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Bruno Andrighetto

B-List Archive

December 2002

Postings to the B-List.

Subject: B-List: When Animals Attack
Date: Mon, 2 Dec 2002 07:31:03 +1030

1. "Big shark bites Santa Rosa surfer"
   < http://www.sacbee.com/state_wire/story/5406591p-6393675c.html >

2. "Police officer handcuffs sheep after attack on colleague"
   < http://www.ananova.com/news/story/sm_715615.html >

3. "Bull put on trial for murder"
   < http://www.ananova.com/news/story/sm_717107.html >

4. "Rogue squirrel assassinated by angry resident"
   < http://abc.net.au/news/newsitems/s722522.htm >

5. "Woman to make meal of ram for butting her mother"
   < http://www.ananova.com/news/story/sm_714892.html >

6. "Invasion of jelly giants"
   < http://www.thesun.co.uk/article/0,,2-2002551121,00.html >

7. "Dog Eats Owner After Death in Apartment"
   < http://www.reuters.com/news_article.jhtml?type=humannews&StoryID=1680957 >

8. "Bees Trap Customers Inside Liquor Store"
   < http://www.nbc4.tv/news/1811767/detail.html >

Subject: B-List: Latest Micro$oft Shenanigans
Date: Tue, 3 Dec 2002 07:13:15 +1030

Here are some recent news items which demonstrate all the attributes I have
come to admire about Micro$oft: ripping off the ideas of others, greed,
monopolistic tactics, overblown hype, and lax approach to security.  And
with all those profits, it doesn't even pay its shareholders any dividends!

1. "Microsoft Pulls Phony Switch Ad"
   < http://www.wired.com/news/business/0,1367,55785,00.html >
   "Microsoft's secret "switcher ad" identity blown by own software"
   < http://www.insanely-great.com/news.php?id=1113 >

2. "MS bug exposes millions to attack"
   < http://zdnet.com.com/2100-1105-966575.html >
   "Serious Windows Defects"
   < http://www.jmu.edu/computing/security/info/iehot.shtml >

3. "Microsoft Spills Customer Data"
   < http://www.wired.com/news/infostructure/0,1377,56481,00.html >

4. "Tablet PCs Mix Science Fiction and Real-World Friction"
   < http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/articles/A30442-2002Nov8.html >

5. "Microsoft SEC filing shows hideous losses except for Windows"
   < http://www.theregister.co.uk/content/4/28128.html >
   "Xbox losses fail to rock Microsoft"
   < http://newsvote.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/technology/2480001.stm >

6. "Microsoft: No Plans Yet to Pay Dividends"
   < http://biz.yahoo.com/rb/021105/tech_microsoft_shareholders_4.html >

7. "MS job ad seeks evangelist to 'demolish competition'"
   < http://www.theregister.co.uk/content/4/27903.html >

Subject: B-List: Get Motivated!
Date: Wed, 4 Dec 2002 07:51:31 +1030

Despair, Inc. 2003 Motivational Calendar
   < http://www.despair.com/year20cal.html >

* Flattery
   < http://www.despair.com/flattery.html >
* Get To Work
   < http://www.despair.com/gettowork.html >
* Goals
   < http://www.despair.com/goals.html >
* Indifference
   < http://www.despair.com/indifference.html >
* Individuality
   < http://www.despair.com/individuality.html >
* Intimidation
   < http://www.despair.com/intimidation.html >
* Leaders
   < http://www.despair.com/leaders.html >
* Limitations
   < http://www.despair.com/limitations.html >
* Meetings
   < http://www.despair.com/meetings.html >
* Motivation
   < http://www.despair.com/motivation.html >
* Planning
   < http://www.despair.com/planning.html >
* Strife
   < http://www.despair.com/noname13.html >

Subject: B-List: Signs O' The Times
Date: Fri, 6 Dec 2002 07:35:13 +1030

1. "The signs have ears"
   < http://www.sacbee.com/content/news/story/5349258p-6338265c.html >

2. "Smiley road signs are the way forward"
   < http://www.ananova.com/news/story/sm_676022.html >

3. "Town with unfriendly street signs says it still welcomes visitors"
   < http://www.ananova.com/news/story/sm_687445.html >

4. "'Sign Avenger' Wants To Pass Torch"
   < http://www.newschannel2000.com/news/1801293/detail.html >

5. "Enron's Big 'E' Bought for Small Change"
   < http://www.reuters.com/newsArticle.jhtml?type=oddlyEnoughNews&storyID=1850639 >

6. "Beijing launches campaign against bad English-language signs"
   < http://www.ananova.com/news/story/sm_722944.html >

7. "Phone giant opts for 'dogverts'"
   < http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/uk/2577671.stm >

----

Ruavista: Signs of the City
    < http://www.ruavista.com/ >
"Ruavista explores city streets and urban life through all kinds of signs:
 street graphics, architecture, street sounds... These signs are materials
 to help you decipher the city and make it your own."

Subject: B-List: Gadget Gift Guides / 007 Gadgets
Date: Mon, 9 Dec 2002 07:41:21 +1030

A. Gadget Gift Guides

1. Time: Best Inventions 2002
   < http://www.time.com/time/2002/inventions/toc.html >

2. Top SciTech Gifts 2002
   < http://www.sciam.com/article.cfm?chanID=sa004&articleID=00062C10-684A-1DDE-A838809EC588F2D7 >

3. Dave Barry's 2002 Gift Guide
   < http://www.miami.com/mld/miamiherald/living/special_packages/gift_guide/4502186.htm >


B. 007 Gadgets

1. "Bond gadgets: fact, fiction, fun"
   < http://www.msnbc.com/news/835195.asp >

2. "Toys from 007's attic. Spy gadgets now bargain-bin fare"
   < http://sfgate.com/cgi-bin/article.cgi?f=/chronicle/archive/2002/11/23/DD159565.DTL >

Subject: B-List: Gobbledygook Awards
Date: Wed, 11 Dec 2002 07:48:04 +1030

At PlainEnglish.co.uk:
* The Golden Bull awards
   < http://www.plainenglish.co.uk/goldenbull.html >

* The Foot in Mouth award
   < http://www.plainenglish.co.uk/footinmouth.html >

* Gobbledygook Generator
   < http://www.plainenglish.co.uk/generator.html >
Some material for your next letter or report.

An example of verbosity:
* American Airlines AAdvantage - Terms and Conditions
   
Instant enrollment, huh?

Subject: B-List: Catch Me If You Can ...
Date: Fri, 13 Dec 2002 07:48:33 +1030

Some people just seem to want to get caught.

1. "Burglar leaves his CV at the scene of the crime"
   < http://www.ananova.com/news/story/sm_699887.html >

2. "Suspected thief 'left family photo near scene'"
   < http://www.ananova.com/news/story/sm_705672.html >

3. "Car thief leaves birth certificate in vehicle"
   < http://www.ananova.com/news/story/sm_708565.html >

4. "Forgetful bank robber dubbed 'Germany's dumbest criminal'"
   < http://abc.net.au/news/newsitems/s725446.htm >

5. "Would-be takeaway thief lands in the soup"
   < http://abc.net.au/news/newsitems/s736702.htm >

6. "Man wearing cooler on his head tries to hold up store"
   < http://www.ananova.com/news/story/sm_667057.html >

7. "Man tried to smuggle python wrapped around his stomach"
   < http://www.ananova.com/news/story/sm_709353.html >

8. "Police followed their noses to nab perfume thieves"
   < http://www.ananova.com/news/story/sm_720670.html >

9. "Brazilian robbers caught after using their own cars and phones"
   < http://www.ananova.com/news/story/sm_725351.html >

10. "Fleeing kidnapper leaves picture of himself behind"
   < http://www.ananova.com/news/story/sm_725999.html >

Subject: B-List: Home Sweet Home?
Date: Mon, 16 Dec 2002 07:37:48 +1030

1. Aircraft Home
   < http://maxpoweraero.com/homes/owner'sflightmanual.html >

2. "Tiny cabin sold - for nearly £60,000"
   < http://www.ananova.com/news/story/sm_704147.html >

3. "Three-storey mud hut worth £750,000"
   < http://www.ananova.com/news/story/sm_656609.html >

4. "Double garage with a view for sale at £135,000"
   < http://www.ananova.com/news/story/sm_708604.html >

5. "Sydney toilet sold to buyer flush with funds"
   < http://abc.net.au/news/newsitems/s747504.htm >

Subject: B-List: Lost and Found
Date: Wed, 18 Dec 2002 07:31:33 +1030

1. "Inside the world of lost and found departments"
   < http://www.fortwayne.com/mld/newssentinel/4707050.htm >

2. "Ring lost in Florida turns up in Austrian sewer"
   < http://www.ananova.com/news/story/sm_682842.html >

3. "Wallet found 13 years on"
   < http://www.ananova.com/news/story/sm_712511.html >

4. "Pensioner finds fortune in the street and hands it over"
   < http://www.ananova.com/news/story/sm_717862.html >

5. "Sailor finds mobile phone in fish's stomach"
   < http://www.ananova.com/news/story/sm_719108.html >

6. "Five-year-old boy is found after going missing for nine months"
   < http://www.ananova.com/news/story/sm_723564.html >

7. "Snake found in PC power supply"
   < http://www.uq.edu.au/education/extra/all.html >

----

The Internet Lost and Found (Australia)
   < http://www.internetlostandfound.com.au/index.tpl >
"the largest free lost and found classified resource on the web!"
Available for other countries too.

Subject: B-List: Stating the Obvious?
Date: Fri, 20 Dec 2002 07:42:42 +1030

1. "President Bush May Be 'Moron': Stupidity Experts"
   < http://www.commondreams.org/headlines02/1122-03.htm >

2. "Footballers top poll for worst hairstyles"
   < http://www.guardian.co.uk/uk_news/story/0,3604,852428,00.html >

3. "Two million workers embarrass themselves at Christmas party says survey"
   < http://www.ananova.com/news/story/sm_722919.html >

4. "Canada?!" - what Canadians think of Americans
   < http://www.guardian.co.uk/g2/story/0,3604,860663,00.html >

5. "Toilet humour is therapeutic"
   < http://iol.co.za/index.php?click_id=79&art_id=qw104018292113B212&set_id=1 >

6. "Media To Retire Facts, Journalistic Standards"
   < http://www.bbspot.com/News/2002/11/retire.html >

7. Insultingly Stupid Movie Physics
   < http://www.intuitor.com/moviephysics/ >

Subject: B-List: Merry Christmas
Date: Mon, 23 Dec 2002 07:21:47 +1030

It's that time of year again.  I hope you've enjoyed this year's b-list
messages.

Merry Christmas and all the best for the New Year.

----

1. "Santa swamped with letters, e-mails"
   < http://abc.net.au/news/newsitems/s752428.htm >

2. "'Santa Claws' is coming to town"
   < http://abc.net.au/news/newsitems/s742853.htm >

3. "The Country with the Most Scrooges Is..."
   < http://www.reuters.com/newsArticle.jhtml?type=oddlyEnoughNews&storyID=1936073 >

4. "Santa phobia - Not all is merry and bright for kids coming face to face
    with jolly ol' elf"
   < http://www.accessatlanta.com/ajc/living/1202/15santaphobia.html >

5. "Know thyself for a stress-free Christmas"
   < http://www.newscientist.com/news/news.jsp?id=ns99993211 >

6. Send some virtual gifts:
   * VirtualChocolate.com
     < http://www.virtualchocolate.com/ >
   * VirtualGifts4u
     < http://www.virtualgifts4u.com/ >

7. Or, if you are like Frank Costanza and celebrate Festivus instead,
   check out:
   < http://www.interlog.com/~porteous/festivus.html >

Subject: B-List: 2002 In Review + Christmas Leftovers
Date: Mon, 30 Dec 2002 07:21:22 +1030

A. 2002 In Review

1. "The Best of What's New 2002" [Popular Science]
   < http://www.popsci.com/popsci/bown/ >

2. "2002: The year in technology" [New Scientist]
   < http://www.newscientist.com/news/news.jsp?id=ns99993215 >

3. "Who's Sorry Now? Top 10 Celebrity Excuses of 2002"
   < http://www.ew.com/ew/article/commentary/0,6115,402147~7~0~yearstop10celebrity,00.html >

4. "Decoding Some Top Buzz Words of 2002"
   < http://www.mediamonitors.net/solomon106.html >

5. "2002 a year of dumb crimes"
   < http://canada.com/national/story.asp?id=BF80D888-71FB-4B35-943C-4A6CCED5D1A5 >

6. "2002 Spam Top Ten List"
   < http://www.toymania.com/news/messages/2790.shtml >

7. "Worst manual instructions, 2002"
   < http://www.tecstandards.com./2002winner.htm >

8. Google - Zeitgeist Timeline 2002
   < http://www.google.com/press/timeline2002.html >


B. Christmas Leftovers

1. "Man cooks Christmas lunch using car engine"
    < http://www.ananova.com/news/story/sm_733705.html >

2. "Yule Log broadcast burns up Big Apple ratings"
    < http://www.sacbee.com/24hour/weird/story/691172p-5130548c.html >

B!?

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