Textfiles.com - A collection of a bunch of '80s and '90s era texts
18 replies, posted
[url]http://textfiles.com/[/url] is an interesting website which I encountered that archives a bunch of 80's era and 90's era computer texts, most appearing to be from usenet. Some of these are completely gold and some of these are "a blast from the past" type things. It's kinda interesting reading 80's era conspiracy theories and how to assemble a nuclear bomb - ASCII art edidion..
That said, here's an example of one of the texts on the site;
[quote] It's a Ad, Ad, Ad, Ad World
The average American consumer is bombarded with hundreds of commercial
messages a day, and some experts claim that the average child sees and hears
100, 000 pitches before being old enough to attend school. Sometimes it seems
that, in these messages, both the sponsors and the advertising agencies have
abandoned the struggfle to communicate clearly, washing their hands of sense
and meaning.
On a paper placemat in a Massachusetts restaurang appeared this
advertising atrocity:
NEWBURY STREET COIFFURE
AFFORDABLE
An Alternative to Looking Good.
After tittering and scratching our heads for a while, we can reconstruct
what happened lin the framing of this cacphonous come-on. Apparently, the
good folks at Newbury Street Coiffure meant to proclaim that their affordable
prices afforded an alternative for looking good. But what came out was the
message, "Come to us and we'll throw gunk on your hair and pull some of it
out. And we'll charge you very little to do it!"
As the following classified classics will demonstrate, there are often
more laughs on the advertising and classified pages than you can find in the
cartoon and comic strips:
* Lost: small apricot poodle. reward. Neutered. Like one of the
family.
* A superb and inexpensive restaurant. Fine foods expertly served by
waitresses in apetizing forms.
* Dinner Special - Turkey $2.35; Chicken or Beef $2.25; Children $2.00
* For sale: antique desk suitable for lady with thick legs and large
drawers.
* For sale: a quilted high chair that can be made into a table, pottie
chair, rocking horse, refrigerator, spring coat, size 8 and fur collar.
* Four-poster bed, 101 years old. Perfect for antique lover.
* Now is the perfect time to get your ears pierced and get an extra pair
to take home, too!
* Wanted: 50 girls for stripping machine operators in factory
* Wanted: Unmarried girls to pick fresh fruit and produce at night.
* We do not tear your clothing with machinery. We do it carefully by
hand.
* No matter what your topcoat is made of, this miracle spray will make
it really repellent
* For Sale. Three canaries of undetermined sex.
* For Sale - Eight puppies from a German Shepherd and an Alaskan Huskey.
* Creative daily specials, including select offerings of beef, foul,
fresh vegetables, salads, quiche.
* 7 ounces of choice sirloin, steak, boiled to your likeness and smothered
with golden fried onion rings.
* Great Dames for sale.
* Have several very old dresses from grandmother in beautiful condition.
* Tired of cleaning yourself? Let me do it.
* 20 dozen bottles of excellent Old Tawney Port, sold to pay for charges,
the opwner having been lost sight of, and bottled by us last year.
* Dog for sale: eats anything and is fond of children.
* Vacation Special: Have your house exterminated.
* If you think you've seen everything in Paris, visit the Pere Lachasis
Cemetery. It boasts such immortals as Moliere, Jean de la Fountain
and Chopin.
* Mt. Kilimanjaro, the breathtaking backdrop for the Serena Lodge.
Swim in the lovely pool while you drink it all in.
* The hotel has bowling alleys, tennis courts, comfortable beds and
other athletic facilities.
* Get rid of aunts: Zap does the job in 24 hours.
* Toaster: A fift that every member of the family appreciates.
Automatically burns toast.
* Sheer stockings. Designed for fancy dress, but so servicable that lots
of women wear nothing else.
* Save regularly in our bank. You'll never reget it.
* We build bodies that last a lifetime.
* Offer expires December 31 or while supplies last.
* This is the model home for your future. It was panned by Better Homes
& Gardens.
* For Sale - Diamonds $20,00; microsopes $15.00.
* For Rent: 6 room hated apartment.
* Man, honest. Will take anything.
* Wanted: chambermaid in rectory. Love in, $200.00 a month.
References required.
* Wanted: Part-time married girls for soda fountain in sandwich shop.
* Man wanted to work in dynamite factory. Must be willing to travel.
* Used Cars: Why go elsewhere to be cheated? Come here first!
* Christmas tag-sale. Handmade gifts for the hard-to-find person.
* Modular Sofas. Only $299.00. For rest or fore play.
* Wanted: Hair-cutter. Excellent growth potential.
* Wanted. Man to take care of cow that does not smoke or drink.
* 3-year old teacher needed for pre-school. Experience preferred.
* Our experienced Mom will care for your child. Fenced yard, meals and
snacks included.
* Our bikinis are exciting. They are simply the tops.
* Auto Repair Service. Free pick-up and delivery. Try us once, you'll
never go anywhere again.
* See ladies blouses. 50% off!
* Holcross pulletts. Starting to lay Betty Clayton, Granite 5-6204
* Wanted. Preparer of food. Must be dependable like the food business,
and be willing to get hands dirty.
* Illiterate? Write today for free help.
* Girl wanted to assist magician in cutting-off-head illusion.
Blue Cross and salary.
* Wanted. Widower with school-age children requires person to assume
general housekeeping duties. Must be capable of contributing to
growth of family.
* Mixing bowl set designed to please a cook with round bottom for
efficient beating
* Mother's helper - peasant working conditions.
* Semi-Annual after Christmas Sale.
* And now, the Superstore - unequaled in size, unmatched in variety,
unrivaled inconvenience.
* We will oil your sewing machine and adjust tension in your home
for $1.00
And these beauties from the radio:
* Ladies and gentlemen, now you can have a bikini for a rediculous
figure.
* Be with us again next Saturday at 10:00 P. M. for "High Fidelity,"
designed to help music lovers increase their reproduction.
* When you are thirsty, try 7-Up, the refreshing drink in the green
bottle with the big 7 on it and u-p after.
* Tune in next week for another series of classical music programs with
the Canadian Broadcorping Castration.
[/quote]
Ah yes, archives from the glory days of the early Internet: back when the Internet was idiot-free.
Amazing.
* Dog for sale: eats [b]anything[/b] and is fond of children.
:downs:
Even though the ASCII art on that website is amazing Facepunch doesn't take it well and it comes out like someone ran it over with a tractor.
Very informative stuff here.
[quote]
* Used Cars: Why go elsewhere to be cheated? Come here first![/quote]
lol
I've known about this site for a while. Any time I don't know what to do with my weekend I either go there or to the archived totse.
[QUOTE=Doug52392;16971907]Ah yes, archives from the glory days of the early Internet: back when the Internet was idiot-free.[/QUOTE]
Doug52392: hey guys, I'm a dick towards people.
[QUOTE=rapperkid04;16972413]I've known about this site for a while. Any time I don't know what to do with my weekend I either go there or to the archived totse.[/QUOTE]
R.I.P. Temple of the Screaming Electron :patriot:
Ah, I found this site ages ago and have spent hours just going through and enlightening myself on information, whether it was useful, scary or years out-of-date. Strangely entertaining.
Oh, I wish the internet still had that sense of community as it once did.
I mean, uh, desu shoop da woop.
[QUOTE=thisispain;16972815]Doug52392: hey guys, I'm a dick towards people.[/QUOTE]
Nice use of irony.
Reminds me of this:
[quote=Scott Fahlman]19-Sep-82 11:44 Scott E Fahlman :-)
From: Scott E Fahlman <Fahlman at Cmu-20c>
I propose that the following character sequence for joke markers:
:-)
Read it sideways. Actually, it is probably more economical to mark
things that are NOT jokes, given current trends. For this, use
:-([/quote]
