To use the links in this newsletter, you must be connected to the Internet.  PC Eudora users: to see this and other html mail properly you must check the box "Use Microsoft's Viewer" in the "Viewing Mail" options.

http://www.beakman.com/upc/barcode.html

http://www.milk.com/barcode

http://www.debarcode.com

http://www.uc-council.org

WebSkulker ran across the second link above while doing some general web skulking.  Ms. Cat had always been curious about those strange symbols on the side of her cat food cans so she was excited by this find, and decided to do some more research about the bar codes on products.

The first link above explains the details of the most common Universal Product Codes (UPC) found on most grocery store items and many other products.  The second link, the Barcode Server, will calculate the 12th checksum digit and draw a picture of the bar code for any 11 digit number you enter.  The third link will do a database lookup to tell you the manufacturer of a product based on the first few digits of the bar code.  It also has some information about different formats of product bar codes.  The fourth link is to the Uniform Code Council, the company that assigns the barcode prefixes to companies and helps coordinate the various formats.

http://terra.nasa.gov

http://terra.nasa.gov/Gallery/browse.php3

On December 18, 1999, NASA launched a satellite called Terra, the Earth Observing System Satellite.  "The Terra observatory carries 5 instruments -- American, Japanese, and Canadian -- to start a thorough evaluation of the Earth System: Land, Ocean, Atmosphere, and life, as well as the exchange of nutrients, carbon, heat, moisture and pollution among them. Terra is measuring a wide array of vital signs, many of them for the first time, to help us understand our planet, to distinguish between natural and man-made climate change, and to show us how the Earth's climate affects the quality of our lives. Terra data, along with other measurements, will feed Earth Science models so we can predict climate variations and climate change, and prepare for the future."

The first link above is the home page for the mission.  The second link is WebSkulker's favorite with animations, pictures, and movies; some of the satellite and launch, and some taken by the onboard instruments of the earth and cloud cover.

http://www.webopedia.com

http://webopedia.internet.com/techsupport.html

http://wap.webopedia.com

The Webopedia is an online dictionary and encyclopedia of terms related to the computer and Internet industries.  You can type in a specific word or phrase, or list all articles by category and subcategory.  The second link above gives several links to other web sites the Webopedia people like for technical support with your computer problems.

The third "link" above (deliberately not a link) is meant to be used from WAP-enabled cell phones and other wireless devices to let you get the same information when you are out in the field.  Type that in as a bookmark in your device, but don't try to use it from a regular web browser.

http://www.lileks.com/institute

This is the Institute of Official Cheer, "Helping tomorrow feel superior by scoffing at yesterday."  Sections include the Gallery of Regrettable Food, Dorcus Menswear Collection, Grooviest Hotel in Wisconsin, Orphanage of Cast-Off Mascots, Bureau of Corporate Allegory, and several more.

Submitted by Jr. Skulker Ed Gerson

A young fellow walks into a talent agent's office and says he wants to break into show-biz, so the agent says "O.K. kid show me what you do". The kid tells some jokes, does a little soft shoe, sings a bit, does an acrobatic act with an ottoman, and is good enough to impress the agent. 

"Great kid! Just great!" says the agent "I can do things for ya! I think I can get you a show on T.V." (This was the early sixties.) "By the way, what's your name?" 

The young man, proud and excited, exclaims "Penis Van Lesbian". 

"'Scuse me?" questions the agent. 

"My name is Penis Van Lesbian" again replies the young man. 

"Hey I'm sorry kid, you're gonna have to change your name, nobody is gonna hire you with a name like Penis Van Lesbian." 

Well the young man is crestfallen but steadfastly refuses to change his name, so he leaves to find another agent. 

A few months later he returns to the same agent. "Hey kid! Good to see ya again!" says the agent, "Are ya still looking for work? Have ya changed your name?" 

With his head hanging low the young man replies "Yes. Every agent in town turned me down because of my name, Penis Van Lesbian. So I've changed it". 

"Great kid, great! What's your new name?" 

"Dick Van Dyke."

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