A hoax. The text of one such email follows:

----- Original Message -----  From:  To:  Sent: Thursday, November 30, 2000 1:19 AM Subject: EXTRA! Vigo Examiner Virus Alert   >                  Vigo Examiner Virus Alert >  > As you may know, the Vigo Examiner does not publish many  > virus alerts because the vast majority are hoaxes.  This one  > is not. >  > If you have open or displayed the "Democrat Seal" featuring  > a crying baby, you have received the virus.  If you have  > forwarded the graphic, you have forwarded the virus.   >  > What to do: > Shut your system down immediately.  Call your downstream > victims and tell them.  Take your computer to a computer  > repair shop, where they can remove the C: drive and mount it  > in another system where the files will not execute  > automatically.  There it can be safely cleansed with a virus  > scanner that has not been compromised. >  > Emphasis: > If your virus scanner tells you you have a virus, DO NOT  > continue to run, expecting your virus scanner to remove it.   > SHUT IT DOWN. >  > --------------------------------------------- > Enjoy a 90 day free trial subscription to the E-mail edition > of the Vigo Examiner. You will receive up to three of our > top stories, editorials or letters each day.  Send your trial  > subscription request to Circulation@Vigo-Examiner.com.