The Internet Archive, otherwise known as the WayBackMachine, is a site where, in their own words, they are "...building a digital library of Internet sites and other cultural artifacts in digital form."

If you're like most people, you've probably never come across a genuine, living, breathing cultural artifact in digital form. But now you have... me.

Here, for example, you can see that my first firm, Sterling Hager, Inc., the traditional PR agency, had a web site dating back to at least 1997. Since we were founded in 1984, I suspect we had something online earlier, but that could be senility setting in? Man, it's tough going down memory lane without one, a memory that is.

But based on this definition of an artifact, I'm not a happy person: ...a handmade object, as a tool, or the remains of one, as a shard of pottery, characteristic of an earlier time or cultural stage, esp. such an object found at an archaeological excavation. That's me pictured above from the 2003 Sterling Hager, Inc. website. That thing tied around my neck and dangling downward was a common Inca custom of the period, or back in the day, as they say. I still look like this except no Inca fashionwear and I appear significantly younger (I'm in PR... this sort of nonsense is to be expected...)

So I am a tool, or the remains of one, from an earlier time and cultural stage? Well, actually, a lot of people wouldn't disagree. Where I differ is that I'm of this cultural time and place, too... or still?

The site reminds me of those CDs that family aunts make of old photos for online viewing at major clan gatherings. Everyone groans and then watches avidly, loving any glimpse of themselves getting a bath as a three year old in a galvanized five gallon pail. Shoot me they say... show me more they mean.

Those were good old days at Sterling Hager, Inc. from 1984 to 2003. I'm glad the Internet Archive has made them a part of the 85 billion pages they keep in their digital museum of old and broken tools. And by the way, I sign 8×10-inch black and white glossies of me, the digital artifact, for $10 a pop.

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