THIS time of year seems to bring out learner drivers in droves. The AA has launched a new section online which gives you the opportunity to sit a mock theory test.

Visit theAA.com and click on driving school for a chance to try two mock tests.

The Driving Standards site (www.dsa.co.uk) do online mock tests for just about any form of transportation from motorcycles to buses.

Why not have a go? You may find a hidden talent -- or one that should remain hidden.

And how about trying your hand at horse and trap driving at www.dragondriving.co.uk

Here you can find out about carriages and wagons and take a carriage driving lesson, or try pony and trap driving down a quiet forest lane.

With petrol prices rising, it might be worth the investment.

YOU can meet some of the 20th century's most influential women on a virtual stroll courtesy of the Smithsonian's National Portrait Gallery.

The site (www.npg.si.edu/cexh/woot/) allows you read biographies of Sylvia Plath, Marilyn Monroe, and many others.

There are also in-depth articles on photography, which use short films to tell the tale . The only problem is that it is biased to America.

THE Government is hoping to target spam e-mails.

They aim to protect web users against the millions of unwanted messages that pour into our in-boxes each day.

According to the Department of Trade and Industry (DTI), spam accounts for as much as 40 per cent of global e-mail traffic.

The European Directive on Privacy and Electronic Communications, which will be implemented over the next three months, proposes that advertisers will need permission before sending unsolicited e-mails.

This must be given on an "opt-in" basis, unless there is an existing customer relationship.

It is also suggested that tracking devices will have to be clearly indicated so as to give net users the choice to reject them.