we love the web email us go to messageboard newsletter archive home NEWSLETTER: ISSUE 58: "VIKINGS ARE COOL" next issue » « previous issue This Week: - Viking Kittens - Best Screensaver Ever - B3ta person wins Guardian Blog Award ------------------------------------------------- ________ ____ __ ___ ____/ _)|_ // /_/ _ | ___/ _ |/_ > Best British Weblog 2002 << Well done to Al 'Scaryduck' Coleman, who won this year's Guardian award for his online journal. The judges were particularly impressed with his writing, which Al describes as "like b3ta photoshopping, only with words." http://scaryduck.blogspot.com >> Flash Drum Machine << This is isn't the most sophisticated drum machine ever made - but we found it surprisingly fun to sequence simple rhythms. Thank Bobulatorm - can we have some silly noises too? http://www.bobulatorm.net/flash/drummachine2.html >> How drunk are you? << Fat Boab has made this informative reflex testing game to tell you how drunk you are. We suspect the police will soon be adopting this for roadside checks. http://comedy.allinfoabout.com/features/drink.html ------------------------------------------------- : SITES IN BRIEF Stuff we like that wasn't made by our mates. >> More Cat-Based Rock << This is exactly how a cat heavy-metal band would really be, if cats had bands. A work of genius. (If a bit scary - and it sent the B3ta cat potty.) http://www.eyeenvision.com/litterbox/litterbox.htm... >> Optical Illusion << Blimey. This checker-board shadow is so confusing we had to open it in Photoshop to see if our eyes were deceiving us. http://snurl.com/54t >> Create Online = Wanking Babies << Create Online embodies the worst in web design. Flashy design masturbation over usability and interesting content. That's why we love this: http://www.create-online.co.uk/ >> Bad Taste Hotel << Lovers of kitsch - or those who like laughing at Americans will love this hotel. Each room is decorated in a different and increasingly repellent style. If you're planning an alternative wedding - what better place for a reception? http://www.madonnainn.com/tour/index.asp >> The Cliff Guy << Comic book art collector Walt Parrish has an unusual hobby. He gets famous comic book artists to draw pictures of their characters on cliffs. It's amazing how many of them have responded to his idea. http://www.thecliffguy.com/cliffs.htm >> Hallucinogenic Flash Animations << Want to take acid at work but don't have the time? This website pretty much simulates the effects. But probably won't make you think you can fly. http://www.larrycarlson.com/ ------------------------------------------------- : B3TA IMAGE CHALLENGE Results from the 'Safety First' Challenge Each week we run a competition to test your creative skills. We set a challenge and you open Photoshop and mess with our heads. Last week we wanted new safety equipment: http://b3ta.com/challenge/safetyfirst/ We asked B3ta boarder 'munkt0n' to judge the entries - here are his 3 faves. Munkt0n writes - #1 "Hi-vis elephant - all too often elephants fail to see the importance of road safety. This one is making a fine example. (rogan) http://www.b3ta.com/board/3/6/1/6/4/3 #2 "Secure tea - I love my tea, and if someone stole it, I don't think I'd be able to cope. This gives me peace of mind. (Barkin) http://www.b3ta.com/board/3/6/2/0/7/6 #3 "Remember, Safety wurst! - Talking sausages and a terrible pun. What more can I say?" (Fuzzbucket) http://www.b3ta.com/board/3/5/1/1/6/1 >> This Weeks Challenge << This week, B3ta contributor Sue Denham gave us the suggestion, "Before and After: tell us a story in two frames" http://b3ta.com/challenge/beforeafter/ ------------------------------------------------- : WHAT HAPPENED NEXT? Follow-ups on previous stories. * THEY'VE NAMED THE KITTENS! A couple of weeks ago Tom and Phil asked you to name their new kittens. And you did. Overwhelming them with suggestions. The winner? Spunkybackpack with "Cat Stevens and Cat Deeley." BTW: There's some nice kitten pics on the site. http://tomandphil.myby.co.uk/kitten/ * WHERE B3TA WAS BANNED NEXT - According to Ashley Power, B3ta has been banned at Rushcliffe Comprehensive School, Nottingham. He is currently designing a website to celebrate IT technician Darren Chunt. (We've also been blocked by PFIZER - the company responsible for Viagra.) * NICEY BISCUIT UPDATE - Nicey runs a website celebrating biscuits. He's had BBC TV round to interview him. His wife Jenny writes, "They videoed about 1hr of us sitting on the sofa talking about tea and biscuits. We're going to look like real biscuit obsessive plonkers, but what the hell.." ------------------------------------------------- : STAR IN NEXT WEEK'S ISSUE Make something cool and tell us about it. If you are in? Then people will see. Stuff we'd really like to see includes * Something that's so cool that we cry * Real world projects (do try this at home) * Freebies Send contributions to http://www.b3ta.com/mailus/ ------------------------------------------------- Subscribe: [email protected] Unsubscribe: [email protected] ------------------------------------------------- THANKS: Links supplied by Dr Nick Riviera, Indole Ring, Rob Naylor, Alexandra Prior, James Wilkinson, Bobodor. David Stevenson for co-editing this newsletter. Mike Trinder for handling the Photoshop challenge. B4ta for proofing. (46555) SPECIAL THANKS TO FRASER - he helps out with the b3ta blog - and he's also won a prize in the Guardian Competition. The best bit? He's giving us half his prize money. YAY. http://www.blogjam.com/ next issue » « previous issue Newsletter We run a free weekly B3TA email reporting on the coolest stuff on the net. _____________________ [ go ] -------------------- THIS WEEKS HEADLINES -------------------- * TYPE-IN MAGAZINE - LAUNCHED FOR YOUR FINGERS * AI SLOP - GET READY TO OINK FOR IT, PIGGIES * GET WELL SOON - WISHING WELL TO DAVE BAGPUSS READ LATEST ISSUE archive