Spam: A 30-Year Anniversary

[Lemur]

May 3rd marks the 30th anniversary of spam email, and I think we should commemorate the occasion somehow. Maybe send each other herbal Viagra offers or something. Here's an article about the special date:

Thirty years ago next week, Gary Thuerk, a marketer at the now-defunct computer firm Digital Equipment Corporation, sent an email to 393 users of Arpanet, the US government-run computer network that eventually became the internet. It was the first spam email ever.

And here's the original spam message:

DIGITAL WILL BE GIVING A PRODUCT PRESENTATION OF THE NEWEST MEMBERS OF THE
DECSYSTEM-20 FAMILY; THE DECSYSTEM-2020, 2020T, 2060, AND 2060T. THE
DECSYSTEM-20 FAMILY OF COMPUTERS HAS EVOLVED FROM THE TENEX OPERATING SYSTEM
AND THE DECSYSTEM-10 <PDP-10> COMPUTER ARCHITECTURE. BOTH THE DECSYSTEM-2060T
AND 2020T OFFER FULL ARPANET SUPPORT UNDER THE TOPS-20 OPERATING SYSTEM.
THE DECSYSTEM-2060 IS AN UPWARD EXTENSION OF THE CURRENT DECSYSTEM 2040
AND 2050 FAMILY. THE DECSYSTEM-2020 IS A NEW LOW END MEMBER OF THE
DECSYSTEM-20 FAMILY AND FULLY SOFTWARE COMPATIBLE WITH ALL OF THE OTHER
DECSYSTEM-20 MODELS.

WE INVITE YOU TO COME SEE THE 2020 AND HEAR ABOUT THE DECSYSTEM-20 FAMILY
AT THE TWO PRODUCT PRESENTATIONS WE WILL BE GIVING IN CALIFORNIA THIS
MONTH. THE LOCATIONS WILL BE:

TUESDAY, MAY 9, 1978 - 2 PM
HYATT HOUSE (NEAR THE L.A. AIRPORT)
LOS ANGELES, CA

THURSDAY, MAY 11, 1978 - 2 PM
DUNFEY'S ROYAL COACH
SAN MATEO, CA
(4 MILES SOUTH OF S.F. AIRPORT AT BAYSHORE, RT 101 AND RT 92)

A 2020 WILL BE THERE FOR YOU TO VIEW. ALSO TERMINALS ON-LINE TO OTHER
DECSYSTEM-20 SYSTEMS THROUGH THE ARPANET. IF YOU ARE UNABLE TO ATTEND,
PLEASE FEEL FREE TO CONTACT THE NEAREST DEC OFFICE
FOR MORE INFORMATION ABOUT THE EXCITING DECSYSTEM-20 FAMILY.

From such humble beginnings ...

[Mouzafphaerre]

.
Happy
.

[FactionHeir]

I suppose at least the first spam wasn't scam.

[TevashSzat]

I can't believe how much it has grown now....

[Banquo's Ghost]

Dear esteemed Mr Tiny-Monkey

It is truthing that my wife cousin is inventing spam late many thrity years back ago. This inventing make him very rich. Recent, bad gold rings make his juju disappear and he lie down with dying.

He leave me very enormous and humungous millions of cash dollars in Lagos Bank place. This bank place owned by foolish men who demand me pay fee for release my nephew money into my fingers. Theretofore I am in position of complication, as I have much dollars and richness, but no moneyless.

Nice man with beard tell me that you are Christian gentleman wiht kindness of kidney. I begging you to open your kidney to me, poor rich type and provide Jesus's help. Send me ten thousand euro pounds in dollars for which I can release humungous sum - whereabouts I am, in return for your Christian delusioning, I return to you one million of pound euros in real money terms.

Contact me at lasting address to arrange delivery uregntlly to stopping criminals having my niece.

I remain your obsequious serving wench, kind and nobble Mr Tiny-Monkey, and look backward to our mutual rubbingness.

senator419@suckerandhismoneydeservetobeparted.net.com.ng

[Mouzafphaerre]

.

.

[Whacker]

Dear esteemed Mr Tiny-Monkey

It is truthing that my wife cousin is inventing spam late many thrity years back ago. This inventing make him very rich. Recent, bad gold rings make his juju disappear and he lie down with dying.

He leave me very enormous and humungous millions of cash dollars in Lagos Bank place. This bank place owned by foolish men who demand me pay fee for release my nephew money into my fingers. Theretofore I am in position of complication, as I have much dollars and richness, but no moneyless.

Nice man with beard tell me that you are Christian gentleman wiht kindness of kidney. I begging you to open your kidney to me, poor rich type and provide Jesus's help. Send me ten thousand euro pounds in dollars for which I can release humungous sum - whereabouts I am, in return for your Christian delusioning, I return to you one million of pound euros in real money terms.

Contact me at lasting address to arrange delivery uregntlly to stopping criminals having my niece.

I remain your obsequious serving wench, kind and nobble Mr Tiny-Monkey, and look backward to our mutual rubbingness.

senator419@suckerandhismoneydeservetobeparted.net.com.ng

Hello, are I interested at this product and/or service. How are we to mutual greetings and discussions of the benefit toward both receiving? Progress toward the looking anxious of reply!

Lovingly yours,
butteslole@here.com