Valerie Cowan's Web World

SO how was it for you?

NetAid, a sort of internet version of Live Aid, may well have attracted millions of hits.

The organisers, who include the United Nations and technology company Cisco Systems, hoped it would be the biggest online event ever.

But after struggling to make sense of the flickering images transmitted over the net, and getting sick of "net congestion" messages, I gave up and went back to watching it on television.

Still, as an experiment in online fund-raising it was interesting.

The three concerts, in London, Geneva and New York, featured stars including Robbie Williams, David Bowie and Bryan Adams.

The proceeds from the event go to NetAid, a charity set up to help end worldwide poverty.

Online viewers were asked to give money via a secure site.

The money raised was still being counted as this column went to press .

And the fund-raising will continue. NetAid is intended as a 10-year campaign and the website will stay up and running.

http://www.netaid.org

Come and join our super club

SUPERCLUB Ministry of Sound is planning further expansion of its website. The club wants to create "an international portal for dance music and clubbing".

Plans are under way to massively expand traffic to the site, especially from internet users around the world rather than just in the UK.

The Ministry's marketing manager Ros Reynolds said: "Ministry of Sound is a high-profile brand offline, so we want to create the same kind of awareness online.

"We are looking at building a portal for an international audience."

http://www.ministryofsound.com

Take a walk on the website with Beefy!

EX-ENGLAND cricket legend Ian 'Beefy' Botham is walking the length of the country again, from John O'Groats to Land's End.

It's his seventh - and most likely last - trek for the Leukaemia Research Fund. In the past he's raised thousands of pounds for the charity by walking nearly 3,400 miles. You can keep up with him via a special website. Satellite tracking will tell you exactly where Ian is and if you leave your details on the site, you'll be updated by e-mail.

There are also competitions and most importantly, the opportunity to donate to the Leukaemia Research Fund online.

http://www.lbw.org.uk

What a site! It's Flat Eric

FLAT Eric, the fluffy yellow star of the Levi's commercials, now has his own official website.

http://www.getflat.com/

DID you know you can take a picture of yourself using your computer monitor? No, you really can...

http://www.smartbot.net/camera2.html

BUDDHIST Net is an online database packed with information for anyone with an interest in Buddhism. Or try the stylish-looking Buddha Net, which was set up by an Australian. http://www.buddhistnet.co.uk

http://www.buddhanet.net

FIND out how dangerous it really is to use a mobile phone while driving using the quick test at this site.

http://infocenter.insweb.com/insurance101/special-reports/cellphone/default.htm

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