In today’s hectic world, the Internet is being used to quickly distribute electronic messages, transfer large chunks of data across the globe, and to promote and sell every product and service known to mankind. But the Internet is not just for business. Even after their long work days, millions of Americans are logging onto the Internet, and surfing the World Wide Web for other purposes. Some want to view classic art pieces from large and small galleries. Some want to read the literature and poetry of today’s cyber-writers. Others want to catch up on the latest gardening tips or exciting new recipes from across the world.

In this column, we’re not going to talk about bits and bytes, Netscape vs. Microsoft, chat rooms, or electronic commerce. We’re going to explore the good things in life - especially those things that are most important to those living on the North Coast. We will visit the people, places, pictures, and opinions that affect our world.

The Cleveland Museum of Art
The Cleveland Museum of Art presents Legacy of Light: Master Photographs from the Cleveland Museum of Art, the first major exhibition to focus on the museum’s distinguished photography collection, on view November 24, 1996 to February 2, 1997. Legacy of Light follows the growth and maturation of photography from a scientific curiosity in the 1840s to one of the most potent forms of artistic expression of the 20th century. The exhibition also represents the public debut of Cleveland’s photography collection, conceived and nurtured under the museum’s trademark philosophy of aesthetic connoisseurship and historical balance.

Legacy of Light was organized by Tom E. Hinson, curator of contemporary art and photography. Admission is free. Look for Fabergé in America, coming March 9, 1997 - May 11, 1997. Visit them at http://www.clemusart.com/.

A Garden in Western New York
The people in our area are proud of their gardens. I don’t know if it's because of the short growing season or the pure pleasure of forgetting the daily grind and relaxing in the back yard. One such proud gardener is Niki Fowler. Niki provides a visual tour of her Rochester, NY garden at http://www.webcom.com/niki/garden/index.html. She includes an extensive description of everything in her garden complete with full color photos of her plants and the surrounding wildlife during all four seasons.

The Center for Environmental Information
The Center for Environmental Information (CEI), http://www.awa.com/nature/cei/, is a private, nonprofit, educational organization, founded in Rochester, New York, in 1974. CEI provides information and communication services, publications, and educational programs in order to: advance public understanding of environmental issues; act as a communication link among scientists, educators, decision makers and the public; and advocate informed action based on the free exchange of information and ideas. A listing of CEI programs and services, publications, upcoming events, membership, and contact information are all provided.

State Parks of the Lake Erie Region
The Pennsylvania Outdoor Recreation and Information Guide provides recreation information on hiking, biking, canoeing, camping, art festivals, flea markets and folk festivals, all happening in the Pennsylvania outdoors. Interested in visiting one of Erie Counties State Parks? http://parec.com/erieregn.htm presents you with everything you would ever want to know about Maurice K. Goddard State Park, Oil Creek State Park, Presque Isle State Park, and Pymatuning State Park. The only thing missing is photographs of the parks.

Space Shuttle Earth Observations Project Database of Photographic Information and Images
Astronauts have used hand-held cameras to photograph the Earth for more than 30 years, beginning with the Mercury missions in the early 1960s. Since 1981, Space Shuttle astronauts have taken more than two hundred thousand photographs with Hasselblad, Linhof, Rolleiflex, and Nikon hand-held cameras. About 85 percent of these photographs are Earth-looking views. The remainder depict satellite deployments, extra- vehicular activities, and astronaut activities in the cabin.

The extensive collection of photographs are listed by geographic region and can either be viewed in your Web browser or downloaded for your private use at http://eol.jsc.nasa.gov/.

WeatherNet
Whether its -20º and snowing or 90º in the shade, you can find the weather forecast for your hometown or anywhere in the world. Try WeatherNet, http://cirrus.sprl.umich.edu/wxnet/, I believe the Internet’s best source of weather information. WeatherNet is sponsored by The Weather Underground at the University of Michigan and provides access to thousands of city-by-city forecasts for the U.S. and Canada, radar and color satellite images, a weather software archive and the Internet’s largest collection of weather links including live weather cameras in over 120 cities.

For a quick forecast for your specific area try:

• Rochester, NY
• Buffalo, NY
• Erie, PA
• Cleveland, OH

If you have your own personal Web site or know of any sites that would be of interest to other Lake Affect readers, send e-mail to andrew@dimino.com. I look forward to visiting your world and including them in my next column.