Welcome to this week's selection of Picks, where we've learned that it's quite literally a good thing our days are numbered. Wait. That doesn't sound right. What we mean is, recently we started using Remind U-Mail, a free online calendar and email reminder service. It's simple, really. Sign up for a username and password and you'll have the chance to customize and build your own calendar. Or calendars, as the case may be: you can plan all the way through the year 2001. You'll also have the chance to tag those special events that require an email nudge, so to speak, whenever you need one. It's about time. If you follow.
On the subject of numbered days: if you haven't yet had your online fill of the 1996 U.S. Elections, here's one more site for ya. This Tuesday at the appropriately named World Vote '96, the entire world can "participate in the first online simulated election for a U.S. President." The voting process requires registration and the "digital ballot-box" opens at 9:00 am on election day. So: be sure to add your two cents or equivalent currency, depending on where you're calling from. Presented by Mindscape Online Publishing, World Vote '96 includes links to MTV's Choose or Lose and Pick the Prez!, a feature for kids. (Note: If you're reading this paragraph after November 5, please change verbs to the past tense as necessary. Thanks! Oh, and did you ever imagine it'd end out like THAT?)
Speaking of matters past tense: just because the shock that John-John is Gone-Gone has worn off, it doesn't mean a person can't still mourn. If until recently you imagined yourself as Mrs. John F. Kennedy Jr.-In-Spirit-If-Nothing-Else and the news of his marriage set you back a few years in the Department of Emotional Well Being, then you may want to lessen your burden at this site, a kind of national page of mourning. Send in your thoughts; the most poignant are posted on the Outpouring Page. If, on the other hand, you're happy for the newlyweds, it's not too late to send a gift basket from Hickory Farms. Needless to say, we're particularly fond of the cheese.
In an act of great self-sacrifice, we've decided not to be cheesy in our description of Norm Bowler's Amazing Nose Cam, a collection of, uhm, artful photographs that have as a central motif Norm's nose. (We're particularly fond of Nose #06, which includes as an aside a comparison between Anasazi Indians and the average net geek. There are several other such asides here.) Yup. We decided that even though we could've said things like: "this week we're picking Norm's nose," or "nobody nose art like Norm," or even "Norm's nose art is a great pick" - even though we could've said all this and more, we've decided against it. Nope. Not going to do it. No way. No how.
It's the kind of self-sacrifice the likes of which we haven't seen since the Titanic went down. Speaking of which, Philip Hind's RMS Titanic: Her Passengers and Crew offers us, as the title suggests, a look at the people who travelled on that fateful liner, "from millionaires to penniless immigrants, from the Captain to the bell-boy." The site is a work in progress. One might even say it uncovers just the tip of the iceberg. Yet you'll find here a growing number of illustrated biographies, telling the stories behind the names. Philip's hope is that the site will grow with contributions. Which means: now you know where to send your Titanic tales.
Here's a question: Comedy on the Web (otherwise known as COW) has thrown together a collection of real stupid real quotes by real people. It's called "I can't believe they said that..." How come they listed so many quotes by former U.S. Vice-President Dan Quayle? Hmmm? Intriguing.
We recently heard from the folks in the shameless plug department that Chicago is indeed their kind of town. And so, following in the footsteps of the other Yahoo! Metros, we're pleased to announce the all new Yahoo! Chicago. You've heard it all before: beyond the directory of Chicago web sites, here you'll find local news, community message boards, classified ads (for jobs, pets, cars, homes, lovers, et al) and more. In short, you'll find everything Chicago except the wind. Apparently we're working on this. Stay tuned.
Hey, it's either that or go on an Interactive Tour of Tasmania. Up to you. Take your pick(s).