I write a regular column for Llama Banner magazine about interesting or useful sites on the Net. They have graciously agreed to allow me to reprint the earlier columns from 96 and 97. This was the first column. As we all know, sites move, change and some simply disappear with time, so if something is no longer online... you missed it. I've disconnected the links to sites I can no longer find so you don't waste your time. Click here for Llama Banner subscription info.

You may *not* reprint this for any publication, handout, site, etc.
Yes, you can link to it.

Santa in the living room, Spring 97. He's shorn in a 'cria clip' for heat relief.

     I’m the type to get addicted to anything I enjoy and llamas are my drug of choice, but the Net runs a close second. Some people think the Net is a horrible medium designed to warp minds and devastate life as we know it. Some have a great fear of change and/or computers and think the Net is nothing more than Cybersex and gossip. Others fear it will put magazines out of business and some claim it’s a flash that will burn out quickly. Well... if you are one of the scoffers you are as limited in your thinking as those who thought Ma Bell, TV, CD’s and VCRs were temporary, because the Net is growing at amazing speeds daily. Many magazines have gone online and most major publications have a spot about the Net in their offline forums. Just as TV caused radio to change, the Net will have it’s effect, but paper publications won’t disappear any more than radio has. As for gossip, it will have a place in any medium, and Cybersex? I think sex is here to stay as long as nature survives, but the Net offers far more than that. So I’d like to take you on a Cyberhike to some sites I find interesting.

    I brought Santa, one of my llama studs, into my office for consultation on web sites of interest. I showed him some of the plant photos at the Andean Botanical Info System, thinking it would stimulate ancient memories from his ancestors. He glanced at the screen, but was far more interested in my mouse, acting as if it must be a very tasty morsel since I wouldn't give it up. I tried showing him the llama pictures in Cultures of the Andes - Quechua, Songs, Poems, Stories, Photos, but he ate two Pringles and knocked over my Dr. Pepper. I thought the awesome photos in Other Worlds, including Ancient Civilizations of the Andes, might do it, but he just nosed my Aloe Vera. He’s a tough audience.

     I read him some of the llama articles in The Electric Library while he examined my scanner and tore a page out of my mini calendar. (Now we won't have to deal with November.) We looked for enjoyable quotes and I added one about llamas on The Quotations Page, but he was totally lacking in enthusiasm or constructive quotes, unless whiffling counts. I showed him how to have reminders sent to us by email about deadlines or important occasions at E-minder, but he just yawned and kushed. He was equally bored with The List, which is a great source for finding a new local server using your own area code.

     He didn't see any fun in browsing for FREE stuff at Shareware.Com for Mac users or The Simtel.Net archives for Windows users, he just browsed my trash basket and came up with an apple core. The other great shareware sites, Pass the Shareware Please and NONAGS Daily Freeware made no impression either. So I clicked over to AgriHelp to read him the interesting posts from people around the world and show him the new llama section. Then we browsed the used tractors and farm equipment in the Machinery Marketplace at @griculture Online, but Santa found our carpet far more interesting.

     I even showed him CRAYON - CReAte Your Own Newspaper. This is one of my favorites on the Net. We now have our own Castalia Gazette with news, humor and information customized for our tastes. Er, make that my taste, Santa prefered removing December from the calendar. (Soon winter will be a thing unknown to us.)

     I showed him Yocom-McColl Testing Labs where we can get his wool tested, but he was intent on testing nothing more than my cherry lipgloss (leaving the lid off was a big mistake). He was slightly interested in Stillwater Minerals, but he's always loved his 103. I checked to see if we'd won ... InterLotto, but no... there goes the easy life.

    Then I mentioned VET and he paid attention! I showed him NetVet's Pick of the Litter, a good place to find Vet related Hot Sites. We went to TW Medical and I pointedly told him that our Vet can get sutures, used equipment and hard to find items... even drugs, should gelding him become an idea. (Evil Grin!) I seem to have his full attention now. On to All Creatures Vet Clinic where Vets can talk to other Vets on one list, and the rest of us can ask them questions or share our experiences on another. Santa was still stewing over the gelding remark, claiming it was clearly llama abuse, so we went to the American Humane Association - Animal Protection Division, but I don't think they took him seriously. So he tried getting adopted at Hope for the Animals, but I broke the connection before he could send an email.

     We popped in at ALSA, but Santa never gets to go to shows, so he started nibbling the phone cord. (Bad llama!) I decided I'd try to stimulate his spiritual side with Chief Seattle's 1854 Speech which mentions "a wind ruffled sea" and "sad voiced winds". Santa's lack of sensitivity is appalling, he fell asleep. In fact, Santa may be great fun to take for a saunter through the woods behind my place, but he's no buddy to take Cyberhiking. Now he's trying to dismantle my new 28.8 modem, so drop by the Cozy Corner and drop me an email about your favorite site. Happy Cyber Trails til next time! Smiles, Chelle

Love those Santa hugz!