The World : Editor's Choices
by Joyce Slaton

The American South
sunsite.unc.edu/doug_m/pages/south/south.html
The American South is loaded with Elvis photos and greets its guests with some "mood music" from "Deliverance." Not an Olympics logo in sight, so we figure this is a trip to the Old South. But hey, y'all: grab a sweet tea, pull up a chair and see what the heck's goin' on down there. Start your anthropologic journey with something different -- a look at the funerals of Southern heroes, perhaps. Got an ear for music? You're in luck with a multimedia exhibit for flat-picking guitar wiz Doc Watson. The hopelessly devoted can get the word on the latest International Conference on Elvis, and real live Southerners can click around by state to see what the weather's holding in store for places like Selma and Chattanooga. Everything but the grits.

The Anti-Japanophile Japan Page
www.sas.upenn.edu/~stevenso/japan.html
Though this site claims not to be aimed at the growing population of Japanophiles (those obsessed with anything and everything Japanese), it links directly to anything and everything a true blue Japanophile could possibly want from the Net. Borrowing two of the "underlying tropes of Japanese civilization," the Webmaster asserts, "nothing is as it seems at first glance, and you are only transient." Whatever. Transiting around the Anti-Japanophile Japan Page turns up some fascinating finds, whether you're a 'phile or not. Start with the latest news, professional and street-wise, then jump to official government pages from the prime minister, including the Keidanren, the organization which rules the Japanese economy with an iron fist. Lighter fare offers sumo enthusiasts an opportunity to cheer on their favorite wrestlers. And music fans can locate a headbanging refuge for Japanese heavy metal. As for the Japanese reggae scene ... well, you'll just have to see that one for yourself.

CaribWeb Interactive Guide to the Caribbean
www.caribweb.com/caribweb/
Daily grind got you down? No worries, a free Caribbean getaway -- sans telemarketing trap -- is right at your fingertips. (Just don't plan to get any sun while you're there.) This site of relevant links to the Caribbean arms virtual tourists with a database of hundreds of restaurants, hotels and beachy entertainment over seven balmy island locations. Better, it enables guests to do normal Caribbean things, like belly up to a virtual bar and chat with other lusty vacationers.

Find out where to go, what to do, and, perhaps most importantly, what to drink. Specialized bars such as the Bare Bum Beach (do you even have to ask?) and the Hike, Bike and Brew offer fast friends a chance to share their getaway stories up close and personal -- or to plot a bare-bum island adventure together. And those planning to take moonlight beach walks alone may be in luck with the True Romance Caribbean Personals page. Already got a honey and planning a romantic wedding? Carib Moon dishes the scoop on the legal formalities of tying the knot on the islands. Rum! Don't walk!

City.Net -- Your Guide to the World
www.city.net/
So where do you want to go today? With thousands of cities online, City.Net can probably get you there. This massive repository houses thousands of indices of countries, states and regions, and connects instantly to hot destinations like Tokyo and New York. The service digs up resources from arts and entertainment listings to government sites; from hotel guidebooks to local weather. Scale the lofty heights of San Francisco's Coit Tower and peer down at an amazing view. Or gawk at wacky travelers courtesy of the editors of Monk Magazine, the online/on-the-road zine that lends new meaning to the great American road trip. Whether you want to sip tequila on a beach in Cancun or navigate the maze of Prague's subway system, you're best bet is going to be City.Net.

Hell Home Page
www.666hell.com/hell/
Welcome to Hell. Hell, Norway, that is; a small region in the icy land with a population of 352, including Miss Universe 1990. Rock along with Hell's Top 10 (yes, that includes "Sympathy for the Devil") or get straight-faced info on Hell's history, which dates back to 4000 B.C. Money burning a hole in your pocket? Blow it at the Hellmart, where a hunk of "666% solid rock" will set you back $36. This site will even tell you how to send postcards from Hell, postmarked and stamped by real Hellions. Before you leave, be sure to apply for a special credit card, which, according to the Webmasters, you can use to pay "the devil's dues." Truly the information highway to Hell, this page may have you making regular visits. Just tell 'em that the devil made you do it.

Exploring Ancient World Cultures
cedar.evansville.edu/~wcweb/wc101/
This erudite Webmaster-professor first gives a brief lecture on why the study of ancient culture is important to the modern student, then goes on to uncover the mysteries of eight far-flung cultures from the ancient world. The Near East, India, Egypt, China, Greece, the Roman Empire, the Islamic World, and Medieval Europe are explored in this online classroom, which traces the cultural history that shaped the development of the modern world. Begin your journey to the past with an exploration of women in ancient times (when Egyptian women held the same legal rights as men), or with a search for the truth about Adam's legendary pre-Eve wife, Lilith.

Your next stop might be one of the many museum sites indexed here, housing hundreds of art and archaeological treasures. The truly dedicated can complete online courses in world cultures or flip through an enormous collection of sacred texts from major world religions. While the Webmaster may not know where humankind is headed, he has a pretty good idea about where we've been.

Friends and Partners Home Page
solar.rtd.utk.edu/friends/home.htmlopt-tables-unix-english-
With an eye on communication opportunities afforded by the Internet, Friends and Partners is a joint project between Russian and American citizens who have created a virtual meeting place in order to learn more about each other. Links connect visitors to a wide range of sites exploring Russian and American art, health care, education, news, travel and more.

Take some simple Russian pronunciation lessons and learn how to greet your new friends. Peruse the life-in-Russia column, "Moscow Life," or get a new take on the differences between everyday culture in Russia and America with anecdotes like this one from a Russian emigre praising American grocery stores: "I don't even have to carry heavy grocery packages, somebody always loads them in the trunk of my car. I just love it!!! And if you are a Russian woman, you fully understand that."

Hebrew: A Living Language
www.macom.co.il/hebrew/
With a friendly "Shalom," Macom Networking of Jerusalem provides enough info on the ancient language of Hebrew to have you as fluent as an Israeli (well, close maybe). Begin with an overview of the alphabet and useful words and phrases, complete with sound files to aid in pronunciation. If you've ever needed to know how to request a small portion of falafel or assure a friend that "you and I will change the world," you'll find Macom's list of contemporary phrases a real life-saver. Hypertext Hebrew poetry exhibits the lyrical side of the language, and the "Words of Love" teaches neophytes how to communicate the difference between friendly fondness and red-hot passion. Hone your literary skills by reading a short story in the language, or find Hebrew-speaking friends at the online bulletin board.

Introduction to Hungary
www.fsz.bme.hu/hungary/intro.html
Are Hungarians extraterrestrial beings? Nobel Prize-winning Italian physicist Enrico Fermi thought so -- perhaps because the Hungarian language is so unique, or maybe because famous Hungarian composer Bela Bartok wrote such spacey music. Or so this Webmaster theorizes. Hundreds of factoids on religious practices, demographics, and a host of important dates in Hungarian history lines these pages on the people who, as legend has it, were created by God to sit on horseback. Hungry fans of Hungary will definitely want to sample tantalizing recipes for paprika chicken and, natch, the goulash.

Kansas Sights
falcon.cc.ukans.edu/~nsween/europa.html
It's right in the middle, but we probably don't have to tell you that Kansas isn't known for being a hip, happening epicenter. If everyone there has a sense of history and drama as keen as these Webmasters, however, the Midwestern state's boring reputation will soon be shattered. An interactive map guides visitors through the wheatlands, with notorious speed traps identified for the driver hell-bent on finding Oz. Along the way, stop by the Kansas Bigfoot Center, or fill your tank with handy sightseeing tips and lodging info.

Beyond the typical tourist pap offered by most state information sites, this one digs deep into history, taking an excursion through the Old West and introducing famous Kansans like Laura Ingalls Wilder (of "Little House on the Prairie" fame) and gunfighter Wild Bill Hickock. Take an exciting ride with the Pony Express mail service, or follow the trails which brought settlers to the Western frontier. Take note, these savvy Webmasters see all sides of the great plains expansion, making sure to balance the picture of the rugged pioneer against the impact these settlers had on Native American culture. First-rate stuff from the heartland.

Low Bullsh*t Guide to St. Louis
www.inlink.com/~jbhicks/stlguide.html
Straight-from-the-hip author J. Brad Hicks wanted a guide to St. Louis that he wouldn't be embarrassed to show his out-of-town friends. Well, Hicks must have some pretty interesting friends. Sharply different from most city guides, the informative tongue-in-cheek Low Bullsh*t Guide to St. Louis attempts to explain what it's really like to live in the "gateway to the west." The ins and outs of getting around on public transit are explained, with Hicks' admonition that St. Louis buses are dirty, ramshackle and "filled with crazies ... some of whom drive them." Hicks also gives the rundown on what St. Louis attractions are worthwhile and which ones are losers, and gives the real story behind the city's crime rate, including a list of crime-heavy neighborhoods to avoid. Many more links to real life in St. Louis round out the site, including an explanation of strange St. Louis native customs, a cost-savvy guide to living and working in the city, and advice on ferreting out the offbeat stuff.

Seattle Caustic Compendium
www.oz.net/~evad/
Billed as "an unflinching urban guide to Seattle living," the Caustic Companion delivers the real lowdown on the Grunge capital of the world, devoid of touristy soft-pedaling. Check out this description of a typical club: "Dirty, smelly, gross, noisy ... You'll want to take a shower after drinking a cheap pitcher of Brew 66 and watching some of Seattle's best not-so-famous rock stars." (Can't wait!) Restaurant reviews from various Seattle neighborhoods like Capitol Hill or Ballard are skewed towards the vegetarian muncher with an adventurous palate and not many dollars in the pocket. And the listing of shopping spots zeroes in on the stomping grounds of slackers: record stores and thrift shops. Plenty of info on where to find double lattes and microbreweries, too.

Virtual Antarctica
www.terraquest.com/antarctica/
The TerraQuest crew entertained and educated more than 200,000 online followers in December 1995 with their two-week exploratory sailing trip around the "vast white continent at the bottom of the world." One of the first expeditions to link travelers and Net spectators live, it included daily chats and digital news bulletins. Relive it at Virtual Antarctica, where you can set sail with polar adventurers Jonathan Chester and Richard Bangs. See their vivid photos, read their casual journal anecdotes; negotiate subzero weather and complicated equipment, along with the usual travails of traveling, from the safe distance of your computer monitor. Visitors can get a better fix on the situation by reading a little about Antarctica's history, environment and ecological issues. And if the virtual trip leaves you longing for the icy chill of the Antarctic wind on your cheeks, start planning your own adventure here.

The Virtual English Language Center
www.comenius.com/index.html
Even native speakers can improve language skills with the lighthearted examples and exercises provided here for students and teachers of English, be it conventional, academic, or the high-tech jargon of science and technology. But this is no ordinary resource. Forget phrases like "good night" and "where's the bathroom?" How about looking up the meanings for "jerk around" and "out of it." Interactive fables make learning fun, too, with exercises based on traditional tales. And if you've a hankering to practice your new skills, register to find an e-mail pen-pal. Links to dictionaries, vocabulary pages and entertainment round out the site.

Vodoun (or Voodoo) Information Pages
www.vmedia.com/shannon/voodoo/voodoo.html
Angered at the popular media depiction of Voudon as zombie-producing black magic, this site's author presents the religion as valid, explaining how the French Catholic and African Yoruban beliefs of African slaves in Haiti melded to form it. The facts on Voudon are presented evenhandedly, with a glossary for the novitiate and descriptions of each of the major loa (living deities) and their sacrifices and tributes. Illustrations bring home the flavor of Voudon rituals, which utilize drumming, dancing, chanting and ecstatic trance to call upon the loa. Those who associate Voudon with black magic will also be interested in the non-sensational explanation of the limited role of black magic and evil spirits, called baka, in the religion. If Voudon is for you, check out the on-site calendar of ceremonies and plan your own rituals.