Issue # 261

80s Nostalgia -  This site offers a look back at the 80's.  There is also a discussion board for reliving the past, community style.

Early Audio Recordings -  This site traces early audio recordings including antique phonographs, recording methods, excerpts of old-time marching band music, and rare vintage photos.

The Love Police - The Love Police empowers visitor to issue free Citations to arrest love criminals when they commit a love crime, such as Failure to Appear for a Date, Speeding thru Foreplay, etc.

SHORT TAKES:

Fling The Cow - Where the only muscle required is the one used by your index finger to hold down the mouse button to make that bovine fly.

Sandals and Socks - If you find men wearing socks with sandals offensive, Sandals and Socks will offend your socks off with its gallery of photos. 

Museum of Coathangers - From the earliest evidence of coathanger use carved in limestone on an ancient Egyptian queen's sarcophagus to the Koop Imex 770.

<><><><><><><><>

Junk Store Cameras -  f you have an old camera in your attic, and would like to know more about it, visit this fascinating site.

Breakfast Cereal Character Guide -  The Breakfast Cereal Character guide contains a detailed reference for some of the most memorable cereal box characters from the early 1900's to the present.

PawSense  -  Ever gone to the kitchen for a snack and returned to find that your computer had crashed or had newly damaged files? Could your cat be the culprit?

America at Work, School and Play -  A glimpse of America at work, school and play around the turn of the 20th century.  This site offers up a wonderful plate of nostalgia.

Return to Gilligan's Island  -  Nostalgia Time! All aboard this tiny site and get ready for a three hour tour.

Politics and Culture -  PopPolitics is an online magazine that covers the blending of popular and political culture through commentary, discussions and more. Great content!

The Sport's Cliche List -  Countless interviews by sports writers and announcers,  full of oft -repeated killer clichés like, "we beat ourselves", "we didn't get the job done" and the classic, "they wanted it more than we did".

Britney Splits the Atom -  Hit that radioactive transistor one more time at this hilarious site, in which Ms. Spears explains everything from edge emitting lasers to the Fermi-Dirac distribution function.

Issue # 262

Animation Express - Finally, there's a great animation site for the 56k crowd.

Buying a Digital Camera -  Featuring the latest in digital camera and imaging news including in-depth reviews, lively discussion forums, and the largest database of digital camera specifications we have seen. A bookmark special!

Notes from the Road  -  Notes from the Road is one of the best personal travel sites we have reviewed.  Contains virtual postcards from Yosemite, Central America, the West Indies and the Iberian Peninsula.

SHORT TAKES:

Movie Mistakes: Take Two -  A site that meticulously documents errors from almost every major film of the last thirty years. 

Flip Book Pictures  -  Welcome to the Post-It Theater, where the movies are all hand-drawn on Post-it® brand notes and scanned. Be sure to check in every week for a new feature.

Lost in Translation  -  Experiment with the unperfected Systran translation software. The bizarre translations are hilarious and unpredictable, as noted in the list of 'Classic Examples'. Just enter a sentence and hit 'Babelize'.

<><><><><><><><>

Periodic Table -  A fascinating virtual look into the Periodic Table of Elements. The site offers an original artistic interpretation of each element, information on its history, electron configuration and current uses.

Adventure Divas  -  low-budget travel advice for independently minded women. The site is loaded with travel tips, journal entries, packing suggestions, interview transcripts, and more. Future adventures include excursions to Turkey, Eritrea and Australia.

Internet Theme Park -  Yesterland is a nostalgic tribute to Disneyland's discontinued attractions and includes descriptions, photos and the history of the rides and exhibits that made it the world's premier theme park. 

Way Too Personal  -  A collection of actual e-mails received from internet personal ads, and offers internet dating advice and help. If you have visions of finding that "special someone" online, this site is a must visit.

Mayan Ruins  -  his site offers a virtual tour of this mysterious civilization from the perspective of the architects who built it.

Issue # 263

Trek Earth -  Trek Earth serves as a global community in which photographers share important and engaging images with one another.

Behind The Name  -  Stocked with the etymological origins of over 11,000 given names in languages ranging from African to Yiddish.  The best source for getting a quick, literal answer to that age old question 'Who Am I?'

Cookie Recipe -  Visitors will find a list of cookie recipes to satisfy any and every appetite.

SHORT TAKES:


Puzzle Games - People who love puzzles will find plenty of opportunities entertain their brain.  Featuring the company's original puzzle games such as Candy Cruncher and Super Letter Linker.

Toon Tracker - Remember Cool McCool? At the 'Home of Lost Cartoons' you will find Cool himself in addition to dozens of other forgotten icons of the Saturday morning toons.

The Society To Prevent My Employment  -  Princess Natalie, the self-appointed Queen of Unemployment has set up her own 'Society' and collect donations from people who actually do work!

<><><><><><><><>

The Legacy of Phyllis Wattis -  A tribute to the vision of Phyllis Wattis, this site is also a showcase for the artwork that is now part of the permanent collection at SFMOMA.

Amiright?  -  This site is an invaluable resource for anyone who loves to sing along. It is a hilarious web site where shower singers and ipod buffs from all over the world can finally decipher the lyrics of their favorite songs.

The Tripatorium -  The Tripatorium is an outpost on the web devoted to all things psychedelic, the LSD of web sites if you will.

What's That Bug?  -  A web site that answers pretty much any question about bugs. The site allows visitors to submit a photo and/or query about the nature of any insects that may fly, crawl or jump through their lives.

Quantum Muse - The Quantum Muse publishes a monthly online newsletter, edited by hilarious, beer swilling sci-fi junkies and filled with well-written articles, fiction and artwork.

Issue # 264

Doctors Without Borders  -  The web site has a detailed program schedule along with profiles of the brave individuals who risk their lives traveling to war-torn countries like Sierra Leone and Afghanistan to help those in need.

World-Wide Sushi Restaurant Reference -   A virtual yellow pages for raw fish restaurants across the globe.  An extentensive index of restaurants which can be referenced whether you are searching for sushi in New York City, The Middle East or even Guatemala.

I Love Carnivorous Plants -  A great selection of meat eating foliage.  More than just an information resource, this is the premier spot on the Web to purchase prepotted and 'bare root' carnivorous plants.

SHORT TAKES:

How to Play Roofball  -  Learn how to have fun the old fashioned way with a good old game of roofball.

Forbes's Richest Fictional Characters -  The list estimates the net worth of fictional characters from literature, cartoons, film and television such as Gordon Gekko, Michael Douglas' character in the movie 'Wall Street'.

Space Flight Now  -  The 'leading source for online space news' has current events and an archive of articles on everything there is to read about the final frontier.

<><><><><><><><>

Mr. Otto in "Olympics"  -  Under the direction of Bruno Bozzeto, Mr. Otto competes in every imaginable olympic event from cycling to track and field.

Calendars through the Ages  -  This site discusses the astronomical foundation of the calendar year defining the different types of religious calendars from Judaic to Islamic, and explaining commonly misunderstood events such as Daylights Savings and leap years.

Photocartoonist Extraordinaire -   A collection of photos of funny people looking funny, many with funny captions written below the photos to make them even funnier.

Plus Magazine  -  Plus Magazine is an online publication that provides a real-life, pragmatic look into the wonderful world of mathematics.

Bar Culture  -  Bartv.com is the virtual center of the social drinking universe.

Issue # 265

Information Overload  - The website maps out the findings of the Information Overload Study and breaks down the world's data into four categories; Print, Film, Optical and Magnetic.

The Beauty of Wine Labels  -  Stratsplace.com pays tribute to the beautiful labels placed on the worlds finest wines.

Guide To Road-Trip Fast Food  -  This Guide to Big Chain Road Food Consumption is a hilarious documentation of one man's dedicated journey through the large and small chains that make up our fast food nation.

SHORT TAKES:

Rubik's Cube Art -  Rubik's Cube Art is an 'electronic coffee table book' that showcases the work of artists who use the famed cube as a medium to create cool artwork.

Etched In Time -  As a child George Vlosich III began using the canvas of an Etch-A-Sketch to create magic. What began as a game has evolved into astonishingly high-quality art that serves as a timeline of his life.

Gender Genie -  Want to know if the girl you met in a chat room is actually a girl? Using a simplified version of an algorithm, the genie actually analyzes written text and determines whether the author is male or female.

<><><><><><><><>

Compendium of Lost Words -  A collection of over four hundred 'lost words'. According to the Compendium, there are a number of prerequisites that need to be met before a word can be considered officially 'lost'.

ESPNgamer -  The site is actually very similar to a regular sports website except that it caters solely to the world of video game athletics.

New-Wave Photos  - Phillip Carly's gracious website, New Wave Photos, is an archive of his personal concert photography from the 1970's and 80's.

The Blackout -   The recent Northeastern Blackout now has its own official website.

The Red Kitchen  -  The Red Kitchen was founded by a few self-proclaimed 'Blogomaniacs' who love to cook and wanted to create a weblog to share their recipes and kitchen tips.

Issue # 266

BoardGameGeek  -  Die-hard gamers from everywhere convene here to buy, swap, sell and search for their favorite board games.

Midnight Ramble  -  Midnight Ramble is an historic site that honors the many African-American actors that worked in the first half of the century.

Lewis & Clark  -  'In the Footsteps of Lewis & Clark' is truly awe-inspiring, an interactive tribute to one of our nations most famous journeys taken by two of its most courageous citizens.

SHORT TAKES:


Which SF Character Are You?  -  Ever wonder if your personality is closer to Luke Skywalker, Yoda or Jean-Luc Picard? To find out if you're a hero, a villain, or worse yet, a Klingon, take this quick sci-fi personality test. 

National Anthems of the World -  Popular amongst students and tourists alike, this site will familiarize you with the national songs of countries all around the world (and your own if you happened to forget it)

Abandoned Farms  -  Photographer Nokkvi Eliasson, a native of Iceland, is inspired by deserted farms. Look through over ninety of Nokkvi's hauntingly beautiful black and white images of abandoned barns and farmlands.

<><><><><><><><>

Fashion Online -  At Models.com, fashionistas, aspiring models and curious 'outsiders' can catch a glimpse into the mysterious world of fashion.

Wolfman Jack Online Museum -  The official website devoted to the living memory of the late disc jockey Wolfman Jack!

Bizarre and Imaginative Japanese TV Clips -  Enjoy the selection of offbeat and absurd clips from Japan's wide world of television.

Red Star Radiosite - The Red Star Site is a 'Soviet Antique Radio Gallery' that pays tribute to the history of the Radio industry in the Soviet Union.

Skype  -  This amazing new download enables people from across the globe to call one another absolutely free of charge.

Issue # 267

American Rhetoric -  This site offers an index of great achievements and monumental moments in our verbal history.

News Satire Newswire -   The HumorFeed is a central place where readers can review a collection of the best daily news satire the Web has to offer.

Crazy Thoughts -   This site regularly updates its index of hundreds of philosophically and socially mysterious queries so you can ponder important topics like the geographical origins of Hawaiian Punch.

SHORT TAKES:

Esquire Cover Gallery -  Celebrating its 70th anniversary as the ultimate gentlemen's publication, Esquire Magazine has created this online Cover Gallery.

Buy a Piece of Scotland -  Scotland is not only beautiful but it is now also for sale. For a cool thirty-five dollars you can own your own square foot of the breathtaking island of Clett located in the north of the country.

Puzzle Blog  -  Scrabble junkies and Puzzle heads can get a quick fix at Puzzleblog.com.

<><><><><><><><>

Hollywood is Calling - Hollywoodcalling.com is a unique service bringing 'celebrities' into your life via a personalized telephone call or letter.

Guinness World Records  -   The legendary book of astonishing facts and feats now has an official online home for curious people of all ages to enjoy.

Human Body Online  -  Human Body Online is part of the BBC online network, a website that focuses on educating visitors about the structure and systems of the human body.

William Shakespeare and the Internet  - Recent winner of the Forbes Magazine 'Best of the Web' Award, this website is an approachable yet thorough guide to the life and works of Sir William Shakespeare.

En Garde!  -   The site has a range of information that covers everything from the brutal science of Viking Fighting to the elegant craft of Fencing.  You can put on actual plate armor and learn, with historical accuracy, to duel a foe using a long sword or great axe or even ancient hand-to-hand combat techniques.

Issue # 268

Great Recipes -  Gourmet chefs, culinary students and every kitchen cook in between will all benefit from a visit to this recipe website.

Private Islands -  For only about a million dollars you can choose a private hideaway from a list of beautiful islands located in The Mediterranean Sea, Caribbean, South Pacific and even off the coast of Great Britain.  The site also offers island rentals and help with selling your island.

Beatbox TV  -  This site offers a wide selection of features related to the magical instrument known as the human Beatbox. Inexperienced visitors will enjoy the real time tutorials on the different methods of this impromptu style of street music.

SHORT TAKES:

Control-Alt-Delete -  Read about the legendary IBM employee, David Bradley who, in 1980, developed the lifesaving function since adopted by Microsoft.
 

Search for Books -  Bookworms will love this ad and hassle-free tool for finding books on the Web.

Hipster Bingo  -   Your grandparent's favorite game just got a whole lot funnier.

<><><><><><><><>

Shecky Magazine  -  Shecky Magazine is an online community where both aspiring and working stand-up comics can meet to share stories, get advice and information about the industry, and display their talents to industry peers.

The T.W.I.N.K.I.E.S. Project  -  In 1995, students at Rice University, set out to determine if Twinkies really were science's perfect food. T.W.I.N.K.I.E.S. stands for "Tests With Inorganic Noxious Kakes In Extreme Situations".

Forgotten New York -   This is a wonderful site that offers a glimpse into the living history of the Big Apple as it was long ago.

The Writer's Almanac  -   Now fans of The Writer's Almanac, hosted by Garrison Keillor, can visit its official website to view program schedules and enjoy an entire year of previous almanac shows.

Greatest Comics of the 20th Century  - This site lists 'The 100 Greatest Comics of the 20th Century', complete with story descriptions, historical significance, and full-color photos.

Issue # 269

International Superheroes -   The site pays tribute to these lesser known but equally worthy champions of the comic-book genre.

Postcards from Disneyland -   Started by a hobbyist who obviously enjoys regular trips to Disneyland, it displays his collection of over 500 original postcards from the Magic Kingdom.

DNA Interactive  -   DNA Interactive is the Net's premier source for learning the history and tracking the progress of the study of DNA.

SHORT TAKES:

Trouser Semaphore -   Learn the skill known as Trouser Semaphore, a less than serious means of communicating in extremely noisy environments.

Writing with Elvish Fonts -  'Lord of the Rings' fans will love this step-by-step guide to writing in Elvish script.

Fire Escape Photos -  This small photography site is devoted to the ever-present but architecturally outdated fire escapes that hug many of the buildings throughout our cities.   

<><><><><><><><>

Great Buildings  -  With an online archive of over a thousand structures and hundreds of architects, this is the best place on the web to view and learn about humanity's 'great buildings'.

Eric Conveys an Emotion  -  Eric is a diverse dude who is capable of expressing an endless range of emotions perfectly, without saying a single word.  The premise is based on visitors requesting specific expressions.

Scorpio Tales  -   Scorpio Tales offers a cool selection of 'short stories with a sting'. In addition to the site's interesting fiction, there are also other language features called 'Diversions; Random Wanderings down the Convoluted Highways of the English Language.'

Speech Accent Archive -  The Speech Accent Archive, developed by a linguistics professor at George Mason University, is a program that seeks to exhibit the many different 'accents' with which people speak.

Halloween Costume Portal  -   'The World's Greatest Halloween Costumes Website'
 

Issue # 270

Photos for Peace  -   Photos for Peace is an exclamation of hope from the camera lenses of American Peace Corps volunteers.

Today in Literature -  Literary buffs should bookmark this site, which contains a great selection of articles and stories about significant writers, books and events in the history of literature.

Shockwave: Mind Games  -   This very well may be the single best spot on the Net to entertain your brain. Shockwave offers up a wide array of strategy, video, card and board games to satisfy pretty much every taste.

SHORT TAKES:

PhoneDog  -  The site regularly reviews the many Cellular, Local and Long Distance 'plans' offered by reputable carriers so that you can find the cheapest and best service for your needs.

Halloween Carols  -   At this site you can learn the lyrics to such classic tunes as 'Over the Graveyard' and 'She'll Be Riding on a Broomstick'.

The AOLer Translator  -   Make fun of your AOL-using friends (if they are still your friends) with this cool trick.

<><><><><><><><>

SkyHigh Airlines  -  SkyHigh Airlines may not be a real airline, but it does have a real website that is really funny. SkyHigh takes a hysterical and cavalier attitude toward the less than smooth experience of budget airline travel.

Rulers   -   Every President, Emperor, Prime Minister, Queen, King, Governor and anyone else who has wielded power over a nation or territory in the past 300 years can be found at this website.

Golfing Mongolia   -  The website follows his eccentric and daring journey, which covers over 1,300 miles and has a par of 11,880, across the great steppe in Mongolia.

What's Special About This Number?  -   Math addicts and curious visitors alike will enjoy this unique look at the significance of numbers. The site is essentially a listing of important numbers between 0 and 9,999, with quick definitions and links that explain the unique characteristics of each entry.

Monstrous Movie Music  -  MMM is a CD series devoted to presenting the original scores from the best horror, fantasy and sci-fi films of the past.