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Web Hosting - All About Domain Names "What's in a name?" Shakespeare asks in Romeo and Juliet. In the case of your web site the answer is: quite a lot. A domain name is the English (or other) language designator for your site. Because of the way the Internet functions, that name is associated with an IP address, a numeric identifier that computers and network components use to connect a browser to a web site. It's not mandatory that a site has a name. But directing visitors by IP address can quickly generate difficulties. Having an IP address IS mandatory, since it's ultimately the way a web site is located by other computers and network software. In the early days of the Internet the name was chosen carefully in order to help a person remember the URL. That made it easier to type, too. With hotspots on a page, great search engines, social networking and other contemporary tools, that's not as important now. But from a marketing perspective, it still helps to have a good name. It's still beneficial to have a site called 'CheapTVs.com' if what you sell are inexpensive TV sets. Calling your site, 'InexpensiveElectronicVisualDisplayDevices.com' may describe your business in some way, but it's a little harder to refer a new person to your site. Which name you choose can, therefore, affect how much traffic your site gets, how soon. Sooner or later, if you have information and/or products/services that people want, word will get around. But having a good name can certainly help. Love them or hate them, the Google company chose well. Of course, the fact is that there are millions of web sites around the world. That means, you don't necessarily get the name of your first choice. ICANN (Internet Corporation for Assigned Names and Numbers) is the internationally recognized authority for managing IP addresses across the worldwide Internet, along with the top-level domain name-parts (.com, .net, .org, .edu, and so forth). But registering a name is done by simply contacting any of a hundred organizations that work as intermediaries to establish and track the names. GoDaddy, Register.com, Network Solutions and a great many others provide the service for anywhere from free to a few dollars per month or year. You contact them by navigating to their web site. Then, using a feature they all provide, you can select a possible name. They use something called whois and other software to determine if the name is already claimed. Or, you can check yourself at www.whois.com. Registration is for a limited time, but typically renewable in perpetuity provided you pay the (usually annual) fee. You may have to go through several choices to find a domain name that isn't already in use. With so many millions of sites, the odds of you getting your first choice is slim, unless you have a highly unusual imagination. But, it's also true that domains tend to die or expire. As they do, the name becomes available for use by someone new. A method for getting on a 'waiting list' is available. You register the name you want and if and when the name becomes available, you are offered the chance to claim it. Naturally, there's competition even on the waiting list for 'good' names. There are many different ways of establishing priority that vary by company. At any given time there are thousands of so-called auctions going on to bid on names. Give some thought to your new domain name and research its availability, but don't stress over it. The name isn't everything. After all, if Google had built a search engine that delivered usable results only 10% of the time, their name would be mud.

Free Fun Game Favorites on the Net The World Wide Web has become a repository of free entertainment. You can find everything from funny clips to interactive games. Where can you go for the best games on the Web? Here are some of the top sites for online gaming that is fast, free and fun. Ready to Play? Check Out These Great Websites Are you ready for the best in online gaming? There are many top gaming sites that can get you gaming and having a blast in no time. One of the top gaming sites is the MSN Gaming Zone. This site has over 100 free and fun games. They also offer free trials of the hottest games. This is where you can find some of the web's best gamers. Another popular site is Heat.net. You can bring the heat on this hot gaming website, featuring over 115 online multiplayer game downloads. This site is home to such popular games as Diablo and Warcraft II. In order to play most of the games on this website, you will need to download the software. Ready to get the hottest shortcuts? If so, you will want to head for GoCheat.com. Even the most honest soul needs to get their fill of cheat codes. As all true gamers know, cheat codes can provide you with a fun and easy way to maneuver around a game. You can save your game and jump ahead with the right cheat code. For those of you that don't care for complicated or violent games, head on over to Pogo.com to get your own dose of gaming fun. Pogo.com features classic board games and casino games, including bingo, poker and other classic games. Make Your Computer Your Own Movie Theater Do you have a couple of hours to kick back in front of the computer? Do you love movies and are interested in cutting edge film? If so, you will enjoy the entertainment that you can find on the World Wide Web. One of the most popular sites for short films is Atom Films. You can watch an original short (or long film) right on your computer. Atom Films is well known for showcasing innovative short films. Atom Films even featured the winner of the 2000 Academy Award for best live action short film. You can even find short works by famous stars, such as George Clooney and Jennifer Aniston. The Sync is another great site for video entertainment. The Sync offers more edgy film shorts than other online short video websites. Who Doesn't Enjoy a Good Puzzle? Work Out Your Brain at these Websites If crossword puzzles are your thing, you will surely appreciate, the selection of games put forth by yahoo games. This site contains a host of fun, classic puzzlers. Yahoo game gives you a shot at a daily puzzle. Another great place to check out if you are a puzzle fan is the Puzzle Depot. The Puzzle Depot has a neat pattern-matching tool that can help you in a crunch. Choose from a range of difficulty levels from your crossword puzzles. For a Bit of High Culture on the Web If you feel like treating yourself to a bit of high culture on the Web, take an art break with artmusuem.net. This neat website gives you a 3D experience tour of many of the finest museums in the world. This is much easier than buying a ticket and flying over to Paris. This website offers you the full experience of some of the world's greatest museums, including audio narrative, and a neat zoom-in function that gets you within a nose of some of the world's greatest masterpieces.

Get Free Healthcare Items through the GSK Company Website Ready for the best in free healthcare items? If so, turn to the GSK company website for your share of healthcare freebies. GSK is an acronym for the GlaxoSmithKline Company, which is a major manufacturer of many healthcare and personal care products and items. If you are a fan of this manufacturer, or you simply wish you had access to more affordable health and personal care items, you will be glad to know that this company often runs special promotions. The company's special promotion often includes discount coupons and free samples. Some of their most popular offers include a handy $20 coupon book, as well as free samples of their most popular products, including Tums. What You Have to Do to Gat Access to GSK Special Offers If you are interested in getting access to the best of GSK special offers, here are some hints and tips so that you always get the free personal and health care items you desire. First, you should know that the GSK healthcare company is host to a special site where you can keep track of all their special offers and promotions. The GSK healthcare site is known as HealthySpecials.com. As the name indicates, this is a website dedicated solely to the special promotions that are being ran by the GSK company at any given time. Get to know this website, and a good idea is to bookmark it for easy future reference. When you get to the website, click on any of the deals or promotions. A special details window will open from the login page. If you are having trouble viewing these promotions, make sure that your Internet surfing preferences is set so that you allow pop-up windows. If you are not seeing the details of the promotions, there is a good chance that you have turned on pop-up blocking. Also, you will need an account to access some of the deals and promotions. If you don't have an account, simply click on the setup link and fill out the whole registration form. This should not take long, and it will allow you easier access to all the promotions on the website. Understanding the Availability of GSK Special Promotions Once you become familiar with the special promotions on this website, you will find that the offers will come and go. However, there is nearly always at least one highly desirable promotion, such as a free sample or coupon offer. Most of the availability of these offers will be limited to the United States. Also, make sure you read all the details, as many coupons and offers carry overlapping expiration dates. Avoiding Risks When Choosing GSK Special Offers and Promotions Are there any risks associated with actively seeking GSK offers and promotions? As with most Internet activity, there is always some risk involved in divulging your personal information. Never give out more personal information than you are comfortable giving. However, GSK is a well-known and respected company that offers visitors access to their privacy policy. Their privacy policy states that they will not share your personal information with partner companies or vendors. They ask for a phone number, but it is not required to take advantage of most offers. You will also be asked to enter your date of birth on the initial registration form. For the most part, you will not have to worry about privacy issues when dealing with this well-known and regarded company. However, always make sure that the company or website that you are dealing with offers you a look at their privacy policy. It is a bad sign if the company does not have any sort of privacy policy. As always, use your better judgment when releasing your personal contact information.