Introduction
Introduction
The Internet has changed dramatically in the past few years. It used to be that when someone said they found something online, they meant a static website, and most Internet directories were essentially just website directories. Nowadays, many more sources of information and entertainment exist online, including blogs, podcasts, videos, social networking, and virtual worlds.
The trouble is that there's no consolidated directory of all this diverse content. There are Web directories, blog directories, podcast directories, and so on, but what if you don't care what format the information comes in? What if you just want the best listings, regardless of the type?
That's where the 2009 Internet Directory: Web 2.0 Edition comes in. This book is a one-stop directory covering hundreds of subjects, spanning multiple content types. In this book you'll find listings for the following:
- Websites: Traditional Web pages containing static information
- Blogs: Personal or corporate Web logs, which are web-based but are frequently updated with new content
- Videos: Media clips containing both sound and moving video, such as archives of TV shows or content prepared exclusively for online distribution
- Podcasts: Audio presentations and archived radio shows you can play on your computer or download to a portable digital music player
- Wikis: Web-based collaborative knowledge bases, like encyclopedias for the masses
- Social Networking: Discussion groups on social networking sites such as MySpace, LiveJournal, and Facebook
- Forums/Discussions: Web-based bulletin board systems where you can exchange public messages with others
- Virtual Worlds: Areas of online "worlds" such as Second Life
Easy Browsing by Topic
Some Internet directories organize the entire book alphabetically by topic. That is okay in most cases, but it can be frustrating when you are trying to look up a subject that is known by more than one name. For example, suppose you want to build a deck for your house. Would that be under "C" for construction, "H" for home, "R" for remodeling, or "D" for deck? You could be flipping through the book for hours looking for it.
This book does things differently. It organizes the listings by broad topic, with one topic per chapter, grouping the listings together logically. So if you're looking for home improvement, you turn to Chapter 11, the "Home" chapter. Much simpler, isn't it? And if you still can't find the listings you want, you can look up the topic in the index in the back of the book.
The book is organized into the following chapters and topics:
Chapter 1, "Business": Everything you need to start and manage a business or advance your career. Includes sections on patents and trademarks, office management, international business, and customer service.
Chapter 2, "Computers and Electronics": Topics for the gear and gadget enthusiast, including home stereos, computers, and TV/video recording.
Chapter 3, "Current Events/Political/Science/News": Here you'll find the best news and information sources for national, international, political, and scientific events and discoveries.
Chapter 4, "Education": This section provides resources for students of all ages, for teachers, and for home-schooling parents, as well as for lifelong learners who want to know more about academic subjects for their own personal benefit.
Chapter 5, "Entertainment": Here you'll find topics such as movies and music, games, celebrities, science fiction, and theaters—everything you need to keep yourself (and others) entertained.
Chapter 6, "Family/Parenting": This chapter focuses on family roles and parenting, with sections on adoption, pregnancy and childbirth, single parenting, teens, and child custody.
Chapter 7, "Food and Drink": In this chapter, you'll find resources for special diets, restaurants, cooking and recipes, and all kinds of beverages, both alcoholic and nonalcoholic.
Chapter 8, "Going Green/ Environment": Here you'll find all the information you need about environmental protection, energy savings, alternative fuels, and other Earth-friendly topics.
Chapter 9, "Health": In the Health section are resources for getting and keeping healthy and fit, researching disease symptoms, finding good deals on health insurance, and providing first aid and emergency care.
Chapter 10, "Hobbies": The Hobbies section contains resources for pursuing your passions, whether that means reading, stamp collecting, antiques, or any of dozens of other pursuits.
Chapter 11, "Home": This chapter covers topics related to home ownership, including insurance, mortgages and real estate, landscaping, decorating, and maintenance.
Chapter 12, "Religion/Philosophy": Whether you are shopping for a religion or firm in your current beliefs, this chapter provides resources for understanding a variety of spiritual practices and beliefs, including Christianity, Judaism, Hinduism, Buddhism, New Thought, and Atheism.
Chapter 13, "Shopping/Fashion": Love to shop or make your own clothes? This chapter provides the links for your hobby, with sections for high fashion, bargain hunting, shoes, accessories, sewing, lingerie, and more.
Chapter 14, "Sports": Whether you're looking for the latest cricket scores, tickets to a hockey game, or a good scuba diving instructor, this chapter can hook you up, with links for almost every sport you can imagine.
Chapter 15, "Travel": Planning a trip? In this chapter you'll find resources for making your reservations, deciding where to go and what to see, and locating the best discounts, guides, and bargains.
Special Helps
Throughout this directory, the following icons indicate special features or restrictions:
The Best of the Best icon marks the authors' picks for top-quality sites.
This icon marks sites where you must pay to access the content. It also marks the sites that you would visit primarily with the intent to purchase something.
These sites require you to register to use their content (but not necessarily pay).
This Not for Kids icon marks sites that contain content that may not be suitable for children.
Enjoy the Directory!
We hope that this directory points you toward lots of interesting and informative content, whatever your interests. We are always interested in hearing your feedback and learning what additional categories or sites you think we should add to future editions.
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