| February 10, 2002 |
Cheese Racing
You  won't find any thoroughbred cheeses participating in this "sport." In fact, plastic-wrapped Kraft slices are the cheese of choice. But there is an odd thrill to be found when sitting around a BBQ with friends, watching bubbles of packaged hot cheese inflate and rise from the grill. Will the plastic seam burst? Is the grill the perfect temperature? Whose cheese will leave the greasy bonds of the grill first? Before you attempt to race your own cheese, do heed the experts' rules: no overlapping cheese, no touching the cheese, and the plastic wrap must fully inflate for the cheese to win. Also, a disposable BBQ works best, and "cheese racing on a veggie BBQ is not recommended." Go, cheese, go! (in Food & Drink) |
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| February 9, 2002 |
JP Brown's Serious LEGO
LEGO  sites have tackled subjects such as Star Wars, The Lord of the Rings, and The Bible. However, this site turns the humble toy into something entirely different with the LEGO robots built and programmed by engineer JP Brown. You might ask, "What exactly is 'Serious LEGO'?" How about a LEGO-based robot that solves a Rubik's Cube. Not serious enough for you? Witness the LEGO bot that plays the xylophone or the programmed LEGO brick that flies a hang glider. If JP's creative and ingenious designs don't qualify as "serious," we don't know what does. (in Toys) |
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| February 8, 2002 |
Civil War at the Smithsonian
This  site succeeds in its mission of "collecting, preserving, and remembering America's most profound national experience." Nearly a dozen Smithsonian museums contributed photos and descriptions of items relating to the war. An iron slave collar symbolizes the Southern institution that led to the violent division between the states. Compare this with the inkwell Lincoln used to write the first draft of the Emancipation Proclamation. Through descriptions of the meager provisions and exhibits of artificial limbs, the site details the hardships both sides endured. The site's timeline helps put the collected items in historical context. (in Civil War and Slavery) |
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| February 7, 2002 |
Thom Holbrook's Crossovers Spinoff Master List
Thom  Holbrook watches a lot of TV. His far-reaching knowledge of sitcoms and TV dramas, mostly from the '70s through '90s, makes this site a gem, even for casual TV viewers. You might know that Angel spun off of the current hit Buffy, the Vampire Slayer, and you might recall the torturous, soapy path from Beverly Hills 90210 to Melrose Place to Models Inc., but can you remember all five spin-offs from All in the Family? Or name all 17 spin-offs and crossover episodes from the Star Trek franchise? Who knew the television world was so small? (in Television) |
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| February 6, 2002 |
Bartolomeo Mecánico
Road  signs reveal a lot about a country. The people behind Bartolomeo Mecánico not only catalog road signs from Argentina to Zimbabwe, they provide astute cultural commentary. The sign-spotting team finds hints of feminism in an Iranian "children crossing" sign. They analyze the energy level of the Belgian workforce through "men at work" signs. One site contributor comments on the difference in children's hairstyles on signs across the globe. That's just the beginning -- the multi-lingual Mecánico group also wants to preserve painted roadside advertisements, praise the humble mills of Spain, and shed light on slightly obscure yet fascinating subjects. (in Automotive) |
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| February 5, 2002 |
Tuning The World
To  celebrate Guglielmo Marconi's first radio broadcast 100 years ago, the folks at CBC Radio have created the Global Sampler, a cool tool that turns your keyboard into an arty convergence of sound and vision. Choose any one of six cities, hit some keys, then watch and listen as the rhythms flow. If you think the sounds you're creating are worthy of an audience, record and save your mix to share with other visitors. Or, you can just listen, watch, and groove to other contributions. Whether you're chillin' in China or kickin' it in Kenya, creating world music has never been so simple and mesmerizing. (in Computer Generated) |
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| February 4, 2002 |
Africa Focus: Sights and Sounds of a Continent
The  African Studies Program of the University of Wisconsin-Madison uses its huge database of images and sounds to showcase the diversity of the African continent. You can travel from the Sahara Desert to snowy Mount Kenya to the tropics of Congo-Kinshasa. Visit the modern streets of Abidjan in Cote d'Ivoire and the rural Kanembu House in Chad. Meet Kuba-Kete village chiefs and a Benin school teacher. Listen to traditional rites and ceremonies, drums, greetings, and songs. This site is the next best thing to a safari. (in Africa) |
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