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A L S O__T O D A Y Return of the hex-crazed wargamers By Andrew Leonard Is the Net breathing new life into an endangered hobby -- or just postponing the inevitable? - - - - - - - - - - T A B L E__T A L K Are interfaces the art of our time? Discuss the artistic and practical merits of interfaces -- from operating systems to keyboards -- in the Digital Culture area of Table Talk - - - - - - - - - - R E C E N T L Y No future in Tomorrowland By Janelle Brown Instead of predicting future technologies, Disney's updated playground opts for the predictable (05/28/98) Interstellar fireworks By Andrew Leonard When a science-fiction game is as absorbing as 'Starcraft,' who needs the movie version? (05/28/98) One fine "Day"? By Scott Rosenberg When Intel chips in for a coffee-table book celebration of the microprocessor, the future looks bright (05/27/98) Let's Get This Straight By Scott Rosenberg Free the Windows source code? Pandemonium ensues as readers talk back (05/27/98) Starwave in Disneyland By Janelle Brown A once-proud Web-content firm mutates from an editorial powerhouse to a technology backbone -- because that's what its new owner needs (05/26/98) - - - - - - - - - - BROWSE THE 21ST CHALLENGE ARCHIVES - - - - - - - - - - _______

BY CHARLIE VARON AND JIM ROSENAU - - - - - - - - - - - - - J U D G E S '__C O M M E N T S : In this Challenge we asked you to submit proposals for a (fictional) 1 Percent for the Arts Program from the Software Publishers Association. Apparently, our premise was so unclear (or deceptive) that one respondent merely asked, "Where do I find out about the Software Publishers Association arts program? Search turned up zilch." Every year, it gets tougher to conquer reality with parody. Responses were sparse, but we did receive one submission that qualified as a winner. We'll try harder next time. W I N N E R Program: Netscape Navigator Medium: Video The user selects "Warn me before accepting cookies" in the Netscape Navigator Web browser. Each time the browser transfers a cookie, the user is shown a vague warning message accompanied by a Kafkaesque film noir video clip of shadowy figures rifling through filing cabinets and exchanging envelopes in a dark alley. -- Kurt Gray Thanks for your submissions -- and check back in two weeks for the next Salon 21st Challenge. SALON | May 29, 1998 Charlie Varon is a humorist and playwright. His works include "Ralph Nader Is Missing" and "Rush Limbaugh in Night School." Jim Rosenau is a writer, editor and software designer in Berkeley, Calif. Jim and Charlie are also co-founders of the citizen group Californians for Earthquake Prevention and partners in Mockingbird Productions, which offers a full line of comic services.