Harley Hahn Newsletter #59

Harley Hahn Newsletter
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  HARLEY HAHN NEWSLETTER
           #59

     August 31, 2009

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"Peace of mind comes from
confronting problems with
purposeful action, not from
indecision and avoidance."

 -- Harley Hahn


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Harley Hahn's Usenet Center
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Usenet is a large, Internet-based worldwide system
of more than 100,000 different discussion groups.
Usenet was started in 1979, making it much older
than the Web (which didn't even come into being
until 1991).

Have you ever used Usenet?  Although many people
haven't heard of it, Usenet is, by far, the most
important discussion group system in the world.
Moreover, because Usenet can be used completely
anonymously, it is also used extensively for file
sharing.

I'd like you to learn about Usenet, as it is one
of the most useful and interesting parts of the
Internet.  For this reason, I invite you to visit
a brand new Web site I have just finished.

Harley Hahn's Usenet Center:
  http://www.harley.com/usenet/

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Harley Hahn's Usenet Quick Start Guide
======================================

In most cases, accessing Usenet requires you to
pay a small fee to a Usenet Service Provider,
typically $5-$30/month.  By any measure, this is
a bargain.

However, if you want to try Usenet right now at
no cost, I have created a special Web page that
explains how you can be up and running in 9.5
minutes -- for free.

Harley Hahn's Usenet Quick Start Guide:
  http://www.harley.com/usenet/quickstart/

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Ask Harley
==========

In addition to the Usenet Center, I have another
brand new feature to announce: "Ask Harley".  Here
you will find a collection of fascinating
questions and answers covering a variety of
topics.

Ask Harley:
  http://www.harley.com/ask-harley/

I love learning, and I love explaining.  Within
"Ask Harley" I will explain things you may have
wondered about but never really understood.  Right
now, you will find answers to the following
questions:

* Why do leaves change color in the fall?

* How do ballerina dancers stay up on their toes?

* Why is freedom important?

* Will electronic books ever replace books on paper?

Check back from time to time, and you will find
new questions and answers to enjoy.

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======================
The History of the Web
======================

Finally, I have a new essay in which I explain the
history of one of the most important inventions of
our time: the Web.  Take a few moments to read
this essay, and I'll explain to you what the Web
really is, where it came from, and why it is
important.

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"What if I asked you to define the Web? Could you
tell me what it is?  My guess is, probably not. In
fact, to me, the most interesting characteristic
of the Web is that it is almost impossible to
define exactly.

"Why is this?  The answer lies in the observation
that the Web is much more than a single Internet-
based service.  It is an amalgam formed from our
biological nature melding with vast computational
resources.  Indeed, when you look at the Web with
the right sort of eyes, what you see is nothing
less than a glimpse into the future, a time when
human beings will have fulfilled their destiny as
a species..."

The History of the Web:
  http://www.harley.com/writing/history-of-the-web.html

-- Harley Hahn