May

26

Google’s Summer of Code 2008 is officially underway! This year I am working on creating an AtomPub-based content importer for WordPress. The goal is to import entries and other content from Movable Type and TypePad into WordPress in as few clicks as possible.

Since the AtomPub spec (RFC 5023) is so new, this should prove to be an interesting summer. I will be one of the first to implement a real world use of AtomPub, and I suspect documentation will be scarce. Regardless, I am up for the challenge and can’t wait to see how the end product turns out.

If you’re interested in the progress of this project, just stayed tuned to this blog. I will be blogging weekly updates on my progress, so you will always know where I stand.

May

20

Brandon Connell was called in on Curtis Sliwa’s news talk radio show at WABC New York to discuss the issue of online reputation management Monday May 19th, 2008.

The discussion was brought up because of the case of the young girl who committed suicide because of emails she received from a woman using a fake myspace profile. A recent episode of 20/20 on ABC also talked about a case where a student was raped and someone was allowed to post anonymously on JuicyCampus.com that the girl deserved what happened to her.

“Unfortunately anonymous posting is legal because of Section 230 created in 1996 which protects website owners from lawsuits by people who have been defamed online” says Brandon. “Anybody can post anything about you regardless if it is factual or not and it gets posted by some websites without any proof such events happened.”

Under the law, the person who posted the defaming material is not protected from defamation lawsuits if it is proven that they were the one that posted it and the material is false.

“Websites that allow such content advise their users to post anonymously so they are not identified.”

Some of the websites use what seo experts call black hat spamming methods such as keyword stuffing which is the use of keywords over and over in title tags, and on the actual html page. They also use duplicate domains and allow search engines to index their auto-generated content such as site searches.

“Even though the sites are spamming, Google allows them to rank high on it’s listings” says Brandon. “I am confused as to why they come up high in Google results especially when there was an instance where a Google founder turned up as a person listed on such a site. Until people in power end up the victims of such a website nothing will be done to update the law.”

Websites owners are not protected by Section 230 if they are proven to have authored or significantly edited such content.

Other mainstream media such as newspapers, radio, and television are not protected from lawsuits stemmed from libel and slander.

Brandon Connell is currently accepting calls from all media sources. Brandon Connell is known as an independent seo consultant that works with celebrities, high profile executives, business owners, and individuals. Brandon Connell is also a recording artist, music producer, and songwriter affiliated with B.M.I.

May

16

Kipp Kelly of WABC New York Radio recently released a production video tribute to Barack Obama. The production is a mix of inspiring clips and speeches paired with a song by the Goo Goo Dolls.

The tribute production can be found on YouTube. Kipp Kelly also provided a method of requesting an MP3 version of the tribute.

May

8

I noticed this interesting article from ComputerWorld earlier today:

Microsoft Corp. has warned users updating to Windows XP Service Pack 3 (SP3) that they won’t be able to downgrade from Internet Explorer 7 to the older IE6 without uninstalling the service pack.

As a web designer, this article hit close to home. While I think forcing Internet Explorer 7 down XP users’ throats is great (eliminating the horrible non-standard compliant IE6), this only further complicates the IE6 / web designer relationship.

If I choose to upgrade to XP Service Pack 3, which includes multiple important bug fixes and speed increases, I remove my ability to test in Internet Explorer 6. I could care less for my own personal projects, but I am sure not having the ability to test in IE6 would upset my clients. Then again, this change may remove the remaining IE6 users off the net, thus making IE6 testing obsolete.

Just for kicks, I checked my own website statistics. Currently 20% of my traffic comes from Internet Explorer, with 6% of my total traffic being IE6 users. Do you think this number will dwindle over the coming weeks and months or will the remaining IE6 users remain strong (most likely spyware-infested computers with automatic updates disabled)? When do you think disregarding IE6 users is fair as a web designer?

May

6

We are seeking authors to write content regularly for ESuperBrands.com. If you are available and qualified feel free to comment here and show your interest. Be sure to register and include your current contact information on your account so we can get ahold of you.

Authors must write quality content. Authors just trying to advertise will not be considered.

May

6

This topic is pretty sticky to get into. Poor people live a certain way. They are almost always depressed and/or stressed. The reason for this is because when you are poor and unable to pay your bills you feel an enormous weight. It ends up getting to be too much for you and you start to blame the world.

Rich people live the rich life. They have been there and know that there is another way to live. They know what it feels like to pay the bills, and to do things they want when they want such as vacation. They know how to make more money in a large way.

Poor people can become rich by letting go of ”it’s impossible”. The problem is that the feeling of impossibility is a strong feeling. You can’t just shrugg it off. Depression overwhelms you.

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