READING UNOPENED MAIL: BETTER LIVING THROUGH CHEMISTRY.... There are two traditional methods for reading the contents of a sealed envelope. Steaming - It is possible to expose the gummed edge of a sealed envelope to a blast of steam and open it as the glue releases its grip on the paper. This method, when done correctly, does not rip or otherwise damage the en- velope and allows the material to be read and re-inserted and reglued after perusal. Steaming also has a bad habit of wetting the entire surface to a great enough degree to induce some inks to run, stamps to come off and requires a fair amount of drying time after use to return paper to a non-wet state. Many modern envelopes require so much steam treatment before they open that the paper never returns to it's original state but instead dries to a different, and often noticeable texture. Needles - The other system is to carefully undo a corner flap of the target envelope. This flap need not be the top, many envelopes can be unfolded to a great enough degree that a 1/4" space will appear at a bottom corner. At this point two knitting neddles are inserted into the gap, one on either side of the letter. The needles are then twisted around each other in order to wrap the letter into a tube that can be withdrawn through the gap. The letter is then read, photographed, whatever, and inserted back into the envelope in the same fashion. The gap is then refolded and/or reglued if necessary to return the envelope to its original condition. Now, as they say in the ad business, there is a third choice..... Chemical Inspection - The CIA and FBI have had access to this toy for some years and it has finally dribbled down to the civilian market. Sold in a spray or aerosol container, this alcohol-based fluid turns most papers transparent for 30-60 seconds. This feature allows one to READ THE CONTENTS WITHOUT EVER OPENING THE LETTER. The fluid then dries up leaving no trace of its passing. It has the added advantage of not smearing any inks... Of course, the entire letter may not be exposed if it is folded, but this quick and easy solution (no pun intended) can solve many "tricky problems. This chemical is sold by LEA, Microtron, PK Electronics etc. It averages about $35 a bottle and is sold for letter bomb inspection purposes. ******** Want to save $49.00?? The chemical used is liquid Freon. It's available from chemical or photographic suppliers and is used to clean video and film equipment....... (Borrowed from "HOW TO GET ANYTHING ON ANYBODY" by Lee Lapin) X-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-X Another file downloaded from: NIRVANAnet(tm) & the Temple of the Screaming Electron Jeff Hunter 510-935-5845 Rat Head Ratsnatcher 510-524-3649 Burn This Flag Zardoz 408-363-9766 realitycheck Poindexter Fortran 415-567-7043 Lies Unlimited Mick Freen 415-583-4102 Specializing in conversations, obscure information, high explosives, arcane knowledge, political extremism, diversive sexuality, insane speculation, and wild rumours. ALL-TEXT BBS SYSTEMS. Full access for first-time callers. We don't want to know who you are, where you live, or what your phone number is. We are not Big Brother. "Raw Data for Raw Nerves" X-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-X