SPINAL TAP STILL BREAKING LIKE THE WIND
One of our nearly pensionable surfers remembers attending a small art-house
screening of the 1984 rockumentary "This Is Spinal Tap". Present were two
conspicuously stoned chowderheads incensed by everyone else's evident
amusement. Where's spontaneous human combustion when you really need it?
Spinal Tap, distinguished as one of England's loudest bands, has endured
while arguably greater talents like Milli Vanilli have crashed and burned.
This somewhat less than reverential fan site cranks it up to 11, with an
intimate portrait of that blissfully unaware group that just won't go away
Tap. With more incarnations than Shirley MacLaine, the band roster of 42
known current and past members is no shock, nor is the incomplete roll of
suddenly dead drummers. We were, however, surprised that among Tap's
influences is Lesley Gore. <http://thetransom.com/chip/tap/>
FOILED AGAIN, AND AGAIN, AND AGAIN
Creative time-wasting and the Net have evolved together in some bizarrely
synergistic ways. Witness the Ball, a site devoted to the Ball, a sphere
composed entirely of aluminum foil scavenged from candy wrappers, mostly,
with a few bits of foil from other food packaging mixed in. Currently the
Ball tips the scales at nearly a pound-and-a-half. A chronicle of the
Ball's history recounts its adventures, the science of applying Hershey
Kiss wrappers to its surface, and other non-essential information. Clever
teachers could easily make up a math unit based on an extensive math
section which details the surface coverage of Taco Bell fajita wrappers at
various stages of the Ball's growth. For those with nothing better to do,
the Ball is definitely a ball. <http://sunsite.unc.edu/lou/ball/>
Although "Forgotten Disney: The Lost Legacy" may at first appear to be a
Star Trek movie satire, it's a Web site devoted to now-defunct Disney rides
and shows. If you mourn for Mission to Mars, for example, this Web page may
help you to forget your grief. (On second thought, it might accentuate it.
Oh, well.) In addition, Forgotten Disney looks at the projects that "never
made it off the drawing board." Surprisingly, they've never even thought of
planning Cruella de Vil's Dalmation Abattoir of Fun....
<http://www.netcom.com/~ranma2/disney.htm>
ABOUT-FACE AND THE ANTI-SKINNY MODEL
About-Face is about image, not words - but its linchpin is a word whose
definition seems to be forgotten. "Model", when not preceded by the
tiresomely ubiquitous "super", refers to an ideal, archetype, exemplar,
standard - a norm. Too often, according to About-Face, a fashion model is a
starvation model, the one held up as that ideal. But make no mistake - this
isn't a feel-good site for the stereotypically bitterly obese. About-Face
is as concerned about the truly bulimic/anorexic as it is about the obese,
as much a champion of poor souls who struggle to whittle themselves from a
size 6 to a 4 as it is for every Mimi in the world. About-Face includes
several fashion photos from current magazines that are every bit as
indefinably grotesque and hypnotically disturbing as a Diane Arbus
portrait, but which still define the ideal for girls and women with
unformed and ill-formed identities. This site has something to say.
<http://www.about-face.org/>
Beyond the Pale, which takes its name from the forced communities of Jews
in Russia in the 18th and 19th centuries, investigates the nature of
prejudice through an examination of a frequently ostracized group, the
Jews, and the conscious and unconscious beliefs about them which have
become ingrained in neighboring societies. Filled with images and
innovative text formatting, the site makes readers feel they're in a
museum, appropriate considering it's the online version of an original
exhibit that has been touring Russia since 1995. Too intense for children,
Beyond the Pale would make an excellent companion piece to an upper-level
high school or college course on religion or ethics.
<http://www.friends-partners.org/partners/beyond-the-pale/>
The Motion-Picture Industry: Behind-the-Scenes is a three-part look into
the world of film making. The Information section is a mini-encyclopedia of
movie-making, complete with a timeline and a glossary. Behind-the-Scenes
goes into the making of a short film, and Interact challenges the visitor
to make his or own movie inside the simulation. The site essentially
teaches the same information in each of the three sections. Amazingly, this
site is the product of three high-school students. It certainly beats the
perennial baking soda volcano. <http://library.advanced.org/10015>
IT'S A WONDERFUL "IT'S A WONDERFUL LIFE" SITE
Packed with stills, pictures, background stories, and trivia, this site
tempts the dedicated "It's a Wonderful Life" fan. The collection of
"bloopers and gaffs" is good fun, and makes you want to see the film again
to spot the moment the cigar disappears or Jimmy Stewart tells the dog to
shut up. The truly devoted can read the entire film script, or replay a
large collection of sound bites from the film, including the famous
"Teacher says when a bell rings...." by Zuzu.
<http://home.sprynet.com/sprynet/barkley34/>
WHAT'S COOL IN HO-HO-HO-HOLLYWOOD...
Ain't It Cool News doesn't dish dirt about which supposedly happily married
star was seen with which cute unmarried starlet. That ain't cool. Instead,
you get info about different facets of the film world, from scripts through
pre-production through test screenings and release and the VCR, cable, and
TV realm. There are also cool movie reviews, which sometimes include more
info about the reviewer and his/her experiences that day than the film, a
cool forum for cool people, and a cool collectibles section. Stay cool.
<http://www.aint-it-cool-news.com/>
"beeb" is the BBC's new commercial Web entertainment and information
service - and it is a brilliant site to roam around. Competitions, for fun
rather than glittering prizes, abound as does some detailed information on
BBC stars and series from past and present. (Remember the Goons?) Download
a free screensaver, or send a postcard of your favorite comedy to a friend.
While you do that, you can opine on making the English drive on the right
or on controversial issues raised in your favorite soap. Auntie Beeb
invites you to drop in and have your say while you play - and maybe buy a
video or a book while you're there. <http://www.beeb.com/>
Ever wish your driver-education class had given you a better understanding
of automotive anatomy, or that you could hold your own with a car mechanic
for longer than five seconds? Automotive Learning On-line (sic) uses frames
and Java applets to bring you up to speed. The nine Java animations here
merit return visits. A more comprehensive - and interactive - resource is
the image index, which lets you drill down to information on specific parts
or systems, from AC/Heat System to Water Pump. The entire site will make
you wish auto manufacturers offered similar tutorials tailored to their own
products. It's hard to believe they'll ignore something this valuable for
long. <http://www.innerbody.com/innerauto/index.html>
Want sports news updated every minute? If you're impatient - and isn't
everyone now and then? - you'll get a kick out of SportsFlash, a site that
covers basketball, baseball, football, hockey, and golf in a big way, with
a few Olympic sports thrown in for variety and glitz. ESPN's SportsZone is
the recognized giant in online as well as TV sports, but SportsFlash is
leaner, faster, and better if you want just the bare bones. SportsFlash is
based in New Jersey, but the scope is national; most news comes from the
Associated Press newswire. You can also access New Jersey Online's general
news, classified ads, an entertainment guide, and other newspaper-like
resources designed to bring joy to New Joyseyites. <http://sports.nj.com/>
Good questions, witty answers, good points, minor complaints, Cassini
complaints, and tireless banter about Quebec. What more does a bleary-eyed
netsurfer need (besides some Jolt)?
<http://www.netsurf.com/nsd/letters/letter.03.33.html>
Canada's capital, Ottawa, is beautiful, with a presence and appeal that
take full advantage of all four seasons. It's also an administrative
salmagundi, straddling two rivers, two provinces, and two official
languages, encompassing Parliament, farms and office towers, wilderness and
bus malls, and a host of federal, provincial, local, regional, urban,
suburban, and rural governments and jurisdictions. Uber alles, the National
Capital Commission (NCC) steers the region toward a coherent identity as a
world capital. From the NCC comes this cache-and-bandwidth-be-damned
promotional site. Technically and visually sleek, the pages still seem
cold, lacking the sense of verve that these promotional sites usually try
to impart - but the design rocks. All in all, it's the perfect reflection
of the national capital region: maddening, but beautiful.
<http://www.capcan.ca/>
REMNANTS OF A LOST AGE AND DOOMED FAMILY
The Alexander Palace, near St. Petersburg, was a favorite home of the
Romanovs, the Russian Imperial Family murdered by Bolshevik revolutionaries
in 1918. Despite being pillaged by the nascent Communists and then by
invading Germans, Alexander Palace preserved many of its secrets and much
of its grand history. Jewels (including Faberge pieces), furnishings, at
least part of an historic library, and more survived the predations of
successive looters. The content also touches on the extreme insularity and
naive arrogance that led the family to its violent death. Still, these
beautiful pages cover the history, architecture, and preservation of a lost
age. <http://205.187.161.152/palace/index.html>
The World Wildlife Fund (WWF) outlines the dangers facing the Galapagos
Islands in Pressures on Paradise. While taking care to extol the uniqueness
of this starkly beautiful group of islands located off the Ecuadorian
coast, the WWF has more in mind than a simple Web tour. In addition to
basic facts on the islands and a slide show featuring some stunning
landscapes and mighty strange wildlife, the site offers surfers an
opportunity to help protect the islands from future environmental dangers.
The Take Action page lets you thank the Ecuadoran president for declaring
the Islands a "national priority" or add your name to a petition urging the
Ecuadoran Congress to sign the decree into law. The Galapagos boast some of
the most unspoiled ecological and evolutionary treasures in the world. A
quick visit in cyberspace may help keep them that way.
<http://www.worldwildlife.org/galapagos/>
METAL AND STUFF BY LAKE MICHIGAN
Navy Pier is one of Chicago's most popular lakeside destinations. The Pier
Walk is an exploration of "the world's largest outdoor sculpture
exhibition", which that upscale playground has hosted for three years now.
These sculptures are large, urban, industrial abstract standalone
thingamabobs of stone, metal, plastic, or other weather-resistant
materials. Over 100 artists from nine countries are represented here. We
found no mention of public funding, so the site should not raise the blood
pressure of opponents of the National Endowments for the Arts. The
excellent photos, with skyline backdrops and neither pigeon nor pedestrian
in sight, come in slideshow format. Now that many cities have official Web
sites, we're likely to see many more sites like this that are devoted to
specific areas of public contemplation. <http://www.pierwalk.com/>
Does New Jersey want the crown of number one host to small-town big-time
madness? The tombstone shaped like a full-sized Mercedes Benz 2400 may just
let them qualify. Not enough? How about the unexplained silver thread
phenomenon that floated above houses for days, or the Tomb of the 12 Nuns,
or the Albino (pigmentally impaired) Village? These and other discoveries
should let New Jersey emerge as one of the country's oddest spots amid
plenty of competition. <http://www.nutley.com/weirdnj>
Bargain Holidays apparently intends to be the UK's answer to American
travel sites such as Expedia and Travelocity. Bikers, backpackers, and
dyed-in-the-wool standbys take note: this is the place to surf if you're on
Her Majesty's sceptered isle and you want to make reservations for a
sojourn on the continent or in North Africa. Travelers heading the opposite
way will find that "the UK is Europe's bargain basement for summer holiday
deals." The travel bookshop has a nice search-and-order facility, although
we found no book reviews to guide selection. During our most recent visit,
a Bargain Flights search failed to find a flight from three destinations in
England to Cancun, Orlando, or Spain. Perhaps the site administrator was on
a bargain holiday.... Fortunately, hard-coded links pull up information for
preselected flights; you can order tickets online.
<http://www.bargainholidays.com/>
BIZARRE PRETTY MUCH SUMS IT UP
This is paper mag Bizarre's online tease. Bizarre talks about all the
oddities other publications miss or choose to ignore. It's great fun but
certainly not for the faint of heart or people who might fall into the
category of General Audience. <http://www.bizarremag.com/>
LATE NIGHT WITH AARON BARNHART
If you're a night owl and like late night TV, you'll hoot with happiness at
this little gem. The Late Show News Broadcast Museum (snappy little title,
hmmm?) features Aaron Barnhart's newsletter about US late night TV. You can
also subscribe to the opinionated, amusing weekly at the site.
<http://www.echonyc.com/~barnhart/lsn/index.html>
CAN YOU TELL ME HOW TO GET TO SESAME STREET?
Well, no. But we can give you directions to the Sesame Street lyrics
archive. This cheerful, colorful Web site has downloadable lyrics and
sounds that will have your kidlets (and you, maybe) cheering.
<http://www.globalserve.net/~rhonda/sesame1.html>
Don't let the French-flavored English stop you from using this search
engine that specifically targets domain names. Aside from sending the
results to your trademark lawyer, we can't imagine this is too useful, but
it is neat. <http://www.presenceweb.com/anglais/engine.html>
A similar domain search engine with somewhat more categorical results is
WebSitez. One advantage is the ability to quickly alter your search for FTP
servers and files. <http://www.websitez.com/>
IF YOU THINK CHOPPERS HAVE ROTORS, NOT BANANA SEATS...
The Helispot is the place for helicopter enthusiasts. Nicely laid out, this
site has photos of law birds, fire birds, and baby birds, You can bird
watch, read bird tales, and post bird chat. If helicopters are your
passion, this one is definitely not for the birds. <http://www.helispot.com/>
HERE'S A RARITY: A STAR TREK SITE
You know we wouldn't delve into cliches unless they were worthwhile like
this attractive little number. Skip the scant character summaries, though,
and go directly to the richer science and races pages.
<http://www.stratec.ca/startrek/>
We've been on a doll kick. Dunno why, really. Here's another man's
obsession - the miniature world of a dollhouse in painstaking and beautiful
detail. A small but perfectly formed site.
<http://www.geocities.com/Heartland/Meadows/1832/>
GOOD IDEA WHOSE TIME HASN'T QUITE COME
When fully implemented, Cybermeals will take your US address and find
nearby delivery or take out eateries from which you'll be able to order
online. Right now, the closest pizza place to Washington, D.C. is by the
Boston Public Library, and that's a heck of a commute for pizza.
<http://www.cybermeals.com/>
JUST HOW FAST IS A MHZ? IT DEPENDS ON THE BOX
Project RC5 is an attempt to beat the RSA Secret-Key Challenge by using
desktop computers to plug away at possible solutions in their spare
processor time. One nifty side effect of all these boxes attempting the
same process is an accurate comparison of true processor speeds. The
compiled statistics show clearly what is often overlooked: not all
megahertzes are created equal. A 180-MHz Pentium Pro ranges from 413 kk/s
(thousand keys per second) running Windows 95 to 461 kk/s under Linux. In
comparison, 180-MHz Macs range from 434 kk/s (a Motorola machine with a
603e chip running MacOS 7.6.1) to 530 kk/s (a Motorola 604e with MacOS 8).
That's a significant difference. The fastest single-processor computer is a
Power Mac 9600/350, with a 350-Mhz PowerPC 604e chip, that slices through
1012 kk/s. Check these stats out and compare not only platforms, but
operating systems, too.
RC5: <http://www.distributed.net/rc5/>
RSA: <http://www.rsa.com/rsalabs/97challenge/>
Stats: <http://www.alde.com/speed.html>
Kidtools boasts nearly 15,000 educational products for pre-schoolers to
sixth-graders. Books, software, toys and more are available through the
site, but, truth be told, Kidtools' size works both for and against it -
you may be able to find hard-to-get items, but tracking down general items
can be a tad frustrating. To wade through all the products, Kidtools offers
a keyword search engine and a browser that allows you to specify products
by type, age group, and subject. In addition to kid stuff, the site offers
a Parents Corner with books and information on parenting. If you want to
beat the mall crowd, Kidtools can certainly help, but take note that the
day we visited the site was pretty poky - maybe it missed snack time.
<http://www.kidtools.com/>
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