Early in 1996 I, Ruthie, was introduced to the concept of the
internet through the local school's Global
Internet Academy. The school also introduced us
to the functions of the new version of the
personal computer. Previously all computer
experience I had was with the original
Macintosh, remember
those? During this time, the internet was a
rather new technology becoming available to the
masses which I found utterly interesting
and fascinating as it opened up and made
the world available through a monitor screen.
During
this same year of 1996, Ariadna Thalia
Sodi Miranda had just released her
single "Piel Morena" for approximately
a year and it bombarded the radio stations since
its release. After inquiring with family members
and friends about the artist I had just heard
about in a cassette tape, I realized this was
the same person with whom I had come to know
from watching
Maria Mercedes. With a growing fascination about
this one individual who had become well-known
through radio and television media, I became
intrigued about Thalia, the person. While
recognizing Thalia's tremendous acting and
singing talents, I wanted to know more about the
individual behind the stage persona. At this
time the main search engine was Yahoo (remember, Google didn't even incorporate until
the following year), so I Yahoo-ed Thalia. Thalia's name only appeared
in about 10 links (which today are all dysfunctional
or nonexistent links) and the term "Thalia" was nowhere to be found on
other major websites on the rise such as Ebay,
AOL, Lycos or WebCrawler.
I frequented
what appeared to be the most popular link at
this time
(remember kevlocke.com?) but became discontent
with the amount of news, although I was grateful
a website of this sort exited. But, as a
visionary I figured the website needed much more
content, information, media, and far more interaction amongst fans
online. While perusing the website, I envisioned
a website which held the brightest and latest
photographs with news released as quickly as
possible and the ability to develop a page which
would discuss Thalia's qualities and successes
rather than discuss the content from traditional
yellow-journalism gossip filled columns.
While
learning of the capabilities of the new
personal computer, I made it a hobby, in
addition to other community involvements and
hobbies, to simultaneously learn about web design
and about the triple-threat known as
Thalia: the person, the artist, and
actress. Thalia's triumphs, talent, and
breathless beauty caught my attention and lead
me to
research Thalia even further by using any and
all databases and search engines possible. From that
year on as I found out more about Thalia, I was a
die-hard fan in the making and my fascination
with Thalia's successes drew me closer than
ever. Besides, at this time Thalia toured the
world and visited every corner of the planet
making it that much more entertaining to learn
about the different countries she visited. In
addition to learning about Thalia, I contacted
different fans from all sorts of cities and
countries around the world as the emerging
invention of electronic email made
communications easier. In all, what started
about as a simple search about Thalia lead me
to develop a fascination with technology, its
capabilities, and my ability to produce a
website.
By late 1996 the concept of my own version of a Thalia website
quickly developed into a creative idea and was
developed into a full-on project filled with
learning experiences. In 1997 ideas were being
converted from paper sketches and ideas to
HTML-produced web pages thanks to the purchase of new technology
such as scanners, storage disks, and software
program, and learning materials. My original spark of interest for a new
website sky-rocketed to a new level.
For the majority of 1997,
while attending school and extracurricular
activities of course, I spent a majority of my
late summer nights
working on my version of a Thalia-site which I
initially called "Thalia's Corner."
After building the most basic of pages from HTML
code I had learned on my own, I was on my way to
release my project to the public. But, a few
days before the web pages and images were to be uploaded
live online and make its grand debut, the computer
crashes!! Why it crashed is yet to be known but
it sure was a big setback. At this time,
external storage drives didn't exist and making
things work with just small sized disks was
impossible. All my files were gone,
all the hard work and many hours
spent on my project were gone.
After
a major setback in losing my material, 1997-1998
free nights
were set to re-do "Thalia's Corner."
The page was a test of my determination and I
was sure as heck going to produce what I
envisioned. By late 1997,
"Thalia's Corner" was launched live
online and running (with hardly any visitors) with
a total of about 20 recovered images to back it up.
As the site made its online presence, work was
consistently planned to improve the site. With the help of investments
such as a new PCs, new zip disks, scanners, digital
camera's, snappy media, and other gadgets, a cooler
livelier website was on its way as technology
advancements allowed it.
In early 1998,
I collaborated with fans around the world to work
on the site which had then been renamed, Planet
Thalia - a website revolving around the
international superstar. The second official
version of the site ( Planet Thalia ) was then officially launched into the World Wide Web on
September 11, 1998 (It happens to be my mother's
birth day). Since then the Planet Thalia Website
has had more than 600,000 visitor views from many different
countries around this wonderful blue planet of
ours. As of 2010, Planet Thalia has accumulated more than
2000
images spread out throughout the site and thanks to
the words of encouragement received from tons of
emails, this website has continued functioning
as one of my many hobbies.
With Thalia exerting great musical hits, one
after another, Planet Thalia has
been kept busy accumulating news for fans all
around the world equally as captivated by
Thalia's charm, beauty, talent, and most of all
positive attitude as I am .
Thalia: this website is for you in appreciation
to
your hard work and inspiration you unselfishly
and unknowinly grant to many thousands of
individuals throughout the wonderful years of
successes and entertainment you have provided
us!
All your fans and I
are very fortunate to share this wonderful globe with
you and witness your successes! True
F.A.N.S. always, Ruthie
// planetthalia
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