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The adage "You're your own best doctor" seems to have gotten a shot in the arm on the Internet, where an increasing number of health-related Web sites are dispensing information on everything from the causes and symptoms of diseases to the potency and side effects of prescription drugs. And demand for that information--in an age of growing frustration with HMOs and insurance companies--appears to be insatiable. Visits to one site, OnHealth.com (http://www.onhealth.com), reached 1.

An idealistic man spoke to a Los Angeles crowd Thursday night with a message of hope and unity, then turned to a camera and addressed a global audience, asking each person watching to do one thing--hug whoever was next to them. It wasn't something you missed in Al Gore's speech at the Democratic National Convention. It was Nick Galvan, 18, one of about 300 Alanis Morissette fans attending a warmly affecting acoustic performance by the singer-songwriter at the Museum of Tolerance.

8pm Dance You can think of it as Dance Kaleidoscope in toe shoes, but BalletFest 2000 wants to be more than just another affirmation of Southland diversity. Over three nights--with related screenings and other satellite events--this new performance series showcases California's home-grown classical ensembles to emphasize the creativity and excellence that star-obsessed local audiences often ignore. On Thursday, Inland Pacific Ballet and Pasadena Dance Theatre share the program.

Pop.com and IFilm won't be merging after all. The parties broke off talks Friday after confirming two days ago that they were in advanced discussions to fold the unlaunched Pop.com Web site--founded nearly a year ago by DreamWorks SKG and Imagine Entertainment--into IFilm, an Internet portal and industry services company. Industry sources speculate that a major deal-breaker was control and distribution of ownership of the merged company.

Pasadena-based Idealab built itself into one of the major hubs of Internet entrepreneurship by churning out companies such as online toy retailer EToys, Internet search firm Goto.com and online city guide and local services provider Ticketmaster Online-CitySearch. But now the original Net business incubator has become a victim of the industrywide downturn that has sent stock prices crashing and made the public leery of anything that ends in "dot-com."

Two of the leading entertainment sites on the Internet, Shockwave.com and AtomFilms, said Friday they have agreed to combine their operations in a deal that reflects the mounting consolidation pressure on companies trying to build online audiences for short films and animations. The two companies have attracted millions of viewers, but also lost millions of dollars, in an online sector that has seen an exodus of competitors and willing investors in recent months.

The Internet was supposed to supplant cable and satellite TV as the next great pipeline of entertainment into the home. But when investors turned tight-fisted and the advertising market collapsed last year, a long line of online video and animation companies went on a dot-com death march. Nevertheless, there's still a steady supply of original material on the Web--much of it coming from companies that aren't relying on banner ads to pay the rent.

Let's say that, like at least 70 million other Americans this year, you're going on to the Internet in search of information about a medical condition. In this case, you're wondering whether you have an allergy to latex and decide to visit several commercial personal health sites to learn more. Perform a search using the words "latex allergy" at Discoveryhealth.

Fancy restaurants are still doing brisk lunch business, but an informal survey of the writers, producers and managers consuming those Cobb salads reveals many are overcome by indigestion when they ponder where the television business is heading. Although TV was once a writer-creator's medium, the prevailing sense is the corporate suits have snatched the industry away from them.

The time for panic has passed. You have missed the moment to think, "What have I done?" and punt before you mailed the invitations. So take a deep breath, and forge ahead with the plan for your holiday party. Take special notice of that word "plan." It's the key to success, whether you're pulling off a great recipe, making a stunning centerpiece or simply surviving. Planning is what makes a party come together.