Web Walk!

Computer Life column for January 23, 1999
by
Richard Gordon

It's been months since I've taken you to some of the web sites I've hit after I've put my son to bed: Here it is: the first Web Walk of 1999.

People sometimes say that the previews are the best part of going to a movie. For the first time ever, you can vote for your favorite movie "trailers" by visiting Hollywood Online's Trailer Awards Web site (sites.hollywood.com/trailerawards).

You can vote in eight different categories; for example, I selected the trailer for "Pi" as the most stylish trailer and the preview for "Enemy of the State" as the best action trailer.

You can download the nominees you haven't already seen at a theater. But be forewarned that it can take 20 minutes or more to download these previews with a modem.

Recently, I was discussing spring practice with one of the assistant coaches for the soccer team I coach at the Western YMCA. Specifically, we were trying to determine when to start evening, outdoor practices. I checked the US Naval Observatory's table of Sunrise and Sunset Times (aa.usno.navy.mil/AA/data/docs/RS_OneYear.html). Looks like the Wildcats won't start weeknight practices until April.

The Naval Observatory's site is not the only one that lets you find the sunrise and sunset times for a given location. It's a quick way to create a table that covers an entire calendar year. But you'll have to convert to Daylight Savings Time yourself.

A similar site, sponsored by CompuSolve and two partners (www.mindspring.com/~cavu/sunset.html), allows more flexibility in how the information is presented and corrects for Daylight Savings Time.

Both sites provide time for sunrise, sunset and--my favorite--civil twilight--not just when the sun's up, but when does it get too dark for even the craziest of coaches to run practice.

Are you an American male who grew up like my cousins, brother and me, learning to keep score at the ball park about the same time you learned to read? If the ice in January reminds you that there are only 28 days until pitchers and catchers report to spring training, you sound like a candidate to visit Sports Illustrated's historical profiles of major league players and teams (cgi.cnnsi.com/baseball/mlb/historical_profiles/). Even though the data from 1997 and 1998 aren't loaded yet, this site provides an easy-to-use way to jog your memory.

I had a recent question about how to cite on-line works in high school and college papers. One new site worth checking is Janice Walker and Todd Taylor's Columbia Guide to Online Style (www.columbia.edu/cu/cup/cgos/idx_basic.html). The Columbia University Press wants you to buy the book, but the Web site provides students and teachers a headstart with documenting information found on the Internet.

Terry Jones, "just a guy in the pews," maintains a fascinating listing of information about the Saints of the Catholic Church, in particular, which Saint has "patronage" over which topics (members.xoom.com/sjs/patronnf.htm). For example, we learn that Amand is the patron saint of wine merchants, and that Blaise--an Armenian martyred in the 4th century when his "flesh [was] torn by iron wool-combs"--watches over animals, builders, carvers, coughs, goitres, healthy throats, stonecutters, throat diseases, veterinarians, whooping cough, wool-combers, and wool weavers.

Tip of the week

Y2K

You've checked your computer, you've checked your software. But have you checked to see if your data files are ready for the Year 2000?

Some of my colleagues at the University of Delaware have put together a good collection of tips on everything from risk assessment to date formats (www.udel.edu/topics/software/general/y2k/2000gen.html). Although some information is specific to the University, it will get you started sorting through your data files.

Copyright © 1999, The News Journal Company

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