Welcome to this week's selection of Picks, our own little Academy of Achievement you might say. Might say indeed, though of course there are differences (albeit small ones) between us and the real Academy. For instance? Well, we offer a look at a handful of new, interesting and fun Web sites. The Academy offers a look at "extraordinary individuals who have shaped the twentieth century." Similar enough. Further, the Academy, "no ordinary museum," has a library and a Gallery of Achievers, including the likes of Quincy Jones, Wynton Marsalis, Sir Edmund Hillary, Dr. Linus Pauling and many others. Again, we offer a look at a handful of new, interesting and fun Web sites. Six of one, half a dozen of another. You get the picture.
And yet, overcome by all this achievement, now is the moment in Picks when we suddenly suffer from Writer's Block. We stare at the screen and say things like, "Okay. Uhm. So, next? Let's see. Now we should.. uhm." And so forth. We realize it's time for a trip to Writer's Block Magazine, "the creative reference for today's writers." While reading the current and past issues, we learn to organize our sources, focus, develop a purpose to this madness. We pay attention to the message not the medium. (As an interesting aside, we also learn the origins of expressions dealing with death.) Confident, we write an outline and a first draft. We plunge forward, immersed in process. Life is good.
Actually, life is mostly good. For instance, we can now confirm that Little Bo-Peep has indeed lost her sheep and, as you'd imagine, she can't tell where to find them. It's a tale we'd like to leave behind us (weak pun alert!), but before getting the flock out of here we suggest a stop at this site, an illustrated "Dynamic Text Edition" of the children's story. Reading along with a child? Click on any of the words and punctuation marks within the text for definitions and pronunciations. This fun and educational kids' site includes sound, so crank up the speakers if you got 'em.
Little Bo is not the only person with something missing. Turns out that Vince Lombardi recently lost his gap, in a manner of speaking. Manner of speaking quite literally, in fact. Here's the scoop: Earlier this month the United States Postal Service unveiled the design of a new stamp bearing the likeness of the "Green Bay Packers coaching legend." Only, Lombardi's famous gloss-free gap-toothed grin is no more. One might even say that his gap fell through the cracks. Something like that. You can sink your teeth into the story at Wanted: Lombardi's Gap, which covers all the bases - wait, wrong sport.
For even more on what's missing, head on over to the Green Eggs and Hamulator Scavenger Hunt. Created by Living Books and FamilyPC Magazine, the object of this contest is to help the ever cool Sam-I-Am build a contraption that makes green eggs and ham. Yum. Track down all the clues on the web (total of 36), answer related questions and you'll qualify to win a prize. So. What are you waiting for? Get hamulating!
Don't like contests? Rather ask a stupid question? Something like, "Why are there interstates in Hawaii?" Or even, "Do vegetarians eat animal crackers?" There's also the oh so important, "Where did you park my car?" Fine. You can do this and more at Stupid Quest. Just remember: ask a stupid question and you'll get a stupid answer.
For more enlightened questions we looked to a recent Yahoo! Internet Life interview in which author John Gray (of Men are from Mars, Women are from Venus fame) talked about, amongst other things, the way men and women relate to each other online. Whether you agree or disagree with Mr. Gray, it's an interesting, sometimes steamy read. But that's not our point here. See, when we read the interview we wondered about all the other single folks out there who are also from space, just not Mars and Venus. How do they relate to each other online? Luckily, we found an answer: Single White Wookie: The Sci-Fi Classifieds. How does it work? Simply. Send in a free classified ad and "meet single and interesting men and women and other things from all over the galaxy." That's it. Brings a whole new meaning to the phrase "My date was out of this world." Don't you think?
In unrelated news, we're pleased to say Connect-Time is now online. The oh so friendly magazine makes it its job to "put a human face on technology" - which, in this case, to a large degree means the Internet. The approach is casual and easy to understand, with anecdotes and articles that cover eveything from Online Banking to the ways families gather together on the 'Net. We could run through the whole slew of fun features at this site, but since Harriet Choice has already done it so well in her Editor's Note, we suggest you head there first.
Hey, it's either that or learn how to make Smoothies. What's your preference? Chocolate Banana? How's about Tangy Summer Blend? Gotta admit Papaya Raspberry has a nice ring to it. Up to you. Take your pick(s).