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Happy Anniversary, Internet - It Could Be Your Last

We tend to think of the internet as being relatively new. Most of us have a recollection of it sometime in the mid-90s. However, it hides its age quite well.

Today is the 40th anniversary of the first internet connection. Imagine that!

On Oct. 29, 1969, the host computer at UCLA (University of California-Los Angeles) was connected to a sister computer at Stanford University. And the internet was born.

Over the past 40 years we have seen AOL, Prodigy, CompuServ, dial-up, blogging, 1200 baud modems progressing to 56K, ISPs come and go, Netscape, IE, Mozilla, Apple, Google, Yahoo, Ask (from Ask Jeeves), MSN, smartphones, wifi, and so much more.

Most recently we have seen the creation and rise of social networks such as Twitter, MySpace, Craigslist, Trulia, Zillow, Linked In, Plaxo, Naymz, Facebook, and so much more. Of course, Active Rain!

So, celebrate the 40th anniversary of the internet, but also shed a tear that this may be last year of the the free market internet system as we have seen it grow and develop.

Our government wants to take control of and run the internet - of course only in this country. They have a proposal they are advancing called "net neutrality" that they want to subsidize the availability of DSL connections universally. This will ruin connection speeds as well as our choices.

Since when is the price of internet service so egregious that it has to be free to whoever doesn't have it - and even those who don't want it? And that it has to be in every home?

That is the first step - and another in "leveling the playing field." The second is control of advertising and free speech over the internet. That seems to be the government's motive in this.

How about another 40 years or so of a free market system? Don't be blindsided or distracted by this "net neutrality" ploy. Keep the government out of this.

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Posted by Steve Hoffacker - Real Estate Sales & Marketing Consulting and Strategies on 10/29/2009 07:25 PM

Comments (26)

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internet, observances and celebrations, government expansion, government excesses, net neutrality

Originally posted at: Steve Hoffacker's Sales Quips: Happy Anniversary, Internet - It Could Be Your Last

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26 Comments on Happy Anniversary, Internet - It Could Be Your Last

OCT

Steve - couldn't agree more. I am so tired of the government trying to horn in on everything. Let the internet remain a regulatory free/tax free zone. GEESH!!!

Syreeta,

Thanks. The government has its eyes set on restricting many of our freedoms. :)

Steve

Steve, thanks. It is amusing / frightening that China is condemned for their censorship on the internet and here the FREE USA is ready to do the same thing. I remember being ready to pull my hair out when one idiot senator suggested taxing emails.

Steve, I couldn't have said it better. Even people who claim they go into government service to change big government quickly become one of those people trying to control us all.

Steve, The government just needs to get it's finger out of this pie! What's next? Charging for every keystroke we make or every time we log on?

Steve - I thought Al Gore was the one who invented the Internet. Also what ever happened to Netscape?

Steve,

It seems like with all the debt flying around, maybe that should be focused on instead.

Thanks for the info! I would never have guessed 40 yrs. I'm with Steve thinking Al Gore invented it about 10 years ago!

Verlyn

Robert,

The government is collectively a control freak. :)

Steve

Gary,

Thank you. Agreed. It's sad but amusing to hear someone running for office make all the promises that you know there is no way they can keep. :)

Steve

Wanda,

Don't give them any ideas - I'm sure they've got plenty already. :)

Steve

Robert,

You're right - must've been while he was visiting UCLA. I've wondered that about Netscape myself. :)

Steve

Steve,

They clearly don't care about the debt (witness today's proud unveiling of the Pelosi health care package). They care about power and control. :)

Steve

Verlyn,

Then again, maybe he just tweaked it to modernize it for us. :)

Steve

Steve,

They have to make up some of the buyout money somewhere....

Ann Hayden wanting the rain to stop in Wildwood,MO

Ann,

This is not about money. It about reducing our freedoms. :)

Steve

OCT

Steve,

Yes, I agree but I do think they want a hand in it to be able to cash in on the emails.....

Ann Hayden

Ann,

Definitely - if there is a way to profit they will be all over it - control is the main issue though. :)

Steve

Steve, I'm glad you alert people to these planned government takeovers. It's another freedom we'll have to fight to keep.

First... Give it to everyone so that there is a reason to...

Control the distribution since it isn't specifically mentioned in the Constitution... like TV and Radio...

OCT

Jon,

It has made life interesting the past few months. :)

Steve

Lane,

There you go. That's the approach. :)

Steve

Steve... Haven't we all realized that once the government gets their hands on things (including health insurance) everything goes to S--T in a hand basket. What happened to *freedom* and keeping governments, nationally, state and local out of our affairs?

valerie osterhoudt

Valerie,

Yes, we have - but a large portions of our fellow citizens have not. They think it's the government's money and they are entitled to some of it. They also believe in "fair share." It's up to us to educate. :)

Steve