I remember how my Internet usage first started. I was at the University of New Orleans, learning how to use a text only browser called "Lynx" (or something like that), c. 1997.  The "Lynx" browser was essentially an index of hyperlinks to academic texts all over the world. It couldn't show images or play sound. Soon after first using Lynx, I discovered another Internet browser-Windows 3.0. This could deliver pictures and sound files! The transition from text-only to sound, audio and video seemed to happen overnight. People began talking about their favorite websites, like My Space, ICQ, Napster, and others. Wireless modems began appearing on laptops-they were typically the size of a hand held walkie-talkie, and attached to the back of the screen/lid by Velcro strips. The connection speeds were very slow compared to 2024 standards. An mp3 sound file would take about ten minutes to download, for example. The first modems were about 28 kbps, then 56 kbps came out and everyone thought that was great.

On Playing Music

 

"IT'S JUST TWO CHORDS!",  I told the man who complimented me after I played “Ode to Joy”. This  melody was much more complex than just two chords in Beethoven's  9th Symphony, of which “Ode to Joy” is part. Nevertheless, it has become a simple Christian worship song, a song that resembles children’s tunes in chord structure (“Mary Had a Little Lamb”, and “Twinkle, Twinkle Little Star” comes to mind). I briefly discussed this with him, and he confessed to loving such music for it's simplicity, but not really understanding the musical theory behind it. I was absolutely amazed at this man’s kindness, however, because it was obviously sincere. So now, dear reader, let me ask you a question: what do you think is the most real, most sincere way to show your appreciation to a musician you like? Applaud/clap? Tip? Make a shrine to him or her in your closet?