Welcome to this week's "version" of Picks, where we find ourselves spaced out, waiting for, you guessed it, Space Day. The little-known holiday falls on Thursday, May 22, and asks people everywhere to embrace the vast, cold, near-empty expanse that is "outer space." The day will see special events in Washington, D.C., such as the unveiling of an astronaut statue and the premiere of a new IMAX film, "Mission to Mir." On the website you'll find 101 Things to Do on Space Day, with informative links and interactive Shockwave games. You can also send Postcards from Space or participate in stellar discussion groups. It's an out-of-this-world resource for any student of the extraterrestrial.
Of course, when we're not all starry-eyed, we like to occupy ourselves right here on Earth. And we've found some help at Extension Bookshelf. It's a fully searchable database of the forms, information sheets, and publications put out by Mississipi State's Cooperative Extension Service. The goal of this 80-year-old program is to "improve the quality of life in Mississippi," and with pamphlets like IS 641 (Snakes Alive! How to Identify Snakes) and P 1452 (Parent-Teen Communication) now converted to digital format, it looks like netizens the world over have a chance to benefit from the mix. Our favorites: IS 1413 (Winter Feeding of Channel Catfish) and P 1779 (Fruit and Nut Review: Citrus and Kiwifruit).
Speaking of Kiwifruit, the New Zealand Tourism Board has put together a site that gives the world a "glimpse at the people, places, activities and spectacular scenery" that make the country unique. Appropriately titled Passport to New Zealand, this guide to the "land of the long white cloud" includes regional highlights, itinerary suggestions, New Zealand facts, and more. As if that weren't enough, the site is also searchable by keyword. We've heard that there are more sheep in New Zealand than people, and though we weren't able to substantiate the fact here, we did learn this: the country "has no snakes, poisonous spiders or dangerous wild animals, making it safe for visitors to enjoy outdoor activities."
Even the safest outdoor activities are no fun when you're dodging comet debris. Recently, scientists have been pondering this very point. More specifically, they've been asking what kind of impact an object the size of Comet Shoemaker-Levy 9 would have if it hit what we here at Picks like to refer to as "Planet Earth." Enter the CTH 3D Comet Impact Simulations. Visit the site and you'll see cool color representations of the simulated impact, along with commentary. If you happen to have an MPEG player, well -- we don't often say "Ooh la la " in a public forum to a non-French speaking audience, but in this case we must. Dare we say, these movies rock. Don't forget to bring your own popcorn.
Ever wonder what the puck's going on in hockey? Well, gee, it's going on ice, and that's why The Science of Hockey is such a winner of a site. A companion to an exhibit of the same name at the San Francisco Exploratorium, the site answers such questions as "Why is the ice slippery?" "What are the physics of ice skating?" and "How much force is applied in shooting a 100mph slapshot?" The exhibit features research done using the San Jose Sharks hockey team, supplemented by explanations from scientists, grounds crew personnel, and players. And don't forget to try the RealAudio and Video features. So check out this site, and you'll agree that it hits a slamdunk touchdown for a hole-in-one perfect game.
Finally, we offer you the Tibetan Government in Exile. Maintained by The Office of Tibet (the official agency of the Dalai Lama in London), you'll find a smattering of the latest news relating to Tibet, as well as updates on the status of the country, a look at Tibetan government and culture, and more. The site is a good resource for learning about the plight of the world's highest country (average altitude: 13,000 feet above sea level). So, saddle up your sherpas and head for the mountains...
Hey look, it's either this or explore the all new Yahoo! Twin Cities, the latest of our metro guides. Here you'll find web sites, local and state news, weather, TV listings, and more covering the Minneapolis/St. Paul region. You know the routine. The Shameless Plug Department kindly forwarded us the following facts regarding the sibling cities: Mall of America, located ten miles from downtown, is the country's largest fully enclosed shopping and entertainment center. Rollerblades, caramel apples, Post-It notes, Cheerios, and toasters were all invented in or around the Twin Cities. And, in January the average temperature is 11.8 degrees Fahrenheit. Armed with knowledge like that, we really have only one thing to add: take your pick(s).
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