>I'm thinking of hosting my own applications. I can get a fixed IP address from my DSL provider if I upgrade to their business DSL program. Is anyone doing this? Can you point me to some reading material to help me get started? Any information is appreciated.

Wow that is a wide open question. Some suggestions
http://www.west-wind.com/Articles.asp
http://www.hentzenwerke.com/catalogavailability/intvfp.htm