RECOMMENDED
WEBSITES
MARCH
2003
Visit
OCPA's New Webite at:
http://www.oregoncoastphotoclub.com
TEST YOUR ABILITY TO SEE COLORS
Is it you or the colors? This test on the Web has 24 plates. What you see will help you identify your condition. You can check for the condition at the European Brain Day site:
http://www.umds.ac.uk/physiology/daveb/brainday/vlab.htm
FREE SYSTEM ACCELERATOR FROM INTEL
The Application Accelerator is a program that Intel says will speed transmission of data from peripherals, such as the hard drive, to the microprocessor. It is a free download.
In addition to making things run faster, Intel says the accelerator will make the computer boot faster. It also sets the transfer of data from peripherals at the highest possible rate. Intel says the changes are automatic, requiring no human intervention. You can download the software at:
http://www.intel.com/support/chipsets/iaa/
Intel also offers free software to identify your chipset and microprocessor. Check them out at:
http://www.intel.com/support/chipsets/inf/chipsetid.htm
Snap Your Desk
Carving out a little individuality in the workplace can be a difficult task. In much of the corporate world, being a free thinker is rarely regarded as a core asset. So how are employees supposed to express their originality (or lack of as the case may be)? By creating a workspace that's conducive to getting work accomplished while also conveying personality, of course. And this site
- with hundreds of snapshots -- proves you can't keep a good employee down. The engrossing photo tour of desks illustrates how the people who spend their days behind the desks mark their territory and say, "this small space is mine." A desk tells a lot about a person
- whether they're neat, messy, organized, or creative, the desk shows their true colors. If you feel your desk is unappreciated or unloved, submit your own photo and show the world exactly where (and how) you work.
http://www.snapyourdesk.barkins.com/
Monticello
Thomas Jefferson's mansion, its grounds, and its adjacent plantation are as much a part of his life's work as writing the Declaration of Independence or founding the University of Virginia. The third U.S. president designed many aspects of his home, from the overall plan to the wine dumbwaiter to the parlor's automatic double doors. Explore the estate by following a day in the life of Jefferson or by viewing virtual-reality panoramas, starting at the entrance hall. The site doesn't stop at examining the house
- the Jefferson section features a biography, timeline, and articles about this founding father. Was he a vegetarian? What was his taste in music? How did he dress? Even the issue of whether or not Jefferson fathered children by his slave Sally Hemmings is addressed thoughtfully and with comprehensive research. A life as full and complicated as Thomas Jefferson's deserves nothing less than a site as detailed as this one.
http://www.monticello.org/
Ruavista Signs of the City
When was the last time a tourist along Rome's Appian Way stopped to smell the sewers? Strange as it may seem, that's the sort of sightseeing endorsed by Marc
Voelckel, webmaster of Ruavista ("street views" in Portuguese). His rule of thumb for travel is simple: when in Rome (or any other city), don't be seduced by flashy, touristy landmarks (i.e., pointy obelisks, cracked coliseums, et al). Instead, absorb the earthy sights, smells, and sounds of a city's alleyways and back streets. Often overlooked, street signs, public toilets, manhole covers, graffiti, and aging doorways offer an intimate and real experience for the adventurous traveler. Check out the spectacles found along the humble pathways of Hanoi, La Paz, and Naples. One glance at the street life of Los Angeles or San Francisco will tell you more about their respective vibes than any travel guide. This site won't appeal to those who prefer sanitized guidebook versions of city tours, but if you want to know how the other half really lives, these uniquely urban impressions can show you the road less traveled.
http://www.ruavista.com/
New Wave Photos
Music aficionados consider the late '70s and early '80s to be the black hole of music history. Disco and corporate rock ruled the charts, but something interesting was happening under the pop-music radar. New wave and punk bands offered the original alternative to music fans tired of Top-40 drivel. Phillipe Carly was one of the disillusioned who flocked to this new breed of music, and the photos he snapped of the era make for an entirely entertaining retrospective of this subculture. Carly never considered himself a photographer. Rather, he prefers to say, "I was merely taking pictures." Well-known bands such as Siouxsie & the Banshees and New Order are represented, but the real treat is clicking through black-and-white photos of obscurities. From
á;GRUMH... to XTC, the new wave movement is traced in this continually growing collection. If you long for your own piece of
"livin' in the '80s," you're in luck -- all the photos are available for purchase (droning synths not included).
http://www.newwavephotos.com/
Top Picks - 4 Megapixel Digital Cameras from your Cameras Guide
Four megapixel cameras offer incredibly sharp images suitable for enlarging. These cameras are generally lower priced than the sharper 5 megapixel cameras, but their image quality is high enough to suit most people. These 4 megapixel cameras offer the most value for the money.
1) Canon PowerShot G2
Although this is a consumer digital camera, it captures images so sharp through its glass Canon lens that I have known more than one professional photographer that carries this camera. Its quality, ease of use, and image sharpness, make this my favorite 4 megapixel camera.
2) Nikon Coolpix 4500
Designed with the same body as the very popular Coolpix 995 model, this camera offers quality, speed, and sharpness not common in many digital cameras. Its split design makes it easy to shoot from many different angles.
3) Olympus Camedia E-10
Very similar to the 5 megapixel Olympus Camedia E-20, this 4 megapixel version offers the control that professionals want, and the ease of use that consumers want. If you want it all, this is the camera for you.
http://slclk.about.com/?zi=1/9iu
When They Were Young
Baby pictures - most people have a shoebox full of faded images of their childhood. This exhibition of sepia photographs from the Library of Congress captures a time when picture taking was an event in itself. Experience the sense of momentousness portrayed in this small soldier's face, captured for all time. Witness the wonder of a young boy dancing with his shadow. From the aged surfaces of 19th-century daguerreotypes, youngsters peer out like tiny adults, straining to hold still while their likenesses are preserved. Culled from all over the world, the images are universal in their depiction of the many emotions of childhood. Like a newsreel montage, each fleeting image recalls the vulnerability, playfulness, and dignity of bygone youth. This collection proves that despite the advances of modern society, some moments are timeless.
http://www.loc.gov/exhibits/young/
Unusual Sights of Kentucky
You're invited to follow these "self-appointed chroniclers of strange, forgotten, and interesting" on an eye-opening tour of the bastion of bluegrass that is Kentucky. Known mostly for its famed Derby and Colonel Sanders, Kentucky boasts a number of sights unseen that are captured here by these devoted Dixieland
photogs. In Pisgah sits a grand castle built in the name of lost love, not too far from the country farm of everyone's favorite interplanetary captain, William
Shatner. The historically rich South offers unexpected surprises, like the alleged site of Uncle Tom's Cabin, Native-American burial mounds, and a slew of haunted domiciles. The fake Boonesboro Beach, built along the equally fake Fort
Boonesboro, is a sad testament to hokey tourist traps gone awry. Through a series of abandoned homesteads, Revolutionary War-era cemeteries, lonely roads, local mysteries, and other "weird stuff," you'll get a sense of the sometimes poor, often humble, yet fiercely proud and fascinating folks of rural Kentucky.
http://www.unusualkentucky.com/
SEE THE STARS, EVEN THOSE YOU MISSED
You can view the sky from anywhere on Earth, at any hour. Use this site as a reference, or see what the sky will look like in 2400!
http://skyandtelescope.com/observing/skychart/
TEST YOUR HARD DRIVE WITH FREE SOFTWARE
If your computer is acting strangely, the problem could be in your hard drive. Western Digital, a hard drive manufacturer, has software available to test any brand. The software first uses external commands to test drives. Then it calls on drives' self-test features. Only late model drives are likely to have these features, known as Self-Monitoring Analysis and Reporting Technology. SMART is an industry standard used by most manufacturers. The tests will give you the serial and model numbers of the drive. They also will report on the drive's condition. The software is at:
http://support.wdc.com/dlg
NOT SURE WHICH SEARCH ENGINE TO USE?
Terra Lycos' HotBot search tool, http://www.hotbot.com, has been upgraded. It now gives users the choice of four search engines: Google, Inktomi, Teoma and Fast Search & Transfer. Users can toggle between the engines without retyping the search query.
CONNECTION SPEED
If you want a real-time readout on your current Internet connection, check with the measuring services on the Web. Here are two places to run tests for free:
Bandwidth Place, http://bandwidthplace.com/speedtest/
Broadband Reports http://www.dslreports.com/stest
GOOGLE SHOWS WHAT PEOPLE THINK OF YOU
There's a new service, if you can call it that. Enter your name, the name of someone else, or practically anything else. Google will do a search and synthesize opinions, based on its findings.
If you have nothing better to do, put in your name and see what comes up. You'll find it at:
http://googlism.com/
THE BATTLE OF THE BRAINS
Which is stronger, the left side of your brain or the right? Find out through this simple color test.
http://www.humorsphere.com/fun/colortest.swf
McAFEE FREESCAN
Did you know that there are over 60,000 computer viruses worldwide and the list grows daily? If you don’t have a quality anti-virus solution protecting your PC, you could be infected with a viruses and not even know it. Here comes NEW McAfee FreeScan to the rescue!
Based on the award-winning McAfee VirusScan engine, FreeScan searches for viruses, including the latest known "in the wild" viruses, and displays a detailed list of any infected files. Should viruses be found, FreeScan even provides links to give you more information about the virus and what you can do to clean your system.
Remember, FreeScan only identifies whether you have a virus on your computer. To clean infected files and ensure you stay protected from future viruses and outbreaks, McAfee Security recommend you install an industry-leading anti-virus solution, like McAfee VirusScan Online.
http://www.mcafee.com/myapps/mfs/default.asp
Image Gate
The New York Public Library's new database provides access to tens of thousands of amazing digitized images taken from the Research Libraries. And, according to the site, that number will grow to more than 600,000 images by the end of 2004. Wow! Many of the images are organized by collection for your browsing and searching pleasure. New York City Street Views by Alice Austen capture Manhattan street scenes and street types circa 1896, while Anna Atkins first photographically produced book uses the blueprint process to showcase incredible images of algae specimens. Don't miss the Detroit Company Postcards -- a huge collection of 768 exquisite used postcards that feature detailed accounts of personal experiences such as riding on a horse-drawn carriage and attending a bull fight. This spectacular site promises to evolve as other collections are added to the database, so check back often for new images.
http://digital.nypl.org/imagegate/newgate/index.cfm
A Day in the Life
The concept of this site is simple enough: present the work of a new photographer by posting one snapshot every day for a week. The result is an intricate composite of photos with a unique perspective on the world. The subjects of the images are at the discretion of the photographer; the only requirement is that the shots are taken within the past 24 hours, keeping this site fresh. Most of the photos have been snapped in the States, but stunning images from Lebanon, Brazil, Poland, Russian, and other countries can also be found here. From a sunset in Seattle to a magazine stand in Paris to a brunch in Australia, this site turns the world upside-down for brilliant views.
http://www.adayinthelife.org/
Navel Maniac
Is it possible to create a site that fetishizes a part of the human anatomy without crossing the line into adult-oriented material? The answer from Belgium is a hearty "Yes!" Armed with nothing more than a digital camera and some gumption, the Navel Maniac patrols the streets of Brussels asking strangers if he can take pictures of their belly buttons. The resulting site is an ode to innies and outies alike, as we see a wide variety of very tastefully displayed navels. Some are pierced, some are pasty, and others are tanned and taut. This photo-laden devotion to all things bellybutton won't make your stomach turn. In fact, it will probably prompt you to ponder more than your own navel.
http://users.swing.be/navels/
A Photo a Day
A while back, a couple of friends began emailing photos to each other every day. The circle of recipients slowly grew, and much like that shampoo commercial from the '70s, friends told friends who told friends, and a site was born. A perfect example of a "viral community," this site now boasts over 180 "friends" from around the world. The three current featured essays focus on photos snapped on journeys -- one photographer traveled across the country, another stayed close to home, while the third went around the world and spent a month in China. The galleries are equally impressive, featuring works from dozens of members. If you don't get your photo fix here, head over to the blog where you'll find interesting links and information. And if you're an aspiring photojournalist, you're invited to join this "home for work that you shot for you, not them."
http://www.aphotoaday.org/
Ghost Town Gallery
The California Gold Rush in the mid-19th century turned a remote region into a full-fledged state and brought millions of people to the American West. But not everyone stayed, and hundreds of ghost towns litter the area between Colorado and the Pacific Ocean. Two Swiss natives share their love of these abandoned Western buildings and present the stunning photographs on this site.
Bodie, California, is a classic ghost town -- back in the 1880s, Bodie had nearly 8,000 residents, 65 saloons, a red-light district, and a Chinatown, but was empty by WWII. Snowy mountains serve as a backdrop to South Park City, Colorado, and its general store, still stocked with antique bottles. There's no hustle and bustle left in Manhattan, Nevada, just an old wooden church framed by a vintage truck's window. The rush may be over in the West, but these photos of arrested decay are gems in their own right.
http://www.ghosttowngallery.com/
KODAK EASYSHARE Software Finds Your Pictures, Easy!
It's easy to organize and edit your pictures when you use KODAK EASYSHARE Software. The powerful, yet easy-to-use design helps you locate and organize all the pictures on your desktop. Edit, share, or print your digital pictures too--all one-touch simple!
Download EASYSHARE Software - Free! http://www.kodak.com/global/en/digital/easyShare/software/softwareDownload.jhtml
National Geographic Photo of the Day
Download a new desktop wallpaper every day--or browse the archive for past Photos of the Day.
http://click.nationalgeographic.email-publisher.com/maaaNPhaaVCCJacs8fdbaaaaif/
Traveler Photo Contest Winners
We asked for entries, and you sent them--more than 12,000, in fact. See Traveler's picks for the top ten winning shots.
http://click.nationalgeographic.email-publisher.com/maaaNPhaaVCCFacs8fdbaaaaif/
Best Free Online Virus Scanner
Panda's ActiveScan is a winner. ActiveScan scours your machine for malicious code and disinfects it. This virus-scan software is designed for Internet Explorer.
http://www.pandasoftware.com/activescan/com/
Fun with Photos
As digital imaging hardware and software has come down in price, the pastime of digital photo manipulation -- commonly referred to as 'photoshopping'
- has become a hugely popular hobby on the Internet. When used as a form of humorous satire, many consider this photographic fakery to be a new creative art form. Although it's primarily a hobby of amateur pixel pushers, even professionals are getting into the act as a way to polish their skills and take a break from the monotony or seriousness of their daily work. Here's a selection of sites offering galleries of photoshopped images and contests you can participate in to practice and show off your photoshopping skills.
http://graphicssoft.about.com/cs/photoshopping/
SPYWARE on your machine right now
There may secret agents on your computer right now, sending information back to marketing headquarters about your surfing habits. Those agents are called spyware or
adware, and you probably installed them on your hard drive unknowingly. Don't let them monitor you without your permission; get the tools to get rid of them. Our editors tested and compared the most popular antispyware software out there: Lavasoft's Ad-aware and Spybot Search and Destroy. The surprising winner was
Spybot, which does all the dirty work that $40 Ad-aware 6.0 does--for free. Ad-aware has long been the favorite package, but its free version was anemic compared to Spybot's wealth of features, which includes a secure file shredder, a way to opt out of junk mail, and the ability to stop pop-up ads and Trojan horses. Read our reviews and see our security expert Robert Vamosi's strategy for hunting
adware.
http://www.cnet.com/software/0-8888-8-20866869-1.html
GET JAVA VIRTUAL MACHINE FROM SUN MICROSYSTEMS
Java is a programming language often used on the Internet to show menus, process requests and more. Microsoft has been locked in a struggle with Sun over the Java language for some time. The result for you is that you probably don't have the latest Java virtual machine in Internet Explorer.
The virtual machine is software that reads Java. You can get the most modern version from Sun here:
http://java.sun.com/getjava
Art Directors Anonymous: Escalate
Maybe it's a matter of instant gratification. Maybe it's because they are compact, lightweight, and easy-to-use. Whatever the reasons, digital cameras have quickly become a staple in today's visual-arts arena. As never before, 21st-century shutterbugs can experiment, tweak, and instantaneously capture unrehearsed views of life with the use of this sexy gadget. This sleek site celebrates the fresh, boundless imagination of some Canadian artists expressed through their trusty point-and-shoots. Each person was asked to produce a 60-second Flash movie that offers a digital slice of life. Web Architect Padrin Kwok shows us the bustle of the Toronto subway system as he scurries off to work. Chief Imagineer Carole Guevin presents stop-and-go vignettes of city life with a lazy, jazzy ambience. Creative Director Curtis Achilles shows off his weakness for stir-fried prawns and noodles and the desire to impress his girlfriend. If you have 15 minutes to spare, enjoy the wit, talent, and personal vision captured in these one-minute teasers.
http://www.artdirectorsanonymous.com/escalate/
Oldsmobile Ads
In December of 2000, General Motors decided to phase out the Oldsmobile model. Many fans of the stylish sedan saw it as a sad passing of Americana
- for many years, the Olds was the king of the road, particularly during the late '40s and early '50s. This impressive collection of ads from magazines during that era touts the dependability and durability of these classic American machines. The ads represent a more innocent style of America advertising, when
"futuramic" styling and "OLDSmobility" were the buzzwords for an "exciting rocket age." Make sure to stop by the Junkyard section, a photo collection of abandoned older cars, many of which are overgrown with weeds. This leisurely cruise down memory lane offers a nostalgic look at the car with the grand old name.
http://www.oldsads.com/
Dogs in Cars
We've all seen them. They ride along - sometimes in the back, other times shotgun
- unaware of their destination. They peer out the window with confused looks on their long faces, wondering when the car will stop so they can get out and sniff around. Where are these loveable hounds going? This site illustrates the plight of these forgotten canine souls with a collection of endearing photos. The subjects are occasionally difficult to make out, but the lovable pooches are just trying to survive the drive with their heads above water. It's a new site, so if you have pictures of dogs in cars, send them in and they'll likely be posted on the site. And remember, the site's warning about the dogs in cars: "If we're not careful and they spend too much time in their metal prisons, they might just learn to drive."
http://www.dogsincars.co.uk/
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