Stay current on science in cyberspace

Gazette, The (Colorado Springs), Apr 18, 2004 by JIM BAINBRIDGE THE GAZETTE

Want to read the latest research on how zinc supplements could help treat ADHD, or the new thinking on when star-making reached its peak? Science-Daily is a free advertising-supported service that brings you breaking news about "the latest discoveries and hottest research projects in everything from astrophysics to zoology." Science-Daily is a sort of online magazine with articles selected from news releases submitted by leading universities and other research organizations around the world, each posted in its original form, with a link to the organization's home page. You also can arrange to get updates in a PDAfriendly format, without charge.

www.sciencedaily.com

VOLUNTEERS

- For those feeling the urge to volunteer time or contribute money to a cause, Network for Good is a great place to start. This nonprofit clearing house has information about 85,000 charities on its Web site.

Type in a Colorado Springs ZIP code in the volunteers section and you will find links to 50 places in the area where your help is needed.

www.networkforgood.org

ENVIRONMENT

It took until 1804 for human population to reach its first billion. Now, a billion new people are added every dozen years. NOVA, PBS' award-winning science series, explores the relationship between people and the planet with "World in the Balance," a two-hour Earth Day special, airing Tuesday and its companion Web site. Be sure to check out the site's interactive features.

www.pbs.org/wgbh/nova/worldbalance

MUSIC

It isn't much from a design standpoint... but, ah, who cares? Wilson & Alroy's Record Reviews Web site is great fun for anybody who enjoys popular music. You get a sense of the site's tone from W&A's motto, "We listen to the lousy records so you won't have to." At last count, there were "lengthy and humorless" reviews of 3,263 records with separate pages on 266 artists.

These guys have strong opinions about pop music and, despite what they say, there are plenty of chuckles to be found in categories such as "Great Songs On Lousy Albums," "Lousy Songs On Great Albums," "Most Colossally Ill-Conceived Cover Versions," and "Songs Where The Imitating Artist Excelled The Imitated One."

www.warr.org

HOAXES

- The Museum of Hoaxes is no hoax, it is "an almost daily weblog about hoaxes, pranks, and fakery of all kinds." Some of the content might be better described as inspired silliness -- the online tanning salon and the imaginary mail-order brides -- but that's a small quibble. The best part? The Hoax Galleries, especially the section on Web sites where you can buy dehydrated water, learn about Christian Women's Wrestling and revel in the mysteries of Lake Michigan Whale Watching.

www.museumofhoaxes.com

GOVERNMENT WASTE

- A legacy of the early '80s Grace Commission, Citizens Against Government Waste serves as a private, unchained, snarling watchdog against pork barrel politics. For 20 years they have tracked special- interest spending, exposed the worst offenders and "helped save taxpayers $687 billion through the implementation of Grace Commission findings." Each congressman's voting record is evaluated in the Investigations & Reports section. Outgoing Colorado Sen. Ben Nighthorse Campbell earned a score of 55 out of 100 (lukewarm to the taxpayer); Wayne Allard scored an 89 (taxpayer hero).

www.cagw.org

CONTACT THE WRITER: 636-0126 or bainbird@gazette.com