<!-- s:) --><img src="{SMILIES_PATH}/icon_smile.gif" alt=":)" title="Smile" /><!-- s:) --> Received this kind of spam today on my mail. Any ideas what might this be? ----------------------------------------------- I see that we are of one mind, my lords andgentlemen. You are breaking your Gods commandments, andclaiming a right to do so. The difference between man and Roman is but a word; but itmakes all the difference. Her age isunknown; but she is made up to pass as reasonably young andattractive. It is you who have wasted the morninginterrupting me with your silly remarks about your necklace. I cannot gofaster than our voters will let me. Twenty minutes from your door by Underground. So that Satan may find mischief still for idle hands todo. I am so sorry, Arthur: she isuncontrollable. He really must do something to stop these meetings. Football, prizefighting, war: that is what they like. But we are now settled experienced men, family men. All youll hear is a noise like awatchmans rattle. Terrordrives men mad: hope and faith give them divine wisdom. The Archbishop says Avoid figures; and stickto the fact that Socialism would break up the family. I see that we are of one mind, my lords andgentlemen. Yet the word came first, before it was made flesh. Beware how you kill athought that is new to you. My dear boy, at this very moment I am making notes fora speech on the family. We cant have the sittings of the localauthorities threatened by deputations. For I am a patrician andtherefore myself a man of quality; and hawks should not pick outhawks eyes. Her age isunknown; but she is made up to pass as reasonably young andattractive. You have won a crown of thorns; and you shall wear it onthe cross. You have a rare lot of gasbags under your thumb in theHouse. I have spoken to you as one man toanother, in living words. Beware how you kill athought that is new to you. I am so sorry, Arthur: she isuncontrollable. The Mayor sits down, rather overwhelmed by the cordiality of hisreception. I could have killed her, poor little devil. The streets will be clear before twelve oclock. The law forbids obscenity,sedition, and blasphemy. Do not be so ungrateful as to answer mein dead ones. Ihave a frightful mass of work to get through this morning. She interfereswith me in every possible way out of sheer dislike of me. Crowds are dangerous whentheyve nothing to listen to or look at. It just breaks my heart to see the state you come homein. Woe betide you and the world if you do not distinguish!

Sigh... if you'd be more open and would be willing to try something else than stock M$ internet products, you would not only be spared much of the spam you receive (simply because other browsers and mail clients don't automatically confirm your mail address to spammers), but you'd also know what the point of such a mail is (the source code which you don't see in M$ Outlook but do in other mail clients contains hidden links, the text on the top is just to fool spam filters).

I don't use M$ Outlook, I use web interface on mail provider's website. And there was an advertisment picture above that text. I just thought the text is funny, although I do not understand its sense much.

welcome to the internet part two <!-- s:roll: --><img src="{SMILIES_PATH}/icon_rolleyes.gif" alt=":roll:" title="Rolling Eyes" /><!-- s:roll: -->

I couldn't really come up with any meaning to this, it's just looks like a crazy mix of off-context sentences from some kind of religious-driven text, badly translated (unless it's YOU who translated, in this case sorry <!-- s;) --><img src="{SMILIES_PATH}/icon_wink.gif" alt=";)" title="Wink" /><!-- s;) --> ). But I do get your point here, insted of getting your everyday "viagra/enlarge something/easy loan/"I love you" click on this and catch a virus" usual spam, getting something like this might be scary, but I still wouldn't believe any supernatural being or force, if they exist, would really use e-mails to contact with the living? <!-- s;) --><img src="{SMILIES_PATH}/icon_wink.gif" alt=";)" title="Wink" /><!-- s;) -->

OK once again, hopfeully this time everybody will understand it: this type of spam is neither uncommon nor new, it's been around for years and it's nothing but a bunch of words and phrases thrown together with the real content hidden in the mail source so that spam filters have much less of a chance to recognize and block it.

Yep, I'm not aware of those network "techniques". Just sounds like waste of brain cells if you ask me (taking time to come up with this stuff).

No it's not, it's a huge business - basically all the shit on a computer you have to put up with has economic reasons, spam just as much as viruses and worms - and on the other hand, crappy buggy software with lots of security holes also have economic reasons. In the first case, they get money by sheep buying the spam advertised products, and in the second case software houses save lots of money on pushing out half-finished shit-quality programs instead of finishing up development.

Cynical, but true. <!-- s:( --><img src="{SMILIES_PATH}/icon_sad.gif" alt=":(" title="Sad" /><!-- s:( --> What ever happened to people? Back in the days of localized economies, virtually all business were independent with only one franchise, whose manager actually worked at the place, and perhaps a few other employees too. They cared about their customers and their workers, because they were all they had to be financially successful. I'd buy a pair of pants from a mom'n'pop shop long before I'd even think of setting foot into Wal-Mart. It's terrible what corporations like these are doing to businesses at the individual level! Ever wonder why employee morale in those places is so rotten? Because the company is so huge, they don't have to give a shit about their workers - they just come and go, working for minimum wage and layed off before they have a chance of promotion. And they take the money straight out of the city and put it straight into their CEO's pockets. <!-- s:x --><img src="{SMILIES_PATH}/icon_mad.gif" alt=":x" title="Mad" /><!-- s:x --> So CW, to answer your question, this is why most Westerners hate their countries.

I think the word "hate" is often misjudged nowadays because in this day and age, I think what most "educated" people hate is the fact we (the world population) live in conditions much inferior to what we have the potential to live, if only the society and cultural bases were subtly different (and by inferior I include the contrast between rich and miserable countries and the whole logic that enables it to exist, for example). Still, what we are talking here is an extremely complex subject. As Cheapy observed, there are indeed some topics that tend to current "real-life" concerns that goes way beyond the gaming universe (that brought us here together in the first place), but I guess it's mainly because there are a lot of life factors out there to which we really care about and worries us. So getting back on track: - RambOrc: although I can see your reasoning, maybe here mass consumption isn't the key factor in itself - if it were like TV advertising (where you spend absurd amounts of money for mere seconds of air time) I believe Spam would be long gone, but the lack of any effort or urgency on those message lead to me to think Internet advertising (not through regular visited sites) is probably so much cheaper, and hence the abuse and that could also explain why it still exists (even if they get 0,1% acceptance from consumers, it's worth it, so bomb them away). As always, I don't have any facts and could be wrong. - Class: although many advocates a very different life style to what most highly industrialized cities (both physical and social context) is evolving to (an alternative life style less economic-centered that is some times refered to as post-modern), it's highly doubtful anything is going to be able to stop current progresses, untill something is powerful enough to reverse it (like the world global warmth, that is in fashion today and is highly debated by the same tv stations and political figures that ridiculed cientists who had been warning about it for decades). It's fun that a person who haven't studied urban anthropology and sociology cares about these things, it's nice to know. <!-- s:wink: --><img src="{SMILIES_PATH}/icon_wink.gif" alt=":wink:" title="Wink" /><!-- s:wink: --> But enough of my boring opinions, this reminds me I have to study! <!-- s:cry: --><img src="{SMILIES_PATH}/icon_cry.gif" alt=":cry:" title="Crying or Very sad" /><!-- s:cry: --> I also don't want to give any reader a depression! <!-- s:P --><img src="{SMILIES_PATH}/icon_razz.gif" alt=":P" title="Razz" /><!-- s:P -->

[quote="mago":11turdob]I think the word "hate" is often misjudged nowadays because in this day and age, I think what most "educated" people hate is the fact we (the world population) live in conditions much inferior to what we have the potential to live, if only the society and cultural bases were subtly different (and by inferior I include the contrast between rich and miserable countries and the whole logic that enables it to exist, for example). Not just educated people, Mago: everybody. Throughout history people have known their well-being is much better off, but the economics/politics in place only reserved it for the head honchos. [quote="mago":11turdob]- RambOrc: although I can see your reasoning, maybe here mass consumption isn't the key factor in itself - if it were like TV advertising (where you spend absurd amounts of money for mere seconds of air time) I believe Spam would be long gone, but the lack of any effort or urgency on those message lead to me to think Internet advertising (not through regular visited sites) is probably so much cheaper, and hence the abuse and that could also explain why it still exists (even if they get 0,1% acceptance from consumers, it's worth it, so bomb them away). As always, I don't have any facts and could be wrong. That is an interesting argument, Mago. I never looked at it from that perspective. [quote="mago":11turdob]- Class: although many advocates a very different life style to what most highly industrialized cities (both physical and social context) is evolving to (an alternative life style less economic-centered that is some times refered to as post-modern), What do you mean less economic-centered? The United States alone is by far the most money-driven nation in the world. Or do you mean that in future decades, it won't be as money-driven anymore? If that's the case, then all we can do is cross our fingers. [quote="mago":11turdob]mago"]it's highly doubtful anything is going to be able to stop current progresses, untill something is powerful enough to reverse it (like the world global warmth, that is in fashion today and is highly debated by the same tv stations and political figures that ridiculed cientists who had been warning about it for decades). That reminds me of an old saying: put a frog in a bot of boiling water, he will jump immediately out to save himself; however, if you put him in a pot of lukewarm water, and gradually increase the heat, he will stay the pot until it kills him. Convert that to a real-like scenario: if global warming affects the earth overnight, then people would surely take a LOT more action than they're doing right now, because the change is right in their eyes. And let's not forget that humans account for only about 5% of global warming. The other 95% comes from volcano emissions and the like, half of which I believe come from just two volcanoes. Perhaps a more appropriate world crisis for bashing humans is ozone depletion, pollution, deforestation, culture homogenization (sp), etc... <!-- s:wink: --><img src="{SMILIES_PATH}/icon_wink.gif" alt=":wink:" title="Wink" /><!-- s:wink: --> [quote="mago":11turdob]It's fun that a person who haven't studied urban anthropology and sociology cares about these things, it's nice to know. <!-- s:wink: --><img src="{SMILIES_PATH}/icon_wink.gif" alt=":wink:" title="Wink" /><!-- s:wink: --> O but I have, for two years. <!-- s:P --><img src="{SMILIES_PATH}/icon_razz.gif" alt=":P" title="Razz" /><!-- s:P --> Specifically within the family unit, though.

Oh, it is such a pleasure to read this nearly scientific discussion <!-- s:P --><img src="{SMILIES_PATH}/icon_razz.gif" alt=":P" title="Razz" /><!-- s:P --> (if only I can understand all 100% of it <!-- s;) --><img src="{SMILIES_PATH}/icon_wink.gif" alt=";)" title="Wink" /><!-- s;) --> ) I'll add a small note here about global warming. It was funny, I never came to this thought earlier until I heard it from one magazine-article author, although it is extremely banal and simple, but seems so-called "public opinion" overrides one man's own thoughts in this case... here's the deal: often it is said something alike: "these days a temperature in .... broke a record and appears to be most high in last, say, 150 years". But then it means that 150 years ago temperature was even higher, no? <!-- s;) --><img src="{SMILIES_PATH}/icon_wink.gif" alt=";)" title="Wink" /><!-- s;) --> Why? Global warming of XIX, XVIII centuries?

4th not sure where you got that 5% "info", but it's the kind of lie the masses have been fed with for the last half century, ever since the first scientists in the early 1950s prophecied global warming. Back then, they were called utter pessimists even by other scientists... now, 50 years later, current scientific measurements show that even those most pessimists of scientists back then UNDERestimated the danger. Global warming is faster and more destructive than even the most extreme scientists thought even a decade ago. Actually, these days more and more scientists actually say that the time frame for drastic acts is very short, after that the catastrophe will be unstoppable, no matter what. And this is why every single person on this planet who cares even a bit about our environment hates the US government passionately, as the US with its something like 2-3% of the world population is responsible for something like 10x that percentage of global warming directly, and even more indirectly, and is still the only country who does not do anything to reduce its output, but is even increasing it. Heck, they even wage constant war on a bunch of countries and kill innocent children and women just to be able to increase this output. And the only reason why they do it? Profit. Profit in the pockets of a couple of hundred thousands from the hundreds of millions of citizens. For the rest, nothing. They are just too comfortable being sheep and not doing anything about it. Being one of the richest country on earth, they'll surely not make a revolution like in 1917 in Russia, because even though their whole country is going to be destroyed in the coming century (the hurricane that destroyed New Orleans was a direct result of global warming, pretty much all scientists agree on it), they are rather sitting it out in their relative luxury and stick their heads in the sand, rather than do something dramatic about it. Not that the rest of the Western world would be much better, though at least some European countries are trying to flow against this current and do at least something to decrease global warming. And at least some of them say NO to going to another children-killing nazi war with the US just to secure oil fields so the global warming can be sped up and some billionaires can get even more money...

Let us just remind ourselves that although "useful" for demonstrations and explanations purpouses, it's also unfair to generalize any country population because it includes an obvious amount of people who do care for environment issues (maybe even much bigger than we think). <!-- s:wink: --><img src="{SMILIES_PATH}/icon_wink.gif" alt=":wink:" title="Wink" /><!-- s:wink: --> See Brazil for example, it's not like the general population cares, but it's the country that most recycles in the world, it is fuel independent, and has introduced alternative technologies like alchohol and common vegetal oil for fuel (and many other things I can't even begin to know) - but it's also the country in which the Amazon rain forest is expected to disappear inside 25 years. Those are all very very complex issues, we are all also responsable in a way as individuals... The main thing to consider now is to take all those concerns and act, passively or actively, by "doing our part". I think I'm not been apocalyptical when I say we'll all have to change our life-syle to make it less wasteful and less industrial depended in the near future, it's probably the best to start right now by doing small things like recycling and saving energy, resources, etc. It's not all lost, I still believe we can make a differance, in this lifetime. But we'll have to wait for the future and see. <!-- s:) --><img src="{SMILIES_PATH}/icon_smile.gif" alt=":)" title="Smile" /><!-- s:) --> <!-- s:) --><img src="{SMILIES_PATH}/icon_smile.gif" alt=":)" title="Smile" /><!-- s:) --> <!-- s:) --><img src="{SMILIES_PATH}/icon_smile.gif" alt=":)" title="Smile" /><!-- s:) -->

I didn't say all Americans hate the environment, I'm talking about the half that voted for Bush and thus for war, genocide and for destroying the environment.

I can forgive them voting for him on the first election, but not the second. After he proved how incompetent and chaotic his administration is, not to mention that he set the US's foreign policy back far worse than it was in the 1950's. It's not just what they're doing to other countries, because their screwing their own people over too you know. This is definitely off-topic, and I'm sorry if some of you find this a bit obscene, but Texas has banned all masturbatory objects from being sold within the state. And it doesn't stop there: the Bush administration is also run by fundamental Catholics who advocate (more like enforce) celebacy as the "divine" method of contraception and prevention of STDs. So don't be surprised when they ban all contraceptions from the States to "secure the family unit." <!-- s:( --><img src="{SMILIES_PATH}/icon_sad.gif" alt=":(" title="Sad" /><!-- s:( --> And back on Mago's comment ... at my old grocery store, we sold about half our produce, and disposed of the other half. Consider that the store has been open 24/7 for 5 years, that amount of waste could have drastically improved the famine condition in Africa and all Third World countries, even in the lower quarters of the western world. So you know what I did? I salvaged as much food as I could and donated it to my local food bank. People laughed at me for sure, but the poor homeless people downtown who can't afford to buy food sure didn't. Which reminds me...why is it that consumers have to PAY for the essential elements of life? In my ideal society, food and water, maybe even shelter, should be free, because isn't it within the UN human rights that says all people are entitled to these? And another comment to you RambOrc... I wouldn't be surprised if it turns out China pollutes more than the US. Rural Chinese farmers have throughout the last few years tried to complain to the government about industries contaminated the rivers - their prime source of water. In one sad example on film, a farmer demonstrated by throwing a rock into the water, and the ripples were black as oil. And all the fish were floating dead by the way. The farmers lost the case due to "lack of evidence." Not to mention that almost all the historic forestry in the country is now barren desert. So personally I'd be a little bit more worried at China's pollution rather than the State's by now, because they're booming like never before, and at this rate, they'll make the States look like the green party. <!-- s:shock: --><img src="{SMILIES_PATH}/icon_eek.gif" alt=":shock:" title="Shocked" /><!-- s:shock: -->

I live in the U.S. (another reason for Ramborc to tease me >_<). All I wanna say is, I hope the world doesn't burn up in flames before I die of old age (I'm 19 btw). Also I think sheep are the cutest animals ever <!-- sO:) --><img src="{SMILIES_PATH}/eusa_angel.gif" alt="O:)" title="Angel" /><!-- sO:) -->

[quote="paganraven":1tucjxnf]I live in the U.S. (another reason for Ramborc to tease me >_<). All I wanna say is, I hope the world doesn't burn up in flames before I die of old age (I'm 19 btw). Also I think sheep are the cutest animals ever <!-- sO:) --><img src="{SMILIES_PATH}/eusa_angel.gif" alt="O:)" title="Angel" /><!-- sO:) --> I thought you lived in England... <!-- s:| --><img src="{SMILIES_PATH}/icon_neutral.gif" alt=":|" title="Neutral" /><!-- s:| -->