The best things in life may be free, but preparing for them is a lot easier if you can afford a fast connection to the Web. Whether you're planning a holiday gala, teaching your kids the proper batting stance or finding the perfect spa, hit the Web first.
PoliticsThe Supreme Court recently declared, "Informed public opinion is the most potent of all restraints upon mis-government." This year's slate of political Web sites is certainly informative. Every site in this list is non-or bipartisan. Though we found none that balanced today's news with political theory or comparative historical perspectives, these sites will certainly keep you plugged in. Almost all provide the top political headlines of the day plus the basics about candidates, races and hot-button issues. Several are edited by political fat cats or muckrakers (Mike McCurry and Carl Bernstein to name two). The quality of analysis varies, but sites add to the process with polls and interactive features, like a test that matches up your beliefs with the most ideologically similar candidate(s). Which site will attract the most netizens? If a poll could determine the answer in advance, these sites would run it. They seem to poll every other subject: Will Hillary flame out? Will Vermont allow gay marriage? Stay tuned. --Danielle Svetcov
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Websites marked with a 
have earned Forbes "Best of the Web" designation and appear in the print version of Forbes' Best of the Web.
Websites marked with a 
are Forbes' Favorites.
