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NEWSLETTER: "ALL WE ARE SAYING IS GIVE PISS A CHANCE"

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This Week:
* OLD WEBSITE BOT - relive the Geocities-era 
* KUNT UPDATE - Get ready to buy the single
* SOCIAL MEDIA - Finally without humans
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________  ____ __  ___
____/  _)|_  // /_/ _ | "We're saving the web 
___/  _ |/_ </ __/ __ | by backing it up on zip
__/____/____/\__/_/ |_| disks... together"

B3ta email 859 - 28th Apr 2023

Read this issue to your confused but loyal dog:
http://b3ta.com/newsletter/issue859

Subscribe, you mooks: https://b3ta.com/subscribe/

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: WHAT B3TA PEOPLE HAVE MADE THIS WEEK 
  Other than making poos and wees

  * OLD WEBSITE BOT - CosmicMozzie writes, "Hey, a
  while ago I released a bot that generates videos
  of archived web pages and media files. The bot
  supports formats like Flash, Shockwave, Java,
  VRML, MIDI, etc. Since it has a similar vibe to
  your GIF bots, do you think you could give it a
  boost?" Ah fuck it, why not.
https://twitter.com/waybackwanderer

  * B3TAN OPPRESSED BY THE GOVERNMENT - ok we're
  over egging the headline here, but we're
  amused/alarmed to see old school b3tan Kate
  Devlin turn up on Newsnight talking about how
  they were shunted out of talking a talk to the
  civil service because of their tweets. Guess
  we'd all be fucked on this one but is Rishi
  wants us to talk about Fesshole we're not doing
  it for less than £50k and a Twix.
https://twitter.com/BBCNewsnight/status/1651248734...

  * KUNT UPDATE - Kunt writes, "Scrap The Monarchy
  is released next Friday 05/05/23 and for anyone
  that wants a selfie, The Krown Jewelz will be in
  London on Coronation day with a giant Jimmy
  Savile." Honestly we're split on the monarchy
  stuff, on one hand, they're fucking terrible,
  but on the other hand, do we really want Liz
  Truss or whoever as the head of the state people
  pledge allegiance too? Anyway, support Kunt if
  that's your bag.
https://youtube.com/watch

  * GOT A PROBLEM MATE, PODCAST - your editor was
  recently asked on a podcast to talk some
  bollocks and he did exactly that, so good luck
  listeners. 
https://shows.acast.com/got-a-problem-mate/episode...

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: HEBTROCO SPONSORSHIP
  Buy some lovely clothes

  Each week we implore you to buy some new threads
  from our wonderful sponsor who only exist to
  cover you from head to toe in clobber that's
  designed in the UK, to the highest standards and
  built to last. Check out their latest stuff,
  you're bound to find something you'll want for a
  birthday present.
https://hebtro.co/new/  

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: FESSHOLE
  Stay on the scene, like a fess machine

  You know the score, you type bollocks into a
  Google form, we pick out a few to post, and then
  you tell us we're shit at our job and you could
  have done it better. Here's our favs this week:

  * LIFE HACK - "My wife spent ages teaching the
  kids her mobile number so they could call her in
  an emergency from any phone. I just set mine as
  the password to the gaming PC. Same result, zero
  effort."

  * REBOUND - "I deliberately picked the ugliest
  candidate for our kids au pair so my husband
  wouldn't be tempted to fuck her. He still fucked
  her, and he is now my ex-husband, so fat lot of
  use that was"

  * REVENGE - "Last night my teenage son was being
  an utter arse and refused to come to an event we
  had booked. So I took the router in his place;
  it had a seat, drink and chocolates and I even
  got some pics. Future dates may happen."

   Join the 955,000 people who've accidentally
   followed this junk thinking it was the funny
   Twitter account that posts photos of bog
   brushes that look like Nick Rhodes.
https://twitter.com/fesshole/

  You should buy the book, it only costs £6.49,
  which is about the same price as a sandwich in
  an airport and just as likely to give you the
  shits.
https://amzn.to/3EQU6wb

  * FESSHOLE TICKETS, we did the Edinburgh show
  last week, thank you to everyone who came and a
  yay to the B3tans who said hello and collected
  their B3ta badges. Next show is Manchester but
  there's also tickets for Belfast and Bristol. Do
  come to the show that's been described, not by
  us, as "very very funny".
https://sites.google.com/view/fesshole

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: SITES IN BRIEF
  Content dumped on the Information SuperMotorway

  * TWITTER WITHOUT HUMANS - A social media site
  which only allows monomaniacal AI bots as users.
   As always, the fun is in coming up with prompts
  and seeing what happens when you set them loose
  to chat with each other.  My Alan Sugar fan bot
  has started buying classic loafers and asking
  other bots out for a business lunch - just like
  the real deal.
https://chirper.ai

  * INFINITEPEDIA - This site has given an
  infinite scroll to Wikipedia. Whilst I don't
  think this was its point, it really does
  illustrate the addictive qualities of infinite
  scrolling. Better hit rate on this than a
  Twitter or Facebook doom-scroll, too.
https://wikiscroll.blankenship.io

  * CLICKBAIT, THE PROGRAMMING LANGUAGE - now you
  can write your code whilst feeling irritated
  that the advertising model of clicks has largely
  broken the internet. 
https://tabloid-thesephist.vercel.app/

  * KIDS VS GAMES - Fascinating article about the
  cat and mouse of kids trying to play games on
  their Chromebooks at schools and the teachers
  trying to stop them. 
https://www.vice.com/en/article/z3mxkj/inside-the-...

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: FRIDAY GAME
  Bubble wrap & Cat Park

  * BUBBLES - A relaxing hybrid of a clicker and
  some virtual bubble-wrap in which you must grow
  plants and burst bubbles until the air is clean.
   Doing pretend environmental good deeds whilst
  burning carbon seems a bit wrong, though.
https://mellowminx.itch.io/air-garden

  * CAT PARK - Enjoyed this game that supposedly
  teaches kids about disinformation and online
  propaganda. 
https://catpark.game/

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: STAR IN NEXT WEEK'S ISSUE
  Some ideas to kick you off

  * SOUP DRAGONS OR DRAGON SOOP - spending a
  couple of days in Edinburgh we learnt that the
  local street drinkers consume a slightly grim
  alcopop that's basically an 8% energy drink. Can
  you sell the difference between a fan of this
  product and a member of an early 90s baggy
  collective etc?

  * THE MUSEUM OF PRINCESS DIANA TAT - also in
  Edinburgh we spotted the Princess Diana Memorial
  Tartan and rolled our eyes a bit - along with
  the news that someone found a ham that looks
  like her this week, maybe there could be an
  online museum collecting the worst of this
  stuff.

  * A HOW TO PREVENT THE TORIES WINNING WEBSITE -
  that just says don't vote tory.

  Stick your content up our pipe:
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. (Wotcha captain - 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 - A TOP TIP
  
  Working in a call centre many years ago a mate
  and I used to play a game of who could get the
  most downwards red arrows on a comment on a
  Daily Mail story for that day, record 4631 for
  saying the Queen dressed like a nympho.

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