Paul Baran, 84, Passes Away

Paul Baran, 84, passed away of complications due to lung cancer.  "Who?" you ask.  Why, just the person who helped create Arpanet, the precursor to the Internet you silly rapscallion fooly fool.

 But do not feel too silly.  You are not the first one to never hear of this guy.  In the 1960s, Baran took his idea of a distributed communications system to AT&T and they ignored him.  Or sent him a nice rejection letter, I have no idea.  I was not there.  The point is, if more people listened to this guy, we would have better reception on our iPhones for the last few years. 

After that DARPA (the government agency that sits around all day thinking about and building crazy shit) decided that this kid and his idea had lots of moxie, so they took him out for a malted and built Arpanet.  Or sent him a nice letter, I have no idea.  I was not there.

Also, according to Wikipedia, he was "a badass mother from the wrong side of the tracks.  Yeah, buddy, he starred in Son in Law with Paulie Shore.  Metallica Rulz."  I think that may be incorrect, however.

So, Paul Baran as well as countless others, I thank you for all the porn allowing me and others to share our ramblings with the rest of the world.  FSM bless you.

New York Times