I Just Can't Wait to See The Movie

Can't wait to see that new release? Missed seeing it when it was in theatres and now it won't be available in DVD for another 6 months? Don't worry. You may not be able to see that film but you can find out how it ends. Just visit the Movie Spoiler. CAUTION: This site really does give away the ending--and the middle and beginning. So if you aren't really serious about knowing the whole story, don't go here.

The Very Latest in Kitchen Technology

At Kitchen Contraptions, you can see the latest in kitchenware, food preparation technology, and all around gadgety stuff. Some are gag items and don't serve much practical purpose while others are truly innovative.

How Do I Get There From Here

Map 24 takes a different approach to creating trip maps. With other map programs, like MapQuest or RandMcNally, you can get turn-by-turn instructions from Point A to Point B. Map 24 provides one large map. You can then zoom in for a detailed look or zoom out for a "big picture" look. Map 24 does not seem to have a facility for printing turn-by-turn instructions so how can you use this if you are on a trip trying to drive and read a larger scale map at the same time. The zoom is very smooth and fast. If anyone can figure out the solution to the printing problem please comment. The answer is probably staring me in the face and I just don't see it.

Are You Ready to Leave the Nest?

Do you have a teenager at home who will be moving out to go to college or to strike out on his/her own? Are you a teen who plans to move out of the family home soon? If so, then Jump$tart Reality Check might be a helpful tool. Answer the questions by clicking in the radio buttons. When you are finished, submit your answers and Jump$tart will tell you how much you need to earn to maintain the lifestyle you desire. If you'd like additional financial advice you can visit the Jump$tart Home Page.

Two things I didn't like about the Jump$tart Reality Check is that it breaks from GUI convention in using square check boxes and radio buttons (round check boxes). Usually radio buttons mean you can choose only one item in a group. Squares mean you can pick as many as apply. The Reality Check doesn't follow this convention consistently. Also if you accidentally check an incorrect response you cannot erase the mistake and continue. You must click Reset at the bottom of the form and start all over again.

Jump$tart is a real eye opener for the newly liberated teen but needs some technical adjustments to make it even better.

A Little Frog Called Mr. Sapo

What a wonderful simple-to-use Internet search site. Mr. Sapo doesn't do the searching. It's just a directory of search engines of all types. Type what your looking for in a search box and then choose from a collection of search engines to find what you want. If you want information about the latest info on the next Superman movie, you can click on Google, Yahoo!, MSN, or others. If you'd like to find a word definition just click on Onelook. A video of tai chi forms: try Singing Fish or Yahoo! News, weblogs and images are all available in one convenient site. Don't let the simple appearance of this site fool you. Remember, except for the logo, Google looks pretty simple too.

Track That Domain Name

At IWhoIs you can see a list of the 100 oldest registered domain names. You can click on a link that will look up the domain of your choice and tell you when it was registered, who owns it, and when it expires. Strangely, it does not include .edu domains. And it doesn't include many foreign domains. But for the more common domains it's pretty good.

You Have Questions. They've Got Answers

There seems to be an increasing number of attempts at creating new search methods on the Internet. Answers takes the approach that the searcher wants answers and not necessarily citations. Therefore when you type your search term into this search engine, it provides you with an answer. Hyperlinks occur throughout the answer in case you want to check the source of the information displayed. But if you just want a quick answer and don't much care where the answer comes from, Answers.com will do it for you.

African-American History

Sorry for being a little late. My list of sites to be entered into the blogs far outreaches the time I actually have for entering them. This entry didn't make it in time for African-American Heritage Month.

The African-American Migration Experience is sponsored by the Schomburg Center for Research in Black Culture. It provides information about the African-American migration experience in a different fashion than many other cultures might use to describe their groups migration. It doesn't start in 1619 with the first Africans to set foot in Jamestown but begins nearly 100 years earlier.

A9: Another New Search

A9 combines meta searching and data base storage. You can actually ask for info and A9 goes to various data bases to get the answer. Then it allows you to take notes and store the whole thing for use or additional searching at another time. You must register to be allowed to save and retrieve previous info.

20 Years of Usenet

Google did it again.

"Google has fully integrated the past 20 years of Usenet archives into Google Groups, which now offers access to more than 800 million messages dating back to 1981. This is by far the most complete collection of Usenet articles ever assembled and a fascinating first-hand historical account."

At the 20 Year Usenet Timeline you can find some of the historic announcements first seen on Usenet. The records go back to 1981.