Current mood:

curious

Internet Then And Now
I try to keep up with the latest stuff, especially when it comes to the internet. But sometimes things just slip me by. Maybe because I don't fully understand them, or maybe they seem sort of redundant so I don't use them..and maybe because there's just *too much stuff* to choose from and learn about. How much does someone actually need to know?

For instance..sometimes you'll see, on the right side of someone's blog these little signs for "site feeds." What is that? This is one thing I don't actually understand, and may or may not be of use. I assume it somehow gets your posts onto something..not sure what. I don't quite understand how this is different/better than just having someone read your blog.

Then there is "Twitter". I don't know what this does. Send messages to people I guess? Doesn't e-mail do the same thing?

And websites like stumbleupon.com or other specialized search engines that are supposed to help you find stuff you like. Doesn't Google do a pretty complete job of handling that?

There seems to be constantly something new, some new terminology for something like "widgets" and "apps" which I don't understand either. Am I really missing out on something if I don't know what those are?


I got to thinking about how long I've been online, and how much the net has changed since then. I probably got online about 1995. What a different world! Compuserve was still around, and most of us had not received a computer virus. Most chatrooms were available thru MIRC, the Overnet and Undernet..and Dalnet! No one was vlogging or blogging. I don't even remember watching any imbedded videos. In those early days of the late 90's I entertained myself with good old fashioned entertainment like JenniCam and debating with Catholics in religious chatrooms. I think it was around 1999 that I discovered Blogger.com. Wow..what an interesting idea...keeping a journal online.

This journal is 8 years old this year. Every entry has been cataloged. You want to read my very first entry....ever? It was Sept. 7th 2000.

Good morning everyone (12:22 am counts as morning I suppose!) Im still getting used to this new journal format. This is where I will post updates on my thrilling life and subsequent artistic expressions thereof.
This has been a very busy and luckily, productive year launching my new business RedTango, a new format for reaching a wider audience with my artwork. The idea is to have some fun with new designs and finding interesting ways to get it all out to you folks.
OK, now I am going to find out if this actually is going to post. Stay tuned for more earth shattering, life changing updates (hehe, if you believe THAT, I got a bridge I'd like to sell ya!) Talk to you all soon..

Cynthia

Wow! RedTango was actually about 2 years old by that time but now it seemed I was ready to launch it to a bigger audience. I also didn't get any replies for a couple years at least. Like talking to myself! But I enjoyed logging my thoughts and stuff that was going on. I think my best stuff was added in 2004-2005. I think that was a peak time for journal entry enjoyment. I still like doing entries but my interest in it has sort of waned over the last year or so. Maybe someday I will feel more inspired! Hey, it comes and goes.

Anyone else have any thoughts on the internet, how it's changed..what you used to look at that is not here anymore..if you embrace all the new technology out there or do you pick and choose. How has the net changed your life? It certainly played a huge role in my business and for my art..I definitely found things like photo sharing pages and the livejournal stuff very very useful..as well as being able to sell directly to people all over the world. The business grew up around the internet. So I guess I'm not TOTALLY a fuddy duddy. I've learned some important technological kinda stuff. Not sure I need to Twitter or feed anyone, though!

Oh..what is the earliest you remember the net? In fact, can anyone tell me how long it's been around "publically"...meaning, I know it's been around for 20 years or more but there was a point when it went beyond computer developers and education stuff and spread out to the mainstream thru subscription serves like AOL, Genie, CompuServe, etc. What is the earliest you can recall it? What was it like?