Webservices

Hello,

A few simple questions on webservices:

Is there a "forum" where I can browse for public webservices that I can
"consume"? I'd like to investigate webservices that support these
categories, for example:
        - Stock tick data
        - Looking up postal code information
        - Geographical data (MS Virtual earth/Google maps)

In regards to looking up postal code information, I use this page:
http://www.canadapost.ca/personal/tools/pcl/bin/advanced-e.asp
How could I inquire to find out if a webservice exists that would allow me
to do through code what that form does?

I'd like to create a winforms app that works with a webservice to do all
it's database work, ie/Insert, Update, Delete, Select, and calling procs.
Are webservices a viable and economic method to encapsulate data access when
the client and server are separated by the internet?

Thanks,

Richard Rogers
http://www.RichardRogers.ca/
(MSN) [email protected]