| Dino Guts |
| This Way to the Throne Room, Please |
| Scottish Slang |
| Rich Bachelor Travels the World |
| Journey to the Bottom of the World |
| And to the Top |
| Mainlanders Welcome in Paradise |
| Monaco |
| Don't Call My Web Page, It'll Call You |
| The JavaScript Shrink Is in |
| The Calumet Astronomical Society, Again |
| BOOK REVIEWS |
| LETTERS TO THE EDITOR |
| Contact and Subscription Information |
| Credits |
BREAKING SURF
The latest oohing and ahhing you hear from the natural histroy museum down the street probably comes from the dinosaur researchers. Paleontologists in Italy have discovered the first dinosaur fossil to reveal impressions of soft internal tissues. The remains of a baby Scipionyx, a small theropod, contain traces of intestine, liver, and trachea. The spectacular find is the first dino ever to be found in Italy. Nice start. The fossil is Nature's March 26 cover - to see it online you need to register (free). InfoBeat has the news in lay form.Nature: http://www.nature.com/
InfoBeat: http://www.infobeat.com/stories/cgi/story.cgi?id=2553481026-603
SURFING SITES
Bud Carson takes you on a wild taxi ride free of charge through San Francisco. You'll never be a tight tipper again! He takes risks to bring you the inside story, from admitting to smoking dope in the cab to getting laid on the job, with lively descriptions of passengers and rides. Apparantly, "in this business you have to be careful not to get a full time girl because you end up wasting your nights servicing her instead of the vehicle." This is uncensored reality and one of the best examples of journal work on line.http://www.captivated.com/carson/
http://www.geocities.com/SoHo/1227/
Sizing up the Croydon Aluminium Ball
Proving again that your choice of entertainment is limited only by the amount of free time you have, we proudly present the Croydon Aluminium Ball. Built of the foil wrappers of Kit Kat chocolate bars, the Ball at first grew steadily on a diet of aluminium, free time, and compulsion. After an initial burst of interest, it languished until its curators learned of a similar project (from NSD, we might add) in Chapel Hill, N.C. Jolted by trans-Atlantic co-compulsion, the rugged Croydon Ball-keepers decided to publicize their metallic agglomeration on the Web. And here they are. If you have an inventive streak and want to contribute, enter the contest to design a spherometer which should precisely calculate the need for corrective measures to ensure complete - well, ballness.http://www.ntos.demon.co.uk/ball.htm
Ever hear of the Prema Toy Company? C'mon, really? They own the the green clay (and Eddie Murphy inspiration) Gumby, along with his hoss, Pokey. Anyway, a young'un by the name of Chris Van Allen, called Pokey by his elders, ventured out into the wild Web and homesteaded the pokey.org domain, much to the chagrin of the aforementioned toy company which rustled up a posse of lawyer types to go ahootin' and ahollerin' 'round the boy's place. He's holding fast, so far, and it don't look like he'll be ascared offa his land. Y'all can follow the ensuin' battle 'tween the two side's hired guns at the young'un's page. (Yes, we did stay up till 4 a.m. watching "Unforgiven". Why do you ask?)
http://www.pokey.org/
Oprah Finds Aluminum Pull Tabs in Designer's Hair-Do
The first urban legend we recall hearing was the one about the spider's nest in some poor girl's beehive hair-do. Nowadays, posting boards and news groups seem custom-made for launching and maintaining modern urban legends - or at least for new variations on the old ones. You know the stories: some designer claimed to Oprah that he/she supports the Klan; pull tabs from aluminum cans will buy a wheelchair or pay for dialysis; etc. The AFU and Urban Legends site lists the tales and the stories behind attempts to track down their origins. You'll be astonished at the number and range of these time wasters, and by the pointless maliciousness of many of them.http://www.urbanlegends.com/select.cgi?target=index.html
Reviews of Videos, Bad and Otherwise
Ever wanted to see an early Daphne Zuniga film with blood and schlock to boot? Ever been tempted to have a Godzilla movie marathon? Think anything without guns is artsy fartsy? This site is almost better than seeing the movies yourself, because these reviewers never fall asleep in the sex scenes and seem to understand the meaning of the subliminal dream sequences. It's some kind of diuretic in cyberspace, because, quite honestly, how can you keep your pants dry through a detailed and B-grade subjective analysis of "Hello Mary Lou, Prom Night II"? We loved it.http://www.stomptokyo.com/
Which train on the NYC subway system never enters the island of Manahttan? Did you even care that the Bulgarian 1994 World Cup soccer team all had names ending in "ov"? If your name was "Margarita Casino" (and at least one of us wishes it were) would you be mad enough to change it and become a Hollywood legend? Ever puzzled by the fact that an ostrich's eye is bigger than its brain? This is the stuff hot date wooing conversations are made of (we're serious). Be amazed, boggled, and very, very cool.
http://www-leland.stanford.edu/~jenkg/useless.html
Any kid who watches Hercules, Odysseus, or other legendary heroes in TV adventures can tell you of a thriving interest in ancient cultures. So it is on the Web. Witness the Perseus Project, an ever-growing digital library with texts, maps, art catalogues, and essays on archaic and classical Greek history, literature, art, and archaeology. Designed by an interinstitutional team of experts for both beginning students and specialists, this collaborative project includes graphics of holdings in more than 70 museums, coin and vase catalogues, an atlas of color maps based on satellite photos, and many other scholarly tools. You're unlikely to get lost in the logical architecture of this vast but easy-to-navigate site, housed at Tufts University. Talk about academic resources. Homer never had it so good!
http://www.perseus.tufts.edu/
A site dedicated to the treasures of Ancient Egypt is an aesthetic experience by its very nature. While Mysteries of Egypt at the Canadian Museum of Civilization is indeed beautiful, it is also informative, well laid out, and packed with information. As you enjoy each article, you can follow embedded links within the text to a seemingly endless succession of other articles, stories, and pictures. You'll also find quizzes, colorful QuickTime movies, and a first-hand account by Howard Carter of his feelings as he opened the coffin of Tutankhamon and revealed a blaze of gold and jewels. The old story of the Valley of the Kings is given new life and excitement with this well-crafted Web site.
http://www.civilization.ca/membrs/civiliz/egypt/egypt_e.html
The collapse of communism in the USSR brought a time of great political and economic upheaval to the former Soviet Union. A new exhibit, inspired by the Annenberg/CPB Projects video series, has undertaken to chronicle the political and social forces that wrought such massive change on Russia and the rest of the world. The exhibit studies the region from the rise of the Bolsheviks to current issues like Boris Yeltsin's failing health, which may dictate how the Russian bear blunders into the next century. Alongside the text descriptions lie interactive maps and databases on the various breakaway republics that have formed in the USSR's absence.
http://www.learner.org/exhibits/russia/
Saskatchewan's Natives' Keeping House Museum
As part of an ongoing campaign to increase awareness of the rich cultural history of Canada's native peoples, the Saskatchewan Indian Cultural Center is sponsoring an online exhbit of artifacts from the tribes of that province's Five First Nations. Visitors can browse traditional and ceremonial clothing and weapons and a section with paintings by contemporary native artists. The exhibit focuses on the importance of family bonds, in the form of ornamental copper pots that have remained in the same family for 500 years. This exhibit provides a rare glimpse into the people that roamed the prairies long before the first European settlers arrived.http://www.sicc.sk.ca/keepinghouse/index.html
To many of us, the PC is a large, gray box full of mystery. We may be adept and skilled with the software loaded on it, but have only a vague idea of what goes on inside the box. For a painless, jargon-free, and readable course of study try the Click and Learn site by Michael Karbo. From the definition of data to the intricacies of the sound card, this clearly written self-teach course will take you through everything you need to know to understand the workings of a PC. Ideal for teachers, salespeople, or anyone who wants to know what happens when you press a key on the keyboard, this course is a pleasure to study with its copious illustrations, short
sentences, and dual methods of navigation. http://www.mkdata.dk/english/
....would not be a Bob, at least according to the Hob Nob with Bob Web site. What's the scoop? Well, if you're a Bob dude, you too can rock 'n' roll in Atlantic City this summer at the Hob Nob with Bob gathering. Meet the Jamaican Bobsled Team and hope the media is bored enough to show up and provide your 15 minutes of fame. Who knows what excitement awaits you and your Bob friends? If you can't make Atlantic City but still want to Hob Nob with Bob, see the Web site for details.
http://www.hobnobwithbob.com/
The popular PBS TV show, Austin City Limits, has a new and improved site to go along with their 23 seasons as America's longest running live TV music show. A great graphical home page has images and links to the All-American Music Quiz, Audio Samplers from the archives, performers and their music, the TV schedule for 175 cities, and their gift shop. The Austin Cyber Limits site is a great place to learn about how different styles of American music fit together and to sample different performers' work.
http://www.pbs.org/klru/austin/
ONLINE TRAVEL
This Way to the Throne Room, Please
You're visiting a privately owned museum, a centuries-old castle set in formal gardens, to which the public now has admittance. On display are family heirlooms, elegant furnishings, waiting rooms for underlings seeking audience with the host, historic documents, works of art, suits of armor. There are manuscripts from centuries ago and artwork inspired by those manuscripts. At the end of the tour, you may enjoy a formal cup of tea. Although the curators have rebuilt or recreated some features, ancient and private family heirlooms exemplifying wealth and power are at the heart of the museum's collection. Which country are you in? You are in the Tokugawa family museum in Nagoya, Japan, once the centre of the Tokugawa Shogunate. The family heirlooms are Noh masks, the suits of armor protected samurai, the scraps of manuscript and works of art come from "The Tale of Genji". And tea is an art form.http://www.cjn.or.jp/tokugawa/index.html
Ever wonder how English can still sound like a foreign language? Scottish slang can trip up even the most keen non-Scot interpreter, and this site with .wav and RealAudio files may prepare you for just such an encounter. If someone tells you "Hinke cunfae cashore confeh, Ahl hityi oar hied 'caw taughtie," don't dawdle. He's admonishing you for assuming that just because he's from Carronshire, he cannot fight. To back up his point, he's about to clobber you with a potato.
http://www.paidmyre.demon.co.uk/
Rich Bachelor Travels the World
So a rich bachelor goes on vacation after selling his company for a nice spot of cash. He goes to Bali, sees there's more to life than big red cars and fawning women, and decides to retire and just keep on traveling, meeting even more fawning women. Follow Phil's journey as he posts digital photos and commentary during his adventures and wish you owned even 1.5% of a big company yourself.http://www.pgordon.com/
Journey to the Bottom of the World
Tony Hansen traveled in Antarctica and you can virtually re-experience his voyage. Features include a journal and digital pictures from his trip to the South Pole, where he installed pollution measuring instruments (aethalometers) for a National Science Foundation project. Bundle up for this fascinating trek to the bottom of the world.http://www.mageesci.com/Antarctic/
One woman, upon surviving cancer, decided to lead a dogsled trip 6,000 miles, from Maine across Canada to Nome, Alaska, to raise awareness and money for cancer research. Dog-Trek 97-98 has all the info: diary entries from leader Wendy Smith; maps; photos taken en route; and team details, including enough about each dog to make them seem like old friends. With minimal support, the team started last November and although the trek has just ended 2,000 miles short of its geographic goal, the heartwarming project will still accept donations.
http://www.dogtrek97-98.eu.inter.net/
Mainlanders Welcome in Paradise
Once the unknown country-bumpkin big brother of long glamorous Oahu, the island of Hawaii is now for many travelers the main attraction in the Pacific. One good starting point is this Mining Company GuideSite. Like many travel guides, this one has plenty of links to other local sites; here, this profusion shines on the Events page, a calendar with hyperlinks for almost every day. Many islandic travel sites emphasize landscape photos and beachmania, but this site celebrates island culture and for the most part focuses on interactivity, what with a variety of bulletin boards and chat. Webmaster Robert Olson wants to build a virtual community. In view of his many interests - "history, legends, culture, astronomy, oceanography, vulcanology, and the many sports and pastimes which bless this island" - and the natural attractions of the Big Island, this community seems likely to grow.http://bigisland.miningco.com/
Chauncey, dear, it's high time we visited your aunt in Monaco. I know it's less than one square mile, my love, but so's her fortune. Ahem! First, of course, we should visit Monaco Monte-Carlo Online. So, a bit of history here, some lodging details there, one policeman for every 100 residents, video surveillance over the entire principality - ah, La Turbie, un balcon sur la mer and thee! Every night I dream of the Cote d'Azur, and there you are. Click, Chauncey, click! Come, my pet. Let your mouse begin the hunt. Sweep me from the graphic riches of this exotic site to the concealed but most generous casinos - and let us make merry before the Royale Palais of E-Passion!
http://www.monte-carlo.mc/
FLOTSAM & JETSAM
An American student corresponds via e-mail with a Tasmanian who posts his photography on his Web site. They keep at it, and eventually the photographer pays her airfare for a month's visit, and pictures. Not sleaze, not lurid, not even a movie, but real life with a happy ending.http://www.tassie.net.au/~tryan/ryan/erika.html
For a real stretch of the brain cells, try to fit these five wolves and three sheep so that the sheep avoid being eaten. More difficult than it sounds, this elegant little puzzle will keep you absorbed and provide a strong feeling of satisfaction when you solve it. And yes, you'll find our reviewer in the Hall of Fame!
http://www.grafixgalore.com/theZone/wolves.html
Seeing as how we have recently stayed up till 4:00 a.m. watching "Unforgiven", we thought we'd bring this site to you. In addition to text, images, and sounds from Clint Eastwood's career, this site also offers the "Unforgiven" script.
http://www.man-with-no-name.com/
Most Snapshot Cartoons characters stick out their tongues - it's a signature trademark. If you need graphics for, say, ice cream stores or the National Agency for Stopping People from Licking Poles in Winter, venture on over to Snaptoons and buy yourself some custom art. The rest of us might enjoy the Toon-of-the-Day.
http://www.snaptoons.com/
Consumer Search Engine and Shopping News
A search engine and news service dedicated to online shopping is available in the form of the BuyDirectory and Shopping News. The goal is to make online shopping easier, safer, and more comprehensive by reviewing all Web sites submitted to the directory for quality.http://www.buydirectory.com/
Never Take Medicine in the Dark and Other Useful Tips
The Council on Family Health has a Web site dedicated to helping you and your loved ones stay healthy and happy. You'll learn about proper use of medications (such as don't take your medicine when the light's out...), and more.http://www.cfhinfo.org/
The Talking Food Home Page offers access to - surprise, surprise - food-related newsgroups, mailing lists, newsletters, and so forth. Its originator wants to attract anyone and everyone involved with food production, technology, and/or consumption. We qualify: we eat Twinkies.
http://www.tcom.co.uk/gopher/foodtalk/
RV USA lets you lurk in a dedicated and growing society of RV enthusiasts. RV clubs, RV gatherings, RV awards, and user-posted tips and tricks for improving RV life and RV chat rooms vie for room with the dealer, insurance, parts and service pages.
http://rvusa.com/
SOFTWARE
Don't Call My Web Page, It'll Call You
TriNet's Voice Button lets your Web site users just click an icon to initiate a phone call. The company offers access to Nortel's Internet Voice Button technology, and supplies the tool that lets Web site visitors who might be customers call your company. Clever, extremely cool cutting-edge technology strikes again.http://www.trinet.com/voicebutton/
The JavaScript Shrink is Aaron Weiss's free advice column on JavaScript programming, a descendant of his year-long JavaScript column in the ex-Internet World magazine. This site requires NS4 or MSIE 4 for viewing, but you probably have either or both if youre into JavaScript programming.
http://www.interlog.com/~aaron/jshrink/
CORRECTIONS
The Calumet Astronomical Society, Again
Last issue, someone captured our flag - the flag that indicates a headline to our automagical formatter. As a result, an article about the Calumet Astronomical Society was squozen into a previous article and unless you looked real hard-like (that's it, no more westerns), you could have easily missed it. This northwest Indiana astronomical club's Astro links page contains a list of links to observatories and educational institutions, image archives, amateur and club pages, equipment vendors and others. They also feature monthly hints for amateur astronomers and a Constellation of the Month.http://casonline.org/