|
|
| October 15, 2004 |
The Word on the Street
Sex! Murder! Disaster! Juicy tabloid headlines or journalistic history? Before yellow journalism's heyday, broadsides were the pop-culture vehicles of early newsmongers. These single sheets of paper, posted on alehouses and public venues, were initially reserved for royal proclamations and official notices. They quickly expanded their distribution and content to cover local crime, sport, romance, humour, and superstitions which eager readers consumed with ravenous delight. Here you'll find 300 years of tales from Scotland's storied past, featuring wives for sale, execution notices, cholera outbreaks, and even ghostly apparitions. Dating from 1650 to 1910, these priceless media nuggets prove that whether fact, fiction, or mere exaggeration, the public's appetite for sensationalism has long been insatiable. (featured June 2004 in US Yahoo! Picks) |
|
| October 14, 2004 |
Kath & Kim
Look out peoples! Kath and Kim are back, not only with new episodes, but with a new updated web site to boot. This season is rumored to be the most hilarious yet. It's going to be chockfull of celebrity guests -- and who can resist a storyline involving a new baby? Check out Kath and Kim's "What's Hot/What's Not" lists for 2004. For Kath, what's hot includes "stretch jeans with a 12 inch fly." We think that look is definitely coming back as well, Kath! For Kim, Big Brother is out, (or just until it comes back on the air.) The site also features a dedicated forum for Prude and True. Be sure and check out their guide to good enunciation. Will Gary and his stinky cigarillos ruin Kath & Kel's relations forever? How will Brett cope with the stresses of fatherhood? Is Sharon's godmother status still up in the air? This, the official site, will answer these Forest Lake questions and more. |
|
| October 13, 2004 |
Positive Lives
AIDS is everyone's problem. In Australia today, people who contract HIV are often able to lead normal lives due to recent medical advances. However, this is not the case in the rest of the world where people not only suffer from the disease, but also suffer from a lack of understanding in their communities. This site introduces you to people who are impacting communities hit hard by the disease. In rural Thailand, HIV-positive monks care for the dying and educate locals who are misinformed about the spread of the virus. Korean Kim S-Woon leads the charge in a land where gays face ostracism and hostility should they "come out," resulting in lives full of secrecy and HIV-risk. In Africa, young women are prey to HIV-positive men who think sex with a virgin will cure them, while HIV-positive babies are often abandoned. Read their stories to see the true face of AIDS. |
|
| October 12, 2004 |
Double-Tongued Word Wrester
English is like a nation with an open-door policy for languages, one of the few tongues that gladly accepts foreign words and slang into its ranks, creating a mélange, potpourri, and mishmash, if you will, of cross-cultural zingers. Much like an immigration officer, the wordsmith behind this unique slang dictionary tracks borrowed, niche, hybrid, and jargon words as they land on our linguistic shores. From Canadians, we learn to be wary of bed-blockers. While we Aussies are accepting of mollydookers, and India's babalogs are obesogenic. Yanks are not necessarily Japan's puroburemu. Browse words by country of use, and co-opt a few choice phrases for your own conversation. (featured June 2004 in US Yahoo! Picks) |
|
| October 11, 2004 |
Where Did the Time Go?
Where did all that time fly by? Enough pondering -- get the answer at this site. Complete the interactive form, which takes less than five minutes, for an estimate of the number of weeks, months, and years you've wasted. The figure is based on lifestyle factors, such as your health, physical activity, and dedication to chocolate. The site then calculates how much time you squandered in a variety of activities -- from looking into the mirror and working out, to counting calories and waiting for taxis. The truly time-obsessed can get a detailed profile via email. Give this site a try. You won't be wasting your time -- at least not much of it. |
|
