FLASH NEWS: ANNUAL DOMAIN NAME REGISTRATION FEE TO BE IMPOSED
Netsurfer has learned that the National Science Foundation (NSF) has agreed to impose a $50 annual fee for domain name registrations starting Sept. 18. The fee will be collected by Network Solutions, the private company which currently processes domain name requests. Current domain name registrants will owe a $50 annual renewal fee on the anniversary date of their registration. The registrant will be notified by e-mail 60, 30, and 15 days before the fee is due. Seventy percent of the fees will go to Network Solutions to cover costs and, presumably, a profit margin. The remaining 30 percent will be spent by the NSF on the "intellectual infrastructure" of the Internet. Reportedly, the first priority in using the funds will be to speed up domain name registration time from five weeks to two days. We will point you to official press releases and FAQs as soon as they are available.
THE SMITHSONIAN - AMERICA'S ATTIC
The 149-year-old Smithsonian Institution is prepared to celebrate a big birthday next year with a Web site so packed with neat stuff, it's almost like a trip to the real thing. The pages are a little stingy with graphics, but there's so much cool information available that it's hardly noticeable. Descriptions of all current and upcoming exhibitions in each of the many Smithsonian museums are available in digest form, as is a complete overview of the Smithsonian complex. Also on hand are the fancily titled Encyclopedia Smithsonia (a FAQ), discussion mailing lists, previews of current exhibitions, and Smithsonian perspectives on current issues. "http://www.si.edu/start.htm"
E-PIZZA, WITH EVERYTHING, HOLD THE KITTENS
Now, thanks to the miracle called the Internet, two weeks of Nautilus will no longer be necessary to burn off what is supplied by a pizza with everything. Introducing the low-cal, high-electron Internet Pizza, guaranteed not to put a single pound on that already overhanging gut. The Internet Pizza Server allows surfers to tailor-make their pizza, then beams it directly to their computer screens. A note of warning is in order, since the ingredient list includes such exotic tidbits as kittens, toast, golf balls, and that family fun favorite - goblins. BYO napkin. "http://www2.ecst.csuchico.edu/~pizza/" E-mail menu: pizza@ecst.csuchico.edu
Instead of driving 100 miles out of Santa Fe, and down a dusty 13-mile dirt road, use your browser to visit the Christ in the Desert Benedictine Monastery. Beautiful icons, on a parchment-like background, make up "illuminated" Web pages which provide basic information about the monastery and the monks' lives. Background material explores prayers, chants, and the life of St. Benedict. Explore the monks' daily routine through photos of them and their community. Despite arising at 3:30 a.m., the monks are not all business; check out the story "The Bear Who Came to Vespers", and don't forget to stop by the gift shop on your way out to order a souvenir mug. "http://www.christdesert.org/pax.html"
HIGHGATE CEMETARY - THE VICTORIAN VALHALLA
During the 19th century, all London's truly chic were dying to be buried in Highgate Cemetary. This site serves complements a six-part series on British radio, "The Sexton's Tales", a fascinating exploration of a handful of the people buried there and the stories of their lives. Aside from those tales, the site includes information on the cemetary itself. The author's links to other sites add to the site's interest. He includes connections to classic British poets, the British library, plus many radio and screenplay pages. To tiptoe among the deceased: "http://www.worldserver.pipex.com/nc/Emlyn/"
WITH A NAME LIKE "DOG SOUP", IT HAS TO BE WEIRD
The premise is a package, with notebook, mushroom, cat toy, and other items inside that take you to various funny ramblings of Mark Terry, a.k.a. rat. Wander through childhood memories of being an air-dropped Red Cross parcel, drift through freeform thoughts by and/or for those under the influence of psilocybin, or wear a fake udder to bond with your cow and teach it philosophy subliminally. You might find it dumb, but we loved it. The Weird Web Lynx (click on the cat toy) is also worth a short stop for pointers to sites that even the weird will find unusual. "http://www.tcp.co.uk/~rat"
If you need more proof that Hollywood loves the Web, check out the new Academy of Television Arts and Sciences site. This babe's pumped for prime time and, by the time you read this, should have complete and behind-the-scenes coverage of the 47th Primetime Emmy Awards ceremony. The site offers a gallery of past boob-tube glory, too. A feature called "Your Future in Multimedia: Interactive Hollywood" promises advice on how to get a job in Tinseltown and "what not to put on your resume". Hmmm - maybe that depends on which segment of the industry you're dealing with. "http://www.emmys.org/tindex.html"
NII AWARDS HONOR BOTH WHAT'S NEW AND WHAT'S POSSIBLE
The National Information Infrastructure (NII) Awards go to "Champions of Cyberspace" in three broad categories: those who push the envelope demonstrating what the Net is capable of; those who create practical applications that benefit the community; and those who offer services or applications that encourage use of the Infobahn. Among the sponsors are such diverse powerhouses as the White House Office of Science and Technology Policy, the American Medical Association, and the Academy of Television Arts and Sciences. This year's awards went to six groundbreakers who ably fulfilled the requirements. We won't spoil the surprise and tell you who won. "http://www.gii-awards.com/"
No, it's not the department of redundancy department, it's Harry Shearer, one of the sharpest humorists on the Net (and in movies, and on TV). You might or might not recognize him from "Spinal Tap", "Saturday Night Live", or "The Simpsons". Shearer has stocked his home/ad page with sound files, portrayals of a plethora of his personalities. Oh sure, he's hawking his newest CD, but the page is also filled with humor, biographic snippets, essays, photos, and great Groenig graphics. "http://www.pobox.com/harry/"
WINNIE-THE-POOH AND NETSURFERS TOO
Pooh Corner is home to the Pooh List, which, as Pooh himself might say, is by no means the most definitive list of all time ever to be written on the subject of Winnie-the-Pooh and all the other denizens of Hundred Acre Wood, but is nonetheless a very good list and home to many lovely watercolor images of Pooh, Piglet, Christopher Robin, and all their friends. Also take a look at James Milne's (no relation to A.A.) page, filled with other Pooh-ful stuff. Pooh Corner: "http://www.lehigh.edu:80/jll4/public/www-data/pooh.html" Milne: "http://www.public.iastate.edu/~jmilne/pooh.html"
IS THAT A CABER IN YOUR POCKET?
The Gathering of the Clans home page is a Web site created to celebrate Gaelic culture's long history. This is not simply a dry, dull cultural site, but a wealth of information on the Scottish way of life, the food (including a recipe for the infamous haggis), the drink, and the athletic events that make up the Highland Games, a yearly test of strength and will that's been springing up in more and more North American communities. The site is pretty complete, and has an interesting section on the religion and mythology of the Celtic peoples. Don't forget the sheep's bag. "http://www.discribe.ca/world/scotland/clans.html"
If these people can come out with a fully rendered half-hour TV cartoon every week, imagine what they could do with a bloated, semi-static Web page. ReBoot, an insanely slick computer-generated cartoon, has wired itself into the Net. The ReBoot site is a beautifully presented journey through the artificial Net-scape (sorry) that the characters in the show inhabit. Obviously, with a site of this nature, there's bound to be enough bandwidth-clogging graphics to make even the most jaded surfer ask Santa Claus for a T1 line this Christmas, but this page's presentation makes the wait all worthwhile. "Pixelacious, totally pixelacious." "http://alliance.idirect.com/reboot/title.html"
THE NSA AND THE NATIONAL CRYPTOLOGIC MUSEUM
The National Security Agency (NSA), one of the America's main sources of foreign intelligence, has a Web page to spotlight its activities in the intelligence and cryptology fields. The NSA's long history has been devoted to providing the information necessary for survival in peace and war. On display here, surfers will find the prime directives of the agency, as well as a section dedicated to the National Cryptologic Museum, a repository of some of the triumphs and tragedies to which those in the intelligence community are prone. "http://www.nsa.gov:8080"
US POSTAL SERVICE GETS OUR STAMP OF APPROVAL
Lickity split, you've got access to nationwide zip code information, postal rates, regulations, and more. No waiting in line. No waiting on hold. Be sure to peruse the directory of 1994 and 1995 stamp designs. We actually used this the other day to figure out the cost of an international letter. Seriously, we did. "http://www.usps.gov/"
OH......MY......GOSH......IT'S......"ROLLERCOASTER!"
Whether you're likely to lose your lunch or scream in delight and laugh until you cry, "Rollercoaster!" is a trip worth taking. You'll find rollercoasters old and new, terrifying and tame. But don't expect the images to load rip-roaringly fast. As with most rides, anticipation is all part of the fun. "http://www.echonyc.com/~dne/Rollercoaster"!
A MODEM IN ONE HAND, A HAMMER IN THE OTHER
Handyman-Hints is a moderated mailing list for do-it-yourselfers. Glenn Haege, whose "Ask the Handyman" radio show airs in Detroit, is a moderator, and his mix of knowledge and friendly advice is enormously popular in the Midwest. With something for everyone from beginner to house-builder, upcoming topics include How to Fix Almost Anything, Workshop Shortcuts, How to Use Tools, Projects That Give You Lots of Impact For Not a Lot of Time or Money, and How to Choose the Right Contractor for the Job. To subscribe to the list, e-mail majordomo@cedar.cic.net with the message "SUBSCRIBE HANDYMAN-HINTS". To subscribe to the digest version of this list, send the message "SUBSCRIBE HANDYMAN-HINTS-DIGEST".
THE DIGITAL RESTAURANT GUIDE TO SAN FRANCISCO
You'd be hard-pressed to visit over 3,000 dining establishments, but the members of the Precision Dining Association have done just that. Until recently, "The Digital Restaurant Guide to San Francisco" was a Mac HyperCard stack intended for Powerbook users - presumably as they strolled nerd-like through the streets of San Francisco looking for someplace to eat. Now the guide has debuted on the Web. Restaurants can be selected by cuisine or area of the city. Each citation includes hours of operation, typical prices, and rates atmosphere, food, and service. Also included are links to maps of each restaurant's vicinity. You can navigate the entire guide just by using the maps. A useful feature lets you view selections of "The Best" in particular categories. "http://www.sf.net/lantern"
How nice - worthwhile travel photos and stories without a commercial pitch. Philip Greenspun, a grad student at MIT, wrote most of these travel stories, which contain Web links to pages highlighting where he's been, including New York, Costa Rica, and central Europe. A full-length Web book about his trip from Boston to Alaska, called "Travels with Samantha", won Best of the Web last year. This is some of the most compelling writing of its kind to be found in electronic form. "http://webtravel.org/webtravel/"
It's all here. Travelbase is so sure they have information on every ski area in the US, they'll buy you a free lift ticket if you find an area not on their list. For scuba buffs, there are featured shops, sites, and excursions; training course calenders; a divers' chat area; and even updated advisories from DAN, the Divers Alert Network. There's info on Florida hotspots as well, and more is added to the new tennis section every day. A nice site to check when planning a sand or snow vacation. "http://www.travelbase.com/"
Just like it says, this site lists over 4,300 links (last time we checked) to international hotels, bed and breakfasts, resorts, castles, villas and chateaux. Certainly not a complete list if you're planning a trip to a specific destination, but impressive all the same and certainly worth a peek before you book. "http://www.digimark.net/dundas/hotels/"
Business Traveler Online provides just about everything you need to know about conducting business abroad. You'll find travel and hospitality information, business services, and a complete business traveler's library. Each month, the site plans to add a new country. So far, they've spotlighted the UK, Germany, and Japan, with Mexico waiting in the wings for October. "http://www.biztravel.com/guide/"
IF "MY DOG ATE MY HOMEWORK" JUST ISN'T GOOD ENOUGH
Check out the Excuse Generator to pick up a few creative tricks or leave behind an excuse of your own. There's no excuse not to try it - until you've tried it, that is. "http://islandnet.com/~brokers/content/excus.htm"
EARTH PORTALS SITE MORE LIKE SPACED-OUT PORTALS
This home page is a good place for new-age thinkers and spaced-out others, with discourse about the mind and alternate realities, Zen readings, the "spiritual and revered place", and the Ether Ship. Odd, but thought-provoking. "http://alive.mcn.org/earthportals"
What else can you call a Web index with over 32,000 pages, over 340,000 links, and over 23,000 freeware and shareware programs? Four 16-year-olds put this together. Surprised? At least there's a search button. "http://www.jumbo.com/"
DOG FETCHES ITEMS FOR SALE ON THE WWW
Looking for something but don't know where on the Web to find it? Fido the Shopping Doggie will fetch the URL for you from his database. Good thing they're redrawing Fido, though. Yuck. "http://www.continuumsi.com/cgi-bin/Fido/Welcome"
Last month it was Republicans, now it's the Democrats' turn. The Democratic National Committee home page lets visitors access publications and press releases, audio and video clips, links to related destinations. "http://www.democrats.org/"
Stephen King designed this page for those souls with bees in their bonnets over being named Stephen King. What's so bad? They could all be named Umberto Eco. "http://www.isisw3.com/sking"
MARK YOUR POSITION ON A WORLD MAP
Trying to find yourself? This map can help. This is a neat idea, simply implemented. You need to know your longitude and latitude, though. "http://www.netppl.fi/~antont/earth/"
If - for who knows whayt reason - you absolutely need an anagram made or deciphered, here's the place to do it. Isn't technology wonderful? "http://www.ssynth.co.uk/~gay/anagram.html"
NEW OBJECT WEB BROWSER FEATURES DOWNLOADABLE APPLET CAPABILITY
NCompass is an early preview of what's coming down the pipe in Net technology. This software, for Windows 95 and Windows NT, is based on Microsoft's OLE technology. This means it is capable of using OLE custom controls, small applications that can be embedded and executed within existing Web pages, called applets. If a required applet is not present on your system - say an AVI player for a video included in a page - it will be automatically downloaded, installed, and executed. No changes are neccessary on the server side since it's compatible with all servers on all platforms. Great stuff, but it doesn't take a genius to see the ghastly possible security implications. Definitely worth playing with, but caveat emptor. "http://www.excite.sfu.ca/NCompass/"
WINDOWS 95 AND YOUR WEB BROWSER
Some of the eager beavers that have already upgraded to Windows 95 may have been unpleasantly surprised when they tried to fire up their favorite Web browsers. Just about every major browser, including Netscape 1.1N, conflicts with the new operating system. A file called WINSOCK.DLL - the file that provides Windows Sockets support - is created and used by both Windows 95 and most Web browsers. There are ways around this, such as Netscape 1.2 or Microsoft's own browser, and the parties involved are working to sort out the mess in future versions. Details are available at the following Microsoft Web page. "http://www.windows.microsoft.com/windows/pr/winsock.htm"
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