Cool Web Sites
by Don Singleton
Tulsa Computer Society
From the January 1998 issue of the I/O Port Newsletter
CLAUS.COM is one of the top-rated, most popular Christmas sites on the Internet. Santa Claus and his helpers have created a truly creative experience for kids of all ages. There are lots of things to see and do that you won't find anywhere else. And you'll also enjoy the most colorful illustrations on the entire Internet! Look over this quick guide to the site, and then click any of the links on this screen, or return to the village screen and click on any of the buildings. Have fun and Santa Claus hopes to see you here in the village often between now and Christmas.
Santa Claus's Naughty or Nice Archives
Sneak a peek at your rating on Santa Claus on his Naughty or Nice List! And find out the Top Ten Ways to make the Naughty List, as well as the Top Ten Ways to make the Nice List. Remember, Santa Claus is watching!
Santa Claus Elf School
Earn Honorary Elf Diplomas by playing some of the elves' favorite games. Santa Claus creates a new game every week! Get started and print out your personalized Diplomas.
Christmas Calendar
Get the latest North Pole news each day! What's going on at the Toy Workshop? What special visitors have come to see Santa Claus? What festivities are taking place each night? It's all here.
Toy Workshop
Choose your very own Elf Buddy, check out the latest in toy making machines, and see lots of Santa Claus's favorite toys.
Santa Claus House
See how Santa Claus and Mrs. Santa Claus have decorated, and learn about Christmas traditions. You can also see what Santa Claus is up to when he's not busy in the Workshop by checking out his funny slide show!
Holiday Karaoke
The world famous elf band, Rolling Snowballs, play Christmas songs personally selected by Santa Claus. As the band plays, the words to the songs will be shown on the screen so you can sing along.
E-mail Post Office
Send Santa Claus an E-mail letter, and Santa Claus will send you an E-mail back. You can track the progress of your E-mail with the help of special elf, Freddy Fast 'n Quick!
Mrs. Claus's Kitchen
Try out some of Mrs. Claus's holiday recipes. She's come up with some really neat ones this year. See which ones are favorites of Santa Claus, the elves and the reindeer. You'll love the Santa Shake!
Santa Claus Tracker On Christmas Eve
The only tracking system of its kind in the universe! See exactly where Santa Claus is as he travels around the world. Check how many cookies Santa Claus eats and how many glasses of milk he drinks! And watch as Santa Claus gets closer and closer to your house!!!
I used the Naughty and Nice archived and was relieved to find that I recently moved from naughty list over to the nice list. I made the nice list by helping out around the house a little more than usual. Santa hope's this trend continues. Santa told me I was someone he really like when they are nice.
Top 10 ways to make the nice list
10. Let someone else have the last piece.
9. Recycle your aluminum, paper, plastic and glass.
8. Share the TV remote.
7. Volunteer to do a chore.
6. Refill the ice cube trays.
5. Get your pet from an animal shelter.
4. Give someone else the foul ball at a baseball game.
3. Always put the lid back on the toothpaste.
2. Let another person stand under your umbrella.
1. Clean the lint out of the dryer screen for the next
Top 10 Ways to make the Naughty List
10. Not scrubbing behind your ears.
9. Trying to find hidden Christmas presents.
8. Pulling off those mattress tags that say, "Do not remove."
7. Not rewinding videos before returning them.
6. Getting into the "Express Lane" when you know you have more than 10 items.
5. Pushing toys under bed instead of putting them away.
4. Putting out milk for Santa Claus that's seven days beyond the expiration date.
3. Rewrapping a gift you didn't like and giving it to someone else.
2. Stretching your Christmas stocking so it holds more.
1. Tugging on someone's beard. (This is a pet peeve of Santa Claus.)
Discover Christmas around the world! Select a place in the world from a map or select:
The Origin of Christmas
All about Santa Claus
Christmas Symbolism
Other Seasonal Holidays
Early Christmas in America
Christmas in many languages
Christmas Recipes
Christmas Music
Christmas Tree Ornaments
Learn about Iceland and the Yule Traditions and Yule Lore in ancient and modern times.
Jólasveinarnir, The Yuletide Lads, will visit the Website starting on December 12th. The Icelandic Jólasveinar leave small gifts for good children, who put their shoes on the windowsill at night. The Jólasveinar will also leave a Cyber-gift for you each day, as they arrive in town from the mountains, where they live for most of the year.
They use the English word Yule instead of Christmas as we want to emphasize the close connection the English and Icelandic languages had in the past when the tongues were essentially the same.
Yule in Iceland will be on the Web until midnight January 6th 1998, the official end of Yule according to Icelandic traditions
Dec. 18th Hurđaskellir
Dec. 19th Skyrgámur
Dec. 20th Bjúgnakrćkir
Dec. 21st Gluggagćgir
Dec. 22nd Gáttaţefur
Dec. 23rd Ketkrókur
Dec. 24th Kertasníkir
Christmas Baking
Amish Sugar Cookies
Cookie Kisses
Gingerbread Ornaments
Fruit Cake
Nutmeg Roll
Pecan Pie
Vanilla and Chocolate Layer Pie
Wreath Cookies
Christmas Candy
Caramel Corn
Elves' Fudge
Fruit Bars
Fudge
Seven Layer Bar
M & M Chocolate Chews
Peanut Clusters
Peppermint Balls
Snow Candy
Christmas Drinks
Eggnog
Hot Cranberry Punch
Santa's Punch
Mary Mahar's favorite Christmas recipes
Christmas Divinity
Candied Cranberries
Christmas Soup
Cranberry Punch
Red Cabbage Slaw
Ham Loaf
Baked Spinach Casserole
Gravy Tip - Want to make gravy just like grandma?
AutoPilot - receive a personalized and comprehensive itinerary that explains how to get from Point A to Point B, and more.
Maps On Us - don't know how to get "there?" Ask here. Free interactive route planning.
(Deb and Jen's) Land O' Useless Facts
Did you know:
The letter J does not appear anywhere on the periodic table of the elements.
Windmills always turn counter-clockwise. Except for the windmills in Ireland.
Dallas, Texas was named after George M. Dallas, President Polk's veep.
WACO is the only radio station in the United States that spells out it's location city.
The word "lethologica" describes the state of not being able to remember the word you want.
If Brooklyn, New York became independent of New York City, it would be the third largest city in the United States, after the remainder of New York and Los Angeles.
An ostrich's eye is bigger than it's brain.
The London Underground station "St. John's Wood" is the only such station to not contain any of the letters of the word "Mackerel.
I, Q, and X are the only letters that don't start a city that ends in -ville in the state of Ohio. i.e. Brownsville, Zanesville, etc.
The billionth digit of pi is 9.
Rhythms" and "syzygy" are the longest English words without vowels.
New York City is nicknamed the Big Apple after an early swing dance that originated in a South Carolina club (actually a converted church) called The Big Apple.
Liquid paper was invented by Bette Nesmith Graham, mother of Mike Nesmith (of the Monkees) in 1951.
More money is printed daily for the Monopoly game than by the U.S. Treasury.
Liszt
Searchable and browsable list of 84.792 email discussion groups and mailing lists.
Arts (135 lists) Literature, Television, Movies ...
Business (68 lists) Finance, Jobs, Marketing ...
Computers (148 lists) Internet, Database, Programming ...
Culture (134 lists) Gay, Jewish, Parenting ...
Education (48 lists) Distance_Education, Academia, Internet ...
Health (123 lists) Medicine, Allergy, Support ...
Humanities (188 lists) Philosophy, History, Psychology ...
Music (141 lists) Bands, Singer-Songwriters, Genres ...
Nature (69 lists) Animals, Environment, Plants ...
News (26 lists) International, Regional, Politics ...
Politics (70 lists) Environment, Activism, Human_Rights ...
Recreation (119 lists) Games, Autos, Sports ...
Religion (66 lists) Christian, Jewish, Women ...
Science (65 lists) Biology, Astronomy, Chemistry ...
Social (19 lists) Regional, Religion, Kids ...
Also has a list of newsgroups at http://www.liszt.com/news/
Reporter's Guide to Internet Mailing Lists
Next time you jump online to research a story, fire up your lowly email program instead of your World Wide Web browser. It's not as flashy, but any writer with an email account has unprecedented access to breaking news, original story ideas and vast archives of collective knowledge.
The secret is learning how to exploit the Internet's massive network of mailing lists.
For the uninitiated, there are roughly 40,000 mailing lists on specialized topics from environmental law to presidential politics. Each list has a set of subscribers, usually between 10 and 2,000 people, with varying levels of expertise and interest in the list topic. The character and tone of each list varies widely, but typically, one subscriber sends a message and it goes to the entire list for everyone to read.
The following guide explains where to find the best lists and how to use them effectively in your day-to-day work.
That's Useful, This Is Cool
Features two sites, one of which is Useful, one of which is Cool, every weekday and gives a short description of the site. Archives are available so you can check out the Useful and Cool sites for preceeding weeks.
The Weather Classroom
Hey, teachers, if you're looking for science and nature curricula, the Weather Channel has a whole site devoted to weather education. The site's 200 pages of material are linked with a series of 8 minute commercial-free programs that air in a block of three on the cable network Mondays and Thursdays at the ungodly hour of 4 am EST (for videotaping, one presumes). Teacher resources include teaching guides and related experiments for students to carry out.
FedLaw
Directory of federal laws, rules and regulations.
FindLaw
FindLaw's searchable database of Supreme Court decisions since 1937. The comprehensive legal resource is also browsable by year and by US Reports volume number, amongst other things.
IBM Patent Server
Free online access to all US patent claims filed since 1974 as well as the last 23 years of images. The first entries date back to January 5, 1971. You can search, retrieve and study over two million patents. There are What's New? and FAQ pages, as well as information on the interesting history and background of this site and a patent Resource Page.
PoliceScanner.com
Got RealAudio? If so, you may want to head over to PoliceScanner.com, "where you can hear real cops on the beat 24 hours a day." Broadcast by AudioNet, the site offers live broadcasts of the Dallas, Plano, Los Angeles, and New York police and fire departments.
Surf School
An online guide (and then some) to understanding and using this thing we call the 'Net. Surf School covers everything from extreeeme basics ("Where do I go when I click something?") to the more involved and complicated issues of, say, online communications and multimedia (Shockwave, Java, IRC, et al.) You'll also find features such as Ask the Surf Guru, "the man with the plan" who answers three of your questions a week ("What's a DNS error?"); Surf Stories, "helpful bits of knowledge from people who've been there and done that"; and a glossary called Surf Lingo. Watch out for that wave.
Internet Cartoons Forum
Explore cartooning in all its forms: the people and characters, the art and business, magazine cartoons, newspaper strips, comic books, caricature, editorial, film and TV animation, graphic stories, mini-comics, cartoon jams, humorous illustration, and online cartooning.
National Headache Foundation
National League of Junior Cotillions
The NLJC is an organization devoted to
teaching students "etiquette, ethics, and social dance." It covers
such questions as:
SHOULD I BRING A GIFT?
Q. When invited to someone's house for dinner, should you always bring something? If so, what (i.e. a box of chocolates or dessert)?
A. Brining a gift to a dinner is entirely optional. We suggest, however, that you present your hosts a small gift on your first visit.
THROWING YOUR OWN PARTY
Q. We will be moving into a new home in a few months. When we are settled, I would like to have friends and relatives over for a party to celebrate our new home with us. How do I do that? If I call it a house-warming party, will that sound like we are asking for gifts? Do we call it an open house? Or should we not host it at all, hoping someone else will offer to?
A. Yes, you may host your own party, but please call it an "Open House." That takes away any stigma of soliciting gifts--however, we think you will be surprised at how many guests bring a gift to your new home.
HOW DO I SAY THANKS?
Q. I recently received a gift from my daughter's teaching thanking me for my help during the school year. Do I need to respond back to her with a thank you note or gift?
A. A "Thank You" note is perfectly in order. The teacher's act of appreciation was not designed as a gift exchange.
WHO SHOULD HOST A BABY SHOWER?
Q. What is the etiquette on who should throw a baby shower for the mother-to- be?
A. There is no fixed rule regarding hosting a baby shower. However, it is usually arranged by a close friend of the expectant mother. If the person's mother or mother-in-law determines that a shower is not planned, she may take the initiative and host the event.
WHAT IS "DRESSY CASUAL?
Q. My husband and I have been invited to a reception to be held on Sunday afternoon at a yacht club. The invitation includes a dress code that says "Dressy casual." What should we wear?
A. "Dressy casual" means that dressy shorts, skirts, or simple dresses would be worn by the ladies. Gentlemen should wear long trousers with dress shirts. Jackets or sweaters can be worn over the shirts. (Ties are optional)
HOW SHOULD I ANSWER?
Q. I just received a rather informal note inviting me to a social event. What is considered proper etiquette for responding?
A. Invitations should be answered with the same degree of formality as that which has been used for sending them. Your informal invitation may be answered either by telephone or by the same type of note.
PLACE PLATES
Q. A friend of mine was recently talking about a "place plate" and I didn't have the slightest idea what she was talking about. Can you inform me?
A. Place plates are dishes that plates are placed on, but never used for food. They are usually slightly larger than the food plate which is placed on them. After their use, they should be removed from the table.
SIGN OF THE CROSS
Q. My fiance-to-be left me incisively and arrogantly after I spent Christmas dinner with his family because I did the sign of the Cross blessing to myself (I am a quiet Catholic) and didn't "show" his family of three the gestures of this Catholic habit. Did he act properly under the circumstances?
A. How you choose to display your religious beliefs is a matter of personal choice and should never be done for show. The same can be said for saying grace before a meal. Remember, Jesus criticized those whose motive was "to be seen of men" (Matthew 23:5)
WHICH CHAIR DO I TAKE?
Q. When I am being seated in a restaurant with my boyfriend, I am walking ahead of him. Do I go to the chair farthest away, or do I sit at the chair I come to first and he walks around?
A. Yes, the gentleman is walking behind you as you approach your table. As you pause (at the second chair if two are on one side), he will pull the chair out and you will enter from the right. The gentleman takes the chair to the left and enters from the left side.
BABY ANNOUNCEMENTS
Q. I am pregnant and have recently had a shower. Are you supposed to send a baby announcement to each person from whom I received a gift?
A. The purpose of the announcement is to formally notify your friends of the arrival of your baby. We recommend that you also send the announcement to those who attended your shower.
WOMEN PAYING FOR DINNER
Q. Today's women often pay the bill at a restaurant. What is the gracious way to handle this matter?
A. Quietly, ask the waitperson to give the bill to you. When it arrives, if others offer to pay, simply say, "Thank you , but you are my guests today."
NAPKIN ETIQUETTE
Q. I never seem to know what to do with a cloth napkin. And where do I place if I have to excuse myself from the table during a meal?
A. When placing the napkin on your lap, be sure the fold is next to your waist. When excusing yourself to go to the powder room, place the napkin on your chair. At the end of the meal, fold the napkin once and place it on the table to the left of your place setting.
ASK FOR HOT SAUCE?
Q. I like hot sauce on my food and add it to almost everything but ice cream. Would I be out of order to ask for something spicy when I am eating at someone's house?
A. As a courtesy to your host, never add spices, even salt or pepper until you have tasted the food. If you need a condiment, use what is on the table and use it sparingly. You don't want to send a message that the food is tasteless. Make it a rule never to insult the cook by asking for a special sauce to be added to what has been prepared.
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Tulsa Computer Society 12/08/97
Don Singleton, President
tcs@galstar.com