Free Pint Newsletter 127 - Awards, Homeworkers, Archive TV Free Pint "Helping 55,000 people use the Web for their work" http://www.freepint.com/ ISSN 1460-7239 12th December 2002 No.127 > = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = IN THIS ISSUE EDITORIAL MY FAVOURITE TIPPLES By Liz Doney FREE PINT BAR In Association with Factiva a Dow Jones & Reuters Company JOBS Client Information Officer Senior Information Specialist European Sales Manager TIPS ARTICLE "Home Pages: Websites for the Homeworker" By Sara Ellis BOOKSHELF "Net Crimes & Misdemeanours" Reviewed by Stephen Lafferty FEATURE ARTICLE "Archive Television - A Survey of Websites" By Trevor Harvey EVENTS, GOLD AND FORTHCOMING ARTICLES CONTACT INFORMATION ONLINE VERSION WITH ACTIVATED HYPERLINKS ADOBE ACROBAT VERSION WITH NEWSLETTER FORMATTING > = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = > = = = = = = = = = = = = = ADVERTISEMENT = = = = = = = = = = = = = = BONUS TIME -- MARKETRESEARCH.COM INTRODUCES DISCOUNT OFFERS PAGE! MarketResearch.com already gives you over 50,000 market research reports from the top names in the industry. But this holiday season we want to give you more. We've introduced a new Discounts Page that highlights the latest special deals and bargains on business intelligence. All the best savings in the industry, all in one place. Visit http://www.marketresearch.com/redirect.asp?progid=1732&dp=t to explore the deals! > = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = [mr1271] > = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = >>> ABOUT FREE PINT <<< Free Pint is an online community of information researchers. Members receive this free newsletter every two weeks packed with tips on finding quality and reliable business information on the Internet. Joining is free at and provides access to a substantial archive of articles, reviews, jobs & events, with answers to research questions and networking at the Free Pint Bar. Please circulate this newsletter which is best read when printed out. To receive a fully formatted version as an attachment or a brief notification when it's online, visit . > = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = EDITORIAL Well, what a great time we had at the Online Information show in London last week. It's always a pleasure to be involved with this event as it really is a great place to catch up with people from all over the information industry. Before the show, Free Pinters around the world were invited to make their nominations for the 'Free Pint / Online Information Vendor Customer Service Award'. A panel consisting of Katherine Allen, Event Director for the Online Information show, Tim Owen, Head of External Relations at the Chartered Institute of Library and Information Professionals (CILIP), and myself, collated the 153 nominations for 60 organisations. We checked every vote, looking for any signs of multiple voting, and the panel all agreed that there was a clear winner, with twice as many nominations as the runner-up. Therefore, the 2002 'Free Pint / Online Information Vendor Customer Service Award' goes to Factiva, who were presented with an engraved tankard at last Wednesday's Gala Awards Dinner. To read the full press release see . Nominations for the award came in from around the world, with the majority coming from the UK, US, Australia, Canada, Netherlands, Germany and India. In fact, Free Pint has subscribers in over 200 countries, but that's really been brought home to us by the wide variety of wonderful seasons greetings cards we've received in the last couple of weeks. They range from a 'Lion Dance - Chinese Peasant Painting' Christmas card from Hong Kong, to a very topical 'Central Park - Winter Snowstorm on the Great Lawn', from a Free Pint fan in Philadelphia, USA. Why not send us a card from your neck of the woods? The address is 'Free Pint, 4-6 Station Approach, Ashford, Middlesex, TW15 2QN, United Kingdom'. We round off 2002 with the usual eclectic mix of articles and reviews in today's Free Pint. We'll soon be sending you the six-monthly 'Free Pint Index' too, which you can use as a quick reference list of all the topics we've covered in the last five years. This has been a fantastic year for Free Pint, with the launch of various new initiatives including our Exchange workshops. These are moving to a new central London venue in 2003, when we'll be covering hot topics like communities of practice, copyright, deep linking, patents and financial information . So, we'd like to send seasons greetings to all Free Pinters, wherever you are in the world, and thank everyone who has helped to make this such a memorable year. Best regards William William Hann BSc(Hons) MCLIP, Founder and Managing Editor Email: Tel: +44 (0)1784 420044 Free Pint is a Registered Trademark of Free Pint Limited (R) 1997-2002 > = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = > = = = = = = = = = = = = = ADVERTISEMENT = = = = = = = = = = = = = = ****Tailored Global Information at a flat rate fee**** Esmerk Ltd offers access to same-day abstracted information from hundreds of sources including 497 newspapers in 22 languages from 85 different countries and delivered daily to you in English. For more information on how you can keep abreast in your industry contact us at Esmerk... We are here to keep you ahead! > = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = [es1272] > = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = >>> Free Pint Communities of Practice Exchange <<< *** NEW PRICE, NEW VENUE *** Thursday 30th January 2003, Central London, UK "Understand what CoPs can do, and the organizational, managerial and technical issues of supporting them" Find out more at > = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = MY FAVOURITE TIPPLES By Liz Doney * I have the National electronic Library for Health (NeLH) as my homepage . It's a great starting point for finding all kinds of useful health-related websites. * I use OMNI (Organising Medical Networked Information) to find quality Internet resources in health and medicine . * To search for freely available full-text clinical guidelines I use the SEEK (Sheffield Evidence for Effectiveness and Knowledge) database . * The National Statistics Neighbourhood Statistics site provides ward-level data across England . * To find out what plants are native to my garden, I search the Natural History Museum's Postcode Plants Database . Liz Doney works as a Primary Care Knowledge Manager for Nottingham City PCT, providing knowledge management, library and information services to primary care staff. Submit your top five favourite Web sites. See the guidelines at . > = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = > = = = = = = = = = = = = = ADVERTISEMENT = = = = = = = = = = = = = = *Hear all about it - Factiva.com Short Learning Topics now available* Factiva Learning Programs now offers short online multimedia learning topics, solving your just-in-time learning needs with eight to ten minute topics. Led by a Factiva expert, each one provides an overview of a selected Factiva.com area and focuses on specific features and functionality. Register for your free headphones to help you with your Factiva eLearning http://www.factiva.com/redirects/learning/topics > = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = [fa1273] > = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = FREE PINT BAR In Association with Factiva a Dow Jones & Reuters Company Tricky research questions answered in minutes. Post your request to the Free Pint Bar and see just how quickly it is answered . Students on information-related courses should make the most of the Student Bar. For help with dissertation titles, experienced advice on courses, and more, visit . To get a digest of postings twice a week, email or modify your subscriptions online at . > = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = > = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = FREE PINT JOBS As well as the selected listings below, check out the weekly Bar postings which list the latest additions to Free Pint Jobs. This week's can be found at and last week's at . Here are some of the latest featured jobs: Client Information Officer Natural leader required by City Law firm as records and staff manager. Must have legal and systems inputing experience. Recruiter: Recruit Media Senior Information Specialist Opportunity for top City Researcher in client facing role to take on responsibility in Temp to Perm job. Pharmaceutical experience helpful. Recruiter: Glen Recruitment European Sales Manager Intl Sales Mgr role, based The Hague, 50-65k base & uncapped commission + paid relocation, manage 5, demonstrable closing ability. Recruiter: Sue Hill Recruitment [The above jobs are paid listings] Free Pint Jobs is THE place to find and advertise information-related vacancies. Job seekers can search the database for free, and set up a profile to be notified weekly of relevant new vacancies. Recruiters will receive significant publicity for listed vacancies, and jobs will be matched against the 800+ stored job seeker profiles. Find out more today at > = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = >>> Free Pint Tour of the City Exchange <<< *** NEW PRICE, NEW VENUE *** Thursday 6th February 2003, Central London, UK "This Exchange aims to provide an overview of the City and an introduction to some of its key information sources." Find out more at > = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = TIPS ARTICLE "Home Pages: Websites for the Homeworker" By Sara Ellis If you are fed up with daily traffic jams, bad bosses and office politics then why not consider working from home? For more and more people the temptation to turn their back on the stresses and strains of the modern office environment in favour of working from home, either for another company or for themselves, is becoming a reality. Many working adults, and especially those with children, are seeking greater flexibility outside the usual 9-5 routine that is familiar to so many of us. Some large companies are beginning to accept that having part of their workforce work away from the office during the week can bring real benefits to their business and from April 2003 employers will legally be required to consider applications from prospective employees who require a flexible working pattern to care for young or disabled children. So, if you are thinking of joining the millions of others across the UK who go to work in their slippers, you need to know where to turn for advice and support. The aim of this article is to explain the options available to you and to offer a brief overview of the websites that can help you in your path to becoming a homeworker. The Options =========== Working from home can be split into four broad categories: The Freelancer -------------- Popular activities within this sector include writing, proofreading, editing and research work. Freelancers work for someone else who pays for their services, be it through regular work or one-off projects. Clients might include book publishers, magazine editors or newspapers. The Internet has provided many new opportunities for freelancers to advertise their skills and work on projects at an international level. A great site for finding out about the latest creative, technical, and marketing freelance opportunities in the UK is at . Visit this resource for postings on the latest UK based freelance jobs. In addition, freelancers can advertise their skills and expertise online by adding their names to the freelancers directory. The Teleworker -------------- A recent Labour Force survey from the government revealed that over 7% of the UK working population (over 2 million people) 'telework' from home, using a computer and telephone link to stay in touch with their clients or employer. The teleworker employed by a company works from home or alternatively on the road, exploiting new technology to access centralised network systems to read emails or submit work. More businesses are letting their employees work from home as a way of creating flexibility and reducing their overheads, thus saving cost on office space, heating, lighting and recruitment expenses. The Telework Association has a website at providing a host of useful resources including membership details, current telework opportunities, up-to-date events, feature articles, a list of links and a directory of telecottages and telecentres around the UK. Another handy site is at . This resource offers informative and stimulating articles, news, research and case-studies on the world of teleworking. The Self-Employed Commission Agent ---------------------------------- This type of work involves individuals who sell a product or service and generate a commission from every sale they successfully fulfil. Selling in this way can be done by mail order, over the telephone, through a party event (like Ann Summers or the infamous Tupperware parties) or even door-to-door. This type of home business is really suited to people who want to earn some extra cash or for people only interested in working part time, as commission work like this is notoriously low paid. The Small Business Owner ------------------------ An owner/manager sets up and runs a business from scratch. They decide how and where to advertise, what to sell, how much to charge and how to receive payments. The small business owner could be anyone from a cheese producer to a cattery owner or greetings card maker. There are a variety of websites out there to help small businesses succeed. One of the best is at , which offers an abundance of resources on the many aspects of starting and running a business. There is a section dedicated to the subject of working from home, which provides some succulent practical information. Online Networking and Support ============================= An important aspect of working from home is networking and making contacts. Not only is this vital in the search for clients, but it also offers interaction with others and a means of overcoming the isolation that working from home can bring. The following web resources offer mutual support for home based workers. The Home Business Alliance can be found at . They are there to offer the new business working from home, support, help and advice from the start. To find out about joining the organisation and the benefits this can bring, as well as news affecting the home-based business visit this site. The National Group on Homeworking at is a lobbying organisation that campaigns for the rights of homeworkers. Their site provides facts, advice and information to help those thinking of setting up at home. There is also an up-to-date news section, membership details and a host of useful links. OwnBase is a member network for self- employed home-based workers, enabling members to support each other and share their frustrations and worries. The OwnBase online network enables members to advertise their services and find new contacts. Home Business UK is a web resource full of practical advice and tips to help people succeed with their home-based business. One of the big attractions here is the section highlighting the many 'work from home' and 'get rich quick' scams that have made the headlines in recent years. The site is also a useful place to find out the current business and web-based opportunities available. The online site of Home Workers Magazine is a useful reference resource with feature articles, resources and a number of frequently asked questions for those new to the business of working from home. For the human element visit the bulletin board and chat with others. The Legalities ============== Red tape can be a bewildering issue for many self-employed people, but it has to be addressed by everyone working from home. For help on Income Tax and National Insurance regulations, the Inland Revenue's website at is a must. The business section provides practical information to help people understand what they need to do to pay their tax and National Insurance contributions correctly. There are also practical checklists, and official forms. Finally, the Starting Up in Business Guide can be downloaded free, providing vital reading for anyone starting out on their own. The Valuation Office Agency is the place to go to find out how council tax and business rates will affect a home business. A domestic property that is partly used as an office may be liable to business rates whilst the remainder of the property will continue to be liable to council tax. This site contains a number of free factsheets as well as outlining examples of the assessment process for business rates. Final Considerations ==================== Overall, the key to taking the plunge and going it alone is careful planning and detailed research. Don't skimp on finding out exactly what is required of you. Research your market carefully; look at what you can offer, to whom, where and for how much. Think about your potential competitors and how you will attract clients of your own. Construct a business plan to help focus your thoughts and the options open to you, as you develop your ideas and potential. This article should point you in the right direction and get you started in your quest for information. There is a great deal of help out there, if you know were to look for it, and the web resources outlined here will provide you with some pointers to a more flexible working environment. > - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - Sara Ellis is a researcher and writer for the small business sector, with four years experience of providing practical web based and hard copy resources for start-ups and expanding small and medium-sized enterprises in the UK. She holds an MA in Information and Library Management from the University of Northumbria and currently works in the North East. She writes here in a personal capacity. > - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - Related Free Pint links: * 'Finance and Business' resources in the Free Pint Portal * Post a message to the author, Sara Ellis, or suggest further resources at the Free Pint Bar * "Taking the Plunge into the Entrepreneurial World of the Independent Information Professional", Feature Article in Free Pint No.123 * Read this article online, with activated hyperlinks * Access the entire archive of Free Pint content > = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = > = = = = = = = = = = = = = ADVERTISEMENT = = = = = = = = = = = = = = Ready to accept payments online? GoldCart is an outstanding software solution that gets you online and trading in 2-3 days! 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Call 0870 0044446 NOW to work with one of Europe's most forward-thinking hosting providers, because we make things simple at Global Gold! > = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = [gg1274] > = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = >>> Free Pint Electronic Copyright Exchange <<< *** POPULAR REPEAT *** Thursday 13th February 2003, Central London, UK "Looking at how copyright protects works in the electronic environment, and considering the implications of copyright for websites and intranets, including the issues to take into account when deep linking" Find out more at > = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = FREE PINT BOOKSHELF "Net Crimes & Misdemeanours" Written by Jayne A Hitchcock Reviewed by Stephen Lafferty 'Net Crimes & Misdemeanours' describes the various ways in which Internet users can be deceived, defrauded and harassed, giving examples from the author's correspondents and the solutions to their problems. The book was inspired by Hitchcock's own cases of identity fraud and online harassment and the descriptions of her experiences make the advice given all the more sensible by comparison. The book deals with one method or area of personal attack or harassment per chapter, from spam email, credit card fraud, identity theft, email viruses to chat rooms and auction web sites. Each chapter contains at least one example of the topic discussed and a list of online resources collated to help victims. Some of the subjects are esoteric, such as adoption fraud or 'lone gunmen' stalkers, but all make for interesting reading. The final chapters deal with American police forces attempting to catch online criminals, encryption of information, anti-virus programs, firewalls and a quick reference summary chapter. A question repeatedly addressed throughout this book is 'How do I stay safe online?'. The answer given by Hitchcock assumes no trust of others on the part of the user. Advice ranges from the sensible 'Don't give out personal information' such as contact and financial details, to the ultra cautious 'Use a PO Box in the next town as your mailing address' and 'Get an unlisted telephone number'. Information equals ammunition in this analysis, with the more information available about an individual making them an easier target for malicious users. With recent news stories of the identity theft of thirty thousand people by a New York-based gang , limitation appears to be the best way of avoiding trouble. The crimes described in the book can affect any Internet user, but Hitchcock has written for the American market. The resources listed should be treated as an introduction to each subject by non American-based users, who may well find that their own country has its own organisations for dealing with each crime. The writing is clear and aimed at the non-technical Internet user, with a glossary defining technical terms used in the text. This book would make an excellent basis for a course on Internet safety and security, as everybody should be aware of the dangers involved in communicating and doing business via a computer. With more households going online and the uptake of broadband/ASDL connections rising, new Internet users should take the advice Jayne Hitchcock gives and stop themselves from becoming victims in the first place. > - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - Stephen Lafferty has an MSc. in Library and Information Management and is taking Jayne Hitchcock's advice and not giving too much personal information away. > - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - Related Free Pint links: * Find out more about this book online at the Free Pint Bookshelf * Read customer comments and buy this book at Amazon.co.uk or Amazon.com * "Net Crimes & Misdemeanours" ISBN 0910965579, published by CyberAge Books, written by Jayne A Hitchcock (Editor) * Search for and purchase any book from Amazon via the Free Pint Bookshelf at * Read about other Internet Strategy books on the Free Pint Bookshelf To propose an information-related book for review, send details to . > = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = >>> 1.5 MILLION FREE PINT EXPOSURES <<< A handful of annual advertising accounts are left for 2003. Book now to reserve your newsletter adverts and banner exposures. Space is limited, so find out more before it's too late for another year: > = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = FEATURE ARTICLE "Archive Television - A Survey of Websites" By Trevor Harvey Do you look back with fondness to the days of the 'toddler's truce' when programmes went off the air for an hour in the early evening so the children could be put to bed, when the only on-screen entertainment during the mornings and for most of the afternoon was the test card, when the choice of viewing in glorious black and white was limited to two or three channels? If you do then it is a good chance that you are an archive television fan. For the purposes of this article, I have defined 'Archive Television' as those websites devoted to programmes that were originally shown in the 1950s and 1960s on British television. I have used 1970 as my cut-off point, the main reason being that there are so many TV-related sites on the web. Why is there such a large number of websites devoted to Archive Television? The ongoing interest in nostalgia is one reason, but there are others. The Internet is the ideal medium in which to present information about television, with its potential to load images as well as audio and video clips. Considering British Television's enormous social and cultural impact in the second half of the 20th century, the literature on it is not that extensive. The Internet goes a long way to making up for this shortfall as it contains a wealth of easily accessible information on television programmes and history. These websites are popular because they tap into a collective consciousness. Before the advent of video recorders and the current proliferation of cable and satellite channels, television was very much more at the centre of people's lives and viewing the most popular programmes was a national event which was discussed everywhere the next day. Amidst all the accusations of 'dumbing down' that have been increasingly levelled at British television in the 1990s, viewers may look back to a 'golden age' when perhaps fewer programmes did mean better quality. Many archive television programmes are now available on video or on cable/satellite TV; this has the effect of creating an interest in the product, and viewers looking for further information will turn to the Internet. Indeed, many current TV programmes promote links to further discussions or back-up information on a related website. Proof that the Internet is now a primary source of information on television programmes was demonstrated recently when a UK newspaper allegedly lifted whole chunks from an archive television website for its own feature on 'Blue Peter' presenters without acknowledging the source. Archive television websites also serve to act as a reminder of the number of programmes lost due to the wholesale wiping of tapes for re- use due to the high cost of video recording in the 1960s when the technology was in its infancy and many programmes went out live. The 'Missing Episodes' site at is a depressing catalogue of lost programmes including a feature on "Why are so many TV programmes missing?" by Andrew Henderson. Even the BBC has recognised the folly of this wholesale junking by admitting on their 'Treasure Hunt' website that "forty years ago, few people foresaw the long-term cultural and historical value of television and radio programmes - or their commercial potential". That last phrase must be particularly galling for the BBC. However, initiatives to track down 'missing' programmes have been successful. Finds are listed on the aforementioned 'Treasure Hunt' site and the programmes shown at the London National Film Theatre's (NFT) annual 'Missing believed wiped' forum. As most archive TV sites are created by enthusiasts, this has resulted in many entertaining and imaginative web pages which display a thorough researching of their material as well as drawing on people's memories. This can have drawbacks of course, as recollections are not always accurate. There is also the thorny problem of copyright and I noticed that one site in my survey had removed material because of copyright infringement. The best sites are those which provide more than just a mere listing of episodes and transmission dates. Commentary, evaluation, interviews with those involved in the making of the programmes, sound and video clips, all go to create an above average 'Archive Television' website and I have concentrated on this type in my review. As many of the sites have video/audio clips you will need to download the appropriate software. Directory Sites --------------- The first type of archive television site I shall examine is what I call the 'directory' type where a range of programmes is covered usually with links to dedicated sites. And where better to start than with one of the best of the lot, 'Whirligig' which is named after a 1950s children's television programme and is dedicated to '1950s British Television Nostalgia'. This site is very well set out with easy-on-the-eye yellow text on a blue background; it contains a wealth of fascinating information that is hard to find elsewhere, e.g. children's programmes of the period, especially its feature on that bastion of the BBC's output, 'Watch with Mother'. Perhaps the highlight of 'Whirligig' is its video and audio clips of programmes, interlude films, signature tunes and commercials. There is also a message and discussion board creating a real sense of community on this authoritative, well researched and maintained site. A close runner-up for best archive TV website is 'Television Heaven' . Their A-Z listing of US and UK programmes not only has the years of transmission but also summaries, reviews and background information. Other site features include 'TV History', a series of short essays on subjects such as drama on British television (including a survey of the late 1950s ITV series 'Armchair Theatre'), light entertainment and the background to the arrival of independent television in the UK. These are well-researched essays, with sources quoted. Under the heading 'Features' there are interviews with the man who voiced the puppet of Alan Tracy on 'Thunderbirds' and with Raymond P. Cusick who designed the Daleks. The 'TV Greats & Unsung Heroes' section includes Vivian Vance (Lucille Ball's co-star in 'I Love Lucy'), Patrick McGoohan, Hattie Jacques and Barry Gray (composer of the music for the Gerry Anderson puppet series). The original material, good design and acknowledgement of sources make this site stand out. Another very impressive professional site is which describes itself as "dedicated to using modern methods of communication to educate and inform on broadcasting history ... by making available Transdiffusion's broadcasting archive for research and educational purposes". This site is divided into various sections or 'microsites'; perhaps the best feature is the contributors' personal reminiscences of TV viewing in the 1950s and 60s including the ITV companies Granada and ABC and the early days of BBC2. There's also a TV schedules archive at . The site as a whole is worth exploring as it contains a lot of serious thought-provoking articles on British television past and present. If you want to go back to the early pioneering days of television in the UK check out the award winning Alexandra Palace Television Society site at whose mission statement is "to preserve, for present and future generations, the oral and written history of the pioneers who inaugurated the world's first, regular, public high-definition television service from Alexandra Palace, North London, in 1936". The presence of the APTS on-screen logo is distracting but this is more than compensated for by its fascinating content including rare video clips among which is the re-opening of BBC television in 1946 after its closure during the second world war. Children's programmes are covered by the 'Watched it!' site . Like all good directory sites it has links to individual programmes' dedicated websites. There are articles written especially for the site, (e.g. Rob Moss on 'Box of Delights') and there is a good feature on 'Magpie', ITV's rival to 'Blue Peter'. Logos and theme tunes --------------------- "British TV Idents / Logos / Jingles and other television station memorabilia from the years 1950 - 2000" is an unusual fun site. The station idents (a trademark or logo representing a particular station or channel) are available in both audio and video format. There is also a nice gallery of vintage 'Radio Times' covers . This site consists solely of images so it can be slow to load, unless you have broadband. A number of sites are dedicated to TV theme tunes. You can listen to 'Tony's TV Themes' or the 'TV and Movie Theme Archive' . Children's programmes --------------------- Puppets seemed to be everywhere in 1950s and 60s children's TV. Two creators of some of the most memorable programmes of that period are Peter Firmin and Oliver Postgate and the Smallfilms website is a tribute to their work. All their major creations ('Ivor the Engine', 'Noggin the Nog', 'The Pogles' and 'Bagpuss') are covered here and amongst the gems on this site you will discover how the Pogles' films were transferred to video and a sample script page. I am pleased to say that 'Noggin the Nog' and 'Clangers' get websites of their own at and respectively. Another well-known name in children's television of the period was Gordon Murray who created a series of programmes about the villages of 'Camberwick Green', 'Trumpton' and 'Chigley' and the Trumptonshire web is dedicated to them. It is a gem of a site, well designed with everything you would ever want to know about these three shows: why they were so successful, the animation techniques used, the scriptwriters and the music, plus an extensive interview with Brian Cant who provided the narration. No survey of children's archive television would be complete without a reference to Gerry Anderson and his range of groundbreaking TV programmes which benefited from improved puppetry techniques and are still popular today from re-runs on television and video/DVD sales. 'Thunderbirds' is regarded as the best of his shows and is described as the official site which is well designed with a good use of images and graphics, a handy pop up 'did you know' fact files, description of the Supermarionation technique and short descriptive items on making the puppets and the sets, with video and sound clips. You can check out other of Anderson's shows via the Gerry Anderson webring or at TV Century 21 . A former colleague of Anderson's who branched out on her own was Roberta Leigh. Her puppet series 'The Adventures of Twizzle' and 'Torchy' are covered on the Whirligig site mentioned above but perhaps not so well remembered is her series 'Space Patrol' . This site is a veritable homage to "one of the forgotten series of telefantasy [which was] popular and innovative for its time". A detailed and entertaining site with not only the usual episode guides and production information but also details of associated merchandising and comics. Even people involved in the creation of the programme have been tracked down and their biographies supplied. This website is probably the primary source of information on 'Space Patrol'. Cult TV ------- The Oxford English Dictionary defines 'cult' as a "great devotion to a person, idea, object, movement, or work as a film or book" and TV programmes can certainly be added to that list. Cult TV programmes have spawned probably the greatest number of archive television websites. The 'Doctor Who' webring lists 160 sites so take your pick! I particularly liked the 'Doctor Who Cuttings Archive' . The blurb states: "The Archive chronicles press and media coverage of the programme and contains a great many 'Doctor Who' related articles from newspapers, general magazines and listings magazines". (It is heartening to see exemplary bibliographical details supplied for the journals). "In addition there are pages containing examples of adverts, comics and many other items of related interest". This is a particularly valuable resource as many episodes of 'Doctor Who' are missing from the archives. If you are a fan of 'The Avengers' then 'Avengers.TV' "an international family of websites devoted to the cult classic TV series from Great Britain" is probably the best one to consult as it links to a number of Avengers sites of which the jewel must be 'The Avengers Forever' which has an astonishing amount of information about the programme. I am pleased to see that this site gives due prominence to the pre-Emma Peel (Diana Rigg) era when David Keel (Ian Hendry) and Cathy Gale (Honor Blackman) partnered John Steed (Patrick Macnee). The 1960s series 'Danger Man' is represented by such sites as and . Its leading actor Patrick McGoohan went on to star in his pet project 'The Prisoner' that most cult of all cult series. Would 'The Prisoner' get made these days? I doubt it, but McGoohan had a lot of clout in the 1960s and persuaded the TV moguls to put up the money. There are many sites devoted to 'The Prisoner': The Prisoner Official Appreciation Society's site is at though I found 'The Prisoner TV series' at more informative. So, as you scan the television listings in the vain hope of finding something you actually want to watch this Christmas, why not switch on your PC instead? A veritable televisual feast awaits you! > - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - Trevor Harvey spent too much of his youth watching television. He now watches hardly any. He has worked in the information profession for over 20 years and is currently Information Officer for the Financial Institutions Group at law firm Clifford Chance. > - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - Related Free Pint links: * 'Broadcasting' resources and articles in the Free Pint Portal * Post a message to the author, Trevor Harvey, or suggest further resources at the Free Pint Bar * Read this article online, with activated hyperlinks * Access the entire archive of Free Pint content > = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = >>> 800 LIVE PROFILES IN FREE PINT JOBS <<< There are now over 800 people registered to receive the weekly email alert of new vacancy listings at Free Pint Jobs. 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'This conference contains the information you need about the latest trends in quantitative analysis, market research, surveys, and new technologies' . It is taking place in San Antonio, United States. Submit details of your event today for free promotion. Simply complete the form at . Penny > = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = FREE PINT GOLD Last year, John Garside's tips article looked at Web page tracking, still a popular topic at the Bar. William Hann and Katherine Allen looked back at Free Pint and the Online Information show in 2001. * Free Pint No.102 13th December 2001. "Tracking the Net" and "Free Pint In 2001" Two years ago Ina Steiner looked at online auctions. She covered fraud, payment search engines and consignment sales, amongst other things. Christopher Webber took us through some of his best horse racing sites. * Free Pint No.77, 14th December 2000. "A Look at Online Auctions" and "Horseracing on the Web" In 1999, William Hann gave us his annual roundup of all that happened at Free Pint in 1999, and Anne Barker reviewed that year's Online Information show. * Free Pint No.52, 16th December 1999. "Free Pint in 1999" and "Review of Online Information 99" Guess what, four years ago William Hann looked at Free Pint in 1998 and Anne Barker reviewed Online Information 1998. Obviously an annual partnership. * Free Pint No.28, 17th December 1998. "Review of Online Information 98" and "Free Pint in 1998" Penny > = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = FREE PINT FORTHCOMING ARTICLES [Provisional] * Internet Resources on IT * Alternative Search Strategies * * Digital Libraries * Prospect Research * Scenario Planning* * Deep Linking * Vendors * Children and the Internet * Finding IT * * Patents * France: Business and Economic Sources on the Web * * Toxicology Sources on the Web * Information Literacy * If you have a suggestion for an article topic or would like to write for Free Pint then please contact or sign up for the Author Update at . > = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = GOODBYE Many thanks for supporting Free Pint in 2002, and here's to another equally informative year in 2003. Don't forget to send us a seasons greetings card from your part of the world. See you in the new year! 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