Week Four

Lecture

Ahh the World Wide Web. It contains the sum wealth of human knowledge and existence, the good and the completely disturbing. This week’s lecture felt more like a history lesson than anything and while I already knew the majority of the various net commands and terminology (.org .au Ctrl + T, Ect...) the actual history behind the world wide web was quite enjoyable to find out about. Though it wasn't a surprise to find out that it was originally intended for intelligent information to be shared between universities instead of the diverse tasks that it performs and the horde of information it contains.


Tutorial

www.haggishunt.scotsman.com
The site www.haggishunt.scotsman.com uses techniques such as using a .com address which makes it seem like a serious site, having an extensive background and haggislopedia with zoology on the haggis complete with Latin names. It also offers a grand prize of a stay at the Gleneagles Hotel, and has a comprehensive set of rules as well as history of hunting haggis.
However it is a spoof site and baring the stupid Photoshopping of the body of a hedgehog with the head and feet of a platypus the first thing that gave it away is the bogus Latin translations. Its Latin name Marag Fabulosus translates into Marl (Lime rich mud) and Fabulosus appears to be a Latin looking version of the word fabulous. So it’s a mud that fabulous. That’s not suss or anything. As well as the translation of Haggii into haired ones, one is correctly translated into unus and though I cannot claim to be an expert on Latin grammar I’m very suss about the credibility of the translation. Also the Gleneagles Hotel doesn’t actually exist and to further add insult to injury the name of the first prize winner is suspiciously absent.


www.molossia.org

www.molossia.org at first looks likes a bogus site and the more you look at it the more it seems to be, but it’s not, technically. Though is shows it currency to be made out of poker chips and its rocket launch is just a module rocket they still exist and though they are jazzed up claims there is still truth in them. It’s just a place out in Nevada in the US and all of the photos and claims are real, unlike the haggis of the previous site. The bit about their navy being made out of inflatable boats is funny though.


www.martinlutherking.org

www.martinlutherking.org would most probably be a site containing information involving martin Luther king, though the .org makes me a bit suss of what I will find there.
Dam, racist much? Not only against black Americans but it takes a jab at the Jews as well. Whoever created this site is either a member of the KKK or has some serious mental issues, either way they need some help. And though I personally know only an average amount of information of Martin Luther king I do know that he held peaceful protests and condemned the violence that was being acted out on either sides of the racial issue. The rap lyrics are also offensive and the pamphlet that can be downloadable is both insulting as well as saddening.


Readings

A brief history of the internet
&
History of the World-wide Web
Now that was a large set of reading, but it’s nice to be learning about the finer points of the history of the internet. It has also made me realize how much of a short time the Internet has existed for, it has only been around for a couple of decades so it makes you wonder what it will evolve into given a few more. From the first appearance of the ARPANET in 1971 to the global connection of the www that we enjoy today knowing the past of something that you have makes it all that more enjoyable. Like eating a meal that was cooked with your own two hands with food grown in your own back garden, you don’t have to go to all the effort to do it but once you have it makes it taste all the more better.