| HistoryWired The curators of the National Museum of American History want to share a few favorites from their "stash" of over 3 million rarely seen objects. They've mapped out showrooms where individual items can be viewed by broad subject category, relevant theme, or timeline. Think of it as a virtual scavenger hunt where surprises pop up around every corner. So, sit back, absorb, and revel in the fact you're privy to countless treasures that may never see the light of day. |
| Anonymous Juice Chock-full of random data, engaging stories, and incredibly thorough reviews, this site strikes a perfect balance between irreverence and sincerity. Scour the Review of Everything I've Encountered section for an amazing look at one person's opinion on just about anything (e.g., the word brutal, the bassline of "Heartbreak Hotel" by Elvis Presley, or the phrase "but, um"). If that doesn't quench your thirst, read one of the strangely absorbing One Million Tiny Plays, check out the bizarre moments in Oddities, or peruse the online version of the print zine -- all postmodern tidbits to provoke thought and make you laugh. |
| Cultures on the Edge Subtitled "an open look at cultural diversity around the world," this quarterly photojournalism review is helmed by Wade Davis, itinerant ethnobiologist and author of the Haitian zombie best-seller The Serpent and the Rainbow. The Gallery offers a range of photographic essays, including Pablo Corral Vega's trek through the Andes from Argentina to Venezuela. You'll also find features on the art of surviving along the Thai-Burmese Border, what it's like to be a 10-year-old girl in Bhutan, and the resorts and sweatshops of the remote Pacific island of Saipan. |
| The Night Sky in the World If you can't see the Big Dipper for the neon Coke sign outside your apartment window, then this psychedelic collection of satellite images should provide some solace. You are not alone, starless urban dweller. Light pollution may not be on par with global warming, but an increasing percentage of humanity has never seen the Milky Way galaxy spreading across the night sky (fortunately this hasn't affected telescope sales in New York City). These images from U.S. Meteorological satellites show the vast popularity that artificial light enjoys around the world -- The World Atlas of Artificial Night Sky Brightness, the centerpiece exhibit of the site, makes for great screen-saver material. |
| WorstCaseScenarios.com Bookmark this site -- it could save your life someday. This is the online companion to the very clever Worst Case Scenario Handbook, a best-selling book that features illustrated instructions (based on expert suggestions from stuntmen, wild animal handlers, NASCAR racers, and others) on how to squeak through potentially terminal situations. Learn how to escape from quicksand, deal with a charging bull, perform a tracheotomy, leap from a motorcycle to a car, etc. On a timely note: "If a shark is coming toward you or attacks you, use anything you have in your possession -- a camera, probe, harpoon gun, your fist -- to hit the shark's eyes or gills, which are the areas most sensitive to pain." |
| Spy-Fi Archives Hollywood screenwriter, author, and consultant Danny Biederman recognized at an early age that collecting spy-show memorabilia was safer and easier than actually being a spy. This archive, culled from Biederman's personal collection of 4,000 items, presents an "entertaining view of how Hollywood viewed intelligence work during the Cold War and beyond." The entertainment industry conjured up some wild props during this era -- from Maxwell Smart's shoe phone to John Steed's bowler hat from The Avengers -- and many of them are featured here with a photo, history, and cheeky write-up. |
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| · | Daily - a fresh pick, every day. |
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