NETSURFER PRINT COLUMN DEBUTS IN COMPUTER CURRENTS
What's better than your free Netsurfer Digest online? Well, nothing, but this comes close. It's free Netsurfer Digest items in print. Computer Currents, a computer periodical with impeccable taste, is printing selected items from NSD in a column. The column's redundant for you, since you're reading NSD here, but we're proud enough to announce it anyway. Look for the October 22 edition of Computer Currents - the one with Manny the Hippie on the cover. We be diggity dank. "http://ccurrents.com/magazine/national/national.html"
SO WHO'S MANNY THE HIPPIE? AND WHAT'S "DIGGITY DANK"?
Since not everyone in the world (our chosen arena of media combat) is plugged into US anti-culture, here's some indispensible info. "http://www.hooked.net/~crazybob/manny/welcome.htm"
NETWORK COMPUTING STATIONS - THE ANNOUNCEMENTS
It's Microsoft/Intel vs. Sun/everybody else in the latest hype war, featuring the Network Computer (NC). The way they tell it, these babies will, with Java/ActiveX commands sent from the corporate file server, boost corporate productivity, lower maintenance costs, help meet quarterly forcasts, annihilate competitors, and cut employees' toenails. It's a typical silly media frenzy over the anything with the word "network" in it. Face it: you can't play Quake on it, and that pretty much sums up its future. We predict large fortunes sinking under the weight of diskless paperweights. You can read the alternating realities of the NC universe in the breathless press-release prose of the two marketing behemoths. By the way, anybody remember X-terminals? Sun: "http://www.sun.com/961029/JES/pressreleases/overview_press.html" Microsoft: "http://microsoft.com/corpinfo/press/1996/oct96/netpcpr.htm"
JUST WHAT IS THE SEARCH ENGINE OF CHOICE?
Web search engines pop up like dandelions in spring, and it's tedious to test them for accuracy and timeliness. We'd like to thank Macworld's Charles Seiter for doing just that. Macworld is kind enough to put its articles online, and you can read Charles's report at the URL below. Essentially, he gives high marks to Infoseek Ultra, and merely passing grades to the best of the rest. If you do a lot of Web searches, this is a must read. "http://www.macworld.com/pages/december.96/Column.2893.html"
ANCIENT ROMAN VILLA FOR THE VIEWING
Friends, Romans, countrymen... lend us your villa. Actually, you probably wouldn't want to stay overnight at this particular ancient Roman villa, which dates from the first to third century CE. But the fascinating Hechingen-Stein site in Germany is now an open-air museum that has been lovingly reconstructed for your online viewing pleasure. Take a 26-stop virtual tour and view the hypocaust floor heating system. Be sure to check out the excavation reports. Text is available in German and English. "http://www.dhm.de/museen/stein/stein_e.html"
Basically, this site is a Web design course based on learning from others' mistakes. This page teaches with bad examples the don'ts of Web publishing. See sucky pages with fading colors. Learn that JavaScript is "declasse" and what black backgrounds tell about you ("This is a cool page, I'm pretty cool too"). Don't ask visitors to alter their browsers, or confuse them with the classic "Is it still loading? No, there's a hand, I'll click on it" dilemma. Above all, fear seeing your own pages here. "http://www.webpagesthatsuck.com/"
GLAMORAMA, WHERE THE WEIRD'S FOR SALE
Cross a wedding chapel with a retail store dedicated to the consumer needs of your inner child and you end up with GlamOrama. If you want, you can get hitched in cyberspace at Glam's On-Line Wedding Chapel or get saved at "Our Lady@www.com" interactive prayer server and soul saver. If the inner four-year-old is tugging, there are lava lamps galore, penis pasta, and plenty of special devotional candles for daily ills. Bottom line: if you're looking for gifts for friends or family, why buy them something they don't want, when you can buy them something stupid? It's worth the visit for the giggles. Where else can you watch Bob Dole morph into an alien and read Bill Gates' brain farts? "http://www.glamorama.com/"
Billing itself as a "complete information service for dangerous minds", DisInformation aims to be the Yahoo for the "X-Files" crowd. It even boasts an X-File/zen-like tag line: "Everything you know is wrong" (except for the URL, of course). DisInfo categorizes its 30 million indexed documents as Propaganda (exploring media manipulation); Counterintelligence (political and environmental issues, monitoring of the far right); Censorship; Revolutionaries (such as William Burroughs, Timothy Leary, Andy Warhol); Counterculture (conspiracy theory, UFOs, and general "high weirdness" on the Web); and Newspeak (current events). It's a slick site that probably wears its counter-culture, subversive data dump guise a bit too aggressively, but it does offer a quick portal to some of the more oddball and interesting sites on the Web. "http://www.disinfo.com/"
Witness is a technological step forward in online journalism. By combining first-person narratives with QuickTime VR (QTVR) movies, Gary Matoso has produced a compelling documentary format for reporting current events. The first in the series, called Road to Refuge, is a series of personal interviews alongside gritty black and white photos and QTVR movies about the Bosnian refugee plight. The site is nicely optimized for both older and newer browsers with a spare but full-featured help section on using QTVR. The interface could be more consistent and straighforward in its navigating, and needs to eliminate the multiple links which download the same movies, but on the whole it is a fast, clever application of an amazing and underutilized graphics format. "http://www.worldmedia.fr/witness/"
You've got to love a site that right off the bat asks whether you don't really have anything better to do with your time than "watch that flat screen in front of you?" Home to an obvious "acoustic reality" addict, curmudgeon, and self-confessed "short-term killjoy," this less-than-homey home page is an extended invitation to an e-mail discussion of, well, who knows what. It's a 60-second reality trip (if you're into that kind of thing) and ends with a good joke. "http://www.common.se/horatius/english1.htm"
IF YOU'RE LOOKING FOR A MOVIE TO SEE...
This fun and funky site will please cinema fans. The EachMovie home page asks you to rate a series of movies, then uses your ratings to recommend other films you might enjoy. It really does work. The site is personlized to your own choices, so you must enter your e-mail address to get a response. Those who believe privacy is more golden than silence will want to ask their local video store clerk instead. And a warning from the site owners: using MS Internet Explorer 3.0 with EachMovie can cause Windows to run out of resources. Try Netscape Navigator instead. "http://www.eachmovie.com/"
We see a lot of skin in the movies, and not all of it prettied by a plastic surgeon. If you're film critic Gene Siskel or someone who appreciates an offbeat sense of humor, Dermatology in the Cinema is your kind of place. Why are scars ugly and beauty marks beautiful? Such questions pervade the major sections "Representation of evil" (welcome home, fans of Freddy Krueger and alien parasites), "Actors with skin findings" (see Morgan Freeman's cheek, Robert Redford's wrinkles, Schwarzenegger's mole), and "Realistic, sympathetic portrayal" (rare afflictions, hair loss, scars). Perhaps the lesson is, when you look in a mirror, only your dermatologist knows for sure. "http://itsa.ucsf.edu/~vcr/Dermcin.html"
THE US CIVIL WAR IN MULTIMEDIA
Generations of Americans have only perked up in history class when discussion turned to the Civil War. This site will appeal to students of the conflict of any age. It adds richness to recollection with multimedia. This fall, the site features background on prison conditions in an interview from Civil War Magazine. You can play a preview version of Command HQ, a role-playing game about the battle of Chancellorsville, and Quest, a Web-based trivia quiz with e-mail support. Even if you don't play, the battle tour in Command HQ provides interesting maps. Lee's retreat, for example, is shown alongside Interstates 60 and 95 near Richmond. You can post questions and read answers about selected topics on this site's moderated forum. An upcoming section, Time Traveler, invites you to "meet the people behind the photographs." America's worst nightmare lives on here, by echo and clue and glimpse and artifact, in respectful, semi-scholarly fashion. "http://www.uscivilwar.com/"
You might have thought Mozilla, the monstrous-but-cute mascot of Netscape, had gone the way of the dinosaurs when the browser maker launched its new nautical graphical format. Before you jump to conclusions, jump over to the following sites, which demonstrate that above all else, Mozilla... is... alive! And you'd better watch out. For Juggling Mozilla. For Sunbathing Mozilla. This is just the tip of the iceberg, folks. Whoever thought there could be such cult-like devotion to this cross between Godzilla and Barney (check out the color scheme)? Run for your lives! Mozilla Museum: "http://www.snafu.de/~tilman/mozilla/index.html" Mozilla Page: "http://n106.is.tokushima-u.ac.jp/member/kita/info/mozilla.html"
MOUNTAIN BIKERS GET VERTICAL ONLINE
Are you a _real_ cyclist - or just a poser? Find out by visiting Vertical Online, a cutting-edge forum for mountain biking enthusiasts. Stop by and view the QuickTime clips, photo gallery, and racing schedules. Take the mountain bike trivia quiz to really establish your level of knowledge of the sport. Vertical Productions, sponsor of the site, comments, "Although our sport of mountain biking has seen some changes, the vitality of our breed, the freedom of two wheels and the challenges of mother nature continue to echo the spirit of off-road cycling." "http://www.verticalonline.com/"
Didn't the world need a shrine to all the glory that was "Grease II"? Re-experience the music, the dancing, the hot story line, Michelle Pfieffer, Adrian Zmed! Who can forget classic songs like "Reproduction" and "Cool Rider", Michelle Pfieffer dressed as Winter, Maxwell Caulfield looking moody and sensitive, and THE LUAU? Get the video, revel in the photos, relive this diabolical sequel, and wonder at why Maxwell wanted to call it "Son of Grease". "http://www.geocities.com/Hollywood/1982"
ATTRACTIONS ON AMERICAN ASPHALT HIGHWAYS
Roadside America is a veritable feast on wheels for all aficionados of travel kitsch. Building on the success of the printed book, these three guys drive us past over 6000 wacky tourist attractions, with more being added every week. Follow the series of highly caffeinated Hypertours with up-to-the-minute charting of multi-day mega-mile pilgrimages that take us past sights like the Champion Milk Cow statue. The Electric Map can jump you to QuickTime movies of unsung oddities in all 50 states at a click. You can even submit your own strange siting and get credit for it. Easy to navigate, fast to load, this site is more fun than license plate bingo. "http://www.roadsideamerica.com/index.html"
You don't get to stay in business for 900 years without changing with the times. The Anglicans at Westminster Abbey are obviously a happenin' bunch, since they're online and in a very nice way. This is an orderly respectable site, just what you'd expect from the guys who watch over Chaucer's tomb. Interesting history and some nice photos are included as well as the weekly schedule and upcoming events listings. Don't forget to check out their large and powerful organ. "http://www.westminster-abbey.org/"
ALL ABOUT CALIFORNIA'S SPANISH MISSIONS
The Spanish Missions of California is an educational page suitable for young netsurfers (or old) to use at home or in the classroom, designed by competent teachers to supplement text-based geography lessons. The question and answer pages come complete with definitions of difficult or important terms, photos and quotes are well used, and there are links to other resources both on the Web and off. The virtual tour of a mission uses RealAudio sound clips to tell part of the story and is laced with activities and quizzes for the reader. Simple, concise, and nicely done, this is a good way to engage kids in using computers for schoolwork as well as for games. "http://tqd.advanced.org/3615/"
Preview Travel has transplanted its online airline reservation site from AOL to the Web. Once logged into either the secure server for credit card transactions or the regular server for browsing, you can create travel profiles for yourself and your family that will streamline your future trip planning, look at current discounts, and set an itinerary. Of course, you can purchase tickets. Fast, easy, with many customizable features and failsafes for wrongly entered data, this could be a good alternative when your travel agent's phone line is busy. "http://www.reservations.com/"
BERMUDA - IT'S NOT JUST SHORTS
Bermuda Online is a commercial free zone where you can get the latest information about that island and all the stuff that goes on on top of it. Whether you're just curious, or you're planning a trip to Bermuda, you'll find valuable insights and tips about what to do before and after you arrive. You can browse all the usual tourist info and history, business highlights, and much more. The well designed and easily navigated format can be displayed on any common browser. Whatever you want to know about Bermuda, chances are you'll find it here. "http://www.microstate.com/bermuda/"
Is it another risky venture for Microsoft? Or a true adventure for you? We'll let you be the judge. MSN has just launched Mungo Park, which bills itself as an online adventure travel magazine. Named after an explorer who disappeared in Africa in the early 1800s, Mungo Park takes you from place to place and from perspective to perspective. We rather enjoyed the ride. One thing - the site requires you to use the FutureSplash plug-in, some sort of ActiveX reader whose effects, except for turning our Mac hand cursor into a Windows hand, could easily be accomplished with other more standard methods. Who knows the ways of Microsoft? "http://mungopark.msn.com/mungo.htm"
ILLUSIONS, TRICKS, AND MYSTERIES
Grand Illusions has a great scientific mystery detective story about the cause of Napoleon's death, but that's only one of the many entertaining and educational attractions at this rich site. It's a veritable smorgasbord of physical mysteries and illusions. A must-see for kids and the curious of all ages. "http://www.grand-illusions.com/"
PUZZLES, PHILOSOPHY, AND PHYSICS
Clifford Pickover's home page wanders from his books (such as "Black Holes piano) to educational puzzles, intriguing artwork, and admirable animations. If your life is dull, immerse yourself. Don't miss the Wishing Project. "http://sprott.physics.wisc.edu/pickover/home.htm"
If you've ever wanted to beat Marion Barry, kick Ted Kennedy, or right-hook Mr. Rogers, you can do so without the threat of lawsuit thanks to, yes, the WWW! The Celebrity Slugfest was created just for those among us who cannot bear to see Tori Spelling's navel any more than we could bear to see Rush Limbaugh's. Punch 'em ALL out at: "http://slugfest.kaizen.net/"
If you rely on our Breaking Surf section to keep you apprised of the news, that's pretty sad. But if you do like the format and wish you could browse it more often, try the Tech Talk news page, with links to daily Net-related stories. "http://www.ttalk.com/news.html"
Forget about heading westward ho for a new life. Just visit the NationJob Network's job listings and company profiles, which focus on the American Midwest. Anyone who wants to wake up and say, "I'm back in Kansas!" should check it out. "http://www.nationjob.com/"
No, it's not like a Strip-o-gram. Dedicated to locating freelance computer consultants and companies, Rent A Geek provides graphics, Net set-up, and tech support through their extensive geographic database. It's (still) free to register. "http://www.rentageek.com/"
You need cash. You're alone. You don't have credit cards or a checkbook with you. But you do have your computer strapped to your back and a lo-ong modem line. This site will show you the three ATMs closest to your location. "http://visa.infonow.net/usa.html"
One of the wonderful things about WWW radio broadcasts is the ability to listen to any city you want. It's like shortwave that crashes instead of hissing. Here's another site with plenty to offer. "http://www.ontheair.com/"
UNSOLVED MURDERS AND MISSING PERSONS
The Fallen Wall's primary purpose is to divulge information about missing persons and unsolved homicides in the hope of catching a clue. While the site lists only a couple of cases at the moment, the idea is sound. "http://www.netzone.com/~holmes/wall/index.html"
BE HIP, LISTEN UP AT THE MULTIMEDIA CAFE
Cool sounds here, dude. Wake up. Get with the jive! We're talking cross platform. Like Crescendo, Splash, RealAudio, Sizzler, Voxware. Buzz like that, you know? Plug-ins. Add-ons. Make your hard disk harder. Like the old man says - it's happening, and it's happening at Multimedia Cafe. Samples. Freebies. You know - downloads. You're listening to what? CDs? Still? What's with you, man? I mean, geez. Talk about ancient. Your kid brother has more fun than you. Get real. Inline is in. Offline is in. Sound is in. This is it, man. The future. Sound, man. Real time. Or almost. It's here. Go for it. Multimedia Cafe. Be there or be square. "http://www.worldvillage.com/cafe/"
Java steals the limelight and headlines, but its simpler though less capable sibling, JavaScript, is hot enough to add interactivity and interesting effects to Web pages of non-programmers. Jason's JavaScript Archive is a good tutorial site that offers free scripts for study and use. At last visit, Jason's collection included scripts for an alert, a status bar message, a new window generator, a greeting dependent on time of day, a facility to change background colors, and others. There are richer archives, but for a taste of JavaScript, this is a good place to start. "http://www.fred.net/jbower/jscripts.htm"
The Desktop Publishers Journal hosts a business-to-business site for desktop publishing and graphic design professionals. They feature easy access to product reviews, font and digital art resources, and current and back issues of their magazine. Of course, there are also useful links to other Web sites. Current offerings vary from 3-D design to project management to an industry forum section. Online subscription sign-ups are also available. If you're wondering what to do or what software you need, go poke around. "http://www.dtpjournal.com/"
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