No response from servers

I have a dynamic IP assigned from my ISP. I think the dip script is working fine since I can ping various internet addresses put my problem is: none of the internet apps I try
to use get past the "connected, waiting for response " stage. I have tried ftp,telnet, ircii, xirc and lynx - all
give the same message after giving the "connected" message. I'm new to linux and am not sure weather I have a network
config prob or if it's something else altogether. Heres my
routing and ifconfig info. to see if they look alright. If
look ok I just need an idea as to where to look next to get
some of these apps working. Thanks.
lo        Link encap:Local Loopback
          inet addr:127.0.0.1  Bcast:127.255.255.255  Mask:255.0.0.0
          UP BROADCAST LOOPBACK RUNNING  MTU:3584  Metric:1
          RX packets:22 errors:0 dropped:0 overruns:0
          TX packets:22 errors:0 dropped:0 overruns:0

sl0       Link encap:VJ Serial Line IP
          inet addr:206.58.139.144  P-t-P:206.58.139.130  Mask:255.255.255.0
          UP POINTOPOINT RUNNING  MTU:576  Metric:1
          RX packets:6 errors:0 dropped:0 compressed:0
          TX packets:7 errors:0 dropped:0 compressed:0




Kernel routing table
Destination     Gateway         Genmask         Flags MSS    Window Use Iface
206.58.139.130  *               255.255.255.255 UH    576    0        1 sl0
127.0.0.0       *               255.0.0.0       U     3584   0        2 lo
default         206.58.139.130  *               UG    576    0        2 sl0