Epinions epinions.com On this site you'll find reviews on everything from colleges to movies to pet carriers. Some sections have more epinions that others, but you can choose between professional reviews and those of your fellow web surfers. Register for free and you can pen your own epinions, earning cash for the number of readers who trust your advice. Keep an eye on this site—it’s got a lot of potential. Content: B Usability: A CURRENT AFFAIRS. The New York Times nytimes.com Get the Gray Lady without the cumbersome «page turning, ink and Macy’s sales you have no •use for; the New York Times’ full daily edition is free online. An optional free email service will put .the top stories in your box each morning. Searching the Times archives is free, although you’ll need a credit card to buy more than the summary paragraphs at a couple of bucks a pop. Or just look them up online then find the micro film copies at the library and put that money to good use, like for munchies or beer. Content: A Usability: A jfflg She {Nirtir Dork Simcs " UOHQAV JANUARY l 2001 11 02 AU CTI PnnA> Ymm W.*hm tiffany & On High Court Agrees to Hear Case on Cigarette Ad Limits By THE ASSOCIATED PRESS. 1013 A M ET 3i.ru■ dtfiXtd lin Eifii FTOMMONDAYSTtMES W«r jWi.Ui W_«y (1200 YsfeM.yfcna (»«.-) News Synthesis newssynthesis.com When your mom makes her weekly call boasting half-memories of last night’s newscast: “The anchorman said you can go to jail for stealing music with that Napper thing...,” get onto newssynthesis.com and set her straight in record time. There's a lot of searchable news databases . these days on the web, but this also has links to things like nationally syndicated columns and think-tank web sites. Make your professors think you’re super smart. Content: A- Usability: A The Global Town Hall globaltownhall.com You’ve got an opinion, dammit. About politics, the environment, or simply how annoying your friends are for not having any opinions. Word to the wise: Said friends are getting sick of hearing about their pathetic lack of interest. Save your friendships and expand your audience exponen tially at Clobaltownhall.com, where anyone can Editor’s pick The Scout Report for Science and Engineering scout,cs.wisc.edu/report/sci-eng This site hosts the biweekly Scout Report for Science and Engineering. Its list of Internet resources is meticu lously compiled by discipline-specific librarians and content specialists. Wondering about atmospheric dis turbance climatology? Look no further. The chosen content meets very specific criteria to weed out any unnecessary or useless links, and the site is kept clean and up-to-date. Topics appeal to students, professors and researchers alike. Content: A Usability: A For * M-tec icorch of 10.526 write an opinion piece on their pet topic. Educate yourself with various articles culled from major news outlets. Then jump to a forum to blow off some steam on the matter. And before you know it, your op-ed piece might just end up on the front page. Content: A- Usability: B+ OB Netnoir netnoir.com Looking for updates on your favorite black stars? Or news on African-American issues? Netnoir.com has it all and then some. This black-oriented web site offers news, shopping, email and advice on a range of issues. Check out their section for women and read up on money matters or women’s history, or click on their Gospel Chapel and read about the Pastor of the Week and reviews of the latest spiritual music, books and web sites. Content: B+ Usability: B DVstreet dvstreet.com Point your web browser to Dvstreet.com, a multi cultural web portal that allows users to personal ize their own start page with channels, chat rooms, job information and more. Dvstreet’s Career Center lists job postings and resume and interview tips. Their Marketplace includes over 300 online stores offering products from ethnic foods to airline tickets. Content: B+ Usability: A VOLUNTEERING The Virtual Volunteering Service serviceleader.org It’s a new world of philanthropy! Virtual or online volunteering enables generous, busy individuals to perform volunteer tasks, in whole or in part, via the Internet at their home or work comput ers. VVS provides cyberservice, online mentoring, teletutoring, research work and various other jobs. It also allows agencies—such as the American Lung Association and Starbright World—to expand their volunteer programs and networks by allowing more participants, and using volunteers in new areas. Content: B Usability: A Volunteer America volunteeramerica.net If you have some spare time, and want to do something you’ll feel good about, find a volun teer opportunity or vacation through volunteer america.net. This site, organized by state, con nects individuals, families and groups with vol unteer opportunities across the U.S. Many of the vacations/opportunities are sponsored by the Sierra Club and are a bit out of the ordi nary, such as removing old ranching fence lines in Texas so that wildlife can migrate freely. Opportunities are listed up through October of next year, so you still have plenty of time to make plans. Content: B+ Usability: A VolunteerAmerica.net Volunteer America a fiaflf jfcr Qlifema Lou HUM NcvjtU South Caroline New Hamtwhne South Cetoa New )«»ey Tennessee New Mexico Texet New Yotk Utah North Carolina Vermont