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internetworkers - Re: [internetworkers] "Buffalo Spammer" Arrested in N.Y. on Felony Charges

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  • From: David Minton <dminton AT mindspring.com>
  • To: InterNetWorkers <internetworkers AT lists.ibiblio.org>
  • Subject: Re: [internetworkers] "Buffalo Spammer" Arrested in N.Y. on Felony Charges
  • Date: Thu, 15 May 2003 11:28:05 -0400

Funny you should ask, as it has been reported that this month marks the 25th
anniversary of the first UCE, according to Brad Templeton, chairman of the
Electronic Frontier Foundation:

http://www.templetons.com/brad/spam/spam25.html

Or, listen to a piece on NPR:

http://discover.npr.org/rundowns/segment.jhtml?wfId=1250161

To my knowledge, the term is derived from a Monty Python sketch, and not
directly from canned meat. The Pythons used the word SPAM, but could have
used any other term, and that would probably have been applied to UCE
instead. If they had written the sketch differently, we could be calling UCE
"chili," "corned beef hash" or any other potted meat.

The text of the Spam sketch:

http://www.ironworks.com/comedy/python/spam.htm

A brief description from <http://www.templetons.com/brad/spamterm.html>:

"Most people have some vague awareness that it came from at first from the
spam skit by Monty Python's Flying Circus. In the sketch, a restaurant
serves all its food with lots of spam, and the waitress repeats the word
several times in describing how much spam is in the items. When she does
this, a group of Vikings (don't ask) in the corner start a song:

"Spam, spam, spam, spam, spam, spam, spam, spam, lovely spam! Wonderful
spam!"

Until told to shut up.

Thus the meaning of the term at least: something that keeps repeating and
repeating to great annoyance. How did the two get connected?"


David

On 5/15/03 10:58 AM, "Jay Cuthrell" <jcuthrell AT neonova.net> wrote:

> David Minton wrote:
> [snip]
>> While old news to some, I would be very happy to see some spammers go to
>> prison.
>
> Side item[1]... has anyone ever seen references to other formed meat
> products (treet or champ) as variations on names for bulk uce?
>
> -Jay
>
> [1] npi





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