The Book, Cat, & Cat Book Lovers Almanac

of historical trivia regarding books, cats, and other animals. Actually this blog has evolved so that it is described better as a blog about cats in history and culture. And we take as a theme the advice of Aldous Huxley: If you want to be a writer, get some cats. Don't forget to see the archived articles linked at the bottom of the page.

June 19, 2013

June 19, 1978

Garfield, the comic strip, made its debut on June 19, 1978. While the strip was on its way to becoming one of the most tasteless and boring successes of popular culture, those attracted to this sort of thing expressed their lack of discrimination by using garfield email or after the domain, gmail. No, not OUR Gmail. Here's what happened according to the How To Geek newsletter:

Prior to Gmail.com becoming the landing page for Google’s massive email service, it served a significantly more specific crowd. When the web was a much younger place and people were more apt to pick a quirky email provider, Gmail.com was the landing page for a Garfield and Friends themed email service–the perfect place [for] Garfield fans to set up their virtual mailing address and establish themselves a die hard devotees of the comic strip.

Yes, the company that said 'do no evil,' never said, 'do not be tacky'. Google bought the domain, in time to  introduce Gmail on April 1, 2004. 
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