B-List Archive: November 2001

B-List Archive

November 2001

Postings to the B-List.

Subject: B-List: Dr Karl
Date: Thu, 1 Nov 2001 09:46:55 +1030

Dr Karl's Homepage
   < http://www.abc.net.au/science/k2/ >

(Dr) Karl Kruszelnicki has a one hour show every Thursday morning at 11am
on Triple J.  He tries to answer callers' questions on "Life, The Universe
and Everything".  When I was a uni student I would tune in to the show every
week, and would deliberately choose tutorial and lecture times that wouldn't
clash with it.

When I started working I had to give up my weekly ritual.  But thanks to the
internet I can still get my fix.  There's a web site for the show, with the
questions and attempted answers published on the site:
   < http://www.abc.net.au/science/k2/stn/default.htm >

* Homework
   < http://www.abc.net.au/science/k2/homework/default.htm >
Dr Karl can't answer every question straight away, so he often has to do
some homework during the week.  Recent topics include Fizzy beer can,
Icecream headache, and the all-important Peeing off buildings.

* Bio
   < http://www.abc.net.au/science/k2/aboutkk.htm >
For those who don't know about this legend.

* Self-Service Science
   < http://www2b.abc.net.au/science/k2/stn/ >
An open forum.

If you want more "fun" science stuff, check out The Lab at the ABC:
   < http://www.abc.net.au/science/ >

Subject: B-List: Pixar + Monsters, Inc.
Date: Tue, 6 Nov 2001 10:13:49 +1030

Pixar Animation Studios
   < http://www.pixar.com/ >

The creators of Toy Story, A Bug's Life and the new movie Monsters, Inc.
Also happens to be co-founded and run by Steve Jobs, of Apple fame.

* Pixar Feature Films
   < http://www.pixar.com/featurefilms/index.html >
All about the full-length features.

* Pixar Shorts
   < http://www.pixar.com/shorts/index.html >
Some cute short films available for download.

"Monsters, Inc. Used Monster Tools"
   < http://www.wired.com/news/technology/0,1282,48052,00.html >
Read about how they made the film.

You can check out the trailer for Monsters, Inc. at:
   < http://www.apple.com/trailers/ >
The site also has the trailers for other movies including Star Wars
Episode II: Attack of The Clones.  QuickTime 5 required.

Subject: B-List: The Meredith Gift
Date: Wed, 7 Nov 2001 10:13:30 +1030

Not quite the Melbourne Cup ...
    < http://www.mmf.com.au/thegift.htm >

Subject: B-List: Institute of Holistic Computer Wellness
Date: Thu, 8 Nov 2001 09:14:38 +1030

Institute of Holistic Computer Wellness
   < http://users.bestweb.net/~bennetc/holistic.html >

This site could put computer techs out of business.  Find out how to fix
computer problems the holistic way.

For the Christmas stocking - Bad Vibe Filter
   < http://users.bestweb.net/~bennetc/holistic.html#Bad%20Vibe%20Filter >

Subject: B-List: Adoptme.com
Date: Tue, 13 Nov 2001 09:36:13 +1030

Adoptme.com
   < http://www.adoptme.com/ >

Adopt a virtual pet and look after it online.
Requires Flash.

Subject: B-List: Alice In Wonderland
Date: Thu, 15 Nov 2001 09:18:50 +1030

Alice In Wonderland: An Interactive Adventure
   < http://www.ruthannzaroff.com/wonderland/index.htm >

I'm not a huge fan, but this is a comprehensive and award-winning
site dedicated to Lewis Carroll's two Alice books.

Included are some interesting and educational games, such as:
* Alice's Guessing Game
   < http://www.ruthannzaroff.com/wonderland/guess.htm >
An Alice-flavoured Hangman.  Don't cheat by looking at the source.

* Alice's Card Trick
   < http://www.ruthannzaroff.com/wonderland/cards1.htm >
Available elsewhere, but some people haven't seen it.  You should be
able to work out what's happening, especially if you try the trick a
couple of times.

* How Old Are you?
   < http://www.ruthannzaroff.com/wonderland/howold.htm >
Works out how many days old you are.

* Advice From A Caterpillar
   < http://www.ruthannzaroff.com/wonderland/caterpillar.htm >
Answers yes/no questions.  For example:  Q. "Is Bill Gates evil?"
A. "Most decidedly so."

Subject: B-List: 2001 Inertia Awards
Date: Fri, 16 Nov 2001 10:14:07 +1030

The Fourth International Inertia Awards
   < http://webreview.com/swaine/2001/11_12_01.shtml >

The Inertia Awards "honor companies and individuals who are dragging the
feet of the worldwide Internet Economy with product delays, professional
incompetence, been-there-done-that technology, monopolistic practices,
and/or other dilatory acts or omissions".

Tongue-in-cheek, and an amusing read.

Categories and winners:
* Hardware - Dell
* Software - Microsoft
* PR firms - Edelman
* Web sites - Interwise
* Government agencies - US Department of Justice

Subject: B-List: News Flash
Date: Mon, 19 Nov 2001 09:35:42 +1030

1. Japanese Get Two for One with Pregnant 'Barbie'
    < http://dailynews.yahoo.com/h/nm/20011116/re/japan_doll_dc_1.html >

2. Barbie Turns Wild, Gets a Tattoo
    < http://dailynews.yahoo.com/h/nm/20011116/od/barbie_dc_1.html >

3. Imagined Workout Can Up Muscle Strength: Study
    < http://dailynews.yahoo.com/h/nm/20011112/hl/workout.html >
"Just thinking about exercise can help maintain muscle strength".
Forget those weights, the gym membership and those electronic muscle
stimulation devices.

4. Study Reveals Self-Esteem Inflation Among U.S. Kids
    < http://dailynews.yahoo.com/h/nm/20011109/hl/esteem.html >
"They may also feel that the world owes them something".

5. SlugBot: Enemy of Slugs
    < http://www.wired.com/news/gizmos/0,1452,47156,00.html >
They could probably adapt it to gather other things like litter and
dog droppings.

Subject: B-List: How Now Brown Cow?
Date: Tue, 20 Nov 2001 10:22:29 +1030

Good morrow!  Today's b-list is semi-interactive.

Does anyone know the origins/meaning of the phrase "How Now Brown Cow?" ?
I've done a web search and the the only strong lead I've found is that it
may simply be a device for learning proper ("Queen's English") pronunciation:
   < http://www.renfaire.com/Language/drills.html >

Drill #3 goes like this:
   "how now, brown cow? a lousey mouse now i' the house doth be down with
    the sow by the plow. thou sour cow!"

The site itself is dedicated to promoting and teaching "Proper Elizabethan
Language":
   < http://www.renfaire.com/Language/index.html >

* Pronunciations
   < http://www.renfaire.com/Language/pronunciation.html >
* Vocabulary
   < http://www.renfaire.com/Language/vocab.html >
* Elizabethan Insults
   < http://www.renfaire.com/Language/insults.html >
* Songs Of and About Elizabethan Times
   < http://www.renfaire.com/Language/songs.html >

If you're into the Elizabethan period, check out the Costumes section:
   < http://www.renfaire.com/Costume/index.html >

Anon,
B!?

Subject: B-List: Illustrated Guide To Breaking Your Computer
Date: Thu, 22 Nov 2001 09:17:23 +1030

The Illustrated Guide To Breaking Your Computer
   < http://members.aol.com/spoons1000/break/index.html >

In the web master's own words:
   "When you work in a job where you are constantly using computers for
   long enough, you develop a certain anxious feeling which can pretty
   much only be cured by beating the hell out of an old computer or two.

   "However, since this can be extremely frustrating and nerve-wracking
   if done incorrectly, I am providing for fellow techies and interested
   persons an illustrated step-by-step guide for Satisfying Computer
   Destruction."

It's only when I use a Windows PC that I get the urge to something that
drastic.

Subject: B-List: Three for Free
Date: Fri, 23 Nov 2001 09:40:37 +1030

1. "Case Settled: Justice To Break Up Apple For Turning Microsoft Into
    Monopoly"
    < http://satirewire.com/news/0111/microsoft_settlement.shtml >
Given the current US government's wimpish handling of Microsoft, this
may not be that far-fetched.

2. "New Gravity Map Released"
    < http://news.bbc.co.uk/hi/english/sci/tech/newsid_1668000/1668872.stm >
The Earth's gravity sucks 1% less in India, so everything weighs 1% less there.
A couple of things to try:
  * buy $1m of gold (by weight) in India, then sell it somewhere else and
    make an instant $10,000!
  * if attempting a weight-lifting record, go to India

3. "George W. Bush Blew Up Frogs"
    < http://www.all-creatures.org/aip/nl-3nov2000-frogs.html >
This confirms my suspicion that dubya is moonlighting as Dewey in the TV
sitcom "Malcolm in the Middle".

Subject: B-List: Chindogu Candidates?
Date: Wed, 28 Nov 2001 10:29:56 +1030

Good to see some people are addressing the real issues ...

1. "Burger King Introduces Left-Handed Whopper"
   < http://www.burgerking.com/company/press_releases/04_31_98a.htm >

  "The new left-handed sandwich will have all condiments rotated 180
  degrees, thereby redistributing the weight of the sandwich so that
  the bulk of the condiments will skew to the left, thereby reducing
  the amount of lettuce and other toppings from spilling out the right
  side of the burger."

For more essential "lefty" items, check out:
  * left-ease.com
    < http://www.left-ease.com/index.html >
  * The Handy Store
    < http://www.thehandystore.com/second.html >
Alas, no Leftorium - Ned Flanders' store in The Simpsons.  But you can find
out what his store sold from this episode guide:
  < http://www.snpp.com/episodes/7F23.html >


2. "Shippers Wrestle With Box Issues"
   < http://www.wired.com/news/holidays/0,1882,48151,00.html >


3. "Rugby Close To 'Ballcam'"
   < http://news.bbc.co.uk/sport/hi/english/rugby_union/newsid_1668000/1668200.stm >


4. "Bird Feeder Proves A Bird Brain Idea"
   < http://abc.net.au/news/newsitems/s426170.htm >

Subject: B-List: Dogs, Cats and Men in Drag
Date: Thu, 29 Nov 2001 12:22:15 +1030

1. "Dog Wash"
   < http://203.199.93.9/today/dogwash.htm >
I've heard of "eating your own dog food", but taking your own dog wash?

2. "Cat Survives Interstate Trip Under Car's Hood"
   < http://www.mycfnow.com/sh/news/stories/nat-news-aptv-109489520011128-091113.html >
A couple of years ago my cat had a similar, albeit briefer, ordeal. Unlike
my cat I haven't fully recovered from the experience.

3. "Some Judges Fashion Punishment To Fit Crime"
   < http://www.dispatch.com/news-story.php?story=dispatch/news/news01/nov01/961326.html >
If the dress fits ...

B!?

Top

B-List Intro