THE MUSEUM OF HEWLETT-PACKARD CALCULATORS
"We thought you'd like to have something only fictional heroes like James Bond, Walter Mitty or Dick Tracy are supposed to own." So says the manual for the HP-35. The museum contains pictures, historical information and context, and quotes from Hewlett-Packard's manuals - all of it interesting to more than the pocket-protector crowd. Trace the evolution of the pocket calculator from the time when trigonometric function buttons were novel. "http://www.teleport.com/~dgh/hpmuseum.html"
In the 1980s, Rick Kephart spent six weeks as a student teacher in London. His account of that time is a fascinating look at English culture through the eyes of a somewhat naive young American, and at an American teacher through the eyes of British schoolchildren. There's nothing fancy here, just text, but read through the lengthy story and you'll come to know the kids as surely as if you were in the classroom yourself. Also enthralling is watching the British students' learning process and how it differs from the North American experience. Especially telling are the spelling mistakes. Kephart is honest and forthright, and his story is a rare Web gem that until now has escaped notice. It deserves a visit. "http://www.netaxs.com/~rmk/London/england.html"
We never knew "What's your sign?" could be such a complicated question. As far as we can tell, this cyber-collection of Chinese, Tibetan, and Vietnamese astrological and divination systems is the only one of its kind. You'll find conversion and calculation information for gauging dates and signs, a list of positive and negative days, a Feng Shui FAQ, and a bibliography that might come in handy if you're doing in-depth research in this area. It's a visually appealing and well organized site. Some things are left unexplained, but that merely adds to the mystique. Best viewed with Netscape 1.1 or better. "http://www.deltanet.com/users/wcassidy/astroindex.html"
It's the story
of a guy named Kenny
and his nifty Web page of great style.
It's got lots of links to TV theme songs,
and players for the files.
"http://ai.eecs.umich.edu/people/kennyp/sounds.html"
LOW-FAT RECIPES ADD SIZZLE TO WWW
If you love to cook but fuss and fume about fat, here's the home page for you. From Beanherder's Pie (made with onion, garlic, chili powder, and cocoa powder - ?! - not to mention a heck of a lot of beans) to low-fat Caesar Salad Dressing (you still get your anchovy fillets; just substitute non-fat yogurt and non-fat buttermilk to reduce the fat content), this Web site is a dieting cook's dream. Recipes include detailed instructions and measurements. "http://www.halcyon.com/wmyoung/"
"Open the pod bay doors, HAL!" How many times have you been trapped in near-vacuum, yelling that at a computer gone mad? Set your browser to the URL below to connect to what might be the mentally challenged sibling of HAL, the supercomputer from "2001:A Space Odyssey", known as MegaHal. As MegaHal's designer puts it, "The program was not written very intelligently, so most of the time its replies consist of incoherent babble." Sounds like he's grooming the program for a berth in next year's presidential elections. "http://ciips.ee.uwa.edu.au/~hutch/Hal.html"
The title of this movie tie-in site could just as easily refer to how long it takes to download all the graphics. Mind you, the results are certainly up to flashy Hollywood standards, and worth a look. Warner Brothers is covering all the bases in publicizing the latest Batman epic, and this site is the online component of the campaign. Here you can find QuickTime and AVI excerpts from the movie, an exhibition of storyboards, extensive excerpts from the inevitable Official Movie Book, and a game of riddles from the Riddler (who steals the show, as any good villain should). A schedule of foreign and domestic release dates is also available for our overseas readers. "http://www.batmanforever.com/"
A new Web site for Sony Pictures Classics has information on several classic films and promises to be updated frequently. There are plenty of sound files, QuickTime video clips, and lots of small and large GIF and JPEG images. There are also descriptions of the movies, actors, and of awards the films have won. The site is colorful and entertaining, though a bit perplexing at first. "http://www.spe.sony.com/Pictures/SonyClassics/Index.html"
We know, we know - those who love to walk and hike don't like to waste too much time on the information highway. But just give those boots a break and check out the Volksmarch and Walking Index anyway. Authored and sponsored by the American Volkssport Association, this site includes a list of American and Canadian Volkssport clubs, a FAQ about volksmarching, convention information, and relevant links. The Hiking and Walking Homepage focuses on resources for those sports, special events, and related topics. "http://www.teleport.com/~walking" "http://www.teleport.com/~walking/hiking.html"
Fans of the almost-lost art form of radio comedy will want to tune in to the weekly installments of the Sub-Atomic Opera, a new Internet audio clip site brought to you by the oddly-named but well-intentioned Evolution Control Committee. For an entertaining discussion over dinner with, for example, a church ambulance driver about the mutating effects of thalidomide, this site simply cannot be beat. Listeners will have to have software that understands MPEG sound. Links to MPEG audio decoders for Macintosh and Windows are listed on the Sub-Atomic Opera page. If you're on another platform, you're on your own. "http://www.infinet.com/~markg/sound.html"
Got any ideas? Neither does the the Times Square Business Improvement District, the body responsible for year-end mega-parties in that little corner of New York City. In the "Search for the Big Idea", the group is asking for suggestions on how to ring in the new millenium. "Excuse me," you want to politely interject, "The new millenium only starts Jan. 1, 2001." They know, but they don't wanna hear about it. Just what the world needs: more people responsible for fostering ignorance. Still, you can win a T-shirt. Also on hand are some statistics from the last big New Year's Eve bash. "http://www.mediabridge.com/nyc/bids/tsbid/index.html"
Swedish-born guitar hero Yngwie J. Malmsteen has gone virtual with a home page set up by the Malmsteen Militia Fan Club. Along with information standard to this type of Web site - such as bio, FAQ (it's pronounced "YNG-way"), and discography - netsurfers will also find lyrics, musical transcriptions in tabulature, and a description of Yngwie's equipment, which includes the interesting category of "Stolen Guitars". Images of Yngwie's album covers as well as selected riffs from the guitar master himself can be downloaded, so get ready to punish your parents with some digitized axe rock, dude. "http://pd.net:80/yngwie/"
ANOTHER GREAT STATE - TRAVELMAINE
If you're planning a trip to Maine, you'll definitely want to peruse the new TravelMaine page, a comprehensive resource that's thoughtfully organized by region. But if you're looking for pretty pictures of the northeasternmost state's lobsters (red), leaves (colorful), literary leaders (Stephen King), and legislative legends (George Bush), you'd better visit in person - this site is tragically devoid of images. "http://www.sourcemaine.com/TravelMaine/"
So said De Gaulle, in a less than tactful speech. The government of Quebec, intent on bringing its population into the information age, has set up a Web site to better acquaint Web travelers with the historic and beautiful Canadian province. Netsurfers who wash up on the Quebec shore will be welcomed by a text/audio message from Premier Jacques Parizeau, government leader. You'll be treated to virtual lessons on the province's government, culture, and distinct status within Canada. Those interested in starting their own country should be especially fascinated by the Draft Bill for Sovereignty, a piece of legislation that would turn the province into a separate and autonomous country. "http://www.gouv.qc.ca/anglais/index.html"
DISCOVER COLOGNE - THE CITY, NOT THE FRAGRANCE
Whether you prefer to spell it "Cologne", or "Koeln" in proper German style, this city and its nicely organized Web site are well worth the visit. Check out the subway system, a panoramic city view, maps, and a historical time table. Also on hand is information on business, education, cultural events, and sports. Sehr gut. "http://www.gmd.de/Misc/Cologne/IN/cologne.html"
ISOLATED ISLAND NATION OF CAPE VERDE
The Republic of Cape Verde, an isolated island nation 600 km west of the westernmost point of continental Africa, has its own unofficial Web pages. There is a wealth of more or less standard info including geography, history, culture, government, media, business, industry, traveler's info, and a photo gallery. Looking at the map and reading about the country, we discovered there are 10 islands and 5 islets in two basic groups. Learn much more at: "http://www.umassd.edu/SpecialPrograms/caboverde/capeverdean.html"
STRIKE UP THE BAND FOR LOUISIANA CEMETERY TOUR
Those with delicate constitutions need not take any special precautions before visiting this New Orleans cemetery site. Rather than grim images of the Vampire Lestat and the people he put here, this site highlights the striking monuments left to commemorate the ex-inhabitants of New Orleans buried in the city's cemetaries. The detail and beauty of the gravestones and monuments makes this an ideal site for those fascinated by religious iconography and architecture. An accompanying sound bite will provide the viewer with a short description of each selected burial site, in .wav format, software willing. "http://www.webcorp.com/images/nocems.htm"
The E-Minder service sends you automatically generated e-mail to remind you of any event, occasion, or appointment you register. You may specify how many days in advance you want to receive a reminder. It's free, too. "http://www.netmind.com/e-minder/e-minder.html"
Tell the Similarities Engine your five favorite music albums and it will send you a list of other bands you might also appreciate. Aside from the occasional gross error, it really works. "http://www.webcom.com/~se"
THE COLLABORATIVE GLOBAL ENCYCLOPEDIA
The Global Encyclopedia is an online encyclopedia being created by volunteer authors and editors. A collaborative Net effort, anyone can contribute. All articles - fairly basic stuff so far - are edited for accuracy. "http://www.halcyon.com/jensen/encyclopedia/welcome.html"
No need for cages here. These little wider-than-life critters ain't goin' nowheres. Now with a new small vertebrate collection. "http://albert.ccae.virginia.edu/~dcm3c/zoo.html"
Looking to waste time with your QuickTime player? This site can direct you to just about any QuickTime movie site on the Web from Apple's own site to movie trailers to TV clips. "http://iac.net/~flypba/qt.html"
PLAY THE DULCIMER OVER THE WWW
Ever wanted to play a musical instrument? Ever wanted to know what a hammered dulcimer sounds like? If the answer to either question is "yes", check this out. "http://tfnet.ils.unc.edu/~griffin/maestro.html"
THE INTERACTIVE MODEL RAILROAD
Another neat toy is the interactive model railroad at the University of Ulm in Germany. If you have Netscape 1.1, you can watch an animation of the train flash by as rapid-fire pages. "http://www-vs.informatik.uni-ulm.de/RR/RR.html"
The Open Text Web Index indexes Web pages along with the text they contain. While still under construction, the site has about half a million pages on tap so far. It intends to index over two million pages (over a billion words of text) and update it every day. "http://www.opentext.com"
Over 200 JPEG images are available from Stock Online, for the same cost as any Web page (i.e. free). The images are freely usable as presented, although rights to use higher resolution copies can be negotiated. "http://www.highway1.com.au:80/users/beilby/stockphoto"
Amnesty International uploads news releases and external document summaries as soon as they are issued. If you want to get involved, three "Worldwide Appeals" cases are posted each month. "http://www.io.org/amnesty/Overview.html"
If the Amnesty International site doesn't completely sate your activist tendencies, top off at the Rainforest Action Network. They've arranged an on-site e-mail activism form. The fancy page uses only 100% recycled electrons, guaranteed. "http://www.ran.org/ran/"
BETTER BUSINESS BUREAU WEB SERVER
This page, operated by the Council of Better Business Bureaus, contains info on BBB system services such as charity monitoring, self-regulatory forums to foster truth in advertising, and how to obtain reliability reports on businesses. "http://www.cbbb.org/cbbb/"
NETSURFER DIGEST PUBLISHER, EDITOR ON LIVE AOL CONFERENCE
We have been invited to appear on one of the live America Online conferences and discuss electronic magazines and the burgeoning Netsurfer E-zine empire. Arthur Bebak, publisher and founder of Netsurfer, and Lawrence Nyveen, current editor of Netsurfer Digest (don't let that "Assistant" tag fool you -LN) [OK, you're promoted to full Editor -AB], will appear in the Center Stage (Keyword:Center Stage) conference on Sunday, July 16, at 22:00 ET. More details, such as which auditorium, will be included in upcoming issues, but now we've gotta go work on our typing skills.
MORE NETSURFER STAFF ASSULT MONTREAL MEDIA
Those of you living in Montreal, Canada may want to tune in to CBC Radio on Monday afternoon (June 26) for the show called Radio Noon. Our freshly promoted Editor, Lawrence Nyveen, and our crack (or is that wisecrack?) author Peter Barnes, will strut their stuff on the air. And why is this item under Online Services? Well, radio waves travel in straight lines, and...oh, forget it.
NAUTILUS VOICE ENCRYPTION SOFTWARE ALTERNATE SITES
We've been besiged with e-mail about Nautilus, the encrypted voice over the Net software, and have had some reports of problems getting it from ripem.msu.edu. Here are some alternative sites. The various file names all start with the string "naut". Send e-mail to nautilus@lila.com to contact the developers. Colorado Catacombs BBS - (303)772-1062 "ftp://miyako.dorm.duke.edu/mpj/GETTING_ACCESS" "ftp://miyako.dorm.duke.edu/mpj/crypto/voice/"
An outline of an online presentation about the Web has been posted by Rodney Campbell of Sydney, Australia. The seminar is intended to explain the Web to novices, and includes image slides (html) he uses for his presentation, as well as extended info from the speaker's notes and the printed guide for attendees. If you're new to all this Web stuff, this destination may be a worthwhile as a self-guided tour to answer your questions. "http://www.telstra.com.au/rodney/papers/www-0595"
CSPACE, NET POTATO SALAD MOVE; CORRECTED SEDIMENTOLOGY URL
The Montreal art space containing the "Banned Books On-Line" section (NSD #21), has changed its name to Espace (Cspace was taken) and has a new URL. The NetPotatoSalad Web directory we reported on not too long ago has moved to Japan and changed URLs. How does one ever manage to keep up with the everchanging Net? We also had a typo in the URL for the cool Sedimentology site. The correct URL is below and our online copies have been updated. Espace: "http://tdg.uoguelph.ca/~cspace" Potato Salad: "http://202.250.1.204/NetPotatoSalad_main9.html" Sedimentology: "http://walrus.wr.usgs.gov/docs/seds/Sedimentology.html"
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