A Social World With Mini-Homes
Move over MySpace! Cyworld.com is establishing itself as the next social network giant. This site was launched in South Korea and has now infiltrated the States. So what sets this site apart? It revolves around buddy relationships and a user's "mini-home". You create an Avatar, decorate your home as you please and add furniture and other items using virtual currency. The site is also testing the waters allowing users to upload videos, including their own animations.
Ultimate Baseball
From CyWorld to a fantasy sports world. Ultimate baseball is here! Forget about managing your team, you are the team. Ultimatebaseballonline.com allows you to participate as a player on a team with other players from all over the world. League competition will be open to three skill levels. The season kicks off on June 26th.
Map Your Run
Whether you're training for a marathon or you're simply taking a light jog through your neighborhood. Click on mapmyrun.com. Plot your running routes over mountains, through the woods, and speeding through the city with just a few mouse clicks. You can view your route in 3-D or satellite images.
Paris in Prison Game
More proof that jail-time is only giving Paris Hilton more face time. GSN.com has created a game based on the hotel heiress's stint in the slammer. The warden has ordered Paris to design and build license plates. Use the right and left arrows to move Paris across the conveyer belt as you try to stamp the blank license plates as they come down. Careful you don't want to crush clinkerbell.
Books for Kids
Before you make up that summer reading list for your child, you may want to check out booksforkidsblog.blogspot.com. The blogger is a recently retired librarian who spent 32 years in elementary schools. She says this site helps kids and parents find good books.
Maps, Movies and More
Taking It To The Streets
You're not exactly in San Francisco, but a new Google map feature sure makes you feel like it. If you want to travel the world but prefer the comforts of you're living room couch, you can thank Google workers. They drove vans around the Bay Area for about a year and took pictures of thousands of streets and neighborhoods to allow you a virtual vacation at the click of your mouse.
As most of us know, Google Earth has allowed us to explore neighborhoods from above, but this feature allows you to explore major cities at street level with panoramic views of neighborhoods across the country. New York, Las Vegas, Denver and Miami are among the first wave of big cities available now, and more are coming.
Microsoft isn't too far behind in the world of virtual tourism. Live.com Maps has rolled out 3D views of major cities, including our own City of Brotherly Love. These maps show aerial views of various landmarks, along with maps, driving directions, yellow page listings, consumer ratings and reviews.
If you're looking for a more intricate cyber excursion, check out everyscape.com. The site has unveiled a preview of an interactive "eye level" maps site. This one allows you to go inside buildings. Users will eventually be able to contribute their own text and links to the site. This site launches in September.
May The Force Be With You
One of the big screen's most famous galactic villains is celebrating a milestone. Starwars.com re-launched its site to coincide with the saga's 30th anniversary. Among the cool things, users can use choose from hundreds of movie clips to create their own mini-movies. You can even make your own movies and submit them as a part of the Star Wars Fun Challenge.
Philly Film Guys
Speaking of movies, a viewer tipped us off to sweatyrobot.com.
Human Search
Mahalo.com launched today. It’s a stripped-down search engine geared to handle the most popular requests in widely appealing categories like travel, music, television, movies, cars, food, health, news and sports.
What makes this site unique is rather than using sophisticated algorithms, the site uses people. The site relies on about 40 employees to track down the best responses to some of the Web's most repeated requests. The findings are boiled down to a series of lists pointing to the most helpful Web sites.
Dot-com luminary Jason Calacanis believes Google and Yahoo results are littered with too many irrelevant sites because marketing consultants and mischief makers have learned how to trick the machine-driven algorithms. His search site, he says, will be ten times better.
Judge for yourself.
Dangers of Internet Gaming
For years, video games have been a popular pastime for kids and adults. But a new generation of games is taking things to a whole new level.
For Greg Straff, playing World of Warcraft has become an obsession, one that has isolated him from riding his bike, playing tennis and interacting with his friends. All of his interaction, he says, is done playing an online medieval fantasy game.
"I can log on at 3:00 when I get home from school and play until 7 and it will feel like only an hour," said Straff.
"It's really not healthy just to focus on this computer game and not socialize with your friends and on your schoolwork," said his mother, Lori Straff.
In the Internet game World of Warcraft, you design your own character. Then you can talk to other people or participate in battles. There's really no goal or end. The game can go on and on.
Psychologist Kristen Dudley says that can draw you into an unhealthy life of isolation.
"There is no end point so people keep compelled to keep playing," said Dudley.
But Elizabeth Woolley says a game similar to World of Warcraft, called Everquest, didn't just cause her 21 year-old son to become a recluse. She believes it contributed to his suicide.
"He was sitting there in front of the computer on his chair with the Everquest game on it and he had a rifle," said Woolley.
Woolley says her son, Shawn, played Everquest constantly, stopped taking his ADD and epilepsy medicine, quit his job and cut off his phone, basically ending all communication with his friends and family.
"I guess my big thing is my anger towards the gaming companies because they are using this as a drug and they're getting their own customers addicted for money," said Woolley.
But Dudley is skeptical video games could cause anyone to commit suicide.
"Millions of people play these games every day and they don't have a problem, but some are missing that connection with real life," said Dudley.
Dudley says children or adults who become obsessed with video games often have a history of struggling with depression or anxiety. The game, she says, is simply a catalyst, similar to drugs, alcohol or gambling.
Dudley says parents can help prevent problem playing by setting boundaries. Limit the amount of time per day a child is in front of the computer or TV.
Greg's time playing the Internet game has been limited.
"I regret one thing and it's probably ever playing the game," said Straff.
As for Woolley, she has turned her grief into a mission to help others. After Shawn's death she started the support group Online Gamers Anonymous.
Woolley says thousands of people sign on everyday to share their stories and support one another.
"I just wanted other people to know that they weren't the only ones that this was happening to," said Woolley.
EverQuest told Action News "as with any form of entertainment, it is the responsibility of each individual player to monitor his or her own playing habits and prioritize his or her time as necessary. It is not our place to monitor or limit how individuals spend their free time."
Action News did not hear back from World of Warcraft.
Second Life
Whether you are looking for an uninhibited nightlife or affordable jetpacks and rocket ships, Second Life may be the website for you, but beware this cyber-world also has some real world problems.
"Within a virtual world you've got the potential to have millions of different imaginations," said
It is a world where ideas, fantasies and alter egos culminate to create a cyber-society. It is called Second Life. Timothy Allen and his wife, Jen, started their Second Life a few years ago.
"It really did take me by storm as a place I could really explore things I imagine," he said.
In Second Life, Allen's name is Flipper Peregrine. He's got purple hair and can fly. Because, of course, in a virtual world physical abilities aren't impeded by a little thing called gravity. But there are many parts of Second Life that imitate real life. The virtual world has its own businesses, homes, restaurants and currency called the Linden Dollar.
"Some people use it for fantasy, but for me and Jennifer our first and second life have kind of merged," he said.
The couple has opened several virtual stores on the site. Users buy anything from virtual clothes to software from them using Linden dollars. Some of those virtual dollars are converted into real dollars for Tim and Jen.
"$1000 a month supplemental," said Tim. "She was making six to eight hundred."
As Second Life becomes more sophisticated, the lines between this virtual world and the real world continue to blur. Jen and Tim have held national conventions where Second Life participants meet in real life and exchange ideas about how to expand this cyber-society.
"We've even done a sex in second life panel,"
Tim and Jen are part of the best of Second Life, but as with any society - even a virtual one - there is a dark side that is attracting the attention of special interest groups and law enforcement.
One example: FBI investigators have visited Second Life's Internet casinos, but the U.S. government has not decided on the legality of virtual gambling.
Of greater concern is virtual child porn. It doesn't involve real children, but there is no mistaking the real reason behind it.
"Why this is dangerous? It gives them another outlet to express their deviant behavior with children,” said Michelle Collins of the National Center for Missing and Exploited Children.
A 2002 court ruling tossed out a law that made virtual child porn illegal and many free speech advocates say the issue is overblown because no actual crime is being committed.
"It's the whole concept of where does fantasy become dangerous and we believe any time the fantasy involves sex with a child it can't lead anywhere good,” said Collins
Linden Lab, the company that runs Second Life, says it has absolutely zero tolerance for depictions of child pornography within Second Life. Anyone engaged in this activity will be permanently banned from Second Life.
The National Center for Missing and Exploited Children is meeting with Second Life and law enforcement over the next few days.
You can learn more about Second Life by checking out some of these sites:
Chasing The Storm
Extreme Weather... Extreme Lengths
Tornados can generate winds up to 200 miles an hour. One wiped out 95 percent of a tiny Kansas town called Greensberg. The daredevils who document this stuff are called storm-chasers. Tornadovideos.net is where they post these amazing clips. The site is constantly updated with videos as the storm chasers travel the world and tape one of the most dangerous weather phenomena on the planet. This site is the premiere source of professional extreme weather photography and news for production companies, media, and weather enthusiasts. You can also enjoy state-of-the-art live gps tracker, stock footage gallery, chase logs, and breaking news blog.
Pet Lovers
Ah, for the love of dogs. That’s what dogster.com pegs itself as. An Action News viewer tipped us off to this pet lover site. It's a great place to share your dog videos and stories. Plus you can get information for the health and well being of your best bud. If you are a cat lover, check out catster.com.
Now and Then
As you can see, traffic in Center City Philadelphia was a bit lighter in 1901. This is one of 2 million photographs of the Philadelphia's industry, architecture, culture and people that date back to the late 1800s. The Philadelphia City Archive has scanned about 28,000 and posted them on phillyhistory.org.
The Perfect Fit
Problem number one--- we all have different body types. Problem number two we don't have a lot of time on our hands. Solution: Myshape.com.
Punch in every one of your measurements and the site calculates which styles work for you and they're delivered straight to your homepage. Instead of going through racks and racks of clothes or clicks and clicks on the Internet, you can start with all good choices and those choices will reflect your measurements.
Model Makers
Finally, fiddlersgreen.net is a fantastic for kids and big kids. You can download free paper models, or purchase more elaborate ones, and build them. Some of these area really cool….one of our Action News employees has built World War II planes, the World Trade Center and a space shuttle.
Fishing for Fun
Meals On A Budget
If you prefer beef franks to foie gras, but still like to experiment in the kitchen, we have a website you may want to check out. A local couple is airing online cooking segments. It started out as a hobby. Now thousands of other people are having fun with it too. The segments featured on chefmelissa.tv are called 2 for 10. The videos are tutorials on how to make a meal for two people for ten dollars that’s ready in just 20 minutes.
Now, Melissa admits, she’s not a chef. In fact, she’s a dental receptionist. Like the rest of us, she needs to utilize her time and budget. It's a site for anyone looking for some insight to short cuts in the kitchen.
Take Me Fishing!
If you're ready to hang your gone fishin' sign on the front door, log on to takemefishing.org. It has a database of more than 10,000 places to test the waters. The site even has a bragging rights section. You can blog about your fishing adventures and post pictures of your child's first big catch.
Me, Myself and I
There are more than 300 million people in the United States. If you've ever wondered how many of them share your name, we may have found a tool to end the mystery: Howmanyofme.com. I tried it out and discovered there are 223,243 people in the U.S. with the first name Erin. According to the site, 2,051 people in the U.S. have the last name O’Hearn. Only two have both names. We should mention not every name has been entered yet so the site is still a work in progress.
The Tiniest Landlord
Finally, the pros had arrived.
More and more comedians are producing original material online. In a hilarious clip called "the Landlord" Adam McKay's little daughter Pearl plays Will Farrell's landlord. She stands outside Ferrell’s door in a blue dress, demanding that he pay up or get out. You can check it out on funnyordie.com.
Conquering the Friendly Skies
Aspiring aviators here is a site for you. Projectpilot.org is a virtual tutorial. The website is an effort by the nonprofit Aircraft Owners and Pilots Association to recruit new aviators. The website’s narrator dispels myths that flying is just for risk takers and the rich and famous. A pilot’s license will allow you to easily visit friends and family, explore the country and meet the people who the site hails as the friendliest people in the world: pilots. The website also provides links for 3500 flight schools in the U.S., including a dozen or so in Philadelphia.
The Real World
With graduation just weeks away, many students may be looking for guidance as they transition into the real world. Well, grads in New Jersey, you're in luck. Jerseyintern.com links students to close to 3000 internship opportunities in over 80 career categories. Students can find paid and unpaid internships still available for the summer. It’s free for students to search, review programs and attach their resumes.
Tutor 411
If you need help on the road to graduation, log on to tutorlinker.com. This site helps you find tutors in your area. All you have to do is type in your address and you’ll get a map with all the tutors who live near you. Plus, you can get information about their specialty and how to contact them. If you are a tutor, you can also add your information.
YouTube Candidate Spotlight
Hillary started the conversation, now the other 2008 presidential candidates are getting their turn each week on Youtube. That’s right. They post, you decide.
White House contenders from both parties are taking turns posting videos on YouTube’s News and Politics site. The experiment was born from YouTube’s “You Choose 08’” initiative that kicked off in February. First up is Massachusetts Governor Mitt Romney. There's interactive twist. YouTubers will not only be allowed to comment, but they can also upload their own video responses to each candidates video platform.
Better TV, Better You.
Looking for a place to find better make-up tips? Better fashion ideas? Better diet guidance? Just log onto Better.tv.
Better Homes and Gardens magazine has launched a standalone TV stand of their magazines. It is a video version of all the things that you need for a better you.
We Need Your Input!
Our viewers suggested some of the sites we featured here. Right Now On The Net is always looking for interesting and informative websites. Whether you stumble across a website while surfing or have a few bookmarks you think others could find useful, let us know! Click here!
From Baghdad to Books
There is so much reporting on the war on Iraq, but rarely do you get such an inside perspective as you will find on Hometown Baghdad.
The videos are shot by 20-something Iraqi filmmakers. The videos are simple and short, but they are riveting. They show young Iraqis in a variety of settings and what life is like for them in Baghdad.
Movie Madness
It's getting to be that time of year again. Big blockbuster movies will be rolling out of Hollywood in the next couple of weeks. So how do you know what to see?
Flixter.com is a fast-growing social networking site built around love for movies. You find more than 380-million movie ratings from users. You must create a profile to rate movies and share recommendations, but you can also watch videos and learn more about movies, actors and actress just by visiting the site.
Are You Famous?
If you want to spend a few bored minutes on a site, check out Famousr.com. We learned about this one thanks to Whitney Matheson at USA Today. The object is pretty simple: click on the person who you think is more famous.
Diet Diary
One of our co-workers is putting this new site to the test. MyFoodDiary.com gives you the tools you need to make good, healthy decisions about food and exercise (including a food diary, an exercise log, powerful charts & reports, a body log, and a discussion forum). You must pay a monthly fee.
Philadelphia Book Festival
The Philadelphia Book Festival is next weekend (April 21-22), but you can learn all about it right now on 6abc.com in our special section on the festival. We'll also be hosting a live chat on Thursday at 12:30 p.m. with author Will Schwalbe. He's the Editor in Chief of Hyperion Books and co-author of the book, "Send: The Essential Guide to Email for Office and Home." We hope you will join us for the chat.
If you visit a website that you think others might like, please let us know by clicking here.
Things Old and New
No time to watch the last six seasons of The Sopranos on DVD? Fuggetaboutit! Youtube has a 7 minute Soprano whacked out refresher video to get you prepped for the 7th and final season of Tony's family saga. We've posted the clean version here, but you can find the uncut version on YouTube.
A narrator gives you a tongue and cheek synopsis of the Mafioso drama. It starts out with an introduction of each character and then strings together clips from every season… simplifying the very complicated and intricate storyline of Tony’s “two families.” The video covers everything from Uncle Jr.’s trial to Meadow trying the patience of a very protective father.
Prom Queen
As the Sopranos wraps up, a very different kind of drama is just starting up. Myspace.com has launched the mystery series Prom Queen. The story follows a group of friends in their final two years of high school. Former Walt Disney studio head Michael Eisner is producing the 90-second episodes. Myspace says it’s taking the concept of television series to an interactive, Internet age level. The website will provide extra show related content such as characters diaries, storyline tips, and behind the scene video clips. The characters will also have their own Myspace pages crafted to appear like that of a real high school student. Myspace members will be able to interact with the characters on profile pages the same way they would with each other.
Comic Creations
Wishing you could put the funny back in the Sunday Funnies? Now you can at toondoo.com. The Website, which just launched this week, allows you to create and share your own whacky and creative cartoon strips. You just click or drag and drop. The format is similar to that of Youtube.com. Site visitors can view the most popular, most viewed and editor’s pick cartoon strips.
Philadelphia Film Festival
Good news for all you movie lovers. The Philadelphia Film Festival kicks off Thursday. Go to Phillyfests.com you can get a list of films, events and you can buy your tickets with a click of a mouse. Opening night you can catch the comedy The Ten---a collection of vignettes using Moses’ tablet as a platform for the skits. It is an all-star cast and the writer and director will be on hand for questions after the movie.
McFly 2015
Places to See, People to Watch
One of the best parts of a great trip is coming home and sharing your adventure with family and friends. Now, you can share your vacation video diary with the world. Travelistic.com is a new social website for the travel enthusiast. It offers professional videos that can help you plan out the logistics of your trip, what sites to visit, where to eat, where to stay and how to get there. You can also download amateur videos. Some of them are purely for entertainment; others can help you guide you "off the beaten path" for travelers who are looking for a trip without a touristy feel. The website is a great resource to learn about cultural difference you may encounter during your travel overseas. Similar to Youtube.com, the homepage features most popular and viewed videos and a search engine makes it easy to find destination specific videos.
Earthcam
If your ambitions to see the world are bigger than your budget, then have no worries. Just visit Earthcam.com where "the world watches the world." The website features live webcams...set up around the world. You can see the hustle and bustle of Times Square and watch the sunset on an exotic beach all from the comfort of your living room couch.
The Lifecaster
Feeling an itch to escape from the monotony of ever-day life? Now you can by experiencing the monotony of someone else's life. His name is Justin. The guy has strapped a camera to his head. It is always on. Always. Justintv.com allows you to see the world through Justin's eyes. This website features Justin engaging in compelling acts like cleaning his apartment, sleeping and surfing the internet. The video is live 24 hours a day, 7 days a week. Visitors can engage in a live chat on the website. A great place to give Justin advice the next time you watch him go out on a date.
Voicemail
In a mock reality website ABC.com is launching an original series of video shorts entitled "Voicemail." It chronicles a decade of a twentysomethings' phone messages. Inspired by the saved messages of co-creator Michael Wilde, Voicemail is based on a 2005 film of the same name that he wrote and directed. A new episode will be featured every week. A message plays in the background while actor Ezra Godden, playing Mike, acts along to it. From psycho first date stalkers and torturous breakups to hung over mornings and nagging relatives, the often serious answering machine messages are in stark contrast to the creative interpretation seen in the shorts. Whether it's Mike boxing up an ex-girlfriend's belongings while she leaves a message thanking him for being so mature during the breakup or re-gifting an elderly Aunt's cookie jar gift only to discover it was filled with cash, Mike's imaginative unpredictability strikes a chord with young adults, all of whom have a friend, roommate or relative like him.
How Long Will You Live
None of us have crystal ball, but a new website claims to offer a comparable alternative. Livingto100.com calculates your life expectancy after answering 40 questions. You'll be asked about everything from your diet and medical history to your zip code and how often you have in person contact with family or loved ones. After your life expectancy is calculated, you'll be presented with a list of suggestions on how to improve your lifestyle and add years to your life.
New 6abc.com Look
Starting Thursday afternoon, 6abc.com will debut a new look to our home page as part of a larger change coming in the future. We also want your feedback, so please take a few minutes to fill out the survey once the new look goes live tomorrow afternoon.
Remember you can catch Right Now on the Net every Wednesday night at 11pm.
No comments:
Post a Comment