The History and Story of ZSPnet
Walt Disney once said, "It all started with a mouse..." Sometimes I think back on this statement and reflect on my own situation. The ZSPnet all started with three letters when combined meant an entire way of thinking exclusively associated with one person. The letters Z, S, and P started this. Not exactly a glorious fashion is it?
Well I guess I'm just kidding with that letter thing. ZSPnet started as a yearning for expression by myself. I always liked to write, and so I chose to post my ideas online on a website. Those ideas soon changed to posting hobbies and interests online too. So perhaps my own desires started ZSPnet. It's hard to tell : )
The history of ZSPnet is probably not a very interesting one. It started with I dreamed up the whole "ZSP thing". Originally, ZSPnet used to be called "ZSP Productions". Remnants of that previous name linger in the JW Real Audio files on my other site. However, I personally liked the sound of ZSPnet better so I switched everything over. After thinking of that now-infamous "ZSP thing"", I got the guts to begin designing my own website to be named the ZSP Domain. I was very much influenced from my friends like Charlie and Erick to build a website, though I soon found out the many obstacles encountered when designing on the internet. I still don't know much about making webpages or even writing HTML, but this doesn't stop me to this day : )
My first page was the ZSP Domain in the summer of 1999. Countless hours of frustration went into learning the basics of internet design and the Angelfire methods. Nearly every night I strained to make the ZSP Domain a reality. To this day it is still not finished. Oh well. I was quite proud of the ZSP Domain, and always liked to show my friends the rather pitiful result that so many of my hours went towards. I have received several favorable reviews of the ZSP Domain. These I appreciate greatly, as would anyone feel when seeing so many hours of hard work pay off.
I then began to accumulate my second page which was pictures of myself. When I discovered Microsoft FrontPage, my webpage-making efforts increased. I realized I could actually make something on the internet that looked at least decent!
With this in mind, I began thinking again with that ZSP. I am a huge fan of the composer John Williams. Suddenly, one day I came up with a crazy idea. Influenced by the Unofficial John Williams Homepage Real Audio collection, I saw how incomplete the page was. John Williams is an incredibly versatile composer, and this page only showed a mere fraction of his works. Web surfers miss out on an incredible opportunity to hear some music that is just beyond great (in my opinion). I then composed the rather obnoxious idea that I would someday be the designer of the.... "Largest collection of John Williams music on the entire internet"... *gasp!* And so an idea again went from mere thought to actual form into ZSPnet's pride and joy website in April of 2000. I named the site "The ZSP Tribute to John Williams" because it is to show the world what a fine job Williams has done in composing music. However, as one will notice when visiting, it's quite scandalous with so many songs posted for free.... luckily they're not mp3's but rather they're low Real Audio quality (which actually is not too bad!). But even so, I spent many hours making those files myself with Real Producer and am quite proud of the final result. I have received many kind words and regards towards my John Williams tribute, both for providing original content and for the ZSP Tribute's ease of use. Again, I feel that all the hard work put into it is worthwhile when reading positive feedback. Even more so, The ZSP Tribute to John Williams actually gets visitors! 20 or so each day! I'm proud of that too.... and its international visitors! Continuing on, I update that site frequently and added a review section as well. Soon the website became linked on other websites, and eventually on DMOZ which made it well-known throughout the JW web. Yay.
The next site I made was for the Mount Carmel Marching Sundevils French horn section. This site has taken extreme amount of my time away. I scanned hundreds of pictures for it and still do today. Yet again, I hear positive feedback from those hornstars so it's worth it.... hopefully : )
The next page I made was for a science school project cleverly named, "The Hydrogen Homepage". It was about the abundant element hydrogen. Incorporated in the background are sounds from Hal 9000 in 2001: A Space Odyssey. If you visit it, you may get a few good laugh with Hal's monotonous voice and even learn something about the element of hydrogen. In case you're wondering, my science teacher appreciated the final result so much that I got a 105% on the assignment : )
Later I submitted to the Open Directory Project and became an editor. I currently edit the John Williams section there, and do my best to make sure only the best Williams sites are posted within. Someday I will edit other sections too.
That's pretty much the history of ZSPnet. Hope you kept alive : )
ZSPnet
