return to writing
section
Cyberdriver
by Lynn Lamousin
Recurring column dedicated to "the Web's best, and sometimes
strangest, offerings"
Dossier/Atlanta Citymag, January 1999
- December 2000
Selected excerpts:
Homegrown Stuff - Groovy Little Things
to Wear
members.aol.com/hgrownstuf
Superseamstress Michelle Griffith makes "groovy little things
to wear" from recycled fabrics and found materials. The result
is an absolutely original look that can best be called hand-me-down
chic. Browse through the "Samples" section for pictures
and descriptions of popular pieces, including handbags made from
fuzzy toilet seat covers and fabulous A-line dresses that are
patchworked together from dishtowels and bed sheets. Homegrown
has expanded its business outside of Georgia, and you can also
find these funky clothes, hats and bags in shops throughout North
Carolina, Illinois, Texas, Ohio and Alaska. If want to go right
to the source, call the studio for a private showing.
Live Police and Fire Broadcasts
www.policescanner.com
Listen in on live broadcasts between dispatch and squad card in
Los Angeles, New York, Dallas, Plano or Miami. Each department
feed offers a link to police codes so you can learn the lingo
and begin to decipher a "211"(armed robbery) from a
"Code 7" (meal break). The broadcast launches using
RealPlayer or Windows Media Player so you can still surf the Internet
without interrupting the transmission. The site also offers links
to articles on the latest police and crime stories.
Whole World Comedy
www.wholeworldtheatre.com
The Whole World Theater and Café is the Atlanta spot for
improvisational comedy. This spontaneous form of entertainment
operates on a "ready, set, go be funny" system where
the actors work from their wit instead of a script. Started by
David Webster and wife Jennifer Horne Webster, a recent deal with
Turner South has propelled the troupe into the regional spotlight.
The site's "showtimes" section includes information
on the live shows at the Spring Street Theatre, and also times
for the Turner South airings. The "cast" and "crew"
sections contain pictures and bio's of both on-stage and behind
the scene troupe members. If you're interested in learning this
spontaneous form of comedy visit the "classes" section
for information about their in acting and improv courses.
Zoo Atlanta
www.zooatlanta.org
Zoo Atlanta's wild and wonderful Web site covers a jungle-sized
amount of information. Sections on educational activities and
a calendar of events for upcoming months are site highlights.
If your high-rise just isn't the place for a pooch, take a look
at the "Adopt an Animal" section for an alternative
idea to traditional pet ownership - who do you know with a pygmy
goat or komodo dragon? From children's birthday parties to black
tie affairs, Zoo Atlanta has several pavilions, patios, and private
areas to accommodate groups from 50 to 5,000. On-site facilitators
will help you coordinate food and beverages, music, and other
entertainment - for more info visit the "Host an Event"
section of the site or phone the Zoo Atlanta Special Event Professionals.
Kozmo.Com - From The Internet To Your
Door In Under An Hour!
www.kozmo.com
One of the most heard complaints about ordering on-line is that
when people purchase an item they want it now, not "delivered
in 6 to 8 weeks." Kozmo.com offers a solution - order from
their site, and your items will arrive in under an hour. Here's
how it works, Kozmo.com stocks a great assortment of goods divided
into the areas of Entertainment (videos, dvd's, games, music,
magazines, books), Food (snacks, meals, drinks), and Basics (health
and beauty, household). Just fill up your shopping cart with movies
and munchies, and by the time you return a couple of e-mails the
order will be at your door. To return rentals simply drop them
off in one of the numerous Kozmo.com boxes located throughout
Atlanta, or for a small fee they will pick up the items. If you're
on the road, Kozmo.com also has service in Boston, San Francisco,
New York City, Los Angeles, Seattle, Chicago, and Washington D.C.
3 Fat Chicks on a Diet
www.3fatchicks.com
An excellent resource for information on dieting and nutrition
- as well as a very personal look at three women's struggle with
obesity. Suzanne, Jennifer and Amy (a.k.a. 3 fat chicks) are sisters
who have been overweight most of their adult lives (when the site
launched in April 1997 each weighed 250 pounds). Going "public"
with a Web site was their way to encourage themselves, and others,
to lose weight. The ladies offer personal reviews on pre-packaged
diet foods, a recipe section and nutritional information for most
fast food fare. There are photos of the ladies and each keeps
an on-line journal. Their ultimate goal: to one day just be known
as "3 chicks."
Alien Abduction Experience and Research
www.abduct.com
Worth visiting for the opportunity to take the "Alien Abduction
Survey". Probing questions, such as "Have x-rays or
other procedures revealed unexplainable foreign objects lodged
in your body?," help to determine the likelihood that you
have been abducted by aliens. If you find you have been aboard
the Mother Ship, an "Alien Consultation" is offered
at $90 per hour which will help you determine how many implants
you have, what year you got each of them and how to stop this
from happening to you again.
Late Show with David Letterman
marketing.cbs.com/lateshow
Well designed and impeccably maintained, the site's highlight
is the Top Ten database which catalogues every single list in
Letterman's late night television career. The search capabilities
within the Top Ten section are stellar - just type in a topic,
event, or the name of your favorite (or least favorite) celeb
and every barb with that word or phrase is returned. Updated daily,
the site also includes info on the current night's show, a "Paul-a-Palooza"
section with audio clips from the band, and a "F.A.Q."
section with info on requesting tickets and auditioning for Stupid
Human/Pet Tricks.
Archie McPhee & Company, Outfitters
of Popular Culture
www.mcphee.com
If you are a connoisseur of the bizarre, you'll love Archie McPhee
& Company, a Seattle retailer who has recently set up shop
on-line. Trailer park classics such as lawn flamingos and fuzzy
dice are sold alongside glow-in-the-dark alien candles and voodoo
dolls. The Web site's sections are creatively named, so you may
need to venture into each to get the punchline. For example, the
"Altar-native Lifestyles" section contains odd religious
items and icons, and "Phat Boys" contains clothing and
trinkets depicting sumo wrestlers and Elvis impersonators.
KnowX - Your Courthouse on the Web
www.knowx.com
Dreamed of being a P.I. ever since you first saw Magnum speed
off in his red Ferrari? Now you can hone those investigative skills
without ever leaving the warm glow of your computer. Based out
of Atlanta, but offering nationwide information, KnowX is an easy
and concise way to search public record databases. Available searches
include records to uncover professional licensing status; home
value and ownership; and information on lawsuits, liens, and bankruptcies.
Pricing is determined by the search, and some information is free
of charge.
The J. Peterman Company
www.jpeterman.com
Strong but not imposing. Profound but not difficult to understand.
Its avenues carry rare artifacts and precious cargo. Is it Istanbul,
Rome, or Strasbourg? No…It's the J. Peterman Web site! Known
for their lavish goods and over embellished item descriptions,
this recently revamped company was made famous on Seinfeld. Now
a subsidiary of Paul Harris Stores, The J. Peterman Company operates
12 stores in 9 states and offers an on-line auction of their eclectic
and timeless merchandise. To partake in the bidding visit the
"Marketplace" section for one-of-a-kind antiques and
limited-quantity wares. The site also offers a virtual tour of
their Grand Central Station store, and information on how to apply
for jobs with the company.
Decision Guides
www.decisionguide.lycos.com
Lycos, the powerhouse Internet portal, helps simplify your life
by offering its Decision Guides site. Based on your answers to
a list of relevant questions (and using consumer research data
on vendors, models and pricing) they'll recommend the camcorder,
car or bike that is best for you. Besides tangible goods, the
Decision Guides can also help you decide what city to live in,
what college to attend, where you should go on vacation, and the
breed of dog which best fits your lifestyle.
Ask Jeeves - Smart Answers Fast!
www.askjeeves.com
If you find yourself frustrated by the irrelevant matches received
from the major search engines, then the Ask Jeeves Web site may
be your savior. Using a totally different query approach, this
search engine stands out because it lets you phrase your input
as a question. Make sure to check out the "Funny you should
ask!" section which contains a list of some of the more colorful
questions that Jeeves has been asked. The company also custom
designs search engines and they have already developed solutions
for major players such as Compaq and Toshiba.
The Smoking Gun
www.thesmokinggun.com
Data garnered from government and law enforcement resources serves
as satirical fodder for the team at The Smoking Gun. Their latest
targets are "generous" public figures who have set up
their own foundations to manage their charitable donations. Check
out the actual income tax statements, and The Smoking Gun's sharp
commentary on these tax shelters, in the "Celebrity Charity
Review." One of the funniest items in the site is found in
the "Boutique" section where you can buy a t-shirt bearing
a police mug shot of Bill Gates from a 1977 traffic-related arrest.
Uniquely Louisiana
www.louisianatravel.com
The Louisiana Office of Tourism has put together a nicely designed
and informative site. Set up to look like a travel journal, each
click of the Web page reveals more information on this quirky
state. In-depth sections reveal information on the state's cultural
history, upcoming festivals (the state is holding more than 900
this year), lodging and outdoor activities. In the "Fun Stuff"
section you can click on sayings such as "I hope you like
your crawfish spicy!" and a sound file is launched which
says the phrase in Cajun French.
return to writing
section
|
