Flipping out
Is there such a thing as a global field of human consciousness? For more than three years, 37 computers around the world have been involved in a seemingly trivial pursuit: constantly "flipping" virtual coins.
Naturally, you would expect there to be a near 50-50 split of results each day. And, most of the time, that is what happened, until September 11, 2001. That day the numbers, from every one of the machines, appeared to lose much of their randomness, and move significantly in one direction.
Now researchers at the Global Consciousness Project are analysing the results from that terrible day - although they still shy away from drawing conclusions.
Home page: http://noosphere.princeton.edu/
Sept 11 results: http://noosphere.princeton.edu/dean/wtc0921.html
Live radio
Internet radio offers us a huge choice - much more than you are likely to find on your FM radio, especially if you live outside London.
And now, even if you still have not found what you are looking for, you now have a chance to put things right. For less than £20 a month, you can set up your own radio station, broadcasting live from your living room or desktop.
Live365, whose software works with PCs and Macs, allows you to start with a simple playlist of your own MP3s, and graduate to full-scale shows with your talk interspersed by music. People are already using it to inflict their taste in music on netizens around the world, or bring them shows on their local football club. After the weblog craze, could the personal radio show be next?
www.live365.com
Kazoo it
Even with personal radio stations, there are likely to be few serving this kind of musical fetish: kazoo music, including memorable cover versions of Michael Jackson's Billy Jean, and Nirvana's Smells Like Teen Spirit. Stick it on the speakers at work, and thrill colleagues during the Christmas party. http://oozak.caseyporn.com/main.php
Blurred vision
The aid agency World Vision has launched a new website - My Planet - aimed at encouraging young people to become involved in world issues such as HIV in Africa and the use of child soliders in conflicts. It is certainly an eye-pleaser, but thin content and rather tortuous navigation suggests it has got a bit to go before the site matches its ambitions. www.mypla.net
Feel it
Tolerance.org is an elegant site devoted to promoting the cause of human rights among people from all walks of life. What makes it interesting is its interactive approach.
Rather than simply assume it is preaching to the converted, the site encourages users to dig through their complacency and explore hidden biases. Its interactive tests are certainly quite demanding - and the results can be startling. Don't necessarily expect a feelgood factor after visiting.
www.tolerance.org
Virtual gadget
A Getty museum exhibition of early gadgets, Devices of Wonder, is exploring the forerunners of commonplace modern technology such as the cinema and the computer. You can take a look at some of the exhibits thanks to the tie-in website, although we suggest you opt for the lower bandwidth version. The animated version, as is so often the case, trades clarity for whizz-bang effects. www.getty.edu/art/exhibitions/devices/choice.html
New & noted
· Drive round a living Advent calendar in Hull: www.hullsangel.com
· Improve your footie skills for £50 a year: www.soccertutor.com
· Exclusive, expensive, clothes: www.oki-ni.com
Six of the best Reference sites
Find where you are going
Find out what time it is
Find that word
Online encyclopaedia
UK statistics
How much information each?
www.sims.berkeley.edu/research/projects/how-much-info
