Attempting to describe the Internet to someone is incredibly similar to attempting to explain space-both are impossibly vast, inexplicably complex, and filled with various things we don't understand (some of which we're better off not knowing about). The sheer size of the Internet is intimidating. What parts are useful? How do I use them? And why are there so many pictures of cats with grammatically incorrect captions on them?

Thankfully, there is help for the Internet inept. I have prepared a guide for those who, unlike myself, don't spend nearly every free moment refreshing their favorite websites for an update.

Firefox
Having a decent web browser is the first step to an enjoyable Internet experience. While there are plenty of available browsers, Firefox is an excellent choice, as it is both open-source and free. What makes Firefox notable is its add-ons-from a tool that blocks pop-ups and ads to Stumbleupon, a time-waster extension that allows you to "stumble through" random websites that pertain to your interests. Firefox is entirely customizable and a great tool for avid Internet users and newcomers alike. To download, visit mozilla.com/firefox.

Delicious
Though Delicious (del.icio.us) could also be filed under Firefox extensions, it is so useful that it deserves its own section. Delicious allows you to tag and save bookmarks online and access them from any computer. This is extremely useful for organizing links you want to find later, especially if you have multiple computers. Using the website, you can also browse the most popular bookmarked sites and find people who share the same bookmarks. If you find someone whose bookmarks you enjoy, you can subscribe and keep track of the things they find interesting. Delicious is simple to use and works great if you have a lot of bookmarks you want to sort through quickly.

Digg
Digg is an excellent tool for people who prefer to browse websites quickly. Users can submit links to the website which are then voted on by users and bumped up (dig) or down (bury) in popularity. The result is a mixed bag of content, including news, gossip, and entertainment. You can browse by most recent submissions and most popular from the last 24 hours, 7 days, month, or year. Digg is a combination of information and time-wasters, much like the Internet as a whole.

RSS Feeds
For people who follow a lot of websites religiously, RSS feeds can be extremely helpful. By subscribing to a website that provides RSS feeds using a desktop widget or various other readers, you can get updates to your favorite sites delivered right to you. This is especially helpful for sites with a lot of content, as you can click whatever headlines appeal to you, rather than sifting through page after page of updates.

Twitter
Though at first Twitter seems kind of pointless, after a while it becomes extremely addicting. Essentially, the site allows you to post short updates about yourself and what you are doing, and subscribe to other people and read their updates. Twitter also uses a mobile SMS system, so you can post to the site or receive updates directly to your phone. If you don't care about what your friends are doing every second of every day, you can also subscribe to CNN, which will provide you with the latest headlines. Or, if you're looking for something less serious, you can have a lot of fun on Twitter by following comic book characters (the Batman impersonators are particularly good, and have their own storyline going on) or fakes of other people (such as Fakesarahpalin, a hilarious parody of former vice presidential candidate Sarah Palin).

Social Networking Sites
By this point, almost everyone has heard of MySpace and Facebook. Both are effective timewasters and, more usefully, help you keep in touch with people you may not see every day. However, there are other networking sites that have huge followings. Livejournal, though it is in large part populated by 14-year old girls who love Pete Wentz and fanfiction writers, also has a huge celebrity gossip community, Oh No They Didn't. Though the comments on the entries are almost entirely useless, the gossip is fresh and constantly updated. In addition to Livejournal, there are numerous other blogging sites, such as Blogspot and Blogger, both of which, like Livejournal, allow users to rant, rave, and be pretentious about whatever they want.

Streaming Video
Though Youtube will probably reign supreme over most streaming video sites for years to come, there are a great deal of other sites where you can get your video fix. For instance, if you miss an episode of your favorite show, you can probably fine it online somewhere, whether it's through the network's website or on other video hosting sites, like SurftheChannel.com. Streaming video also paves the way for exclusive web content, such as Joss Whedon's (creator of "Buffy the Vampire Slayer") "Dr. Horrible's Sing-a-Long Blog." If you're just looking for a quick laugh, websites like FunnyorDie.com and CollegeHumor.com are both full of videos to keep you procrastinating.

Torrenting
Of course, no article about the Internet would be complete without a discussion of illegal downloading. Torrenting works by exchanging pieces of the files you want through different people. There are a wide variety of Torrent clients for all operating systems, and having one allows users to access a wide variety of downloadable content, including music, movies, and programs. Torrenting is illegal, however, except in very rare circumstances, such as Radiohead releasing their album online.