b"xecutiveDirector MRCAon the 'NET at www.mrca.org Ifthatheadlinehasyou try using phone lines, so that an addition,companies large andscratching youread, chances are attack in any one city wouldn't small began tying their networkshno one is going to accuse you of crippledefenseresearchand to the Internet so their employeesbeing a cyberjunkie.computer communications.could exchange information withYouknow,theInformation In the 1980s, the National Sci customers or other company netSuperHighway. Still confused?ence Foundation (NSF) expanded works, or peruse the vast stores ofIt seems that the lingo of mod the ARPAnet backbone by setting information available on univerern day communications - the up regional networks. The net sity and government computerlanguage of the Internet ('Net) or works were tied together into an systems. Worldide Web (i.e. www) - is entity called NSFnet, which made Today, the 'Net is informationWeverywhere we look these days. it easier for universities tosharing of unimaginable proporconnectSuddenly thesef with each other. However, com tions. With a modem, computerstrange strings ocharacters are appearing in an mercialctivityas still prohib and telephone line, you too cana wincreasing number of television ited on this government-funded, join the fray, and shortly begin otads, and therintresearch-oriented system.make some sense of what can atp media. Virtuallyovernight, this sort of lingo seems In the 1990s, this network of firsteem ike a very obscure ands lto have become the norm. No networks (now called the Internet) uninviting place to visit. Today,doubt you will notice a few such has been opened up to commer you can Surf the 'Net for informa'addresses' between the covers of cialservicesandindividuals. tion on virtually any subject- andMidwest Rooterbefore long as Along with the NSFnet that still frankly - have fun while doing it. well.MRCA has had a e-mail links' most universities and ,I 0For millions of peopn 'address available for members for governmentagencies, o nW/threeC yearsnow,MWRoof todays 'Net, -~~., \\)=@aol.com.,;;.MR A has now taken the next ,- :z:;a- step by developing a 'home page'for the Internet. Ahomepage?Maybewe /flfD' should start at the beginning. Atthe risk of insulting those of you , .11111~0 that have been 'Surfing the 'Net' == for years, it justight prove use includesf reg - e - of the online services (America . m -ful to someMidwestooter read - . Rers to receive a crash course in a group o ional n twork serthis thing called the Internet. What vice providers. These providers Online, Prodigy, CompuServe) is-if anything - is it going to mean maintain portions of the commer the first brush with the 'Net. Suchto you, and when?Here goes.cial Internet backbone, or major companies offer their subscribersThe Internet is a data back networks linked to it, and also (at costs of $10 -$15 per month),bone. Originally called ARPAnet, offer connections to corporations, access to a myriad of usefu I andit was designed as a holocaust organizations and individuals.entertainingservicessuchasproofystem or Oncecommercialtraffic games, weather, news, encyclocommunications s fresearchersaluniversities, became possible over the global pedias and discussion groups onresearch labs, defense contrac Internet, online services and bul various subjects, all via a phonetors, military installations and letin boards beganooking up to call from a personal computer Tohgovernment agencies. The idea it so their subscribers couldmakend com connecting easy a affordwas lo allow compute, resources municate with people on other able, these services have esta-toeoun- services and bulletin boards. In 1ished local telephone numbbe distrflxra:l ar:rass :h c"