19th of August 2000
Transparency is a media literacy site making all forms of media transparent to visitors. It reveals the hidden meanings in movies, television, news, theme parks, advertising, video games, web sites, and so on. The site is designed to, itself, be transparent to readers with a home page that provides a maximum view of what is available. The idea is to provide a model for how content-rich sites can be designed. You better believe Ken Sanes' site is rich in content. Ken has few peers when it comes to reviewing and critiquing the how's, why's, what's, and wherefore's of modern media. You may never look at M*A*S*H the same again.
18th of August 2000
Now this is a new take on spam. Did you get one too? I don't know whether to laugh in admiration or feel sorry for the poor shmucks who will fall for this tripe. I will give the guy credit. He enticed me to read it, more than I usually do.
Dear Sir,
URGENT BUSINESS PROPOSAL.
This letter may come to you as a surprise since it is coming from someone you have not
met before. However, we decided to contact you based on a satisfactory information we
had about your business person as regards this business information concerning your
country and the safety of our funds in a steady economy such as that of your country
compared to our country Nigeria, Africa.
I am a civil adviser currently working with the Nigerian National Petroleum
Corporation (N.N.P.C). I and my close and trusted colleagues need your assistance in
the transfer of US$45.5 million into any reliable Account you may nominate overseas.
This fund was generated from over-invoicing of contracts executed by the N.N.P.C.
under our control and supervision. This fund is now ready to be remitted into any
account we put forward for that purpose. What we want from you is a good and reliable
company or personal account into which we shall transfer this fund. Details should
include the following:
-
Name of Bank.
Address of Bank with fax and tel. number.
Account number.
Beneficiary/Signatory to account(Account name).
-
30% to you for your assistance.
65% for myself and my colleagues.
5% for contingency expenses.
Please after your first reply through e-mail, I will want us to continue further communication by fax and telephone for confidential purpose. We wish to assure you that your involvement should you decide to assist us, will be well protected. This business is 100% risk free as we have secured our own side of the transaction.
Thank you for your anticipated co-operation while we look forward to a mutually benefiting business relationship with you. Please when replying to my e-mail, kindly include your telephone, fax number and mobile telephone numbers preferably extremely private numbers where we can reach you anytime of the day.
Best regards,
DR. BENSON ABODERIN
N.B. To maintain confidentiality, our pass word is "APPLE". Please reguest for the
above password any time you call. If who ever that answer could not quote the password,
please hang up and dial again.
17th of August 2000
Many are the independent web developers and designers who lament the undiscovered richness that lies beneath the surface of the screaming electronic commerce juggernaut. The web is many creations to many people. One of my favorites, and a man who is doing more than most to help us find the hidden web, is Joe Jenett. Earlier this year, when I interviewed him, Joe described his web goals and motivations:
"My personal work on the web is a reaction to what the web has become and a mission to promote and renew a spirit of the web that has to do with people and creativity and personal expression -- it's an effort to enjoy what's unique about the new medium instead of focusing on what old media corporate giants are choosing to do to the new medium to enhance their bottom lines. It's also an effort to provide alternative ways for independent, creative web builders to network and get real exposure. To some extent, my personal web work is also an attempt to entertain and engage my visitors and to provide diversions from typical reality. My web is pretty scattered, but there is a common thread of motivation and attitude behind it all."
16th of August 2000
The Head Lemur's campaign for the ICANN Board of Directors enters the next phase. During the month of August, there is a member-nomination period, in which individuals can win a place on the ballot by attracting the support of 2% of the activated members in his/her region, up to a total limit of 7 nominees per region.
From now until August 31st, all activated At Large members will be able to "endorse" a candidate for member-nomination in their region. The list of candidates, including Alan Herrell, have been through the nominating process. I am proud to say I cast the first endorsement for The Lemur. Please keep your membership number, your password (sent via email), and your PIN number (sent via postal mail) handy, because you will need to use them to endorse any candidate for member-nomination, and to vote in October.
15th of August 2000
Half way between my home in West Virginia and my parent's home in North Carolina sits the Bristol Motor Speedway. Striding the border of Tennessee and Virginia, this crowd pleaser is advertised as the fastest half-mile in the world. Home to two annual Nascar events, including one this coming weekend, and other features like the Busch series and drag racing, this facility is larger than football stadiums. Seemingly increasing its capacity every year, the present configuration seats 147,000 race fans. I always look forward to driving by each time I head south -- perhaps some day I'll have to check out the action.
During the weekend visit with my folks, I noticed something odd. Silence, background silence. I am accustomed to birds singing and crickets chirping. Sitting on the porch I didn't hear any of this. I asked my Dad, who said he's noticed it too. He even added that his town is advertised as a bird sanctuary. Apparently the birds haven't learned to read yet because they aren't paying attention to the signs.
I couldn't have asked for better weather for the drive. Each way, the temp stayed in the seventies with nary a drop of rain. Opening up the sun roof, cranking up some Pink Floyd, and taking in the Appalachian scenery made for a most excellent excursion. Throw in many wonderful summer vegetables lovingly prepared by Mom, plenty of rest, and a nice morning on the links with Dad. Not bad at all. Let's do it again next month.
as featured on
On Deck Circle
Thoughts@Random
Zeldman Presents
Swallowing Tacks
The EGR Weblog
the head lemur
JimFormation
Wire Mommy
sapphireblue
ctrl-alt-ego
Harrumph!
She Says
Over 30
KittyKitty
Forty-two
Doc Searls
webmistress
Weblogs.com
Random Notes
Bloggin' at You
Virulent Memes
sweet aspirations
jenett's webstream
Last summer, down on Lake Isabella, located in the high desert, an hour east of
Bakersfield, California, a blonde (of course), new to boating was having a problem.
No matter how hard she tried, she just couldn't get her brand new 22-ft. Bayliner to
perform. It wouldn't get on a plane at all, and it was very sluggish in almost every
maneuver, no matter how much power she applied.
After about an hour of trying to make it go, she putted over to a nearby marina. Maybe
they could tell her what was wrong. A thorough topside check revealed everything was
in perfect working order. The engine ran fine, the outdrive went up and down, the prop
was the correct size and pitch. So, one of the marina guys jumped in the water to check
underneath. He came up choking on water, he was laughing so hard.
Under the boat, still strapped securely in place was the trailer.
This chain letter was started in hopes of bringing relief to other tired and
discouraged women. Unlike most chain letters, this one does not cost anything. Just
send a copy of this letter to five of your friends who are equally tired and
discontented. Then bundle up your husband or boyfriend and send him to the woman whose
name appears at the top of the list, and add your name to the bottom of the list. When
your turn comes, you will receive 5,625 men. One of them is bound to be better than the
one you already have.
At the writing of this letter, a friend of mine had already received 184 men, 4 of whom
were worth keeping. REMEMBER -- this chain brings luck. One woman's pit bull died, and
the next day she received an NFL offensive tackle. An unmarried woman living with her
widowed mother was able to choose between an orthodontist and a successful gynecologist.
You can be lucky too, but DO NOT BREAK THE CHAIN! One woman broke the chain, and got
her own husband back again.