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>>> June 25, 1998 Inc-ROY-able! Québécois exports are taking off when it comes to entertainers. Since Céline Dion infiltrated the "world stage" it seems a whole whack of local celebs are ready to follow. If Web content is any indication, the next lucky habitant to make it big will be Roy Dupuis. With the La femme Nikita webring boasting 83 sites (www.webring.org) and Wired's HotBot search engine grinding out 592 links with his name, he's become a virtual phenomenon (pardon the pun). Sure, David Duchovny's got him beat hands down, but there's certainly no lack of hunk-o-burnin' love photos, articles, personal essays, biographies, sound clips... (you get the picture) of this hometown boy. After several years of mere local lust, Dupuis has finally earned his official drool status south of the border. Who knew that a Québécois accent is so sexy? --Catherine Leconte |
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>>> June 18, 1998 Hey kids, it's font-astic! The accessibility of word processors and desktop publishing software has forever changed the world of graphic design. In some ways it has made it worse (just because you have a kitchen doesn't mean you're a blue ribbon chef), in some ways better (the more people try their hand at it, the more experimental and dynamic it becomes). Over time, a major component of design has become an equally major component of overall computer usage: the font. Fonts are everywhere--from spreadsheets to photo manipulation software. Everyone's "inner designer" loves fonts, and OS makers now include more fonts in their basic systems. Alas, we never seem to have enough variations on the curly 'S' or the blocky 'A'. Well, want no more 'cause here comes the Font Fairy (www.computermom.com/fontfairy)! The Font Fairy's site is crammed with links to hundreds of fonts that you can obtain for free on the Web. You'd be amazed how many talented font designers are willing to license their work for free. But before you go berserk with your newfound typefaces, remember the golden rule of font usage: less is more (especially on your résumé, for God's sake!). --Catherine Leconte |
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>>> June 11, 1998 Sultans of style The struggle to differentiate print design from Web design has heated up in the past year. While the written word continues to dominate content, the challenge is to present it in novel ways. Innovative designers are trying to redefine the medium in order to distance it from print, to give it a raison d'être. Chances are that more than a few groundbreakers will come from the Swankarmy. This "army," based at www.swanky.org, is made up of over 100 designers who are all trying to push the envelope of Web design using everything from elegant graphics and new Dynamic HTML to Shockwave files (small interactive animations). Each designer has his/her own site to showcase their talent, and there are too many great ones to mention in this small space. You'll need a couple of hours to get through a reasonable number of the sites but it's well worth it. While you're there make sure to check out the "flash" (Shockwave) section to really see what Web content can do. --Catherine Leconte |
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>>> May 28, 1998 French toast The Office de la langue française has had a difficult time deciding what to do about the cultural equalizer known as the Internet. Their present rule is: "A French version must be provided only in the case of advertisements posted on the Web site of a company located in Quebec for products available in Quebec." In addition, the OLF says it will not police the Net except to investigate complaints. That said, they have published an online dictionary of acceptable (franco-sized) Internet terms. The hilarity begins at www.olf.gouv.qc.ca/service/pages/internet2.html. The "Vocabulaire d'Internet Plus" gives an approved French Canadian equivalent for just about every Web-related term. In the case of the "Web cookie," the OLF has dropped the terms "espion" and "jeton" for the kinder and gentler "témoin," and states that the term "cookie" (presumably said with a French accent) is to be avoided. Some of the cuter terms are "pourriel" (junk e-mail), "escargotique" (snail mail) and "bavardoir" (chatroom). As a final note (to Raymond Villeneuve): the OLF requires (according to item 577A of the dictionary) that the term "mail bomb" be referred to as "le bombard". Surfez bien! --Catherine Leconte |
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>>> May 21, 1998 WWW RIP The Web is just chock-full of proof that way too many people have way too much time on their hands. But often we find ourselves fascinated by crappy Web content, much like we slow our cars down at accident sites; there's nothing quite as indulgent (and harmless) as rubbernecking on the information highway. So on one of those slow work days, give Find a Grave (www.findagrave.com) a glance. It's pretty much what it sounds like, although it's limited to celebrities only. With indexes arranged by name, location and claim to fame, you'll be amazed by how many noteworthy people are dead and buried and how pretty their graves are! You'll find 246 actors, 46 social reformers, 19 philanthropists plus much, much more. And with the handy little "new!" graphics, you'll always be up-to-date. This site truly is unnecessary. But, after having looked at a few dozen graves you're bound to sit back and ask yourself, ever-so-pensively, "What really is necessary?" Surely it's crucial to know that Jim Morrison's grave was cleaned up in 1997. --Catherine Leconte |
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>>> May 14, 1998 AOL's buggy browser AOL is mostly used by people who want an easy introduction to the Web and all its wonders (e-mail!). Upon launching AOL's software, you find yourself in an idyllic graphic "village" à la BBS. Cute little icons, cute little noises... "You have mail!"...it even talks to you. Then you hit the "Internet" button. What you might not realize is that the browser supplied by AOL is incredibly sub-standard. It lacks most features offered by popular browsers (Netscape, Internet Explorer). Worse yet, it's buggy: it will actually downgrade the quality of images, mishandle online forms and render html pages inaccurately. But if you're new to the Internet, you have no idea you're missing out. If you're in this situation, find a friend and get them to help you install a decent browser to use when you're connected to AOL. At least AOL has finally allowed the use of "other" browsers. --Catherine Leconte |
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>>> April 30, 1998 Klatt-trap This week Fairview Technology Center Ltd. (FTC), a British Columbia-based company, halted its Web hosting services. The reason is cause for hot debate: censorship on the Internet. The company, having ties to right-wing extremist organizations, claims it ceased services because of its contract with BC Telecom. The contract stipulates that FTC (www.ftcnet.com) is liable for the Web content it offers: content which includes several extreme-right sites advocating hate crimes. The owner of FTC, Bernard Klatt, claims his decision to halt services was not due to pressure from human rights activists but rather the financial implications of liability. In his defence, Klatt has cited freedom of speech and the evils of censorship. While no concrete action has been taken against FTC by the authorities, the Canadian Human Rights Commission is investigating hate propaganda on the Internet. Countries like Germany and Austria have laid down clear laws regarding disseminating hate speech; Internet providers in these countries are expected to block out "unacceptable" Web sites. While these laws may seem downright desirable, would you really want to wake up to Sympatico or Vidéotron's vision of a wholesome Internet? No thanks. --Catherine Leconte |
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>>> April 23, 1998 Ewwww! The Internet is an enormous pool of information open to all, but often it's presented in such a dry and boring manner that you'd be more apt to watch paint dry in a room with no light. While adults may well endure this mind-numbing exercise, it's clear that children will not. As with TV, kids need flashy colours and funny sounds to capture their attention on the Net. The place to go? "The Yuckiest site on the Internet", aka "Your gross and cool body" (www.nj.com/yucky/body/). Here, Wendell the Worm and his friend Dora answer a good number of questions that shouldn't be asked in polite company. What is poop? Why does it smell? Where do belches, farts, boogers and pee come from? This may sound nasty, but it's all presented beautifully (and tastefully) with bright colours, funny sounds and a dash of Javascript. Of course, this site is intended for children, but if you've ever wondered about eye gunk or what the hell your funnybone is for, then check out "Your gross and cool body." A note of caution: lower the sound on your computer if you're not alone, trust me! --Catherine Leconte |
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>>> April 16, 1998 Slappy Spice! E-zines are a dime a dozen these days, and good e-zines are about as rare as good television. But urban75 (www.urban75.com) is worth a look. Launched in September 1996, its eclectic mix of youth culture issues has made it the most popular independent, not-for-profit site in the U.K. Originally an indulgent personal site for raver/photographer Mike Slocombe, it has avalanched into a massive source of civil and environmental rights info. But if that isn't your cup of tea, there are huge sections dedicated to raves and soccer. If it still doesn't sound exciting, then simply go there for the "Slap a Spice Girl" game. And there's more! Scoot on over to the "Punch" section. Choose from a list including the likes of Hanson, Andrew Lloyd Webber and Oasis, then punch them in the face... as many times as you like. urban75 must be experienced first hand... if only to discover the side effects and legality of Special K! --Catherine Leconte |
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>>> April 9, 1998 You didn't read this here Reach far back into the recesses of your techno-addled mind and recall the days of the BBS (bulletin board service). While it seems that these quirky little dial-up communities have gone the way of the dinosaur they have, in fact, taken up residence on the Net. With the adaptation of venerable software like SoftArc's FirstClass and the up-and-coming Hotline, the Web has become home to tons of private and public bulletin boards. Hotline, available in demo version (www.hotlinesw.com), has become quite a phenomenon. Primarily aimed at a Macintosh market (they've recently released a Windows beta version), this software allows you to "surf" around various BBSs. What's striking is that Hotline has given birth to a massive market for pirated software. Using the "tracker" window you can illicitly shop around the world for that piece of software that you always wanted but could never afford. Of course, piracy is illegal and Hotline doesn't endorse it, but you sure do feel naughty just looking at it all. --Catherine Leconte |
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>>> March 26, 1998 Max's A Million Aliza Sherman's first experience with a modem was as "a bank teller machine repairman dispatcher" in the late '80s. "All I knew was that my computer was hooked up to the phone lines. I had no idea how it worked," Sherman told the Mirror. Now founder of Webgrrls International, Sherman was in Montreal last week to promote her book Cybergrrl: A Woman's Guide to the World Wide Web. Her favourite site? "Maximag. It's smart and it's beautiful." Maximag (www.maximag.com), while geared primarily toward women, is less ideological and less politically correct than most other women's Web sites. And with articles about chicks on Harleys and about how Vogue actually managed to make Kate Moss look fat, it's more fun and more intelligent than any Cosmo-style rag. Besides, anything with Sherman's blessing is more than worth a visit. --Philip Preville |
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>>> March 19, 1998 Words Worth Well last week, another tombstone appeared. Launched in 1995, Word (www.word.com) was a site that attempted to showcase unknown writers and designers. It managed to publish consistently eloquent and thoughtful content. And while it occasionally teetered on the edge of pretension, it never fell over the precipice. It inspired many Web zines like Slate (www.slate.com) and Salon (www.salonmag.com), which chose to attack a more mainstream market using the same principles. Word will remain online for now but the content will no longer be updated (a cardinal sin on the Web). Take a look before someone has the good sense to take it out of its misery. --Catherine Leconte |
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>>> March 5, 1998 Zen and the art of file transfers Anyone who's used the Internet knows there are tons of goodies out there, from silly system enhancers and sounds to the latest (RAM-hogging, Java-brewing, must-have, bells-and-whistles) Web browser. The trouble is, these files are getting bigger and browsers are not reliable downloading tools. If you've ever done the "I'll just start this download, go to bed and tomorrow morning... PRESTO!" routine, you've probably also done your share of early morning cursing upon being informed that the transfer failed. What you need is an FTP (File Transfer Protocol) program. FTP-ing is the most reliable way to move files to and from a Web server. FTP programs use ftp addresses (e.g. ftp.netscape.com instead of www.netscape.com). Many FTP programs are shareware; Fetch (for Mac) or WS_FTP and CuteFTP (for Windows) are popular and available from www.shareware.com or www.download.com. Once you have it, use it whenever you download something from an FTP site. Simply copy the address from your browser, launch your FTP program, paste the address, download and... PRESTO! --Catherine Leconte |
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>>> February 19, 1998 Give my regards to Bull Street The business press has been in desperate need of parody for a long, long time. Media such as the Globe's Report on Business, with its earnest reporting of stock values and mutual funds and their hero-worship of overpaid CEOs, are ripe targets for political satirists. Enter the Bull Street Journal (http://members.aol.com/ BullStreet/index.html), a parody that takes the Wall Street Journal and stands it deliciously on its head. Recent articles (new articles appear three times weekly) included a brilliant piece about the benefits of slavery, disguised as a story about a "human stock exchange" and a series of "extremely directed activities." Bull Street's movie guide for corporate executives panned films such as The Fifth Element because their villains were nefarious corporate profiteers, while offering the following glowing review of Batman and Robin: "Batman shows he knows the importance of delegating and of creating a pleasant and challenging corporate culture. Human Resources personnel should run, not walk, to this film!" --Philip Preville |
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>>> February 12, 1998 We wish, eh?! Unless you live in a bubble, you've probably noticed that Canada is a model for democracy. The rest of the world has a lot to learn from our non-violent ways and all around tolerance. Logic dictates that we should... well... take over the world, of course. There's even a plan in place at the Canadian World Domination general headquarters (http://www.geocities.com/CapitolHill/Lobby/2936/), calling for "the systematic destruction and sublimation of all opposing the Canadian reign--and the polite, yet horrifically brutal, control of our future territories of conquest." The plan instructs power-hungry canucks to brainwash reluctant masses with Road to Avonlea reruns and impose the use of "eh" in conversation. The result would be "a united global force of calm, community-minded, Globe and Mail-reading, Quebec-loving, Molson Canadian beer shirt-wearing, blood-donating, polite, environmentally-concerned people willing to go to war over our fishing rights but who would rather stay home and barbecue on the patio." Now that's a vision, eh? --Catherine Leconte |
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>>> January 22, 1998 Let's occupy a web server! Now here's an ingenious activist idea. Rather than demonstrate outside Mexican consulates around the world, organizations sympathetic to Mexico's Zapatista movement have decided to stage a "virtual sit-in." Today (Thursday Jan. 29), web-surfing comrades will log on to the web sites of five major Mexican financial institutions: Bolsa Mexicana de Valores (www.bmv.com.mx), Grupo Fianciero Bital (www.bital.com.mx), Grupo Financiero Bancomer (www.bancomer.com.mx), Banco de Mexico (www.banxico.org.mx) and Banamex (www.banamex.com). Then they will stay logged on to those web sites by pressing the reload button over and over and over again, thus clogging up the web servers so that clients can't make transactions and international financiers can't get information on their potential banking partners. The occupation, the first of its kind, takes place from 11 a.m. to noon local time. Perhaps a similar occupation at the virtual headquarters of mbanx might soon be in order. --Philip Preville |
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>>> January 22, 1998 It's a babe, it's a brain... Yes! It's Breakup Girl It seems that the Net has become a source of therapy (albeit alternative therapy) in the late '90s. You can invariably find an understanding page or two for whatever ails you, whether it be physical or emotional. Now there's even a superhero for your bleeding heart. Breakup Girl (www.breakupgirl.com) is a sassy, sexy avenger of women scorned. This humourous site is packed with advice for the recently dumped. Need to know how to get your stuff back or maybe how to get rid of his in an environmentally friendly way? Or perhaps you need some pastimes to wile away the lonely days? All the answers are there. There's even interactivity: a bulletin board to share your woes, a guide to interpreting personal ads and some not-so-sentimental postcards to email the bastard. The whole thing is packaged beautifully with cartoons to boot. And if you guys are feeling discriminated against, not to worry. The advice column and bulletin board seem to be quite popular with the non-matching chromosome set. --Catherine Leconte |