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However, this has given me the chance to inject some positivity into things by putting out a call to Aardvark readers and inviting them to share their favourite websites and online locations.

Anyone thinking this is a great opportunity to engage in blatant self-promotion by effectively spamming the forums will get their bottom well and truly smacked, so be sensible.

For my own part, I'm finding that outside of the websites I regularly trawl for news and Aardvark-related bits, my own surfing activities have narrowed somewhat to sites related to my hobbies.

I've even found that I've not had time to check out my favourite newsgroups for quite a few months, which is a shame because there's often some interesting stuff there -- albeit amongst a mountain of dross.

Now have your say Got something to say about today's column, or want to see what others think?  Visit The Forums While you're here, why not visit the Aardvark Hall of Shame and perhaps make your own nomination.

I'd particularly like to hear what have become readers most popular and useful New Zealand websites.

Like most Kiwis, I regularly drop in to the NZ Herald website (sans-ads) and several times a week I also visit Stuff.

Sites I seldom visit (but probably should) are TVNZ.co.nz - too cluttered for my liking, Scoop.co.nz - I keep forgetting, Netguide.co.nz - also slips my mind, and a raft of others.

What would be nice is a few more Kiwi websites with non-news content that is regularly updated.

Those who have been surfing the web for more than a few years will probably remember "The Plug", a compelling website created by Peter Belt that was an eclectic collection of fact, fiction and opinion that always deserved a daily visit. Alas, it is no more and I've yet to find anything that could really be called a proper equivalent today.

With web-based advertising reportedly taking off, perhaps its time for a few closet wannabe web-publishers to take the bold leap and launch some brave new websites.

Trust me, it's not that hard -- it just requires a lot of hours and dedication.

Find a group of people willing to contribute *good* original content on at least a semi-regular basis, build a website with a framework that allows easy updating, rush off to Google's AdSense service and sign up so that you've got some paid advertising onsite, then go for it!

I for one will be more than happy to promote any such site and provide whatever help I can to get budding web-publishers off the ground.

Aardvark Forums
The forums are back up at: www.aardvarkforums.co.nz/forums, have your say on today's column

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