Belated Birthday

Today is the internet's belated birthday, or perhaps more aptly stated anniversary: twenty years ago yesterday the internet was made public. Prior to that, the internet was only available to universities and the like. Now anyone can use it. What an adventurous twenty years it's been.

I remember fifteen or so years ago my grandmother told me she didn't think I should ever use it. Apparently she had heard a television pastor describe all the evils available on the internet. Indeed, the internet, like everything, has its share of problems. That being said, in the words of Lisa Simpson, "The internet is more than a global pornography hub."

The internet has changed nearly every aspect of our life. Commerce, communication, information - where would all these things be if it weren't for the internet? It's made the world a little bit smaller. If I want to buy something from a gentleman who lives in Florida or find out the weather in Zimbabwe*, I can do that. The days of having to search through stacks of books are over!

It's not entirely happy: I do miss letters, and nothing can compare to a real face-to-face conversation. With the rapid evolution that has been occurring, there are a lot of questions about the future of customer service, publishing, and the like. But new things necessarily change (though hopefully don't eradicate) the old.

Ultimately, age doesn't matter. I mean, next year the internet can haz beerz, but otherwise nothing changes. It's just another day, where you are sitting somewhere far or near, nigh magically reading the words I write at far more than a juvenile 56kbps.

*All four of the places currently reporting to Weather Underground are at 57 degrees.

Today is the internet's belated birthday, or perhaps more aptly stated anniversary: twenty years ago yesterday the internet was made public. Prior to that, the internet was only available to universities and the like. Now anyone can use it. What an adventurous twenty years it's been.

I remember fifteen or so years ago my grandmother told me she didn't think I should ever use it. Apparently she had heard a television pastor describe all the evils available on the internet. Indeed, the internet, like everything, has its share of problems. That being said, in the words of Lisa Simpson, "The internet is more than a global pornography hub."

The internet has changed nearly every aspect of our life. Commerce, communication, information - where would all these things be if it weren't for the internet? It's made the world a little bit smaller. If I want to buy something from a gentleman who lives in Florida or find out the weather in Zimbabwe*, I can do that. The days of having to search through stacks of books are over!

It's not entirely happy: I do miss letters, and nothing can compare to a real face-to-face conversation. With the rapid evolution that has been occurring, there are a lot of questions about the future of customer service, publishing, and the like. But new things necessarily change (though hopefully don't eradicate) the old.

Ultimately, age doesn't matter. I mean, next year the internet can haz beerz, but otherwise nothing changes. It's just another day, where you are sitting somewhere far or near, nigh magically reading the words I write at far more than a juvenile 56kbps.

*All four of the places currently reporting to Weather Underground are at 57 degrees.

Belated Birthday