and you're having trouble finding your place in the universe. Perhaps you need some decent astronomy software. Decent is the operative word; several high-end packages will set you back $100 or more. Sienna Software offers Starry Night, a decent package, for a 10-day trial period and a $28 registration fee thereafter. It doesn't have a bazillion deep-sky objects, it won't search for planetary conjunctions for the next three centuries, and it won't figure Mars' ephemeris for the year, but it will give you a pretty good idea of what you'll see if you look at the sky this eve - from any planet. Add an exceptionally friendly screen, a nifty QuickTime movie generator, and a folder full of examples that show off the program's capabilities and you've got a reasonably priced home planetarium of sorts. How can you lose? At least you'll know what planet you're on. "http://www.siennasoft.com/siennasoft/default.html"
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