In an article at The Register on May 1st 2008 John Leyden reports:

Spam celebrates its 30th birthday on Saturday (3 May).

On that day in 1978, 393 Arpanet subscribers were sent what's reckoned to be the first ever spam email in history (the message itself was written on 1 May 1978).

DEC marketing rep Gary Thuerk came up with the wheeze which produced a fierce backlash from Arpanet (military) administrators, as well as a small number of sales.

Thanks Gary, we will all remember you for that one!

In January 2004, Bill Gates predicted that spam email would be eradicated as a problem within 24 months.

Do you think that was the same speech where he said Vista was going to a great new OS?

Meanwhile, spam has begun appearing on other platforms, such as mobile phones. According to research from the International Telecommunication Union (ITU), more than 80 per cent of phone users worldwide have received spam on their mobile (devices).

Don’t you just love it?  Now you can find a solution to your mortgage and sexual issues on your cell phone!

An estimated 95 per cent of all email is spam. If nobody responded to spam the tactic would not be commercially viable, but a recent survey conducted by Sophos revealed that 11 per cent of people admit to having bought goods in response to spam messages.

If they send out 60 billion spam emails, one in 10 will result in a sale.  You know with those kinds of results they will keep it up.  If you know any one that buys stuff from spam messages, cut off their computer privledges!