| Kansas City: Paris of the Plains Companion to an exhibit at the Miller Nichols Library of the University of Missouri in Kansas City, this ephemera-rich, in-depth look at a lively epoch (1920-1940) in the history of a regional capital will start your toes tappin'. Tune in to the sounds of the Jazz Age from sister site Club Kaycee, as you explore documents, photographs, and essays that describe the socio-cultural fabric and political history of a Midwestern livestock town and the memorable music scene it fostered. |
| Interior Desecrators VIEWER DISCRETION ADVISED: The following web site contains graphic content. It features glaring, full-color stills from one of the most notorious publications in existence, 1975's The Better Homes and Gardens Decorating Book. This isn't pretty: mustard and orange throw rugs, white leather chaise lounges, putty beige bedroom schemes, gold foil wallpaper, and, well....this. As your brave host observes, "It was a breathtakingly ugly period, and the proof's here, over and over and over again." |
| Roger Eritja: Fotographia de Natura Roger Eritja, an affable entomologist from Barcelona, takes macro portraits of insects in their natural habitat. The results make Jurassic Park look like Barney. Witness the shot of a Coccinella septempunctata, or ladybug, flaring her wings before take-off; the Anopheles atroparvus, or female mosquito, engorging herself with blood; or the praying mantis looking like a malevolent alien space ship. |
| Mark Prindle's Record Reviews Subtitled "an interactive site featuring music critique by Mark Prindle and music fans the worldround," this massive text-only archive of rock reviews invites you, discerning rock consumer, to throw in your two cents on that brilliant Minor Threat EP or that over-rated Urge Overkill clunker. Between the Fall and the Clash, the Damned and the Doors, you're bound to find something that floats your boat. |
| Tow Truck Driver Recovery Archives (R.I.P.) A wrecker operator forgets to set the emergency brake. A freightliner dump truck with a load of gravel attempts to traverse a rustic wood bridge. An ultralight aircraft is rendered inert by a tall tree. You get the general idea. We hope you'll enjoy these exciting tales of those incredible men and their winching machines. |
| The Mighty Organ This online monthly features an eclectic collection of observations from contributors scattered around the globe. These writers, who "normally get paid for what they write," cover words, food, health, gardening, and more. We read tasty travel pieces about the beauty and the bunkers of Albania, a bodybuilding competition in Phnom Penh, and a junket to the Andaman Islands. A cultural critique of dull chic and a look at gnome liberation were equally entertaining. |
| Leaning Oak Forge A West Virginia-based artist and craftsman, Jeff Fetty is the first blacksmith we've ever featured in Picks of the Week. Inspired by the natural world that surrounds him, Fetty's graceful wrought-iron gates, railings, table stands, lighting fixtures, firescreens, and commissioned metalwork and sculpture adorn museums, public buildings, and private residences, from the White House to China to a church in Clarksburg, West Virginia. An online visit to the forge taught us about the tools and techniques of bringing metal to life. Don't miss the slide-show demonstration of hammering out an iron leaf. |
| Giantheads Here's an offbeat archive of Flash animations delivering quirky, up-tempo animated shorts in cartoon style. We got a kick out of Tiny DJ, chuckled at the butchered Russian lesson, and relished the riverboat poker game in Sassafras. There's a great deal of tongue-in-cheek at this site, but it appears to be the home for a web design and production team with a portfolio of work in Spanish as well as English. Our recommendation -- skip the reviews and enjoy the tuneful mini-movies. |
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