| July 4, 2004 |
The Living Room Candidate
Once  considered an indignity or gimmick, campaign ads have become integral to the success of a presidential candidate. The messages -- delivered in 30-second snippets -- have transformed elections and been transformed in the process. Updated for 2004, this well-designed and compelling site offers more than 250 presidential campaign TV commercials dating from 1952. Comparing Eisenhower's 1952 cute "I Like Ike" cartoon to the attack ads seen in the past few campaigns demonstrates how much the run for the White House has changed. This site is an engaging resource for anyone interested in the evolution of political theater. |
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| July 3, 2004 |
Top 100 Albums of the 1970s
When  summing up music of the '70s, fans and critics tend to reject the "me" era with dismissive accusations of dinosaur rock, overwrought prog rock, and most damningly -- disco. But the albums of the '70s are often unappreciated, influential gems whose descendants can be traced directly to the artists of today. This inspired list from Pitchfork Media looks back at the best albums of the oft-derided decade and provides capsule reviews of every record in their top 100. As you scan through the list you'll find the familiar -- Dylan, Bowie, Led Zeppelin. But you'll also find highly-ranked albums from the obscure such as Can, Faust, and The Pop Group. If you're looking to fill some gaps in your CD collection or bone up on the best of the '70s, this list will provide hours of funkadelic fodder. (in Rock and Pop) |
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| July 2, 2004 |
Lost Destinations
The  fascination with the eerie, the spooky, and all things creepy was a part of our culture long before Michael Jackson's "Thriller" video appeared in 1983. While most of us say we like scary things, the difference between the photographers of Lost Destinations and the rest of us is they've actually witnessed the grim and ghostly firsthand. Traveling the country in search of the abandoned, haunted, and mysterious, "The Scoobies" have captured creepiness ranging from an airplane graveyard to an abandoned high school. Throw in a mystery house and an alley for demons, and you have quite a reeking recipe. With so many cryptic courses to choose from, a sample from the full menu will give you a taste of what's in store for your "lost" journey. Destination...unknown. (in Hobbies) |
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| July 1, 2004 |
The Ivory Project
Since  introducing Ivory soap in 1879, Proctor & Gamble has made some bold claims about the product. Sure, the time-honored slogans "99 and 44/100ths Percent Pure" and "It Floats" are easy to verify -- have any chemist check the soap's ingredients or simply throw a bar into a tub of water. However, the vintage ads found at this collection of soap ephemera compiled by the Smithsonian make it apparent that a certain soap company touted some rather slippery sentiments. For example, in 1928 housewives were assured that Ivory would keep their hands looking young despite the demands of hosting a dinner party. Ten years later, Ivory purportedly saved the love life of a rather stinky sailor. And way back in 1885, the Proctor & Gamble folks would have us believe that even rats appreciated the purity of Ivory. Maybe that's how the term "squeaky clean" came about. (in Collecting) |
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| June 30, 2004 |
Abandoned and Little-Known Airfields
We  aren't often impressed (once a day, tops). Every once in a while, though, a site like this one -- dedicated to Abandoned and Little Known Airfields -- really knocks us for a loop. Run by high-flyin' pilot Paul Freeman, the site gives visitors a chance to buzz 1,100 airfields in all 50 states. We don't care what the topic is; researching and writing about 1,100 of anything would make most folks crazy enough to jump without a 'chute. What keeps Freeman so motivated? As he puts it, "Both for their potential safety value to a pilot in an emergency, and also for their sometimes fascinating history, this particular topic has always held my curiosity." Take a look at the photos, maps, and history that stretch from Alaska to Virginia and you'll understand why this flyboy's curiosity takes off. (in Travel) |
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| June 29, 2004 |
Weird Foods of the World
If  you've ever visited another country and consumed an unknown food, this site is right up your gastronomic alley. Because every culture eats some foods considered disgusting by non-locals, the people behind this site created an ever-expanding list of gag-inducing grub. Start your journey with the Bugs section where you'll learn Thai people aren't afraid to pop water bugs, hornet grubs, or fried spiders into their mouths. In the Reptiles section you'll learn there are several ways to skin a snake, and in the Mammals section, explanations and recipes for bats and rats are available to fill your plate. While perusing the site, we longed for pictures of these "delicacies" so we could actually view the grossness; however, after reading many descriptions, we realized it would be better to relax with a soothing pot of tea with yak butter and simply read about these weird foods. (in Food & Drink) |
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| June 28, 2004 |
Nature Science Update Rat Genome Special
Among  the human species, rats have few fans. And, hey, that's understandable. They've got beady eyes, a nasty tail, and, if you've ever traveled on a New York subway, you know they can grow to an alarming size. Bleh! But as this site from Nature Science Update points out, not all rats are vermin. Take the lab rat, for instance. These scurrying rodents don't know it, but they make big contributions to science every day. The recently published rat genome will help scientists to further understand evolution. Using the technology behind cloned rats, researchers can "alter rat genes at will." And if a rat's life of tubes, needles, and mazes gets boring, it can always hope to go back to the wild. A toast to rats -- disgusting, but useful! (in Animals, Insects, and Pets) |
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