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NEWSLETTER: "READING THIS NEWSLETTER IS A MAGICK RITE THAT'LL MAKE YOUR TEETH GO CURLY"

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This Week:
* SHED OF THE YEAR - hits 17th year running, christ
* GAME - Wordy Solitaire (actually quite fun)
* NEW CHALLENGE - TV Jesus

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________  ____ __  ___
____/  _)|_  // /_/ _ | "We're wetting the leg
___/  _ |/_ </ __/ __ |    ... together"
__/____/____/\__/_/ |_|   

B3ta email 856 - 7th Apr 2023

Ask GPT-4 to rewrite this newsletter in Cockney:
http://b3ta.com/newsletter/issue856

Subscribe, if you like: https://b3ta.com/subscribe/

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: WHAT B3TA PEOPLE HAVE MADE THIS WEEK 
  Other than making unpleasant smells

  * SHED OF THE YEAR - This project, launched on
  the very B3ta boards, now reaches its 17th year
  having made TV shows and got BIG SHED
  sponsorship. Andrew Wilcox writes, "We have two
  new categories for the Shed of the year 2023,
  Simple but Effective and Most Colourful Shed
  because people complain that pub sheds always
  win (they don't), and basic sheds don't stand a
  chance (they do). Anyway, it's my 17th year
  running Shed of the year, a weird idea that
  started in the pub and has taken over my life.
  You guys have supported us since the early days
  as well! so thanks."
https://www.readersheds.co.uk/share.cfm

  * HOUR LONG SONG - Ricardo Autobahn, one-time
  Daz Sampson collaborator - writes, "I don't
  often offer content for the B3TA newsletter but
  you might get a grim lol from the fact I've made
  the 12 inch mix for Spray's new single over an
  hour long. It's a proper arrangement too, I
  didn't just loop the chorus 100 times." We look
  forward to Ricardo performing this whilst
  playing chess on Top Of The Pops.
https://www.youtube.com/watch

  * RECIPE ODYSSEY - Dumbdestroy7 writes, "No one
  likes it when there's a super long story before
  a recipe, but we still went ahead and turned
  that up to 11 by putting famous works of
  literature (like Moby Dick and the Odyssey)
  before a recipe. Basically they're free e-books
  that make you read an entire novel before the
  recipe at the end." Honestly we couldn't be
  arsed to jump through the hoops to get the books
  as it makes you log in - but it's an amusing
  idea.
https://www.cooknovels.com/

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: HEBTROCO SPONSORSHIP
  "Woke mugs"

  Your chance to own mugs thrown for Hebtro by the
  incredibly talented Keith Brymer Jones in his
  Whitstable Studio. Printed with the words:
  hipster, twat, woke, and the phrases "don't fuck
  it up" and "don't be a dick." Every penny spent
  with Hebtro encourages them to keep sponsoring
  our projects so don't be a mug, buy a mug:
https://hebtro.co/product-category/keith-brymer-jo...

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: FESSHOLE
  Confessions expurgated from the collective id

  Each week we ask you confess and you respond
  with old jokes and the odd alarming comment
  about how you want to die, but we don't publish
  those coz, keep it light etc. Anyway:

  * PURRFECT ROMANCE - "Wife surprised me with a
  blowjob because I said 'You're the best, you
  make me so happy, I love you' I actually didn't
  know she was there and was talking to the cat."

  * SHE KNOWS - "There's an awful woman at work
  who only works three days a week. I take great
  delight in saying 'See you next Tuesday' to her
  every Thursday when I leave, knowing that she
  doesn't realise the true meaning of the saying."

  * HMMM - "My ignorant neighbour who NEVER says
  hello back when I greet him had the audacity to
  knock on my door at 8pm complaining of the noise
  coming from my sound bar that was running at 20%
  volume. So I went out the next day and bought
  another for the upstairs. Fuck him in stereo."

  If this shit is your bag then get bags more shit
  at the Twitter account that most people
  accidentally followed think it was that funny
  one where Dennis Healey wears increasingly large
  trousers: 
https://twitter.com/fesshole/

  No, YOU haven't bought the Fesshole book yet, oh
  come on, it's only £6.49 which is half the price
  of a sausage roll if you're a Tory.
https://amzn.to/3EQU6wb

  Yeah yeah there's tour tickets too - Edinburgh
  now sold out but do come to Manchester, Belfast
  and Bristol, and get to see the editor of this
  newsletter tit about.
https://sites.google.com/view/fesshole

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: SITES IN BRIEF
  Load this up on Netscape Gold and go cybering

  * FURBY VS AI - 10 years ago you could get
  coverage by sticking a GoPro on anything, now
  you can get the same by connecting [random
  object] to GPT-4. Still, this is alarming or
  funny depending on your point of view.
https://twitter.com/jessicard/status/1642671752319...

  * JOY D'VIDEO - Neat little WebGL music video
  that has fun with Joy Division's Unknown
  Pleasures' famous cover to the tune of Love Will
  Tear Us Apart. Which, to be fair, wasn't on the
  LP, but hey, it looks nice.
https://pouria.dev/unknown-pleasures

  * OPEN YOUR MAC AND SEE - we were DOS kids, but
  apparently Apple nerds used to enjoy extracting
  the icons and sounds from software which got
  saved in its "resource fork". This site is
  trying to create an easily-browsable version of
  their experience with the fun sounding ResEdit.
https://resourceforks.com

  * THEY KNOW YOUR TYPE - It's old news that
  privacy is a thing of the past but now someone's
  made the technology to reconstruct the things
  you type from the sound of your typing. Finally
  we'll find out that Dolly was secretly typing 'I
  need a back operation' in 9 To 5. 
https://github.com/ggerganov/kbd-audio

  * STEVE JOBS STILL IN THE CRYPT(o) - Did you
  know there's a PDF about Bitcoin hidden inside
  almost every Apple Mac? Probably just a doc used
  for testing purposes but also likely to set off
  a billion conspiracy theories.
https://waxy.org/2023/04/the-bitcoin-whitepaper-is...

  * DAMP WORD PERFECT - A pointlessly elaborate
  Ecco The Dolphin word processor, should you want
  to see exactly how it would have looked if SEGA
  had let some swear words through the net.
https://eccothedolphin.io/ecco-text-generator

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: FRIDAY GAME(s)
  Word Solitaire

  A letter-based Solitaire to make use of all that
  Wordle 5-letter-word knowledge.  Hopefully it
  does the classic card bounce animation when you
  clear the deck, but it's pretty difficult and
  I've been unable to get that far.
https://kloonigames.com/wordsolitaire/

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: IMAGE CHALLENGE
  Literal Places

  Here's the best images from last week:

  * This rather silly gag from Ninj
https://b3ta.com/board/11389969

  * So that's what 'hampton' means, thanks
  Plankton
https://b3ta.com/board/11390034

  * This could be a scene in a rather droll horror
  film - thank you Ninj (again)
https://b3ta.com/board/11390354

  * See all the other images from the 'Literal
  Places' challenge:
http://b3ta.com/challenge/literalplaces/popular

  >> This week: Jesus' Greatest TV Moments <<
  Happy Easter, it's a time to sit back and watch
  stuff on TV while going to church to remember
  Jesus and his things. So let's combine the two
  and make Jesus' greatest TV moments.
http://b3ta.com/challenge/tvjesus/popular

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: STAR IN NEXT WEEK'S ISSUE
  Some ideas for brainspiration 

  * TEXT-TO-SWEEP - Monkeon asks "I was thinking
  that it must be possible to do Text-To-Sweep,
  which analyses the rhythm of the syllables in a
  sentence and turns them into squeaks.  Ideally,
  it could work backwards to reveal what filth
  Sweep was yelling at Matthew Corbett."

  * COULD YOU GET INTO ETON? Eton entrance exams
  are online as PDFs, would work as a virally
  quiz, either done straight or with stupid
  questions. "You see a homeless person. Do you
  give them... a) a fiver b) a kick"

  * MOCKERY LOTTERY - reading the government rules
  on lotteries we've realised it's actually
  possible set up small ones with minimal
  oversight and we spent a few mins imagining one
  where you bung in a quid to insult a celeb, a
  random one is chosen, you get half the pay out,
  the celeb gets half the pay out and the whole
  thing goes to raising support for online artists
  (up to £250,000 a year in turnover).

  Thrust your ideas into our inbox and make us
  gasp.
https://b3ta.com/mailus/

-------------------------------------------------

: PATREON THANKS 
  We love all these people. Almost romantically.

  *HEBTROCO* *JAMES O'BRIEN* *KATE* *MARK
  MCCREADIE* *MR PHIL DONNELLY* *SHOWRAT* *SIMON
  JAMES* *STOOBERT*

  24-7 DEATH, ALAN CHARLTON, ALISTAIR, BRIAN
  EELES, CHRIS BLAKENEY, CHRIS CARLINE, CHRIS
  LOCKE, CRISS MORENO, IAN SHEEN, JAIMIE
  VANDENBERGH, MARK ADAMSON, RICHARD BARCLAY,
  SPAZZCAPTAIN, WENDY GOODE, NAT KING COLESLAW,
  ALBERT MARSHMALLOW, DANIEL MUDFORD, CARL DENCH

  Ed Zitron, Eugenie vT, Tom Dolan, Tom Wright,
  lee burnett, Richard Matthias, @mattdawhit, Adam
  Atack, Adam Cooney, Adam Lloyd, Adrian
  Woodfield, Al Davidson, Albion Gray, Andy
  Storrar, Andy Tillett, Andy Webber, Anna,
  Anne-Marie Scott, Ben Watson, Bertram Wooster,
  blossomshed, Carl Morgan, Catherine McAllister,
  Chris Evans, Chris Shaw, Craig Tonks, Damien
  Smith, Dan Stott, Daniel Brown, Dave Nattriss,
  Dave Tickle, David Ault, David Catley, David
  Gardiner, David King, David Mills, Derek Law,
  Dominic Haigh, Emma Lay, Eric von Borstel, Faith
  H. Martin, Fiona James, Fraser Lewry, Gaynor
  Clarkson, Gia Milinovich, Greg Neilson, Gus
  Nicol, Iain, Iain Brassington, Iain Fuller, Iain
  Ruxton, Ian Beveridge, Ivan Kelly, James
  Donnelly, James Kerry-Barnard, Jane Baker, Jason
  Stewart, Jerry Quartley, Jim Dabell, Jim
  Frayling, Jim MacArthur, Jim Woodward, Joe
  McNally, Joe Simmonds, John Faragher, John
  Foster, John Hammersley, John Matthews, Jude
  Evans, Jm McNven, Kate Devlin, Kev Adams, Konrad
  Petrusewicz, Martin Beer, Martin Holloway,
  Martin Peache, matsimpsk, Matt Buchanan, Matt
  Drewry, Matthew Collinge, Matthew Forman,
  Matthew Morris, Matthew Wilkes, midnightrambler,
  mil jamieson, Neil de Carteret, Nick Ross,
  OBiW4N SHiNOBi, oliver bewes, Paul Cherry, Paul
  Smith, Paul Westerman, Peter Ashtray, Peter
  Coombe, peter wouda, Philip Kinchington,
  pookong, Rich Pope, Richard Beckett, Rob Mahon,
  Rob Vincent, Robbie Lesiuk, Ross Carter,
  RossOverThere, Saleem Ahmad, Scott S. Kramer,
  sean casely, Simon Cowan, Simon Holmes, Simon
  McDougall, Simon waterfall, Stephen Waller,
  Steve Anglesey, Steven Smith, Stuart Ashen, Tim
  Jokl, Tim Mouncer, Tim Weaver, Tom Crick, Tom
  Rees-Williams, Tom Ryan, TownsendsPublisher, Wil
  Hadden, Will Goulden, AuntieSash Hazlewood,
  Byron Geoffrey Farrow, Chef Twat, Chris Gough,
  Chris Whitworth, Craig Turner, Daniel Chote,
  Fergus McKay, fourstar, Geoff Tidey, Geoffrey
  Balme, Graham Licence, James Macinnes, John
  Higgs, Jonty Wareing, Mick Curtis, Rhys Wynne,
  Rob Affleck, Chris Saunders, George Preston,
  James O'Malley, Martin Davies, Mike Middleton,
  Bex Cook, Hannah Chubb, Ben Ward, James Pearson,
  Shane McHugh, Stevey Garland, Ciarn R, Craig
  Liddell, Helen Gaskell, Christopher Orr, Will
  Moody, Nick Morgan, Ben Brice, David Green,
  Justin Brett, Louise Allen, Robin, Gavin Tommey,
  Stuart Richards, Tobie Fysh, Pete, Carl Mesner
  Lyons, Chris Johnson, Emma Sykes, Jan Spielhoff,
  Mike Congreve, Sean Flanagan, Tom Freke, Sam
  Anderson, Jess Baker, Adam Beardwood, David
  Stark, Julie Brumlik, Alastair Dodd, Alexandre
  Strube, Andrew Robinson, Andy Candler, Connor
  Parslow, Craig Naples, Daniel Moeller, Duncan
  STrickland, Harry, Irene Semanchuk, Joseph
  Mulvaney, Michael Kitt, Nicky Hewgill, Paul
  Topping, peter royal, Richard Speed, Sentient
  Meatbag, Tim Beachy, Dominic Le Garsmeur, Mark
  Benson, Danny Kodicek, Deny Coughlan, Nick Kent,
  Russ Anderson, Adam Kaczmarek, Andrea Vail, Andy
  Shirling, Ben Chapman, ben cowell-thomas, Ben
  Groom, Ben Sugden, Cat Conner, Centuries of
  Sound, Claire Allen, Claire Zolkwer, Darren John
  Harris, Dave The Hammer Parry, David Bond, David
  Ellinor, Daz Wright, Emily Payne, Emma Nicol,
  FuzzyFreaks, Gary Sharp, Gwyn Fisher, Hugh
  Noble, Iain M Barker, Ilya olak-Anti, Jennifer
  Moquin, Jim Lucking, John M, Jon Bounds, Lee
  Ball, Louis E, Lyra Jay, Marc Lindberg, mark
  madgwick, Matt Carr, Michael Bryan, Mr Flibble,
  Neil Ives, Nick, Nigel Ford, Oli, Paul Bayfield,
  Paul Slade, Peter Wood, Phil Barns, Rachel
  Tougas, Richard Abraham, Richard Midwinter,
  Robert Purkis, Robert Simpson, Rohan, Sam Brown,
  Seirian Hanner, Sham Courtney, Simon Lumb,
  Stephen McAuley, Stewart C. Russell, Stphane,
  Swedemason, Ted Bowyer, Thepfy, Tim Polglase,
  Tom Clark, Tony East, wigglywigglyworm, Adam
  Tickner, Al Napp, Andrew Harris, Bobod, Chris
  Ward, Jace Otting, James Meers, John Griffiths,
  Paul Mancini, Rob Potter, Tanya Kant, Victoria
  Wood, Graham Freeman, Caroline Kahn, Matt.

  EDITORIAL THANKS: Monkeon & Matt Round
  additional links; HappyToast for image challenge
  help; and Dr Dunno for extra support. Proofing
  by Kat E. Thanks Kat. (You're welcome - Kat)

  And thank you to newish Patreons Ben Rout, Tim
  Clarke, Simon Balch, Clemence Saussez, Derek
  Colley. Martin Pritchard, Stephanie Wissinger,
  Dion Ashton and Paul Blanchard. Thanks to EVEN
  NEWER ONES: Fadgebadger, Mark (Mavis), Joshua
  Rackstraw, Mike Stringer, Eliot Beer, Harri
  Bionic, Chris Lindley, Stuart B, Jon Morris
  Smith, Daniel Malbon, James Heaver and Phil
  Lovell. And further thanks to newer ones: Ben
  Oliver, James Wise, Claire Turner, Omnipiss,
  Lindsay Mclaughlin, Mellyfish, Simon Edwards,
  Dave Wong & Stafford Lawrence. NEWEST - special
  love to NEW PATREON Phillip Spowart. NEW NEWSEST
  - extra love love love to si Jobling & Daniel
  Calvin. And bonus new love to Douglas Pennant,
  Roy Santos & Will Thompson. We love you. OH GOD,
  and more bonus love to Alex Collin-Oakley, Phil
  McGuire & Paul Blanchard - you sexy people. And
  Mike Powell and Damion Brown and Ross Carter and
  PJ. Ooooh and John Daly. Oooh oooh ooh and Rich
  Corcoran. Love you. And a special thank you to
  the super generous Paul Topping. And a thank you
  to the return of Carlos Fandango. Much
  appreciated Carl. OOH AND NEW ONES! Alistair
  Murray Swodeck, nevillebartos, Blargity Blarg
  Blarg. YAY! Oh and more thanks to Ian Walker,
  Attila Eros, Calanish and Mike Wolcom. WE LOVE
  YOU. And new new thanks to Dale Goodall, Gillian
  Parrot, Albion Gray & Gary Alan Norton. Thank
  you, you kind humans. And... Leighton Stevenson,
  Ben Cowell-Thomas & Phil Bennett. Thx. BONUS
  THANKS: Gillian Parrott, Funny_hat & Gub~gub.

  And do please donate as you get occasional
  "bonus" content. Maybe.
https://www.patreon.com/b3ta

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: AH FUCK IT, BONUS FESSHOLE
  
  "My husband recently uploaded a video to YouTube
  of him complaining about the service he'd
  received at our local Waitrose. He plays all 8
  minutes of it on our smart tv whenever he's had
  a few drinks. I will NEVER have sex with this
  man again."

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