Features

Vol 6:4 - Cool Internet resources

By LEROY MCLEAN, Contributor

TODAY I WANT to tell you about some interesting websites that can assist you on your Internet journey. Try spending some time this year surfing these sites which are packed with a lot of information for the entire family.

Dictionaries & Encyclopedias

If your writing needs an injection of fresh words or inspiring quotations, you can use the Web to find the information you want.

Finding Web sites containing a thesaurus, dictionary, or encyclopedia will help you find exactly the word you need - or at least spell it correctly.

http://www.m-w.com/netdict.htm, http://www.encyclopedia.com/

Gardening

If your Web searches are leaving you bleary-eyed, you need an outside hobby. The Web can help you find information for developing a garden in your backyard. If you already have a garden, several Web sites will help you find information on caring for it.

Some sites let you ask experts gardening questions. http://www.gardenweb.com/

Homework Help

Children typically don't like homework; parents often like it even less because it can make them look dumb. Several Web sites are devoted to helping your children work through difficult homework problems, which will help you keep your sanity.

Make sure you know with whom your child is conversing on the Web, though. http://www.homeworkcentral.com/

Jokes

You know the saying about 'all work and no play'. Several Web sites are devoted to helping you increase your quotient of play with jokes. You'll find sites with a 'joke of the day' as well as jokes sorted by subject. You can also sign up to have jokes delivered daily to your e-mail address, but these can inundate your inbox.

http://www.funny.com/

http://www.joke-of-the-day.com/

Shopping

Online shopping, or e-commerce, is one of the most talked about things you can do on the Web. Web shopping is similar to catalog shopping, except you have access to thousands of interactive catalogs.

Watch out for sites that offer low-priced items with high shipping charges. http://www.amazon.com/

Travel Research

Whether you are looking for the best airline and hotel fares or researching the best travel destinations, the Web can help.

Several Web sites also offer tips for travelling by airplane or with small children.

http://www.expedia.com/ http://www.concierge.com/

Weather Reports

Several weather-related sites can give you up-to-the-minute weather reports and precipitation radar for your city or local region or for an area to which you'll be travelling. You'll also find extended forecasts.

Some weather sites provide safety tips for dealing with severe weather.

http://www.weather.com/

Feel free to send your suggestions at

thestartech@yahoo.com