If you ever long for validation that you're not the only crazy person in America, check out Craig's List (founder Craig Newmark, right), a collection of forums for people looking to sell used furniture, buy event tickets or barter a late-night BJ for some pot.
Most of the posts sound innocent enough (Mystic River and hot tea, anyone?), but some ads for activity partners, casual encounters and missed connections are clearly written by some witty — and disturbed — individuals.
Thankfully, Craig's List saves us from having to sort through the boring stuff — Book club partner wanted! My god, where do I sign up? — and gets straight to the freaks by indexing its Best of Craig's List, with posts from not only New York but San Francisco, Boston and other cities that the Real World has filmed in.
Here are the current highlights from Best of Craig's List:
• The Worst Lay Ever — A New York woman describes a less-than-thrilling bedroom experience.
• Do You Go to Harvard? — A 21-year-old Bostonian, who is obviously impressed by U.S. News and World Report lists, wants to meet any Harvard student. "Gods amongst mortals," the fan writes.
• Looking for Fingernail Clippings — Meet this guy in Times Square if you want to contribute to his collection of fingernails from about 4,200 people. OK, but only if I get a spoonful.
• The Definitive NYC Farter's Guide — Tips on how best to pass the gas in the Big Apple. Think subways are off-limits? Our author asks, "Why spend your whole subway ride in intestinal and abdominal discomfort because you're afraid that Joe Subway Rider will smell and hear your gas?" He (or she!) also gives instructions to mastering a bathroom technique called the Butt-Stopper.
• You Were an Attractive Woman Who I Saw Outside Once — A hilarious rip on the vagueness of Missed Connections ads. The ad begins: "I caught your eye while you were walking somewhere and I was walking somewhere else. Or possibly we were both sitting. Or maybe one of us was walking. Or you might have actually have been driving."
• Naked Thumb Wrestling — Doing it in the nude, our male poster contends, is the only way to prevent women from using her sleeve to blanket and blind her opponents' thumb. "I simply don't want to deal with it anymore. It's childish," he laments.
• To Guy Who Pretended He Was Retarded — Shame on you! Shame on you, sir, who tried to steal a Caesar salad from Au Bon Pain, then pretended you were retarded after getting busted.
Other Web Finds:
• The Unusual History of Microsoft Windows — Monday is the 20th anniversary of the day Microsoft Corporation formally announced Microsoft Windows. Bill Gates would later amass a fortune of more than $60 billion. (Today just over $40 billion.)
• Celebrity Doubles — I can never get enough of impersonators. And just what is the demand for a Roberto Benigni look-alike in 2003? Here's Bill Gates, minus the $40 billion I mentioned above.
• Hacking Your iPod — I love mine, but it's getting sick. Maybe this site that features general troubleshooting and lessons on "how to hack the crap out of your iPod" will help.
• 'Paul Katcher' Madden Player Stats — My EAsports.com profile page, if you want to see how much I really, really suck at Madden 2004 online. The only close game was played by my friend. Here's what he did in the final 10 seconds of a game tied at 21. First, he chokes on a 45-yard field-goal attempt to win. A nervous twitch and he had no chance. Then, having to stop only one play to force OT, he gives up a 62-yard TD. And this is a guy who schools me.
In her later years, my grandmother received a letter from Harvard offering to replace her Radcliffe diploma with a Harvard diploma.
She wrote back, declining the 'honor', noting that Harvard didn't want her when she was a female college undergraduate (in the late 1920's and early 1930's), and she didn't want their diploma now- she attended and graduated from Radcliffe College, not Harvard.
So what's the big deal with meeting a Harvard undergrad, anyways?
Posted by lucy at November 10, 2003 4:32 PM