"The old chucks" (photo by Bill Keaggy) You smell something? You might be catching the scent of National Sense of Smell Day, our favorite festival of stenches. For an intense olfactory workout, we recommend a field trip to the county dump or a pig farm. If you're lucky enough to live near a greenhouse, sniff the stinkiest of flora, the putrid "corpse flower," titan arum. Enjoy all sorts of stinkiness right in your own kitchen, too. Pungent cheeses like limburger or epoisses are so malodorous that you may suspect your old sneakers. And remember, smells intensify in warmer environments -- those sardines and oysters will smell even zestier after basking on the windowsill (or in the neighbor's yard). True fume fanatics should grab an aromatic durian -- the fruit with a bouquet so fetid that it is said to be banned from public places in several countries. However you choose to celebrate this weekend, take a nice, deep whiff and appreciate your sense of smell. Suggested Sites... Olfaction - a detailed explanation of how we smell -- er, how the human sense of smell works. Scientists Name World's Whiffiest Cheese - for those who love cheese with an "earthy" or "farmyardy" aroma. How Internet Odors Will Work - HowStuffWorks describes scent-producing devices that connect to the Internet. We know the Internet, though -- we're pretty sure it won't smell good.

Directory categories: Fragrances, Titan Arum, Durian, Cheese, Deodorant

Archived under: Botany, Cheese, Flowers, Fragrances, Holidays, Shoes

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(photo by Peter Harholdt) Benjamin Franklin is credited with many inventions and innovations still in use today, including the lightning rod, bifocal eyeglasses, and the Franklin stove. Franklin's favorite creation, however, was the lesser-known glass armonica. After hearing a performance of music played on the moistened rims of water-filled glasses, Franklin (an accomplished musician) was so charmed by the sweet tones that he set out to improve upon the method. Instead of tuning each note by filling a glass with water, he stacked glass bowls, graduated in size and thickness for pitch, on a spindle and rotated them with a foot treadle. The armonica's "mesmerizing" sound quickly captivated European audiences, and several composers of the day -- including Mozart, Beethoven, and Donizetti -- wrote music specifically for it. After the armonica became associated with lead poisoning and insanity, the instrument's popularity declined. However, contemporary musicians and modern materials have pumped new life into Franklin's pet project, and as Ben once said, "energy and persistence conquer all things." Suggested Sites... Music and Magic of the Glass Armonica - packed with information and resources from William Zeigler, full-time glass armonicist. Play the Armonica - try it yourself with this virtual armonica. The Benjamin Franklin Tercentenary - exhibition celebrating Ben Franklin's 300th birthday.

Directory categories: Glass Armonica, Benjamin Franklin, Glass Armonicists

Archived under: American History, Arts, Benjamin Franklin, Music, Musical Instruments

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(SF Chronicle photo/Darryl Bush) Nothing rivals the mixture of adrenaline, cold sweat, and anticipation that accompanies an attempted hit. Not truly contract killers, there's a new gang of assassins on the loose, participants in a game where each player assumes the role of a hit man. Why do people play games that flirt with death scenarios? Perhaps it's morbid curiosity, or maybe the thrill comes from tracking marks, studying their routines, and implementing a plan to catch them off guard. Either way, the rush of a well-executed kill is undeniable by victim and assassin alike, as people around the world participate in games everyday. Live action role playing gamers adhere to strict rules and weapons guidelines for the sanctity of the game and the safety of all involved. Assassins remains a game of "kill or be killed," so before jumping into a game of live-action killing, make sure you can balance either a student workload or the demands of a career while dodging attempts on your life. Let the games begin. Suggested Sites... StreetWars - hosting a three week long, 24/7, watergun assassination tournament in New York City, Vancouver, Vienna, and San Francisco. Nerf HQ - community dedicated to Nerf weaponry, ammunition, and modifications. KAOS - Killing As Organized Sport is a live action RPG resource run out of the University of Canterbury in New Zealand.

Directory categories: Assassins, Death Pools, Live Action Role Playing Games

Archived under: Assassination, Assassins, Death, Games, Guns, Hobbies, Role-Playing Games

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Press "OFF" It's TV Turnoff Week, the annual campaign to encourage everyone to get away from the boob tube. We heartily endorse that sentiment, but what else is there to do? Well, we could read a book -- though there's always the risk of eyestrain or a paper cut. And that rerun of Laguna Beach looks awfully tempting. No, we can't give in. Let's head to the kitchen and cook a healthy meal. But maybe that's not so smart; if we get tears in our eyes from chopping onions, we could get a nasty knife gash. Oh, boy! Gastineau Girls is on tonight! We'd better get out of the house altogether and dig into the garden. But what about all those mosquitoes? And we sunburn awfully easily... And isn't Dog the Bounty Hunter on in a little while? Maybe being a couch potato is the only safe course of action, after all -- or maybe not. Suggested Sites... TV Turnoff Network - dare to turn the TV off and turn your life on. National TV-Free Week - hints on what to do when the idiot box is off. TV Turnoff Week 2006 - Adbusters dares to ask the question: Are you a television addict?

Directory categories: TV Turnoff Week, Fitness, Reading Lists, Television Shows

Archived under: Books, Cooking, Fitness, Gardening, Reading, Society and Culture, TV, TV Turnoff Week

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Woolworth Building in Manhattan Sadly, rather than zipping to plush offices on the 80th floor, we climb a single flight of stairs to reach grey cubicles, and only dream of peering down on the peons below. Besides being lofty places to work, skyscrapers are symbols of power, progress, and ingenuity. When retail magnate Frank Woolworth wanted to show that he'd been saving his nickels and dimes, he hired Cass Gilbert to build a paean to his empire. Built in 1913, the "Cathedral of Commerce" rises 792 feet above lower Manhattan. Gilbert combined elaborate ornamentation with practical details, such as internal steam turbines powerful enough to heat the entire building. It was the world's tallest building for nearly 20 years, until it was was topped by the majestic Chrysler Building. Today, Taiwan's Taipei 101 reigns supreme -- but not for long. The Burj Dubai is expected to rise over 2,300 feet from the sands of the United Arab Emirates. Suggested Sites... The Woolworth Building - description and a collection of images of the Gothic masterpiece. The Skyscraper City - detailed history of the skyscraper, and their impact on the development of New York City. Tallest Buildings in New York City - NYC still reigns as the skyscraper capital, with over 80 buildings which rise above 600 feet. All About Skyscrapers - for people who care about the tallest incomplete hotel or the tallest partially habitable structure.

Directory categories: Cass Gilbert (1859-1934), Skyscrapers, Master Architects

Archived under: Architects, Architecture, Business, New York City, Skyscrapers

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