Hostile Takeover
"The
NEW World Wide Web"
Written By: Doyle Peeks
Search Engine Mania
10/1/96: I logged on this morning and discovered the announcement: "Another search engine comes online." Just what we need, another search engine to help bring more chaos and confusion to the Web.
With each passing day, I become more and more disappointed with what could be the worlds greatest ever "source of information." Instead, the Web is becoming nothing more than a dumping ground for misinformation, confusion and a mass of material, (some good, some bad, some terrible) without order or logic. Most users are unable to find exactly what they want or they find thousands and thousands or millions and millions of references to the material they seek.
Anything Without A Head Is A Freak
Herein lies the problem. If libraries had no one to organize the books into proper order and all the books were just piled in a heap, one would rarely, if ever, go there to look for anything. The World Wide Web is an electronic library in just such an array or maybe disarray would be a better word. It's chaos!
Literally millions of Web Sites/Pages are lost in cyberspace, due largely to the fact the owner of the site, (i) does not understand the inner workings of the Web or (ii) has been duped into believing that because the site is listed with a few or all of the search engines it is going to be discovered, (iii) is unwilling to pay to be listed on a directory related to the subject content of their Web Site. Willful ignorance, misguided attitudes and stubbornness is helping make the Web ripe and inviting for a "hostile takeover." I predict a takeover will happen. No, I don't want to see it happen, but the above reasons and attitudes are the contributing factors that will bring such change.
When it happens, I wonder what it will cost to be listed on a directory of choice. When dominating forces take over, they usually leave few, to no, alternative options. (See update)
(See related article: "Hot Tips")
But We Have Search Engines
Yes, to the tune of far too many of them. Which one(s) are we supposed to use? Which one returns the best results of a search? How do they work? How often do they update? I understand it takes some of them a year to traverse the Web, what a joke! Do they all cover everything on every given subject? NO! How do the first 25 or so references get placed in that position? It's a secret! If a given search engine shows there are several thousand of the word or phrase searched for and only lists about 200 of them, how would a person find the remainder of the references? They don't! The above questions, and more, are all logical questions, but some of the answers seem to be well kept secrets.
When The Big Boys Take Over
My observance, after 2 years on the Web, coupled with other life experiences:
1) The Web, as we now know it, will change.
2) It will become well organized and chronologically indexed.
My opinions are based on three words, money, greed, and power, and is not a great revelation, just plain ol' hindsight. Anytime there is the opportunity to tap into a multi billion dollar market, you can bet there are lots of "behind closed door" meetings, planning, and takeover schemes in the makings.
The little guy will eventually be pushed out the back door. As an example, look at the banking world today. What happened to your little neighborhood bank and it's local president or loan officer, the ones you used to see at local community functions, PTA meetings or in the grocery store. The bank you used to be able to walk into and borrow a few hundred to a few thousand bucks from, on your good name alone. Try that today. On second thought, don't try it, you'll most likely be turned down.
Where is the little old Mom and Pop store that used to be down on the corner? Take a look around, they've been driven out of business by the big boys like K-Mart, Wal-Mart, Eckherds, Home Depot, Office Depot and other big name stores.
Update: 10/8/96
Prodigy Signs On Internet Explorer
Prodigy announced that it has chosen Microsoft Internet Explorer 3.0 to be the default Web browser for its Internet service, Prodigy Internet.
In turn, Microsoft will offer Prodigy services under its Windows 95 Online Services folder, and Prodigy will incorporate ActiveX technologies into Prodigy Internet.
Prodigy will offer IE 3.0 to its Windows 3.+ and Macintosh users once Microsoft has made the browser available for those platforms.
"Today's announcement establishes Microsoft Internet Explorer as the featured browser of every major online service providing consumer access to the Internet," claims Brad Chase, vice president, developer relations and marketing, Internet platform and tools division at Microsoft.
I surmise, step number one (#1) of a greater overall game-plan is now completed. Stay tuned....
Will Netscape survive? It's yet to be determined.
I love the bible story of David and Goliath (the giant). You never know when a David (a little shepherd boy) will appear out of nowhere with a sling shot, a few little rocks and a deadly aim. You may next find yourself reading an article titled "When Giants Fall." I still remember AT&T, the monopoly, and their not so friendly attitude toward their customers. My, my, how things can suddenly change. {|:-)
Shh, Listen, I Think I Hear Swords Rattling
It has been said, "Surely, no one is stupid enough to try to take over the World Wide Web." Stupid people won't be able to, but smart people, with lots of money will accomplish the task.
A Word To The Wise
If you're considering setting up your own server or spending several thousand dollars in preparation of getting on the Web, for whatever reason, be prepared to lose it all. It could happen at anytime.
No, I'm not being pessimistic, I'm being realistic. If evil, greedy, power hungry men have the audacity to set in motion a New One World Order in an attempt to control the entire world, what makes anyone think men driven with the same lust for power and greed wouldn't try, and succeed, at taking over the World Wide Web. It's not a matter of "will it happen," it's a matter of how soon will it happen. Every single day, men are bought like commodities on the New York Stock Exchange.
The War Has Started
The weapons of choice are:
Netscape, SPRY_Mosaic, Microsoft Internet Explorer, AOLbrowser, Enhanced_Mosaic, or that other brand. I wonder what ever happened to Cello. There's an old saying, "Every man has his price." Netscape is now in the heat of the battle and holds the #1 position. I wonder if they would consider an offer from Bill Gates. { :-) I also wonder if somewhere out there one might find some 15-25 year old "Nerd," (another David) working in the quite of his bedroom, that will suddenly appear out of nowhere with a browser of all browsers. Or, is it possible that we are blessed (tongue in cheek) with only one Bill Gates in a generation.
A Call To Unite
Footnote:
Get a copy of the book: En Route to Global Occupation, by Gary H. Kah.
Huntington House Publishers.
"A High Ranking Government Liaison Exposes The Secret Agenda for World Unification"
Since 1995 a company in California owned the domain name "www.construction.com" I accidently discovered this morning it is now owned by McGraw Hill Publishers (Parent company of ENR News-Record Magazine. Check it out at InterNIC.
It changed ownership between Dec 1996 and Februrary 26, 1997.
The domain name www.construction.com was the original name I went after in April of 1995, only to discover it was already in use, so I settled for the next best "www.constr.com" (the abreviated version).
The original "www.construction.com" had nothing to do with the construction industry, so I'm sure McGraw Hill didn't buy it for the traffic it was generating. The new owner has wiped it clean of all the original content.
Predictions I made above in October '96 are now in their early stages. The big boys see the future of the Web with $ signs in their eyes.
Wake up contractors!