Got this one today, and found the opening lines intriguing:

Lots of you guys and gals have heard about blogging. Basically it's an online journal with pictures that you can post to and no one knows it's you unless you tell them.

They're gaining in popularity throughout the US ever since the news blogs broke the story about prisoner treatment in Iraq.

Anyway, this line: "blogs broke the story about prisoner treatment in Iraq", just makes the bile rise into my throat. Correct me if I'm wrong, but it was the Army releasing its Abu Ghraib report that broke the story - to be picked up by the MSM 5 months later.

Whatever.

They advertised a "blogging service" at www.smartpunters.com, which I looked at.

Very little information about the service, and no links to any member blogs. Offhand I suspect that it's a scam to get your personal information.

Googling did nothing to allay my suspicions, since the domain used to be a "Singapore investment strategy and information hub for Asian investors".

I also have to wonder if the owners realize that - in America - "punter" is slang for "someone who watches pornographic movies or who frequents strip clubs".

In short, while the subject line DID get me to open the e-mail, the clumsy inappropriateness of the intro inspired me to post a negative review instead of surrendering my personal data.

I'm only giving it 1.5 stars.

Posted by: Harvey at 09:48 AM | Comments (7) | Add Comment
Post contains 266 words, total size 2 kb.

1 Seems perfectly reasonable you should get this kind of thing - perhaps they are offering editorial advice? The bit that really tickled me was: "I also have to wonder if the owners realize that - in America - "punter" is slang for "someone who watches pornographic movies or who frequents strip clubs"." They sure as hell know who they were aiming this one at :-D

Posted by: Alex at February 27, 2006 10:47 AM (7vhJl)

2 Wait. I didn't know that punter was slang for that! I thought it was someone who kicked a ball in Football. A special teams member. Hunh. No wonder I keep coming back here... ;-)

Posted by: Bou at February 27, 2006 11:39 AM (iHxT3)

3 Yeah, how did they not notice your great 'Blogging Tips' section! That section served as a great starting point for me So thanks! You have quite an ability to make blogging complex and appealing yet simple enough for people like moi! I didn't even know there were carnivals for blogs... how virtually outlandish!

Posted by: Lea at February 27, 2006 02:56 PM (lY9+o)

4 I hadn't heard of that definition of punter either. Here it means someone who likes to put bets on, have a gamble.

Posted by: Amanda at February 27, 2006 06:07 PM (L4Sch)

5 Truthfully, I don't open any email unless the subject line contains references to Tighthole Tina and her slutty Cheerleader Friends, but that's just me.

Posted by: physics geek at February 27, 2006 06:58 PM (auFn9)

6 Not just you, PG :-) Amanda - according to my Google sources, in the UK, "punter" is slang for "a customer of any business". Not sure how it got narrowed down in the States.

Posted by: Harvey at February 28, 2006 07:36 AM (ubhj8)

7 puts a whole new angle on the phrase "I'm going to work on my punting."

Posted by: tommy at February 28, 2006 07:48 AM (a+qRX)

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