Win a pair of Google underpants

Feeling lucky?

Competition When Google acquired the Deja Usenet archive back in February, there were no fiercer critics than us at the sudden loss of functionality. Or more accurately, we were reflecting a sense of disappointment and anger from Register readers almost without precedent, mingled with a sense of alarm that a valuable repository of community information could be lost for good.

But as we report today, Google has now added 20 years of Usenet history: the archive now stretches back to May 1981, a time when Northern Europe was still covered in ice, and our ancestors communicated with only the most primitive computers fashioned out of flint and bronze.

Alongside many historic postings, you'll also be able to find this public unveiling of our organ, here. (Fortunately it was renamed before the first issue appeared several weeks later).

So Google: we salute you. And to mark the occasion we're offering a pair of Google promotional underpants*, with the slogan "I'm Feeling Lucky", to a lucky reader.

To win this unique item, send me the best posting you've never seen on Usenet. ®

Note: several of you have sent us links to your favourite Usenet postings. Thanks, but that's not we're looking for. It's fictional postings we want, such as "RMS joins male voice choir"… but you can do much, much better than that.

* never worn, honest.

Related Links

Google's 20-year Usenet Archive… start here
The Usenet FAQ Archive