You know about FTP, don't you? FTP stands for File Transfer Protocol, and it is a very efficient way to copy files over internet. It's far more efficient than standard HTTP protocol (the way your browser transfers information). Because of that, you will find FTP addresses buried in web sites all over internet.

Most of time, these are anonymous FTP sites, which means you do not need a username and password to get files. You see, you can set up FTP to require a username and password - this is perhaps most common way people get information loaded up to their web site.

However, if you want you can remove username and password requirement to allow anyone to get access to your files. Most of time an anonymous FTP site only allows files to be downloaded from site: finding one that allows uploads is very rare as this means anyone can add information at any time.

It's easy to log into an anonymous FTP sites. Sometimes no username or password is required at all, and sometimes you just enter "anonymous" and a password of your email address. Once you do that using your favorite FTP client (or just Internet Explorer), you can have a great time looking through what's available.

As more and more people scramble to Internet to seek their fortune, it's an easy step to allow Net to interfere with affairs of heart and home.

Lately, I have heard several variations of same theme from more than a few people. Initially, I pooh-poohed "criticisms" thinking "Aw, come on; lighten up a little" thinking maybe some were making a bigger deal out of an innocent preoccupation.

As "rumblings" became more frequent, further examination of this new, somewhat fractious phenomena seemed called for. There was some validity to "arguments" because guess what's happening?

We've stumbled onto a whole new way of being in middle of a love affair without ever leaving home or writing a "Dear John" letter!

Computers and The Net are wily masters at wedging themselves between people in terms of talking to and spending time with one another.

These rendevous are just as compelling and results can be just as tricky. Sneakily, they bloom and create same breakdowns in household communication as any other clandestine involvement.

The truth is, it IS possible to get a little carried away by our noble cyber efforts. Many times, we don't even recognize what's going on.

Allow me to present this hypothetic end-of-day scenario and ask if any of it sounds vaguely familiar. Spouse arrives home after a long day at office only to find Mate once again totally absorbed in front of computer. Spouse goes to greet Mate with a hug.

Momentarily startled, Mate looks up. "Hi, Honey. I'm so glad you're home, but I can't talk right now."

"Oh, don't look like that. I know, I know. You think I spend too much time on computer. But I don't. You're just feeling a little neglected, like when we bought baby home."

"Remember? You thought all my energies were spent on baby? You silly goose. I was only trying to get her to be able to feed herself at four months."

"Hey, didn't pediatrician say her development seemed accelerated? I was only trying to encourage process. It had nothing to do with cutting into my computer time. Honest."