Speaking of unwanted messages, which legislators call "spamming." An EFF person, whom I do respect, by the way, added my name to a spammer's list, some shtick they have called "sixdegrees." Here's the spam I just got, complete with what they claim is my "password." Inasmuch as I never requested this password, and have no intention of using it, and have no contractual relationship with either "sixdegrees" or Stanton McCandlish, you folks might want to have some fun with this alleged service and (unrequested) password. The password may only work if it comes from "tcmay@mail.got.net," but, then, I hear that such "From:" fields are easily spoofed. --Tim

X-From_: bmkf0032@auto.sixdegrees.com Sat May 31 10:43:36 1997 X-Real-To: <tcmay@mail.got.net> From: "sixdegrees" <bmkf0032@auto.sixdegrees.com> To: "May Tim" <tcmay@mail.got.net> Reply-To: "sixdegrees" <bmkf0032@auto.sixdegrees.com> Subject: Stanton McCandlish Date: Sat, 31 May 1997 13:45:12 Eastern Daylight Time

Name: May Tim E-Mail Address: tcmay@mail.got.net sixdegrees Password: cusproll

You've been listed by Stanton McCandlish as "Acquaintance" as part of a free Internet networking service called sixdegrees(tm).

WHAT WE ARE:

sixdegrees is a Web site at http://www.sixdegrees.com/ that's based on the theory that everyone on earth is connected to everyone else through a path of six people or less. We hope to use the power of the Internet to revolutionize the way people network.

WHAT'S IN IT FOR YOU:

You can come to http://www.sixdegrees.com/ and use our FREE services to network with the people you want to know through the people you do know. You can find out how you're connected to specific people, like that person who's interviewing you for a new job next week. Or, you can find out how you're connected to certain kinds of people, like pediatricians in San Francisco, or inline skaters in New York.

WHAT'S IN IT FOR US:

We make money by selling ads on the sixdegrees site. We never sell lists of names or any specific information about our individual members to anybody. To find out more about our policies regarding privacy, just visit http://www.sixdegrees.com/about/privacy.cfm

HOW IT WORKS:

If you list your contacts and how you know them, we'll forward them an email like this one. They'll be invited to confirm their relationship to you and to participate in sixdegrees themselves by listing their contacts.

WHAT TO DO NEXT:

Just reply to this e-mail by following the INSTRUCTIONS below (you may want to print it out first - it's easier that way.)

And remember to visit http://www.sixdegrees.com/. Click on Services, log-in with your password, which is cusproll, and enjoy networking on a whole new level.

=================================================================== INSTRUCTIONS FOR REPLYING:

FIRST:

Click your mail program's REPLY button.

SECOND:

On the FIRST line of the message body of the reply e-mail that opens, type only the word CONFIRM or DENY to let us know if you are in fact Stanton's Acquaintance.

THIRD: On the next line of the message body list the first and last names and e-mail addresses of at least TWO people you know, and the relationship numbers that correspond with how those people are related to you.

MAKE SURE:

* That the first name, last name, e-mail address and relationship number are separated by SEMI-COLONS.

* You list at least TWO people if you want to become a member. (You can list as many as you want - the more you list, the larger your network of contacts will be.)

* Each entry is on its OWN LINE.

* You follow the format of these examples:

John; Smith; jsmith@fakeplace.com; 12 Jane; Doe; superjane@fakeplace.com; 3

* And that you define each relationship by choosing a number from this list:

1=wife 2=husband 3=life partner 4=significant other 5=mother 6=father 7=sister 8=brother 9=daughter 10=son 11=other family member 12=friend 13=employer 14=employee 15=co-worker 16=client 17=service provider 18=business contact 19=fellow alum 20=acquaintance

FOURTH:

Click send, and that's it. We look forward to hearing from you.

===================================================================

** PLEASE NOTE: All replies to this address are processed by a computer. If you have any problems, questions or requests send an e-mail to issues@sixdegrees.com and someone will get back to you as soon as possible.

** If you'd rather not participate in sixdegrees and would prefer not to receive any further e-mails from us at this time, please send an e-mail to remove@sixdegrees.com that says "REMOVE ME".

===================================================================

E.DB.ANB.1