REMEMBER THAT GUY WHO DEPOSITED A $95K JUNK MAIL CHECK?
A joke check, deposited as an experiment, suddenly gets credited to Patrick Comb's account. What do you do with a hundred grand you know isn't really yours? Follow Patrick's journey through the dilemma of finding himself suddenly wealthy, bewildered, and beset. This is one guy for whom adventure is not an unknown. Read how he delivered a baby on the sidewalk on the way home, how Spalding Gray makes a fool of him, and other weird stories that can entertain you for hours and make you question your own behavior in extraordinary situations. "http://www.dnai.com/~pcombs/ventures.html"
With Ken Burns' New Perspectives on The West, television combines with the Web to produce a stunningly rich and interesting educational resource. Beyond the eight-part documentary that aired earlier this month on PBS stations, visitors to this Web site can look closely at each episode's background material of photos, memoirs, and maps, all richly speckled with links to more historical and geographical information. Games, knowledge quizzes, and info about the making of the series also find a homestead, as does a submission box. Clear navigation tools keep you oriented as you move among a multimedia tour, a searchable timeline of events, and lists of people and places important to the history of the American West. Also notice one of the best uses of HTML frames on the Web. "http://www3.pbs.org/weta/thewest/"
So this is how packaged goods look to Superman. The folks at Graseby Product Monitoring have made it possible for you to view some 75 lovely objects that their CDX quality management system has captured in the processing and packaging of various food items. Be sure to check out the green pepper that's been stuck with a thumb tack. Oh, and don't forget the potato chips packaged with a coin. The system detects metal, glass, stone, bone, rubber, mud clumps, PVC, and other foreign bodies so that assembly-line workers can presumably take the offending items out of the picture. Don't visit anywhere near meal time. "http://www.demon.co.uk/prodmon/images.html"
ZEN STORIES TO TELL YOUR NEIGHBORS
This enlightening site presents a well-balanced selection of life lessons from the Zen masters of Asia. The stories themselves are short and sweet. Comments from readers are also provided. While you may find yourself ardently agreeing or disagreeing with the stories or the running commentary, it really is an ideal blend of yin and yang. Enjoy the ride. "http://www1.rider.edu/~suler/zenstory/zenstory.html"
ELECTRONIC COOKBOOK WORTH A GOOD LOOK
OnlineChef is a fresh, new e-zine that will appeal to cooks, bakers, and food-makers of all kinds. Stop by and pick up a few tips from the pros about shopping for produce. Learn how to properly stock your kitchen. And get an expert's perspective on what kind of year 1996 will turn out to be for wine. What makes this site a particularly tasteful endeavor is its impressive interactive glossary and an add-your-own recipe catalogue. Another plus: while the publication is produced in Northern California, it is written from a relatively universal perspective. Very well done. "http://www.onlinechef.com/"
Do you like your pages profound? Do you like following a dark tunnel with no idea where you'll end up or what the hell it's about? Do you like psychoanalysis and heavy propoganda pulled off in an arty and spooky manner? If you like following the answers to esoteric questions about yourself to find new questions, then this page is you. There's even an ancient-style cheer for the revolution, crafted with propoganda and imagery in a peculiarly Fascist fashion. It's quite beautiful and worth an objective look, if you're prepared for something odd. "http://www.mcad.edu/home/faculty/szyhalski/Piotr/"
Wallbangers allows you to try your hands at a 5.9 technical rock climb based on the Widowmaker route at the Black Cliffs near Boise, Idaho. You control an avatar named Harvey and have a selection of hand positions. There is enough detail about hand moves and feedback on mistakes to actually learn something about climbing and the graphics are pretty game-like, at least to the Doom-familiar. No adrenalin (nor epinephrine - how many of you get that pun?) rush but pretty engaging nonetheless. "http://www.mediaphex.com/swish/wasted/wall/"
Those wacky ministers of the arcane, Penn and Teller, in keeping with the expansion of life (and everything close enough to fall into that category) onto the cyberplane of existence, have performed a magical act of major creation in putting together a Web site. To preserve their wholesome, family-entertainment kind of charisma, the site's banner sports the warm, fuzzy title, "Welcome to Sin City". Fans of the two-man comedy/magic/dismemberment act that has been amazing audiences both on television and on tour for years will be fascinated to get into the minds of the six-foot, six-inch Penn Gillette and the diminutive Teller, who remains mute during all peformances, but not in person or on the Web site. Visitors will find biographical information on our two heroes, cruel tricks to play on dear friends, and links to other arcane sites, including one to James "The Amazing" Randi, fellow skeptic and psychic phenomenon debunker supreme. "http://www.sincity.com/"
THE SOCIETY FOR THE RECAPTURE OF VIRGINITY
Looking for a new you? Lost your cherry and suddenly your life's a tasteless fruit salad? Let Virgin Recovery System 3000 get it back in one night! Answer a few questions,like what you heard at that special moment (dogs barking, a party, mosquitoes are suggested), order the Virginator virginity restorer (a biorhythm restructuring wristband), the certificate, and the badge (wear your virginity with pride) and you're in the running to experience all the advantages of your virginity again - orgasms 200% stronger, food tastes better, low cholesterol, lower death rate, etc. Makes sex look dull in comparison. "http://www.razorfish.com/bluedot/srv/"
It started with the "personal newspaper" once touted by Prodigy and other online services. Now, on the Web, starting points that you can customize to suit your interests are all the rage. The latest as-you-like-it freebie, Eye on the Web, is designed to help both new and experienced surfers get a quick start on their information round-ups. Weather forecasts, horoscopes, sports scores, comics, news, and more neat stuff are accessible by means of gateway pages through this launchpad, a value-added asset for Internet service providers and you. The Site Map page, like this site's persistent navigation column, tells a lot with lists: Eye on the Web wants to be your home page, and if you want to save time, it will be. "http://www.eyeontheweb.com/"
With the cost of movie tickets forever on the rise, many cinephiles pore over reviews before they spend a penny. If you're one of them, QUICKcheck is for you. It's a directory of current and recent Hollywood releases with links to 15 reviews in major American newspapers such as the New York Times and LA Times, and magazines such as Entertainment Online Weekly and People. Because of restrictions beyond the designer's control, some of the links here won't take you directly to an offsite review - first, you may have to log on (such as at the New York Times) or search a menu (as at the Philadelphia Daily News). The idea behind QUICKcheck is sound, however, so bet on the advent of commercial competitors any time now. "http://home.earthlink.net/~jeffsw/index.html"
With backgrounds only slightly less irritating than the subject, the Anti-Telemarketer Source offers scads of information on what telemarketing operations can and cannot do, and how to avoid, harass, and basically annoy callers as much as or more than they do you. Some of the suggestions are humorous, some sadistic, but all undoubtedly are effective. More useful, though, is information on the Telephone Consumer's Protection Act of 1991 and the strictures it places on telemarketing firms. Here's when a telemarketer calls, ask to be placed on their "do not call" list. If they call again within a year, you can sue them for $500. There's an easy money scheme worth investigating. "http://www.izzy.net/~vnestico/t-market.html"
Hey, Elvis isn't dead. He's in Webland. That's right, it's virtual Elvis in virtual Graceland. There's an Elvis shopping mall, an Elvis FAQ, and even an "Elvisology". The last features the hip-swivelin' dude's biography, info on his records and films, and a trivia section. Hmmm, we thought it was all trivia.... Did you know there are more than 480 Elvis fan clubs worldwide? Well, now you do. For more facts that you could have lived without knowing, swivel your hips or mouse on over to this official Elvis Web site. By the way, the site's initial page asks you to "please expand your browser window to its maximum size." We couldn't possibly make up something that funny. "http://www.elvis-presley.com/"
SITE SEARCH ENGINE TUTORIAL FOR WEB DESIGNERS
How to design Web pages so that they can be found easily and accurately by the major search engines is one of the topics on a site hosted by Northern Webs from Sagle, Idaho. They also share design hints for GIF animation, disaster recovery planning and testing, and network design, installation, and troubleshooting. You may also want to check out the outline of their Web design process. "http://www.digital-cafe.com/~webmaster/norweb01.htm"
MORE LETTERS TO AND FROM YOUR EDITOR
Yep, it's time again for ranting and raving from some of the finest readers and editorial staffers on the Net. "http://www.netsurf.com/nsd/letters/letter.02.32.html"
DIVE INTO NEWLY DISCOVERED YUCATAN UNDERWATER CAVE SYSTEM
A recent expedition on Mexico's famed Yucatan Peninsula has reportedly uncovered the longest underwater cave system known to humankind. The 35-or-so-mile El Jacinto Pat tunnel system is being explored and documented by a team of adventurous divers, who have provided an interesting and fun presentation of stories, photos, and maps for your viewing pleasure. Great photos and maps that don't take forever to load add a nice touch. "http://www.cavedive.com/"
Mountain Online is an e-zine about mountain and rock climbing resources and locations around the world. As one of the so-called "extreme" sports that have been generating much interest in the Generation-Xer psyche, it's only natural that the most Gen-X tool of all, namely the Internet, should be used to inform and disseminate information on this category of sport. This free e-zine offers articles on the mechanics of climbing-related activities, as well as expedition reports from the logbooks of past adventurers. If dangling from thin, nylon ropes next to sharp rocks at suicidal altitudes is the thing for you, the Mountain Online site will not disappoint. "http://www.ikhaya.co.uk/mountain/"
JUST LIKE BEING THERE, WITHOUT THE HEATSTROKE
If you've ever considered a trip to the Grand Canyon State, the official Arizona home page should be your first stop. This site is packed tighter than a rat in a rattler. The site offers suggested tours to fit any need and information on darned near every facility in the state. A convenient search engine is provided if you're looking for something specific. Weather information and a calendar of upcoming events are clearly and easily located. The Grand Canyon link isn't too bad, either. "http://www.arizonaguide.com/"
This Web site is an odd collection of art and photos culled, it seems, from a variety of collections on the Net. The Oriental Museum is where the art resides, categorized by country or artist or both - it's not clear. Three photo exhibitions focus on Mongolia, Japanese shrines, and China, in decreasing order of interest. Virtual Mongolia provides an overview of Mongolia with photos of people, history, and sparse but sublime natural vistas. The Chinese portion is divided into regions of that country and, with the Cyber Shrine pages, resemble a typical bus tour. You know: drive, get off the bus, snap your pictures, back on the bus, drive to next hot spot. All images arrive as small thumbnails and announce their size, which is considerate. "http://www.kiku.com/electric_samurai/index.html"
AWESOME PAGE ON THE IMPERIAL JAPANESE NAVY
If your interests even only tangentially touch ships with guns, Japan, or World War II, you must go here. This is the best page devoted to a specialized topic we have yet come across. "http://www.skypoint.com/members/jbp/kaigun.htm"
THE BLENDER-PHONE: A TOOL FOR THE 21ST CENTURY
"It's fully functional as a telephone or blender, but a little more difficult to use. Certainly more difficult to understand." Basically, instead of ringing, it blends. This is not a joke. "http://www.isomedia.com/homes/cycoactive/blender/"
If you were too stoned to remember the Cheech and Chong movies, fear not. Have your memory jogged at the official Cheech and Chong homepage. Sounds, album info, current projects, and plenty of photos are all available. There's also a trivia multiple choice section that we were embarrassingly accurate in completing. "http://www.cheech.com/index.html"
The Spot makes you puke? Semi-bored of Bryon? Lonely now that the loser upstairs has moved out? If you want a new fix of real people's personal daily or weekly traumas and observations, try this. "http://www.worldimage.com/diaries/index.html"
COULD WE INTEREST YOU IN SOME PICTURES?
If you are looking for live pictures on the Net, the EarthCam site can help with searchable lists of live-cam sites in six broad categories, from business to weird and bizarre. View your heart out. "http://www.earthcam.com/"
Avoid confusion when tracking information down on the Web and give Fusion a try. A Java applet queries six Internet search engines in parallel and presents results in a list with the accompanying URLs. You'll need Navigator 2.0 or later, though it seems the later, the better. "http://borges.compapp.dcu.ie/fusion/"
This site is just the thing for Mr. Media (Mrs. Media just gave birth to lil' girl Media - congrats!), NSD's own editor (who'll meet lil' Netsurfer number two in April and who has lil' Netsurfer number one sticking pennies way down the back of his shorts as he writes this), and anyone else of that ilk. Just like Parents magazine online, 'cept it's not. "http://www.parenthoodweb.com/"
At home alone, alcohol in one hand, mouse in other, and you hate smug people who think they're cool - like, say, Suck? Here's what to do: go to this site, laugh, and get drunk. Actually, you need several kinds of alcohol to play by the rules. Void where prohibited by age. "http://www.stardot.com/~lukeseem/suck/"
Tired of endless "Publisher's Clearinghouse" letters? The Junkbusters Web site promises to reduce your unwanted junk mail and even cut down on those telemarketing phone calls. They offer various solutions, depending on your level of tolerance for junk. "http://www.junkbusters.com/"
Looking for something in a microprocessor? This free database lets you access 10 GB of articles, reviews, and papers on software, networking, and information technology (IT) topics. That's a lot. "http://www.inquiry.com/search/"
FAQ Finder allows you to search by category or directly for the FAQ of your choice. Over 1,800 links to FAQs around the world will let you in on everything from alligators to attorneys. It's quick. It's available. "http://ps.superb.net/FAQ/"
Both computer and console game afficionados can congregate at Arcadium for live chats, occasional scheduled forums with game designers and other gaming bigwigs, Web tours of game-related sites, and of course tips, reviews, and demos of all the hot new games. You can even launch right into a MUD or Net game from the hub. "http://www.arcadium.com/"
AOL and Cyber Promotions aren't the only spam-ban-wielding antagonists in cyberspace. A similar dispute has arisen between ISPs in New Zealand. Xtra blocked all access from Voyager, essentially preventing e-mail and Web pages originating in Voyager's servers from reaching Xtra customers. Xtra closed the door "to protect Xtra customers from unsolicited e-mails, or 'spamming' from Voyager," and claims to have lifted the ban "after getting an assurance from Voyager that it would not attempt to obtain information from Xtra's database in future," whatever that implies. Voyager ran an end-around anyway, rerouting e-mail traffic through its Australian parent's servers. Voyager: "http://www.voyager.co.nz/Xtrablock.html" Xtra: "http://www.xtra.co.nz/new/index.html"
OXFORD BOOK OF DISAPPEARING WEB PAGES
Just last issue we were whining about sites whose URLs change just as you write 'em up. That goes double for disappearing Web pages. The Oxford Book of English Verse is no longer at the Columbia University's Bartleby Library site, but plenty else dating from before 1920 is. "http://www.columbia.edu/acis/bartleby/"
SURF THE CHIP ELECTRIC AND THE BODY BEAUTIFUL
Chip Rowe, a real writer with impressive credentials whom we spotlighted in NSD 1.37, has a new home. So does Tony Ryan's talented erotic photography. Chip: "http://thetransom.com/chip/" Tony: "http://www.totalnet.com.au/clients/Tony.Ryan/"
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