Day: June 24, 2001

~ FmH

Review of this-page-intentionally-left-blank.org: “…(E)veryone has a website. And some of

these people would like to point out that we

are (they are, that’s where the

self-examination comes in) spending too

much time on the Web. Or that the Web is

not the only thing, not even the only

medium, out there. Or maybe just that the

Web is a medium.

So there’s The Last Page of the Internet. A Day

Without Weblogs. And now, taking it all one

step further, we have

this-page-intentionally-left-blank.org, a site devoted

entirely to urging webmasters to put up

blank pages on their sites in the hopes of

spurring self-reflection.

Perhaps you were expecting this review itself

to be blank. That would be too, too easy.

But, more to the point, the TPILB-Project (as

they call it) site isn’t blank, so my review

doesn’t have to be either. The TPILB-Project

engages in wispy speculation about the

nature of the Web, so I get to do it too.” Flak

~ FmH

An Arthur Machen Gallery — ‘Presenting a few interesting Arthur Machen editions. Most of these were contributed by Machen collectors, a

few are from my own collection, and others are “found scans”.’ Delve deeper into Machen’s life and work, which inspired among others H.P. Lovecraft and the contemporary psychogeographer Iain Sinclair, here.

~ FmH

Surprisingly, Li’l George announces support for limits on use of DNA tests to prevent genetic discrimination. “Mr. Bush may have acted

now because two senators who have long pressed for federal restrictions on the

commercial uses of genetic indicators — Tom Daschle of South Dakota, the

majority leader, and Edward M. Kennedy of Massachusetts — said when the

Senate switched to Democratic control that they would push the legislation

through in a few months.” New York Times

~ FmH

The University of Virginia mounts a special exhibition on the ‘Psychedelic 60s’ — literature, art, historical context and precursors. I was there and I do remember. I feel a certain mournfulness at those who look back at the ’60’s as if at a dead artifact, frozen static in time, rather than understanding the way in which there is an ongoing living presence of its virtues in some of our lives. Even if I wear a shirt and tie to work…

~ FmH

Mistaken identity Researchers cast doubt on the assumption that the 300-year rampage of the Black Death through Europe was bubonic plague, caused by the bacterium Yersinia pestis. The pattern of its emergence, spread, symptoms and disappearance is more consistent with an Ebola-like virus, they say. Ironically, exposure to this virus may have given some Europeans resistance to HIV infection. Guardian UK

~ FmH

Japan PM’s Million-Human E-Mail. Wildly popular new Japanese Prime Minister Junichiro Koizumi has just begun publication of his own e-zine, with over a million Japanese subscribers to the first issue. No English translation available so far of this unprecedented use of the web by a world leader to communicate to his constituency. Wired

~ FmH

Japan PM’s Million-Human E-Mail. Wildly popular new Japanese Prime Minister Junichiro Koizumi has just begun publication of his own e-zine, with over a million Japanese subscribers to the first issue. No English translation available so far of this unprecedented use of the web by a world leader to communicate to his constituency. Wired

~ FmH

Japan PM’s Million-Human E-Mail. Wildly popular new Japanese Prime Minister Junichiro Koizumi has just begun publication of his own e-zine, with over a million Japanese subscribers to the first issue. No English translation available so far of this unprecedented use of the web by a world leader to communicate to his constituency. Wired