In the vast expanse of the African savannah, the lion, or Panthera leo, reigns supreme. This apex predator is a fitting metaphor for the internet, a colossal reservoir of knowledge and information. Amidst the overwhelming array of videos, texts, images, and sounds, how can one navigate this digital jungle and emerge as an information prodigy? The answer lies in leveraging the expertise of others and utilizing the right tools.
Just as a lion capitalizes on the efforts of smaller predators, an information prodigy takes advantage of the knowledge of other experts. This approach is akin to how a meta search engine utilizes smaller search engines to deliver comprehensive results. One such tool that can help you reach this meta level is Deja News (http://deja.com/usenet), an archive of Usenet.
I am not affiliated with Deja News in any way. I am merely a writer, athlete, producer, graphic designer, videographer, marketer, PR man, CEO, CIO, CTO, chief dog walker, and all-around Mass Media Information Prodigy at large of dogtv.com networks (The SuperDog Station) http://dogtv.com.
I became an expert on dogs through my inherent brilliance, passion, and background in writing and biology, with significant assistance from Usenet (newsgroups). By reading posts from experts across the country, I quickly identified three major camps in the Dog Game:
I then developed my own site, media, personality, and "DOG GAME" philosophy, which views dogs as the athletes and hunters that they are, not "problems" to be fixed or solved with punishment, cages, or expensive drugs.
Newsgroups are communities anyone can join, where experts in their fields share knowledge and engage in discussions. These groups cover a wide range of topics, from computer hardware and software to Danish gardening and bicycle mechanics. Deja.com is the Grand Central Station of information, a hub where these discussions are archived and easily accessible.
While a novice might turn to a search engine for information, an expert might bypass the search engines and go directly to the newsgroups. However, a "Meta" Expert would go to deja.com, click on the Usenet link, and type their query. Chances are, someone else has already asked the same question, and several experts have already provided relevant answers. All you have to do is find a thread that looks promising, click on the "view thread" link, and voila, you've hit an information goldmine.
Two years ago, I was hesitant to open up my computer and install an internal Zip Drive. Now, I'm a tech-savvy whiz with three entirely home-built, networked systems, boasting 200 gigabytes of storage space, processing and pumping out dogumentary dogudrama video for the masses.
Now, even Hollywood sites like LOADTV (http://loadtv.com) are reaching out to me, thinking I'm a big company, asking me to provide content for them.
Becoming an information prodigy is not a solo journey. It requires the collective expertise of others, available at your fingertips, free for the consulting, 24 hours a day, on Deja News. Rise above the information overload and learn from those who have already been there, done that, and distilled it for you. The Experts.
