MacBook Pro Scam on Craigslist

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As I have been wanting a new laptop, yesterday I sent a request for some more info about a MacBok Pro listed on the Spokane Craigslist. Here is [the listing](http://spokane.craigslist.org/sys/655153049.html) (until it gets taken down). In response to my inquiry, I received the following email, complete with more pictures: >Hello, > >The laptop is still available and I hope you are still interested. My name is Kyle Mosson and I am now in Manchester, U.K. >This machine has been used for professional needs over the past 10 Months, it is in great condition and runs perfectly, and beyond evidence of normal use the laptop is in perfect shape. The warranty is good until June 2008 and it is fully transferable. One more thing, it works on US voltage so you do not need a converter. >I have attached some pics with the laptop to this e-mail so you can see the condition of the laptop. >Please get back to me and let me know if you like the laptop if you're really interested in buying it. > >Thanks, >Kyle I was a bit skeptical about doing business overseas, so I searched Google and came up with this [blog post](http://chrisclemons.com/blog/index.php/2008/macbook-pro-scam-on-craigslist/#comment-124) detailing the *exact* message I received. I guess it was too good to be true. I reported the scam to the abuse desk at craigslist. Craigslist is such a wonderful tool, I have bought several things locally on it, but I guess as it gets more popular there will be an increase in scams like this. **UPDATE (4/29/2008):** The ad mentioned above has been taken down from the Spokane craigslist.
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Portal Cake

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If, at first, you don't succeed.  You fail.

From Valve's popular new game, Portal, the Cake Recipe:


One 18.25 ounce package chocolate cake mix.
One can prepared coconut pecan frosting.
Three slash four cup vegetable oil.
Four large eggs.
One cup semi-sweet chocolate chips.
Three slash four cups butter or margarine.
one and two third cups granulated sugar.
Two cups all purpose flower.

Don't forget garnishes such as:

Fish shaped crackers.
Fish shaped candies.
Fish shaped solid waste,
Fish shaped dirt.
Fish shaped ethyl benzene.
Pull and peel licorice..
Fish shaped organic compounds and sediment shaped sediment.
Candy coated peanut butter pieces, Shaped like fish.
One cup lemon juice.
Alpha resins.
Unsaturated polyester resin.
Fiberglass surface resins.
And volatile malted milk impoundments.
Nine large egg yolks.
Twelve medium geosynthetic membranes.
One cup granulated sugar.
An entry called 'how to kill someone with your bare hands'.
Two cups rhubarb, sliced.
Two slash three cups granulated rhubarb.
One tablespoon all-purpose rhubarb.
One teaspoon grated orange rhubarb.
Three tablespoons rhubarb, on fire.
One large rhubarb.
One cross borehole electro-magnetic imaging rhubarb.
Two tablespoons rhubarb juice.
Adjustable aluminum head positioner.
Slaughter electric needle injector.
cordless electric needle injector.
Injector needle driver.
Injector needle gun.
Cranial caps.
And it contains proven preservatives, deep penetration agents, and gas and odor control chemicals.
That will deodorize and preserve putrid tissue.


Enjoy your cake

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Friday Links

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I'm driving to Seattle in 24 minutes, but I thought I could spare some time to share a few links: First off, The Table of Condiments, and invaluable scientific resource. Rejected Crayon Colors And a little something for everyone, Living Without Microsoft Finally, a resource for ending an unwanted phone call with Sorry I Got To Go. So stayed tuned, and have a good weekend, and thanks to all for the wonderful responses to the marriage announcement.
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Quick Links

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Since I'm trying to post more frequently to the ol' 'blog, here are some quick links I discovered this past week: 1 - The Hall Of Techinical Documentation Weirdness. My fave is the CBR600F2 shop manual illustration for putting the crankshaft back in the main bearing... 2 - The Hogwarts Sorting Hat. Amid the release of the latest Harry Potter book, find out which house you fit in. (From Mom). 3 - Bloody Finger Mail. Need an alternative to the normal typed email? Try here. And don't dribble on the carpet. Here's one I sent to Jakki.
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Hamster Davidson

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A little something from my friend Steve Gideon (sole proprietor of Kickstand Critters) (click pic to read the article) In other news, it's been a week since they have taken my drain out and I still feel fine (despite a slight head cold). I visited my surgeon yesterday, and he put some silver nitrate on the wound to make it heal quicker (that stuff BURNS!), with any luck, I will be done with doctors for awhile. This weekend, Jakki and I are going to Moscow to visit the folks and see Flo, Paul and Kristi who are driving over from Seattle. It will be close quarters but it will be nice to see more family.
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Bovine Freedom

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Last weekend, Jakki and I had a great trip up to Eureka Springs. We stayed at the New Orleans Hotel, which was very nice except for the large number of stairs and the distinct lack of elevators. Given that the plenitude of stairs and lack of elevators are status quo in Eureka Springs, it was forgivable and mildly aerobic. The Turpentine Creek Wildlife Refuge was also very cool. Photos will be forthcoming once I get the Canon stuff re-loaded on my poor computer. In the mean time, enjoy some links: First off is a link from my mother to a Flash animation entitled Cows With Guns (pops). It's hilarious and it appears to have been created by a deranged Swede (aren't they all?). Next up is one from my friend Carrie. It's hosted on iFilms, so you have to endure a few ads before you get to the main content, but it's worth it. It's sort of a mix of comic book super heroes and Fast Times At Ridgemont High (pops). Finally, one of my own, simply called Pie Hole (pops). It's kind of a cross between Rockapella and something Les Claypool would do.
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Remiss In Posting Random Musings

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Okay, okay. It's been awhile since I've posted anything up on my blog. Mostly I've been working on my latest project for Textron, and the last week of July, I was out in Providence, RI. Also, I've been busy deleting the ever more-copious amounts of comment spam on this blog. Man, I sure hope Jay Allen finishes his new version of Blacklist that is compatible with my version of MovableType. In the meantime, here are some random stuff I have found perusing around the web: Utilikilts commercials: The makers of the Utilikilt (I want one, and the security to wear it in public) have asked their customers to come up with fake commercials for their product. The results are hilarious and right here (pops). Sisters On The Fly: My mother has recently caught the fly fishing bug from my dad, and she wants to join a fishing club called Sisters On The Fly. Check them out here (pops), and be sure to see the Photo Gallery, these women have turned some vintage trailers into works of art!. Last weekend, we had sort of a party at my house. I smoked up some beef brisket and a few pork tenderloins. This time I also did baked beans on the smoker, and they were awesome. If you want to try it on your smoker (what? you don't have one yet? well, get one!), the recipie I followed is here. In attendance were Clay the roommate, his mother Carolyn in from Mena, AR., my girlfriend Jakki, Bayly and Emily, and Tina (who cuts our hair) and her husband Josh and their 1 year-old, Madeline. The cats also made several appearances.
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