On the internet: Cool Web sites

Thursday, August 17, 2006 RealUltimatePower.net claims to be "the official Ninja Webpage." But even if there was some kind of ninja union — perhaps formed in some sort of "Norma Rae" moment — RealUltimatePower would probably not officially represent the traditions of those stealthy, star-throwing assassins of feudal Japan. The site's guiding ethos: "These guys are cool; and by cool, I mean totally sweet." RealUltimatePower is essentially written from the perspective of a character: Robert Hamburger, a 13-year-old obsessed with ninjas. Before even entering the site, a visitor is asked if they are ready to "get pumped." If yes, onward you go. If no, you're sent to Oprah.com. Hamburger, who writes that he has studied ninjas for "several weeks and watched a bunch of movies about them," claims there are three essential facts about ninjas: 1. Ninjas are mammals. 2. Ninjas fight ALL the time. 3. The purpose of the ninja is to flip out and kill people. This all may sound ridiculous and immature, but there is genius in the idiocy. Some of the site's features include 100-word film scripts like "Ninja Babe," which concludes with a guitar exploding. A timeline to the history of the ninja pinpoints a date centuries ago when "ninjas discover flipping out and thus God gives them dominion over everything totally sweet." In the several years since RealUltimatePower.net began, it has enjoyed an ongoing feud with pirates, and spawned countless copycats and parodies. It has even led to a published book: naturally, the "official ninja book." Undoubtedly, it is a cool Web site; and by cool, I mean totally sweet. YouTuber of the week: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v55YYaJIrmzo In one of the most-viewed YouTube videos of the week, artist Ahree Lee is shown in a series of snapshots taken daily for three years. Lee began the project on Nov. 1, 2001 and says that everyday since, she's taken a straight-ahead portrait of herself. The photos move at a blistering speed, and in just over a minute, Lee travels across time in all her varied hair styles, outfits and lipstick choices. (Some may remember a similar photography project of Harvey Keitel's character in the excellent 1995 film "Smoke.") Though you expect to see Lee age visibly, her complexion changes very little. Next time, it should at least be a balding man who does this. DOWNLOAD THIS: "Midtown," Brad Pitt. A little-heard CD was released about five years ago compiling some of the biggest names in movies trying their hand at music. The disc, "Hollywood Goes Wild!" was a benefit for Today's Film Stars for the Wildlife Waystation, a rescue organization for exotic animals. Contributors included Johnny Depp, Bruce Willis and Russell Crowe. But the most fun is to hear Brad Pitt sing a song titled "Midtown" and paced by finger snaps. It was recently linked on Us Weekly's Web site (www.usmagazine.com) and can be heard in full at CdBaby.com (www.cdbaby.com/cd/hollywild). He sings: "I've got another girl to take your place, and I'll do it seconds flat." A warning sign to Jennifer Aniston, as it were, hidden in the liner notes. — By Jake Coyle, Associated Press Copyright 2006 Associated Press. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed.