| January 20, 2002 |
The Trail Database
Considering  a hike through Kyrgyzstan or a walk around England's southwest coast? Talking about a trek in the Himalayas? Make your first stop the Trail Database, a huge, well-organized directory of hiking web sites for almost every country in the world. You can even learn scanning tricks to improve your own hiking photos. This is an international site, with pages in Dutch, German, French, as well as English. Plentiful maps and photos will inspire new adventures on foot. (in Outdoors) |
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| January 19, 2002 |
Human Rights Watch World Report 2002
Human  Rights Watch is an independent nongovernmental organization that advocates political freedom and protects human rights worldwide, by reporting violations and seeking accountability from abusers. Since 1996, the group has reported its findings on the Web. Current information is available in five languages. The report is organized regionally, but also covers perennial global issues such as refugees, women's rights, children's rights, prisons, arms, etc. This year's focus on the events of 2001 includes country overviews from Afghanistan to Yemen, individual press releases, and links to related materials. (in Issues and Causes) |
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| January 18, 2002 |
Chowhound
Cooked  up in May 1997, this site's devoted to people who spend almost every waking moment planning, plotting, and thinking about their next meal, otherwise affectionately referred to as "Chowhounds." They spurn the trendiest restaurants and food columns, preferring to creep around unfamiliar neighorhoods to find hidden culinary treasures. Scour the site's heavily trafficked message boards to find region-specific reviews and opinions written by people who are in love with scrumptious grub. (in Food & Drink) |
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| January 17, 2002 |
Planet Quest
While  the majority of earthlings contemplate day-to-day life, the brainiacs at NASA and JPL are hot on the trail for elusive Earth-like exoplanets. This is a serious hunt for another Earth -- entailing light-seeking interferometers, interstellar telescopic wizardry, massive budgets, and a molten core of scientific passion that aims to rejuvenate the sometimes questionable space program. It's pretty heady stuff. But with our deepest fantasies and perhaps future survival at stake, this incredible undertaking could very well launch humanity into a new age (and solar system). (in Astronomy and Space) |
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| January 16, 2002 |
photoSIG
What  separates everyday snapshots from works of photographic art? Browse photoSIG to learn the finer points of distinction. Willis Boyce created this site for photographers to display their works and receive ratings and critiques. Take, for instance, the commentary on a dramatically lit baby photo to get an idea of the group's high standards. But you don't have to know what an f-stop is to appreciate the highest rated photos, which range from a close-up of the burning World Trade Center to an alluringly artsy Christmas card. (in Photography Exhibits) |
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| January 15, 2002 |
Slow Wave
Slow  Wave is a weekly four-panel comic strip that deals with the stuff of dreams, literally. Berkeley, California, cartoon artist Jesse Reklaw describes it as a "collective dream diary" and his web site invites you to submit a dream. Click through the archives for deadpan illustration and matter-of-fact prose that capture the syncopated disconnects of dreams and their echoey resemblance to waking life: "Just before a solar eclipse, I found a small black dog who spoke perfect English..." or "I dreamed that I worked in a place like a car dealership only we sold dreams..." Dream on, Jesse. (in Comic Strips) |
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| January 14, 2002 |
Who Would Buy That?
Admit  it. You've surfed around auction web sites and asked that very question. Thankfully, this site collects all those indescribably weird auction items in one place. It's updated weekly and includes everything from diaper cakes (uh, no thanks -- we're watching our figures) to frizzy striped wigs (yes, you look very tough) to deer figures made from forks (the long, lonely Indiana winters can make a man do strange things to his silverware). So, gather up the bongo-playing nuns and count your blessings that sites like this exist. (in Collecting) |
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