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http://www.foneicq.com

Each WebSkulker issue this week will contain one or two add-ons for the ICQ instant messenger program that many of you jr. skulkers use (and if you don't, you should).  This first one lets you dial a phone number to leave a voice message for any ICQ user.  You don't really have to visit the FoneICQ web site because all it does is give you their phone number and instructions.  Here's how it works:

Carry with you a list of the ICQ numbers of your friends.  When you need to leave a message, dial 1-800-foneicq, or 1-800-366-3427.  At the prompt, enter an ICQ number followed by #, then record a voice message.  When you hang up, the message will be digitized in RealAudio format, the system will look at the user profile of that ICQ number and get the person's email address (hopefully they gave one), and email your message as a RealAudio attachment to that address.  If the person is online and running ICQ at the time, they will be notified immediately that this email is in their box.

WebSkulker fears that this service may not last long.  There is a message on the web site that they are trying to sell the phone number and service.  If they don't find a buyer, who knows how long they will continue to provide this free service?

http://www.icq.com/icqsurf

This is an official add-on for ICQ directly from the company, but it is in alpha test so they aren't publicizing it yet.  WebSkulker tried it and everything worked as advertised.  Download and install this, fill in a brief profile, and ICQsurf will then launch whenever you start your web browser and will notify you if any other ICQsurf users are sitting on the same web page that you are.  If so, you can open a chat window (or have it open automatically) to interact with these people.   You can talk to them about the web site, or simply know that these people must have some interest in common with you and just chat with them as potential friends.

Since this service is so new and only in a test phase, you won't find many users online and the chances are you will never run into one during your normal surfing.  To find where other ICQsurf users are hanging out, press the Hot Places button to get a list of web sites in various categories that currently have ICQsurf users visiting, and an approximate count of how many.  Warning:  turn off ICQsurf if you visit sites that you don't want others to know about, because if it is running, another ICQsurf user might catch you there.

http://home.cnet.com/internet/0-3805-7-1426526.html

This article is an introduction on how to do genealogical research on the Internet, including links to many sites with databases of information about families.  WebSkulker isn't really interested in that hobby, but suspects that some of these sites might be useful to the jr. skulker who wants to look up information about living people as well as ancestors.

http://www.shokus.com/shokusp.html

http://www.driveways.com

http://www.driveways.com/Barney.htm

Tourists in Hollywood often buy a map to the stars' homes and then entertain themselves for an afternoon driving around Beverly Hills looking at the mansions of present and past movie and TV stars.  If you jr. skulkers ever want to do this, be sure to buy the maps the traditional way from kids on street corners along Hollywood and Sunset Blvds. because the maps they sell are more up to date and have more addresses than the ones sold in gift shops.

WebSkulker knows two jr. skulkers who made a commercial videotape showing and narrating what tourists see when they follow the map.  See the first link above for information on the tape, and click on the link at the bottom if you want to enter the store to buy a copy online.  WebSkulker watched the video and was a little disappointed because most of the mansions have such high walls or thick trees around them that you can't see much of the house or grounds -- except through the gate at the end of the driveway.  WebSkulker suggested that the tape be renamed "Maps to the Stars' Driveways" because they are the most interesting part of the tour.  The producer and narrator were not amused.

The second site above illustrates the point.  It has nothing but pictures of star's driveways and gates, along with interviews with several stars about their driveways.  Navigation of the site is a little confusing at first.  The secret is to click on links in the frame at the left, and the picture or text will fill the main window.  Be sure to read the interview with Barney about his driveway by clicking on the third link above.

Submitted by Jr. Skulker Allen Miller

Imponderables

1. When an agnostic dies, does he go to the "great perhaps"? 

2. Why is the time of day with the slowest traffic called rush hour? 

3. Do you think Houdini ever locked his keys in his car? 

4. Why is there a road sign that says "Braille Institute, Next Exit"? 

5. Can atheists get insurance for acts of God? 

6. If procrastinators had a club, would they ever have a meeting? 

7. If the #2 pencil is the most popular, why is it still #2? 

8. Have you ever wondered why just one letter makes all the difference between here and there? 

9. When you go into a hotel you always see reception. Why do you never just see ception? 

10. If time heals all wounds, how come the belly button stays the same? 

11. If a lawyer and an IRS agent were both drowning, and you could only save one of them, would you go to lunch or read the paper? 

12. Isn't it strange that the same people who laugh at gypsy fortune tellers take economists seriously? 

13. If genetic scientists crossed a chicken with a zebra would they get a four-legged chicken with its own barcode? 

14. If practice makes perfect, and nobody's perfect, why practice? 

15. Why is there always one in every crowd? 

16. If all the world is a stage, where does the audience sit? 

17. Is it possible to have deja vu and amnesia at the same time? 

18. Why do hair shampoo instructions say "Lather. Rinse. Repeat"? If you did this, would you ever be able to stop? 

19. Who decided "Hotpoint" would be a good name for a company that sells refrigerators? 

20. How do you know when it's time to tune your bagpipes?

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