What this Web Site is all about and why I created it:
This Web Site is a directory of links to archives of material relating to Bohemians in the United States during the 20th century. I know of no other directory of this type on the Internet at this time, so that's why I set out to build one. I hope others will contribute to it so everything on the Internet that fits the subject will have a link here. That way, all the material will be in one catalog (this one) instead of being scattered all over cyberspace the way it was before I started this project. As you surf the rest of the Internet, if you should run across some material relating to one of the Bohemian movements but isn't included, let me know so I can set up a link to it.
The Wild Bohemian Web Site is much more than just a collection of links to other sites, however. I also try to cover areas that the other sites fail to mention, like isolation tanks, for example. I know of only one other site that mentions the subject and because of this, I get a lot of e-mail on that subject. This site also reflects my experiences and I like it when people share their's with me. It makes it that much more human.
Most college students these days were not even born when the Haight-Ashbury happened. They often write me asking questions like, "Why did so many people show up at Woodstock?" So I tell them the story about how it was advertised in the underground newspapers, and that was how we communicated in those days rather than over the Internet like we do today, and I also talk about all the Hippies who came early in the hopes of bartering work for getting in free. Anyway, that is what this site is all about, communication.
This web site has been in a constant growth since I launched it on May 26, 1995. Each time you visit it, you'll probably find something new. In less than a year's time, I went from looking for the right server to writing HTML. Some things about the Internet can be frustrating. It took me all of one summer to find the right Internet provider and it took me about a week to get my computer configured so it would work. It sure felt good the first time I was able to log on and have the web come up instead of an error message. Then it took about nine months to learn all the information I needed about the Internet. Then I started building my own site, as well as visiting others.
Since then, my site has grown from about five pages to well over 100. I switched from Internet in a Box (Mosaic) to Netscape 1.2 and then to 2.0, 3.0 and finally 4.7. When I first started, because of the web browser I was using, my site was the usual black text on gray, no centered text and the only graphics I had were the Hippie buttons and the Haight-Ashbury map. It's sure come a long way since then.
Since the site began, I've managed to maintain a monthly editor's column and so far, I've been able to get it out on time each month, the only exception was the year I was dealing with cancer. This is where I let you know what kind of feedback I've been getting and all the new stuff I've been planning. At first, I shot for getting each new editor's column posted near the beginning of the month, Then Jerry Garcia died, which meant that I had to drop what I was doing and write an emergency editor's column and since then, the deadline has been the 9th of each month. That has really worked out well, because when the first of the month goes by, I get to thinking that I've got about a week to get the editor's column written and I start to work on it.
Now with all of that out of the way, we can get to the important stuff like how to surf the damn thing. The best thing to do is go through the home page and read it top to bottom, so you'll know what all it contains. Then try my Archives page, go over that page and try to work your way systematically through the site. Another way to do this is to check out the index page, which lists every page of the web site by subject in alphabetical order. It should keep you busy for quite some time. My site is also useful for doing research for term papers and similar assignments. I've tried to note on the home page where all the important research sites are.
When I started the web site, I didn't have any earthly idea of what to expect. Although I've published before, even had a weekly radio show where anyone could call me on the phone during my show as well as write, I never got the kind of feedback I have gotten through the web site. Even from the very start, people were emailing me. Much of the information people wrote about made it's way into the web site. I was able to improve many of my articles because of this feedback. I learned about a television news special on the Hippies I never knew existed before (see August 22, 1967 on my timeline) and I also learned some specifics of the orgins of the nuclear disarmament symbol. Those are just two examples of information people wrote about that I could add to my site. Throughout the site, you'll encounter many, many more.
Finally, I would like to thank all the people who helped me get my site
on-line. Also I would like to thank the people who have helped beta-test
this site and helped eliminate embarrassing problems before I let the multitudes
in. Last, but far from least, I would like to thank a very special family
I belong to, the together-list.
Shortly after Jerry Garcia died, several of us got together and decided
to start a support group, because our sites had become overloaded with
e-mail from depressed Deadheads, some as young as 12 years old. We were
able to band together and save a few lives. Jerry may be gone, but we managed
to save the spirit. Basically, we consist of artists, writers, poets, musicians,
philosophers and even a few activists.
So those of you who think that the old Hippie spirit is dead can forget
it. There's plenty of us old ones left and new ones are being born every
day.
Copyright © 1995-2001, Colin Pringle (colinp1@mindspring.com)
Filename: intro.htm
(Please mention this filename when reporting bad links or other problems
on this page)
6-5-95
4-28-96
4-21-98
8-7-01