Welcome to the 142nd issue of the Cool Tricks and Trinkets Newsletter offering weekly insights into new, cool, useful, fun, unusual and interesting sites on the Internet. 

In this issue:

- The Balcony is Closed
- What's for Dinner?
- A Century of Physics
- Short Takes
- Marcus Leatherdale Photography
- Gig Posters 
- Fantastic Flash Format
- Turning Imagination into Reality 
- America's Story
- Subscribers' Sites


The Balcony is Closed

Recently, a growing number of critics and moviegoers alike have expressed concern over the quality of the latest film releases. If you find yourself longing for a fix from your favorite director, and just can't wait for his/her next major motion picture, this next site is just what you've been looking for.

BMW Films has brought together the hottest and best directors Hollywood has to offer including Ang Lee (Crouching Tiger Hidden Dragon, Sense and Sensibility), David Fincher (Fight Club, Seven) and Guy Ritchie (Lock Stock and Two Smoking Barrels). They will soon be screening new and original works online at the site. You can sign up for email announcements on all of their upcoming events! 

http://www.bmwfilms.com

What's for Dinner?

Ucook.com offers a solution to the relentless question, 'What's for dinner' from a growing database of more than 65,000 recipes. These recipes come from leading cookbooks, including Dinner in Minutes: Memorable Meals for Busy Cooks, Steven Raichlan's High-Flavor, Low-Fat Cooking and hundreds more.

It also features an online food magazine with editorial content from noted chefs, cooking school graduates, experienced journalists on nutrition, food safety, and specialty cooking experts.

http://www.ucook.com/

A Century of Physics

What do the atomic bomb, the Apple Computer, microwave ovens, quasars, magnetic tape recordings, and FM radio have in common? They were all breakthroughs in the science of Physics within the last century. These discoveries have forever changed our lives, and in recognition of this, the American Physical Society has created an interactive site devoted to sharing this knowledge.

The site allows visitors to glide through specific events, concepts or individuals via the interactive timeline, alphabetical or event index. Click through physics factoids, animations, and associated images from the world of art and design, or read about innovators and theorists to understand how their work influences the way we perceive ourselves and our world. A great site!
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http://timeline.aps.org/APS/

SHORT TAKES:

Jackie Kennedy's White House Tour

In 1962, Jackie Kennedy conducted a tour of the White House which was aired nationally by CBS Television. Nearly 80 million Americans watched as Mrs. Kennedy led the tour through the East Room, State Dining Room, Red Room, and other rooms that she had spent months restoring and redecorating.

This site presents part of that tour, complete with the questions by CBS reporter Charles Collingwood and the answers given by the First Lady.

http://www.geocities.com/~newgeneration/tour.htm

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Cut the Sides, Don't Touch the Back

The Mullet, the Mohawk, the Flattop and the High & Tight are hair styles which most guys have sported one time or another. If you're in the market for a buzz, check out 'Kent's Shortcuts'.

Barber Kent is a 'hair stylist' who has created one of the most entertaining looks at locks you'll ever see. With 87 pages and over 1175 photos of freshly shaved chops, you'll be hankering for a cut in no time. 

http://www.geocities.com/barberkent/

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Dead Musician Directory

This site is dedicate to dead musicians and how they got that way; each musician has a full page dedicated to him / her with obituaries, biographies, photo and related links. The 2001 Grim Reaper Updates offers a running list of the latest late musicians with links to their tribute page.

http://elvispelvis.com/fullerup.htm

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Marcus Leatherdale Photography

Marcus Leatherdale, a photographer known best for his portraits of celebrities done in New York in the 80s, has spent much of the last 7 years living in India. Based in a 200-year-old house in the old city of Benares, he began photographing the diverse and remarkable people there, from the sadhus (holy men) to celebrities, royalty to the Adivasi (tribals). It offers a remarkable journey into a world foreign to most westerners.

http://www.marcusleatherdale.com/home.html

Gig Posters

This site is dedicated to the artists and musicians who create gig posters to advertise shows and events. The posters, flyers, and handbills showcase the talent of many artists who see little to no profit for creating this art form. Check out the new arrivals or use the search feature for a stroll down memory lane.

http://www.gigposters.com

Fantastic Flash Format

On occasion, we are blown away by the energy, content and style of someone's personal website. Skilla.com is the interactive portfolio of senior designer Bernard Magale (aka "Skilla") who uses variable scripting and Flash 4 programming to offer a unique surfing experience.

His love for European design fueled the fire behind this latest version with sharp angles, bright colors, varied content and cool interactivity. Skilla works at Blastradius Design and has worked with such clients as Lego, Nike, Atlantic records, Macromedia.

http://www.skilla.com/

Turning Imagination into Reality 

Are you a frustrated inventor in need of seeing your idea materialize? Or can you imagine what it would be like to have a real life action figure made to look like you? Check out Toybuilders.com 

They have perfected a technology they call "Rapid Prototyping" using CAD software that models pictures of any person or animal, to create a unique action figure. You also can design your own model airplane, custom board game pieces, dolls that look like you and just about anything you can imagine. 

http://www.toybuilders.com/ 

America's Story

In a relative sense, America is a young nation; and in its youth, many tend to overlook its rich history and the colorful characters that have left their mark on its unique society. In hopes of generating a renewed interest in our nation's history, the Library of Congress has created a wildly entertaining site celebrating America's Story.

Created with young people in mind, this site is filled with fascinating information that will hold the attention of both parents and children alike. Visitor's are invited to meet 'Amazing Americans', Jump Back in Time or Explore the States, which will send them on a historical journey like no other. 

http://www.americaslibrary.gov/cgi-bin/page.cgi

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SUBSCRIBERS' SITES - Many of our subscribers have fascinating on-line projects. This weekly section will introduce you to some of these sites. Please let me know about your project so that I might mention it in this section. Write me at 

~ Organized 4 Life - Hints, secret tricks, and tips on cleaning and organizing.

~ Jill and Julie's Real Work From Home Page

~ The Busy Person's Guide to Creating Your Own Funeral Or Memorial Service.

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OOo-(_)-oOOo--------

Banish uncertainty.
Affirm strength.
Hold resolve.
Expect Death.

TAO

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Have a great weekend.
Charles Kessler