Unlike most people in the computer/Internet industry, I do not dream in UNIX. I don't spend my leisure time reading "Managing Internet Information Services". And I'm not a computer nerd. Really! I've just figured out a way to make this Internet thing work for me. The Internet and the World Wide Web aren't as complicated as you might think. It is important to think of the Internet as a tool, like you would use the telephone, the phone book, or the library. Just about anything you could ever want to know or find is available on-line; you just have to know how and where to look.
- The New and Improved Search Engine
- Playing with Your Food
- A Musical Interlude
- Finally something to buy online
- Looking for your Home Sweet Home
- The Great Pacific Northwest
- "Cheers!" from American Wine
When it comes to cruising on the Internet, I am always searching for something specific. Sometimes that means checking out my favorite marketing/advertsing site for the latest update, or reading about the new vintages of wines on my favorite wine page. If I don't already know where I am going, there are always search engines. The best one I've seen so far is Alta Vista, new from Digital Equipment Corporation. Try it for your next search and you'll never go back to the others. Even better, do a search for your own name!
When I'm looking for information I can use, I often look for things that will make my life easier or more enjoyable. I recently came across Epicurious, "For People Who Eat". This is a fun food site with recipes, cooking tips, and some really different ways to "play with your food."
Looking for a nice interruption from just staring into the computer? World Wide Music lets you take a musical break from the daily grind. When you register with this free service, you can listen to music samples, make yourself a list of favorites, and even do a little online shopping all under your own user name and password, so your selections are in their system. They have a large database of titles and artists, too, so if you are looking for some obscure artist, chances are you'll find it here.
Speaking of on-line shopping, I don't usually do it, but who can resist L.L. Bean online? They have a terrific selection of clothing and outdoor accessories for women and men, as well as a park locator service and tips for outdoor activities. And, incidentally, they have come up with a great way to avoid online insecure transactions; just download their order form, fill it out, and fax or telephone your order back with your payment information.
Next on my list of frequently-visited sites is the Stan Wiley Inc. Realtors site. Okay, I admit it is frequently-visited because my husband and I are in the market for a house! Stan Wiley has a very complete database of new listings for most of the state of Oregon. You can make as many specifications as you like on their property search form, and it gives you a list of all of the Stan Wiley properties that fit. This is really an Internet tool you can use.
I am also especially partial to the Pacific Harbor web site for reasons that will become clear if you click here. (If you don't see it, ask me.) Pacific Harbor has a fun, Pacific Northwest theme and a nice selection of local businesses to explore. Check out the Dairy Kitchen in the Public Market; if you email them your address, they send you a dairy-related care package with "Got milk?" post-it note pads.
Finally, I highly recommend the best resource for on-line wine information, American Wine on the Web. For all of you wine enthusiasts out there, American Wine is a monthly newsletter-style web site with articles, tasting and wine competition news, and wine country reports for the various wine regions throughout North and South America. I especially like the section about pairing food and wine. You don't have to be a wine snob to appreciate the valuable information here.
An easy-to-navigate list of the sites I've mentioned here:
- Alta Vista
- Epicurious
- World Wide Music
- L.L. Bean
- Stan Wiley Inc. Realtors
- Pacific Harbor
- American Wine on the Web
Back To Kleinman.com
Other Internet Goodies