> From _New Scientist_, 28 August 93, Feedback column:

The National Westminster Bank admitted last month that it keeps
personal information about its customers--such as their political
affiliation--on computer. But now _Computer Weekly_ reveals that a
financial institution, sadly unnamed, has gone one better and moved
into the realm of personal abuse.

The institution decided to mailshot 2000 of its richest customers,
inviting them to buy extra services. One of its computer programmers
wrote a program to search through its databases and select its
customers automatically. He tested the program with an imaginary
customer called Rich Bastard.

Unfortunately, an error resulted in all 2000 letters being addressed
"Dear Rich Bastard". The luckless programmer was subsequently sacked.