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*HOT* WEB SITES
Week of February 17, 1997

• WWWWebster
  CATEGORY: Facts on File/Dictionaries
  "This online version of the Merriam-Webster Dictionary, part of the Merriam-Webster Online site, uses a simple form to let you look up entries from the famous reference book. But don't expect to find the latest technology terms here -- we entered 'Internet' and found four similar-sounding entries -- for 'Andermatt,' 'intermit,' 'interned' and 'underneath' -- but nary a mention of the very technology that serves as the conduit for this old-fashioned reference. A built in thesaurus lets you find words with similar meaning, however, saving the book-switching of the hard-cover version. If you're just looking for a little vocabular inspiration, the site offers a Word of the Day, offering not only a definition, but also a little background on the history of the word. Our word the day we visited was "Largesse," which, we learned, 'derives via French from the Latin word largus, meaning 'abundant' or 'generous.' ' "
  Review courtesy of Point Communications Corp.

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• United States Forces Korea
  CATEGORY: Military
  "Thirty five years after the Korean War began, more than 3,000 U.S. military and civilian personnel still man the line that separates North and South Korea. This well-organized site describes the various services here and what they do, along with several history sections that explain American involvement with Korea since the 19th century. Visitors can learn how to contact just about anybody here (e-mail is quite popular among the personnel) and what it's like living along the DMZ. Some of the backgrounds could use some toning down, but otherwise this is one of the more detailed military sites around."
  Review courtesy of Point Communications Corp.

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• 1997: Countdown to History
  CATEGORY: Facts on File/History
  "There is one day clearly marked on calendars all over Hong Kong. That's because on July 1, 1997, the former British colony will be handed over to Chinese authority. The South China Morning Post has created this site detailing the history and course of the change, which naturally has some folks rankled. Visitors can read the entire joint declaration (signed in 1984) defining the handover and the special regulations (called The Basic Law) adopted for HK by the Chinese government. And we found a useful list of things that will change under the 'one government, two systems' approach Beijing will implement. Some historical perspective is helpful, too."
  Review courtesy of Point Communications Corp.

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• JagWeb
  CATEGORY: Automotive Resources
  "If Norwegian Webmaster Nick Johannessen has here omitted a topic of interest to Jaguar automobile enthusiasts, we can't think of what it would be. A complete guide to early, late, prototype and racing models? Well, you'd expect that'd be included among these resources collected mostly from subscribers to the Jag-lovers e-mail list. But how about an HTML list of Jags on television (e.g. 'Toonses The Driving Cat' was behind the wheel of one on 'Saturday Night Live') and in the movies? Check it out, via a framed interface, along with a maintenance article archive, event listings, lots of good photos ... you get the idea. Hey, wait a minute, as of our last visit, an official Jaguar company link wasn't featured prominently on JagWeb, so here."
  Review courtesy of Point Communications Corp.

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• InfoSpace
  CATEGORY: Facts on File/Internet
  "No matter what number you're hunting for -- fax, phone, business, residential, toll-free or federal -- InfoSpace has it down for the count. This stellar, integrated searcher includes engines for all the phone books -- both business and residential as well as Fax -- in the U.S. and Canada, plus a U.S. toll-free directory (searchable by name and location), and a category-based U.S. Blue Pages of city, state and federal government listings. The interface is crisp and clean, and the engines bring back your request with speed and relative accuracy (the listings are dated so you know how old the info is). A great tool for looking up long-lost loves, or just finding out if anyone else shares your name. Who knew there were more than 60 William Clintons in the U.S.? Yep, you can run but you can't hide in InfoSpace."
  Review courtesy of Point Communications Corp.

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• MedicineNet Medical Dictionary
  CATEGORY: Health and Nutrition
  "In the old days, people suffered from colorfully named illnesses such as 'dropsy' and 'the vapors' -- but those sound like fairy-tale ailments compared to the miracle of modern medical lingo. Luckily, MedicineNet's Medical Dictionary helps cure the textbook-term blues. Its simple A-to-Z listing offers brief, basic definitions for seemingly complex terms, from Achlorhydria -- 'A lack of hydrochloric acid in the digestive juices in the stomach. Hydrochloric acid helps digest food' -- to Zygote -- '...the cell that is formed by the union of a sperm (male sex cell) and an ovum (female sex cell).' Sometimes big words cover up common problems, a browser here will quickly learn. So, the next time someone shakes his head and complains about his Alopecia, tell him to try a hat: His diagnosis is simply 'Baldness.' "
  Review courtesy of Point Communications Corp.

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• GlobalMedic
  CATEGORY: Health and Nutrition
  "This terrific all-in-one medical and wellness resource comes from a Montreal-based health information company, and is offered in both English and French. It's sort of an online encyclopedia (in fact it includes a medical encyclopedia), with Child Care, First-Aid, Chronic Diseases and Women's Health among the many subjects included in separate sections. Heck, this thing even makes virtual house calls: At the Check Up area, you, the surfing patient, are asked 'What is the reason for your consultation?' You can then choose from a list of common complaints, from Abdominal Pain to Throat Disorders, and are asked a series of questions until the site comes up with possible causes for your discomfort (the results are linked to the encyclopedia). A disclaimer asserts that GlobalMedic's info does not replace actual medical attention. But a little knowledge never hurt anyone."
  Review courtesy of Point Communications Corp.

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• The Writers Guild of America
  CATEGORY: Books and Literature
  " 'In the beginning was the word. And the word was funny, dramatic, romantic, terrifying and dozens of other things that have entertained, moved and educated you.' So sayeth the Web sitefor the Writers Guild of America, which represents some 8,500 creators whose talent lies in a turn of phrase. WGA members and other writers will find plenty of fuel here to keep the wordsmith fires burning. Highlights include excerpts from the guild's Journal, such as Carol Amis' 'Literary Agents: The View From the Other Side;' and the Tools of the Trade page, featuring links to research-related Web sites and reviews of writing software and resources. Much of the site is geared toward writing for film, and The Craft of Screenwriting page has reams of goodies, including a study of writer's salaries and a series of exercises for avoiding that ultimate writer's cramp, the literal pain in the neck."
  Review courtesy of Point Communications Corp.

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• The SlaughterHouse
  CATEGORY: Computers - Software
  "If you can stomach this site's unsavory title page graphic you'll be rewarded with a well-organized collection of pointers to PC software of all types. Gory images aside, the site's maintainer has done a good job rounding up both DOS and Windows software -- reviewing each one and rating it on a scale of one to five skulls (really). Along with each file you're offered a link to the application's Web site for more information, so you won't have to rely on this site's one or two sentence reviews before committing to a lengthy download. Just about all the genres are covered, but the extensive games reviews make it pretty clear where the author's interests lie."
  Review courtesy of Point Communications Corp.

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• NONAGS
  CATEGORY: Computers - Software
  "Everyone loves freebies, so NONAGS creator Jim Asikis should make a lot of Windows users happy with his well-maintained collection of free software. No, not even shareware can make this list. To qualify, an application has to be fully functional with no strings attached. Surprisingly, there's plenty of good quality freeware to be had. Best of all, you're given more than just a link to click on and a 'good luck.' Each file is reviewed and rated (from one to 6 rubber duckies) according to its usefulness, plus you're given the author's e-mail address and a pointer to the application's Web site. You could use the e-mail address to complain about some software feature you didn't like, but you know what they say about gift horses. And no, it doesn't have anything to do with leading them to water."
  Review courtesy of Point Communications Corp.

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• Ask Dr. Math
  CATEGORY: Education and Teaching
  "The ultimate problem-solver, Ask Dr. Math helps kids of all ages with their toughest math questions. Not that we suggest kids should get this numerical guru to do all their homework, but for brain teasers turned tormenters, Dr. Math's answers add up. Dr. Math is actually a pseudonym for a batch of college students in the Math Forum, based at Swarthmore. Their answers are archived by grade level (Elementary, Middle, High School and College Level). Educators will find Dr. Math a treasure trove of fun math puzzlers -- including such real-life queries as this one from a father and daughter: 'Why is a manhole round? We think it has something to do with physics.' Dr. Ken of the Geometry Forum responded, 'I'd say it has more to do with Geometry than Physics. It's because a circle is the only shape that won't fall through its own hole.' "
  Review courtesy of Point Communications Corp.

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• The Aircraft Photograph Virtual Gallery
  CATEGORY: Photography
  "Okay, so you've collected all sorts of data on the AD-4N Skyraider, G-IV Gulfstream, or P-51 'Crazy Horse,' but you still need to know what the son-of-a-gun *looks* like! Enter this colossal aircraft image archive, assembled from various sites all over the Web, thanks to the folks at Antelope Valley's Aeronet. HTML links to the JPEG photos are listed in alphabetical tables. Why, the letter 'M' alone has 50 pics, including one of an actual MiG-17 versus F-105 dogfight. (See if you can figure out who won.) Don't look for Go to The Aircraft Photograph Virtual Gallery."
  Review courtesy of Point Communications Corp.

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• WinZip
  CATEGORY: Computers - Software
  "It may be just a little software tool, but WinZip is now an empire for its parent company, Niko Mak Computing. Practically all PC software on the Net is compressed using the ZIP format, so unless Windows users enjoy deciphering DOS command lines, they want WinZip. The home page, while needlessly dry (toss some money at a graphic designer, Niko Mak!), conveys all you'll need to know to grab the WinZip software and use it. You'll even find slobbering testimonials from industry rags to help you make the ultimate download decision. Still, our Netscape-dazed eyes crave at least one dizzying background image to break the monotony. Guess we'll have to look elsewhere."
  Review courtesy of Point Communications Corp.

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• Internet Explorer
  CATEGORY: Computers - Software
  "If there's anyone who can put a dent in Netscape's Web browser market share, it's Microsoft's Bill 'Deep Pockets' Gates. Internet Explorer is Microsoft's answer to Netscape Navigator, and it's an impressive one. At first the software played catch-up in terms of features, but the techonological gap is quickly closing and Microsoft's totally-free-no-questions-asked distribution policy is winning some converts (though some consider it a 'rock or a hard place' decision since neither company qualifies as an underdog). Look for the latest Explorer developments here, plus answers to your technical questions and pointers to Explorer-ific sites. For now Netscape is maintaining its lead, but Microsoft may have some tricks up its sleeve."
  Review courtesy of Point Communications Corp.

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• Virtual Society on the Web
  CATEGORY: Computers - Software
  "Sony's programmers in Japan have big plans to usher in the next wave of human communication via virtual reality. The ideas here are grandiose, but the underlying concept isn't so wild. Until the rest of the world catches up to them, the programmers offer CyberPassage, a Web-based VRML (Virtual Reality Markup Language) package that adds some non-standard extensions to VRML like sounds and interactive objects. (Sound familiar, Netscape users?) They're also offering CyberPassage Conductor, which lets you build your own VRML worlds. Both packages are free, but even if you don't imbibe the software, there's a nifty VRML gallery that works with most VR browsers."
  Review courtesy of Point Communications Corp.

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• Tribal Voice
  CATEGORY: Computers - Software
  "Tribal Voice is base camp for users of software called PowWow that lets up to seven people chat, exchange files, and cruise the Web as a group. The Tribal Voice people call such groups 'cybertribes,' and that's why this site is one part native American folklore and two parts Dungeons and Dragons role-playing. It's all half-baked, but full of fun. Visitors can check out the best PowWow-user home pages, like Bill Godwin-Austen's Billigan's Island, or pay homage to Tribal Voice's self-professed False Prophet, Marty Burke, who says: 'It isn't lying you should concern yourself with. It's inaccuracy.' "
  Review courtesy of Point Communications Corp.

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• The World Wide Web Virtual Library
  CATEGORY: Facts on File/Internet
  "The WWW Virtual Library doesn't have information on everything, but the subject resources it does have are extensive. It's a distributed resource -- each subject is maintained by various volunteer groups around the Web. And since the volunteer groups are deeply involved in their subjects (The Harvard Biolab maintains the Biosciences section, for example), the links and information are well-researched. Many of the categories are mainly piles of links -- but my, what large piles! Stop back in five years, and they may be making Encyclopedia Brittanica sweat."
  Review courtesy of Point Communications Corp.

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• The CIA World Factbook
  CATEGORY: Facts on File/Government
  "The Central Intelligence Agency receives billions of dollars to keep tabs on other nations. The factbook at this site is one grand example of that work, with political, social, and economic information on places you didn't even know existed -- for instance, the Ashmore and Cartier Islands, located between Australia and Indonesia. Together, the factbook says, they are about the size of the Washington DC mall. (Not bad research, considering that the isles have no permanent residents.) And if you know nothing about, say, Botswana (hello students!), this would be a very good place to start looking. The title is slightly misleading: you won't find classified information here. But you will find a lot of everything else."
  Review courtesy of Point Communications Corp.

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• WWW Virtual Library: Electronic Journals
  CATEGORY: Facts on File/Electronic Texts on the Internet
  "You just know journals like Annals of Saudi Medicine are available online, but finding them is tricky. Here's a good place to look. Just the section on peer-reviewed academic journals is loaded with publications that are obscure, to say the least: Journal of Approximation Theory, Tree Physiology, etc. Students wishing to get their papers published somewhere can probably find the proper outlet here (the Richmond Journal of Law & Technology is one student-edited journal published exclusively online). Other journal topics include politics, collegiate publications and email newsletters."
  Review courtesy of Point Communications Corp.

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• GPO Access on the Web
  CATEGORY: Facts on File/Internet
  "Purdue University ought to get a medal for this site, which allows users to search through over a dozen Government Printing Office databases, including the Congressional Record, the Federal Register, and much more. For instance: the General Accounting Office, the research arm of Congress, produces hundreds of 'blue book' reports a year on major legislative issues like health care and federal funding of education, and visitors can find them here. The page takes some time to figure out, and then searches can take some time because of the sheer amount of material the computer has to wade through. Still, a magnificent resource."
  Review courtesy of Point Communications Corp.

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• DejaNews Research Service
  CATEGORY: Facts on File/Internet
  "Usenet, the Internet free-for-all that encompasses thousands of newsgroups, can be a mess. So how can you find your way to newsgroup postings on, say, kangaroos (and there are plenty out there)? This service makes trying to find something a little bit easier, especially for newcomers. When we searched for 'Richard Nixon,' for instance, we found postings on such diverse newsgroups as rec.pets (Checkers, no doubt) and sci.space.policy. Searching for 'orangutan' yielded 86 hits. Searches can be for whole words, phrases and even words with similar beginnings. And you can write to the author of the posts you find, too. The search menus are easy to use, making this both useful and a great way to pass the time."
  Review courtesy of Point Communications Corp.

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