Webworlds

When we first saw the link to this site, we guessed it might be home to elitist software programmers, or possibly a pretentious sect of Matrix fans. So it was with some excitement that we found Technorati is none of the above, but a fine way to keep up with the several gazillion web logs that now populate the internet.

With an alleged 700,000 blog postings a day, anything that makes some sense of what’s worth visiting is invaluable. Technorati works on the same principle as Google, that the number of links to a site is a good measure of its importance. A particular strength is its ability to pick up choice comment as it’s made – political developments in the US are especially prominent – follow some of the links and it’s immediately apparent why they’re so popular. Incisive opinion, frequently entertaining, framed within a conversation rather than a one-way stream. No wonder the journalists are rattled.

So whether you’re wondering what the most popular blog is (that’s Boing Boing: A Directory of Wonderful Things) or how many people are posting on the topic of hand-knitting (er, a lot) Technorati has the answers. The dominance of the US in English language blogging skews the content accordingly, as does the sheer volume of computer-related topics, so the UK-based, non-techie visitor might want to narrow down their search with a few well-chosen terms. But still Technorati is the best-designed and most professional aggregator of its type, beating all attempts thus far on this side of the Atlantic.

Green gyms: work out on a dry stone wall

Green Gyms

Forget, for one moment, how easy it is to spend hours aimlessly surfing the web, and remember this: for those with willpower, the internet can help get you out of doors.

With spring exploding around us, and campuses looking leafy and inviting from the windows of faculty buildings, many of us would much rather be outside. The thing is, sitting around on the lawns just isn’t a guilt-free way to spend your time right now.

So for those who believe that keeping fit isn’t something to feel bad about during exam time there is this handy option. The British Trust for Conservation Volunteers (BTCV) run Green Gyms, essentially outdoor working parties with a focus on exercise. They’re regular, last for between one and three hours, and tend to take place somewhere green and pleasant. Volunteers finds themselves digging, hedge-laying or building dry stone walls, more than enough to break a sweat and with the added dimension that they’ve actually done something useful with their workout.

To locate your nearest scheme – university towns often have one – check the Green Gym section of BTCV’s Spring into Action site. Then grab yourself a pair of wellies.

studentfilm: check out the surreal ‘Brave St Julius’

Like the arrival of spring, video-via-the-web seems suddenly to be upon us. As dial-up internet access fades away into history and legend (‘Mummy, what was ‘dial-up?’ ‘Gosh darling, I don’t think I can remember’, etc) TV is increasingly available on demand, while movies are now being released on DVD and download on the same they open at the cinema.

As it has been for musicians, this radically different form of distribution is a big deal for independent filmmakers. Sites like tank.tv (featured in January’s Webworlds) and these two from the UK are providing exposure for the thousands of shoestring movies made every year, and offer a chance for anyone to spot emerging talent for the future.

Student Film is the most exciting of the two, featuring some high-quality short movies. Try ‘Brave St Julius’, directed by Peter Butler of University College Worcester. Originally planned as a slow five-minute piece, it turned out as an even slower 17-minute piece; but as semi-surreal office tragedy it’s beautifully paced and enthralling.

UK Student Film is more of a mixed bag, for the moment acting mainly as a repository for promotional videos by Leicester University Student Television. There’s some unusual stuff here too though, including an acutely observed domestic drama from the US, ‘Norma’s Scent’, so it’s worth scrolling through the full list.

With broadband access getting fatter all the time, the number of similar sites is likely to widen too, so it could be you thought about getting a comfier chair for the computer and maybe some surround sound. Just don’t get popcorn in your keyboard.