SPIEGEL Surfs the Web Talking to the World through the Web
It's a curious disparity: The Internet is routinely heralded as a utopian medium that breaks down barriers between peoples, but, for the most part, the majority of us have built a pretty impenetrable Web-surfing routine. Furnished with the Web's limitless means of transportation, a lot of people still don't venture far outside their own comfort zone. A new project, Global Voices Online , intends to change that. Sponsored by Harvard Law School, the site seeks to track world events by aggregating the work of citizen bloggers from the four corners of the globe. It makes for handy one-stop-shopping. You can catch up with citizens from Iran to Bolivia with the click of the mouse. You can read-up on Tajikistan and then learn how to find it on the map.
Hearts IV -- Is Schröder Courting Merkel?
Unlikely, sure : but given that the proceedings of last week's coalition talks have remained under wraps, who knows?
Life and Death in Smurf Village
Life was peaceful, self-sufficient and content in the Smurf village. Indeed, the Smurfs always seemed to have a leg-up on their perpetual tormenter, Gargamel. No one thought that Gargamel would go so far, though, as to acquire high-grade weaponry. No Smurf imagined -- not even Brainy Smurf, or the chronically pessimistic Grouchy Smurf-- that their community would meet such a violent end. Anyone tempted to witness the extermination of the Smurfs can satisfy their curiosity with Monday's link. A new 25-second television spot depicts the demise of the Smurf village by a round of bombs dropped from the sky. One lone Baby Smurf survives the carnage. The film was made by UNICEF as part of their anti-war campaign. A sneak preview in Belgium shocked parents and sent more than one child into tears. Authorities subsequently promised only to air the spot after 9 pm.
First Robot Fish on Display in London
The world's first ever autonomously controlled fish made a splash at the this week. The three robotic fish, which are about the size of carp, use sensors to navigate round the place and can therefore avoid the other (real) fish they share a tank with.
The scientists at Essex University, who spent three years developing the droids, say that because the robots' undulating movements are so realistic, visitors assume the fish are real. Of course, as the fish have shiny metallic scales and a battery power of five hours, visitors would have to be pretty slow to not realize they are looking at robots. To see if you can tell the difference take a look at this of the robo-fish swimming in their London tank.
