HAVE YOU HACKED YOUR NETSCAPE LATELY?
Another chink in the armor of our favorite browser. This time some computer science students found a vulnerability in how Netscape generates session encryption keys, enabling them to replicate these keys with a moderate amount of computing power. This news made it onto CNN, which probably means something significant. Check out the "Hack Netscape" page for this and other recent security hacks. There's also info on the "I Hacked Netscape" T-shirt offer (cool!) and links to responses from the company. To give them credit, Netscape has been quite responsive in plugging holes where they have been found. Updated software for this latest problem is due September 27. Netscape PR: "http://www.netscape.com/newsref/std/random_seed_security.html" Hack page: "http://www.c2.org/hacknetscape/"
OFFICIAL CATHOLIC CHURCH SITE ANNOUNCED
The newly announced Catholic Information Center on Internet (CICI) provides a central directory of all information on the Web that reflects the Magisterium, or the "authoritative teachings of the Catholic Church". This is a big deal, in that it marks what may very well be the first official online presence of a major religion, or at least one with a definitive leader. It's also a pretty interesting place to netsurf, with links to material such as Abortion Questions & Answers, a Catholic news service, 200 years worth of Papal encyclicals, the Baltimore Catechism, and some excellent historical church material (e.g. the "Confessions" of St. Augustine). Even if you don't count yourself among the kneeling faithful this site is definitely worth a visit. "http://www.catholic.net/"
THE WHOLE SCOOP ON DOMAIN NAME REGISTRATION CHARGES
Last issue we promised you we'd bring you the full info about the new annual fees for domain name registrations. Here is a narrative discussion of the process leading to the domain name fees, an explanation of the billing process, and the usual FAQs. Narrative: "http://rs.internic.net/nsf/fee-narrative.html" Billing: "http://rs.internic.net/domain-info/billing-procedures.html" FAQ: "http://rs.internic.net/domain-info/billing-FAQ.html"
NEW FEATURES FOR NETSCAPE NAVIGATOR 2.0
Among the more interesting features in the new recently announced Netscape Navigator 2.0 are frames, which allow developers to divide the page or screen into regions; inline plug-ins and Java applets, which allow easy integration of existing multimedia technologies like QuickTime movies or Macromedia presentations; live updating; two-way interaction; and, finally, the Netscape scripting language. Many more goodies will be available in the final release in December, while beta copies should be online this week. "http://www.netscape.com/comprod/products/navigator/version_2.0/index.html"
VERISIGN INTRODUCES ONLINE DIGITAL ID ISSUING SERVICE
The IDs, divided into various classes of identity assurance, can be used in online commerce to verify that you really are who you claim to be. The initial service, released in conjunction with Netscape's new Web browser, allows Netscape Navigator 2.0 users to enroll directly and receive their own unique digital IDs. A company or a consumer will be able to get IDs through VeriSign's online issuing service, which will begin beta testing in late October. One more faceless number to insert into your life. "http://www.verisign.com/"
IBM ANNOUNCES NEW NET SEARCH SITE
IBM wants a piece of the Internet database market, and accordingly it is launching infoMarket Search. This service pools data from a variety of sources (currently Usenet, Yahoo, McKinley Internet Directory, and Open Text Web Index) and enable you to search them all at one site. For the moment the service is free, but IBM plans to commercialize it and earn cash by way of the various database vendors who it hopes will participate. Alas, they're starting out with one big strike against them - a requirement to fill out a fairly intrusive form before gaining the magic password. Why not just go directly to Yahoo? But then, this is IBM after all. "http://www.infomkt.ibm.com/about.htm"
The Washington Post and New York Times caved in and published the anonymous bomber's manifesto recently in hardcopy. In case you haven't been following the saga, the bomber has been sending explosive packages around the US for the last 17 years and has so far managed to elude the clutches of the FBI. Incidentally, word is the FBI urged the media to publish the mainfesto in hopes of gaining possible clues about the person(s) who wrote it. Recognize anything? "http://www.pathfinder.com/pathfinder/features/unabomber/manifesto.html"
First there was the Rock 'n' Roll Hall of Fame site. Then there was a simple question in our Digest: "But for heaven's sake, why Cleveland?" Next there was a flood of whining e-mail regarding some supposed slight to a fine American metropolis. In fact, the most e-mail we've gotten on any issue. About Cleveland. Go figure. Seems many Clevelanders have some sort of inferiority complex, and feel called upon to defend their fair city in the face of some imagined slight from our publisher. Must have something to do with all those Cleveland jokes floating about. The aphorism about "Life", as in "Get a", comes to mind. Incidentally, it might be because the term "rock and roll" was invented by Cleveland radio DJ Alan Freed. (Go Indians! - editor) "http://www.netsurf.com/nsd/nsd.95.09.02.html"#BS5
Try to ignore your first impression of Survey-Net. Despite a home page with more illegible italic text than you can shake a pair of bifocals at, this site will appeal to those who want an easy way to express their opinions on sex, the Internet, religion, shareware, politics, O.J. Simpson, and whatever else the Webmaster may have in mind for us. This site could serve as an educational tool for those who design surveys. The layout of each survey is lean, mean, and clean, although the text may be a little too small for some monitors. Republican and Democrat planners alike are likely cruising this site as you read. "http://www.survey.net/"
This is your basic reference source for everything you want to know about Internet Relay Chat (IRC). It's not flashy, but neither is a dictionary, and both provide comprehensive reliable information (except that "gullible" isn't in any dictionary; it's true - look it up). Herein, you'll find all sorts of introductory material, lists of pertinent Usenet groups, pointers to other sites, and an array of FAQs, many of them in HTML format. Learn about the Undernet, a rival IRC network that arose out of the need to prevent hostile channel takeovers. These pages are comprehensive and well maintained; if you are new to IRC or just curious about what it is, this an excellent starting point. "http://www2.undernet.org:8080/~cs93jtl/IRC.html"
ALIENS AND SKEPTICS AND STARS, OH MY!
Readers in North America and the UK, at least, may have heard about or seen a TV show purporting to depict the autopsy of a dead alien at Roswell AFB in 1947. Want the skinny on it? Slide your Usenet dial down to sci.skeptic and search for threads with "alien" or "Roswell" in the subject. Apparently, the researchers performing the autopsy do not go about their business like pathologists. Somehow that doesn't surprise us. There are other threads on parapsychology, homeopathy, and astrology. Isn't self-delusion wonderful? We're lucky to have around people like James Randi, who go after and expose the predatory charlatans, at least.
With the passage of the 50th anniversary of the atomic bombings of Hiroshima and Nagasaki, interest in the last days of World War II surged. One Web site appeared out of the ether to take a new look at the bombings that had such a decisive impact. The Exploratorium in San Francisco has a memorial to the use of the A-bomb which includes photos, by Japanese photographer Yosuke Yamahata, taken literally hours after the detonation over Nagasaki. The poignant photos tell a tale of devastation since unknown. This collection of images, along with a discussion page concerning the effect the use of such weapons has had on the global psyche, make this site a powerful reminder of the legacy of war. "http://www.exploratorium.edu/nagasaki/mainn.html"
"IF YOU COLOR A DOG PURPLE, IT'S OK." - TONI, AGE 5
What's more fun than a 64-box of crayons? Crayola's Web page, of course! With new product news as well as crayon history, this site's sure to bring smiles. Take the challenging Crayon Trivia Quiz or visit the factory to see how crayons are made. There's even the Big Kid Classic Contest, where grownups get to create "My Favorite Childhood Memory" and kids get to judge. However dreamy the artwork, the $25,000 first prize is for real. In addition, the company is making a donation to Very Special Arts, a group that helps the disabled learn via art, for each piece of artwork submitted. You can also view or bid on the crayon art of over 30 celebrities. Imagine the memories of Mario Andretti, Mr. Rogers, and Martin Sheen, if you dare. "http://www.crayola.com/crayola/"
Ron English is a man with a mission. His in-your-face art proves that. English's illegal billboards are displayed here, as are his "Agit-Pop" and "Revisionist-Modernism" paintings. English's style combines classic paintings with modern symbols in a way that forces the viewer to get his points pretty clearly. Scads of interesting paintings and background on the artist contribute to an excellent site. "http://www.gatech.edu/graf/ron_english/renglish.htm"
Absolut Vodka has funded the online exhibition of "Take me, I'm yours", a major art show currently touring Europe. The collection investigates the interplay between art as a passive construct of the artist and the different ways visitors interact with that art, thereby creating new works in the process. Heavy hitters in the art world, including Christian Boltanski, Maria Eichhorn, and Jef Geys, reach across the artist-observer boundary, with some interesting results. Many of the works involve performance by the artists, or their giving of pieces of the installations away to audience members. The links to the artists' homepages - complete with sound bites and images samples - are worth more than a glance. "http://www.bt.net/intervid/absolut/"
ART OF THE AMERICAN INDIAN FRONTIER
This dramatic portfolio by David Penney features Native American art from the North American woodlands and plains (circa 1780-1920). Indians from these regions designed and created beautiful objects used in a variety of ceremonies and celebrations. Highlights include colorful clothing and bags of porcupine quill and buckskin, woven sashes, jewelry, and smoking pipes. Not all the items are uploaded yet, but take a look at what they have. "http://cedar.cic.net/glrain/diapages.htm"
NetWatch is a fascinating, intelligent, and professional online publication that focuses on the Internet, especially Net technology. Much of the info is available in RealAudio, a new(ish) real-time audio format. Check out "Bootcamp", a 90-second daily report on computers from WCBS in New York. All technology reviews are accompanied by links to the subjects of discussion, and the Top Ten lists are moderated by editors who keep them fresh and provide useful annotation. Netwatch also sponsors a discussion list: e-mail majordomo@pulver.com with the message "subscribe netwatch". With weekly updates, Netwatch is a welcome addition to any hotlist. "http://www.pulver.com/netwatch/"
COMPUTER INDUSTRY DEVELOPMENTS COLUMN ONLINE
Technology Update is an opinion-and-news column that covers computer industry developments for the Law Practice Management magazine of the American Bar Association (ABA). It's also available online at the ABA's Web site. The stated goal is to "...deflate the hype and (beat) up on the usual industry suspects." The July/August '95 issue had some interesting comments about the limits to multi-threading in Windows 95. "http://www.abanet.org/lpm/magazine/tu_intro.html"
SERIOUS MONTHLY JOURNAL ALSO FUN
The Paine News is a serious electronic monthly, full of American social commentary but also some amusing prose. Subscribe free (for now), or enter the Paine-In-The-Neck T-shirt contest. If you are particularly adept at expressing yourself with words, you can apply to become a Paine News correspondent. Living up to their namesake, you can also find links to the writings of Thomas Paine. Interesting. Very interesting. "http://www.painenews.com/~cudworth/PAINENEWS.html"
ECOLA'S NEWSSTAND A CORNUCOPIA OF COMPUTER PUBLICATIONS
This is the site to visit if you want links to dozens and dozens of computer publications in areas such as communications, development, IS management, computer retailing, and consumer coverage. There is also a section on regional publications from around the US and around the world. Going deeper, there are links to newspapers, magazines, and Web sites of technology corporations. Browse 'til you drop, and don't worry about anyone glaring at you if you decide not to buy anything you've thumbed through. "http://www.ecola.com/ez/tradepub.htm"
Digital Illusions is a small but high-quality computer graphics and animation e-zine with links to multimedia software companies, various production firms and service bureaus, game companies, film producers, and even a how-to chat area for working artists. Put together by Brian Leach, with the nice touch of additional links to all the info formatted sans the splashy and slow-loading graphics. "http://www.mcs.com/~bcleach/illusions/"
"BIRD BRAIN" MAY BE A COMPLIMENT
Alex is a Congo African Grey parrot (Psittacus erithacus). He can also speak English. No, we don't mean "mimic", we mean "speak", as in communicate. A little out-of-the-way Web page devoted to Alex and his researcher, Irene Pepperberg, contains an excellent article from Audubon magazine and a selection of Pepperberg's own research papers. The popular account is fascinating reading, and the scientific articles add fuel to the debate surrounding the definitions of language and intelligence. "http://rampages.onramp.net/~perfect/pepperbg/index.html"
WHEN "OPEN WIDE" TAKES ON A WHOLE NEW MEANING
This page is devoted to those medical favorites, endoscopy and colonoscopy. These are the visualization of the internal organs through the use of a flexible instrument inserted through the mouth or the rectum - endoscopes down through the top and colonoscopes up from the bottom. The scopes use a video chip and strobe light to capture images which are then displayed on a video monitor. Ten points to the first person to guess what's shown in the 15 JPEG images and 13 QuickTime videos in this site's Photography and Video section. From personal experience, we can tell you that the best part of an endoscopy is the IV Valium. Second is watching through the scope as the doc probes your insides. Combining the two is an unbeatable life experience. "http://www.gastro.com/"
WILD GEOMETRY INTERACTIVITY ON WEB PAGE
Yikes-a-lordy, this is a little weird: geometry gone mad in 3-D. The highlight is online play with the peculiarly stressful Orbifold Pinball, an embarrassingly difficult, negatively curved space game which surely has much to offer the geometry enthusiast. Another feature, the QuasiTiler, offers this juicy piece of "You can select and visualize plane cross-sections of a lattice in anywhere from 3 up to 13 dimensions!" It doesn't turn us on especially, but at least the offer's there. And CyberView X version 2.0 now has "smooth shading!", which should cheer someone up. The 3-D viewer lets you create your own images. Could be excellent if you know what the heck you're doing. "http://www.geom.umn.edu/apps/gallery.html"
INFORMATION YOU NEED TO KNOW ABOUT SKIN CANCER
Here in one convenient package are links to specific information available around the Internet. Topics include: basal cell carcinoma; cataracts; exposure categories; immunotherapy; melanoma; ozone depletion; skin types; SPF; sunburn; sunglasses; sunscreen; tanning; UV-forecast; and more. There's also a bit on how to determine your personal risk factors. Of course, you can also find out how to purchase a small measuring device for checking UV exposure and the effectiveness of your sunscreen. "http://www.maui.net/~southsky/introto.html"
Since surfing the Web is for the most part a search for entertainment, sites that perform a public service deserve to be spotlighted. In this vein, the Nation's Missing Children Organization (NMCO) has set up a page to assist in the recovery of children and adolescents who, for one reason or another, have simply vanished from view. From this page, surfers will be able to view biographical and image data on missing children and report sightings via e-mail. As another service, this page provides information on what exactly you should do if your child, or the child of a loved one, disappears. This is not the flashiest page to hit the Net, but the serious nature of the content doesn't require glitz. "http://www.cris.com/~altoren/"
Netsurfer Digest Home Page: http://www.netsurf.com/nsd/index.html
Netsurfer Digest FTP Site: ftp://ftp.netsurf.com/pub/nsd/
Subscribe WWW form: http://www.netsurf.com/nsd/subscribe.html
Subscribe E-mail: nsdigest-request@netsurf.com
Include one of the following commands in the BODY of the
message:
HTML Format version: subscribe nsdigest-html
Plain ASCII version: subscribe nsdigest-text
Submission of Newsworthy Items: pressrm@netsurf.com
Letters to the Editor: editor@netsurf.com
Advertiser and Sponsor inquiries to: sales@netsurf.com
Netsurfer Communications: http://www.netsurf.com/
General Information: info@netsurf.com
NETSURFER DIGEST © 1995 Netsurfer Communications, Inc.
All rights reserved.
NETSURFER DIGEST is a trademark of Netsurfer Communications, Inc.