I’m Dumbfounded
And here I thought the migration from Movable Type to WordPress was going to be difficult. My hat is off to WordPress. Bravo.
WordPress’ Import feature did all the work. It actually took me longer to get the web host and the domain name to work with the correct folder. All that’s left is to clean up the posts from the intended move to RebelZero.com and get the plugins working.
A big thanks to the WordPress coders for removing one more task from vacation plans.
Just found that the Export/Import didn’t bring with it the Pages. I’ll have to add those back in.
Movable Type vs. WordPress…. FIGHT!
As if I hadn’t had enough on my plate, I’m moving this site to a WordPress installation. Movable Type “Open Source” has been fun, but I feel more at ease with WordPress.
I had used WP in the past and wanted to try something different once I finally decided on a course for this domain by choosing Movable Type. MT is a fantastic blogging tool with a lot of depth. But, so is WP. I put together a new site just a couple of weeks ago with WP and it brought back some good memories. Seeing how well it’s been improved upon since I last used it really impressed me.
I think I have a pretty good idea about how to migrate my posts over to WP. I’ll be on vacation from work starting on Friday, August 1 until I go back on Monday, August 11, so I should have plenty of time to work out any snafus that arise along the way. Unfortunately this is a bad idea in terms of SEO strategies as all of the Google search engine links will be dead. I’ll have to wait on their web crawler to re-index the site.
I found some really clean, appealing themes to use by Brian Gardner that should add a bit of class to the blog. We’ll be removing “Big Show” from the site’s title as it doesn’t apply there. I’ve also found some other locations on the web with that title that are more established. I don’t want to create any confusion in respects to who is whom. AdamStovicek.com is still quite unique and not necessary to change.
TTFN
Increase In Malware Linked Spam
I’ve been seeing an increase in spam that contains links to sites that try to trick users into thinking they have to update their Flash player plugins/software in order to watch some particular video. Just in the past two days, I’ve gotten three plus one other possible email.
- Feel her womb entrance with new length [Sexual Enhancement]
- Cheap Price degree/Bacheelor/masteerMBA/PhDD certificate srhrs 0×6e [Online school]
- Apple iPods explode while charging - Software industry sues eBay for not controlling piracy [malware - flash update]
- Lost writers wrapping up hit series - American athletes denied Chinese visa and are unable to compete in upcoming Olympics [malware - flash update]
- new Olimpic china collection - luxury stuff for Olimpic games. aspecial models with hundred discounts. [Cheap crap / possible Erection Pills]
- Medic assistance share! - Beer is a silent killer? [unknown, but funny]
- SPECIAL OFFERS-Pharmacy Online July Sale 70% [Viagra & Copyright 2008 Microsoft?]
- Bartender Gettts $10,000 Tip on $26 Tab [Sexual Enhancement]
- New recipe for successful love [malware - flash update]
- new sports watches models for Olimpic games [Erection pills]
- Try also each time new unforgettable impressions [bay.liveefilestore.com known spammer]
I think I do pretty well with controlling spam, so if I’m getting these emails, I know other computer users are certainly getting them. And that means I get to recite my usual warning:
If you don’t know the sender of the email, don’t even bother to read it. And for God’s sake, don’t even bother clicking on any links or visit any site contained within the emails. For those times when you think you know the sender, use caution and pay attention.
If some site is asking you to update your Flash player software, don’t use their supplied updater. Go to Adobe’s website and get it straight from the source. Chances are, you already have the latest software.
I’m still laughing at the first listed spam title. “Feel her womb entrance with new length.” Whoo hoo!
RebelZero.com
I decided that RebelZero.com was just about the best place for me in which to move my Linux oriented posts. Using a content management system, Drupal, I hope to learn how to organize it all in some manner that’s easy to read and use. It’ll be a slow process for me to move everything, but it shall be done.
Moron Drivers Be Damned
Tim Buckley at Ctrl-Alt-Del has introduced his Sillies not too long ago. This Saturday’s deals with those people who can’t see those big bright arrows on the road letting people know that a lane is closed ahead. Even Death has his say…
Askew As Can Be
Apparently this blog has become more about Linux than I’m comfortable with. The original focus was supposed to be about me personally for friends, co-workers, and family. Linux has become an important part of my life, but this blog wasn’t meant to be the soapbox for me to preach about it.
With that in mind, I’ll be moving the focus back away from Linux, move the posts I have already to another location, and move on to current events. I’m fully aware that moving information from location to location can really screw with the online community in regards to linked content and search engine results. I’ll try to provide static “markers” to link away to new locations where possible.
I’m looking at using Drupal for the content management. I’ve played around with it in the past and was pleased at the time. There’s been some significant improvements and changes since then that I’ll have to familiarize myself with, but that’s all part of the fun. I’ve got a number of URLs to choose from and I’m leaning towards my most recently acquired RebelZero.com for my Linux soapboxing.
It was a trying week at the fulltime job and I’m looking forward to putting my brain power to work for myself this weekend. Until next time….
Star And Stripes Forever
Ubuntu Tweak
Moved to RebelZero.com
I Am Jack’s Complete Lack Of Surprise - MySpace Returns Part 2
So I posted an entry yesterday about how I got the June/July newsletter from MySpace when I supposedly deleted my account back at the end of January. I replied to the privacy@myspace.com email which was among the options that were presented at the bottom of the newsletter. This may come as a shock to you, by I was answered quite quickly… by an automated response. I presented the following:
I am wondering…
If I deleted my account back at the end of January, why am I possibly still
receiving any kind of notification from MySpace to my “external
email”? And since I have no account at MySpace, how in the world would I
go about changing the Account Settings so that I no longer receive any more
notifications from MySpace aside from marking them all as spam with Yahoo’s
Spam Filter? Is there a problem with MySpace’s policy towards privacy in
regards to the emails of past members?Truly, these are intriguing questions. Hopefully, someone with the correct
information can answer them.
Certainly these questions shouldn’t be too difficult to answer, especially for those at the other end of privacy@myspace.com. My questions at first fell on blind eyes as the automated responder that monitors that address sent back the following:
Hello,
The upload a video follow the instructions below:
* After logging in, go to your “Home” page then click the “Add/Change Video” link.
* Find the ‘Upload Videos’ link on the upper right side of the screen.
* You’ll be able to select a title, tag, describe, etc. your selected video.
* You’ll need to accept our Terms and Conditions to continue by checking the box ‘I agree to the MySpace Terms of Service’. (You also have the option to review them as well)
* The next screen will prompt you to locate your video. You will now need to click on the ‘Browse’ button, choose the video file that you desire to add and click the ‘Upload’ button.
* Please ensure that your chosen video is the proper format and is under 100 MB. Now, the system will process your video (please be patient). Also, note that if you are uploading inappropriate material your account will be deleted by MySpace.For the most up to date messages about MySpace, subscribe to the MySpace Help blog! You get updates almost every day! Go here to subscribe. www.myspace.com/myspacehelp
If you have any additional questions, please respond to this e-mail. Please do not alter the subject as it will be considered a new inquiry.
Thank you for contacting MySpace.com.
SURVEY FEEDBACK
Tell us how we’re doing. Copy and paste this link to into a new browser to let us know what you think:
[link removed] Please note, MySpace will NEVER ask you for your password as part of our survey feedback. We appreciate you taking the time to share your opinion with us.
I removed the survey link along with A LOT OF FUCKING WHITE SPACE in order to present it here. Even in their email correspondence, their formatting looks terrible. But how any of that information was supposed to answer any of my questions is beyond me. I immediately replied, without altering the subject, by simply asking for a real human response and repeated my original inquiry. Today I get:
Hello,
The issue seems to be resolved now. If this does not address your issue completely, please press “Reply” and provide any additional information you feel is relevant.
For the most up to date messages about MySpace, subscribe to the MySpace Help blog! You get updates almost every day! Go here to subscribe. www.myspace.com/myspacehelp
Thank you,
MySpace.com
—————Survey Feedback
Tell us how we’re doing. Click here to let us know what you think! Please note, MySpace will NEVER ask you for your password as part of our survey feedback. We appreciate you taking the time to share your opinion with us.
Yes, more white space was removed. Here we have the general form letter. I’m sure there were plenty of staff meetings involved with the creation of this boiled down reply. Take notice that there was no specific mention of any problem being resolved, just that it was. Now I have to hold on to this email for a possible future reply in case the issue has been “resolved” as they non-explicitly promised.
And see how they gave me the address to their Help blog? Updates everyday!!! You got to love a company that is so in tuned with their customer base. I’m betting I get a follow-up email in case I didn’t see those links for the survey feedback. Thank-you Simon Owen for finally giving me the motivation to ditch that company.
I Am Jack’s Complete Lack Of Surprise - MySpace Returns
A while back, I wrote a couple of posts in response to a small movement by Simon Owen of Bloggasm for the mass deletion of accounts at MySpace back in January. I took part in the International Delete Your MySpace Account Day, waited for the supposed 48 hours it was to take for my account to be deleted, and verified that it was “gone”.
Now, you’re probably asking why I quoted that last word. Call me a cynic. Call me skeptical. But from what I’ve seen in my lifetime is that no-one’s account is ever, completely, deleted. Sure, my account was not accessible by any means at my disposal. But was my account truly deleted? Well, my answer came today.
The MySpace.com June/July 2008 Newsletter arrived in my inbox today to the delight of no-one at that email address. It was complete with announcements of new features such as MySpace Karaoke, MySpace Polls, MySpace Apps, and MySpace Latino… oh my! And it would not have been MySpace official without everyone’s best friend, Tom, starting off the newsletter.
From Featured Artist, to Featured Comedian, to Featured Videos, I was never so bored with a newsletter packed with so much excitement as I was with this one. Probably so much so because supposedly my account was deleted back at the end of January. Apparently, MySpace never bothered to mention that in some rare cases, my email would be retained for future use through shameless self-promotion in order to lure me back. Nice.
MySpace does offer an opt-out. They go into great detail over it at the bottom of the newsletter:
At MySpace we care about your privacy. We have sent you this notification to facilitate your use as a member of the MySpace.com service. If you don’t want to receive emails like this to your external email account in the future, change your Account Settings to “Do not send me notification emails.” Click here to change your Account Settings. You can also contact us with any questions or concerns regarding your privacy at: privacy@myspace.com MySpace, Inc. 8391 Beverly Blvd. #349 Los Angeles, CA 90048 USA © 2003-2008 MySpace.com. All Rights Reserved.
However, considering that I am not a member of the MySpace.com service, because I have no account to go to in order to change the notification emails setting, I guess my only hope is to contact them at the “privacy” address. I’ll be sending them a quaint reply. Stay tuned for any future developments.
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