On Mon, 21 Nov 1994 jkh@story.com wrote:
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Cypherpunks: Agree to buy advertising for my 900-number privacy information service, and make money from your exclusive territory.
[...]
"Dial An Insult" is a 900 number advertised with the slogan "Be Amused While Being Abused," illustrated by a silhouetted dominatrix with her mouth open. After the national ads are paid, the net profit on the 10,000 calls EACH DAY is $8,000. The doctor who runs this vital audiotext service has a full time medical practice. The service bureau handles an average of 416 calls each hour automatically. Yet the chances are slim you've even heard of it, unless you're a "be your own boss" seminar junkie or you watch late night infomercials.
[...]
Lon Weber, an active Arizona Libertarian, e-mail: freedom4@aol.com, managed to buy a few 900 numbers, and was looking for ideas. I had this idea for a privacy 900 line and was looking for someone to fund it. Natural partners, eh? To pay for advertising, I proposed the following arrangement, and Lon agreed: Advertisers can request exclusive territories, by state. After the telco and service bureau take their cut for a call (will send breakdown of charges if you are interested), divide the money as follows: 1/3 to Lon, 1/3 to the scriptwriters, and 1/3 to the advertiser. Calls made in a state will be credited to that advertiser.
Bob Dwyer threw away the chain letter and broke the chain and was killed in a vicious gardening accident that same day. Bill Smith sent his letter, and was instantly rewarded when he found $45.9 million in negotiable bearer bonds in an unmarked paper bag behind his doghouse. 073BB885A786F666 nemo repente fuit turpissimus - potestas scientiae in usu est 6E6D4506F6EDBC17 quaere verum ad infinitum, loquitur sub rosa - wichtig!