This is the email/Usenet post that got us started

10/28/97


If you are reading this message, you probably live and work in Southern
California and you probably have something to do with the World Wide
Web. 

Maybe you're a CGI coder, maybe you're a Java ace, perhaps you breathe
Lingo and Shockwave.

You could be a major-league HTML guru that dreams in tables and frames,
or perchance a Web artist looking for yet *another* way to make a nav
button. 

You sell software and hardware and services for the Web, or you buy
them. 

You write about the Web, or write for it. 

You know BSD, RA, SSL, CLUT, CSS, QT, NT, SMTP, CGI, and C++ -- except
for that one %^@#*!! thing that works great on 16-bit Windows AOL but
not on Netscape for Solaris.

Some of you may be called suits, some of you are proud to be geeks, some
proudly carry titles like President or Webmaster or Project Manager or
Network Engineer.

You work for yourself, or a Web shop, or an ad agency or a studio, or
maybe you're looking for work, or looking for workers. 

Maybe you own the business and are thinking about your next payroll, not
just the next paycheck.

You're in Santa Monica, you're in Fullerton, you're in Glendale,
Woodland Hills, Irvine, Carpenteria, Newport Beach and Pasadena --
whereever you are, you're just a freeway or two away.

Welcome to Web405.

Web405 is a new, unmoderated mailing list for Southern Californians who
work the World Wide Web.

It's a place to ask technical questions, discuss design issues, evaluate
ISPs, hash out business problems, and pontificate on the future on
online commerce. 

You can share tips 'n' tricks, post URLs and openings, rants and
reviews, peeves and Perl.

We are starting this list because we think Southern California needs it. 

We are so spread out, disconnected, and we are missing the synergy that
comes from shared ideas, shared energy, shared perspectives. 

We hope you agree, we hope you'll subscribe, and we urge you to forward
this message to everyone you know who might be interested. 

The more people who become active on the list, the more valuable it will
become. 

Please join us!

Dennis and Michelle

o How to Subscribe:

mailto:web405-request @ southland.net and a list of commands will be sent
to you. 

o A Little About Us:

Dennis Wilen is a web designer who generally works freelance contracts
from his home studio in Bel Air, but will work in your office if you pay
him enough.

Michelle Gray is co-owner of Southland Internet Services
and a pretty nice person. 

And a more recent version...

From: Dennis Wilen 
Organization: InternetConnect News Server
Newsgroups: [comp.infosystems.www.authoring.html],
[comp.infosystems.www.authoring.images],
[comp.infosystems.www.authoring.site-design]
Date: Saturday, February 16, 2002 1:11 AM
Subject: SoCal Mailing List for E-People JUST LIKE YOU

Do you work the Web, or in new media, or would you like to?

Have we got a deal for you!

That's right, Web405, SoCal's largest mailing list for e-people JUST
LIKE YOU is looking for a few new subscribers.

And it's FREE FREE FREE!

Join over 400 industry professionals, wannabes, clueless newbies, and
clued-in gurus to ponder great issues like

* My PC has fallen and it can't get up
* My web site needs something but I don't know WTF it is
* Hey, I need a job BUT THE MAN IS KEEPING ME DOWN
* How can I convert this Flash File to Real Media
* What's the current CPM for banner ads
* Bill Gates: Devil or Angel

We have big studio honchos, published authors, lowly cubicle-dwellers,
Flash artists, e-biz wizards, dotcom winners and losers, Internet 
streamers, freelance webmasters, ad execs, suits, geeks, artists, slackers and more.

What we don't have is new blood like you!

Check out (via Google) they say about Web405.

Hi, I'm Dennis Wilen and I'm the "ListOwner," but don't let that
scare you.  The list is unmoderated -- you can say whatever you
want, and you own your own words.

Please join us.

We'd like to know what's on your mind!

See ya soon!

Dennis