The Virtual Woman: A Woman's
Weekly Guide To Cyberspace
The Web. It's confusing, it's messy, and every search yields 6,329,412
matches. So, who can a woman ask when she needs a true cyber-fieldguide?
(Because let's face it, men won't ask for directions whether they're on the
road or the super information highway but we sure will!) Enter the Virtual
Woman, she's equipped with years of Web knowledge and savvy and is available
to answer all your questions. VW cuts through the cyber nonsense and links
you to the truly useful sites that actually live up to all the hype you've
heard about. So if search engines like Yahoo and Alta Vista leave you cold,
warm up cyberspace with The Virtual Woman. She's online and ready to serve
up a more personal touch to the World Wide Web!
Dear Virtual Woman:
I traveled quite a bit
back in my single days, and now I'm finally ready to venture on a real
family vacation with my husband and two kids. All I hear from other moms are
horror stories. Where can I go online for some kid-wise travel tips?
- Terrified to Travel
Dear Terrified:
Rand McNally (the map people) http://www.randmcnally.com/parentsCorner/index.htm advises planning as the key to having a smooth journey with kids. If you do your research online, this site offers links leading to travel tips on kid friendly hotels, and restaurants. Additionally, you can stay more than one step ahead by exploring the specific websites for the attractions you plan on seeing. The internet can be a wonderful guide for finding out what lodging, amusements and food are available at the location and what's nearby. If your child is computer savvy, assign her or him the vacation homework. You might be pleasantly surprised at what they come up with. Above all, the Virtual Woman advises that you have patience, keep your kids amused and bring a boat load of snacks!
Dear Virtual Woman:
Sometimes I see things going on in my community that need fixing. Since I'm not quite ready to pull a Jane Harman and become a senator just yet, how can I find out whom my representative in Congress is and let them know what is going on?
- Andrea P. , Hill City, South Dakota
Dear Andrea:
The Citizen Guide to Congress
http://www.voxpop.org is your online guide to finding out who your
representative or senator is in Congress and how to reach them. Click on the
Capitol to open the doors to Congress, then scroll down to enter your
zipcode. I tested it out by supplying my own five digit code. Up came the
pictures, email and snail mail addresses of my government representatives,
including links to their websites. The next step is simple, use the online
form to send your message directly to the powers in charge. The Citizen's
Guide to Congress is a thorough guide to politics online, with mailing
lists, websites and discussion forums to help you blow off some political
steam!
Dear Virtual Woman:
My daughter's 1st grade class is having a cookie contest. I have some favorite recipes but where can I go online to widen my cookie repertoire?
- Panicking in Dallas
Dear Dallas:
Not to worry. Finding the finest in cookie cuisine is easy at CookieRecipe.Com http://www.cookierecipe.com. You'll feel at home among the classic chocolate chip, peanut butter and sugar cookies and be introduced to a new cookie treat every day. Feeling generous enough to share your own cookie secrets? Then try the recipe exchange, and be a member of the virtual cookie lovers community. Choose a country and add some international flavor from cookie bakers around the world to your collection. Meet other cookie connoisseurs online in your virtual kitchen at CookieRecipe.Com
Happy Surfing!
Find these links and more at WWWomen.Com (http://www.wwwomen.com) the web's largest search directory of topics for women online. Email the Virtual Woman with your Internet questions or send snailmail to: WWWomen.Com, Attn: Virtual Woman, 3701 Geary Blvd., #325, S.F., CA 94118. Copyright, 1998. WWWomen, Inc. All rights reserved.
Contributing Editor: Rita Kennen
This column can only be re-distributed with written
permission by
Knight Ridder/Tribune News Service or WWWomen, Inc.
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WWWomen is a registered trademark of the WWWomen company.