# I wished for Anthrax, but all I got was detergent! (Or: PCH's Really Bad Timing)

**URL:** https://boards.straightdope.com/t/i-wished-for-anthrax-but-all-i-got-was-detergent-or-pchs-really-bad-timing/88090
**Category:** Miscellaneous and Personal Stuff I Must Share
**Created:** [October 17, 2001, 10:57pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/i-wished-for-anthrax-but-all-i-got-was-detergent-or-pchs-really-bad-timing/88090 "2001-10-17T22:57:17Z")
**Posts on this page:** 3
**Page:** 1

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### Author: ![SterlingNorth](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/8dc957/32.png) [@SterlingNorth](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/SterlingNorth)
#### Post date: [October 17, 2001, 10:57pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/i-wished-for-anthrax-but-all-i-got-was-detergent-or-pchs-really-bad-timing/88090/1 "2001-10-17T22:57:17Z")

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**Now wouldn’t be a cruel twist of fate if you company gave the go-ahead to send out samples of a white powdery substance that WASN’T designed to kill people just a week or two ago?**

> [@](#):
>
> ST. PAUL, Minn. (AP) With fears of anthrax in the mail running high, postal inspectors in St. Paul have given their colleagues a heads-up that Publishers Clearinghouse is sending out packages of powdered detergent.  
> “There’s nothing to be alarmed about in that package,” Inspector Jeanne Graupman said. She added: “Just the timing of it wasn’t very good.”  
> [more\>\>\>](http://abcnews.go.com/wire/Business/ap20011017_897.html)

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### Author: ![UncleBeer](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/u/977dab/32.png) [@UncleBeer](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/UncleBeer)
#### Post date: [October 17, 2001, 11:04pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/i-wished-for-anthrax-but-all-i-got-was-detergent-or-pchs-really-bad-timing/88090/2 "2001-10-17T23:04:54Z")

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Whooops! I think this is what they call “OTBE.” Over taken by events.

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### Author: ![clayton\_e](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/c/c57346/32.png) [@clayton\_e](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/clayton_e)
#### Post date: [October 17, 2001, 11:25pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/i-wished-for-anthrax-but-all-i-got-was-detergent-or-pchs-really-bad-timing/88090/3 "2001-10-17T23:25:07Z")

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You’d think that by now the cops would be relieved to find out that it’s only cocane.