What Is an ASP File? Files created with Active Server Pages have the extension .ASP. This story is an example; take a look at the address above. With ASP files, you can activate your Web site using any combination of HTML, scripting such as JavaScript or Visual Basic?

Is It Hard to Use? I don't know about you, but whenever people start talking about doing things on the server, I start to get nervous. I think a lot about threading issues, synchronization, and generally stuff without a user interface. I assume it's going to be hard to do. Well, using ASP is about as easy as anything I've come across in years.

Aw, Mom. Not Another Object Model! I really hate doing this to you, but I'm going to have to use that overused and overcomplex term "object model" again. Here's how it works. When a browser requests an ASP file from your Web server, your Web server calls Active Server Pages to read through the ASP file, executing any of the commands contained within and sending the resulting HTML page to the browser.

Mentoring is one of the best ways to learn, to get feedback, and to take your career to the next level. Here are ten tips for making the most of your mentoring relationships. Self-assess. Ask yourself, "What skills do you need to get where you want to go?" Identify your learning goals. Put them in writing. Decide together how the mentoring relationship will work - frequency and type of contact. Commit the time. Don?t give up if the chemistry doesn?t feel right at the first meeting. Meet a minimum of once per month. Touch base regularly - by e-mail, phone, in person. Take time to build trust and communication. Get to know each other on a personal level. Discuss your backgrounds, interests, career histories, and perspectives of your organizations.

Keep confidences. Nothing kills trust in a mentoring relationship faster than a breach of confidence. Be sensitive to cultural and gender differences. Do a little homework. And listen. Understand and plan for the phases of a mentoring relationship. Build in time for evaluation and closure. This is about learning, whether you?re a prot? or a mentor. Keep a journal. You don?t need a single mentor who you keep throughout your career. What you need is a mind-set that allows you to learn from those around you, no matter who they are. To get ahead, create your own multitalented "board of advisors."