You know those weird distorted words that you have to type sometimes when you register for a web site? They’re called CAPTCHAs, and they prevent spam robots from registering on web sites.

Here’s a suggestion that takes the idea one step further: a CAPTCHA that requires a good understanding of grammar. This guy suggests that such a test should be required in order to use the Internet at all. Hit refresh (F5) on your browser to get new, fun grammar and spelling questions.

Darth Vader agrees.

Here are some interesting web sites that I have been using lately:

Google Sightseeing. “Why bother seeing the world for real?” A cool use for Google Maps / Google Earth.

Prosper. “The online marketplace for people-to-people lending.” This lets you loan money like a bank (if you have cash) or borrow money from people, rather than banks (if you need a cash infusion). I actually heard about this web site on NPR. I think they are the next eBay!

Fix It Now. The “Samurai Appliance Repair Man” gives great advice on fixing your appliances yourself, saving hundreds of dollars in repair bills. Plus, you don’t need to stay home from work, waiting for a repairman who is supposed to show up between “1 to 5 p.m.”

Last year, I built a web site for western artist Ginger Vogt. She’s a fantastic painter and the wife of one of my Cruiser buddies. She recently returned the favor by creating the ultimate Cruiser masterpiece — a wicked cool painting of my own 1981 Toyota Land Cruiser FJ40, “the Hulk.”

Here’s the painting side by side with a picture of my Cruiser.
 
I hung the painting in my office. It’s wonderful.

You are Raiders of the Lost Ark. You live for adventure, fortune hunting and danger.

This is pretty cool: a personality test that tells you what classic movie you most resemble. They have some other cool tests too.

Other interesting tests:

• Jung Tests I-E S-N F-T J-P
• Maslow Inventory Test
• Right Left Brain Tests
• Intelligence Tests
• Famous Leader Test

What Classic Movie Are You? | personality tests by similarminds.com

Betcha didn’t know that the original 7 wonders of the world were chosen by Philon of Byzantium in 200 B.C. You can probably name a few of them: the Pyramids at Giza, the Hanging Gardens of Babylon, the Lighthouse at Alexandria, and, er, four others…. The others are all pretty much forgotten today. In fact, the only original wonder that remains intact is the Pyramids.

My Dad forward this on to me: the New 7 Wonders. They’ve narrowed it down to 21 existing wonders of today’s world. They ain’t exactly spankin’ new: the candidates include Stonehenge, the statues at Easter Island and the Pyramids (again). The newest is the Sydney Opera House, which was completed in 1973. All the rest are much older.

I was skeptical at first, but soon I found myself reading all the details of the original ancient 7 wonders, as well as the new candidates. The winners will be revealed on 07/07/07, which is a fine example of good planning. You can vote, too.

I’ve seen 5 of the 21 in person:

• Chichen Itzá
• The Colosseum
• Eiffel Tower
• Statue of Liberty
• Stonehenge

Now I want to go to Timbuktu.

This is pretty cool:

US States I have visited.

Countries I have visited

Create your own here: www.world66.com/myworld66.

Here’s a widget that will keep you up to date on my progress.

As I post this, it’s showing the goal for three days of writing, even though I still count this as Day Two. It’s only 1:15 a.m. on Day Three. I need 1667 words per day. I should be at 3333 words right now. This is going to be hard.

I love this image.

I finished redesigning the Rusty Brain blog tonight. The rest of my family sleeps. Other people dance, laugh, rejoice. I look for ghosts in the code and silently celebrate the alignment of the search box element on the home page. Through my window, the paparazzi shoot pictures of my hunched form outlined in LCD glow. Envy me.