In a sky full of stars, only the brightest ones are required for navigation.
This page includes only the brightest sites to help you navigate around the 'net. Table of Contents:

• Introduction to the Internet - growth statistics, architecture overview, jargon
• Finding an Internet Provider - How to get a good connection
• Searching the Internet - Now that you're connected - how do you find things?
• Online Communities - Do more than surf the 'net, become involved...
• Software features and tips - Enhancing your browser to handle all kinds of multi-media content
• Also Useful - extra stuff

1. Internet growth statistics. These charts and especially this world map illustrates the Internet's remarkable growth. You may also want to explore Yahoo's section on Internet growth statistics and demographics.
2. Internet Architecture:
1. Start with The Internet: The Big Picture - "What are the major pieces of the Internet, and who are the major players in each segment"
2. Russ Haynal's ISP Page includes links many resources such as the major Internet backbones, exchange points, architecture, and Domain Names.
3. Another page of mine that describes the Internet's architecture.
3. Confused by all the Jargon? Consult with these resources:
1. NetLingo: The Internet Language Dictionary
2. glossary of Internet Terms
3. acronym and abbreviations,
4. What-is: this glossary contains alot of narrative and is fully cross-linked.
4. Yahoo - Internet Information and Documentation Section - Provides links to hundreds of additional topics.

1. See: Getting Connected to the Internet.

1. Before you do any searches, you should have a search plan, and understand how these various tools work. Begin with these resources:
1. Effective Search Tips - Follow these simple steps to focus your search activities, and become much more efficient in doing a search.
2. My overview of a search tools - Know the strengths and weaknesses of various tools
3. Tutorial: Guide to Effective Searching on the Internet.
4. Top Internet Searching Resources - A review and listing of the top 10 search engines, directories, and virtual libraries.
5. Sink or swim: Internet Search Tools & techniques Contains Solid Advice
2. Internet Directory: best used by Browsing (vs. searching) when you are early in your search, or are still learning about your topic
1. Yahoo The most well-known Internet directory
2. Dmoz Open Directory , Look Smart, go ( ), snap,
3. About.com - A subject tree, where the authors share in the advertising revenue.
4. A ranking of directories  from searchenginewatch.com.
3. Search Engines: Use detailed keywords. Read the online help and advanced features for each search engine.
1. Alta Vista,- Be sure to read the help; try the refine button; or the advanced search interface (and read the help for advanced search interface)
2. FAST, HotBot, Northern Light, , Excite, Lycos (All very popular)
3. Search Engine Watch: Search Engine News & Tips. (check-out their Features Comparison Chart, and size comparison Chart)
4. Search IQ - lists and reviews many search engines.
5. The Spider's Apprentice- Advice for using Search engines

4. Meta-Search Engines - Pass your keywords to multiple search engines at once.
1. Savvy Search.
2. Metacrawler
3. Dogpile
5. Virtual Libraries - Online indices built by subject experts
1. World Wide Web Virtual Library - A distributed collection  of Virtual libraries linked together in a virtual directory
2. Many more - Go to a good subject tree such as Yahoo; Browse around to the subject of your choice ; Look for an "indices" or "FAQ's" listing within Yahoo's page for your subject area. For example, visit Yahoo's security and encryption page and notice that there is an on "indices" option. Under indices, you will see a link to "Coast Hotlist" - which is a very complete pointer to Internet security websites. It would take you months to develop such a comprehensive list of links.
6. Specialized Search Resources - see my web page
7. Using your search results
1. How to read a URL .
2. Source Evaluation - This page is useful in determining the origin of a web site. Knowing the website's origin may help you judge the validity of web site's content.
3. Bookmark tips and tricks - Save and organize your bookmarks
4. You should also create a "research/topic" folder on your C drive.

Your fellow Internet users are a valuable resource. You should seek out groups of users who share the same interests as you.  They can often lead you to many Internet resources that you might not discover using the search tools.

1. Netiquette Home page and EFF's Guide to Smileys. (To make sure you correctly interpret the messages of others and do not "offend" anyone)
2. Mailing Lists:  try Liszt or consult this list of Mailing List Search Tools
3. Newsgroups: Here is an overview of newsgroups. Dejanews is a searchable archive of all the text from all the newsgroups (take the time to look at the power search options). To identify which newsgroups cover your topic, use Dejanews' Internet finder. You can also look through this List of Newsgroup Search Tools
4. Online Individuals: Use the email addresses on web pages, emails, usenet postings or search an email address using Four11.
5. Effective email techniques - This page covers some of the more important issues with effectively using email, including tips for managing hundreds of emails per day.

1. First - Take command of your Netscape bookmarks with this advice for bookmarks
2. For more details about Netscape's software, consult their Online handbook
3. Internet Software - to expand your online experience.
1. Windows: Your first stop for Internet Software is Stroud's List of Internet Applications Another well-done site is Tucows
2. Macintosh: The single best online resource is the Ultimate Macintosh Page
3. Helper Applications: A nicely done page is the WWW Viewer Test Page.
4. Plug-ins for Netscape are Listed here.
5. You should also become familiar with Common Internet File Formats
4. For general software (games, utilities, etc.) try: Shareware.com and Download.com - Use these sites for all other software requirements. They provide a nice search interface to the major archive sites.
5. Worried about viruses? Be sure to visit Antivirus Resources, Antivirus Software
6. .

1. Check your persona right now. Make sure you understand what webmasters know about You. (If the link returns an error, try these back-ups: Web Site Environment Variables, What We Know About You,)
2. Essential Links - A Must Visit/bookmark
3. Reference Desk.
4. Hot100.com - Shows the most popular Internet sites on the Internet based on Weekly traffic Statistics. This gives you a sense of what sites are attracting Internet Users.
5. Find out the ownership of a domain name using whois at: Internic
6. For web developers, see my Website Considerations page.
7. .

Note for my Alumni: Your referrals are always appreciated