(DIR) petergarner.net gopher root
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-- Retro/Weird: some content from the era of Gopherism ------------
Welcome to Retro/Weird! Gopherism came onto the online scene as the
once-ubiquitous BBS (Bulletin Board Systems) were starting to fade
away. Naturally, some of the more famous BBS crossed over successfull
to the new Gopherholes and fewer still then made the jump to the WWW.
I feel it's only right to feature some of these, er, institutions alo
with a brief info. Enjoy the weirdness!
* * * * * * * * *
"The WorldWideWeb (W3) is a wide-area hypermedia information retrieva
initiative aiming to give universal access to a large universe of doc
Gopher was mature at that time of course, but I felt it only right to
this link due to its historical significance.
(HTM) The entire WWW in November 1992 (link)
Based in Lubbock, Texas, CULT OF THE DEAD COW (cDc) is the most-
accomplished and longest-running group in the computer underground.
Founded in 1984 and widely considered to be the most elite people
to ever walk the face of the earth, this think tank has been referred
to as both "a bunch of sickos" (Geraldo Rivera) and "the sexiest grou
of computer hackers there ever was" (Jane Pratt, 'Sassy' & 'Jane' mag
The cDc is a leading developer of Internet privacy and security tools
which are all free to the public. In addition, the cDc created the
first electronic publication, which is still going strong.
(DIR) Cult of the Dead Cow
2600: THE HACKER QUARTERLY is an American publication that specialize
in publishing technical information on a variety of subjects includin
telephone switching systems, Internet protocols and services, as well
as general news concerning the computer underground and left wing,
and sometimes (but not recently), anarchist issues. The magazine's
name comes from the phreaker discovery in the 1960s that the transmis
of a 2600 hertz tone (which could be produced perfectly with a plasti
whistle given away free with Cap'n Crunch cereal) over a long-distanc
trunk connection gained access to "operator mode" and allowed the use
explore aspects of the telephone system that were not otherwise acces
The magazine was first published in 1984, coinciding with the book of
same name and the break-up of AT&T.
(DIR) 2600 Magazine
(DIR) 2600 "Off the Wall": A weekly show on WUSB radio, Stony Brook, Long Island
(DIR) 2600 "Off the Hook": A weekly show on WBAI radio, New York
CHURCH OF THE SUBGENIUS: Hard to define, but here goes..
"Pity the poor human Earth Pink who comes looking for a SIMPLE, SHORT
EXPLANATION of The Church of the SubGenius™, one that he or she can
UNDERSTAND QUICKLY. If the Church could provide THAT, it would be
bigger than Islam or Christianity by now -- and probably much, much w
.. and..
"A parodic cult that grew out of mailart, and begun by the Rev. Ivan
The Church is one of the most obvious parody cults, attack new-wave
evangelicalists. Begun as a mock-threatening campaign, pictures of bi
minus their front wheels were sent to various individuals by Stang, c
the receiver had stolen his wheel but could, for five dollars, purcha
indulgence for the sin. The money was sent, together with a photograp
the sender's complete bike, to be blessed".
(DIR) Church of The SubGenius: "The Hour of Slack"
THE ANCIENT AND HONORABLE ORDER OF E CLAMPLUS VITUS (ECV) is a frater
organization dedicated to the study and preservation of the heritage
the American West, especially the history of the Mother Lode and gold
mining regions of the area. The fraternity is not sure if it is a
"historical drinking society" or a "drinking historical society."
There are chapters in California, Nevada, and other western states.
Members call themselves "Clampers." The organization's name is in Dog
Latin, and has no known meaning.
(DIR) The Ancient and Honorable Order of E Clampus Vitus
(HTM) ECV HISTORY
(HTM) More ECV HISTORY