THE WEB SIDE CAFÉ

Copyright 2001 by Roxana Muise

Links to Tasty Websites On:

Astrology, Science, Mythology, Fun, Health, Computers, Cutting Edge, Educational, etc...

Other sources of astrology web sites, chat rooms, and news groups abound. The Web Side Cafe is dedicated to broadening the knowledge base of all astro-computer users by introducing you to subjects that can enhance and enrich the study of astrology. Some of these subjects include astronomy, mythology, web users hazards and liabilities, and just plain fun.

Some websites in the current edition belong to scientists who are classified "on the fringe" by their colleagues – I classify these as people who are open to non-mainstream ideas. We need to support some of them. In many cases, they are at least non-hostile to astrology.

SEISMIC ACTIVITY

Great jumping off site! This gives a map of the USA and lists current and recent seismic events, their location, depth, and magnitude. It links with each section of the US, and most earthquake-prone states.

James Berkland, MS, author of this earthquake prediction and information site is a geologist, retired from the U.S.G.S. He developed a simple model to locate potential seismic activity. His site lists successful use of this model, and is filled with data of interest to astrologers. Berkland’s work is based on time windows that include Sun, Moon, Earth alignments (syzygy), maximum ocean and solid Earth tides, and closest proximity of the Moon (perigee) and Sun (perihelion) to the Earth. That’s astrology, folks!

PLANETS & STUFF

D. Tom VanFlandren’s site has data about the Leonid Meteor showers/storms, little known information about the June 2001 Solar eclipse, and the Near-Earth Asteroid Rendezvous (NEAR) spacecraft’s orbit of Eros in January/February 1999. For those of us interested in astronomical controversy, there is even commentary about the "Face on Mars". This site has lots of nooks and crannies that make for very interesting surfing.

David Talbot, co-author of "The Electric Universe" has a beautiful and source-full site that includes ideas about ancient writings about the solar system. He has a theory that may help to explain one of the mechanisms of astrology. Current research may prove his theory, and astrologers need to be along side of him so the research doesn’t get lost. A fascinating site.

WEB COUNTERS

For those of you with websites - do you have a counter to let you know how many visits it has in a day, a week, a month? This web site provides unlimited counters, an unlimited number of hits, with unlimited technical support. Choose from 280 counter styles of various designs and colors. Four different types of accounts, from individual to professional. Lots of stats available.

Another set of counter choices. In addition to lots of counter styles, this company includes free customizable countdown clocks for Holidays, Birthdays, etc. Weekly stats available.

WORDS

Verbivores devour words. If you love words, their derivations, puns, double entendre, and the like. this is the site for you! I tripped over a book called "Bride of Anguished English", and each morning after breakfast I read a chapter to my husband. We sometimes get weak from laughing, but it sets a happy tone for the day. I look forward to his other books. Especially look at the link to "Looking at Language Archives."

http://www.wordsmith.org/

Do you want to enlarge your vocabulary? A.Word.A.Day is one page on the site that supports wordsmiths by emailing them one new English vocabulary word with its definition each day. The service is free. There is another page full of anagrams.

INTERNET SAFETY

Besides protecting your computer from viruses, the issue of privacy is of utmost importance. There are many safeguards that you can use to protect your computer from unscrupulous people. Anytime you do business on line, any time you sign up for a "free" newsletter, anytime you post an email to a user group, be sure that you know the company’s privacy policy. For example, if you are spammed, do NOT reply, as that is the way for the spammer to find out if your email is active, so they can sell your address to others.

HTML email may look pretty, but it can hide JavaScript that can compromise your privacy. Tell your associates not to send you HTML email. Another way to gain access to information from your computer is the web browser cookie. These chunks of data left on your computer by a web site for your "convenience" so you can log onto a preferred site, can be used for disreputable purposes. If you must accept cookies, accept only those that get sent back to the originating server. If you do a lot of net surfing, you can remove cookies before you turn off your computer. Don’t assume that your server or a browser will protect your privacy. Caveat emptor. Internet safety is your responsibility, just as much as is making a backup of your files.

Your author realizes the absurdity of introducing web sites with free offers, while warning against the problems "free" offers can present. Life is full of such ambiguities.

The Internet Insider Radio Show, a nationally syndicated weekend hour program that answers many questions about computers, viruses, tricks and techniques to help speed up your computing time. This particular web page lists the latest internet viruses, and offers free subscriptions to their Insider Tip Letter delivered weekly to your computer. It’s really helpful.

Galactus hosts Anonymity and Privacy on the Internet, a site that explains and links to techniques to hide your identity on the internet, enhance your privacy online, and protect your computer from unauthorized intruders.

Lycos Zone hosts Marshall Brain’s "HowStuffWorks", a great site that gives you basic cookie information. Cookies are pieces of information stored on your computer in the form of text by a web server. That information can be retrieved later by the website. This text is coded demographic information. This site covers all facts about cookies, including problems and solutions. This is a portal site that links to other categories of HowStuffWorks.

ALTERNATIVE HEALING

Free Health Dispatch Emails. Dr. David Williams is a chiropractor, a researcher, and a world-traveler, who searches for, and finds many natural remedies for common (and not-so-common) ailments. This author has subscribed to his regular newsletter for many years, and now, Dr. Williams shares cutting-edge information in a free health email. Add to that his new web site, where he shares findings on natural healing methods available to everyone.

Dr Andrew Weil’s site features articles on natural healing subjects that date back to 1997. Included in the site are links to other alternative health sites, and information on Dr Weil’s books and newsletter, "Natural Healing".

The American Holistic Health Association site features resources for alternative healing options. They offer a free email to report special updates in this industry. They rely on contributions of information from supporters, so you get to sound off and share your experiences with holistic methods.

CURRENT EVENTS

The Nando Times Stateside is the place to go to find out what has happened in the recent news. They have sections on our nation, sports, politics, editorials, business, technology, health and science, entertainment, and weather. A simple, clean website without frills. Their archives go back 2 weeks.

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