(011101) The Green Power Network: Up-to-date green power news
http://www.eren.doe.gov/greenpower/

The Green Power Network
National Renewable Energy Laboratory
Golden, Colorado, USA

The Green Power Network is maintained by the National Renewable Energy Laboratory (http://www.nrel.gov/) for the United States Department of Energy (http://www.energy.gov/), as part of the Energy Efficiency and Renewable Energy Network (http://www.eren.doe.gov/). A little complicated to be sure, but as markets for residential and commercial electric power start to see deregulation here in the US it will be resources like these that will help consumers wade through the noise and hype of competing electric companies. Companies offering electricity from renewable sources will probably see favorable response from individuals and companies willing to purchase green power. The Green Power Network: Up-to-date green power news provides information on current studies and research in addition to real life applications of green power in major US markets. Imagine one day being part of an electric cooperative that operates its own wind farm — that day is close to reality. Find out more at this site. (Back to top of page)

(011102) Home Power
The Hands-On Journal of Home-Made Power
http://www.homepower.com/

Home Power, Inc.
Ashland, Oregon, USA

A companion for Home Power magazine, this site not only offers the print version of the current issue as an Adobe Acrobat file, but has selected articles from previous issues available as well. Content here is for individuals who are serious about operating separately from the power grid — because of geography, politics, or any number of other reasons. You do not have to live in a remote location to take advantage of renewable energy sources, the information and resources here can help visitors learn more. Being aware of alternate sources of energy is the first step in breaking our dependance on fossil fuels and like any kind of social or political reform, it starts best at home. (Back to top of page)

(011103) Communications Security Establishment Unofficial Webpage
http://watserv1.uwaterloo.ca/~brobinso/cse.html

Bill Robinson
London, Ontario, Canada

Signals Intelligence probably goes back to the very early days of radio experimentation. By the time World War II came around the use of radio communication was everywhere and government agencies started sprouting up around the world to harvest and spy. This unofficial site looks at what is known about the Canadian Communications Security Establishment, and its interaction with other countries. The section on The UKUSA Community (http://watserv1.uwaterloo.ca/~brobinso/cseukusa.html) will be of special interest. Media coverage of this sort of intelligence has increased in recent weeks and sites like the Communications Security Establishment Unofficial Webpage could help to answer questions you might have about what these agencies do. Complete with annotations and pointers, there is a lot of information here. (Back to top of page)

(011104) SpyNumbers.com
http://www.spynumbers.com/

Black Cat Systems
Westminster, Maryland, USA

Usually found in shortwave radio signals, strange broadcasts in different languages have been going out for decades. Thought to be intelligence communications, the programs are unlike anything else on the air. Repeated numbers, music, static that probably contains buried treasure, and other oddities make up the bulk of these transmissions. SpyNumbers.com explores this topic with detailed analysis, sound files, special offers, and quite a few pointers to related sites. Listening to a numbers station is something not soon forgotten and SpyNumbers.com offers up a healthy dose. (Back to top of page)

(011105) The New York Surveillance Camera Players
http://www.notbored.org/the-scp.html

The New York Surveillance Camera Players
New York, New York, USA

Every time I use an Automated Teller Machine Machine I make a habit of waving into the camera. With my deposit or withdrawal, the bank gets another set of pictures of me. Not saying hello would be plain rude. Taking the idea of rude and cameras to a level of anarchy, The New York Surveillance Camera Players have for years misbehaved in view of the assorted cameras in and around New York City. Far more than saying hello, this group which has sprouted international chapters takes pleasure in giving the people behind the cameras surrounding them a bit of a show. News crews have followed the players around town to the point that The New York Surveillance Camera Players are now able to pick and choose who they speak with. Protesting closed circuit cameras isn't all that difficult but the amusement factor is quite high, especially in a wide open public space. Complete instructions, images, and accounts of past protests are here. Never disturbing nor destroying closed circuit cameras, The New York Surveillance Camera Players have a site that may disturb certain visitors. That's probably what they have in mind. (Back to top of page)

(011106) Ear Identification Based On Surveillance Camera's Images
A. J. Hoogstrate, H. van den Huevel, E. Huyben
Netherlands Forensic Institute
http://forensic-evidence.com/site/ID/IDearCamera.html

a paper at

Forensic-Evidence.com
http://forensic-evidence.com/

Andre A. Moenssens
Overland Park, Kansas, USA

Ear Identification Based On Surveillance Camera's Images is a paper written by A. J. Hoogstrate, and H. van den Huevel, E. Huyben of The Netherlands Forensic Institute (http://www.minjust.nl:8080/b_organ/organisa/b1_7/gl/gl.htm). The tests conducted came about because of gas station hold-ups at Utrecht, The Netherlands and the surveillance tape which contained images of the perpetrator and the possibility of playing the suspects by ear. An interesting look at a new discipline. Part of the much larger Forensic-Evidence.com which contains more material along these lines — pieces include the following: Are Dutch Ears Different From American Ears?, Lip Print Identification Anyone? (on People v. Davis --Ill.), Phenotype v. Genotype: Why Identical Twins Have Different Fingerprints, to name just a few.

A related site also worth looking at is Stephen Mancusi's For Artist: Forensic Art - Illustration - Artist Images (http://www.forartist.com/index.htm) (SdJotD 000502). (Back to top of page)

(011107) Mary Celeste: Mystery Solved
http://www.deafwhale.com/maryceleste/

D Williams
Deafwhale Society, Inc.
Oakland Park, Florida, USA

Bound for Genoa, Italy, the brigantine Mary Celeste left the port of New York on November 7, 1872. Several weeks later the ship was discovered seriously off course, cargo in tact, no signs of struggle, and no crew. The fate of the crew of the Mary Celeste remains one of the most enduring mysteries of the 19th Century, and this section of the site for Deafwhale Society, Inc. offers a fairly well worked out explanation. With dozens of versions of the story of the Mary Celeste we will probably never determine exactly what happened — educated guesses like this one might help get us close. (Back to top of page)

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(011108) Dracula by Bram Stoker: A searchable online version at The Literature Network
http://www.literature-web.net/book.php3/dracula

The Literature Network
West Branch, Michigan, USA

Site du Jour of the Day reader Jim Leyshon sent in a message that was more feedback than it was a site suggestion regarding Mary Celeste: Mystery Solved (http://www.deafwhale.com/maryceleste/) (SdJotD 011107). Jim's message read in part, "…Have you ever read the original Bram Stoker's Dracula? I can't help but think of it with this one. Interesting stuff…"

It's been quite a while since I last read Dracula. After a quick poke through the story which is available at The Literature Network (http://www.online-literature.com/), the connection is that much more clear. So too is the reason Dracula by Bram Stoker: A searchable online version at The Literature Network should be featured as Site du Jour of the Day — Bram Stoker was born on November 8, 1847. (Back to top of page)

(011109) The Australian Electoral Commission Home Page
http://www.aec.gov.au/

The Australian Electoral Commission
Commonwealth of Australia
Canberra, Australian Capital Territory, Australia

Last week Site du Jour of the Day reader Nick Walker wrote in with a reminder of the upcoming Australian election day, Saturday, November 10, 2001. Of course Nick took the opportunity to mention the election fiasco of a year ago here in Florida. Be careful what you wish for there Nick! The suggestion was made that, "It might be interesting to compare our system with yours…". The fact that compulsory voting has been the rule in Australia since 1924 makes elections different right there. The Australian Electoral Commission Home Page has information that should prove interesting for anyone who is curious about how the process works in Australia, especially for those participating. (Back to top of page)

(011110) Laugh Lab
http://www.laughlab.co.uk/home.html

Laugh Lab
Psychology Department
University of Hertfordshire
Hatfield, England

In a gigantic science experiment designed to figure out why stuff is funny, the Psychology Department of the University of Hertfordshire along with the British Association for the Advancement of Science have come up with Laugh Lab. Visitors are encouraged to participate by answering a few questions about themselves and then by rating a series of individual jokes. Slated to run through September 2002, the focus of Laugh Lab will change slightly each month. As jokes are rated by more people, and additional jokes are added to the database by visitors the line between funny and not funny should become evident. But then again it might not. You'll have to check and see. (Back to top of page)

(011111) The History of American Electrolux
http://www.137.com/lux

Charlie Lester
137 Technologies
Los Angeles, California, USA

Charlie Lester has been a Site du Jour of the Day reader since his site, The Vintage Vacuum Cleaner Museum (http://www.137.com/museum/) (SdJotD 990207) was featured as Site du Jour of the Day on February 7, 1999. In a recent chunk of shameless self-promotion regarding The History of American Electrolux Charlie wrote, "Even if the subject matter doesn't particularly interest you, the sheer bulk of material — and the incredible amount of research- organizational- graphic- photographic- webdesign- text/input- and grunt- work it represents — might impress you. (Not to mention the perhaps-frightening level of obsessive/compulsiveness required to bring forth this esoteric labor of love!)".

A frightening level for sure, but a level that makes these pages as definitive on the subject as it gets. The Internet is so full of opinion and noise that finding sites like these on a subject as mundane as vacuum cleaners, well, just does not suck. A detailed survey of the American Electrolux indeed. (Back to top of page)

(011112) The International Central Services Toaster Museum
http://www.toastermuseum.de/

Jens Veerbeck
Central Services Design and Consulting
Mülheim, Germany

It becomes clear after looking at The International Central Services Toaster Museum why these things make great wedding presents or at the very least, wonderful premiums for opening a bank account. Small kitchen appliances that when plugged into the household electrical circuit and fitted with slices of bread, burn that bread ever so slightly. Yum, toast. What a novelty these things must have been in the early days. It's the early days that make up the bulk of the collection at The International Central Services Toaster Museum. A very nice design and just enough information to be useful make up the pages here. Categorized by composition, the galleries house a set of four photographs and a history of each of the toasters in the collection. Lots of toasters from different parts of the world. (Back to top of page)

(011113) Rock School
http://www.rockschool.com/

Crispin Wood
Rock School
Arlington, Massachusetts, USA

So you wanna be a Rock 'n' Roll Star…

Rock School is a crucial site for those budding performers getting started in the business of music. Shockwave and Flash animations are used to take visitors through the basic lessons of founding and propelling a local band to greatness. A few of the lessons at Rock School include Understanding the Relationship between Rock and Romance, Striving for Excellence in Songwriting 101, Rehearsing New Material is Hard Work, It's Not Easy Being a Drummer, and of course, The Importance of Tolerating a Day Job in the Name of Rock. After completion of the lessons, the "Rocktivities" will help Rock School students sharpen their skills and hone their instincts. Give the Try-to-Book-a-Gig-a-Thon a go, then take on the Try-to-Get-Paid-athon for good measure. Rock School is wonderful fun for both fans and performers and it shouldn't be missed!

Old School Rock School Rockers will probably want to take a look at My First Band: Some of the Best Bands You Never Heard Of (http://www.myfirstband.com/) (SdJotD 010128). It's a yearbook of sorts maintained by Keith Buckley and Dan Angott just outside of Detroit (Rock City). (Back to top of page)

(011114) The Liberace Foundation for the Performing and Creative Arts
http://liberace.org/

The Liberace Foundation for the Performing and Creative Arts
Las Vegas, Nevada, USA

It's difficult to fathom, but there is an entire generation of adults who do not know who Liberace was. This is the official site for The Liberace Foundation for the Performing and Creative Arts, a non-profit organization established to grant scholarships to deserving music students. To date, over four million dollars in scholarships have been awarded. The site also contains pages that look at The Liberace Museum, Online Store, and biographical information for Liberace. Star of stage and small screen, Liberace was certainly unique and The Liberace Foundation for the Performing and Creative Arts serves to keep his memory alive. (Back to top of page)

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The holidays are coming, consumer spending is down, what to do? Thoughtful and practical gifts seem to be the way to go this year. During this annual theme week Site du Jour of the Day episodes looks at sites offering such goods and services. Site du Jour of the Day does not have a direct affiliation with any of the businesses featured in this series so as always, use your best judgement if ordering from them.

For a look back at Bah! Humbug! sites from years past, see the Site du Jour of the Day Archives for November 1997 (https://sdjotd.tripod.com/9711.htm), November 1998 (https://sdjotd.tripod.com/1998/9811.htm), November 1999 (https://sdjotd.tripod.com/1999/9911.htm), and November 2000 (https://sdjotd.tripod.com/2000/0011.htm).

(011115) The United States Mint Online Catalog
http://catalog.usmint.gov/

The United States Mint
Washington, District of Columbia, USA

Presenting coin sets and comparatives as gifts can start a great tradition, one that the giver or the receiver can continue year after year. The United States Mint has an extensive catalog of circulation and special occasion coins, jewelry, and related items. Shipping to United States addresses is almost always included at no additional charge when the order is placed through The United States Mint Online Catalog. The order deadline for holiday delivery is at November 30, 2001 using standard shipping, and December 18, 2001 for Expedited delivery — see the 2001 Seasonal Catalog for details. The main site for The United States Mint (http://www.usmint.gov/) (SdJotD 000413) is an interesting visit as well.  (Back to top of page)

(011116) Franklin Weathervanes
http://www.franklinvanes.com/

Franklin Weathervanes
Langley, British Columbia, Canada

There's no doubt that a weather vane is the kind of gift that will either be adored or abhorred. You'll know even before ordering if this is the correct gift — for the barn, stable, shed, or garage. A weather vane can even be mounted on a base and put out in the garden. Franklin Weathervanes carries hundreds of different weather vane combinations ranging in price from just over US$40 for basic cast aluminum to over US$700 for oversize brass and copper models. Pricing at the site is in US Dollars even though Franklin Weathervanes is based in British Columbia — ground shipping to all points of continental North America is included. A once in a lifetime sort of gift, the weather vanes at Franklin Weathervanes come in traditional and modern forms. There's something here for everyone, almost. (Back to top of page)

(011117) Lunchboxes.com - The One-Stop Lunch Box Shop
http://lunchboxes.com/

Lunchboxes.com, Inc.
Los Angeles, California, USA

With a product line that features among others, Big Bird, Cheech & Chong, Flash Gordon, the Three Stooges, and Andy Warhol, Lunchboxes.com - The One-Stop Lunch Box Shop is a pop culture bonanza. Metal and plastic lunch kits that come complete in most cases with licensed images of real and imagined characters, vacuum flasks, and room for a delicious and nutritious lunch. Over one hundred models are available for your choosing, and a small number of vintage lunch boxes are available for collectors. Available too are special designs better suited for those adults who don't have the gumption to explain why Battlestar Galactica is protecting lunch. Filled with office supplies, or candy and gum, a lunch box might make a fun gift. (Back to top of page)

(011118) Chico's
http://chicos.com/

Chico's F.A.S. Inc.
Fort Myers, Florida, USA

Since 1983 Chico's has been offering casual ladies wear from right here in Lee County, Florida. In that time, the company has grown to include over 300 stores in 40 states. The stores and this site carry a product line that is unique to Chico's. One advantage of stocking pieces exclusively is the freedom it allows when it comes to sizing and cuts — ordering is simplified in that Chico's only uses 4 sizes to fit the range of standard ladies wear sizing. Every item is "easy wear, easy care" making the garments ideal for traveling, especially those in the Travelers Collection. Not limited to clothing, Chico's also offers accessories, gift items, and shoes at reasonable prices. Visit the Chico's site to browse their products, order a catalog, or locate a retail store. (Back to top of page)

(011119) Forzieri.com - true fashion, true elegance, true Italy
http://www.forzieri.com/

Andrea Forzieri
Firenze Seta s.r.l.
Florence, Italy

A necktie as a gift doesn't have to be a bad idea or painful experience. Selecting the right tie is often the trick, and by doing a little research finding that tie is easy. The first step is to figure out what style of tie the recipient normally wears and/or likes. If the individual doesn't wear neckwear save your money — a nice tie that goes unworn is sad. That leads to the second tip, buy a tie that's nicer than the others in the given collection. Nicer doesn't always mean more expensive, it usually means better quality though. Forzieri.com carries a wide selection of designer neckwear in several different fabrics but your best bet is to stay with silk or possibly wool. Other choices include cashmere, leather, silk-nylon, and a wool-silk blend. Real neckties are never made out of polyester unless they are the clip-on variety. Real neckties are never the clip-on variety unless you are a prison guard or a four year-old. The line at Forzieri.com is impressive and simple to navigate and the images used present great detail. Prices start at just under US$30, shipping charges seem in line, and is available world-wide. It's nice to see electronic gift certificates available. Proceed with caution though, an electronic gift certificate for a necktie might be a little too sophisticated for some. Forzieri.com also caries a nice line of leather goods. (Back to top of page)

(011120) BoardgameGeek
http://www.boardgamegeek.com/

Scott Alden
Plano, Texas, USA

Maybe it's that video games have reached a saturation point, possibly because of the war going on, perhaps something as simple as the fact that there is an entire generation of children who have had little or no exposure to board games. The games have reached a new level of complexity and playability during the past couple of years and the fans of board games couldn't be happier. A far cry from the classic family titles of the 1950s and 1960s, many of these new games are closer to the reality of everyday life, no longer just a mindless escape — that's not to say that the fantasy elements have been removed though. The traditional techniques once used to publish and distribute new titles are almost a thing of the past and exciting new games are being introduced all of the time. Long winter nights are perfect for a family evening in and BoardgameGeek could help in finding a new game or two. News about new board games, realistic reviews, photographs of the games, and translations of rules between languages. There are is a lot of material on games at BoardgameGeek and a visit could be just the thing to help you find a new favorite. (Back to top of page)

(011121) Surprise.com
Find Exactly the Right Gift
http://www.surprise.com/

Surprise.com, Inc.
Palo Alto, California, USA

On every list there is that one person who is difficult to shop for. They either have it already, or don't like anything at all so no matter what they receive it will go back. Finding the perfect gift for such a pain in the ass is easier with Surprise.com. A portal full of pointers to the merchant and auction sites Surprise.com, Inc. has affiliate accounts with or are otherwise compensated for referrals. Surprise.com has gift ideas galore, many suggested by visitors to the site. This is an interesting idea in that there are no hard pitches, simply brief descriptions of services and products available at other sites. Gift ideas for all sorts of people for lots of holidays and occasions are to be found at Surprise.com. (Back to top of page)

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(011122) Stuff @ SdJotD
The Site du Jour of the Day Store
http://sdjotd.vstorestuff.com

Edward J. Pelegrino
Fort Myers, Florida, USA

Fulfillment by
Vcommerce Corporation
Scottsdale, Arizona, USA

Bah! Humbug! Five! *Bonus Sell Out Episode* (The holidays are coming, consumer spending is down, what to do? Thoughtful and practical gifts seem to be the way to go this year. This annual theme week has looked at sites offering such goods and services. (Up until now) Site du Jour of the Day does not have a direct affiliation with any of the businesses featured in this series (read on) so as always, use your best judgement if ordering from them. For a look back at Bah! Humbug! sites from years past, see the Site du Jour of the Day Archives for November 1997 (https://sdjotd.tripod.com/9711.htm), November 1998 (https://sdjotd.tripod.com/1998/9811.htm), November 1999 (https://sdjotd.tripod.com/1999/9911.htm), and November 2000 (https://sdjotd.tripod.com/2000/0011.htm).

From the Boy Howdy, do we get mail department comes the following message that was sent by a Site du Jour of the Day reader in response to the episode featuring BoardgameGeek (http://www.boardgamegeek.com/) (SdJotD 011120):

"I have been enjoying your daily emails for the past month or two.

Why have you become a total sell out lately with the recommendation of purely commercial sites?

I know there are expenses to pay...but I did not think you would compromise your credibility by recommending commercial sites. Do you get a fee? Shouldn't that be disclosed?"

The message raises a few important points and either tells me that I need to spell things out a little more clearly — I should have stated that the Bah! Humbug! Five! series was the fifth such annual series exploring commercial sites. Maybe I should have added that commercial sites are usually where people buy stuff on the Internet. Like the big retail stores downtown, except that you can shop in your underpants if so inclined.

The second point was one that made me laugh — sure there are expenses but Site du Jour of the Day would sooner qualify as mental illness than a business concern. I don't write Site du Jour of the Day to make money, I find sites and write about them for people around the world. All for free. The bit about credibility is really funny too.

As for disclosure and fee based recommendations, if I did take compensation to feature a site I would certainly make mention of that. But I don't. At least I didn't until now. Kinda.

The URL for Stuff @ SdJotD has been included in the footer of the e-mail version of Site du Jour of the Day episodes for just about a year. It's one step better than a standard commercial affiliate account in that I can select items that are featured on the main page of a separate site. These items are sometimes related to things mentioned in Site du Jour of the Day episodes, but they are added well after the fact and do not influence the topics or selection of featured sites. Truth be told, I originally set up Stuff @ SdJotD so that I could shop for products that I cannot find locally. That I get a small percentage back is a plus. I'll eventually see anywhere from 2-10% back on my purchases, and for that matter, any purchase made at Stuff @ SdJotD. I decided to include the URL in the footer with the thought that those interested would look. Thanks to those of you who have purchased items from Stuff @ SdJotD.

Now that I've taken noise for selling out, let me show you what selling out might look like:

While on the subject of selling out, do you remember that classic album from The Who? It's been remastered — The Who Sell Out (Remaster) (http://www.vstore.com/vstorestuff/sdjotd/link.html?pid=182155), it's a good record that you should own. That Who song Magic Bus reminds me of Stevie Wonder. Hotter than the curb feelers on Stevie Wonder's car (http://www.vstore.com/vstorestuff/sdjotd/link.html?pid=965264) is this whole Harry Potter thing (http://www.vstore.com/vstorestuff/sdjotd/link.html?pid=1766407) which seems to have taken the world by storm. A small story that has expanded to bigger things, like bread does. Those with the appliances might be interested in Betty Crockers Bread Machine Cookbook (http://www.vstore.com/vstorestuff/sdjotd/link.html?pid=473113)… Or some other nonsense with URLs to a section at Stuff @ SdJotD where I could whore the entire project for the promise of a few bucks, like I just have. (Back to top of page)

(011123) The Internet Archive: Building an 'Internet Library'
http://www.archive.org/

Internet Archive
San Francisco, California, USA

Suggested by Site du Jour of the Day reader Eric Goff, The Internet Archive is just that — snapshots of the Internet dating back to last couple years of the 20th Century. As Eric describes it, "This is the Web Archive project - it has pretty much every webpage throughout 'history' archived. As such, you can see most sites exactly as they were say, in 1996. Check it out, it's great."

Not every site that has ever existed can be found here, a lot depends on when and how often a particular site was looked at by the harvesting robot. Activity during the early years was relatively limited and the number of pages saved reflects that fact. As the Internet Archive gets closer to present day the number of pages and sites increases at an alarming rate. This is a fantastic opportunity to look back at the way things were — ideal for those who may not have saved certain pages of our own sites or for those who would just like to look back at simpler times. The Alexa Internet Wayback Machine (http://web.archive.org/) is the tool of choice here, and with a library of over ten billion pages it could keep the exploration going for quite a while. As Eric pointed out, it is great. (Back to top of page)

(011124) adland @ ad-rag.com :: adland - by the adgrunts for the adgrunts
http://www.commercial-archive.com/

Dabitch
Copenhagen, Denmark

While looking for information and industry criticism on the latest DaimlerChrysler (http://www.Chrysler.com/) television advertising campaign I found adland @ ad-rag.com :: adland - by the adgrunts for the adgrunts. For those who have not seen the Chrysler television commercials, they start out with a warm and fuzzy set of shots. Little kids running around with their arms stretched out as if they were aeroplanes, and the announcer asking very politely for us to visit our local Chrysler-Dodge dealer before traveling for the holidays. It's a beautiful campaign and unless you are actually paying attention it's possible that you could miss the more subtle message. The tag line at the end of the commercial reads DRIVE = LOVE. The imagery and copy all stack up in my view to equal something else entirely, 'buy our vehicle before visiting grandma this year that way we can have your travel money and you get piece of mind' — FLY = WAR.

I did find something about how DaimlerChrysler has changed advertising agencies at adland @ ad-rag.com :: adland - by the adgrunts for the adgrunts, it's the kind of industry gossip and news that fills the site. Browsing anonymously is allowed, a free registration is required to post messages in the forum. Insider news and tips are always accepted and encouraged. International dirt from the women and men behind the curtain. (Back to top of page)

(011125) Animal Pictures Archive
http://www.animalpicturesarchive.com/

Jinsuk Kim
Taejon, Korea

The Animal Pictures Archive contains thousands of images of animals, both wild and domestic. A handy resource for artists and students, the archive also has sound recordings and animations. The material here is culled from quite a few sources so quality varies. Fully searchable and well designed, the archive is also host to material protected by copyright so securing permissions for use is highly recommended.

For something a little different, have a look at Sounds Of The World's Animals (http://www.georgetown.edu/cball/animals/animals.html) (SdJotD 971003), maintained by Catherine N. Ball, Department of Linguistics, Georgetown University. (Back to top of page)

(011126) Bembo's Zoo
http://www.bemboszoo.com

Roberto de Vicq de Cumptich
New York, New York, USA

Regarding yesterday's Site du Jour of the Day, Animal Pictures Archive (http://www.animalpicturesarchive.com/) (SdJotD 011125), Jo Swartz wrote in to suggest Bembo's Zoo, "…while you are on the subject of animals, noises and all things related…here is one of my favorite sites. a visual feast, beautiful typography and clever animation."

It is a very clever site, once you get past the initial orange on black text. Following the instructions in the large orange "O" will start the Flash animation loading. Once the animation is loaded, the beauty of Bembo's Zoo becomes clear. (Back to top of page)

(011127) Learn Welsh with Catchphrase
http://www.bbc.co.uk/wales/catchphrase/catchphrase/

British Broadcasting Corporation
London, England

If your English language skills are sharp and the idea of speaking Welsh is one that excites then Learn Welsh with Catchphrase is just the thing. Learn Welsh with Catchphrase is one of those magical sites that we all occasionally happen upon. In addition to learning the Welsh language with tools such as streaming audio files and instructional text, there is much here to do with the culture of Wales. Seasonal traditions such as the Mari Lwyd, Plygain, and Calennig are also described. Probably not the first language on your list to learn, but the fact that free lessons are available from the British Broadcasting Corporation makes Learn Welsh with Catchphrase worth looking at. (Back to top of page)

(011128) Vmyths.com- Truth About Computer Virus Myths & Hoaxes
http://www.vmyths.com/

Eric Robichaud
Rhode Island Soft Systems, Inc.
Woonsocket, Rhode Island, USA

Periodically the virus attacks start. During the past week at least a dozen Site du Jour of the Day readers have sent a potential virus this way. Not the individuals directly, but their e-mail clients. Receiving a computer virus or even the threat of a virus can be the source of panic. It doesn't need to be that way. Updating virus signatures on a regular basis is an important step in the direction of prevention. Virus signatures are the files your virus detection software uses to identify trouble, they are available from the software publisher as free downloads for the life of many virus detection products. Learn how to get them. A virus can do bad things to your computer.

Understanding how a virus works or how falling for a virus hoax can hurt you is always a good plan. Not every virus will cause trouble, but many will. Forwarding a message that contains a virus hoax can lead to other problems. Vmyths.com- Truth About Computer Virus Myths & Hoaxes is a fine place to locate information about the real and the imagined in the virus department. Free from the advertising and propaganda found at many of the sites for virus detection software publishers, Vmyths.com- Truth About Computer Virus Myths & Hoaxes seems to have a lot of really good information, especially on the personalities of real and imagined viruses. (Back to top of page)

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(011129) David's Favourite Captain Haddock Curses
http://www.interlog.com/~tbaikie/homepage/haddock.htm

Brush With Greatness
http://www.interlog.com/~tbaikie/homepage/brush.htm

David Brooks
Toronto, Ontario, Canada

A tribute of sorts to the Captain Haddock character from the Tintin stories by Hergé, David's Favourite Captain Haddock Curses is a nice visit for those who enjoy Tintin or enjoy a good curse every now and then. There are hundreds of them here, many suitable even for children. Pointers to Tintin related sites and visitor contributions make it even nicer.

The second page, Brush With Greatness explores our collective fascination with people we know who know famous people using the basics of Six Degrees of Separation as a starting point. The following examples from a person named Shelly are typical — "My sister's husband met and became friends with Larry Lam in high school who became Leonardo the Mutant Ninja Turtle martial arts stunt double in the Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtle movies." Even more interesting, "My sister studied with Barbara Larsen. Larsen studied with Ethel Leginska. Leginska studied with Leschetizky. Leschetizky studied with Czerny. Czerny studied with Beethoven." That puts Shelly seven away, but what the heck. It's not degrees of anything, it's Brush With Greatness. A nice collection. (Back to top of page)

(011130) Hero Machine
http://heromachine.com/

AFD Studios, Inc.
Georgetown, Texas, USA

Ol' Supes, Batman, Wonder Woman, Spiderman-Spiderman does whatever a spider can… Super Heroes these are. Fictional of course, but Super Heroes. What if you could make up your own Super Heroes? The Hero Machine can help. Using the Flash plug-in and a healthy dash of your own imagination, building a Super Hero worthy of modern times is as easy as selecting from a batch of options — what will s/he look like? What will s/he possibly have to wear and still look Super Heroie? You'll have to make up the gimmicks and Super Powers but like a Super-Duper set of dress-up dolls, the Hero Machine lets visitors work while connected to the Hero Machine site. A download option is also available yet having the most recent Super-Components has a great degree of charm about it. (Back to top of page)

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Copyright 2001, Edward J. Pelegrino. All rights reserved.
Harpo, Trade and Service Marks used herein are the property of their respective owners.

https://members.tripod.com/~SdJotD/2001/0111.htm

Updated November 30, 2001