The information STUPORHIGWAY

Ah, the joys of the Internet.  How do you work it?  What do you use to chat?  How can I get recipes?  How can I send a picture of my kids to their grandmother?  How can I download porn?

I'm rather  that after all of the  years that the internet has been around the number people who can't use their computer's enough to get online.  That means less support hassles for me.  But for those who DO get online and as for help cause their modem is bad or how to get pictures of nekked people without their spouse finding out here is some stuff. 

About the Internet itself The Internet has been around a LONG time.  It was an educational network and originally was a military effort well before it became the spam flinging, IM'ing , banner ridden web we call the information superhighway.  I'm not going to get into the details.  Its out there just look for it.  Originally people use terminals to connect to the internet.  NO graphics (ok there was ASCII Art), no point and click.  Things like USENET (still around), Archie, Veronica, and Gopher were ways to get information off of the Internet.  Access was usually only for a few people.  NOW we have the WWW (world wide web) and many kinds of instant messengers to amuse ourselves.

Browsing the Web/Internet Browsing is pretty simple once you get online.  In fact you're doing it now.  Most people use Internet Explorer from Microsoft.  I use a browser that was near the first there is a long tangled history of it but it was originally Netscape which went through a BUNCH of changes till part of  it became Mozilla.  A flavor of this is Firebird.  It's fast small and I like it and I DON'T run it because I hate Microsoft.  But there are  a LOT of neat things it can do.  Like Gestures click and hold your right mouse  button then move your mouse in certain patterns (gestures) and open new windows, move back in your history, close the browser and more.  

Chatting many people chat online.  I have a LOT of friends online.  But they usually don't like to chat with me.   Some of the popular chat systems/software are:

• AOL Instant Messenger (AIM) - run by AOL Time Warner.  The BIGGEST inlet of stupidity for the internet.   Can all those with an A/S/L give me a ME TOO!
• Yahoo Instant Messenger - Run by Yahoo.  Pretty nice with a bunch of features.  The web cam is fun but with Ad filled goodness. 
• ICQ - I Seek You!  a good messenger till AOL purchased the company and killed it with advertising and bloat.
• IRC - Around for a LONG time.  A bit complicated but has a LOT of people on it.
• MSN Messenger - Microsoft's attempt to corner the market.  Who uses this anyway?

So what does a guy like me use?  I combine them all and use Trillian it covers all of the above with one program.  You can skin it (make it look different) and it just runs well.

Damn I'm out of time for now... I'll add more later about Usenet, Email, Internet Radio Stations and more.