BEST OF THE WEB.

In our first annual contest, we asked LATIN TRADE staff, correspondents and friends to tell us where the surf is up on the web. Here are the winners:

CYBER-COUPONS (Spanish)

Estoy pelando is Venezuelan jargon for "I'm broke." Now comes a site targeted at the downtrodden, offering virtual coupons for any type of business. While the selection is somewhat limited at the moment (por la crisis, no doubt), samples include a free session at the Sun Shine Solarium, T-shirts at half the price, and US$1.50 off pizzas. Site slogan:" if you want to take your girlfriend to dinner but you're broke, visit our restaurants."

Suggested by Christina Hoag

OUT OF SITE (English, Spanish)

Famous Mexican photographer Pedro Meyer's digital work may not have wowed the critic crowd, but his website will. The online project features the latest and greatest photographers. Web designers take note: The clean presentation magically allows fast viewing of big images. And if a photo catches your eye and you want to buy, the site offers artists' e-mails--a detail only a once-tarving artist would include.

Suggested by Lourdes Diaz

GOMEZ'S FAVORITE E-TAILERS (English)

Want to buy on the Internet but don't know where to go? Think your e-commerce project is new but don't know for sure? Look no further. Gomez.com rates e-commerce sites. Choose a channel and see who's the guru of online sales for everything from mortgages to pet supplies. Sorry, Gomez no habla el espanol.

Suggested by Kevin Jolliffe

MR. CRANKY PANS HOLLYWOOD (English)

Tired of mealy-mouthed movie reviews? Check out Mr. Cranky, he hates everything. Film ratings range from almost tolerable (one bomb) to "so godawful that it ruptured the very fabric of space and time with the sheer overpowering force of its mediocrity" (roll of dynamite sticks)." Who the hell knows why people are getting so worked up over 'Central Station' [three-bomb rating]?" asks Mr. Cranky." This Brazilian film, directed by Walter Salles Jr., takes a cute kid and runs his mother over with a bus."

Suggested by Tete Martinho

NEW AGE SHANGRI-LA (English)

Celestopea, a proposed floating city off the coast of Costa Rica, is a New Age Shangri-La. People of all races, political persuasions, religions and social beliefs are invited to live together in harmony. Celestopeans--who apparently don't speak Spanish yet--say the city will be finished by 2020, but they're already making waves in Costa Rica. A local politician recently devoted one of his talk shows to the water utopia, while the Celestopea web page has been getting 5,000 hits a month. Investors, obviously, are wanted.

Suggested by Julie Dulude

NET GAIN (English, Spanish, and Portuguese)

Suggested by Marcelo Salup

There's a reason why people pay US$59 a year for The Wall Street Journal online, it's worth it. Important business and technology news and a super cool publications library. If you are worried that the expensive news searches could drive you to visit www.estoypelendo.com, take the low-rent road and click on Spanish-- or Portuguese--language versions, which are free. However, be advised, you get what you pay for.

Los Angeles-based Edie "Salsa Freak" Lewis is no longer a fat, bored housewife, she's now a slender, globe-trotting salsera with a website dedicated to dancing. If you have considered switching jobs because your current career cramps your cha-cha-cha, you will feel right at home on this site where world-wide "salsaholics" confess the depths of their dancing passion. There is also in-depth information on everything from dance floor etiquette to guides for salsa lessons and clubs in many cities in the world.Sabor!

SALSAHOLICS ONLY (English)

Suggested by Fiona Ortiz

DOT-COMMIES (Spanish)

The Revolution may not be televised, but it's definitely on the web. Colombia's National Liberation Army (ELN) uses its web page to mount a propaganda war against the federal government. It includes interviews with top commanders, an update on peace talks, revolutionary songs and poems and photos.

Suggested by Ruth Morris

SITE FOR WHAT'S RIGHT (English)

www.ashoka.org.ar (Spanish)

www.ashoka.org.br (Portuguese)

No whiners here, just doers. The site of the Washington, D.C.-based organization Ashoka profiles innovators who are working to improve education, health, human rights and the environment worldwide, including a healthy list of Latin Americans. No clear links to Spanish-- or Portuguese--language sites from English, and the Brazilian site provides only program information. Nonetheless, if you are looking for "best practices" in doing good, this is the place to be.

Suggested by Jessica Watson

GLOBAL BAZAAR (English)

Combine Silicon Valley and Peru and what you get is Roberto Milk's global curio shop. The half-Peruvian, half-Californian entrepreneur has created a worldwide network of artisans who sell their handcrafted wares via this site. So, if you can't find that wooden box from Olinala, Mexico, or the Ganesh mask from Blangsinga, Bali, and don't have the time to travel down a dusty back road on the other side of the world, click here.

Suggested by Dan Mitchell