All of which is by way of noting the number of new arrivals, bells and whistles on the Internet, courtesy of local people and organizations. 

For example, at the Stanford Federal Credit Union in Palo Alto, would-be home buyers can apply for a home loan on the credit union’s Web page. 

The page also offers a tutorial on mortgages, which includes how the process works, a selection of loans, mortgage loan disclosure statements, mortgage loan underwriting and the loan closing process. 

Called Mortgage Mart, the loan application can be accessed anytime, including weekends, and the credit union says it will be back in 24 hours with word on whether the buyer qualifies for the loan. 

Stanford Federal spent $30,000 developing Mortgage Mart, and they think they’re the first to offer a loan application on line. 

To access Stanford Federal’s Web page, search for http://www.sfcu.org/ 

The San Mateo Chamber of Commerce now has its own Web site, hosted by Internet Marketing Solutions. 

The site offers a directory of the chamber’s members, coupons and promotions, as well as information about the chamber, the city of San Mateo and other local resources. 

The San Mateo chamber’s Web site address is http://www.netonline.com/smchamber 

And this one was just a matter of time – now you can order a pizza by Internet. 

Two recent Stanford Business School graduates have started [Waiter.Com], an Internet Web site where you can order a variety of restaurant items to go from well-know, local establishments. 

Among the restaurants participating in the new service are Le Boulanger, Hobee’s, Togo’s, Round Table Pizza, Florentine Restaurant and Pasta Market, Rock ‘n’ Tacos, Golden Wok and the Mango Café. 

The Web site includes menus and prices, and has a function to store previous choices, so that the next time you order your favorite 42-topping pizza, you can do it even more quickly. 

[Waiter.com] was put together by Craig Cohen and Michael Adelberg, two recent MBA students at Stanford. 

To access [Waiter.Com]: http://www.waiter.com. 

And just in case you’re lagging on the technology curve, San Carlos now is offering a new service on what was the last gee-whiz development to speed up our already hectic lives—contractors can now get construction permits by fax.  

Permit applications by fax will now be accepted for many projects that do not require a plan check review by the city, including such matters as replacing a water heater or furnace, reroofing, repair of gas, sewer or water lines, and some plumbing and electrical service changes. 

For more information about permits by fax, call (415) 802-4261.