gambit.org

Keep the web open! Thothcii YOiNK!

How weird is this. I was clearing out some old directories I hadnt accessed in years, and I ran into a PDF I took of a webpage back in like 1999.

For most people, its a who cares kind of moment. Why do I care? That guy happened to take a snapshot the exact instant I decided to send something to Netscape’s SignCam. They had what I believe to be an old SilentRadio type LED sign in their office. A webserver took the request and scrolled it on the sign, and also had a webcam hooked up (Probably a Logitich QuickCam at that time) to relay pictures back to the internet.

I sent my message, but I never got a snap. Oh well. I never thought of it again until a few years later when I googled for THOTHCII. A very special word, which not only is engraved on my class ring, but later also has been emblazoned upon a usenet group thanks to some forged Approved-By: headers back in 2001.

This guy happened across the signcam just as my message was going across, snapped it, and used it as commentary on his “Netscape — Noway!” website. I fired off an email, letting him know that by some weird chance of fates, he got the screenshot I missed back in 96. My response was later recalled on a mailing list or comment site of his, whatever.

Just a strange surreal moment.

I was clearing the directory out and figured I’d try my memory, and fired off an email to what I thought was his address. Site is long gone, and moved to another domain.

I guess my memory is still pretty good, and I got a reply (then again, if I can still remember people’s SSNs from their Marist ID badges, this shouldn’t surprise me.) He sent me a better quality image than the one I had save down, as I notice that the sign that Netscape has is probably from the same company as I got from the local linux cooperative project in Poughkeepsie that shut down.

I think I know what my first test message is going to be once I get it working again.