BT has installed a new type of kiosk in major cities throughout the country.

These multimedia 'boxes' enable you to surf the net and send email through a touch sensitive screen. This is free until June 14.

DO you use a credit card on the net? If so, check that the site is using secure socket layer technology (SSL) by checking the site address. It should start with https. The 's' indicates that it is a secure site.

THE Inland Revenue do it again! The Revenue is sitting on (wait for it!) 22 million quids worth of overpaid taxes as a result of its inability to reconcile data between its National Insurance PAYE computer system.

Talking of Government departments, the Government has launched their 'Cradle to Grave Information Service' on www.ukonline.gov.uk

THIS week is National Chip Week so take a look at http://news1.thdo.bbc.co.uk/hi/english/uk/newsid_57000/57187.stm

EVERYWOMAN is a UK-based site with some excellent content for women. Find it at http://www.everywoman.co.uk

For articles on subjects you really can't live without reading try heading to http://www.wewomen.co.uk/index.html. Here you'll find features on subjects from the ordinary (A Woman's Guide to Condoms, Lipstick Tricks Of The Trade and Email Etiquette) to the obscure and sometimes downright weird (How To Get The Best Out Of Your Candles, Everything You Need To Know About Carpet and Knitting Techniques).

KEEP the kids entertained with 'The Yuckiest Site On The Internet' at http://yucky.kids.discovery.com/ for some icky experiments, revolting recipes or some creepy crafts.

If they love creepy crawlies why not let them join the Bug Club at http://www.ex.ac.uk/bugclub

It's a club for Young Entomologists between the ages of 5-15, run by the Amateur Entomologists Society and their website offers a bug identification key, pen pals that love bugs too. You can visit most areas of the website even if you aren't a member but if you wish to join, annual UK membership for kids costs £8 plus a £2 one-off joining fee for the over 13s.

Other great science sites include Chem4Kids at http://www.chem4kids.com/, Human Anatomy Online at http://www.innerbody.com/htm/body.html and Science is Fun at http://scifun.chem.wisc.edu/scifun.html DON'T forget that for the very best in LOCAL news, features, information and leisure to log on to the www.thisisleigh.co.uk website. It's the best by far in Journaland!