| December 28, 2003 |
Dublog
Austin  designer Chris Waltrip scours the Web for all the hippest online art galleries so you don't have to. And Mr. Waltrip doesn't confine himself to "art" in the strictest sense -- as long as the images are arresting, he'll lend them a link. Hence his willfully eccentric catalog of curios includes a gallery of vintage Hawaiian shirts, satellite pictures of the Eskimo Nebula, highlights from underground illustrator Gary Baseman, pieces from shoebox surrealist Joseph Cornell, and luminescent microscopic images of pollen. Our favorite find, however, was a gallery of photographs of landscapes in Afghanistan. (in Museums and Exhibits) |
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| December 27, 2003 |
Balloon Molecules
Two  chemistry PhDs and a balloon sculptor in Germany have created an entertaining way to visualize atomic particles and structures. Using modeling balloons and a few twists, they've designed simple tetrahedrons and giant DNA helixes to demonstrate math and chemistry lessons. And they hope educators around the world will give it a try. Animations and photos illustrate all the basic knots, so you can tell a saved pinchtwist from a tuliptwist. If you get stuck, the FAQ helps troubleshoot problems like balloons that burst when you build with them. At last, the fine art of the poodle knot may be recognized for its contribution to science! (in Science) |
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| December 26, 2003 |
Honky Tonks, Hymns & the Blues
Subtitled  "American Music from Back Roads to Big City," the online companion to NPR's successful roots music series is a treasure trove for anyone interested in the musical foundations of rock 'n' roll. In addition to the complete audio series, you'll find plenty of additional goods on the likes of Texas swing legend Bob Wills, yodeling superstar Jimmie Rodgers, the Carter Family, and Norteño stars from the Texas/Mexico border. The hand-picked primer of suggested CDs is a standout, and the Reference Section, a huge collection of relevant sites, journals, books, and records, is mandatory viewing for any roots music fan. Any radio program featuring Taj Mahal, Allison Krauss, and Merle Haggard talking about their favorite music makes for worthwhile listening. (in Music History) |
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| December 25, 2003 |
Once Upon a Dime
It's  not often someone reaches adulthood and is lucky enough to work in a field that was once a childhood obsession. But when it does happen, the results are usually spectacular. This site was created by two friends who turned their love of comic books into successful (and fun) careers. Donald Swan's interest in the hobby, like the Hulk's anger, has only grown stronger over the years, and now he runs a co-op comic book store with longtime friend Derek Sprang. The two also manage this nifty web site that explores some of the less-talked-about facets of the medium's history. Was Popeye the Sailorman really the first superhero of comics? Did the Comics Code Authority kill The Golden Age? Here you'll learn the answers and have a swell time doing it. (in Comics & Animation) |
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| December 24, 2003 |
Monobrow.com
Monobrow.com  is a spiffy, professional-looking site completely devoted to guys whose eyebrows go all the way across. Isn't this a great time to be alive? You'll find a fantastic Mono Bro of the Week, video clips of monobrows in action, a mono-match board game, and monobrow grooming tips. Currently famous monobrows include former R.E.M. drummer Bill Berry, Liam Gallagher of Oasis, and perhaps the King of the Monobrows -- Sesame Street's Bert. Feel free to submit a picture if you or anyone you know sports a you-know-what. The site eloquently wraps up the monobrow: "If eyebrows are the windows to the soul, then monobrows are the curtains." (in Humor) |
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| December 23, 2003 |
Where's Cherie?
Here's  a woman with a self-defined "Amelia Earhart complex," an affliction described by this daredevil on wheels as "the sudden urge to get on an airplane and just disappear." While some folks may find that morbid, Cherie finds it liberating. Back in '98 at the age of 27, the former used-car-dealership manager found inspiration from an unlikely source, and chucked it all to embark on her mission of "30 in 30" -- that is, to visit 30 countries by age 30. Five years in, she's reached her goal and still finds great pleasure in swimming with sharks, tandem snowboarding, and Panamanian isle hopping. She even challenges visitors to guess where she's off to next. Okay, so she might be a bit smug, but her tales of falling down glaciers and suicide salmon cannot be denied. Is Cherie off her rocker? Perhaps. But she's certainly proving that life is what you make of it. So we say, God speed, Cherie! (in Travelogues) |
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| December 22, 2003 |
fabprefab
If  you're looking for a home that's outside the mainstream, you might want to consider a modernist prefab dwelling, an emerging marketplace this site tracks. With an emphasis on minimalist designs using industrial materials, the prefabricated homes featured here require a minimum of on-site labor to install. The FabList showcases the few such dwellings that are currently available, mostly in Europe, and the FabZone lists projects in development. Even shipping containers are growing in popularity as potential homes, as evidenced in the ContainerBay section. Enthusiasts can discuss all these types of futuristic housing in the FabChat. While modernist prefab housing is still more of a meme than a marketplace, the architects and prospective owners at FabPreFab have their eyes on the future. |
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