Judging from the unbearable heat and humidity of my one-bedroom apartment, I would say summer is right around the corner. The Bay Area isn't really known for humidity, but within the walls of my compound it feels like summer in New York City. If it wasn't for the gentle breeze of the AC here at headquarters, I don't think The Playground would have made it. Traveling is one of the perks of writing for Club WebTV; unfortunately, having my travel expenses paid for isn't. Nevertheless, I am making the ultimate sacrifice for all of you Club WebTV members and embarking on an adventure that I'm sure I'll never forget: four days and three nights investigating entertainment first-hand in exciting Las Vegas.

Las Vegas is a great place -- I really mean it! You get off the plane, go to the hotel, unpack a little and make your way downstairs. As the sounds of gambling grow louder, you begin to feel the excitement squeezing your head like a Nerf football stuck under an automatic garage door. You stand in silence for several minutes as if trapped in an ether-induced hallucination. The first image you are able to focus on is what is about to become your closest and most trusted friend... the ATM. You go to it, knowing full well that it will turn on you by the end of the weekend.

In next month's newsletter I'll be sure to tell you how my trip back to Sin City turns out! For now, here's some links!

World Soccernet: The most popular sport in the world comes to the Internet. This site has all kinds of news and information from all over the globe, including game by game tracking of the road to the World Cup. I was a soccer nut most of my life until an injury forced me to quit, so now I read about it like everyone else. I certainly don't watch it on television... unless of course that guy with the long-winded goal howl is commentating!

Dr. Strangelove: Peter Sellers was and still is one of my favorite actors of all time. He's most famous for his roles as the silly inspector in the Pink Panther movies, so if you thought he was funny in those you should probably check this movie out. It's good to see that humor was alive and well during the early years of the Cold War.

The Captain James T. Kirk Sing-a-long Page: There's not a whole lot to say about this page -- he's singing and stuff. By the way, my wonderful cubicle partner sent me this one.

John Coltrane-A Love Supreme: An excellent tribute to the late jazz great, with a year by year account of his short yet eventful life. This page even includes sound clips from a few of his songs.

Literary Kicks: Some think they were crazy, and others think they were brilliant. Either way, the Beat writers of the 60's were interesting. Read about Allen Ginsberg, Jack Kerouac, William S. Burroughs, and others at this very detailed web page. I happen to think that they were brilliant... but then again some people think I'm crazy!

Baseball StatsWeb: This is one of the best sports sites I have ever seen! You can search the stats of every person to ever play Major League Baseball. This page is at least a week's worth of solid entertainment!

Bottom 100 Films Poll: This is a great idea, although I'm not exactly sure what purpose it serves. Believe me though, I found a whole bunch of movies on this list that are nothing less than horrible. That doesn't mean they're not entertaining, though. In fact, I thought Airport II was a riot. So don't be offended if you find something on this list that's dear to your heart.

Calvin and Hobbes: Each strip is here dating back to November 17th, 1985. I personally went through all of them, laughing out loud the whole time. That crazy kid and his cat!

Elvis: This page is brand new! When I found it I trembled with delight, nearly passing out from the rush of adrenaline to my racing heart. The pictures are great, the lyrics index is nothing short of amazing, and the comments inspiring. I love the King!

To send us a web site you'd like to see included in The Playground column in future issues of Club WebTV:

Go to the web page you'd like to see. Press the "Options" button on your remote control, or keyboard. Choose "Send". Type our email address: clubwebtv@webtv.net.

Please also include a short note, by choosing, "Edit Message". Make sure you let us know that your submission is for The Playground, and tell us a bit about the site and why you like it.

See you next month!

     Elvis!

(Sometimes also known as Joey Clark)