Here is the AuctionBytes online-auction news roundup for Monday, April 18, 2005.

Industry News & Trends

"EBay trafffic drops," By Greg Wiles (Bloomberg), Northwest Herald, 4/17/05 http://www.nwherald.com/BusinessSection/326170196564619.php

"Retailers Rush To Secure Data Against Theft," by David Bank, Wall Street Journal, 4/15/05 http://online.wsj.com/article/0,,SB111352230378007624,00.html

Weird, Unusual, Celebrity or Charity Auctions

"Chase a tornado, buy Britney's gum, you can have it all," by Candace Murphy, Insidebayarea.com, 4/17/05 http://www.insidebayarea.com/bayarealiving/ci_2666696

"Seller pulls communion wafer from eBay sale," (AP), Omaha World-Herald, 4/16/05 http://www.omaha.com/index.php?u_pg=57&u_sid=1387914

"Chair with "Jesus image" draws low bids," (Canadian Press), AZcentral.com, 4/17/05 http://www.azcentral.com/offbeat/articles/0417jesus-rocker17-ON.html

"Bride's buddy maid to order: EBay bidder joins wedding," (CP), Canoe.ca, 4/17/05 http://www.canoe.ca/NewsStand/CalgarySun/News/2005/04/17/1000827-sun.html