A Web site that lists 'The Hundred Greatest Comics of the 20th Century' puts the very first issue of Superman, Action Comics #1 right at the top of the heap.
It's easy to see why: 'Superman was the first true comic-book superstar. Before him, the heroes of the industry were mere mortals and funny animals; after him, the public's demand for more sent the publishers back to the drawing board to create entire universes of super-powered beings. The very fact we call them superheroes testifies to the place Superman occupies in the pantheon of our modern-day heroes,' says Mitchell Brown, on the site.
Read on about the history behind Superman; his creation by Jerry Siegel and Joe Shuster; and how earlier versions were discarded until an editor picked Superman out of a heap of rejected comic strips.
The first issue was published in June 1938. Not many of us were around then, and it's hard to come by such old copies. However, thanks to the Internet, you can read the entire issue online! This site has all 64 pages, along with the front and back covers scanned and uploaded. Despite this, the loading time isn't too much.
So to read 'the greatest comic book' of the century, all you do is log on.
When Love Speaks
'Shall I compare thee to a summer's day…'
If this sounds familiar, you're probably into Shakespeare's sonnets.
When next you want to go over the love sonnets, don't take down a dusty tome. Instead have them read out to you by some of the most famous actors and sung out by world-renowned singers.
The 'Downloads' section has clips from the appropriately titled album When Love Speaks. They include 'Who will believe my verse in time to come' (sonnet 17) read by Sir Richard Attenborough, sonnet 18 sang by Bryan Ferry and 'Th'expense of spirit in a waste of shame' (sonnet 129) read by Ralph Fiennes. Apart from sonnets, there are also selections from his plays and other works. One of the most famous and often quoted passages from The Merchant of Venice 'The quality of mercy is not strained…' is put into song by Des' Ree, while Annie Lennox sings out a portion from Sonnets to Sundry Notes of Music - 5.
Other offerings on the site include a promotional ten-minute documentary and renditions by various other artists. According to the site, sonnets can be downloaded or played, the downloaded sound file being of a higher quality.
You could also use the search box in 'The Sonnets' section to find your favourites by number or keyword. Besides, the 'send a sonnet' link makes it easy for you to mail some to those who would appreciate them.
Extreme Survivor Quiz
Test your instincts! That's the aim of this quiz.
What you get is a series of 17 multiple choice questions in an attractive Flash interface. As you answer each question, you'll immediately discover whether your reaction to dog attacks, snakebite, stick-ups, natural calamities, dehydration, plane crashes or stampedes is the right one.
Don't be alarmed if you get a low score. It's way better to fail at an online quiz than in situations that are actually dangerous!
I scored 11 out of 17. The site's interpretation of that score is: 'You're alive… but badly injured or maimed for life. With a little effort you too can be an extreme survivor.'
I took that as a wakeup call.
Copyright Web site
Have you ever come across something really interesting on the Web and were tempted to reproduce a part of it? You might have had vague ideas of the legal implications. If so, this site can act as your guide to online copyright issues.
Did you know about 'Fair Use'? This section will tell you when you can 'infringe a copyright and get away with it'. Also learn about lost and expired copyrights in the public domain. The site will also help you get down the basics of a copyright notice.
If you have a Web site of your own, and wish to safeguard your content, this segment will give you tips about issues to consider when creating your site, Web design hassles, deep linking policies and other details. You can also get information on encryption and software licensing.