global navigation

Top level site is separated web application and has sep. pool application. What is the best practice (how?) to link sites collections to top site and keep navigation such as breadcrumbs and quick launch and global navigation?

@Greg: Reference this post.

Ok, you have a top site (site collection) and you have departments (Site collections) build as separated web applications with different applications pool.

How you can link them together (besides hardcoded links) or what is a best practice so they can inherit a global navigation and breadcrumbs, so every department has same navigation structure.

Navigation across site collections.   

Chris, reference to ???

Greg: Yes, hardcoding them was what I was referring to.  The "this post" above is actually a link. I need to change the style on that.

Then what is the best practice Greg?

Chris, don't be offended. I was hoping that you would tell me more than I know. One way to fix the problem with global navigation is to SiteMapProvider, Microsoft.SharePoint.Navigation.SPXmlContentMapProvider. It is better that hard coded links. I thought you would give me some new ideas based on your experience.

Using a sitemap is an awesome way to do it.  Are you having problems implementing with the standard ASP.NET menu control?