Welcome to this week's selection of Picks where we have been hard at work, delving deep into our psyches and pondering profound philosophical questions. We've had some pretty important revelations. But something is still nagging us. It's got us staring blankly by day, tossing and turning in our beds by night. Just what is the similarity between Oscar Mayer and Elvis Presley? Sit tight. We'll get to this in a bit.
In the meantime, we've been struck by how we are all connected in this large world: the things that bind us, the things that tie us together and bring us into association with people and particulars unknown to us. With this in mind, we humbly offer you an enduring piece of advice. Reach out and touch someone. It sounds trite. But you'll see how it works.
Let your fingers do the talking at Yahoo! Chat, shameless plug, which is now up and running. It's simple. Log in, pick a room (entertainment, news and business, sports, romance, science and technology) or create your own, and let your Chatty Cathy out of its box. We had a very nice discussion with Pablo from Virginia.
You've got designs on something else? So does the IBM Patent Server. Peruse twenty-six years worth of U.S. Patent and Trademark Office patent descriptions. Search the site by keyword, inventor or specific patent number and put a name to the makers of curling irons and cotton candy. Or, read the thoughts and look at the sketches behind other items. No, this isn't where Oscar and The King come together. Stay tuned.
In 1892, six men: a newspaperman, two trade journalists, a railroadman, a secretary and one lumberman, were stranded at a station because their train was delayed. Sounds like the beginning of a bad joke, no? But it's not. This chance meeting actually resulted in the founding of Hoo-Hoo International. You know, the fraternal order of lumbermen dedicated to uniting all forest based industry. Leaf through their oh so cute tale and find out who's hoo-hoo is at the root of the organization's name.
Bat-tling board-em? You would rather see what the original Batgirl, Yvonne Craig, is up to now? Go ahead. We wouldn't want to drive you batty. Read the transcript and listen to Real Audio clips of the 1967 pilot show in which the sultry crime fighting damsel, Batgirl, first swooped in. Get a bird's eye view of the lovely Ms. Craig, learn about her stint on Star Trek and find out what it was like to star in movies beside Elvis.
Ok, enough of this bologna. Onto Oscar Mayer, Elvis and the connection. Nope, it's not the obvious (hound) dogs. It's links. See the Oracle of Elvis at Virginia, a sort of six degrees of separation with Elvis at the center. Pick an actor or actress and figure out how many links it takes to get back to the man with the blue suede shoes. A la Kevin Bacon game, the Oracle helps you follow the trail of actors and actresses that starred with the ever elusive and often sighted Elvis. Hot dog.
As for O-s-c-a-r and the Interactive History of the Wienermobile, its no shaggy dog story. You can ketchup with the last sixty years of the doggone (get it?) wheels and watch the evolution of the linkmobile. It has plumped up quite nicely from thirteen feet in 1936 to twenty-three feet today. The new fandangled hot dog cart, which can, "theoretically haul buns at speeds exceeding ninety-five mph," tours the U.S. pedaling Oscar's links. We'll be frank, we hope our connection cut the mustard. We wouldn't want to take you for a ride.
Finally, also from the shameless plug department, Yahoo! Austin , where the wild wild west meets the world wide web, is now online. Yeehaw! Among other things, we learned from this city guide for the urban cowboy that a favorite activity of Austinites is watching the 1.5 million Mexican Freetailed Bats flee a downtown bridge. Ah, Yvonne Craig would be so happy. In addition, Yahoo! Austin offers classifieds, local news, message boards and more. In short, learn how to mess with Texas. Take your pick(s).
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