Valerie Cowan's Web World

SO it would appear the millennium bug failed to bite anywhere very hard.

But that doesn't mean computer-related paranoia is over.

Warnings of a new virus land in my e-mail inbox every couple of weeks and most people on e-mail will have seen at least one.

Most claim that a virus contained in some innocuous-sounding file - a Budweiser frogs screensaver, for example - will wipe everything off your hard drive.

Of course, sometimes a virus can do real damage.

One called Melissa caused chaos last year when it infected thousands of computers around the world, sending e-mails out automatically and overloading e-mail servers.

But most of the "viruses" which computer owners are alerted to are nothing more than hoaxes.

The latest one centred on a game called Elfbowl, which had Santa playing 10-pin bowling, with his elves as the pins.

It has been doing the rounds as an e-mail attachment - and was quickly followed by a warning about its safety.

The warning said it would wipe out your hard drive on Christmas Day.

But it was all a hoax - so you can carry on knocking down those elves until next Christmas if you like.

One of the best places to check the latest news on viruses is the Computer Virus Myths homepage. It was set up by Rob Rosenberger and aims to be as independent as possible. Rob does not work for and does not accept advertising from any companies which produce anti-virus software.

His advice to avoid infection is to use anti-virus software correctly and keep it updated - and perhaps most importantly, "Learn to recognise media-induced hysteria when you see it."

Common sense could be your most powerful anti-virus software.

Take this "virus warning" relating to the so-called Good Times virus.

"It will give your ex-girlfriend your new phone number. It will drink all your beer and leave its socks out on the coffee table when there's company coming over.

"It moves your car randomly around parking lots so you can't find it. It will leave the toilet seat up."

While it might be a nice revenge tool, unfortunately, it doesn't exist.

http://www.kumite.com/myths/

THERE is every chance you will have broken your New Year resolutions by now - but don't give up hope. If you want to get your life in order, there is help at hand on the internet. My Prime Time is an excellent American site aimed at "baby boomers" - those who have built up a career and now want to live a little. It describes itself as a "personal trainer for life" and it certainly covers a lot of what you need to make life go smoothly. It is divided into sections on personal finance, careers, health and fitness and travel and leisure. http://www.myprimetime.com/

THE St Mary's Oswaldtwistle Clog Dance Company - home of the Ossy Cloggers and Clogology - are on the web. The group's site has a history of clog dancing, as well as information on the dancers.

http://www.cougar01.freeserve.co.uk

A NEW website for the Barden Community Association is one of the best I've seen for a community organisation. The association aims to make the facilities at Barden High School, Burnley, available for public use and many of the groups which already use them are featured on the site.

http://freespace.virgin.net/barden.community/

THE Film 100 is a ranking of the 100 most influential people in the history of cinema. There is information on each of the people listed and, most importantly, a feedback facility so you can argue with the editors' choices.

http://www.film100.com

IF you are a fan of the late, great blues musician Muddy Waters, there is now an official website dedicated to his life and work.

http://www.muddywaters.com

TEST your knowledge of classical music with the January quiz on our website, This is Lancashire.

http://www.thisislancashire.co.uk

Converted for the new archive on 14 July 2000. Some images and formatting may have been lost in the conversion.