Cyber
Columnists

• November: Terry and I'll be doing a wrap-up of some of the more popular sites that we've accessed the most during the year.
  
• December: Our annual holiday column highlighting some wonderful holiday sites for you and your family to visit will be our present to our readers.

www.web-connection.org

Our move to our own domain is bittersweet. We have made some wonderful online friends through our association with the Fort Worth Star Telegram. We were pioneers in what we did and laid the ground work for those who are following in our footsteps. On the other hand, we're very excited about this move out on our own, it's going to give us a lot more flexibility with the site and what we're allowed to do with it. With all of the changes taking place, Terry and I felt that is was a perfect time to end the column this year, but with your numerous messages of encouragement, we've decided to continue our efforts. Terry and I would like to thank everyone for their vote of confidence. As we've always said, this is your column, we write it for all of our readers. We thank you from the bottom of our heart for making our column a success!

Since we're talking about change, let's talk about one more big change in my life. After two and a half years at Bennett Printing & Office Supply in Cleburne, Texas, I've accepted a new challenging position. On October 2, I become the Marketing Manager for CSB-Battery. The position mirrors what I've been doing for the past two years. I'll be developing all of their marketing materials as well as taking over the maintenance and design of their web site. What makes the position really ideal is that it is 5 minutes away from Terry's job at Medical Matrix. We're going to be able to ride together and have lunch together almost every day. Without my daily 80 mile commute to Cleburne, we're going to save a bundle on gas and wear and tear on our vehicles. I'll miss all of the wonderful folks in Cleburne, but I won't loose complete touch with the Bennett family; I'll be consulting for them on a part-time basis on their network and web site.

That is enough change for the time being. Change is sometimes good and it looks like the two major changes in my life, the new domain and my new position, are going to be for the best! Enough, let's talk about politics! On second thought, let's not talk about politics, let's take a look at some political sites on the Net so you can make up your own mind about who to vote for. In the past, (Terry and I are guilty of this!) we had no idea what a candidate stood for and even who he or she was. You usually vote for someone whose name has been pounded into your subconscious. With all of the information now available at your fingertips, there is no reason not to be an informed voter and express your opinion in the form of your vote. Please do vote! It is a precious right that so many of us take for granted. There are so many countries in the world where people don't get to have a voice in the way they are governed. Cast your vote, let your voice be heard. It's your right and your duty.

It's A Presidential Election Year - VOTE!

I was brought up with one steadfast rule concerning conversation at the dinner table, religion and politics don't mix, and if you wanted to keep your friends, keep your mouth shut concerning both those issues. I'm going to stick with that and just give you pointers to the sites and let you decide for yourself if the party or the candidate adheres to your way of thinking about issues important to you. So to make it clear, neither I nor Terry are endorsing any one political candidate or party by what we say here. Now that our little disclaimer is out of the way, let's take a look at some of the major political sites on the Net. Since there are either six or eight presidential candidates running, and for the sake of brevity, I am going to stick with the two most recognizable mainstream parties, the Republicans and the Democrats.

Let's start with what I call the "Big Four" sites After you see their subject matter, you'll understand why I've named them so. They are also wonderful "springboards" that will link you further and deeper into their political party. On the national sites, you'll find links to the state sites which will eventually link down to regional and local sites. All of them contain a wealth of information about their platforms, their candidates, and the issues that are important to all of us.

• Democratic National Party

• Republican National Committee

• Al Gore's site

• George Bush's site

These sites provide extensive links within their political parties. These four sites are a good general starting point on your quest of political knowledge. Seek, and you shall find what you are looking for. You may have to do some shifting, but the information is there if you want to take the time to search for it.

How about the races for the Senate and the Congress? They've got sites as well. To learn what's going on in them, point your browser to:

• Democratic Senatorial Campaign

• Democratic Congressional Campaign Committee

• Republician Senatorial Campaign

• National Republican Congressional Committee

Do you want to learn what's going on with your elected officials in the Senate or Congress? The following two sites will provide you links to your individual senators and congressmen.

• The Senate

• The Congress

George Washington University's Democracyonline.org is a nonpartisan site that is chocked full of vital links urging Americans to get more involved in the political process via the Internet.

To wrap up, here are some general political sites. Remember all of the major dailys have great political coverage as well as the online networks. If you don't see your listed, visit it and see what kind of coverage they provide.

• Politics.com

• MSNBC

• CNN

• Washington Post

• ABC News

Net Humor and Life's Ponderances

THINGS TO ADD TO YOUR KNOWLEDGE

1. Rubber bands last longer when refrigerated.
   
2. Peanuts are one of the ingredients of dynamite.
   
3. There are 293 ways to make change for a dollar.
   
4. The average person's left hand does 56% of the typing.
   
5. A shark is the only fish that can blink with both eyes.
   
6. There are more chickens than people in the world.
   
7. Two-thirds of the world's eggplant is grown in New Jersey.
   
8. The longest one-syllable word in the English language is "screeched."
   
9. On a Canadian two dollar bill, the flag flying over the Parliament building is an American flag.
   
10. All of the clocks in the movie "Pulp Fiction" are stuck on 4:20.
    
11. No word in the English language rhymes with month, orange, silver, or purple.
    
12. "Dreamt" is the only English word that ends in the letters"mt".
    
13. All 50 states are listed across the top of the Lincoln Memorial on the back of the $5 bill.
    
14. Almonds are a member of the peach family.
    
15. Winston Churchill was born in a ladies' room during a dance.
    
16. Maine is the only state whose name is just one syllable.
    
17. There are only four words in the English language which end in "dous": tremendous, horrendous, stupendous, and hazardous.
    
18. Los Angeles' full name is "El Pueblo de Nuestra Senora la Reina de los Angeles de Porciuncula"
    
19. A cat has 32 muscles in each ear.
    
20. An ostrich's eye is bigger than its brain.
    
21. Tigers have striped skin, not just striped fur.
    
22. In most advertisements, the time displayed on a watch is 10:10.
    
23. Al Capone's business card said he was a used furniture dealer.
    
24. The characters Bert and Ernie on Sesame Street were named after Bert the cop and Ernie the taxi driver in Frank Capra's "It's a Wonderful Life."
    
25. A dragonfly has a life span of 24 hours.
    
26. A goldfish has a memory span of three seconds.
    
27. A dime has 118 ridges around the edge.
    
28. It's impossible to sneeze with your eyes open.
    
29. The giant squid has the largest eyes in the world.
    
30. In England, the Speaker of the House is not allowed to speak.
    
31. The microwave was invented after a researcher walked by a radar tube and a chocolate bar melted in his pocket.
    
32. Mr. Rogers is an ordained minister.
    
33. The average person falls asleep in seven minutes.
    
34. There are 336 dimples on a regulation golf ball.
    
35. "Stewardesses" is the longest word that is typed with only the left hand.

Someone's Philosophy On Life

• I can please only one person per day. Today is not your day. Tomorrow isn't looking good either.

• I don't have an attitude problem. You have a perception problem.

• Last night I lay in bed looking up at the stars in the sky and I thought to myself, "Where is the ceiling?!"

• I love deadlines. I especially like the whooshing sound they make as they go flying by.

• Two wrongs don't make a right, but three rights make a left.

• If swimming is so good for your figure, how do you explain whales?

• Me, getting smart with you? ....How would you know?

• I loathe people who keep dogs. They are cowards who haven't got the guts to bite people themselves.

• I'm not just a gardener, I'm a Plant Manager.

• My Reality Check bounced.

• Q: How many lawyers does it take to change a light bulb? A: How many can you afford?

• On the keyboard of life, always keep one finger near the escape key.

• I have not yet begun to procrastinate.

• You're slower than a herd of turtles stampeding through peanut butter.

• I don't suffer from stress. I'm merely a carrier.

• I'd give my right arm to be ambidextrous.

• Tell me what you need, and I'll explain how you can get along without it.

• Do not meddle in the affairs of dragons, for you are crunchy and taste good with ketchup.

• Eagles may soar, but weasels don't get sucked into jet engines".

Strength and Courage

It takes strength to be firm.
It takes courage to be gentle.
It takes strength to stand guard.
It takes courage to let down your guard.
It takes strength to conquer.
It takes courage to surrender.
It takes strength to be certain.
It takes courage to have doubt.
It takes strength to fit in.
It takes courage to stand out.
It takes strength to feel a friend's pain.
It takes courage to feel your own pain.
It takes strength to hide feelings.
It takes courage to show them.
It takes strength to endure abuse.
It takes courage to stop it.
It takes strength to stand alone.
It takes courage to lean on another.
It takes strength to love.
It takes courage to be loved.
It takes strength to survive.
It takes courage to live.

Author Unknown

You'd think they would know better - Signs found in England

1. IN A LAUNDROMAT: Automatic washing machines. Please remove all your clothes when the light goes out.

2. IN A LONDON DEPARTMENT STORE: Bargain Basement Upstairs

3. IN AN OFFICE: Would the person who took the step ladder yesterday please bring it back or further steps will be taken.

4. IN ANOTHER OFFICE: After the tea break staff should empty the teapot and stand upside down on the draining board.

5. ON A CHURCH DOOR: This is the gate of Heaven. Enter ye all by this door. (This door is kept locked because of the draft. Please use side entrance.

6. OUTSIDE A SECOND HAND SHOP: We exchange anything -- bicycles, washing machines etc. Why not bring your wife along and get a wonderful bargain.

7. QUICKSAND WARNING: Quicksand. Any person passing this point will be drowned. By order of the District Council.

8. NOTICE IN A DRY CLEANER'S WINDOW: Anyone leaving their garments here for more than 30 days will be disposed of.

9. IN A HEALTH FOOD SHOP WINDOW: Closed due to illness.

10. SPOTTED IN A SAFARI PARK: Elephants Please Stay In Your Car!

11. SEEN DURING A CONFERENCE: For anyone who has children and doesn't know it, there is a day care on the first floor.

12. NOTICE IN A FIELD: The farmer allows walkers to cross the field for free, but the bull charges.

13. MESSAGE ON A LEAFLET: If you cannot read, this leaflet will tell you how to get lessons.

14. ON A REPAIR SHOP DOOR: We can repair anything. (Please knock hard on the door - the bell doesn't work.)

15. SPOTTED IN A TOILET IN A LONDON OFFICE BLOCK: Toilet out of order. Please use floor below.

www.web-connection.org