------------------------------------------------------------------------ WEBSITES OF THE WEEK! | This section is devoted to cool WebSites . . . ------------------------------------------------------------------------ MindSpring's Tax Help!| ----------------------- ATLANTA, April 3 /PRNewswire/ -- If not, don't despair! MindSpring has put together a web page of helpful tax sites on the Internet. No more last-minute drives around town trying to find an open Post Office or library! You can download forms to print out, courtesy of NetTax '96. Links are provided to Federal forms, and to the State forms for the Southeastern states that have provided the forms on the Internet. The page also includes: -- General Tax Sites - Full service tax sites with great information. -- Includes the Twenty-Five Most Common Tax Preparation errors from the Ernst & Young Tax Guide 1996. -- Government Tax Sites - Go Straight to Congress or the IRS! -- Real Estate Tax - Calculate your mortgage or real estate taxes. -- CPA's - Visit the pages of accountants and other tax professionals. -- Tax Publications & News - Get the latest tax news, magazines & books. -- Tax Groups - Learn about tax advocates & protesters. -- Tax Software - Get the latest tax preparations software. MindSpring's Tax Page is on the World Wide Web at: http://www.mindspring.com/current/financial.html MindSpring Enterprises, Inc. (Nasdaq: MSPG) is Atlanta's largest regional Internet service provider. MindSpring began offering Internet access services in June 1994 and now has more than 22,000 subscribers in Alabama, Florida, Georgia, Kentucky, Maryland, North Carolina, South Carolina, Tennessee and in the Washington DC area. MindSpring currently offers service in 29 cities, and plans to roll out local access in additional markets throughout the Southeast. To learn more about MindSpring visit the MindSp ring Web site at , or call 800-719-4332. ------------------------ Profound Searches . . .| ------------------------ NEW YORK, March 28 /PRNewswire/ -- Since the Internet hasn't embraced a common industry method for indexing information, users of Internet search services, like Yahoo(R), InfoSeek(R), Alta Vista(R), Excite(R) and Lycos(R) sometimes encounter irrelevant results when searching the Internet. Some of the most popular Internet search services, such as Yahoo, categorize the Web sites into several main topics, and sometimes further subtopics. This refinement at the front end of a search enables the search to be conducted among categories chosen by the search tool provider. Profound's InfoSort indexing system -- which searches the company's proprietary databases of business information through the Profound Web site (http://www.profound.com) -- employs hundreds of thousands of search terms amassed over the ten years that Profound has refined the technology. More important than gathering new category names, InfoSort actually links new terms with established ones. This ensures that when a search is conducted using the latest industry vocabulary, the results are not limited to information sources that only contain the new term. Attempting to link new industry terms with thousands of existing ones across terabytes of historical information would be a monumental task. However, since InfoSort has been in use for 10 years, links to hundreds of thousands of search terms are not only maintained, but extended to new search terms everyday as information is added to the Profound service. In addition to locating relevant information resources without wading through long menus and directories or using estoteric command systems, InfoSort: -- Saves users time and money by allowing them to purchase only the information they need; -- Enables simultaneous searching of all Profound databases by standardizing search terms across all of its databases using a common search language, increasing the accuracy and scope of information retrieved; -- Speeds the viewing of documents by allowing the user to jump to sections of a report by clicking on the corresponding portion of the index; -- Generates a detailed index for market research and broker reports before the user of user views or purchases the information, showing the precise location of the information sought; -- Ensures that users won't miss relevant information by providing "one-stop shopping" for all of a user's business intelligence requirements. Profound's InfoSort indexing system features specialized artificial intelligence software, employing rule-bases, thesauruses and proprietary procedures for sharpening the focus of a seamless search through the system's more than 4,000 sources of information. This translates into an inviting user interface by relegating Profound's complex searching mechanism to a background function that is invisible to the user. Every piece of research information added to Profound's database is indexed using InfoSort methodology. Each research document and broker report, for example, is read by a Profound research specialist who creates a detailed table of contents, or index, for the document, page by page. When Profound delivers the index to the user, he or she can pinpoint exactly where in a document the information sought resides. The precise data can then be easily extracted, saving users time and money by allowing them to purchase only the information they need. Conducting an Internet search on the crude oil market using popular Internet search services could identify thousands of Web pages that incorporate the words, "crude," "oil" and "market," whether or not they are relevant. Using Profound's InfoSort technology, a subject category such as "crude oil" is automatically translated into a number of search terms that have been identified by Profound information scientists over the past 10 years. To further refine the search process, terms that are broader in scope -- or narrower -- than the original search term can be employed by the user. As the crude oil industry, or any other industry, invents new terminology, those terms will also be added and linked to existing terms. Rather than simply looking for and locating the phrase "crude oil" in the text of an article or research report, InfoSort technology enables Profound to search for the notion or essence of the subject, not just the term. This greatly increases the speed and intelligence of the search process, which treats all Profound databases as a single file that is searched simultaneously. Similarly, terms unique to a particular country or region are also linked, so that a search for the latest news article on gasoline consumption worldwide would also automatically include the terms "petrol" and "fuel." The accuracy, relevance and scope of the information retrieved is also greatly improved, since searching is achieved using both the original search term as well as additional search terms that are linked through InfoSort. The actual "linking" of search terms -- based on indexing rules established by information scientists -- is accomplished by Profound research specialists, who identify related information in each document before it is added to the Profound system. A search under "beer," for example, would automatically include searches under related headings such as beverages, alcoholic beverages and brewing. Since research specialists actually read each and every report or document, results of searches are more comprehensive and relevant. InfoSort cross-references in such a way as to permit searching across a wide range of information sources, thereby resulting in enhanced user applicability. The system's prepared contents tables are able to target relevant information in a way which responds rapidly to selected criteria. Since the indexing information delivered by InfoSort is so highly specific, users can save time and money by locating the type of information they need in the index of each document identified by the search, and only retrieving the information they need. This enables Profound users to download specific information without having to download (and pay for) unnecessary information, or waste valuable time. For more information on Profound, connect to http://www.profound.com or contact Profound, Inc., 655 Madison Avenue, New York, N.Y. 10021; 1-800-624-3462. ------------------------------------------------------------------------ ATHTLETE RECRUITING ON-LINE!| ---------------------------- SOMERVILLE, N.J., April 11 /PRNewswire/ -- Today, "big time" athletes Jerry Rice, Roger Craig, Hubie Brooks, Devon White, Anthony Pleasant, Ryne Sandberg and others presented a big opportunity for college coaches and high school athletes. These pro athletes helped introduce the Online Scouting Network (OSN), a powerful new on-line database service that is poised to revolutionize the way high school athletes are recruited for college athletic programs. OSN is the nation's first comprehensive Internet service designed to link college coaches with qualified high school and junior college athletes. Through technology, OSN has been able to streamline the recruiting process into a centralized source of data that can be accessed with the click of a mouse. The OSN site on the World Wide Web (http://www.osn.com) offers coaches a free, easy-to-use, searchable database of high school athlete profiles which include, personal, academic and athletic information. "The college recruitment process can be pretty intimidating for high school kids," said former Toronto Blue Jay, Pat Tabler. "I am thrilled to be involved in a program that takes some of the uncertainty out of the system and opens doors for promising young athletes. There are a lot of potential MVPs out there, and OSN will help coaches find them." A telephone call and #2 pencil are all that is needed for high school and junior college athletes to list their stats on OSN. Male and female student-athletes have several ways to obtain registration forms: * call 1-800-267-1435 * e-mail the request to info@osn.com * fax the request to 908-526-0344 * mail a SASE to "Registration Request," Online Scouting Network, 321 Courtyard Drive, Somerville, NJ 08876. With the registration form and $69 listing fee, OSN will create a comprehensive profile of the athlete, including their personal, academic and athletic achievements along with a photograph. For an additional $80, a 2-minute, digitized highlight film clip will be added to the student-athlete's profile. Each profile will last one year from the date of subscription and can be updated up to five times in that year. Student-athletes who are quick on their feet can take advantage of the new service for free. The first 1,000 student-athletes who submit their completed registration form will have the $69 annual listing fee refunded. Other student-athletes who have proof that their SAT/ACT testing fees have been waived will be permitted to list their basic profile on OSN at no charge. College athletic recruiting staff and admissions officers with a registered username and password can access the OSN database at no charge. Once they have located OSN, college coaches can search the database by pointing and clicking through search criteria such as: * type of sport * type of position * sport-specific statistical criteria * academic ranges * geographic regions * athlete's preferences A long list of professional athletes have stepped up to the plate to lend their energy and support to OSN. These investors, who have all gone through the process themselves, strongly believe that OSN will help student-athletes successfully maneuver beyond the complexities of the recruiting process and create a world of new scouting options for college coaches nationwide. ----------------- STORAGE SYSTEMS!| ----------------- MANHASSET, N.Y., April 11 /PRNewswire/ -- EE Times-Interactive (http://techweb.cmp.com/eet), part of CMP's TechWeb(TM) Web site, announced today the launch of an online subscription newsletter, Storage Systems Today, covering data storage products, technologies and vendors. The subscription-only newsletter will appear on the new Special Interest Group Page on EE Times-Interactive. Storage Systems Today will be written by Hal Glatzer, former Editor of Optical Memory News, who has covered the computer industry and, in particular, data storage, for 18 years. A founder of the Computer Press Association, Glatzer calls himself an "explainer," for his ability to present technical material in plain language, so everyone with a need to know can be kept informed. According to Glatzer, Storage Systems Today covers developments in all types of storage technology, including tape, disk, magnetic, optical, solid-state and experimental. Each issue contains news and analysis of new products, evolving standards, research and development, engineering achievements, finance, new ventures, marketing strategies, trends, predictions and people. The charter issue includes a unique chart that analyzes the key characteristics of some 30 removable storage offerings ranging from 1.44 Mb to 20 Gb. Storage Systems Today is available through subscription only either online, by e-mail or by fax. The electronic versions are available on alternate Fridays. The online newsletter, featuring scrolling "frames" and other display techniques optimized for browsing with Netscape Navigator 2.0, is available at a password-protected online address that is part of the Storage Systems SIG page on EE Times-Interactive. The newsletter will reside in a searchable database, allowing subscribers to search previous iss ues and articles by subject or key word. In addition, Storage Systems Today will provide links within each article to relevant information, such as company information, independent Web sites and EE Times-Interactive editorial. The Storage Systems SIG page on EE Times-Interactive (http://techweb.cmp.com/eet/sst/) can be accessed freely, without subscribing, and features an online discussion forum, regularly updated news briefs, as well as company links, and a link to pertinent articles from EE Times. Charter subscription rates for Storage Systems Today are $445 for one year and $695 for two years, a savings of $250 over the regular published rates. EE Times-Interactive is the World Wide Web site of EE Times, CMP's industry newspaper for design engineers and technical managers in the electronics industry. The well-respected weekly is the only source that delivers news of both business and technology to the engineering community and technical/corporate management at electronics OEM organizations. CMP Publications, Inc., now in its 25th year of uninterrupted growth, is the only provider of publishing, marketing and information services to reach the entire spectrum of the high-technology market. Through its unique market position, CMP reaches the builders, sellers and users of technology. All of CMP's publications and a series of innovative news services are available on the World Wide Web through CMP's TechWeb(TM) (http://techweb.cmp.com), the technology information source. ------------------------------------------------------------------------ PROTECTING YOURSELF FROM FRAUD!| -------------------------------- The National Fraud Information Center takes reports from consumers about fraud and fraudulent businesses. These complaint reports are referred to the appropriate regulatory and law enforcement agencies around the country, and now around the globe. The NFIC also provides free information on how consumers can protect themselves from fraud and we offer free advice on suspicious offers and consumer fraud. The NFIC has recently begun the NFIC Internet Program to deal with fraud on the Internet. As a part of NFIC Internet, we have established a National Fraud Information Center WebSite at http://www.fraud.org. Our WebSite has extensive links to State, Federal and International Law Enforcement sites, and these links are growing daily. If you have any questions, would like further information or would like to file a report, please check out our WebSite at http://www.fraud.org, write us at nfic@internetmci.com or call us at 1- 800-876-7060. We are always more than happy to provide consumers with information and to take down complaints. We are also always happy to receive suggestions as to how our new Internet services can be of more assistance to the Net community. Give us a call. ---------------------------- SEARCH ALL ENGINES AT ONCE!| ---------------------------- InterNet Stockholm proudly presents the newest ultimate search machine, in *one search* you will get the results from the major search machines on the net (WWW and Usenet) in ONE click only: This Java-application takes them all: Lycos, InfoSeek, WebCrawler, Yahoo, AltaVista, DejaNews, Excite, OpenText, Inktomi. Check it out and mail me your opinion to: janzon@abc.se Please spread the word to your friends as well! The URL is: http://www.postnet.se/internet/SuperSearch.htm þ