What does "HREF" stand for? (2008)

I'm surprised to see that this submission is from 2008; while I identify with the author's struggle (and subsequent delight) as he plays the part of an Internet archaeologist, I thought this was a common piece of knowledge five years ago, let alone today. Goes to show how incorrect assumptions about what we do (and do not) know can be.

Burners-Lee's talks are wonderful. My favorite is his talk "Hypertext and Our Collective Destiny": http://www.w3.org/Talks/9510_Bush/Talk.html

a downvote apparently :)

It's so obvious it hurts. The H in both HTML and HTTP is "hypertext". "ref" is clearly "reference". What kind of downer actually writes such a detailed article about this?!

I don't get it. Is this a joke?

So, I go to Google Groups to try to find the first mention of HREF on Usenet.

I have no idea how to do this. It takes four clicks just to get to the Google Groups page.

I see a search box. I look for something to give me the advanced search page. I can't find it. (I can see 2 buttons for settings.) So, I type HREF into the search bar and click seach. The drop down offers "in any group" or "groups named". First attempt I ignore both of those and just click the button.

Posts: 28200040, groups: 58

I need to narrow this down. I need the advanced search pane. It's still not there.

I arrange by date. LOL NO, that hasn't worked for literally years.

The advance options turn up if I'm in a group. They allow me to narrow the search down, but not to change the group I'm searching in.

I will donate $5 to the charity of your choice to the first person who tells me how the fuck I can perform the following search:

[HREF]

any Usenet group (or the news hierarchy)

Before 1998

Sorted by date

Bonus $5 if the instructions you give are in any Google documentation online.