It is a daunting task to try to select out for visitors the best sites across the full spectrum of interests. Everyone experiences the web in different ways and everyone has different interests that guide his or her preferences. There can no attempt to be complete; there are plenty of catalogues of sites on the web. The largest directories are those associated with Google, Yahoo, and the DMOZ project. One should not forget the Zeal directory system, one especially concerned with nonprofit or noncommercial sites. Nevertheless, I will start, still without knowing where this quest will end.

In the pursuit of culture, I have chosen four sites. Probably the most handsome and rewarding program on the web, for those interested in its subject matter, is Luminarium. It brings together in a very accessible manner nearly the whole of fifteenth, sixteenth, and early seventeenth English Literature. If you choose the 17th, for example, you can find your way to John Donne and read and/or listen to any of his poems, the experience accompanied in the background by the music of the time. Although recent books can seldom be accessed without charge through the internet, it is possible to find and read much of the literature of the world, particularly in the English language, online. I suggest two sites: Bartleby and The Online Books Page. Finally, for those interested in classical music, the Classical Archives is an excellent resource. It offers the full spectrum of classical music, with an apparent emphasis on Russian music, especially that of recent times. Nevertheless, one can find almost anything that is wanted here. Much of it can be downloaded. Using it for free, much can be accomplished, but I found that paying $25.00 for a year's membership gave greater functionality. Much of the music is in the midi format, which is fine for playing, but the other formats are better for downloads.

Two service sites with wildly different offerings are Fish Pond Info (formerly known as Robyn's Page) and Consumer Lab. Robyn Rhudy has developed this fascinating site over a period of year. For a long time it was strictly noncommercial, but this is no longer the case. But mostly, the site is fair-minded and extremely informative, and offers good email answers to questions. Another service site is the Consumer lab. This nonprofit organization regularly tests vitamins, minerals and food supplements of all kinds to determine the extent to which the ingredients on the label are actually in the package. There are two levels of information. The first level is free. For more information with a complete rundown of their tests, there is a $15.00 subscription fee. I believe it provides a much needed service and appears to be quite reliable.

I have found the best general information service on the internet is AllExperts.com. The service is completely free and not plagued with advertisements. For each specialty they have a panel of experts, each of which describes their background and the type of question they will take. There is also a panel giving their current availability. The answers are provided at the web site, but the questioner is informed that an answer is available. After reading it the user can have the answer emailed to him or her. I have found the service amazing, although most of my questions have been about insect identification.

There are many portals on the internet to research facilities. Most of these require a subscription. However, the Explanation Guide does offer a good search service that gives access to thousands of articles, and then ties back into other more common services such as Google.

I have added two sites offering information relative to computers and graphic design. The first on Graphic design software is run by a women with encyclopedic information on the subject. Her information is offered to surfers at every level, from those looking for freebies to professionals. I have also had occasion to ask her questions and received excellent answers. Another similar service is Linda's Computer Shop. Linda likes you to register here for her ezine on the subject. I have also received some enlightening answers from her. In any event, there is a lot to be learned here. Both sites are easy to use and free, but also full of advertisements and cluttered in what has become (unfortunately) internet style. Perhaps the best source of technical advice on computers, software and so on is Protonic.Com. They are, as advertised friendly, thorough, and absolutely free. Their small staff is all volunteer and does great work.

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