Group's tragic suicide leaves evidence on the Web
March
30, 1997
By JIM BROOKS
One of the biggest tragedies to hit the nation unfolded this week
with the revelation of the mass suicides in the community of Rancho
Sante Fe, near San Diego, Calif.
A group being refereed to as a religious cult apparently committed
mass suicide. And the group members' ties to the Internet were all
a part of the story.
Some members of the group designed and sold World Wide Web sites.
Many of the sites are online and still in use.
News reports said the group believed a UFO was trailing along behind
comet Hale-Bopp (now visible in the northwestern skies each night),
and they would soon be transported "back" to a higher
level above human.
According to the group's Web site, the comet was a "marker"
denoting their time on earth was coming to an end.
This alleged UFO also has ties to the Internet.
Last November, an amateur astronomer photographed comet Hale-Bopp
and reported via the Internet that the comet had a "companion"
object.
The discovery and announcement was given greater credence by a
national radio talk show host, and the pro-companion/anti-companion
sides have been sniping at each other via the Internet ever since.
And as you might expect, the Internet is one place to turn to get
in-depth information on the group and the latest developments.
Pathfinder has copied the group's original Web site, Heaven's Gate,
and you can find it at www.pathfinder.com/news/heavensgate/.
It offers a glimpse of the "theology" of the group and
what they believed their mission was on earth.
• At this writing, the group's Web design business, Higher
Source, was still online with their site at http://www7.concentric.net/~Font/
• The Washington Post's online edition, Washingtonpost.com,
had the full text of some of their documents at www.washingtonpost.com/wp-srv/national/longterm/documents/heavensgate/contents.htm.
This includes reprints of their writings and transcripts of videotapes
the group released last year.
• As of Thursday evening, the Yahoo! Web directory had a link
on their home page to resources and information about the mass suicides.
Visit www.yahoo.com for the latest links and background stories.
GROWING PANES. Microsoft's plans to release an upgrade for
Microsoft's popular Windows 95 operating system reported will miss
being delivered before Christmas.
Widely distributed reports indicate that a beta, or pre-release
version of what would 've been Windows 97 isn't likely to be ready
until July.
The final release date may occur before the end of the calendar
year, but Microsoft is already telling major computer manufacturers
that the new operating system won't be ready for inclusion on PCs
aimed at the holiday season marketplace.
The new Windows desktop reportedly will look more like a Web browser-type
interface.
Its too early to say what effect the delay may have on sales, but
some analysts say the delay may hurt PC sales during Christmas this
year if the new Windows upgrade isn't available -- much the same
way that the delayed release of the multimedia-capable MMX Pentium
chips caused some consumers to delay purchases until after the holidays.
NEW KID IN TOWN. Internet users may want to make note that
a company called KIH Online is offering Internet access in Hardin,
Nelson and many surrounding counties.
KIH -- which is short for Kentucky Information Highway -- is a
London, Ky.-based company that acquired Southern Kentucky Network
some months ago and now offers Internet access to virtually all
corners of the state.
Their basic dial-up account runs $20 per month for unlimited access,
plus 1 meg of space free for a personal Web page.
KIH also offers access packages that come in several levels for
both home and business use.
A family plan -- priced at $25 per month -- offers five megabytes
of space for a Web site and what's even more attractive -- up to
five e-mail accounts at no extra charge.
The company also offers business Internet access accounts from
$50 and up.
Its worth noting that KIH also is offering subscribers ISDN accounts
too, starting at $35 a month for 30 hours of online time.
ISDN offers much faster Web surfing, so if you're interested in
doing some heavy-duty browsing, kih may have your wave.
For more information, call KIH Online at 1-800-300-7953 or 606-864-4429.
WEB WEAVING. Readers of this column who've looked for my
Web site recently may have discovered it was missing.
An update recently performed by InfiNet changed the address to
my Web site.
Typo, the name of my Web site, is currently being revamped. A beta
version -- a trial version -- of one idea I have for my personal
Web site is now posted at my new Web site address: www.myoldkentuckyhome.com.
I'm always looking for new Web sites to highlight in my column
that have local ties. If you or your school has a new one to promote,
don't hesitate to contact me at the e-mail address below.
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