You do it to yourself
I was saddened to see the unread count pass 300 the other morning, as I did have it down to 50, but my inbox has officially become a travesty.
Without a hot drunken assistant to go through it all, I'm setting aside a day this weekend to do nothing but try to catch up with it, as I already have 40 drafts to finish writing. Just been overloaded with real life, and the gaps have become chasms, and while I feel bad about falling down on the site I feel worse that good friends successfully reproduced and I still haven't touched base with them due to phone tag and schedule nightmares. If my personal life is in such disarray, don't feel bad if the persona isn't getting the love it should while I try to find my balance.
Luckily, a good 45+ of those unreads can be deleted, because from what I can tell they're just the tail end of a strange death spiral that occurred yesterday, or what would be two days ago for people who actually sleep...
I'm on a lot of mailing lists and other types of things for topics I'm interested in, one being stuff coming out of Power.org, the deal IBM put together around it's effort to distribute some of the POWER ISA IP (basically, getting more people to use chips built upon the power/powerpc, and to whip up their own), which means I get things like the below, as well as whatever information or guides they post:
From: adminsies@power.org
Date: Mon, 23 Jan 2006 12:22:20 -0800
To: x@power.org
Subject: Invite: IBM developerWorks Technical BriefingIBM developerWorks invites you to attend the
"Power Architecture: System-on-chip design & implementation technical briefing" technical briefing in:San Jose
January 31, 2006
9:00AM 5:00PM
Doubletree Hotel San Jose
2050 Gateway Place
San Jose, CA 95110IBM developerWorks invites you to attend Power Architecture: System-on-chip design & implementation technical briefing on January 31, 2006 in San Jose, CA. This one-day event provides a comprehensive technical overview of how you can use IBM Power Architecture-based microprocessor cores in your SoC designs. IBM design experts will cover PowerPC 405 and PowerPC 440 microprocessor cores, the CoreConnect bus architecture design enablement tools, and much more.
Register today for this full-day complimentary briefing at:
http://www.ibm.com/developerworks/offers/
techbriefings/details/powerarch.htmlLunch will be provided.
Best Regards,
The IBM developerWorks Team.
Standard one-way PR list type of deal one can sign up for. Unfortunately, there's been some weirdness around the admin@ and news@ addys, where stuff was coming through from them that probably shouldn't have but could have just been stupid spoofed wonkiness.
Kinda came to a head with the following, and then I'll just be adding what occurred afterwards chronologically from my inbox, some things obfuscated due to spam trawlers and long quotations of previous messages snipped, but otherwise unedited. Also not included are bounces and such.
From: YoungChan Jung <@kr.ibm.com>
Date: Wed, 25 Jan 2006 10:25:46 +0900
To: admins@power.org
Cc: newsies@power.org
Subject: Re: Invite: IBM developerWorks Technical BriefingCan I invite some my key customer who is interesting with Powerpc license.. ?
Regards, Jung Young-Chan
Senior client representative
SYSTEM & TECHNOLOGY Gr/ IBM KOREA, Inc.
Tel.82-2-3781-7754, mobile.82-11-898-7754
Fax82-2-3781-5153adminsies@power.org
01/24/2006 05:22 AMTo
newsies@power.org
ccSubject
Invite: IBM developerWorks Technical Briefing[snipped]
From: Sam Meager [@hotmail.com]
Date: Wed, 25 Jan 2006 02:37:19 +0000
To: adminsies@power.org
Cc: newsies@power.org
Subject: multimedia blog servicehi,
I would like to share with you a free multimedia blog service I just sign-up, hopefully you will enjoy this nice free services too and share among others. Some of their interesting multimedia features caught my interest are:
- an online video blogging feature: simply drag & drop videos and publish instantly,
- an online recording for podcast: can even record Skype conversation as podcasting,
- another interesting feature is the "audio slideshow" - you just need to upload your digital photos and record some narration online, you then got a "talking" slideshow, it's great for "show'n tell".
Here is the link: http://www.kolablog.com/
give it try ! - hope you will enjoy it and maybe using their branded services for conference events.
best,
sam
From: drunkenbatman [@drunkenbatman.com]
Date: Tue, 24 Jan 2006 22:51:56 -0500
To: YoungChan Jung [@kr.ibm.com]
Cc: adminsies@power.org, newsies@power.org
Subject: Re: Invite: IBM developerWorks Technical BriefingOn Wed, 25 Jan 2006 10:25:46 +0900, YoungChan Jung wrote:
> Can I invite some my key customer who is interesting with Powerpc
license.. ?
Regards, Jung Young-Chan
Senior client representative
SYSTEM & TECHNOLOGY Gr/ IBM KOREA, Inc.
Tel.82-2-3781-7754, mobile.82-11-898-7754
Fax82-2-3781-5153What the hell. Please tell me everyone isn't getting these replies.
*hangs head*
peace,
drunkenbatman
--
i[at]drunkenblog[dot]com
AIM & Yahoo: drunkenbatman
MSN: @drunkenbatman.com
gtalk:@gmail.com
From: Julie L Cohen [@us.ibm.com]
Date: Wed, 25 Jan 2006 01:43:05 -0500
To: drunkenbatman [@drunkenbatman.com]
Subject: Julie L Cohen/Burlington/IBM is out of the office.I will be out of the office starting 01/18/2006 and will not return until 01/30/2006.
I am out of the office until at least January 30th. My back-up is my manager, Bill Stolpe, at tie line 826-3292. Please contact him for assistance. Thanks for your understanding.
From: Gabriel Diaz [@gmail.com]
Date: Wed, 25 Jan 2006 07:46:20 +0100
To: drunkenbatman [drunkenbatman.com]
Subject: Re: Invite: IBM developerWorks Technical Briefingit seems that yes we are all getting those mails,
i will add it to spam as soon as more start arriving. . . :-D
hth
[quoted parts snipped]
From: vruz [@gmail.com]
Date: Wed, 25 Jan 2006 03:49:43 -0300
To: drunkenbatman [@drunkenbatman.com], newsies@power.org, YoungChan Jung [@kr.ibm.com]
Subject: Re: Invite: IBM developerWorks Technical Briefing
> What the hell. Please tell me everyone isn't getting these replies.yes, getting it, and I'm getting spam now too *sigh*
I replied to *admin* and this is what I get:....
I will be out of the office starting 01/18/2006 and will not return until 01/30/2006.
I am out of the office until at least January 30th. My back-up is my manager, Bill Stolpe, at tie line 826-3292. Please contact him for assistance. Thanks for your understanding.
.....so... the question is, is anyone *at IBM* getting these mails ?
we already know the rest of the world is getting them.
From: vruz [@gmail.com], again, because he CC'd me and the list.
Date: Wed, 25 Jan 2006 03:49:43 -0300
To: drunkenbatman [@drunkenbatman.com], newsies@power.org, YoungChan Jung [@kr.ibm.com]
Subject: Re: Invite: IBM developerWorks Technical Briefing
> What the hell. Please tell me everyone isn't getting these replies.yes, getting it, and I'm getting spam now too *sigh*
I replied to *admin* and this is what I get:....
I will be out of the office starting 01/18/2006 and will not return until 01/30/2006.
I am out of the office until at least January 30th. My back-up is my manager, Bill Stolpe, at tie line 826-3292. Please contact him for assistance. Thanks for your understanding.
.....so... the question is, is anyone *at IBM* getting these mails ?
we already know the rest of the world is getting them.
From: @rude.cyb3r.org, who amused me.
Date: Wed, 25 Jan 2006 07:50:40 +0100 (CET)
To: drunkenbatman [@drunkenbatman.com]
Subject: Re: Invite: IBM developerWorks Technical Briefing
> On Wed, 25 Jan 2006 10:25:46 +0900, YoungChan Jung wrote:> What the hell. Please tell me everyone isn't getting these replies.
I can't come up with something clever and sarcastic, so I'd say, yes -- we do. :-)
From: Don Gabriel [@gmail.com]
Date: Tue, 24 Jan 2006 23:54:12 -0700
To: drunkenbatman [@drunkenbatman.com]
Subject: Re: Invite: IBM developerWorks Technical BriefingYep. :/
[quoted parts snipped]
From: Nora Mikes [@us.ibm.com], my second favorite, because they got exactly what was going on straight away.
Date: Wed, 25 Jan 2006 01:57:32 -0500
To: drunkenbatman [@drunkenbatman.com]
Subject: Re: Invite: IBM developerWorks Technical BriefingWell, at least two of us are. It's tempting, isn't it? To think of some terrible way to abuse it? ;)
-noraNora Mikes
editor: IBM Power Architecture zone
http://ibm.com/developerworks/power/
@us.ibm.com
716.824.5493[quoted messages snipped]
From: Parul Kumar Sharma [@gmail.com]
Date: Wed, 25 Jan 2006 02:00:00 -0500
To: drunkenbatman [@drunkenbatman.com]
Subject: Re: Invite: IBM developerWorks Technical BriefingHELL++
[quoted messages snipped]
From: Larry Miller [@rcn.com]
Date: Tue, 24 Jan 2006 23:01:40 -0800
To: drunkenbatman [@drunkenbatman.com]
Subject: Re: Invite: IBM developerWorks Technical BriefingI did... and wondered about it.
From: Jonas Sundström [@kirilla.se]
Date: Wed, 25 Jan 2006 08:19:42 +0100 CET
To: drunkenbatman [@drunkenbatman.com]
Subject: Re: Invite: IBM developerWorks Technical BriefingIt seems we are. :P
/Jonas Sundström.
From: Dirkjan Knip [@de.ibm.com]
Date: Wed, 25 Jan 2006 08:28:38 +0100
To: adminsies@power.org, newsies@power.org
Subject: Fw: Invite: IBM developerWorks Technical BriefingPlease power.org change and stop this mass mailing otherwise we quit to support you!
IBM Deutschland GmbH
81829 München
IBM Intern: 8182-60
numquam incertus, semper apertus
From: Henrik Wannheden [@macnytt.com]
Date: Wed, 25 Jan 2006 08:39:21 +0100
To: drunkenbatman [@drunkenbatman.com]
Subject: Re: Invite: IBM developerWorks Technical Briefing*lol*
We sure do!
- Henrik
___________________________________
Henrik Wannheden @macnytt.com
Editor & Admin @mac.com:. http://www.MacNytt.com .:
From: Qi Ding [@cn.ibm.com]
Date: Wed, 25 Jan 2006 15:44:30 +0800
To: drunkenbatman [@drunkenbatman.com]
Subject: I am on travel right now!I will be out of the office starting 2006-01-24 and will not return until 2006-02-07.
Hi there,I am on vacation right now. For anything urgent please call my cellphone 13701879062. Thanks!
Have a LOT of fUN!~
From: Axel Christian Zein [@de.ibm.com]
Date: Wed, 25 Jan 2006 09:04:44 +0100
To: drunkenbatman [@drunkenbatman.com]
Subject: Dr. Axel Zein (IBM) is out of the office.I will be out of the office starting 15.12.2005 and will not return until 01.02.2006.
I will have no access to my email. In urgent cases pls. contact my colleague Marcel Hug Tel. +49-160 8943939, Email: @de.ibm.com
From: Grant Hayes [@macslash.org]
Date: Wed, 25 Jan 2006 03:05:03 -0500
To: adminsies@power.org, newsies@power.org
Subject: Re: Invite: IBM developerWorks Technical BriefingThis is quite interesting. What an unexpected way to network!
Grant
From: Fred-Eric Essam [@de.ibm.com]
Date: Wed, 25 Jan 2006 09:06:43 +0100
To: drunkenbatman [@drunkenbatman.com]
Subject: Fred-Eric Essam is out of the office.I will be out of the office starting 23.01.2006 and will not return until 26.01.2006.
From: Bart.Severein [@Koopmanint.com]
Date: Wed, 25 Jan 2006 09:07:30 +0100
To: drunkenbatman [@drunkenbatman.com]
Subject: Betr.: Re: Invite: IBM developerWorks Technical BriefingHi,
Maybe you should not send a reply to everybody, frankly you and other people just CC-ing newsies@power.org make it worse.
Kind regards,
Bart
--
Bart Severein
System Administration
Koopman International BV
Distelweg 88
1031 HH Amsterdam
The Netherlands
+31 (0)20 494 7 890
+31 (0)20 494 7 736
@koopmanint.com
From: chris parr [@nc.rr.com], x 2
Date: Wed, 25 Jan 2006 03:17:54 -0500
To: vruz [@gmail.com], drunkenbatman [@drunkenbatman.com], newsies@power.org, YoungChan Jung [@kr.ibm.com]
Subject: RE: Invite: IBM developerWorks Technical BriefingI'm getting them and I'm outside the group.
Nice meeting you all.Christopher Parr
KHEM Technology, Inc
2312 New Bern Ave
Raleigh, NC 27610
Office: (919) 647-4213
Cell: (919) 539-2309
From: Noel Hurley [@hurleyonline.com]
Date: Wed, 25 Jan 2006 08:29:42 -0000
To: 'vruz' [@gmail.com], 'drunkenbatman' [@drunkenbatman.com]
Cc: 'YoungChan Jung' [@kr.ibm.com]
Subject: RE: Invite: IBM developerWorks Technical Briefing Reply-To: @hurleyonline.comYou two are a bright bunch aren't you! by replying to newsies@power.org and therefor continuing the spam
Actually YoungChans question was valid and I also would like to here what the answer is.
The above is one of my personal favorites, as at some point ignorance rounds the horn to where it considers everything else ignorant. Interesting coping mechanism, but it often becomes unintentionally amusing. It was now rounding 4am, and the random instant messages from people grabbing the names from my .sig had started:
I was wiped from grinding on stuff for the morning, and IBM didn't need people running around Singapore talking about their comic book department, so I called it a night. It just got more amusing the next day.
From: Forte Design Systems [Webmaster@ForteDS.com]
Date: Wed, 25 Jan 2006 00:43:14 -0800
To: newsies@power.org
Subject: Forte Design Systems SystemC Registration EmailThank you for registering for the Forte Design Systems SystemC Tutorial.
To confirm your email address and complete the registration process, click on the following link.
http://www.ForteDS.com/SystemC/reg_confirm.asp?email=_removed_@power.org
Thank You.
From: Paolo Massardi [@computergross.it>
Date: Wed, 25 Jan 2006 10:46:21 +0100
To: drunkenbatman [@drunkenbatman.com]
Cc: YoungChan Jung [@kr.ibm.com]
Subject: Rif: Re: Invite: IBM developerWorks Technical BriefingWhen reply to a mail message, please pay attention to all the address in "send to" field.
To avoi spamming, your mail addresses will be added to our black list: your mail message will be deleted until a certified organization tell us about you.
____________________________________
Paolo Massardi
IBM eServer pSeries & TotalStorage Pre-Sales Technical Support
Computer Gross Italia S.p.A.
Phone (+39) 02 21001.225
Fax (+39) 02 21001.222 / +39 02 2140754
mailto: @computergross.net
web: http://www.computergross.it
From: Joao Nobre [@pt.ibm.com]
Date: Wed, 25 Jan 2006 10:01:39 +0000
To: drunkenbatman [@drunkenbatman.com]
Subject: Joao Nobre/Portugal/IBM is out of the office.I will be out of the office starting 24-01-2006 and will not return until 30-01-2006.
From: Paolo Massardi [p.massardi@computergross.it], again. Twice.
Date: Wed, 25 Jan 2006 11:07:29 +0100
To: chris parr [@nc.rr.com]
Cc: vruz [@gmail.com], drunkenbatman [@drunkenbatman.com], newsies@power.org, YoungChan Jung [@kr.ibm.com]
Subject: Rif: RE: Invite: IBM developerWorks Technical BriefingDO NOT USE "REPLY TO ALL" IN THEESE MESSAGES !
YOUR MAIL ADDRESSES WILL BE ADDED TO OUR BLACK LIST
STOP SPAMMING !
WATCH AT WHAT ARE YOU DOING WHEN SENDI E-MAIL
NEXT TIME WE RECEIVE MAIL WITH THE SAME OBJECT, WE'LL INFORM YOUR ADMINISTRATORS AND THE AUTHORITY!
______________________________________
Paolo Massardi
IBM eServer pSeries & TotalStorage Pre-Sales Technical Support
Computer Gross Italia S.p.A.
Phone (+39) 02 21001.225
Fax (+39) 02 21001.222 / (+39) 02 2140754
mailto: p.massardi@computergross.it
web: http://www.computergross.it
The above guy was my personal favorite, because if you'll notice, he also CC'd news@, which meant I got the last message twice which was highly amusing considering the content of the message. Dude's a lil high-strung, and obviously didn't grok what was going on. You'll forgive me for forgetting to obfuscate his addy.
From: Sivan Greenberg [@zend.com]
Date: Wed, 25 Jan 2006 12:13:23 +0200
To: Grant Hayes [@macslash.org]
Cc: adminsies@power.org, newsies@power.org
Subject: Re: Invite: IBM developerWorks Technical BriefingI'm also getting those email :-)
From: Paolo Massardi [p.massardi@computergross.it], once again several times, as he decided to respond to the message from Grant Hayes above, this time to both news@ and admin@.
Date: Wed, 25 Jan 2006 11:19:34 +0100
To: Grant Hayes [@macslash.org]
Cc: adminsies@power.org, newsies@power.org
Subject: Rif: Re: Invite: IBM developerWorks Technical BriefingDO NOT USE "REPLY TO ALL" IN THEESE MESSAGES !
YOUR MAIL ADDRESSES WILL BE ADDED TO OUR BLACK LIST
STOP SPAMMING !
WATCH AT WHAT ARE YOU DOING WHEN SENDI E-MAIL
NEXT TIME WE RECEIVE MAIL WITH THE SAME OBJECT, WE'LL INFORM YOUR ADMINISTRATORS AND THE AUTHORITY!
_____________________________________
Paolo Massardi
IBM eServer pSeries & TotalStorage Pre-Sales Technical Support
Computer Gross Italia S.p.A.
Phone (+39) 02 21001.225
Fax (+39) 02 21001.222 / (+39) 02 2140754
mailto: p.massardi@computergross.it
web: http://www.computergross.it
From: 劉佩嘉 [@gmail.com]
Date: Wed, 25 Jan 2006 19:27:23 +0900
To: adminsies@power.org, newsies@power.org
Subject: Fw: Forte Design Systems SystemC Registration EmailLOL.....
mail listing VS mail listing.....
----- Original Message ----- From: "Forte Design Systems" [@ForteDS.com]
To: [newsies@power.org]
Sent: Wednesday, January 25, 2006 5:43 PM
Subject: Forte Design Systems SystemC Registration Email> Thank you for registering for the Forte Design Systems SystemC Tutorial.
To confirm your email address and complete the registration process, click on the following link.
http://www.ForteDS.com/SystemC/reg_confirm.asp?email=_removed_@power.org
Thank You.
From: Tomas Broman [@folksam.se], x 2
Date: Wed, 25 Jan 2006 11:55:22 +0100
To: drunkenbatman [@drunkenbatman.com]
Cc: adminsies@power.org, newsies@power.org, YoungChan Jung [@kr.ibm.com]
Subject: Ang. Re: Invite: IBM developerWorks Technical BriefingGetting them here at least.
Guess it is that you replied to newsies@power.org - the mailing list - and not just adminsies@power.org?
Tomas Broman
__________________________
Unixgruppen
Folksam
Stockholm Sweden
Tel: 08-77 26 115
Mobil: 0708-31 55 15
E-post: tomas.broman@folksam.se
From: Mavis Yang [@cn.ibm.com]
Date: Wed, 25 Jan 2006 20:11:43 +0800
To: drunkenbatman [@drunkenbatman.com]
Subject: Mavis Yang is out of the office from 23 Jan to 5 FebI will be out of the office starting 2006-01-23 and will not return until 2006-02-05.
I will be out of the office starting 2006-01-23
and will not return until 2006-02-05.
Pls contact Xie Lin. I can read/reply notes occasionally. Or reach me by mobile 13537737063 for urgent issue.
From: Google Alerts [googlealerts-noreply@google.com]
Date: Wed, 25 Jan 2006 04:26:49 -0800 (PST)
To: newsies@power.org
Subject: Click to confirm your Google AlertGoogle received a request to start sending Alerts for the search
[ power.org ] to newsies@power.org.Verify this Google Alert request:
http://www.google.com/alerts/verify?s=8beabd96fb6c3282&f=0Cancel this Google Alert request:
http://www.google.com/alerts/remove?s=8beabd96fb6c3282Thanks,
The Google Alerts Team
http://www.google.com/alerts
From: Kevin Meyer [@charteredsemi.com]
Date: Wed, 25 Jan 2006 20:49:56 +0800
To: newsies@power.org
Subject: RE: Invite: IBM developerWorks Technical BriefingI am a Board member of Power.org and do not want to get Power spam. Thanks in advance for de-listing me from this group.
Kevin Meyer
VP of WW Marketing & Platform Alliances
Chartered Semiconductor Mfg
From: Jason Walsh [@buyirishpencils.com]
Date: Wed, 25 Jan 2006 13:05:10 +0000
To: chris parr, drunkenbatman, Grant Hayes, vruz, YoungChan Jung
Subject: Re: Invite: IBM developerWorks Technical BriefingLikewise. And liewsie.
J...
---
Jason Walsh
Freelance journalistTel: 028 9038 0862
Mobile: 07865 360574
@gmail.com
@buyirishpencils.comOn 25 Jan 2006, at 08:17, chris parr wrote:> I'm getting them and I'm outside the group. Nice meeting you all.
Christopher Parr
KHEM Technology, Inc
2312 New Bern Ave
Raleigh, NC 27610
Office: (919) 647-4213
Cell: (919) 539-2309
From: Larry Ortega [@chatt.net]
Date: Wed, 25 Jan 2006 08:15:02 -0500
To: 'Forte Design Systems' [Webmaster@ForteDS.com], newsies@power.org
Subject: RE: Forte Design Systems SystemC Registration EmailOkay,
Getting these and lots of crummy stock tips. Should be a good group. Nice to meet you all. It appears I have signed up for a tutorial.
LarryO
-----Original Message-----
From: Forte Design Systems [mailto:Webmaster@ForteDS.com]
Sent: Wednesday, January 25, 2006 3:43 AM
To: newsies@power.org
Subject: Forte Design Systems SystemC Registration EmailThank you for registering for the Forte Design Systems SystemC Tutorial.
To confirm your email address and complete the registration process, click
on the following link.http://www.ForteDS.com/SystemC/reg_confirm.asp?email=newsies@power.org
Thank You.
From: Srikanth Varma [@yahoo.co.in]
Date: Wed, 25 Jan 2006 13:35:03 +0000 (GMT)
To: chris parr [@nc.rr.com], vruz [@gmail.com], drunkenbatman [@drunkenbatman.com], newsies@power.org, YoungChan Jung [@kr.ibm.com]
Subject: RE: Invite: IBM developerWorks Technical BriefingWhat!? Are we supposed to keep quiet and read the
mails until the Jan 31st when the admin at Power.org
returns from holiday!!? Anyways nice meeting you all
:)Srikanth Varma
Senior Software Engineer
Embedded Communications Computing
Motorola (India) Pvt. Ltd
Hyderabad
India[removed quoted replies]
From: Christian Lugo [@yahoo.com], 4th favorite.
Date: Wed, 25 Jan 2006 05:53:22 -0800 (PST)
To: drunkenbatman [@drunkenbatman.com], YoungChan Jung [@kr.ibm.com]
Cc: adminsies@power.org, newsies@power.org
Subject: Re: Invite: IBM developerWorks Technical BriefingI HATE SPAM
Please admin do something when you comeback from your vacations!!!
MAYORDOMO is cool!!!
From: Vicki Guapo [@cupertino.org], x 2
Date: Wed, 25 Jan 2006 07:29:41 -0800
To: vruz [@gmail.com], drunkenbatman [@drunkenbatman.com], newsies@power.org, YoungChan Jung [@kr.ibm.com]
Subject: RE: Invite: IBM developerWorks Technical BriefingCity of Cupertino, CA is getting these. Please stop!!!
From: JimG [@gmail.com]
Date: Wed, 25 Jan 2006 15:37:26 +0000
To: Vicki Guapo [@cupertino.org]
Cc: vruz [@gmail.com], drunkenbatman [@drunkenbatman.com], newsies@power.org, YoungChan Jung [@kr.ibm.com]
Subject: Re: Invite: IBM developerWorks Technical BriefingWhat on earth is going on?
[quoted emails stripped]
From: Sam Samaha [@mac.com]
Date: Wed, 25 Jan 2006 09:03:20 -0700
To: chris parr [@nc.rr.com]
Cc: vruz [@gmail.com], drunkenbatman [@drunkenbatman.com], newsies@power.org, YoungChan Jung [@kr.ibm.com]
Subject: Re: Invite: IBM developerWorks Technical Briefingadd me to the guys getting these now all of a sudden,
How do I get taken off?
[quoted replies snipped]
From: "SHULER, ROBERT L., JR (JSC-EV) (NASA)" [@nasa.gov]
Date: Wed, 25 Jan 2006 10:38:35 -0600
To: 'Vicki Guapo' [@cupertino.org], vruz [@gmail.com], drunkenbatman [@drunkenbatman.com], newsiws@power.org, YoungChan Jung [@kr.ibm.com]
Subject: RE: Invite: IBM developerWorks Technical BriefingSomeone please tell me how to get off of this mailing list. Thanks.
From: administrator [@power.org]
Date: Wed, 25 Jan 2006 14:39:07 -0800
To: newsies@power.org
Subject: Inadvertent EmailAll,
As some of you may be aware, some inadvertent emails slipped through the moderation process for Power.orgs news list. I'd like to apologize for this and let you know what happened and that we have corrected the issue.
First let me assure you that most of the email you received was not malicious spam. The emails that slipped through the moderation process were reply to all responses. It became a self-perpetuating issue.
The problem has been solved and we have taken steps to make sure the problem can't arise again.
So what happened? One of the news list administrators is out of the office and mistakenly set an out of office, automated reply. This auto email response agent moderated the email and essentially approved sending them out to the list. We have fixed that issue. In addition, we have disabled the list, and will make a determination if we turn it back on in the future. The list will be altered so that the members of the list cannot initiate email, that is, email not generated by the Power.org system will be automatically rejected.
We intend not to overuse this list and only send announcements of value to the Power.org community. However, if you wish to out of the emails simply send an email to newsies-unsubscribe@power.org.
Again, our apologies
Power.org Admin.
From: Steve [@joltmail.net]
Date: Wed, 25 Jan 2006 18:44:32 -0600
To: drunkenbatman [@drunkenbatman.com]
Subject: Re: Invite: IBM developerWorks Technical BriefingI am getting them. Just a suscriber.
From what I can tell, the Power.org newsletter was killed, I now can't go to Italy unless I can get someone from there to vouch for me, and the city of Cupertino isn't my biggest fan. An efficient 5 seconds of effort on my end.
*shakes head*
A few things come to mind:
- There's an amusement factor to the whole situation, especially as it deteriorated. Having "drunkenbatman" pop up in out of the way places always amuses me, but this was primarily about poking the hole before something sensitive came through that would cause someone to have a very, very bad day.
- "Please tell me..." was meant to be a rhetorical red flag, as in if someone was seeing the message at all, from a name like mine, something had gone wonky. The admin was gone but there were hopefully others on the list who might be glossing over some of what came through earlier due to its content, but would be in a position to get it taken care of. Unfortunately, many people took it literally, which is entirely understandable and prolly means I should have worded it differently.
- I fear the ignorant vitriol that comes from some when they aren't really aware that people are watching, and always wonder how much of an off-the-cuff response is just catching someone on a right or wrong day versus it being an indicator of their nature.
Most importantly, while there is an amusement factor here, it's sometimes good to be reminded how dangerous this stuff can be. While I'm using a semi-vague term like sensitive, it's a term that can encompass anything going to that addy they wouldn't have wanted the outside world to see.
Think internal document or off-color joke between coworkers...
When I was a kid, I went from small to bigger than most around me in what felt like a day, and had to learn the hard way that if I wasn't careful I could cause a lot of damage unintentionally. One of the amazing things about technology is that it places all these tools in people's hands, yet they can be easy to take for granted -- we're less and less conscious of their power until someone gets hurt or we have a close call.
While I love the idea of striving to make technology non-intimidating, do give that random checkbox, flag or CC: it's due respect, lest it 0wn you.
Posted by drunkenbatmanJanuary 28, 2006, at 06:32 AM
Comments (25)
Posted by: FredB at January 28, 2006 08:18 AM
Can't say it better than Oliver. Absolutely hilarious.
Posted by: stinksoup at January 28, 2006 08:36 AM
Post++
Posted by: Marcus at January 28, 2006 10:14 AM
I agree: an excellent and amusing post. And it's nice to see you kept your cool throughout; it would have been easy to fly off the handle, but your comments – and sub-headings – seem very Just. -;o)
Posted by: Arden at January 28, 2006 10:24 AM
That was insane. I can't even imagine trying to deal with all that crap coming down the pipe. What's funny is how many people say "Don't reply to newsies@..." while replying to the very same address! And then others keep replying with "Yep same here" etc.
I actually did a "reply all" with a newsgroup in one of the fields. Fortunately, the most that resulted from that was a bunch of bounces, and nothing of this magnitude. But I'm sure everyone has their horror stories...
Posted by: Cameron Hayne at January 28, 2006 10:38 AM
I can't believe that you aren't using some sort of automated rule to switch messages that come from mailing lists into a different mail folder.
Posted by: drunkenbatman at January 28, 2006 10:53 AM
I can't believe that you aren't using some sort of automated rule to switch messages that come from mailing lists into a different mail folder.
Uh.. I think you missed a few sentences near the beginning and extrapolated them out to some place I can't follow. I do use email rules, but not for things that normally get sent out highly infrequently and then suddenly blitz the inbox over the course of a few hours.
Posted by: Paulie at January 28, 2006 11:56 AM
It WAS quite amusing seeing your reply to the group. I sat back with the popcorn, trying to stuff my face between giggles.
Posted by: Cameron Hayne at January 28, 2006 12:10 PM
Uh.. I think you missed a few sentences near the beginning and extrapolated them out to some place I can't follow. I do use email rules, but not for things that normally get sent out highly infrequently and then suddenly blitz the inbox over the course of a few hours.
I was merely responding to what I saw in the picture - that mailing list messages seemed to be shown in your main InBox. It seems from what you say, that you only use rules for high-traffic mailing lists. I guess what you have experienced is one reason why you might consider using rules to shunt aside *all* mailing list messages into separate mail boxes.
It also helps with the "keeping the unread count down" since you then have several separate unread counts and you can concentrate on keeping down the ones that matter.
Posted by: Mark Stultz at January 28, 2006 12:14 PM
Holy shit.
Thank you so much. I am rounding on hour two of my three hour technical communication class, and this has indeed made my day.
Now, if you could stop the rain in Dallas... for my ride home.
Mark
Posted by: Mindflayer at January 28, 2006 01:17 PM
Worked with someone who thought she was forwarding a listserv email internally. Instead, she replied t the listserv and sent it on to internals - so suddenly the people on the listserv had the contents of the email and the addresses of the people involved. It was all very sensitive company info, along with costs.
Posted by: Andrew Aldrich at January 28, 2006 01:31 PM
Something similar happened on a AppleCare Service News mailing list I belong to through my job as a Apple tech. You'd think people on these lists would have the technical knowledge to know that something was screwed up and that they shouldn't perpetuate the madness.
Anyhow, great reference to "Just". That's an incredible song.
Posted by: Dave at January 28, 2006 01:31 PM
"Think internal document or off-color joke between coworkers..."
Which is exactly what happened at my place of work 3 weeks ago. Seems someone forwarded a piece of porn around via work email... then somebody had the bright idea of printing it - but mistakenly chose an HR printer instead of the one right above it in the printer list.
In the end, 2 people lost their jobs and 27 others were suspended.
Posted by: John Schofield at January 28, 2006 01:39 PM
Not to throw a wet blanket on the party -- or the campfire -- or whatever -- but this didn't seem all that amusing to me. I'd much prefer DB spent this time on some of his 40 drafts waiting to be finshed -- 'cause I really do enjoy almost all of his work.
But anyone who's had an e-mail address for longer than six months has gotten snared in one of these mailing list loop nightmares -- happens to me at least three times a year -- and it all seems a little deja-vu-all-over-again, if you know what I mean.
Amusing that IBM was clueless enough to start this, and probably worthy of a note, but not the extreme play-by-play of this post. (Though I appreciate there was probably a lot more stuff left out than was included. Thanks for that.)
--Feeling Snarky This Morning
Posted by: Evan Schoenberg at January 28, 2006 04:41 PM
This happened on campus in college once. My favorite email of the hundreds which went out in the span of an hour was:
"I got some sweet Mr. T pics, if anybody needs em for class or something." with links to these images that I've uploaded for the greater public good:
http://evands.penguinmilitia.net/mr.%20T_cannon.jpg
http://evands.penguinmilitia.net/t_pink.jpg
http://evands.penguinmilitia.net/T_slide1.jpg
http://evands.penguinmilitia.net/Tpoint.jpg
Posted by: Jon H at January 28, 2006 04:53 PM
One: don't be a dummy and reply when this kind of mailing list clusterf*ck is happening. It was obvious what happened, what possessed you to participate and inflame the situation?
Have you really never seen this kind of mailing list screwup before?
This happened on my work mail a couple of times last year, and there was no shortage of asshats who felt compelled to put their two cents in on a global distribution list. Some people even mailed images.
Two: having contributed to the wasting of bandwidth already, why compound the error by posting the content-free thread to a weblog?
Three: Rules aren't limited to incoming mail. You can apply them to the mailbox. Thus, when your mailbox rapidly fills up with these things, it's sensible to make a rule and choose "Apply rules" from the menu. That quickly clears the mailbox.
Posted by: Netmonger at January 28, 2006 11:31 PM
One: don't be a dummy and reply when this kind of mailing list clusterf*ck is happening. It was obvious what happened, what possessed you to participate and inflame the situation?
Have you really never seen this kind of mailing list screwup before
As a majordomo list owner, this was not an ordinary mailing list screwup. Everything being sent to an IBM employee mailbox was being posted to the mailing list. Incredibly dangerous situation. Drunk could have been more clear in bringing the situation to light ("One of your employees...") but saying nothing would have solved nothing.
Posted by: Beth at January 29, 2006 12:46 AM
it's sensible to make a rule and choose "Apply rules" from the menu. That quickly clears the mailbox
Eh, then they just go unread into another folder. As the beleaguered owner of a similarly overfilled and under-read inbox, here's my suggestion:
1. Select all. Press DELETE. EMPTY THE TRASH before you get tempted to check it.
2. Put up a notice on the blog saying "oops, everything got deleted." If it's important, it'll be sent to you again. But you know it's not that important (isn't most of it crap like "oh, please link me/my post" and other time-wasters?).
(Optional) 3. Ignore advice from people with (currently) 322 unread messages just in the inbox (AFTER RULES ARE APPLIED!) who don't follow steps 1 and 2. Ahem. ;-)
Posted by: erikh at January 30, 2006 01:04 AM
Sorry, I felt inclined to say something.
You get a lot of email. That's great.
You happened upon a folly that occasionally befalls all of us. That's great, too.
Another thing that would be great is an RSS feed that sticks to the more formal articles... I don't really want to bother with this kind of stuff.
You can take that as a complement or harsh criticism, as I enjoy reading the pieces that tend to be less about a cult of personality and more about the topics of general interest that you cover.
Posted by: eggsnatcher at January 30, 2006 06:56 AM
You can take that as a complement or harsh criticism, as I enjoy reading the pieces that tend to be less about a cult of personality and more about the topics of general interest that you cover.
"the biggest assholes are the ones telling others how they should spend their free time"
Posted by: Peter da Silva at January 30, 2006 02:10 PM
The last few messages reminded me of something some frinds of mine set up many years ago, when the world was young.
They set up a list called "unsubscribe@name.withheld". Anyone who posted an "unsubscribe" message to lists they were on, they sent a message inviting them to join "unsubscribe@...".
It's amazing how many people did.
Every message *from* unsubscribe had at the beginning and the end clear and simple instructions on how to unsubscribe by mailing their unsubscribe message to "unsubscribe-request". I think ANY message to unsubscribe-request other than "subscribe" unsubscribed you.
Replies were set, of course, to "unsubscribe".
It was not pretty. Not a happy list at all.
Posted by: Jon Hendry at January 30, 2006 03:52 PM
Netmonger writes: "As a majordomo list owner, this was not an ordinary mailing list screwup."
But mailing list screwups are, in general, common and not particularly newsworthy.
"Drunk could have been more clear in bringing the situation to light ("One of your employees...") but saying nothing would have solved nothing."
Doing as he did - by mailing "newsies" and "adminsies" didn't do anything, either, except exacerbating the problem.
The first rule of these things is DON'T RESPOND. It's quite likely that someone would be on the list who has direct access to responsible people in IBM, via some route other than the list address or the admin address. In this case, the admin was apparently away from work, so drunken couldn't help unless he could contact one of the admin's colleagues directly.
When one of these floods is going on, the best bet is to just create a temporary rule to shunt the messages into a holding folder, or to the trash if the list isn't likely to have important messages in the mix. Otherwise, ignore it.
Posted by: Moishe at January 31, 2006 09:39 PM
Ask somebody who was at Microsoft in the mid-'90s about Bedlam DL3 (I have the t-shirt). Same thing, but with lots of logorrheic msfties, which led to an inadvertent but effective stress test of Exchange Server.
Posted by: acrymonious at February 9, 2006 10:30 PM
But mailing list screwups are, in general, common and not particularly newsworthy.
Newsworthy? It's a bloke's blog relating a humorous anecdote and finishing with a moral. This ain't news.yahoo .com, and I don't find your comment particularly insightful.
When did drunkenblog comments start to suck like this?
Posted by: Paolo Massardi at June 29, 2006 10:59 AM
You used my personal (and works) information without authorization on a blog.
I've noticed Italian Postal Police and Privacy Authority (Garante) and ask to lock all your mail accounts and related web addresses. I hope you learn this lessons so next time you'll pay attention at what (and where) you write your comment, without any authorization. This is how it works in Italy. Have a nice day... if I can say so...
This is one of your best posts. Absolutely hilarious.