BS: Happy Birthday Internet

Subject: BS: Happy Birthday Internet
From: JohnInKansas
Date: 24 Oct 11 - 02:02 AM

Okay, not this internet, but the original, first one in the US(?).

150 years ago, a primitive Internet united the USA

Monday marks the 150th anniversary of the completion of the transcontinental telegraph. From sea to sea, it electronically knitted together a nation that was simultaneously tearing itself apart, North and South, in the Civil War.

On Oct. 24, 1861, with the push of a button, California's chief justice, Stephen J. Field, wired a message from San Francisco to President Abraham Lincoln in Washington, congratulating him on the transcontinental telegraph's completion that day. He added the wish that it would be a "means of strengthening the attachment which binds both the East and the West to the Union."

A rudimentary version of the Internet — not much more advanced than two tin cans and a string — had been born. But it worked, and it grew.

[end quotes]

All I can add is most of us here found it quite exciting once the news made out to the farm.

John

Subject: RE: BS: Happy Birthday Internet
From: GUEST,999
Date: 24 Oct 11 - 02:55 AM

It was an exciting invention for sure, JiK. I'd just got used to smoke signals and pony express and sure 'nuff along came that instrument of the devil. Folks just don't know when to leave well enough alone.

Subject: RE: BS: Happy Birthday Internet
From: Rapparee
Date: 24 Oct 11 - 09:59 AM

I agree with 999. It killed off penmanship and letter writing as well as putting scriveners and many other people out of business.

Subject: RE: BS: Happy Birthday Internet
From: kendall
Date: 24 Oct 11 - 11:51 AM

My Cousin, Samuel, did good, eh?

Subject: RE: BS: Happy Birthday Internet
From: open mike
Date: 25 Oct 11 - 12:10 AM

thanks, re-posted to face book.

Subject: RE: BS: Happy Birthday Internet
From: gnu
Date: 25 Oct 11 - 09:38 PM

You've come a long way baby!

Each and every step along the way to mass communication brings us closer to each other. Whether that will actually help to solve the problems we all share is yet to be seen, but it's a step in the right direction.

Subject: RE: BS: Happy Birthday Internet
From: Rapparee
Date: 25 Oct 11 - 11:02 PM

The first transcontinental message was:

BRB LOL