Literary Reviews of Web Sites for Culturally Inclined Surfers

Five years ago, doomsayers predicted that mass Internet use would mean certain death for paper-based publications. Ironically, the Internet has provided endless fodder for books, magazines, newspapers and . . . literary reviews?

“Wow Wow: Sites Unseen//The Internet Review” (te Neues Publishing Co., $14.95) is a biannual British publication that enlists an eclectic mix of writers (mostly journalists and artsy types) to critique Web sites in the tradition of a literary review.

The first issue, released earlier this year, includes some delicious commentary on the idiosyncratic subcultures of the Internet.

Reporter Mick Brown of the London Telegraph writes of https://www.barefooters.org: “Forget the poor, the hungry, the dispossessed. The Dirty Sole Society exists to defend the right for everyone as a lifestyle choice to walk barefoot. . . . A piquant mixture of the heroic and the laughable, the bizarre and the downright pathetic, the site is to be commended for its attempts to mine every last ounce of meaning and interest out of its subject matter.”

Freelance journalist Susan Irvine writes of https://www.eHusbands.com, “Millions of brides have been shipped around the world since time immemorial, but it took the Internet to bring us the world’s first mail-order husband agency.”

Though barefooters.org was up and running, an attempt to log on to eHusbands.com produced a disappointing error message. Hmmm. Could it be that the Internet moves too quickly for a biannual publication?

Wow Wow Editor Miles Murray Sorrell said via e-mail that the addresses of the sites are almost beside the point. (Say what?)

“We are interested in developing a voice for Wow Wow that comments subjectively on the culture of the Internet. We would like the publication to go in a direction that makes the Web address of secondary importance.”

(Well, why not? Isn’t it in the best literary tradition for the critic to elevate himself above the work he’s critiquing?)

The review can be found at Urban Outfitters, in the hipper-than-thou books and housewares section.

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From Wow Wow to bowwow: You may spot more dogs than usual at the office Friday. That’s because it’s the second annual Take Your Dog to Work Day.

Although the event fell flat last year (which sponsors Pets.com and Pet Sitters International attributed to a lack of publicity), companies that did participate reported that having dogs in the workplace created a more productive environment and improved employee interpersonal skills.

Sure . . . until a co-worker’s pooch poops in your pod. Then watch the interpersonal skills fly.

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As a form of enlightenment, astrology is a bit dated. The last time I heard “What’s your sign?” was, well, never. I was in diapers during that pickup line’s heyday. Nevertheless, a spa in Agoura has introduced a new “astrological facial.”

Aroma-Listic spa owner Monique Moore said the $65 facial, which involves applying oils based on a client’s zodiac sign, is one of her most popular treatments. She advises that aggressive Aries ram types should be massaged with lavender oil to calm them down, while slow-moving Tauruses can boost their energy with ylang-ylang oil. She suggests restoring balance to Cancer skin, prone to breakouts and irritation, with peppermintoil.

Skin care governed by the stars sounds a bit farfetched to me. Not that I object to farfetched beauty treatments, mind you. I’ll try anything at least once.

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Booth Moore can be reached at booth.moore@latimes.com.