In 1996, the company then known as Progressive Networks (now known as Real.com) launched a web page of progressive politics (WebActive.com) as a platform to show off its product RealAudio. I was recruited to deliver an audio commentary once a week. (Yes, this all started as a come-on for a corporation, but I didn't really sell out. Selling out would mean I got money from the deal. I only got "exposure." I didn't sell out, I gave out.)

Since none of my friends had RealAudio, I started getting requests for text versions of the commentaries. One thing led to another and soon there was a distribution list.

WebActive stopped posting audio commentaries in the summer of 2003 and I moved my archives over here.