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>>> February 22, 2001
The world without zinc Jargon style: A "pyrokleptic" is someone who pockets lighters and matchbooks. Racking up extra minutes on your mobile phone plan is "accelurating." Just what sort of funky jive-talk is this? It's some new-school fresh-out-of-the-box slang courtesy of www.pseudodictionary.com, a site devoted to bringing clever bends of phrase to public attention. Browse through an extensive list of new words and definitions, or submit examples of your own crew's lingo and watch them pop up in episodes of Student Bodies. Educational: Whether it's where beef comes from or the story of Jebediah Springfield, industrial and educational films are a part of our pop-culture landscape. Without them, how could we contemplate a world without zinc? The Internet Moving Picture Archive is a collection of hundreds of such short films, available for free download. From Cold War cartoons to hillbilly farming films, it's all here. You might remember it from such URLs as www.archive.org/movie. Michael Citrome |
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>>> February 15, 2001
Loft this! Talking head: Whether you're a commuter or a headbanger those two speakers on the sides of your head are your best friend on the noisy metro. But make no mistake, they're no second-string sound gizmo. Check out Headwize for the up and coming info on headphones and information on how to make your sound better. While you're there you can also check out the latest in wireless surround-sound headphones and download WinAmp plugins to make your computer sound like a concert hall. Stick it in your ear at www.headwize.com. TV feedback: When the Life network's The Lofters first appeared I thought I was watching some twisted version of Student Bodies. That wasn't far from the truth. The Lofters is a Canadian cross between Big Brother and The Real World. You can spy on the Lofters 24 hours a day on their Web site and--here's the good part-- actually tell them what you think in live chat. So far, I've had a lot to say. Talk back to your TV at www.u8tv.com. Michael Citrome |
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>>> February 8, 2001
Computervelt Bleep blop: The retro sound of analog synths is a big part of avant-garde music, but move over Moog, here's retro-digital. Some crazy bitheads at Elektron in Gothenburg, Sweden have been pulling the MOS6581 Sound Interface Device (SID) chip out of old Commodore 64 computers and putting them into a synth they call the SidStation. Designed in the early '80s, the SID chip was the last of its kind. Since then the focus in synths has been on sampling. Check it out at www.sidstation.com and order now, cause when they run out of C64, there ain't no mo'. Brain eaters: What do you get when you mix vampires and the banality and pathos of everyday life? Why Vinny the Vampire, of course. What's supposed to be an amateurish but funny comic strip about a regular guy who suddenly finds himself to be a brain-eating bloodsucker is actually a sad commentary on life stuck in a rut. It's a bit like Clerks with fangs, but more believable. Be driven to drink at vinny.myqth.com. Michael Citrome |
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>>> February 1, 2001
Scary monsters Bigger is better: Remember that crazy scene in Mr. Nice Guy when Jackie Chan is being chased down by that dump truck the size of an apartment block? That truck is made by Euclid, and is the largest in the world. Custom built to order, Euclid trucks are the Orson Welles of vehicles. Get one of these bad boys and watch your competitors in Ford Expeditions slither away in the dust. Euclid's Web site is chock-full of info on the history and design of their megatrucks. More power at www.euclid-hitachi.com. Ghastly: The Munsters were the goofiest, ghouliest TV family of the '60s. After several unsuccessful revivals, the ghastly ghosties have found a new home on the Web, hosted by Butch "Eddie Munster" Patrick, now all grown up and available for corporate gigs (and weddings and bar mitzvahs). The site also includes a bio of Grandpa Munster Al Lewis, with the surprising revelation that he holds a Ph.D. in Child Psychology from Columbia University. Pretty weird. Boo to you at www.munsters.com. Michael Citrome |
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>>> January 11, 2001
Sites for sore eyes Animania: Japanese animation is great, but staying in the loop about the latest releases usually means dealing with hostile comic store Trenchcoat Mafia or fansites encrusted with odes to Sailor Venus. Fortunately, Animefu.com provides up-to-the-minute anime news and reviews without compromises. Whether an anime newcomer or a veteran Otaku, you'll be kept informed. A view to kill: Now that half-metre satellite photos are legal for commercial use, you can zoom in on your neighbour raking his leaves into your yard. But if you're not ready to drop lots of cash on some satellite imagery, check out Space Imaging (www. spaceimaging.com) for some spectacular free images you can use as desktop wallpaper or to further your world-domination schemes. : Michael Citrome |