[lettergram]

> Usenet back then was spam free and you could usually end up talking to the creators of whatever you're discussing. I rather miss it.

I still use usenet! It's not quite what it used to be, but you should check it out.

[neves]

Can you still access it though Google? They've bought DejaVú!

[hh2222]

Yes, you can still access newsgroups through Google, just search for your favorite group, e.g. comp.lang.lisp.

[tonyarkles]

Or eternal-september. Free accounts, although you don't get access to the binaries groups I don't think. I mostly use it for comp.risks, comp.arch.embedded, and some other things like that.

[JetSpiegel]

Aoie is another service still around, and is free without accounts.

[ionwake]

or you could use the site I built that reads HN/reddit/slashdot and any newsgroup you wish on a webpage. Its free if a little buggy - www.sagebump.com

you need the www