LABOUR VS. TORY: ENGLISH ELECTION
Will the Labour Party finally break the conservative Tory grip on England?
Will England plunge headlong into the European Union? Will Tony Blair ride
a landslide into power? Will John Major grow a spine? Not only can you
follow all the action at the comprehensive Guardian and Observer election
site but you can even place bets on the outcome. Yep, they provide a
convenient phone number to the British punters.
<http://election.guardian.co.uk/>
KASPAROV VS. BIG BLUE: THE CHESS REMATCH
Starting May 3, Gary Kasparov will once again take on Big Blue, the machine
with the best crack yet at beating a human Grand Master. Don't count out
Kasparov just yet. Historically, his wetware has outplayed a string of
software and hardware challengers, though he did say that last year's
encounter with Big Blue was "one of the most difficult matches of my
career." This from a man widely considered the greatest player in the
history of chess. This year BB can examine 200 million chess positions per
second and has an even greater store of chess knowledge. Winner gets a cool
$700,000, the loser an equally frosty $400,000. This excellent site has
everything you need to follow the action. <http://www.chess.ibm.com/>
After soaking Fargo and engulfing Grand Forks, N.D., floodwaters along the
Red River are now rolling slowly but surely north toward Winnipeg,
Manitoba. Wanna watch? The Manitoba 1997 Flood Watch site's Web cam points
at the confluence of the Red and Assiniboine rivers, smack dab in the
middle of Winnipeg. Of course, you can surf plenty of other information
like Manitoba's environmental history, commentary, and road conditions. Go
see why Canada has deployed its largest contingent of soldiery in 20 years.
<http://www.netreader.com/flood/index.html>
TURNING BLOCKING SOFTWARE INSIDE OUT
Along with blocking "objectionable" sites (no, not just porn), Solid Oak
Software's (SOS) Cybersitter also blocks access to sites which are critical
of the product itself. Which is one reason why Bennett Haselton has been a
thorn in the side of SOS for some time. His latest exploit is a utility
which will decrypt Cybersitter's filter file and produce the exhaustive
list of forbidden Web sites for your amusement. Needless to say, SOS is not
amused. In return, the company has modified Cybersitter to check for the
code breaker and refuse to install should it be detected. SOS has also
periodically removed the filter file from their Web site and it has
threatened Bennett for linking to their site (can you say "unclear on the
concept"?). Naturally, the enterprising Bennett provides workarounds for
every one of these actions. While SOS summons legal demons to curse the
teenaged Bennett, the Net (cliche alert!) routes around censorship yet
again. <http://www.peacefire.org/>
MICROSOFT NT PASSWORD CRACKING SOFTWARE MAKES THE NEWS
This latest version of Microsoft security woes made the rounds in the media
last week. A group calling themselves L0pht released L0phtcrack, a program
to decode Windows NT passwords and yet another reason for sysadmins to lose
sleep. More details at the site. <http://www.l0pht.com/advisories.html>
CERT ADVISORY: NATURAL LANGUAGE SERVICES
A buffer overflow condition affects libraries using the Natural Language
Service (NLS). The NLS is the component of UNIX systems that provides
facilities for customizing the natural language formatting for the system.
Local users are able to execute arbitrary programs as a privileged user
without authorization. Check the full advisory for details and fixes.
<ftp://info.cert.org/pub/cert_advisories/CA-97.10.nls>
VIRTUAL WINE AUCTION IN PROGRESS
If you are a lover and fondler of the grape, then you may be interested in
the current Napa Valley Vintners Association wine auction. Some of the
finest wines in the world come from the Napa Valley, and while you can't
judge a wine's nose via the Net, you can certainly judge what fellow
oenophiles are willing to pay for it. As an added treat each wine's Web
page comes with luscious recipes, making the site worth visiting even if
you don't plan on bidding. The auction runs through May 31.
<http://www.nvwa.org/>
Angels trumpet from on high! Hell has frozen over! Heck has experienced a
light drizzle! And Netsurfer Digest has a search engine! Yes, that's right
staffers with your "I can't find this, can you help me" inquiries!
Halleluja! Halleluja!
<http://www.netsurf.com/nsd/search.html>
HEAVEN'S GATE - THE MEDIA POST-MORTEM
While the inevitable deluge of quickie books and movies of the week wind
their way through production, the mainstream media have pretty much given
up on the Heaven's Gate story. However, the affair has left the scent of
ignored info hanging about the Internet. Sure, some of it is pure paranoia
(murder!) but other parts are vaguely plausible (theft?). Some of the best
non-mainstream reporting on the story was done by E-Media, which has
assembled this packed site. Though the presentation borrows too much from
conspiracy theories, the site asks provocative questions, provides an
archive of day-to-day story developments, and effectively shreds the
conventional media coverage. It's a ripping good media deconstruction.
<http://www.e-media.com/cultdeath/>
STUDY ON BANNER PLACEMENT AND CLICK-THROUGH RATES
A study near and dear to the hearts of online media has found that placing
an ad banner next to the right scroll bar (in the lower right-hand corner
of the first screen) generated a 228% higher click-through rate than ads at
the top of the page. Ads placed 1/3 of the way down the page, as opposed to
the top, generated 77% higher click-through rates.
<http://www.webreference.com/dev/banners/>
THE G7 GLOBAL INVENTORY PROJECT
Created by the G7's European Commission and Japan, this site is a
multimedia inventory of national and international initiatives aimed at
promoting and utilizing the resources of the rapidly developing
"Information Society". Users can search the multilingual database, add new
project information, and participate in online discussion groups.
<http://www.gip.int/>
MORAL DISSONANCE AND PLUNDERED ART
Nearly two centuries ago, Lord Elgin carved up the Parthenon and shipped
its transcendent friezes to England, where he sold them to the government.
Adding insult to injury, the plundered antiquities were dubbed the Elgin
marbles. This new site details the history of the Parthenon marbles and
Greece's efforts to retrieve them. Greece makes a compelling case. One
critic calls England's refusal "churlish", perhaps the best description of
its self-serving arguments. You can voice your opinion. Overall, this is a
graceful site, but the photos - and the cause - would benefit immensely
from annotation. <http://rethymno.forthnet.gr/marbles/index.html>
If you're tired of reviews and commentary prepared by marketers, take a
look at Filmkulture, the "digizine of the Hungarian Film Institute" (it's
available in English). For an instructive lesson on the difference between
North American and European perspectives on film, read its cogent review of
the bleak Morgan Freeman/Brad Pitt film, "Seven". It speaks volumes. Even
Woody Allen's "Bullets Over Broadway" takes on a new life. These people
understand irony. The writers offer intriguing insights throughout, though
the English sometimes wanders away from the comprehensible.
<http://www.filmkultura.iif.hu:8080/>
You can view the semifinalists in the first annual Internet Animation
Festival and vote for your favorites here. Yes, a little bandwidth helps,
but a number of the amusing animations are worth your time. Categories
include animated GIFs, Shockwave, Quicktime, AVIs, and even ad banners.
<http://losangeles.digitalcity.com/animation/>
A TRIPLEX OF LOOKS AT A MIX OF BOOKS
With this issue come looks at "Teach Yourself VRML 2 in 21 Days", the
self-help "Learning @ Living", and, for the Windows crowd, "Computer Gaming
World: Why Won't This *@#! Game Work?"
<http://www.netsurf.com/nsd/books/book.03.14.html>
Inkling pulls together stories from more than two dozen Knight-Ridder
newspapers to deliver a lively mix of news, opinion, and general silliness.
The site is well designed - slick and scripted without being overwhelming.
Coming from some of the nation's leading papers, the stories and columns
are readable and entertaining, covering everything from sports and general
news to investigative reports. And, for those looking for twisted news, the
site carries the infamous News of the Weird plus its own Weekly Weird News.
We've an inkling you'll enjoy it all. <http://www.inkling.com/>
The Mind's Eye Fiction Web site features short stories from all genres.
Whatever you like, you should find at least one short story to please you.
And you can try each story for free. But there's a catch. Find something
thrilling enough to make you want to finish and you'll have to cough up
some cash to get the rest of the story. It's not much - 66 cents here, 18
cents there - and you can use creative payment schemes as well as a credit
card. Other valuable sections include a feature on literary awards and
fascinating editorials on topics varying from "accepting rejection" to the
"mechanics of invisibility" to "Incivility". If you're a writer keen on
this distribution model, the submission guidelines include an ideal
submission and payment information. <http://tale.com/>
Despite the moody shadow pictures, this page has some great information for
anyone involved in books or publishing. The edition we looked at focused on
Vice ("Something one does to make life more bearable which can, eventually,
make life unbearable"). The up-to-date mag offers features, classifieds
(heaps on publishing), articles on National Poetry Week (did the poetry
quiz, we know NOTHING), and questions about becoming involved in the
business, from how to get published to what's the latest best seller.
Honest and thorough. <http://www.boldtype.com>
"Uploaded", basically a loaded magazine, warns you that if nude girls or
swearing offends, don't bother reading. Claiming to "have more sauce than a
bottle of HP", this e-mag has lots of voting for the best bird, Crumpet
Clash, and embarrassing classified ads. We watched Pam Lee in Barb Wire,
"the director's cut... with added nipples and wet leather scene" and were
cheered by the Strange but True tidbits from around the world scattered
through the pages. Basically, this is just a semi-nudie e-zine, but if you
really do want to read it for the articles, there's some fun to be had.
<http://www.uploaded.com/>
Long time readers of Netsurfer Digest will no doubt be aware that we are at
the forefront of electronic amphibian reportage. In accordance with our
role as the e-zine of record for frog exploits everywhere, we are pleased
to report this historic account of a levitating frog. The cutting edge
experiment explored the magnetic levitation of living organisms and
involved a whopping 16 teslas worth of magnetic field at the Nijmegen High
Field Magnet Laboratory. The scientists state the frog "looked comfortable"
in the magnetic field, which compares to those in commercial in-vivo
imaging systems (currently up to 10 teslas), which don't seem to have any
adverse health effects. Unnamed media pundits are predicting that someday
"we'll all be able to travel across town on magnetically levitating frogs."
<http://www-hfml.sci.kun.nl/hfml/levitate.html>
Peregrine falcons, the world's fastest animals, have in recent years
started to adopt eastern North American skyscrapers as nesting sites. One
nesting pair lives on the 37th floor of Pittsburgh's Gulf Tower and you can
spy on them anytime via a Web cam. Should it be night in the Eastern time
zone, amuse yourself with the photo album, including pics of last year's
brood. <http://mordor.transarc.com/dfs/public/falconzw/index.html>
The images found in this facial surgery site are certainly instructive and
in one case so graphic, our Netsurfer literally passed out. Stop by and
view a variety of before-and-after photos, and learn about eyelid lifts,
rhinoplasty, and more. If you're even the least bit squeamish, avoid the
"during" operation sections. Our Netsurfer has recovered although she's
having a hard time looking anyone straight in the face.
<http://www.facialsurgery.com/>
If you're even remotely interested in brain surgery - wait, make that "if
you're interested in remote brain surgery" - pay a visit to the University
of Virginia's Neurovisualization Lab. The lab works to develop techniques
that will ultimately allow surgeons to see inside a patient's brain,
whether the patient is bedside or off on a remote battlefield. The lab's
Web site offers some nifty examples of the work, from a visualization
interface employing a doll's head and wand to the Integrated Remote
Neurosurgical System (IRNS), a remotely-operated neurosurgical microscope.
<http://nvl.neuro.virginia.edu/>
The Dana Alliance for Brain Initiative, an independent non-profit of more
than 150 pre-eminent neuroscientists, sorts through hundreds of Web sites
on neurological diseases and disorders to deliver to lay folks those with
the most current, valid information. The Dana Brain Web recommends and
reviews Web sites dealing with more than 20 common brain diseases from
Alzheimer's to manic depression to stroke. The sites offer basic
information, support, and sources of further information. If you're in the
unfortunate position of needing information on a neurological disorder,
Brain Web will save an enormous amount of time and energy, and may just
offer some hope. <http://www.dana.org/brainweb/>
Back in 1993, eight testy "biospherians" exited one of the largest glass
houses in the world, Biosphere 2, and brought to an end the most curious
experiment in ecology and companionship the world has ever seen. The days
of Bio2 as a high-tech Eden for adventuring colonists has come to an end,
but its use as a research tool continues under the auspices of Columbia
University. The Bio2 Web site offers a frank assessment of its past, an
outline of its plans for the future, and information on current educational
and research programs. If you're curious about what's on inside the
biodomes, you can select from a set of sensors to check on temperature,
humidity, and the like. A quick cybertour introduces you to the Bio2 layout
rules within the facility's glassy walls. <http://www.bio2.edu/>
HERPER'S BIZARRE FEATURES FROGS AND FAMILY
We're thinking of a new slogan: Netsurfer Digest - First in frogs. Anyway,
this ambitious amphibiocentric site puts those water-loving frogs, toads,
newts, and salamanders front and center. Check out the Amphibian Spotlight
and Fun 'Fibian Facts. Pick up instructions for setting up your tank. Even
learn how to tell your male newts from your female newts!
<http://members.aol.com/nootnerd/herpers.html>
Jeff's Nudibranch Page penetrates the wondrous world of lovely little sea
slugs. The site showcases nudibranch photographs from Jeff's voyages in the
Philippine Islands, where nudibranchs flock for their summer vacations.
They probably get special tourist rates. But seriously, nudibranch fans,
viewing photos of nudibranchs is almost as much fun as watching reruns of
"Flipper". Plus, you can participate if you're a nudibranch know-it-all:
Jeff wants help with identifying the nudibranch species shown in his
photos, and there's an e-mail link at the bottom of the page (don't all
mail him at once!). If you're not a nudibranch know-it-all, this is your
chance to aim for that laudable goal. Answers to such shattering questions
as "what is a nudibranch" and "what's so great about these critters?" come
nicely documented. <http://www.themall.net/~seaslugs/>
The folks behind CNet have just opened this site. It's straightforward,
containing all versions of various Web browsers, plug-ins, and a number of
tips and tricks. You can also sign up for an e-mail newsletter. It's a
simple, clean concept and may even help you avoid the traffic when new
browsers are released. <http://www.browsers.com/>
CU-SEEME 3.0 BETA FOR WINDOWS ANNOUNCED
Everybody's favorite video conferencing software is coming out with a
number of enhancements, including whiteboard and chat capabilities, better
codecs, caller ID, parental control management, and directory services.
<http://www.cuseeme.com/cu30-win.html>
ATCHAT 1.0 LETS YOU HOST YOUR OWN CHAT GROUP ON WIN95/NT
AtChat is an interesting piece of software which democratizes the chat
universe somewhat by letting you host your own chat group, provided all the
participants have a copy of the program. You can also transfer files during
the chat. Note that for some reason AtChat does not work with AOL e-mail
addresses or across firewalls. A fully functional time-limited free demo is
available. Price is $39. <http://www.abbottsys.com/atchat.html>
LEAVE OUT A WORD AND CHANGE THE WHOLE MEANING
In NSD 3.13, we left out a crucial word. We told you to visit "the
RedButton page for the process, and to learn that there's absolute fix" for
a security flaw in Windows NT. We meant "that there's NO absolute fix."
Oops. <http://www.ntsecurity.com/RedButton/>
BREAST CANCER AWARENESS CRUSADE
We wrote up the Avon Breast Cancer Awareness in NSD 1.23. It done moved.
<http://www.avoncrusade.com/>
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