Welcome to this week's selection of Picks, where we've been trying our hand at the Retail Alphabet Game. "A cross between a scavenger hunt, an intuitive puzzle, and a memory game," the RAG shows you 26 images, each representing one letter of the English alphabet. "The letters are excerpted from retail logos that are common" in the United States. The object of the game is to name the company or product behind each letter. It's harder than you think. At least, we didn't get very far - make what you will of that. Apparently, the "first person on the Internet to get them all correct will win a prize." Go for it.
While (sort of) on the subject of memory, the rather brainy William H. Calvin has, amongst other things, placed online the entire contents of his book, The Throwing Madonna: Essays on the Brain. How thoughtful. Essays include: The Lovable Cat: Mimicry Strikes Again, Did Throwing Stones Lead to Bigger Brains?, and Woman the Toolmaker? This last essay looks at the notion that toolmaking is "largely a female preoccupation" by discussing the rather fascinating study of primate behavior in a natural setting. Read on.
For more on woman the toolmaker, see Beatrice the web surfer. B has put together a guide to "the best sites on the web" with a particular interest for women. Actually a collaborative effort between Women's Wire and Yahoo!, Beatrice's Web Guide organizes its "Fab finds" by category, including Arts, Careers, Health & nutrition, Relationships, Money, Parenting and Fashion & beauty. Here we learned how to deal with those outrageous credit card bills and where to go for fashion freebies. Hey thanks, B.
Another guide, and almost a freebie: John Gregory tells you how to see the world on $25 a day or less. His web-based book of 25 fact-filled chapters will have you jet-setting for just Pennies, or Lire, or Pesos, or Korunas, or Drachmas, or... well it depends where you're headed. With chapters on everything from how to get cheap flights to the art of hitchhiking and discussions on the finer skills of diplomacy and communication, John offers a veritable smorgasboard of handy tips on how to make due without mucho dinero. There's also a section on the frugal traveler's staple food: water. Just make sure you read this guide before you hit the road, those long-distance net access fees can really bust a trekker's budget.
See, you can have your cake and eat it, too. Only, might we suggest a little Tiramisu instead? Craig Miyamoto thinks, yes. In fact, he's dedicated an entire site to the delectable dessert. Here you'll find his personal rave (apparently Tiramisu has "made quite an impression" on him), an ever-important collection of restaurant ratings and an even-more-ever-important collection of recipes. Icing on the cake, so to speak. Break out the Mascarpone cheese, it's time to get serious.
Serious indeed: grab a cocktail and saunter on over to The Fabulous Bud E. Luv, self-styled super-entertainer, lounge-lizard-loverboy of these here modern times. Gamble in the casino, request a song, or simply spend quality time with the denizens of Luv's lounge. You can also catch up with Luv's real-life nightclub and TV appearances. Watch out though, before you know it, you may find yourself humming a Tom Jones medley and picturing yourself in a sequinned tuxedo jacket.
It's either that or figure out why there are actually five people in the Cathedral Quartet. Up to you. We're down for the count, take your pick(s).
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