htm and html extensions

Hello,
I have been exposed to something recently that does not fit my prior 
training.  My wife works for a high-tech firm that has many servers 
addressing a wide range of clients - Internet, not Intranet, around the 
USA.  The firm has dropped all .htm and .html extensions when referring a 
client to a site file.  Check it out at www.usworks.com/jacksonville

Somehow, I was trained that proper file access would require *.htm or 
.html* after "jacksonville."

I have run a few tests on the back-end of my own servers and, sure enough, 
www.my-choice.com/8884360 will access a test page - graphic (clock).  When, 
if ever, did the browsers/URL data access world change to the point where 
no htm or html is required after the server file?  Perhaps it has always 
been this way and I simply assumed htm or html was required for proper file 
access.  Any feedback will be quite helpful.  Incidentally, I sent the 
my-choice link to about 60 people (all browser, OSs, and even AOL folks) 
and all replied stating they could access the clock via my test page.  BTW, 
I'm delighted with this given a venture we are starting, but I want to 
ensure that I am not laboring under some bizarre delusion or freak 
tweak.  Trying to understand?
TIA
Ralph Rasmussen

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