The Rocky Horror Picture Show Official Fan Site

What makes an item a cult item? What is it that makes off the wall subjects become subjects of reverence? Several movies, when they were first made, were surprises and have huge followings. "Night of the Living Dead" and "The Blair Witch Project" are just two that come to mind. Some items with cult followings transcend media types. Today's Warped site takes a look at one such production, one that started on the stage, and continued on the big screen.

The name of the site is The Rocky Horror Picture Show Official Fan Site. From a small theatre in London in 1975 through the current date, this play/film has a following that is more than fanatical, it is a life style. You think the Deadheads were devoted to the Grateful Dead, just attend a screening of "The Rocky Horror Picture Show"! There is a theatre where I live that has been showing it every Saturday night since April 1978.

To understand this film, you have to really watch it. But at the theatres, that can be hard because of the audience participation involved. That's right, participation. People come dressed up as characters, and when there characters are on screen, they get up and act right along with them. There is an excellent explanation on how all of this came about on site.

Basically, anything you want to know about the movie or the play or the world that surrounds it is here. The Warp-o-Meter gives the site a 9.5 rating, one that I am sure was influenced by Dr. Frank N. Furter.

http://www.rockyhorror.com/

Movie-A-Minute

In this day and age, everything is rush-rush and hurry up and wait. Who has time to do anything? Take time out to have dinner, and you wind up eating at McDonald's or Burger King. Who has anytime anymore? Well, today's Warped site has some help for those of you who can't sit through a movie. Now you just have to take time to visit the site.

The site is called Movie-A-Minute. There are a lot of movies out there and very little time to watch them, as we well know . So sit back and relax, because your troubles are solved! This site has taken several classic and contemporary movies and extracted the important stuff, cutting out all the filler. (You'd be surprised how much filler there is sometimes.) With these ultra-condensed versions your favorite films, you can experience whole movies in just one minute!

So toss some popcorn in the microwave (who has time to get out a pop corn popper) and get ready for some entertaining reading. The next time you want to discuss a movie, you won't be left out of a conversation. The Warp-o-Meter gives this site an 8.0 rating.

http://rinkworks.com/movieaminute/

Time Travel for Beginners

Growing up I really liked watching the TV show "The Time Tunnel". I thought it would be cool to go back in time and visit historic places and events. Time travel has long been something that people have wanted to do. Look at H.G. Wells and his book "The Time Machine". Many films have plots centered around going backward or forwards in time. Is time travel fact of fiction. You make up your mind after reading today's Warped site.

The name of the site is Time Travel for Beginners. Her you will find out just about everything you wanted or need to know on the subject. There are several monograms on the subject which explain the concepts of time, what it is, and how it can be manipulated. This is not light reading. The concepts explain some pretty heavy theories, so have your dictionary handy. For example, we all pretty much know what a black hole is. But what about a white hole? Or a wormhole? If you read this, you will. Then there is the renewed interest in time travel, and schools such as Technion-Israel Institute of Technology in Haifa, Israel, and CalTech are exploring these concepts.

This is a small but intriguing site. It is one that has a lot of interesting ideas, but be prepared to go off exploring on your own. The Warped site rating is 7.0.

http://www.lifesci.sussex.ac.uk/home/John_Gribbin/Time_Travel.html

PoliceAbuse.org

There are good cops, and then there are bad cops. Suffice to say, there are more good ones than bad ones. But when you do encounter one, what do you do? Even good officers have bad days. But should you or someone you know suffer just because the police are having an off day. It is best to be aware of your rights before you encounter a bad cop, because it may save you from a lot of trouble in the future. Today's site has some good information on what you should and shouldn't do.

The name of the site is PoliceAbuse.org. This is a site that helps citizens to report misconduct by their local police agencies. They are not on a witch hunt for bad cops, but believe that accountability is critical to the public service mission of police organizations. At this site you will see examples, both audio and video, of how things can go wrong. Take for example one officer's refusal to let a citizen talk to an attorney before questioning netted the citizen a 3 month jail term. According to the Florida Highway Patrol, you do not have the right to remain silent. Read this story here.

There is a lot of information on this site, and a wide variety of services that they offer. It is best to offer full cooperation to the police when you are asked, but there are times when you want protect yourself first. There may be times no matter what you do, you will feel the full effect of the law, whether you are guilty or innocent. If you do, then this is a site for you to know about. Warped rating: 6.5.

http://www.policeabuse.com/

Castles on the Web

One of the cool thing about the stories of Robin Hood and his band of merry men was the way he was always getting into and out of castles. The Robin Hood movie from 1938 starring Errol Flynn, Basil Rathbone and Olivia DeHaviland has some great castle scenes, even though most of them were on a Hollywood sound stage. But there are castles like that in real life, in all corners of the world. So grab your magic carpet and let's go exploring on today's Warped site.

Today's site is called Castles on the Web. Castles on the Web is an attempt to organize and offer to the world, the many sites that holds information related to my private obsession - Castles. It is an attempt to pay homage to stories like Robin Hood, Ivanhoe, King Arthur and Sir Lancelot. There is an incredible amount of information here, all well and logically arranged. There are castles from all over the world here, and in many places you would not to find one, such as Israel and Africa. There are virtual tours, tons of photographs (many user submitted), and information on how to stay at or purchase your own castle. There is even a place for kids to visit.

Some of the more popular castles are located in England, but you can go to other famous ones as well, such as Dracula's Castle in Romania. Of special interest is the Myths and Legends section, which explores some of the stories associated with castles such as the story of Greywolf the Wander. The Warp-o-Meter gives this site a 7.5 rating.

http://www.castlesontheweb.com/

Manned Mission to Mars

Back in the 1960's, our space program was hitting on all cylinders, it was unrivaled in the feats that it accomplished in putting a man on the moon. But after that was finished, it sort of lost steam and direction. With the changes in the world, it will be hard getting the government to focus and spend the money necessary to do any more space exploration. With that in mind, it will be up to private industry to pick up the torch and carry it on to other planets, to Mars for example. Today's Warped site looks at one site that proposes a manned trip to the red planet, and has a new method of propulsion to boot.

The name of the site is Manned Mission to Mars. Here the site author discusses and proposes what it will take to put a man on Mars, and send manned explorations to Jupiter and Saturn. There is a discussion on how to build a Mars Shuttle for $10 Billion dollars. The cornerstone of the project is described in US Patent #5,305,974, Spaceship Propulsion by Momentum Transfer. In a nutshell, it uses an electromagnetic projectile launcher to provide the propulsion to reach these remote destinations.

This sounds like science fiction. But in the past, our science fiction stories have gone on to become science fact. It will come to pass that we once again will leave our planet, it is only a question of when. The Warped rating on this site is 8.0.

http://www.androidpubs.com/

The Duct Tape Page

Today's Warped site has a really catchy slogan to it, one that is so true in so many ways. It is "God made the world, but it's held together with duct tape". I don't know where it came from but it is so factual. If you have ever used it to save you behind in the middle of the night when all of the stores are closed, or fixed up that torn radiator hose on the side of the highway, you'll appreciate this page. If you've never heard of duct tape, well, you're in for a treat.

The name of this site is The Duct Tape Page. Here you will find creative uses for this wonderful invention. For example, you can Patch that rusted out trap at the bottom of the sink, tape the door shut when the latch breaks, tape all the holes in your computer case shut so the fan noise isn't so annoying, and hang pictures and posters are just a few uses.

There are examples of how creative people have become with the use of duct tape. For example, Principal Mark Buck at Medicine Lodge Middle School challenged his students to read 400,000 pages before the end of the year. If they did, he would allow them to duct tape him to a wall. Each student got to put up one yard of duct tape for every 1000 pages he or she read. Obviously, they did their work (just click on the website's picture, and you'll see.

So the next time you're looking to stock your tool drawer or the trunk of your car, be sure to include a roll of your favorite grey colored tape. It will come in handy, guaranteed.

http://204.255.212.10/~jthorsse/duct.html

I Hate Dimes

Our form of currency has been in use for decades. The penny/nickel/dime/quarter amount of change that we use has become a part of our culture. But with the change in the worth of our currency, there have been movements over the past few years to streamline the coinage we use by eliminating some of them. Some suggested eliminating the penny (which costs more to make that it is worth), and the nickel. Today's Warped site is one that looks at advocates getting rid of one more coin.

The name of the site is I Hate Dimes. The mission of the site is simple, and in the authors own words:

"Dimes are the stupidest form of currency ever invented. This web site is dedicated to my utter hatred for Dimes. My goal is to eliminate Dimes from society. I ask that you send me all your Dimes so that I can use them to fund an anti-Dime movement."

The site makes a good case for eliminating the 10 cent piece. Dollars are made up of Quarters. Quarters are made up of Nickels. Nickels are made up of Pennies. There is no place for Dimes in this system. The symbols on the back of the Dime are stupid. Pennies display the Lincoln Memorial and Nickels display Monticello, both important symbols of America. On the back of the Quarter is our national bird, the Bald Eagle, but for some reason the Dime has the Olympic torch on the back. The Dime can't even get E Pluribus Unim right. I don't need to look it up to know that E Pluribus Unim means "The Many Are One." It's written on all our money except the Dime. Instead, if you look at a Dime you will see "Eplu Rib Usu Num."

So if you are looking for a political cause to get behind, or an issue to raise in the next election, this may be a site for you to check out. The Warp-o-Meter did, and gives the site a 7.5 rating.

http://www.ihatedimes.com/

Baron Bob

Everyone has seen the Travelocity ads with the roaming garden gnome who helps their customers. But have you ever seen a garden gnome mooning someone? Or there is the chalk marks at a crime scene that outlines where the body was. How would you like to have one of your own, where you could put down just about anywhere. Well, today's Warped site can help you with these items, and some other ,uh, interesting objects as well.

The name of the site is Baron Bob. This is an online shopping resource that specializes in unique and unusual finds from around the world. Today he has over 1000 items in a hanger sized warehouse in New Jersey. It's their mission statement (and flight plan) to dare to be different by offering items from a wide range of unique, unusual, funny, to pure wackiness.

Among some their more eclectic items are:

The Octodog Frankfurter converter: What the heck is an Octodog?? Well it's a new, unique way to make your hot dog. Just insert hot dog into the Octodog push down and get the craziest looking hotdog you've ever seen. So simple, yet so fun. Perfect for family BBQs, kids love them.

The Beer Belt: Hold a six-pack without your hands! Our fully adjustable beer belt allows for hands free convenience while keeping your precious beer at no further than an arm’s length. Accommodates both cans and bottles.

The Slingshot Flying Monkey: Fling The Flying Monkey in your home, sling it in your yard, whip it around at the office. Anywhere you can go is just another place for you to launch your Flying Monkey.

There are more and more interesting items here, and they are all for sale. This is the perfect place for the gift for the person who has everything (or thinks they do), or for the practical joker that lives in all of us. The Warp-o-Meter gives this site an 8.0 rating.

http://www.baronbob.com/

Central Intelligence Agency

They're here, they're there, they're everywhere. Who is they you are asking. Well, if you've read George Orwell's "1984" (or the editorial page of the NY Times), then you are familiar with them, and with the alleged programs they are running. But since they are an official US Government Agency, it is easier to go right to the source and see what the rest of the story is (as Paul Harvey would say).

The name of the agency in question (and the name of the web site as well) is the Central Intelligence Agency. This is the name of the clandestine organization that is tasked with collection, correlation, evaluation, and dissemination of the intelligence information gathered outside the United States. It was created in 1947 when President Truman signed the National Security Act, but had it's origins with Wild Bill Donavan and the OSS from World War II.

There is quite a bit of information here, including a virtual tour of the Agency. It is quite interesting just how much is revealed here, given the nature of the organization and their operations. But then we live in an open society, and have a right to this knowledge. But I am sure that we are seeing exactly what they want us to see and read. So take what is here with a grain of salt, but I am sure you find the site fascinating. The Warped site rating on this site is a 6.5.

https://www.cia.gov/

Easter Egg Archive

Today's Warped site has a nice seasonal ring to it. But it really isn't a holiday site, but one that has high tech hijinks written all over it. But you'll have to look hard to enjoy them.

The name of the site is The Easter Egg Archive. It is the largest collection of Easter Eggs I have seen on the Internet, with 9,559 collected and documented. What is an Easter Egg, you may ask? An Easter Egg is a hidden feature or novelty that the programmers have put in software programs. In general, it is any hidden, entertaining thing that a creator hides in their creation only for their own personal reasons. This can be anything from a hidden list of the developers, to hidden commands, to jokes, to funny animations.

Easter Eggs must meet certain criteria. They must be undocumented, hidden, and non-obvious. They must be reproducible, not malicious, entertaining, and they must be put there by the authors for personal reasons. They are in DVD movies, computer games, and in commercial software. Among some of the ones that have been found are:

In the DVD version of Back to the Future Part 3, at the menu screen, if you press "OK" or "ENTER" on the remote the Universal Ident will play. If you press the "PLAY" button on the remote, a black and white Universal ident featuring a plane will appear and then the film will play as normal;

In Windows XP, you can win the Solitaire game by pressing ALT+Shift+2. You Win!;

In Adobe Photoshop 8, you can get an alternate startup image by pressing the "Ctrl" key when the program is starting.

There are literally thousands of other eggs here as well. They also solicit new ones (sixty were added in the past week), so you can send in the ones you find or know about. The Warp-o-Meter gives this site an 8.0 rating.

http://www.eeggs.com/

Useless Information

There comes a time when you need to find an answer to a question, whether it is for work, for fun, or for that radio show call-in trivia contest. When you do, you can turn to he Internet and google or yahoo it. But they only cover the mainstream knowledge. What if you want some obscure, off-the-wall information that no one else could possibly know? Then, my friends, you turn to today's Warped Site.

The name of the site is Useless Information, and their subtitle is one of the best I have ever seen. It is "Stuff You Never Needed To Know, But Your Life Would Be Incomplete Without". Some pretty unusual things are displayed here. For example, how about the Olympics that gave gold medals for mud throwing, totem pole climbing, and spear throwing? Ever hear of an electric pickle? Or how many bricks are there in the Empire State Building?

There is so much information here that one could spend hours just reading it and saying "Huh, I didn't know that". I think that is what the Warp-o-Meter is doing since I don't have it's rating yet. But I give the site an 8.5 for just sheer variety and depth of what is here.

http://home.nycap.rr.com/useless/index.html

George Carlin

Today's Warped site is dedicated to one of my favorite comedians (and one of the most warped people I know). George Carlin. He has had a long and storied career, and is still one of the funniest (and original) people around.

This is his official home page and web site. Here you read about his career, his comedy albums, books, TV appearances, all of that good stuff. His most famous moment is when he became caught up in the FCC obscenity case of the 1970's that defined what could and could not be said on public airways. You may have heard his bit "The Seven Words You Can's Say on Television". That bit was actually read into the official Supreme Court decision that defined what the FCC can and cannot regulate on the public airwaves. More recently, Howard Stern and Janet Jackson have felt their wrath, but George was there first.

He has has some health issues of the past few months, but I feel as long as he can open his mouth, he will be making people laugh. But not only laugh, but also think, because his humor makes us all reflect on what exactly it is that we are laughing at. Keep up the good work, George. The Warp-o-Meter digs ya, and gives you site a 9.0 rating.

http://georgecarlin.com/home/home.html

The Tacky Postcard Archive

Back in the good ol' days, before the Internet, before the age of cell phones and instant communication, people used to write letters to communicate what was going on in their life. When on vacation, they used to send postcards, the proverbial "Having a wonderful time, wish you were here" sort of thing. Some of those postcards were, to put it bluntly, pretty bad in terms of artwork. Today we give those postcards a BIG Warped site salute by visiting a site that shows off some of the better ones.

The name of the site is The Tacky Postcard Archive, subtitled "Preserving the bad taste of our era for future generations". Here you can view several types of cards, from holidays to birthdays, graduations, and other interesting subjects (like Sorry About That..., Oh, Just Get Well, and Thanks a Lot).

Some of the cards are worth a look at, and be prepared to have a good laugh. The titles alone bring visions to mind. Such as:

"LSD and Geritol: A Devastating Mix";

"Over-the-Top survivalist strategies";

"For God's sake, don't hit the Return key!";

"The Open Pit Mining State".

These are all real live, breathing postcards that you (or someone you know) would be able to purchase and send to a someone with a message. I'm not sure what some people were thinking about when these were printed, but they do tend to reflect the times and locale of where they are from. The Warp-o-Meter gives this site an 8.5 rating.

http://www.tackymail.com/

Online Etch A Sketch

Today's Warped site is an online salute to one of the toys that most of us grew up with as a kid, and some of us are still growing with it. This toy has entertained my children for hours, and me for hours watching them play with it. Come on along and try the online version of it.

The site is called the Online Etch A Sketch. That is exactly what it is. You click on the screen, and then using your arrows on your keypad, you draw. Draw what, you say. Well, whatever you used to draw on those things, cats, dogs, houses, funny patterns. When you're done, you don't have to shake your screen to clear it, just hit reset, and you can start all over again.

This is a pretty simple site, but one that can fun and very addictive. The Warp-o-Meter rating on this site is an 8.5 for it simplicity, its nostalgia, and its fun time atmosphere.

http://www.etch-a-sketch.com/html/onlineetch.htm

Grotto of the Swamp Witch

The Harry Potter books have created an interest in the occult and witchcraft (or wizardcraft, if you will). But there are other stories, and lore, if you will, about the art and science of the supernatural and of witchcraft. Today's Warped site looks at one such site. All ye who enter abandon all hope!!

The name of the site is Grotto of the Swamp Witch. This is an interesting site, one that will raise some eyebrows. Here you can find spells and rituals, recipes, swamp magick (along with the associated swamp friends), a section on Pagan links, and a Witch's Library. Some of the spells are worthwhile, such as this one:

OLD SPELL TO BRING MONEY

This old standby Spell, uses a new Silver Dollar (or gold piece, if you can get one, is even better.) This must be done on a night when the Waxing Moon is large and bright.

"Lovely Lady of the Moon, bring to me your wealth and boons,
Fill my hands with silver and gold, give me all my purse can hold"

That may be one worth trying. This site is an interesting one to look at, especially if you are interested in the study of the supernatural arts. The Warp-o-Meter gives this site a 7.5 rating.

http://www.homestead.com/goldenswampwitch/index.html

Ultimate Martha Stewart Collection

Martha Stewart has had a rough couple of years. First her fortune was shrinking, she was loosing money, she spent time in the slammer, and (Heaven forbid), Donald Trump pulled the plug on her network show. With all of the bad things happening to her, I am sure this one somehow slipped by. It is one Warped site, one that will leave no doubt as to it's intention.

The site is called the Ultimate Martha Stewart Collection. But these are things that you will not be seeing on any of her media outlets. There are cooking jokes and humor, entertainment tips and advice, as well as holiday survival. Here are a few of the tidbits:

Under cooking, signs you might be a bad cook if leftover crumbs make a great replacement for kitty litter;

In Entertainment tips: My favorite party game is "Pin the Cleanup on the Guests";

and in Food Facts: Rich foods are like destiny. They, too, shape our ends.

There is more entertaining here, such as the Odditorium, Party Photos, and Martha Does Lunch. On a the open-ended Warp-o-Meter scale, this site gets an 8.5.

http://www.mrsmegabyte.com/

Cinema Insomnia

Watching old movies can be fun. Watching old science fiction movies can be even more fun. Those old B&W features that had such crazy and scientifically impossible plots were and still are entertaining. The more serious they attempted to be, the more fun they were to watch. Believe it or not, those films are still being watched, and still being enjoyed, as today's Warped site shows.

The name of the site is Cinema Insomnia. This is the website for the popular Sacramento California television show that pays homage to the old scifi and monster films of the 50's and 60's. The titles include such hits as "Santa Claus Conquers the Martians" and "Gamera Super Monster". While this is a television show, there are a lot of clips from movies and other goodies that make this a fun site to visit. You can learn about Mr. Lobo and his crew, as well as the other programs of this sort that have come before it. There is also quite a bit of information about public domain movies, and links to many sites that have information on them.

This site is a hoot if you like old movies. Heck, it's a hoot even if you don't. It is so warped in it's humor and other material that you can spend hours here. Check out the link to the Ron Dante site, and see what connections he has to this site. If you don't know who Ron Dante is, well, heck, you must have missed the 60's sugar, sugar.

http://www.cinemainsomnia.com/

The Church of Ed Wood

Yesterday we met a Pope. Today we go to another church, one that is not quite as rigid as the previous one, but still take their religion quite seriously. It is one that one would feel just as comfortable with a box of hot buttered popcorn as well as a hymnal. This is one Warped site, just like it's deity.

The name of the site is The Church of the Heavenly Wood, aka The Church of Ed Wood. This is an internet church that practices Woodism. Woodism is a pop-culture-based religion created in 1996 by Reverend Steve Galindo. They follow the late cult director Edward D. Wood Jr. ("Plan 9 From Outer Space"). They look to him as the savior. The Church of Ed Wood use Ed and his films to inject spirituality into those who get little fulfillment from more mainstream religions like Christianity.

They also uphold the morals and ideals of Edward D. Wood and try to preach his message of total understanding and acceptance, regardless of what modern society may say. In doing so, the Church of Ed Wood discusses issues of sex, race, drugs, and transvestism in a frank nature. Yes, a quiet frank nature at times.

So if mainstream religion isn't for you, give the The Church of Ed a try. The Warp-o-Meter did, and gives the site an 8.5 rating.

http://www.edwood.org/

Welcome to the Pope's Confessional Booth

Are you feeling down? Are you depressed? No one to talk to, no one who understands you? Then today's Warped site is one that can help you confess your darkest secrets. And you don't have to be Catholic to use the site, either.

The name of the site is The Pope's Confessional Booth. What is this site about? Well, let's let His Holiness explain:

"Congratulations, you've found me - and maybe you'll find some inner peace here today. Allow me to introduce myself. I am the personification of all that is good, holy, just and honest. I am peace, I am valor and I am integrity. And I like a good gossip and some good old fashioned dirty talk. Hey - don't we all? My name is ThePope, and I wanna hear your confessions".

This is an interesting tongue-in-cheek humorous type of site that is fun too look at, and have some discussions over the water cooler at work with. The Warp-o-Meter gives this site an 8.0. It shouldn't be taken too seriously, but only for fun. To again quote the Pope:

"Finally, I realize that some of you might be drawn here due to a serious problem. And I'm not qualified to handle that, no siree. But I know a man who is, and if you click on this picture you'll find a list of links to help you cope with all sorts of genuine problems, covering child abuse to coping with bereavement. I sincerely hope it helps".

http://www.users.globalnet.co.uk/~dspope/marcuspope/

Dog the Bounty Hunter

Back in the old west, it was easier to tell who was the bad guy and who was the good guy. There wasn't much law enforcement, so the marshals and sheriffs took all of the help they could get. That included bounty hunters, people who would track down criminals and get a reward for them. Today's Warped site looks at a modern day bounty hunter who would have been right at home in the days of the old west.

The is Dog The Bounty Hunter, and is the official site of Da Kine Bail Bonds in Honolulu, Hawaii. It is owned and operated by one Duane Lee Chapman, aka Dog The Bounty Hunter. You may be familiar with him from the television show on the Arts & Entertainment cable channel. But there is more to him as you will see from this website. He has been through a lot in this life, and has managed to survive and prosper in a business that reeks with the seamier sides of life.

He is born-again Christian, but to hear him talk, you won't know it. But he explains why he uses that language in his biography. You will meet his "posse", Beth, Leland, Tim, and Duane Lee. You can read about his most successful captures. But you will be able to learn about bail bonding, and how it works. You can contact them for speaking engagements, and (worst case) you could contact them to help post your bail. But if he does, I would advise not skipping on it, the results would not be in your best interest.

This site complements the A&E site about the show, but goes more into the real Dog, and how he has become as successful as he has. The Warp-o-Meter rating on this site is 7.5.

http://www.dogthebountyhunter.com/main.php

SETI League

If you look up into the sky at night, you'll see thousand and thousands of points of light (that is, if you have a clear sky you will). It is a big universe out there, reaching way beyond where the human eye can see. With an area that big, we just can't be alone, can we? Mathematically, it is impossible for us to be the only ones here. That is the basis for today's Warped site.

The site is called the SETI League. SETI stands for Searching for Extra-Terrestrial Intelligence. The acronym was coined in the early 1960's to describe the activities of a handful of radio astronomers who were seeking evidence of the existence of intelligent life elsewhere in the Universe. It is a part of the larger field of Radio Astronomy.

The question "Are we alone?" has haunted humankind since first it was realized that the points of light in the night sky are other suns. It was only within the late twentieth century, however, that the technology began to advance to the point where it was begin to seek scientific evidence to help answer this age-old question. The organization is a collection of individuals with computers and satellite dishes that listen to the night sky. It is more than just a screen saver running in the background processing data. It is individuals who form an international grass-roots organization dedicated to privatizing the electromagnetic spectrum searching for life beyond our known world. There is information here about how to join, what equipment you would need, and how to set it up.

There is an interesting feeling in this site, and the mission that it has. Who says we are or aren't alone. I don't know, and, really no one else does either. But this group has a head start on finding out. The Warp site rating for it is 7.5.

http://seti1.setileague.org/index.html

Drop Squad

One of the highlights of David Letterman's show is when he likes to drop or throw things off of the Ed Sullivan Theatre where his show is taped. I can't remember all of the things that have been tossed, but I am sure that baseballs, snowballs and all sorts of food have been among them. Today's Warped site visits some people who have taken that concept and taken it to a new level.

The name of the site is the Drop Squad, and as you may have guessed, they like to drop things. It started in 1992 with a bunch of college students in their dorm rooms. Out of shear boredom, one of them grabbed the computer room phone off the wall and stashed it under his jacket. Trying to think of a creative way to dispose of the phone, they took it to the top floor of one of the buildings and dropped it down a nine story stairwell. Four seconds later, it landed with a crash on the cement floor nine stories below. That was followed by the sound of several pairs of feet getting the heck out of Dodge. But the Drop Squad was born.

They have dropped pumpkins, fruit, a coffee pot, LP records (way before CDs), and other items. There are also accounts with their brushes with Campus Security, dorm coordinators and school administration. But in the true Animal House tradition, they continued even after facing probation and suspension. This is a crazy site, one that is truly deserving of the Warp-o-Meter rating of 9.0. It makes you wonder what would happen if their kids read this, and then go to the same school........

http://www.dropsquad.com/

The World's First Jet Powered Beer Cooler

Boredom is pretty boring. Having too much time on your hands can lead to doing and saying things that you later regret. And then again, it can be pretty productive and wonderful things can come of it. It is up to you, viewer, in what category today's Warped site falls on.

The name of the site is The World's First Jet Powered Beer Cooler. The first thing that ran through my mind was "where did he get a jet engine?". It turns out that if you mix a shed, a warm beer and a home made jet engine, then you have the ingredient of this site. There are pictures and descriptions on the building process, including commentary on why he was building it. All of this just to get a cold can of Guiness.

The Warp-o-Meter gives this site a 9.0, since something this crazy is right up our alley. But we are looking forward to the next site from this gentleman, the Kerosene fuelled afterburner and sausage sizzler.

http://www.asciimation.co.nz/beer/

Dr. Sheep and the Aardvark

Humor can be pretty subjective. What is funny to one person may be offensive to another. But having a good laugh can make the day go faster. I have always enjoyed the dry humor of the British people, and today have found a website that has some great laughs. Standby to roll in the aisles.

The site is called Dr. Sheep and the Aardvark. This is a collection of the comic strip that is popular in the United Kingdom. It is a mixture of Doonsbury, Blondie, The Wizard of ID and B.C. You have to read a few of them to catch on to the relationships, but once you do you should find them enjoyable. If you want, you can order companion book which features the best comic strips, as well as some other goodies and articles.

The Warp-o-Meter enjoys offbeat and warped humor as well, and gives this site a 7.5 rating. Sit back and enjoy.

http://www.drsheepandtheaardvark.co.uk/

Mitnick Security

His name has become synonymous with the term hacking. Companies used to worry about what he could and would to their systems. He was at one time the subject of a nation wide manhunt, and served time in prison for his actions. But times have changed, and now the hacker is helping the hackees from being hacked. Today's Warped site explains all about it.

Called Mitnick Security, this is the home site of one Kevin Mitnick, and the computing security firm he created after he was released from prison and his post prison restrictions were completed. His is a full-service information security consulting firm. They offer a comprehensive range of services to help businesses protect their valuable assets. Using his learned knowledge of computer and security vulnerabilities along with countless contacts in the field, Kevin has a unique perspective on how information security is truly achieved and can quickly show where the security holes are. What's interesting is that often points out what computer vendors don't want you to see - showing how systems are compromised in a way you would not expect.

At this site you won't find any references to Kevin's past. He does promote his two books, "The Art of Intrusion" and "The Art of Deception", but that is about all. It is interesting to see how one of the foremost hackers has turned his talents to become a productive member of society. The Warped rating on this site is a 7.5.

http://mitnicksecurity.com/

Patent of the Week

It has been said that if you build a better mousetrap, the world will beat a path to your door. At least that's what they used to say. Now it's build a better mouse or mouse holder or something else but the concept is the same. If you take something and make it better, you stand to make lots of money. But if you do build something, make sure it doesn't infringe on anyone else's patent, and make sure you get it patented. Today's Warped site looks at some "mousetraps" that others have come up with to have the world pounding at their door.

The site is called Patent of the Week. This is an online repository for strange, interesting, bizarre, inexplicable, wacky, useful, and sometimes just plain perverted patents, issued from the U.S. and around the world. It is amazing what some people will find to do with their time.

For example, US Patent number US6612440 is for a Banana Protective Device. There is Patent number US6612440 for the Toilet Tank Aquarium. These are just a couple of recent ones. You can go back over 200 years and see what the bright minds of our country have come up with. Such as Patent number 556248, a Saluting Device from 1896. One of the earliest, from 1804, number X576 is for a Velocipede, sort of a man-powered horseless carriage. But some of the strange ones turned out to be pretty good ideas after all. Such as number 3630, the Tumbler Lock, by L. Yale in 1844, number 1242872 Self Service Store (aka the Supermarket) by C. Saunders in 1917. I wonder who has the patent for McDonalds?

Interesting site, you can really see American ingenuity at work here. The Warp-o-Meter (pat. pending) gives it an 8.5 rating.

http://www.patentoftheweek.com/

Mad Frankie Fraser

Have you ever been offered a deal you can't refuse? Have you ever wanted to make someone sleep with the fishes? Have you ever wondered about just how the mob and the mafia and criminal gangs really work? If so then the Warped site today is one that will prove very educational.

The site is called Mad Frankie Fraser. Who is Frankie Fraser, you ask? He is one of the great professional criminal links of the last century. From the 30's to the 80's, Frank has been cell-mate and partner in crime to racecourse swindlers, train robbers and racketeers, He was quaffing beers with Charlie Kray while the twins were still in primary school. He has been a contract strong-arm, club owner, club minder, company director, Broadmoor inmate, firebomber, prison rioter but - first and last - a thief with 26 convictions.

Now you can relive his gangland activities by taking his Gangland Tour. The are on Saturdays and Sundays, and take anywhere from three to four hours, depending on how many questions are asked. This is an interesting insight into the workings of the criminal mind by one of their own. This tour is in Great Britain, so the next time you are in jolly old England, this will give you something to do besides Buckingham Palace and the Tower of London. The Warp-o-Meter gives this site a 6.5 rating.

http://www.madfrankiefraser.co.uk/frankiefraser.htm

Stupid.com

I remember reading in the comics when I was young, on the back pages there would be ads for some of the dumbest things, like x-ray glasses and miniature seahorses. They may still be around today, for all I know. In the comics, I mean. I have found a website that has some of those items, and then some new ones. Click on and you will see what I mean.

The name of the site is Stupidity.com. It is the best place on the web to waste your free time. Here you'll find Novelty Candy, Gag Gifts, Stupid Jokes, and Stupid Games. And there are all kinds of hidden surprises throughout the site -- so click away! And check out their stores -- their Stupid Buyers comb the world looking for silly, weird, and useless things for to put up for sale on the web. Many of them are found nowhere else! Goofy key chains, gross candy, and lots of dumb toys for kids and grown ups are buried in these moronic pages.

Here are some of the top sellers: tattoo sleeves, slide rules, harvest your own pearl kit, corn dog holders and (my favorite) a cell phone hantset. There also some free games here. If it's stupid, it's here. If it isn't stupid, it's probably here as well. The Warp-o-Meter gives this site a 9.5. Gotta go now, I'm ordering a set of tattoo sleeves for the party next weekend.

http://www.geocities.com/topsecret_toons/?200631

Top Secret Toons

Ever since Gary Larson quit writing and drawing the Far Side, the state of comics has gone downhill. There have been many imitators but none have captured his spirit. Today's Warped site takes a look at one site that comes close to that mayhem that was Gary Larson, sort of.

The name of the site is Top Secret Toons. It is a collection of some pretty interesting humor cartoons that would look good on a daily calendar. They capture the essence of the Far Side, and has a touch of Doonsebury as well. What keeps this site down is the fact that two of the links don't work on it, the one about who the cartoonist is, and the one for the message board. Without those links working, it just isn't complete.

The Warped rating on this site is 5.0. It shows a lot of promise, but the broken links take two points away from it. But what is there is funny and worth a look.

http://www.geocities.com/topsecret_toons/?200631