Welcome to this week's selection of Picks, where we've been sanding the rust off the old Yahoo! barbecue. We're hoping that a big summer blowout will help keep El Niño off our backs for a couple of months. Here, take a minute to check out the menu...
Mashed Potatoe?
You say po-tay-to, I say po-tah-to. Let's call the whole thing off. No, on second thought, let's just call Clear Ink's SpellWeb. Put two different spellings into the hopper and choose one of the four featured search engines. What you get is a no-holds-barred cage match pitting spelling #1 vs. spelling #2, with the results tallied right in front of your eyes. It's even more fun when you're not looking for a correct spelling. We set "angelfood cake" against "deviled ham." The results were surprising. And dee-lish-us!
Sci-Fi on the Cob
Guess what? While you were munching on that ear of maize, CBS picked up the TV rights to "Deep Impact." Who's looking silly now, uninformed cob nibbler? Today's serious science-fiction fan needs to stay informed. Negotiations, transactions, and script deals go down every day. How does one keep track? The answer: Sci-Fi Wire, the online news service from the Sci-Fi Channel. Featuring breaking reports on movie deals, book tie-ins, and television contracts, Sci-Fi Wire delivers the latest industry news in a convenient two-to-three paragraph format. So sign up, tune in, and "Nanoo Nanoo!"
Spanish Crisis
Looking for a little historical perspective? They Still Draw Pictures is a collection of over 600 drawings made during the Spanish Civil War (circa 1938) by Spanish school children, both in Spain and in refugee centers in France. Rendered in pencil, crayon, ink, and watercolor, these pictures represent rational children coping with an irrational situation. The results are compelling, to say the least. In the site's own words: "Although war images predominate, many of the drawings represent bucolic, provincial, or personal themes completely removed from the military and political context in which they were created."
American Pie
Mix truth and fiction, talented writers and everyday people, and you'll probably end up with a flavorful radio program not unlike This American Life. Brought to you by host Ira Glass, each week the show offers short narratives dealing with a specific theme. Recent topics include music lessons, Niagra Falls, and "throwing the first punch." Not-so-recent topics cover the entire spectrum of, yes, American life, and the best part is that most of the recent and not-so-recent shows are ready and waiting for you and your RealAudio player. You can also check the site for upcoming themes, staff bios, and local stations that air the show.
New York Strip
Nothing beats barbecuing a good steak. Of course, in the future, they'll be available in easy-to-swallow time-release capsules, along with dehydrogenated burger pops and freeze-dried potato salad squares. For more visionary technology, check out The Iconography of Hope, a look at "Building the World of Tomorrow," the landmark from the 1939-40 World's Fair. Built after the Great Depression and before World War II, the exhibit at New York's Flushing Meadows heralded the "unqualified belief in science and technology as a means to economic prosperity and personal freedom." Tour the exhibit, browse publicity materials, read critical responses, and soak yourself in a past vision of future perfect.
Ketchup! Ketchup! Ketchup!
We're no strangers to the Heinz bottle, and while our pouring techniques may differ (the hand slap, the palm push, the wrist jiggle) we're united in our love for America's Number-One Condiment. That's why we suggest you visit Planet Ketchup immediately. Catch up on all the latest ketchup news bites, including "Bomb in a Ketchup Bottle," and "Ketchup Only Law Proposed." Pick up a few quick 'n' easy ketchup recipes, including banana ketchup, curry ketchup, and the seemingly impossible tomatoless ketchup. Brush up on your ketchup history, share ketchup stories, and (yes) look at various pictures of ketchup. Just don't put it on ice cream.
Creamy Liquid Goodness
Oops! When we heard about this site, we assumed it was the soft drink company, but after taking a closer look we realized that Yoohoo! was nothing of the sort! Yet there is something oddly familiar about it. We couldn't quite put our finger on it, but features like My Yoohoo! and Yoohoo! Picks of the Moment gave us a definite sensation of deja vu. For a brief moment we even toyed with the notion that the folks at Yoohoo! were somehow poking fun at us. Nah, couldn't be...
Word Salad
Next time you're banished to a bland corporate seminar and need something to spice it up, don't smuggle in your Nintendo GameBoy. Instead, grab a couple of friends, a few scraps of papers, and get ready for a rousing game of Buzzword Bingo. The rules are simple, just fill up a 5-by-5 grid with faddish business terminology--phrases like "value-focussed," "rightsizing," and "knowledge management." When you hear a phrase in your meeting, mark off a square. Get five in a row and you'll be tempted to jump out of your seat and yell "Bingo!" at your boss. (Do not do this.) Play Buzzword Bingo and you'll find that listening to the somniferous drone of the company know-it-all can be a definite win-win situation.
Well, there you have it, all the ingredients for a perfect summer cookout. So get off the computer, grab your tongs, fire up the grill, and of course, take your pick(s).
If you know of any timely, informative, or wacky web sites, please drop us a note. Also, feel free to send any general thoughts or comments about Picks.