INTERNIC DOMAIN PROBLEMS AND ALTERNIC VS. INTERNIC
A human error at InterNic, the keepers of authoritative domain name
databases for .com and .net, crippled domain naming services for several
hours last Wednesday. The New York Times (free registration only in the US)
printed a good non-technical overview of the InterNic error, which came on
the heels of an imaginative highjacking of the internic.net domain by
Eugene Kashpureff, the guy behind the alternative domain name registration
service, AlterNIC. Eugene created a nifty hack that for a few hours
redirected users trying to connect to internic.net to alternic.net.
AlterNic's exhaustive press archive covers the issue of domain management
and offers just about every story about the battle for control of domain
name registration. To get technical info about the hack, ask nicely on the
<comp.protocols.tcp-ip.domains> newsgroup.
NYT: <http://www.nytimes.com/library/cyber/week/071897dns.html>
AlterNic: <http://www.alternic.net/press/>
Spam haters' second fondest wish (death of spam being first) has come true.
Laurence Canter, of the infamous Canter and Siegel team notorious for first
applying Usenet spamming on an industrial scale, has been disbarred by the
state of Tennessee. He was kicked out of the bar (off the bar? under the
bar?) for illegal e-mail advertising and for improper actions with respect
to his clients. Canter is suspended for a year, at which point he may
reapply for his license. Canter and Siegel have been honored with the first
entry in the Blacklist of Internet Advertisers.
<http://www.cco.caltech.edu/~cbrown/BL/>
#list
According to somewhat alert reader Don Appleman, we missed "a glorious Tour
de France site with live coverage that's deeper (and more frequent) even
than VeloNews." Since the race lasts so long, we're happy to update you,
the reader, for whom we would do just about anything, as long as we don't
have to get out of our chairs. Watch for a Netsurfer sweep at next year's
race. They do allow Big Wheels, right?
<http://outside.starwave.com/events/tdf97/index.html>
How could we possibly ignore this monster of a site? And indeed, a monster
it is, the kind of monster only Hollywood could breed. Ostensibly, it's
about the new Godzilla movie, due next summer, but the subtext is sheer,
goofy, over-the-top extravagance. After you've downloaded the three
plug-ins remember to "Set Monitor to 600X800 px and thousands of colors;
Maximize your Browser's window and turn off 'Toolbars' and 'Directory
Buttons' in the 'Options' menu; Set Your Browser's Cache to 7MB++ under '
Options' - 'Networks Preferences'; Connect good speakers...". Somewhere in
the site, the big guy himself tramples Manhattan. It's not quite finished
yet, and we are assured that VRML chat rooms, virtual worlds, contests, the
history of G, and film clips galore are on the way. Worth seeing in the
same way that "Waterworld" was worth checking out to see what all that
money buys. Besides, it's Godzilla. You know you have to visit.
<http://www.godzilla.com/>
RANTS OF THE PISSED OFF MASSES
A brilliant collection of essays on anything, this site contains complex
hypertext links every five words or so to other pages with more details.
When we looked, someone was ranting about what is acceptable or
unacceptable in society, and past rants like "Urine Nation", an expose on
the failure of the war on drugs in the US, and a monologue poem on Princess
Diana entitled, "Princess, Die... Already" were archived.
<http://www.pissedoff.com/>
SO WHAT DOES KA-BOOM REALLY MEAN?
The Ka-Boom! site contains a comprehensive directory of comic book sound
effects, but also places a historical perspective on the various zaps,
ka-pinggs, and kludds. This is achieved by not only giving a short
description of the sound in particular, but also recounting the first time
this sound was used in an actual comic book. So if the etymology of glump,
glug, or gleep (this one surprised us) is of interest, the Ka-Boom site
should definitely be the first on your bookmark list. Excelsior!
<http://www.intergate.bc.ca/business/kjohn/>
NEWS FLASH: NETSURFER BRANDED DULL
At Netsurfer Digest, we try to present reviews of various Web sites based
on content, presentation and, well, general coolness or lack thereof.
However, Netsurfer Digest's own Web site has now been branded as a Level
Blue DULL (Designers for Uninventive, Lame Layout) Certified site, an honor
we share with other luminaries such as ZDNet and ESPN Sportszone.
Obviously, this pleases us to no end and - not at all armed with a
tit-for-tat vindictive attitude but in the interest of a fair and just
press - we've come up with a miniscule bit of a review of our reviewers,
the producers of the "a jaundiced eye" Web site: Apart from the section on
unimaginative Web design, the site also boasts articles on the special
nature of copyrights when applied to the internet, as well as the evil
nature of Microsoft Frontpage. <http://www.jaundicedeye.com/>
Disco music, like the proverbial bad penny, keeps turning up in the most
unlikely locations. In this case, it's turned up on the home page of Disco
Vlad, an admirer who has turned his site into a showcase for several
foreign language versions of old disco standards, as well as some rock and
country songs. An interesting cassette player applet allows netsurfers to
sample a Hindi Sonny and Cher and a Chinese version of Hank Williams.
Perhaps you'd prefer the even more terrifying Lebanese Lambada.
<http://www.zoetek.com/entrance/dancingcity/>
The Literary Dictionary is a large catalogue that documents words... and is
a lot more interesting than it sounds. Did you know the word "nerd" had
never been seen before it appeared in Dr. Seuss's "If I Ran the Zoo"? Or
that "chortle" was first used in Lewis Carroll's "Through the Looking
Glass"? Or that "gusty" had never been thought of until Hakylut used it in
"Voyages" in 1600? An invaluable resource for all those finicky literary
types. <http://www.geocities.com/SoHo/Lofts/2297/literary.html>
Combine the best aspects of Usenet, Web malls, and Web directories. Add
variety from an online service. Frame it and you get "Unlock: The
Information Exchange", where you can receive and submit opinions in 12
areas: restaurants, books, hardware and software, travel, etc. Eyes
starting to glaze? Don't worry. Unlock is more spontaneous and more
organized than newsgroups and in some ways more useful than search engines.
It's as easy to select local content as broader resources. You may find
surprises here, too. At last visit, the Rec Center (sports and hobbies) had
four messages about cow tipping. Is 15 percent enough for services
rendered, considering? <http://unlock.com/>
Ezekiel's site is a complex look at one man's response to homophobia. Music
accompanies you through his collection of Hellenic (gay men and women)
images and humorous gay spoofs on cartoons. We were particularly engrossed
with Ezekiel's unique and confrontational approach to the death of his
lover. He sent parcels to 25 Marines in Somalia hoping to enlighten them on
homosexual issues. Featuring poems, stories, and articles dealing with
homosexuality, his page is unique and expertly crafted.
<http://www.wired2.net/ezekielk/>
Here's more proof that the Web is wonderful for hobbies. Hot Wheels has
opened a site that's the place to go if you collect or want information
about Mattel's toy cars. Sure, it's promotional, but what in the auto
industry isn't? Hotrodders, shoppers, and kids big and little will find
historical tidbits, collecting tips, previews, and, in the Hot Wheels
Store, a virtual reality feature that lets you turn the Vern Luce Coupe
(one of those jobs you'd love for your dream date) 360 degrees with your
mouse. This feature might be a little slow over a 28.8 kbps modem - the
movie file we played with is 675 Kb - but it shows that Hot Wheels is
heading in the right direction for the hands-on crowd. You can even send a
Hot Wheels e-postcard to a pal. Don't forget to look at the Sojourner rover
toy. <http://www.hotwheels.com/>
A COOL SITE ABOUT FRUIT (HONEST!)
California Rare Fruit Growers, Inc. - not limited to California growers -
is the world's largest organization of amateur fruit growers. Nothing if
not comprehensive, their site lists more than 250 rare fruits with a wealth
of detail to satisfy growers and consumers alike. Many of the 250 are
fairly common, but we confess to having never heard of about half the
crops. CFRG also offers a seed bank for members and a publications service.
<http://www.crfg.org/index.html>
At this site, six languages are translated from text to text in real time
so that worldwide chatters and businesses can communicate. The trial
version of the service is free and available now; however, the service will
soon be fee based. The input and output languages being offered are
English, French, German, Italian, Portuguese and Spanish. The company,
Viking Group International, has announced plans to add more languages to
the site in the near future. <http://www.uni-verse.com/>
Next time you think you've seen just about everything on the Net, check out
the Web site of Tim the Sock Monkey. You remember sock monkeys - they're
those gangly stuffed animals made of speckled cotton socks. Well, this sock
monkey is possibly destined for fame, despite (or perhaps because of) his
bad attitude. Stop by and literally listen to what he has to say.
<http://users.ids.net/~andyr/tim.html>
This new monthly e-zine coaches and provides support for Net users from
novice to expert. The cleanly designed site proves easy to navigate and
articles cover a wide range of topics. The June issue had stories on
offline Web browsing, cable Internet service, virtual reality, GIF
animation and Web design tips. You can provide anonymous feedback through
the column review at the end of each article. <http://www.brainpaint.com/>
MAKING JAPAN MORE COMPREHENSIBLE TO WESTERNERS
The Japan File is tough to label, though its authors call it an information
service to "make Japan more comprehensible to the rest of the world". The
approach offers surprises. For instance, to the legacies of Schindler and
Wallenberg, add Sugihara, a Japanese diplomat who, hastily issuing
documents in 1940, gave temporary safe haven in Japan to as many as 6,000
Jewish refugees. One article sheds light on painful and important issues
underlying objections to American presence in Okinawa. Elsewhere, Japan
File answers the burning question of what happens when sumo wrestlers
retire. There's even a little cross-cultural marriage counselling thrown
in. However eclectic the selection, the approach succeeds in revealing a
Japanese perspective. <http://www.kto.co.jp/>
DOCUMENTING DISAPPEARING NEVADA
Do glitz and conspicuous consumption define Nevada for you? These 22
evocative photos of weathered structures and sun-bleached landscapes will
change that. Separated by only a couple hundred miles of road, Las Vegas
and Nevada's Great Basin are separated by far greater reaches of spirit and
time. Here you become a voyeur of loss, peeking through broken windows into
rooms where desert encroaches on hearth and chair. Cracked and canted
headstones mark abandoned graves, one in futile refuge behind a chain link
fence. Red Sam's photographers have fulfilled their mission to "document a
legacy of dreams, hard life and the stark beauty of Nevada".
<http://www.redsam.com/vanishing_nevada/index2.html>
Travel at Random allows visitors to pop from obscure village to swarming
metropolis in seconds whilst learning the perils of traveling with drugs.
Perhaps an odd mix, but that drug thing is heavily emphasized throughout
the site. The basic is concept is simple - hit a button and get blipped to
a random travel destination on the Web. We were shuttled to San Luis
Potosi, a village in North Mexico which offered advice on good food,
prices, and money exchange. We liked the booming boarding calls.
<http://www.dfait-maeci.gc.ca/english/travel/adip-pia/>
CRACK A MAC - THE NEXT GENERATION
Until October 15, you have another chance to hack a Mac server and claim a
SEK 100,000 prize. Every Mac attack contest so far has ended without a
winner. You'd think that by now the point would be made.
<http://hacke.infinit.se/docs/server.html>
Check Autosite first. Besides a buying guide with popular models, you get
opinions of automotive writers and editors, a list of rebates and
incentives, and purchasing tips. Add an illustrated repair guide, links,
lists of safety recalls, and other doodads, and you have a resource that
ranks with the best. <http://www.autosite.com/>
SNOTSHEET INDEXES THE WEB'S SLIMY UNDERBELLY
This site, a parody of the popular HotSheet, has some great alternative
links and some really odd stuff. It proclaims itself "the best way to get
totally lost on the Web" - we'll certainly put it in the top 10.
<http://www.concentric.net/~Gzero/index.shtml>
NetAnnounce is a nice Web adaptation of Usenet. You can submit
announcements of Net happenings, search announcement archives, and sign up
to receive Net news by e-mail. It's moderated, and its wide variety of
subjects make for good leisurely surfing. Newshounds will find it
addictive. <http://www.erspros.com/net-announce/>
Web advertisers want your business so badly that Cybergold will actually
pay you nominal amounts of cash to visit Web sites, fill out surveys or
application forms, and otherwise interact with corporate America. What will
they think of next? <http://www.cybergold.com/>
EQUAL RIGHTS FOR SMALL PARROTS
Don't expect to learn more about macaws here. We're Parrots Too is
dedicated to the little guys - from budgies and lovebirds to cockatiels and
other small parrot species. <http://www.highwayq.com/wpt/>
Fans of the Grateful Dead will be pleased to find a site by the designer of
the band's logo. Augustus Owsley Stanley III helped design the familiar
lightning/skull motif back in 1969. The Web site has the story of the
logo's origin, as well as other works by the artist.
<http://www.crl.com./~zbear/index.html>
A true blast from the past, this site does a great job of spotlighting
juke-boxy tunes like "Great Balls of Fire", "The Wanderer", and many more
favorites. <http://members.aol.com/rockbbrk/rocknroll/rocknroll.htm>
MICROSOFT INTERNET EXPLORER 4, PREVIEW 2
No, that's not the score of a soccer game between the Microsoft engineering
and marketing departments. (Hmmm, who would win and why? Sounds like an
idea for a Web page....) It's the newest release of Microsoft's browser
which features lots of new goodies, notably support for Dynamic HTML and
the Channel Definition Format, and security enhancements. Check the site,
it's got all the info. <http://www.microsoft.com/ie/ie40/>
TEXT TO SPEECH PLUG-IN FOR SHOCKWAVE
The Xpress plug-in for Shockwave has been developed by DirectXtras Ltd. to
efficiently produce text to speech audio from enabled sites. The audio
produced is very mechanical sounding, but intelligible. Versions are
available for PC and Mac in English and several other languages. Web site
developers can use it to speak any visual and hidden text or database
information, guide users through interactive applications, and turn "read
me" files into "hear me" files. <http://www.xpressed.com/>
WEBMASTER RESOURCES ON THE WEB
In NSD 3.21, we linked not to the Elsop Webmaster Resource Center, but to
one of its products. The correct URL follows. <http://www.elsop.com/wrc/>
The "12" link of our renowned 12 Sites of Christmas has moved. Online
Anonymous is now at: <http://www.apc.net/ia/f12.htm>
12 Sites: <http://www.netsurf.com/12sites.html>
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