On Oct 31, 1:53 pm, Bill Tuthill wrote:
John Kuthe wrote:

I think one major reason RBP has lost favor in the past 10-15 years is
the advent and tremendous popularity of the WWW. Not naming any
websites in particular, but people love websites, because they offer a
much richer mix of media than simple ASCII text, which Usenet is
limited to. Plain and simple.

Agreed.

It's almost a wonder Usenet still exists! I mean, horses and buggy's
barely exist anymore, and such is the way with yesteryear's
technologies, of which Usenet is these days, yano?

If properly used (which generally it is not) Usenet can still function
as the populist Consumer Reports of the 'net. Consumer Reports may be
non-profit and all that, but sometimes one wonders why they make the
particular buying decisions that they do. Most other product comparison
magazines or websites are heavily biased by advertising.

Whereas if you know that a particular Usenet poster is reliable, you can
trust their recommendations, modulo forgeries.

The major media conglomerates probably don't want Usenet to continue.
AOL, a division of Time-Warner, was the first to kill Usenet service
for their subscribers. It's terrible when citizens talk among themselves,
rather than listening to propaganda on TV.

Time Magazine: Floating your own Boat

Milner, BC: Check out the latest Time Magazine article on the recent
surge in the popularity of kayaking. Highlighting the trend away from
team sports, the article emphasizes the diversity of kayak
enthusiasts, the growing number of paddling opportunities, and
advances in equipment.

The full article is available online at
http://www.time.com/time/magazine/ar...675598,00.html

The article appeared in the US and Canadian editions of the November
5, 2007 magazine.

"Time Magazine has a weekly circulation of 3.4 million," says Michael
Pardy, Executive Director of the Trade Association of Paddlesports,
"This story is good news for our industry. It builds awareness and
emphasizes the accessibility of the sport. Kayaking is not an extreme
sport anymore."

TAPS - the Trade Association of Paddlesports - is a non-profit trade
association supporting the paddling industry in North America and the
world. TAPS' members are industry leaders and are dedicated to
providing paddlers with the best in equipment, services, and
experiences. TAPS represents manufacturers, retailers, outfitters,
instructional centers, publications, and more throughout the
Paddlesports industry, encompassing canoes, touring kayaks, whitewater
kayaks, and rafts. TAPS also has Associate members, businesses that
support the Paddlesports industry through legal, insurance, financial,
online, and other services.