November 23, 1998 – Newsletter #3

Hi Newsletter folk…

Since the last time Goodies To Go showed up in your e-mail
box, there was a fantastic meteor shower. It happened last
Tuesday night into Wednesday morning. You know where I
watched it? On the Internet via streaming video. There might
be something vaguely sad about that, but all the space dust
wasn’t hitting our area until 3AM. I didn’t know there was
still a three AM. I slept right through it. Luckily I could
watch it the next morning while drinking my cup of Bananas
Foster flavored coffee.

The last newsletter prompted some letters. One gentleman was
nice enough to let me know that I had rambled on about my
book, but never gave the price. Thank you citizen! I now have
a valid reason to ask you for money. The book is $19.95 in
the stores, but you get 20 percent off if you buy it online
through Barnes and Nobles online. There’s a link from the
HTML Goodies Home Page:

Homepage

The book is 400 plus pages with a full color pull out that
contains all the color codes and ampersand commands. It
really is worth the money. I know that sounds like a pitch
coming from the author, but it really is cool. Plus it has a
full-color picture of me. Not just the silly cartoon
character on the Goodies website either. It’s a real, honest
to goodness, likeness of me. I don’t know if that will sell
any books, but it was worth a shot.

I’m always nervous when writing these newsletters that they
won’t be very interesting to read. So I’m going to throw in a
bonus this time around. The book has, what I think, is a
pretty interesting “Preface” that explains they entire
history of HTML Goodies and then has a section called “What
is All the Fuss About?” It’s a short explanation of why I
think the Internet is so popular. I thought that you might
find it interesting so I am including a short version in the
newsletter. It’s coming up right after I tell you all about
the new Stuff at HTML and Java Goodies.

>>>>>>>>>>What is All the Fuss About?

The actual text in the book is much longer, but this should
give you a good feel for what I’m getting at. Enjoy it.

My aunt asked me the other day what all the fuss was
about the World Wide Web and all I could say was “the
Web is really, really cool.”

That answer didnt satisfy her, nor me. So I went on a
quest to find out. After asking 500 net users a few
questions, heres what I found.

The Internet is a form of communication.

Thats a nice academic way of saying that this web of
phone lines and big bulky servers is actually we humans
communicating more than it is the information super
highway.

This web of computers is not primarily being used to go
out and get information like the super highway name
would imply, but rather its being used to link up
people who share the same interests.

When the Internet began to move outside the realm of
nerd-ville and into the hands of anyone who could shell
out the money for a computer, some people thought it was
going cocoon us in our homes, breaking us of the need or
ability to communicate face to face.

I believe that the cocoon phase had already occurred by
the time the Internet hit. In the 80s we didnt have to
go to the movies because of video tape. Any and all food
items being brought to your door was big. Cable TV and
the movie channels started up. We were already beginning
to shut up the doors before the Internet.

Why I think the net caught on was because it was cool to
those already shut in, yes, but also because it allowed
a way to get the human communication we all need to
exist. Now this fancy box was no longer just a
plaything. It had become another person. In words only,
but still another person talking back. A good
conversation, no matter what the medium, is quite
addictive.

Face to face communication is tough. I see you seeing me
when I talk. I know if Im boring you. A pretty or
handsome face makes it difficult to find clever words.
With this little box in front of me, I can be whomever
I want. I can change my name. I can think my words
through before writing them. It is quite liberating.

The home page is becoming the business card of the 21st
century. I know some people feel that they do not have
enough interesting information regarding themselves to
post a home page. Im here to tell you, thats probably
not true.

It seemed a bit nepotistic, but I put pictures of my two
cats on my first home page. The World Wide Web had just
gotten started and some computer folk balked. They told
me that that my page should be for reserved more
important things. Who cares about cats?

Well, a lot of people cared about cats. In fact, the cat
pictures received the most e-mail of any part of the
page. I wrote that my 25-pound Maine Coon had a habit of
choosing the carpet over the little box.

I was amazed at the amount of mail I received from
people giving advice on how to solve the problem, how to
get stains off of the carpets, how to correctly chastise
the cat for doing it, and just general statements that
their cats did it too. It was real people enjoying each
others interests for no other good reason than they
could.

You are important. What you like is important. Not only
to you, but to other people. Communicate. Put up a home
page. Tell the world who you are and what youre about.
Yes, youll meet a few jerks along the way, but for the
most part, Ill bet you find the World Wide Web as
inviting as I have.

I think thats what all the fuss is about.

Thanks for reading,

Joe Burns

“And Remember:
111,111,111 x 111,111,111 = 12,345,678,987,654,321”