I've been on the Internet for a long time. Too long, probably, but in that time, I've watched it go from an amazing collection of services and sites to whatever we have now, where people think that the World Wide Web is the Internet (it isn't). So I sometimes forget that there are people getting on the Internet every day who just don't know how this thing is put together and/or don't have any idea how to use it. Sure, you can open up your browser and go to facebook to have as much algorithmically-selected slop shoveled down your eyeballs until your brain passes out from malnutrition, but there's a better way. There are lots of better ways, and I'm going to show them to you.

This series is going to explore the Internet that's still there underneath the big, shiny content silos like facebook and apps like it. It's going to show you how you can curate your own experience to see the things that you choose to see, and not the things that some computer program chose for you to see. It's going to show you that the Internet is still more than just the world wide web. It's going to show you that you don't need to spend 2/3s of your time putting up with ads. It's going to show you as much of the knowledge that has accreted in my head for the last way too many years that I think should be common knowledge.

Some disclaimers. Some of the stuff in here will get a little bit technical. Some of it will involve dropping into your computer's command prompt and giving your computer instructions by typing into a keyboard. This seems scary at first, but it's really not. I think you're smart enough to handle it, and if you run into trouble, your local computer enthusiast will most likely be more than happy to help you. And if they're not, send them my way and I'll straighten them out.

Now, let's get on with the show.