java programming with internet

Hi
I'm hope this is the right area in the forum for this, but I was wondering if someone can recommend some references on how to program in java and have it work with the internet. I don't mean applets, but a windows program I can run and the program would connect to a website (however the webpage wouldn't pop up or be visible) so then it would just show the connection status from the program, then it would perform certain log in procedures. For example, if I wanted the java program to connect to the yahoo mail website, automatically log in to the inbox and check to see if there are any new mails, it would do this every 5 mins or so (this can be customized), then there would be a message that pops up if in fact there is a new mail. I don't know where to start with this program. I just need to know where to look. Thanks

-Kathy

You'll probably have better luck in the "Java Programming" forum over on one of our sister sites, CodeGuru.

people over at the java ranch are very helpful

it would seem that vb would accomplish your task much easier