Site of the Week -- November 27, 2000
ore than 20 years ago, the Marshall family fell through a wormhole
into the Land of the Lost, a jungle world filled with dinosaurs,
odd-looking apes and some very freaky reptilian villains. The Saturday
morning live-action series ran from 1974 through 1976 and was produced by
the Kroft Brothers (also known for their H.R. Pufnstuf and
Sigmund and the Sea Monsters series).
The show's cult following continues to this day with Land of the
Lost,
a fan site that faithfully preserves the memories of the series' heroes:
Rick, Will and Holly Marshall. Those who dimly remember the plucky heroes
and their bug-eyed "Sleestak" antagonists can refresh their memories (and
hear the show's theme song) by reading the series FAQ. Die-hard fans should
check out the Sounds section, where they can download MP3 clips from the
show, and the Products page, which shows just how cheesy toys from the '70s
could be.
-- Kenneth Newquist
Site of the Week -- Nov. 20, 2000
he Crater Kid is a Web-based comic strip that hearkens back to the
good old days of science fiction, when young kids could save the universe
and heroes could blow away alien species without worrying about possible
ecological fallout from their pulsar pistols.
The Kid’s a space-hopping, pint-sized Flash Gordon who’s been
snatched from his home and transported to a distant planet. With the help of
Diz, a beatnik alien scientist, and The Sponge, a floating brain, he battles
the forces of evil while learning right from wrong.
The strip’s saturated with a Beat generation feel, from its retro artwork to
its hipster dialogue. The series draws its inspiration from Space
Patrol and other 1950s sci-fi staples, and revels in the black-and-white
values of that earlier time.
The site includes an extensive archive of back issues, printable
pen-and-paper games and a mailing list that’ll drop the Kid’s latest saga
in any web surfer's inbox.
-- Kenneth Newquist
tar Wars fans who wish Yoda had been talking about them when he said
“no--there is another” can finally locate their doppelgangers in that galaxy far, far
away thanks to the “Find Your Star Wars Twin” page.
The page uses a 48+ question quiz to determine which Star Wars
characters the visitor most closely resembles. The questions--which are
based on a standard psychology test--revolve around each participants’
perception of himself and a close friend. It asks them to agree or
disagree with statements such as “I see myself as someone who is talkative” or
“is full of energy.” The quiz takes 5-10 minutes to complete, and at its
end a page appears introducing participants to their “twins.”
Possible matchups include Grand Moff Tarkin (“a highly organized leader
with a keen eye for detail, he occasionally misses a small but crucial
detail”), Wicket (“particularly curious, inventive, and resourceful”),
Tuscan Raiders (“unpredictable, temperamental, and excitable”), Princess
Leia, Luke Skywalker and the rest of the Star Wars pantheon.
-- Kenneth Newquist
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