a message from greg newby: ================== John Gutenberg First Master Printer, His Acts and Most Remarkable Discourses and his Death by Franz von Dingelstedt http://www.gutenberg.org/5/0/0/0/50000 Project Gutenberg is thrilled to achieve the milestone of eBook #50,000. In honor of Project Gutenberg's founder, Michael S. Hart, a special title was selected. "John Gutenberg, First Master Printer, His Acts, and most remarkable Discourses, and his Death" is now available at: http://www.gutenberg.org/ebooks/50000 J. Gutenberg is best known for introducing mechanical movable type printing to Europe. This brought about a revolution in printing, which was a key event in shaping today's information and knowlege-based society. Michael Hart pioneered the e-book in 1971 and his cyber-library became his life's major calling. He named it "Project Gutenberg," to recognize the impact of J. Gutenberg, and in anticipation of electronic books helping to transform societies by bringing cost-free literature to people everywhere. Free literature, and the freedom of thought and freedom of expression which it fosters, is key to growth of literacy, opportunity, and enlightenment. You can read more about Michael Hart at: http://www.gutenberg.org/wiki/Michael_S._Hart or in this Wikipedia article: http://www.wikipedia.org/wiki/Michael_S._Hart To join in celebrating the great gift of free literature, please read a book. Or share a book. Or a collection of books. Michael was proud of all efforts to give books. On behalf of Michael Hart, and of Project Gutenberg, my huge thanks and appreciation to all the volunteers who have helped to achieve this milestone. I invite you to join Distributed Proofreaders at http://www.pgdp.net, to assist in digitizing future Project Gutenberg eBooks. This message is granted to the public domain by its author, Dr. Gregory B. Newby.