Vague humor alert....

Real monks don't sweat the eXPerience points

Real monks eXPerience OS's that don't need to phone home to Mommy for permission to run.

Real monks buy processors from companies that give their contractors a real business eXPerience, instead of the legal shaft.

You are correct about the impact of the terrorist attacks and the evolving threat biohazard threat. However, no one knows when it's time. Plan for the future, but make sure you're prepared in case your plans are, um, preempted.

What is the ONE BEST way to query a database table and display it as a web page?

Why the one that best solves the problem at hand, of course. There are many possible approaches. Have you experimented with them?

What is the ONE BEST way to identify a user?

By that which make him unique in the given context. Oh, yes, SSL helps, too.

What is the ONE BEST way to create a web page?

By hand rolling it from scratch. Only then will you know precisely what's included and what may be making it slow to load. Of course, it helps to understand the basics first.

What is the ONE BEST way to edit a database record?

Local or remote? Using deprecated syntax or "gee whiz"? Using that which the experienced use or others?

What is the ONE BEST way to query a database?

Well, I find being polite helps. And gentlemanly. (You'd be surprised how sensitive many dbo's are about their age.) Oh, you want a slightly less than facetious answer? Fine: SQL--if you must have ONE WAY.

In the end, there can be more than one way to do it. IT may be slightly messy, but so is Perl. Such is life. Enjoy.

--f