Shelley Howells: Jewels of the wild world web

COMMENT

My previous Web Walk, delving into the online lives of introverts, gave Googled stats ("introverts make up a mere 25 to 30 per cent of the population").

Reader Ron Shaw, who through his work knows about such things, put me right: "The numbers for extroversion versus introversion work out, on a worldwide sample of 74,000 people, at around 55 per cent for extroverts versus 45 per cent for introverts," he writes.

"In New Zealand the numbers run the other way at around 60 per cent introverts. This contrasts with US results where its more like 80 per cent extrovert."

Well, that goes some way to explaining certain national traits: they're not loud Americans, they're extroverted.

I received quite a few emails about that column. Mostly, I'm happy to say, along the lines of, "Being pretty introverted myself, I could relate to many of the situations and found your piece helpful and comforting".

But one column that really rang bells out there is one about "alternative" librarians. I still occasionally receive emails from librarians from the US, Canada and Australia (and one from Kaikohe).

Mostly kind, enthusiastic mail, though some really hated it: "Trivial and superficial", are the only printable words from one. Uncanny, surely the author can't have read my job description?

Some people write just to share peculiar websites. One reader says that a Google search for Auckland airport revealed this priceless gem: "The urinals of Auckland International Airport".

It's a full-screen shot of the gleaming aforementioned urinals - just one pic ("email this urinal to a friend!") on a US site that's all urinal, all the time.

Other Kiwi urinals featured include the ones at the Hilton's White Restaurant, and some from a roadside cafe in Haast.

I do admire the site's contributors, who have the courage - and presumably the self-defence skills - to loiter around urinals with cameras. They're not all blokes.

The site also includes shots of urinals for women, some of which - for obvious reasons - come with instructions: 1. Back up, straddle the fixture. 2. Assume a natural squatting position directly over the bowl. The fixture is designed to eliminate the necessity of sitting on or touching it. 3. Keep feet flat on the floor. 4. This women's urinal may also be used as a regular toilet.

Another quirky site suggested by a reader was Ian's Shoelace Site. It stars Ian's invention: the world's fastest shoelace knot.

It's not that he's a knot-nut, Ian explains. "Rather, I'm someone who's passionate about efficiency. Most of my website deals with different forms of efficiency, and having an efficient way of tying shoelaces is just one thing I figure most people could benefit from."

Mercifully, he doesn't take himself too seriously, adding: "If you don't give my Ian Knot a go, I hope you at least get a laugh out of it."

The site also gives instructions for at least five other ways of tying shoelaces, advice on how to stop shoelaces coming undone, and takes an in-depth look at some of the 43,000 possible ways of lacing a pair of shoes with six pairs of eyelets. Good grief.

Winged Sandals is one I managed to find myself and it's terrific. Part of the Australian Broadcasting Corporation's rather fine website, it's all about Greek Mythology and includes animated stories and interactive games.

The animations (for broadband or dial-up connections) are brilliant, thoroughly modern takes on the ancient tales. Orpheus and the Underworld, for example, is done music video-style, with Orpheus as sensitive rock bloke (think Coldplay), Eurydice as a stylish gothic chick and Hades looks like a TV drug lord.

Lovely music, very cool design - there's even a director's cut with Hades' voiceover.

The Delphic Oracle will, for the price of a mere goat sacrifice and a few obols, answer any question (in ancient Greek, with English subtitles) you care to type in.

Regarding my Lotto chances, she declared, "When you commit yourself, you risk misfortune."

The site is aimed at 6- to 12-year-olds, but it's all multilayered enough for adults to get a kick from, and for kids to keep returning to. You'd have to be a right Cerberus not to love it.

* Email Shelley Howells