From government jobs and seized property auctions to bags of shredded currency and even flags flown over the capital, government treasures are there for the taking on the Internet. The challenge is knowing where to look. Luckily,
FirstGov makes that task a lot easier.
http://www.firstgov.gov

For example, you can find specific links to State Department
http://www.state.gov
and Department of Defense updates
http://www.defenselink.mil
the latest remarks by President Bush
http://www.whitehouse.gov/news
and even send a letter to a soldier
http://www.defenselink.mil/faq/pis/PC04MLTR.html
If you want to send e-mail to personnel stationed on a ship you can do that too
http://www.spear.navy.mil/shipmail/form.asp

You can search every U.S. government document or browse an index of 16 general topics--like science and technology, education and jobs or business and economy--and hundreds of specific sub-categories. Now that's government accessibility!

If you prefer to narrow your search at the outset, the government offers other one-stop sites.
These include sites for veterans (The Veterans Administration)
http://www.va.gov
people with disabilities,
http://www.disabilitydirect.gov
seniors
http://www.seniors.gov
and resources for the workforce
http://www.workers.gov
sites for kids
http://www.kids.gov
 

For consumer information, the Federal Consumer Information Center should be your first stop.
http://www.pueblo.gsa.gov
Here, you'll find the Consumer Action Handbook,
http://www.pueblo.gsa.gov/crh/respref.htm
filled with information consumers should know about spending and saving money.

Some other useful sites include the Social Security Administration
http://www.ssa.gov
where you can get information on retirement or order your free personal Social Security Statement.

If you own a business (or are just thinking about it), the Small Business Administration offers assistance.
http://www.sba.gov

Another valuable site is the U.S. Patent and Trademark Office where you can apply or search for trademarks.
http://www.uspto.gov

Of course, Uncle Sam doesn't just dispense information. The government is one of the Internet's biggest vendors, ringing up hundreds of millions in sales each year.

To tap into these deals, get the General Services Administration's free "Guide to Federal Government Sales"
http://www.pueblo.gsa.gov/cic_text/fed_prog/fedsales/fedsales.htm
Listed in this booklet is a complete rundown of what's sold, how items are sold, special restrictions and contact information, including Web site, phone number and address for each agency.

Depending on the agency and the type of goods, government sales are conducted by sealed bid, sealed bid auction, spot bid, negotiation, through a broker or via auction--often an online auction. No matter what or how you buy, keep in mind that what you'll typically find are deals, not steals. The GSA's policy is to sell property at fair market value.

There are at least 20 different government Departments, Services, Programs, Administrations or Authorities with more than 100 government Web sites that sell products, services or recovered property directly to the public. While there's no single place for all the above, FedSales
http://www.fedsales.gov
does have a fairly comprehensive registry to help you find what's available.

What can you buy from the government?
There are far out CDs and videos from NASA
http://nssdc.gsfc.nasa.gov/cd-rom
coins and proof sets from the U.S. Mint
http://www.usmint.gov
U.S.Savings Bonds
http://www.savingsbonds.gov
and even a five-pound bag of shredded currency
http://www.bep.treas.gov

At the GSA's auction page
http://www.gsaauctions.gov
you'll find cars, planes, boats, computers, construction equipment, furniture, photo equipment and more.

Unlike the GSA, the U.S. Marshals Service and the Postal Service have partnered with existing Internet auction companies to hock their collected goods.
http://www.bid4assets.com
Bid4Assets auctions big-ticket items including real estate and vehicles acquired by the DEA, Immigration, Department of Justice or U.S. Attorney offices.

For property collected by the Postal Service, go to eBay
http://pages.ebay.com/promo/usps.html

Finally, as the United States comes together in our fight against terrorism, why not get a special flag for your home? You can order a U.S. flag that's been flown over the capitol building in Washington, D.C. on the day of your choosing
http://www.pueblo.gsa.gov/call/us_flag.htm

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LEARN MORE ABOUT ANTHRAX

Knowledge is power so learn more about Anthrax and how to protect your family. At the sites below, you can read about how anthrax is transmitted, the symptoms, and where it can be found.
Visit the official Department of Defense site:
http://www.anthrax.osd.mil/
or the Center for Disease Control:
http://www.cdc.gov/ncidod/dbmd/diseaseinfo/anthrax_g.htm

There is a real Anthrax threat in our country. The FBI, Department of Justice, Center for Disease Control and U.S. Postal Service are working to protect and keep us up-to-date with the latest developments. Here's where you can learn more:
FBI:     http://www.fbi.gov
DoJ:     http://www.usdoj.gov

To download a free "Suspicious Mail Alert" Poster, learn how to identify and handle a suspect letter, visit this page at the USPS site:
http://www.usps.com/news/2001/press/pr01_1010tips.htm

Learn more about bioterrorism, bomb threats, emergencies in federal buildings and more.
http://firstgov.gov/featured/usgresponse.html#bioterrorism

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WAR NEWS
Get immediate news about the war. Get our government's official news, and learn what journalists are finding out.
http://www.komando.com/other/warnews

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AFGHAN ENCYCLOPEDIA
http://www.sabawoon.com/afghanpedia/default.shtm
Learn about this current hot spot with facts and history covering the nation of Afghanistan.

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PAKISTAN NEWS VIEWS
    http://www.dawn.com
Here's the site of Pakistan's largest English language newspaper. Read stories you might not be able to find from domestic news sources, and keep up on the latest information on the battle against terrorism.

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HELP PROTECT THE USA
Do you have a great idea to fight terrorism? If so, the Pentagon wants to hear from you.

In an unusual request, the Department of Defense has issued a bulletin (otherwise known as a Broad Agency Announcement, or BAA, in military speak) asking for the public's help in fighting terrorism.

Officially known as BAA No. 02-Q-4655, this is a serious Request. The DoD wants realistic ways to fight terrorism, defeat hardened targets, conduct extended operations in remote locations and develop countermeasures to weapons of mass destruction-- that can be developed and implemented within 18 months.

If you or your organization can answer this call, go to:
http://www.defenselink.mil/news/Oct2001/b10252001_bt540-01.html

The official BAA is online and can be downloaded at:   http://www.bids.tswg.gov

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FBIs MOST WANTED TERRORISTS
http://www.fbi.gov/mostwant/terrorists/fugitives.htm TARGET="Resource Window"
Have you seen these men? The US government has created a list of the 22 most wanted terrorists. Rewards of up to $5 million are being offered for each of these thugs, who should all be considered "armed and dangerous."

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THE FBI'S TOP-20 INTERNET VULNERABILITY LIST

The FBI's National Infrastructure Protection Center and the System Administration, Networking and Security (SANS) Institute have a list of the top-20 Internet security threats.

The list doesn't focus on specific viruses or worms--rather, it defines the general vulnerabilities, describes how to determine if your system is at risk, and tells what to do to protect against the hazards.

Take a moment and look at the FBI/SANS top-20 list. See if you recognize any problems with your security.
http://66.129.1.101/top20.htm

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RECENT RUMORS
Urban legends are running rampant on the Internet, so use this site to separate fact from fiction. This huge resource groups urban legends by category for easy searching. In addition to the common myths, there is also a big section on rumors about the terrorist attacks.
http://www.snopes.com

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AMERICAN FLAG WALLPAPER
Get patriotic on your computer with one of these U.S. flag wallpapers. Select from various images, including the well-known photo of the flag being raised at ground zero.
http://www.jsonline.com/news/attack/sep01/wallpaper.asp

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AMERICAN FLAG SCREENSAVER
Get even more patriotic by downloading this absolutely FREE 3D American Flag Screensaver.
ftp://ftp.simtel.net/pub/simtelnet/win95/scrsave/flag3d12.zip

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HOW TO CONTACT YOUR SENATOR OR REPRESENTATIVE

Decisions being made now by our government will affect all of us for possibly generations to come. Domestic security, privacy and the economy are just a few of the major issues under debate. If you feel strongly about the course of America's future, now is the time to let your voice be heard.

To contact your Congressional representative, go to:
     http://www.house.gov/writerep
To contact your State Senator, go to:
     http://www.senate.gov/contacting/index_by_state.cfm

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ARMED FORCES MORALE MESSAGES

http://odin.aafes.com/mars/marsgram.asp

Armed forces personnel and their families can exchange
messages year-round through the Military Affiliate Radio
System (MARS). "MARSgrams", can be sent directly to
(or from) a service member by name or they can be sent
generically to "any service member". In addition to the
Army/Air Force MARS link, there's also an official Army site,
http://www.asc.army.mil/mars
a Navy/Marine Corp site
http://navymars.org/
and a U.S. Air Force site
http://public.afca.scott.af.mil/public/mars1.htm

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Yo Momma, Osama!
BASH BAD BIN

There is a new surge of Web-based games and animations that are anti-bin Laden. Go here to sample more than 30.
http://www.newgrounds.com/collections/osama.html
Check this site out for a streaming video cartoon of America vs. bin Laden
http://www.madblast.com/oska/bin.cfm