web watch - 2005 archives
Gone from the spotlight, these sites now bask in the twilight
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2005 in review >permalink<
So how does one sum up a year? Those folks at Yahoo! give it a try with their index of articles that attempt to encapsulate the half-way point of the first decade of the twenty-first century.
Top movies, top cars, top weddings, top break-ups -- if it happened in 2005, it's listed here. By the time you've waded through this summary, you might actually be glad that 2005 is over.
No bugs in the bug factory >permalink<
Talk about your excellent adventures! Sebastian & Michael recently toured Volkswagen's transparent car factory and posted their holiday snaps on an enthusiasts' forum. Nestled in the German town of Dresden, the VW build site is not only the centre of the town's economic base but it helps out the tourism business as well.
Apart from the outstanding architecture of the factory itself, here at the Last Link we were mightily impressed by the cleanliness of the workplace -- there's not a stray bolt or metal shard anywhere in sight. The home of the little car that Ferdinand Porsche built has become a tourist destination as well. Book your tour (and an appointment with your car loan officer) today!
A pair of nut jobs >permalink<
Puzzles don't normally grow on trees - but on a Xylocarpus granatum they do! The fruit of the Patience Tree (or the Cannonball Mangrove as it is also known) contains Nature's own version of the Rubik Cube. Be the first on your block to watch the video about this 60 million-year-old puzzle.
Being leader of the free world isn't an easy task. With so much on his mind, George Bush leaves it to his advisers to provide him with the talk that people want to hear. Go behind-the-scenes and watch examples of the genius of Harlan McCraney, Presidential Speechalist.
Papal's got a brand new hat >permalink<
Here at the Last Link we're fascinated with all things Vatican (for proof, check out our John Paul II coverage). When we heard news that Pope Benedict XVI was sporting a new chapeau we had to check it out. Our search led to Dappled Photos, an image site supporting Jim Tucker's Dappled Things blog. Jim is a generation X priest of the Diocese of Arlington in Northern Virginia. No doubt about it -- from capes to cloaks, Jim's sites have got Catholic clothing covered like a cardinal writ. Visit his sites and tell him you were sent on a mission from God-huh?
Thanks to this University of Calgary, Alberta site, you too can be a Pope in your own living room. Just follow the easy instructions and make your own leader of the Roman Catholic church hat. All you need is a sheet of coloured paper -- but watch out for those nasty papal paper cuts.
All Google - all the time >permalink<
As we've stated before, those Google folks never sit still. Recently they've unloaded Google Earth (which allows everybody to say "I can see your house from here") and Google Music, their music-only search sub-engine.
Now if you're like us at the Last Link and you find all this all this web content a little too overwhelming, then sign up for Google's new Content Blocker service. It effectively blocks all web site content, leaving behind only Google's true raison d'être. Tests conducted by the Last Link shows it works equally well with both Windows and Firefox browsers.
And who is threatened by this recent development? According to this Wired Magazine article, just about everybody.
Google has also just released their 2005 year-end zeitgeist report. Once a year Google offers up this summary in an attempt to track public curiosity over the last twelve months. Of note are tracking of the Wikipedia and ipod/mp3/podcast phenomena.
Lastly, if you have some additional internet anytime minutes left, check out Google Sightseeing for the more unusual places that can be found under the sun (and we're not talking Scott McNealy-huh?).
Ono! Say it ain't so >permalink<
If Melanie Safka was still around, she'd be singing "What Have They Done To My Man, Ma." Twenty-five years after his death, the National Entertainment Collectibles Association (NECA) announced it would be issuing a John Lennon action figure.
The 45-centimetre doll, clad in denim, will be marketed as "The New York Years John Lennon" and will sound out "authentic" phrases as used by Lennon. The sound you're currently hearing is Lennon turning over in his grave. The outspoken Beatle was long-known for his anti-establishment stance.
In the days after the announcement, the Association's web site featured an image of the Lennon doll alongside a promotion for the slasher flick "The Devil's Rejects," a movie about serial killers. The site has since removed all references to their Lennon product. Neither Yoko Ono or the NECA gave statements to media about the release of the doll or its sudden absence from the toymaker's site.
NECA is an established business that licenses many entertainment franchises. Among its more popular products are headknockers that includes other historic cultural icons such as the "Alien" facehugger and the lovable "Hogan's Heroes" camp commandant Colonel Klink.
The NECA site once stated, "Though John Lennon is already immortalized to most of us thanks to his words and voice, many Lennon and Beatle fans can now look forward to adding new tribute pieces to their collection." What's next? A Mark David Chapman doll with weapons sold separately?
It all makes Nike's use of "Revolution" seem quite benign. Currently making the blog rounds is this update to Lennon's "Imagine."
Imagine there's a John Lennon doll,
It's easy if you try,
A collectible to kill or die for,
I think I'm gonna cry.
Update: The National Entertainment Collectibles Association has now issued an statement on their site saying they "have not been authorized to sell this product and are unable to take any orders." Let it be ... please.
Here's Lohan at you >permalink<
Some girls have got the look. Some girls have only one look. Case in point? Lindsay Lohan.
The "Parent Trap"/"Mean Girls"/"Freaky Friday" star has the look and it seems to have caught the eye of SpliceVW -- web site owner and owner of too much time on his hands. Check it out -- it's freaky everyday. Also available: Paris Hilton Doesn't Change Facial Expressions.
Truth in advertising >permalink<
Here at the Last Link, we find most intro/splash pages pretty annoying. Our usual first reaction is to find the "skip" button. But once in a while we find one that's pretty cool ... and one that gets you thinking. Are these folks promoting their restaurant's fast service -- or the high metabolic rate of their product?
As the implications of In-N-Out's message began to sink in we were reminded of one of Firesign Theatre's great product spoofs -- Ma Rainey's Moleskin Cookies -- which had the tagline "Eat them today, wipe 'em off and eat them again tomorrow!" The In-N-Out folks have even put a "replay" button on their home page which makes you wonder ... what were they thinking?
Bye bye the Numb3rs >permalink<
Despite the odds, the Last Link favourite CBS math/crime series Numb3rs has been renewed for a second season. However, the news comes at a cost. Gone is the great Talking Heads soundalike theme song, and gone is Agent Terry Lake as played by the always eyeball-pleasing Sabrina Lloyd (left). "Lake" took an off-screen posting in Washington during her absence from the show's last episode at the end of the '04/'05 season and the L.A. Bureau office hasn't been the same since.
Lest visitors think this entry is solely a Lloyd lament, we would like to draw attention to Texas Instruments' sponsorship of the CBS Numb3rs site's education program. The math used in each episode of Numb3rs is based on real F.B.I. cases, and the link above is intended for teachers to use the math featured in the show's episodes as part of their teachings. Here at the Last Link, the only real-world application we can think of is how likely it is that we can get CBS president Lester Moonves to bring Sabrina back by writing him an e-mail.
Leggo my LEGO part deux >permalink<
Are you a closet LEGO fanatic? Is it in the closet that your pieces are kept? Now you can eliminate the need to clean up after yourself by building your projects on your PC. The folks at LEGO now offer a free downloadable program that lets you build your masterpieces virtually and the only clicking you'll hear will come from your mouse. But wait, there's more: send your creation to LEGO and they'll send you back exactly (and only) the bricks you'll need to make your project a reality. Need more incentive? The bricks come in a box with a picture of your work with your name on it. But here's the best part of the deal: no more stray bricks to step on in the dark! (For Leggo my LEGO part one, go here).
Ying and yang >permalink<
Frequent visitors to this site may have come to appreciate our reliance on -- and shameless promotion of -- Wikipedia. Now they have a worthy competitor ... in the form of an Onion-styled parody. Uncyclopedia is a content-free encyclopedia that anyone can edit. It's also an encyclopedia full of misinformation and utter lies. And it's also hilarious -- check their entry for Canada as a fr'instance.
Bloggle? >permalink<
Those Google folks never sit still. One day it's megabyte e-mail storage, then it's maps like you've never seen -- and now, the power of Google pigeon technology has been harnessed to peck through the blog fog.
While Google is a johnny-come-lately to the blog index world, their Blog Search feature combined with their search engine prominence may make it the go-to site of convenience. Who knows -- one of these days the Google folk may even set up their own version of the internet -- GoogleNet anyone?
The future's so ... >permalink<
Never heard of ePIC? Well, what about Googlezon? Or Newsbotster? WiFipod? The Google Grid? If none of these names are familiar, it's because they're from the near future. Or at least the one envisioned by Robin Sloan and Matt Thompson. Together, as the Museum of Media History, they've created a neat little video about our e-world in 2014, when the New York Times publishes only in print for the elite and elderly. Mirror sites available here, here, here and here, and a hyperlinked transcript is available here.
Maple-flavoured history >permalink<
Are you a fan of Canadian history? Do you miss those minute-long vignettes that used to show up on TV? Thanks to the folks at Historica, those sixty-second glimpses of our nation's heritage are now available 24/7/365.
There are over 265 clips available, which translates into nearly five hours. Now, if that seems too long, the site reminds you that "Canadian history is more interesting by the minute" ... so pace yourself accordingly.
You mean ... we were lied to? >permalink<
Holy weapons of mass deception! Seems some folks are campaigning the U.S. Congress to begin a formal investigation into whether President George W. Bush has committed impeachable offenses in connection with the Iraq war. Read all about "intelligence and facts being fixed around policy" reflecting George W.'s desire to remove Saddam without letting any facts get in the way.
What goes up ... >permalink<
When it comes to air travel, it's important to think about where to go and how to get there. But before you book your airline ticket, look at your seat. It seems not all air travel experiences are the same, and the folks at Seat Guru have put their ass on the line to recommend seats that have extra legroom or just plain need to be avoided. The site is searchable by airline and plane manufacturer.
So, once you're up in the air, what's to eat? Luckily, Airline Meals not only provides the skinny on what shows up on the tray, they show you where it was made and how it got onboard. Bon appetit!
Kissed a loved one goodbye at the tarmac? Waiting for folks to arrive? Now you can track their flights at Flyte Comm just like those highly-paid and over-stressed air traffic controllers.
Engines of change >permalink<
File under: re-inventing the wheel. In just a few short years, Google has risen to the top of the search engine food chain and have eaten the competition alive. But how well do they stand up to new competition?
To see how they're doing, you can pit Google against the folks who gave them their start, Yahoo, at Twingine. Competing search results are displayed side-by-side, and the site's owner, Asgeir S. Nilsen, even runs a blog about his head-to-head comparisons (and some trademark problems he had when he called his experiment YaGoohoo!gle).
San Francisco's Groxis is currently running beta testing on its Grokker program, which displays Yahoo search results as a series of categories set in a circular map (it kinda reminds us of Liveplasma). Meanwhile, Vivisimo is running Clusty the Clustering Engine, which deals with the problem of hidden information by displaying related folders to the left of their results.
Now, if all of this modern technology isn't fast or relevant enough, let's not forget the good old days when Google looked like this. Heck, even your local library was once a more reliable source.
Post a secret >permalink<
Seems like people have a lot to get off their minds lately (see Not Proud below). PostSecret invites folks to anonymously share a regret, hope, unseen kindness, fantasy, belief, fear, betrayal, desire, confession, or childhood humiliation -- as long as it's true and has never shared before. Frank Warren asks people to send in postcards (preferably homemade) illustrating the biggest secret of their lives and he posts them on his site.
The good old days >permalink<
Back when we were kids, we used to believe in all sorts of things. Like when Mrs. Grover told us in Grade One "If you don't buckle down you'll be in for a big shock!" I imagined being tied by my belt and plugged into a wall-socket. And that when soldiers ate in the mess hall, they didn't have to be tidy. And that belly-buttons weren't to be played around with because once undone, they couldn't be restored. Well, it seems we're not alone -- we all used to believe things like this, and Mat Connolley has collected over 35,000 of our stories on his site. The site has a dual purpose -- you can check to see if that story you've been carrying around all these is true or not, or if you have a kid that needs a good scare and have run out of your own wild tales to tell ...
What if ... you could combine the cyber-cool of today's modern age with the leopard-skinned rumpus room swank of yesteryear? Well, your wish is at your command line when you visit the folks at TikiMac! Drop by and see their fine selection of Hawaiian-influenced computer accessories (like glow-in-the-dark LavaWire and Lava USB cables). Turn down the lights, put on your favourite Martin Denny or Jerry Byrd recordings and make your memories (both hard drive and Flash) glow. Sorry folks, they do Mac products only! Update: seems like it was enough of a good thing -- they're out of business but have left their ultra-cool Flash opening online.
Is it live or is it Memorex? >permalink<
Seeing is believing, photographic evidence, the camera never lies ... these age-old axioms have all but fallen by the way-side with the advent of computer graphics. See for yourself ... at this little test put together by the folks at Canada's Alias digital design outfit. Score ten out of ten (good luck!) and get a bonus round. Memorex-huh?
It's a Star Wars world after all >permalink<
For Wired News' Lucas issue, they've put together a neat little interactive map to show How Star Wars Changed the World, or at least the movie version of it. The page takes a while to load, but once available you can connect the dots between legendary film editor Walter Murch and Edmonton-based software developer Bioware. The map shows the relationship between George Lucas, Star Wars and the various companies, movies and people related to the Empire. At the bottom right of the map you can find a little navigation box to help you get around.
Also getting around is our friend Darth Vader, Lord of the Sith and Servant to His Supreme Excellency the Emperor Palpatine. Seems Darth has finally joined a local sphere with a blog he calls The Darth Side: Memoirs of a Monster. And guess what -- Lord Vader has a lighter side after all -- as he muses and moans about being the supreme servant of evil. Gosh, you can almost hear him breathing down your browser (and the posted comments are a hoot, too). Let the farce be with you ...
Does the name Palpatine give you palpitations? Does Mace Windu sound like some sort of repelling operating system? If you find the names and the characters who populate the Star Wars universe just a little too confusing to sort out, then check MSNBC's Star Map Guide To The Star Wars Galaxy. Not only is the site neat to look at and operate, but you can finally solve the riddle of the Fett family: "He's my father, he's my son, he's my father AND my son!" huh?
Meanwhile, in another galaxy not so far away, we have Grocery Store Wars. Follow Cuke Skywalker as he learns the ways of the farm from Obi-Wan Cannoli, all the while being threatened by Darth Tater and the seduction of low prices. Other members of the Organic Rebellion, including C3Peanuts, Tofu D2, Princess Lettuce, Ham Solo, and Chewbroccoli make appearances, with the dreaded Death Melon hanging in the background.
And if you're just dying to know how a lightsaber works, the folks at How Stuff Works have got it all figured out. In addition to the technology behind the device and some very important safety instructions (such as NEVER look down the "barrel" of a lightsaber), they also include some practical applications for the saber's use here on earth -- like hedge trimming.
Foregiveness requested >permalink<
Entertainment Weekly has called it "A delicious and compelling catalog of shame" (like they're the ones to talk). You can read people's private and personal confessions, and if you feel sufficiently compelled and guilty as a result, you can post your own. A few minutes at this site will surely serve as a reality check -- that perhaps you're not so weird and twisted after all!
It's a mall world after all >permalink<
We drive by them everyday without a second thought. Sometimes they pop up overnight. And somehow we can't live without them. They are the modern shopping center, and someone has finally taken a hard look as to how they got here. Steven Schoenherr of the San Diego University has traced the history of these centers of culture and commerce, all the way from medieval piazzas to West Edmonton Mall. The evolution of these paved parking lots of consumer paradise is far from accidental, and Schoenherr details their development at his site.
A big box store moves in ... and a few years later the big box store moves out, leaving behind a hulking empty shell usually with a caveat on the lease prohibiting like-businesses from moving in. What's a community to do? Visit Julia Christensen's interesting web site that documents what some are doing with those deserted big box buildings.
Animal farm revisited >permalink<
Let Moopheus plug you into the mass food-producing meatrix to find out where your next meal really came from. From the overtaking of family farms to the unleashing of superbugs, this site will have you reaching for the red pill of truth faster than you can say "I'd like fries with that." A production of GRACE, the Global Resource Action Center for the Environment folks.
Cirque de loon >permalink<
Marcel Marceau (who?) would have been proud -- but why did they spoil the deception by stepping out of frame so soon? Note: let the page load by itself - the buttons don't work (and say NO to language pack notices).
Number please >permalink<
Nathan Shumate's got something that most people don't have: a REALLY HUGE collection of Japanese phone cards. He collected them while he spent time over there as a Mormon missionary. He claims the low number of cards in his Women in Swimsuits category is not a reflection of his innate purity as a missionary, but that they were just hard to find. We suspect he's kept some for himself.
Reply to all >permalink<
Are you a junk e-mail junkie? Want to know where all that stuff ends up? Then head on over to The E-Mail Junkyard, the final resting place for over a thousand e-mail forwards, hoaxes, jokes, surveys, chain letters ... well, read the rest of the site's description on their time. Best feature? It's a great resource to bomb that office-mate with messages of mass time-wasting!
Quench your thirst for knowledge >permalink<
Ever have one of those mornings when you're working through your inbox and you can't believe the link someone sent you? You're stuck in that half awake "is this real?" state and it takes you ten minutes to figure out what you're looking at is actually a joke ... heck, we were ready to go out and buy a six-pack of this stuff! While we're on the subject, Apple founder Jobs joins IKEA, Yahoo! and Google combine forces, and Apple Adopts Windows Media for iTunes, iPod.
Ah, yes, very good very clever ... >permalink<
Recently, the Last Link alerted visitors to the healing powers of the The Institute for Backup Trauma, and we offered a few tips on how to find that site's hidden secrets. Well, we've found another -- and according to Ted Page (of ad firm Captains Of Industry, who produced their client's video) the Last Link may be the only site that's found a hidden frame in the movie -- at least that's what Ted told us. If you play the video and freeze it at the 5 minute 46.723 second mark, you'll see a hidden message. It only lasts one-sixth of a second, and if your computer is not as precise as the Last Link's TRS-80, we've captured the frame here for your convenience.
Now, if you're the type who doesn't like to read the fine print in matters such as these, there are some unkind remarks in the frame about people who like to seal grasshoppers in soda bottles to see how long they survive without oxygen. We can live with that. But what got our goat was the remark that people interested in hidden messages are the kind of people who watch movies just to look for continuity errors. Well, excuse moi! Here at the Last Link, we take continuity errors -- also known as "bloopers" or "goofs" -- pretty seriously. We've even devoted an entire page to them on our movies mini-site.
But guess what folks -- news of this 'buried secret' will no doubt spread like napalm across the net, generating a second wave of interest in the Backup Trauma folks. It's deja vu, or in this case, viral marketing all over again. Congrats, Ted -- the Ministry of Silly Walks has a position open just for you!
It all stacks up >permalink<
Back in the old days, it was hanging around a pool hall. Then it was dropping acid. Then disco. Then came Gen-X and the AOL generation. What are the kids of today up to now? Apparently, it's speed stacking -- and it's big! There's even a World Sport Stacking Association to help regulate the sport. These kids are fast -- the world record is 2.72 seconds for the 3-6-3 stack. We're not too sure what this all means, but if stacking cups is their forte, these kids can visit the Last Link domocile and unclutter our cupboards anytime!
For your eyes only >permalink<
Here at the Last Link, we've got a soft spot for quirky animation. Whether it be Flash-driven, stop-motion, interactive or some sort of picture collage, we find this sort of artistic endeavour to be endlessly fascinating (maybe we're a little too pocket-protected). Assembled for your consideration is a collection of the best unreality that has crossed our browser window or e-mail inbox. WARNING: if you like this stuff, you'll be here for hours!
Spam spam spam spam >permalink<
Yes, we know that Spam is a four-letter word. Whether it's served on a plate or placed on our e-mail server, there's no denying the stuff has a place in our culture -- bacterial or otherwise. Here at the Last Link, we take food pretty seriously (we're not ashamed to admit we're even addicted to it), so we've dedicated an entire page to Spam, SpamAlot, burnt food, food cooked in pits, Jello, airline meals and much much more ...
Now that's a ring toss >permalink<
Talk about your Hoop Dreams! It's one thing to imagine doing this, but how did they talk this poor girl into thinking it was a great idea? Seems like she hurt her head, too. But wait -- turns out this clip is part of a campaign from AMC theatres asking people to turn off their cell phones while watching movies in their movie houses. Nokia cell phones. Bought at Best Buy. With service from Verizon. Guess what folks - it's viral marketing all over again. And we at the Last Link got co-opted (purely in the interest of information consumer awareness, of course). Thanks to the Pod Bay Door.
Mooo-vin' on over >permalink<
When the news of Bubba the lobster was recently at the forefront of public awareness, with both PETA organisations expressing their views, there was another issue that Americans tried to keep on the back burner. We're talking about the sale of Canadian beef to U.S. markets. Our neighbours down were flip-flopping trying to keep the border shut despite earlier promises. It smelled like beef market protectionism to us at the time, and we urged folks to visit Open The Border to express their support and to fire up the bar-be-que the next time a strong wind blew south.
If 'IT' spells 'Ouch' ... >permalink<
Seems it doesn't matter which side of the information technology fence you're on -- modern convenience can be a real pain in the neck, wrist, elbow, back, backside ... you know what we mean. Whether you're a service provider or an end user, you'll be sure to take a tingly feeling or slight ache away from these sites.
If you ride herd over a server farm, you'll no doubt have plenty of tall tales to tell about backup tape failure. The folks at LiveVault Online Backup Service, Remote Backup & Data Disaster Recovery drive home the point with a hilarious online video featuring Monty Python's John Cleese in a Fawlty-class performance as Dr. Harold Twain Weck, Director of the Institute of Backup Trauma. Last Link site tip: before hitting Cleese's video, click on 'Enter', dispense with the two pages of notes and press 'Enter' again to see LiveVault's hidden site -- which is also very silly. The Last Link hat is off to these IT folks for investing the creative effort (and money) in this online gem (and we'd buy LiveVault products in a flash if our TRS-80 wasn't so darned reliable). Note: Do not press the third button at the end of the Cleese video.
Does your body feel trapped by a mouse? Let's face it. We all hate the darn things. We can never find them, they've often got dirt stuck in them, and sometimes that thumbwheel seems to have a mind of its own. Even Jef Raskin hated them (and he should know - he practically invented the little rodent). The folks at Contour Design have literally re-invented the wheel with their new GUI gizmo and they have a really swell Flash video to prove it. Put this one on your MUST list for your cube-farm's next 'supplies day' order.
Comedy is serious business >permalink<
Okay - so the Onion is so popular that nobody visits their site anymore. Now what? We here at the Last Link take our hyberbole, sarcasm, dramatic irony, metaphor, bathos, puns, parody, litotes and satire pretty seriously -- so we've compiled a list of the best humour on the web. From the World Weekly News to National Lampoon, from the Landover Baptist Church to Firesign Theatre, it's all here. Keep your e-mail application open -- you'll be sending page links to your net-mates as frequently as you visit the sites on this page. A good chance to use your employer's internet anytime minutes.
Hey waiter! >permalink<
There's usually two sides to every story. While you may have had a pleasant experience at your favourite well known restaurant, your server may offer a different view. Find out what really happens behind the kitchen door when you complain that the soup isn't warm enough or that your silverware has a spot on it. Chances are your reasonable demands on service are well within the job description, but if you tick someone off ... you might find yourself the subject on an entry at one of the four sites we've posted above. If you're in the service industry, you'll smile at the anecdotes (while picking up a few tips). If you're a demanding customer, the stories related will leave you horrified and ... not feeling too hungry after all.
Rated F for family >permalink<
We at the Last Link know it's tough to raise children in today's world. It's equally tough to hold on to what seems like a minority viewpoint in today's ever-changing moralistic tableau. So, two thumbs up to the folks at the Parents Television Council. Not do they only uphold moral values, they go out of their way to keep us on the straight and narrow -- even if it means rubbing our nose in the evil mess of today's entertainment. In case you missed last week's slippery slope to moral degradation, the PTC folk have the juicy clips available online -- 24/7/365. If you're missing out on the latest water-cooler buzz, get caught up at the council's web site.
Don't have time to slog through all the mumbo-jumbo of self-important movie reviews? Need a quick numeric fix on today's entertainment choices? Well, look no further than Kids-In-Mind. They instantly rate films according to SEX & NUDITY, VIOLENCE & GORE and PROFANITY. The higher the number, the more you need as a parent to judge the film for yourself.
The web's oldest and leading site for family-friendly web site reviews. Since 1995, they've reviewed over 2000 sites, maintain a searchable database and feature a site of the day. The Last Link is proud to state that we are not on their list.
Interested in more parental guidance? Then visit the Last Link film classification and content guides page, part of our movies mini-site.
What's in a name? >permalink<
Okay, we've all spent hours Googling our own name ... but where do we really fit in? What were our parents thinking? And, why is it that some names were popular during a given period of time and some were not? Check out the Baby Name Wizard, type in your name and see how popular your name was when you were christened.
Hockey season cancelled >permalink<
On February 16th, 2005 Canadians nationwide were witness to the spectacle of hockey commentator Don Cherry being interviewed by CBC TV National News anchor Peter Mansbridge in connection with labour strife in a game that defines a nation. Bumping the broadcaster's extensive planned coverage of the entry into force of the Kyoto Protocol, a sports story became the top news story, with the demise of the game of hockey cited as a recurring theme.
National Hockey League President Gary Bettman announced February 16th, 2005 that the 2004-2005 NHL season had been cancelled. Bob Goodenow, Executive Director of the National Hockey League Players' Association, called the action "unthinkable." The last season affected by cancellation occured in 1919, when a flu epidemic ended that year's Stanley Cup finals. The NHL has become the first professional major sports league in North America to call off a season without playing a single game.
The quality of the game of hockey has been called into question before. Some critics refer to the introduction of the goalie mask. Others cite expansion beyond the original six team league in 1967. However, the roots of today's hockey problems can be traced back to a single event, when the greatest player of the modern age was traded like a piece of meat to offset the financial fortunes of an abattoir owner.
Me and my arrow ... >permalink<
At left is one of the most instantly recognisable logos on the planet (after all, it was designed to be seen five blocks away). We've all been staring at it for years (ever since 1994 -- the version posted here is the 2005 re-design), but have you ever noticed what's hidden inside the letters? A recent interview with Lindon Leader, the logo's creator, reveals a secret that will forever change how you look at all those trucks criss-crossing our urban streets (and you'll be so distracted that you'll never pull off the shelf that Tom Hanks feel-good disaster pic that you bought on VHS ever again).
In his interview, Lindon describes the process that morphed the words “Federal Express” through 200 designs into the logo we're all familiar with today. He talks about taking the best characteristics of Univers 67 (Bold Condensed) and Futura Bold, combining them into unique and proprietary letterforms that include both ligatures (connected letters) and a higher “x-height,” increasing the size of the lower-case letters relative to the capital letters. Now, while this might go over the heads of most of us, FedEx CEO Fred Smith was the only executive in a room of 12 that spotted the positive-reverse optical “punch line” right away. So, if you're just dying to know what the secret is, place your mouse pointer between the E and the x. You now have the curse, and soon you'll be elbow-tugging everyone within reach everytime a FedEx truck rolls by.
A mind googling experience >permalink<
Regular visitors to this site will no doubt notice a few changes. Apart from a slight site re-design, there has been the addition of >permalinks< (covered here) and of Google related services. At the top of most Last Link pages, there can now be found "Ads by google." So, what's this all about you ask? There are two reasons. Firstly, Ads by google are delivered to individual web pages when they are loaded, and are supposed to be context sensitive (go here for details as to how this works). When we at the Last Link were first putting the site together, we were always curious as to what sort of ads would be delivered given the varied nature of material we cover. Look at the ads, then look at the page, and try and figure out how the connections were made.
Secondly, running a web site costs money (had we at the Last Link known this, we may actually have given the whole enterprise a cold sober second thought). While we do not intend to make money off this venture, we do at least hope to recover hosting costs, ISP host expenses (and, while we're at it, shoe leather and food expenditures). So, as with all the rest of the small self-funding sites on the net, Ads by Google seem like a good idea to provide entertainment and added value for all.
Believe it or not, there are individuals who seek to profit from google's Adsense program. As covered in a recent story at Slashdot, a guy by the name of Michael Buffington has designed a blog around the word 'asbestos.' Seems he found out that lawyers who deal in the matter post ads with google's Adwords program and sometimes pay a click-through fee of at least $15.00 each. While Buffington seems to 'care' about asbestos-related hazards, he unashamedly admits the primary motivation behind his blog is to capture some of that click-through revenue. For more about this parasitic venture, visit the story as covered by Slashdot.
Another new feature now found at the Last Link is the google search, found at the bottom of most of our pages. It looks like this:
As a site publisher, we find it a handy service so that visitors can easily search the Last Link site. However, there is a danger. While we have locked down the search to within our site (employing the family-rated SafeSearch option), there seems to be confusion when it comes to interpreting search results. A recent report by ABC News suggests only 1 in 6 users of internet search engines can tell the difference between unbiased search results and paid advertisements. Google marks such ads as "sponsored links," Yahoo terms them "sponsor results" and Microsoft uses "sponsored sites." Such ads are placed to the right and on top of the regular search results, and in some cases are highlighted in a different color. Read the fine print — and get what you're looking for. If you make a mistake, it's cash in Last Link pockets :)
Now, this wouldn't be a usual Last Link web watch entry if there wasn't some sort of punch line, and here it is. We all know what the default Google home page looks like, but what if it fell into the hands of less-than-scrupulous competitors and satirists? Check this irreverant entry from the folks at Fark.
A cuppa jo and a grain of salt >permalink<
Urban legends have been with us ever since we gathered under the stars and around a fire after a good day of scavenging for food. As communication technology advanced, from telephones and radio, newspapers and faxes, to television and the internet, so have the stories that "surely can't be true." With the advent of e-mail, the myths are spreading even faster - and since the stories come from a friend, you figure there has to be something to them. Time for a reality check.
The latest tale crowding the Last Link inbox concerns Starbucks refusing to supply products to armed forces in Iraq. It's actually a story that's been floating around the net for a while, an example of how these stories never die. Let's look at what the experts have to say.
The folks at Truth Or Fiction vow to check out rumours, inspirational stories, virus warnings, humourous tales, pleas for help, urban legends, prayer requests and calls to action. Visit their Anatomy of a Rumor page for what they're all about. To see how they covered the Starbucks story, visit their Starbucks and Iraq page.
- Snopes.com -- The Urban Legends Reference Pages
Snopes has been on the net for almost as long as urban legends have been circulating. They caught on to the Starbucks story as early as April, 2004. Their report includes references to other hoaxes involving the popular caffeine vendor.
Boycott Watch is an independent service that monitors boycott calls for accuracy and honesty. They state their job is to make sure consumers are not tricked into believing lies. The Starbucks story came across their radar here and they include Starbucks' response to the originator of the hoax. Boycott Watch also sprang to the defense of another charitable organisation: McDonald's. It seems they too were victims of a terrorist' related myth as detailed here.
Alex Boese created the Museum of Hoaxes back in 1997. It began as research notes for a university dissertation, but it soon made its way onto the web where it rapidly transformed into a full-time means for him to procrastinate. In addition to dispelling hoaxes on a daily basis, he hosts a forum where the following Starbucks thread took place in the fall of 2004.
Run by the U.S. Department of Energy, Hoaxbusters describes and explains some of the warnings, offers, and pleas for help that are filling e-mail inboxes among cubicles near you, clogging mailservers and generally do not have any basis in fact. While they don't have a take on the Starbucks story, their urban myths page will be sure to raise your level of déjà vu.
Now, if you were to ask the Last Link about our favourite myth busting efforts, leave it to two movie special effects guys who combine a nerdy knowledge of science and the teen-aged desire to blow stuff up real good. Not only do Jamie and Adam try to duplicate urban legends, they do whatever it takes to replicate the story beyond the details of the original tale. Now, if only they would tackle the myth that their site is pop-up free and easy to load … but we digress. Catch their TV show and get caught up in the spirit of determining whether that story you heard is confirmed or … busted!
We leave the last word to the folks at the bottom of this story. At their site they post a corporate responsibility report. However, their search feature does not return any mention of the story that is the focus of this Last Link entry (perhaps they're too busy trying to explain this). A google search on the Starbucks/Iraq subject did yield some interesting results. Starbucks Everywhere chronicles an effort to visit every Starbucks in the world. Meanwhile, the folks at I Hate Starbucks have a completely different view on the subject.
So the next time you receive a 'story' that keeps you up at night, skip the caffeine and medicate yourself with the wisdom of the above-cited responsible side of the net. If the subject line comes from a friend of a friend ...
The big picture >permalink<
Physicist Graham Flint likes to take pictures. He's built a camera made from bits and pieces of decommissioned Cold War hardware, and now he can take pictures that can show a single blade of grass from within a picture that encompasses an image four football fields wide. Digital technology? No, he uses film! He's currently travelling across America, snapping shots like this — you can see the saw marks on the boards of a wooden shed from a mile away. It's like Imax ® on steroids!
Twins from different mothers >permalink<
It's another case of science fiction predicting the future - but with a twist! Separated at birth? Decide for yourself. At left is a Death Star. At right is a nearly dead moon. Read more about Star Wars's planet destroyer here, and the nearly destroyed Saturn planetoid-moon Mimas here.
Not Wicca — Wiki! >permalink<
The first time we heard about Wikipedia, we thought it was some sort of minority gender-based cult following of half-wits half-truths. The second time we heard about Wikipedia, we thought it was some sort of pluralistic blog-based cult gathering of second-hand half-truths. But now, thanks to this demo, we're convinced it's the real thing (it didn't hurt that the demo's subject was "Heavy Metal Umlaut," offering an explanation of why so many headbanger favourites have umlauts eg. ü and other odd diacritics in their names). Read more about the Wiki way of building an online encyclopedia through collaborative writing and how its integrity is maintained by their self-editing process. Once you see the care and effort these folks take, you won't need to fear Pierre Salinger syndrome again.
One + one = one >permalink<
Here's some fun: find two words - no quote marks - with which Google delivers a single, solitary result.
Touchdown! >permalink<
Advertising's big day finally arrived. Also known as a football game (Superbowl XXXIXVKICK x 10³ to be exact), it's the annual event that Madison Avenue uses to parade their newest buzz-generating (and expensive - $80,000 USD a second) commercials. We here north of the 49 parallel didn't get to see the spots during the game, as this year CanWest Mediaworks managed to stop the U.S. TV feed right at the satellite so not even dish folk could see them (don't bother searching CanWest's site for details -- they're not that stupid). Luckily the folks at ifilm carried the spots as soon as they aired, so park yourself, your beer and a mouse in front the screen for all the latest plays
spots.
Super criticise me >permalink<
Leslie Sayer's only-at-McDonalds month is up! Did he survive his 24/7 Golden Arches experience? Check his web site for his fast-food times and for his fast times at media high school's fifteen seconds of fame.
Perhaps only time will tell exactly what Leslie Sayer was up to. At first glance, he attempted to repeat Morgan Spurlock's stunt of eating only at McDonald's for a month (as documented in the film Super Size Me). However, Sayer, an Edmonton, Alberta teacher, appeared to be bellying-up-to-the-counter on the issue of critical thinking: he felt Spurlock's film to be unbalanced. Sayer had set out in his experiment that if you eat out at McDonald's on a "rare" occasion, the restaurant's dietary impact can be offset "with lots of exercise." We here at the Last Link love a quarter-pounder about once a week, and the effects usually stay with us for about a month. To be fair, Sayer has adorned his site with a copious number of links that address a wide (but selected) range of opinion. However, there is one link he overlooked. While the merits of eating the McDonald's menu is one thing, actually eating at the restaurant has been graphically documented as being hazardous to your health. For your consideration ...
Since opening in 1948, 83 people have lost their lives while dining under the golden arches. The folks at McMurder have been threatened (legally and with personal violence) while providing "a historical archive that will supersize your eyes and fry your mind." Explore the fascinating world of criminology and fast food restaurants, and decide for yourself if you deserve a risk today. For more stuff like this, visit the web watch - chew the right thing page.
<geek> spoken here >permalink<
What happens when IT guys have too much time on their hands? The results can be frightening! If you need a server to go, visit the guys at Suitcase Servers. Have a spare quad-port USB 2.0 hub kicking around? Why not plug in 4 iPod Shuffles and set them up as a RAID array creating a grand total of 3.9Gb of storage. Need a STM Mini Cocoon Travel Case for your iPod? Check in at the iPod Lounge and tell them necessity sent you.
Viral marketing ... it's catching on! >permalink<
The internet is fast becoming the most effective medium for advertisers. A recent study suggests the net now co-exists with television in the entertainment room, with both sources often viewed simultaneously. No wonder that what surfers find interesting on TV is now quickly shared on the net, and the ad business is taking full advantage of this, terming the phenomena "viral marketing." Watch out for these commercials coming soon to a blog or e-mail inbox near you ...
If the footage from this office web cam looks like it came from your cube farm, then you may need Yahoo's new Hotjobs service. Additional footage can be found here and here.
If the scenario depicted in this commercial is all too familiar, then Career Builder will only serve to confirm your worst fears: you do work with monkeys.
Sometimes it's a fake ad that grabs the net's attention. Budding filmmakers Lee Brooks and Dan Ford created this spot as a demo of their talents and somehow ... it got loose. Volkswagen has dropped their lawsuit after receiving sworn statements and apologies. Lee and Dan would normally be out of a job -- except they're self-employed.
What do you do if you're a creative ad type and you're out of work? Do what Marc and Tom did: create a web site and a fake commercial depicting your plight. View the PSA and see if you can help these two who can't seem to do anything else.
Mazda's cute little spot lifts an eyebrow and a leg.
Now, if you find this brand of advertising ...er, contagious, then head on over to Bore Me, a repository of the very best (and worst) viral e-mails that have "amused, enlightened or outraged the world." And for more about the zany world of advertising, visit the Last Link Brought To You By page. Offer void where prohibited by law.
Adjust your seat trays >permalink<
One of the great mysteries of the modern age faces us everytime we find ourselves trapped in an aluminum cigar flying at 30,000 feet: just where did this meal come from? Well, the folks at Airline Meals have got it covered. They're the world's first and leading site about nothing but airline food and they have nearly 15,000 pictures (covering over 490 airlines) of nothing but ... airline food. Browse thousands of inflight meals, go behind the scenes at major airports to see how the food is prepared, view 40 years of served meals and visit the gallery of meals in the movies (they even reveal the secrets about food served to the crew). Visit this site, and the next time your air hostperson hands you a hot steaming meal from their trolley, you'll be able to look them in the eye and say, "I know where this came from!" For more stuff like this, visit the web watch chew the right thing page.
Playing around >permalink<
- Adult Sites
It's amazing what children can get up to when left unsupervised. It's even more amazing what happens when they grow up, have some money and a lot of free time ... and are still left unsupervised.
Don't shoot the messenger >permalink<
It’s happened to all of us. You’re shoulder surfing your 14-year-old daughter’s online activities and she seems to be typing in a bizarre code. Or perhaps you observe your 12-year-old punching his cell phone furiously and the display seems to be reading out stock exchange data from Titan. Relax ... it’s the new language of text messaging.
The folks at the BBC have put together a site to allay the fears of parents around the world and they provide an entry point into the world of SMS (Short Message Service). A quick scan of their abbreviations glossary will quickly have you ROFL or HHIS if you thought your kids had a SOHF. Don’t worry, it’s KK.
Want to be hip? Want to be with it with the young folk? All you need is the AOL translator! A few minutes at this site will leave you as incomprehensible as the kids sitting next to you at the local food-plex. OMG 4SHR!
Need a cellphone up to the task of modern messaging? Well, look no further -- the Wasp T12 has more features than a dollar movie-plex and fits easily within any budget. The display screen automatically adjusts from narrow to widescreen, the keypad accepts every known integer, its GPS locates callers from Earth and the moon, and it features twin MP3 decks allowing you to mix incoming calls. Callers are standing by ...
A few words from our sponsor >permalink<
Advertising both leads and follows popular culture. Often today’s product slogan becomes tomorrow’s vernacular shorthand, and a product’s image defines a lifestyle. The Last Link’s look at the fascinating world of media mass marketing reveals that advertising is as clever as it is entertaining. To help you separate the steak from the sizzle, spend a few minutes with the folks behind the ads and tell them necessity sent you. Not available in stores ...
Crime time TV >permalink<
The three Crime Scene Investigation television programs are among the more popular shows on the air and given the right cable TV/dish package, you can watch them about 12 times a day. Once described as 'Dragnet with DNA' the CSI shows offer up a stylized look at one of the more mundane and labour-intensive aspects of police work. The official network sites for the programs are very well done, featuring the same attention to detail that is a hallmark of the TV shows. But what is the behind-the-crime-scene work really like? The Last Link On The Left leaves no stone unturned in its investigation ...