So I'm not exactly sure, but I think my blog has been spammed by someone in Portuguese.
This is an interesting tactic. Why would a bot spam in Portuguese? My guess is that a really high percentage of blogs are written in English (second Chinese, Japanese, various Indian dialects). Portuguese is probably pretty low on the list.
The NYT has a piece on the Technorati Survey that says the common language alternates between Japanese and English. I really want a table that counts the number of blogs and websites by language though - I feel like someone has already crawled for this. My hunch is that Portuguese is incredibly low, what with only two speaking countries and all.
If anyone were to write bot spam, or especially troll spam, why wouldn't you translate it to a common language? The link is the key content - why carry bot ads for a website done in Portuguese? Chances are that just changing the language to English would drastically increase readership. Whether you agree with it or not, English is the language of business.
Naturally, if you are the one Rodrigo that I know in Brasil, please do not be offended and I will look at your site about t-shirts. You would think this is funny.
Monday, June 25, 2007
Tuesday, June 19, 2007
apartments
So my roommate and I have to move for next year. Our building offered us an extension, but then changed their mind as we are in the only two-bedroom in the building. I don't think we have any rights since we hadn't actually signed the extended lease yet.
In any case, I am now researching apartment options in Chicago and I'm somewhat disappointed by the general lack of organization. Sure, there's tons of apartment ad sites, but none lets me specify location with enough granularity. I know pretty much exactly what streets I am willing to live on - there should be a map on which I can draw a specific search range or at least specify block numbers.
Any ideas on how to implement this easily? They say real estate is about location, location, location.
In any case, I am now researching apartment options in Chicago and I'm somewhat disappointed by the general lack of organization. Sure, there's tons of apartment ad sites, but none lets me specify location with enough granularity. I know pretty much exactly what streets I am willing to live on - there should be a map on which I can draw a specific search range or at least specify block numbers.
Any ideas on how to implement this easily? They say real estate is about location, location, location.
Monday, June 18, 2007
chicago punk
Bomb the Music Industry put on a great show at Humility Gallery (564 W. 18th Street) last night. Chotto Ghetto opened with a great ska-esque set and I'm about to get their EP.
Humility Gallery is a great space for this kind of show - there's a reasonable amount of room in the basement for both standing and performance. About 80 kids came out last night, and it was a really good time.
Yay scene-building.
Humility Gallery is a great space for this kind of show - there's a reasonable amount of room in the basement for both standing and performance. About 80 kids came out last night, and it was a really good time.
Yay scene-building.
Thursday, June 14, 2007
bbc wins 'title of year'
In a hands-down, no-one-else-even-comes-close win for the "News Article Title of the Year," BBC presents FBI Tries to Fight Zombie Hordes.
interpersonal relationships...
... completely depend on what you put into them.
Moreover, sometimes it's in your best interest to make sure you put specific things into them - he who holds the information and the pen holds the power.
In other news, you can buy a jet-powered go-kart on eBay.
Moreover, sometimes it's in your best interest to make sure you put specific things into them - he who holds the information and the pen holds the power.
In other news, you can buy a jet-powered go-kart on eBay.
taste of randolph
Summer's here in Chicago, and it's time to get your streetfest on.
This weekend, Randolph Street lights up with concerts, food, and vendors highlighting the new development in the area. Check out their website for more information and directions.
Also, let me know if you're going - Fountains of Wayne is playing tomorrow night and I might have to stop by. Suggested donation of $10 per day.
Based on last year's stats, 61% of attendees are not married and 20% have annual incomes over $100K while 92% are college-educated. It's an easyfest.
This weekend, Randolph Street lights up with concerts, food, and vendors highlighting the new development in the area. Check out their website for more information and directions.
Also, let me know if you're going - Fountains of Wayne is playing tomorrow night and I might have to stop by. Suggested donation of $10 per day.
Based on last year's stats, 61% of attendees are not married and 20% have annual incomes over $100K while 92% are college-educated. It's an easyfest.
Wednesday, June 13, 2007
mailboxes
Now that I live in an apartment building, my mailbox rarely crosses my mind. It's there, sometimes it has mail ... but I grew up in a small town, and this article about Veeder's Mailboxes and their vandal-resistant properties strikes a chord.
Highlight:
"When he used to hawk his mailboxes at home shows, Magro [Veeder] was often approached by vandalism suffers who would launch into vivid descriptions of their dream mailboxes. He says, "People would take out pencil and paper and draw World War Two tank traps" - devices that would impale the chassis of a car on a hidden steel beam were someone to try to ram the mailbox. "Others wanted to know if I'd make them a mailbox with concertina wire around it." Magro declined such requests, pointing out that liability issues would likely arise were someone to build a mailbox system the intent of which was to maim or kill. "
Highlight:
"When he used to hawk his mailboxes at home shows, Magro [Veeder] was often approached by vandalism suffers who would launch into vivid descriptions of their dream mailboxes. He says, "People would take out pencil and paper and draw World War Two tank traps" - devices that would impale the chassis of a car on a hidden steel beam were someone to try to ram the mailbox. "Others wanted to know if I'd make them a mailbox with concertina wire around it." Magro declined such requests, pointing out that liability issues would likely arise were someone to build a mailbox system the intent of which was to maim or kill. "
background music
So I was examining the Blackberry Curve at work and naturally had my machine on mute.
This was sometime yesterday. Fine.
I come into today, however, and decide I want to listen to music on my work machine. Fine. I pop in my headphones and start listening to Last.fm. Oddly, there is this wobbling background music in some of the samples. I start to think, "Wow, what an insidious way to protect your samples ... put a mostly indiscernable but incredibly annoying underlay."
Then I stop playing samples though, and the background music DOESN'T GO AWAY. I start to get quite confused, and begin to anger at the RIAA wondering if they have some kind of crazy deal where anyone who listens to samples must be punished for a certain number of hours or something. Finally I realize that I have another browser open (this is how many windows I usually keep open.. sometimes they get lost) and that it's the Blackberry site making the most insipid background music I've ever heard.
Two thoughts - 1. Don't put background music on your websites. 2. Background music might be a viable way to release free songs into the wild.
This was sometime yesterday. Fine.
I come into today, however, and decide I want to listen to music on my work machine. Fine. I pop in my headphones and start listening to Last.fm. Oddly, there is this wobbling background music in some of the samples. I start to think, "Wow, what an insidious way to protect your samples ... put a mostly indiscernable but incredibly annoying underlay."
Then I stop playing samples though, and the background music DOESN'T GO AWAY. I start to get quite confused, and begin to anger at the RIAA wondering if they have some kind of crazy deal where anyone who listens to samples must be punished for a certain number of hours or something. Finally I realize that I have another browser open (this is how many windows I usually keep open.. sometimes they get lost) and that it's the Blackberry site making the most insipid background music I've ever heard.
Two thoughts - 1. Don't put background music on your websites. 2. Background music might be a viable way to release free songs into the wild.
Tuesday, June 12, 2007
slow motion videography
This is easily one of the coolest YouTube videos I've ever seen.
It's shot by a camera at 20,000 frames per second and it's slow enough that you can see every instant of a very fast movement. The coolest part is the initial shatter and the water-arm envelope.
It's shot by a camera at 20,000 frames per second and it's slow enough that you can see every instant of a very fast movement. The coolest part is the initial shatter and the water-arm envelope.
solar heating
Some of you may know that my grandfather pioneered solar panels and in fact built one on his house to save on electricity. During the summer, his housepanel not only powered the air conditioning but also pumped back into the grid - the electricity company used to mail him a check every month.
New developments in China have started in the same vein - here's 66 beer bottles out on the roof for hot showers, as reported by Weird Asia, through Boing Boing.
New developments in China have started in the same vein - here's 66 beer bottles out on the roof for hot showers, as reported by Weird Asia, through Boing Boing.
Friday, June 8, 2007
Thursday, June 7, 2007
lifehacker
Wins again with a simple Firefox configuration that allows "paste" to extend to multiple lines.
Essentially, open a new tab, type "about:config" in the location bar. Filter for "singleline" and set the value to "2."
I love config files. Such a great idea, just in general. Now you can copy and paste whole, multi-line addresses into Google maps - something that's frustrating every time but typically not worth the investigation.
Essentially, open a new tab, type "about:config" in the location bar. Filter for "singleline" and set the value to "2."
I love config files. Such a great idea, just in general. Now you can copy and paste whole, multi-line addresses into Google maps - something that's frustrating every time but typically not worth the investigation.
Wednesday, June 6, 2007
cat cam
Thanks, Boing Boing for the wonderful catcam.
Ever wondered what your cat does all day? Attach a camera to him and see what he drags in.
Ever wondered what your cat does all day? Attach a camera to him and see what he drags in.
hey morning glory
what's your story?
Project 365 is somewhat old in the blagoblag, but an interesting and timely idea. Take a picture a day. See what changes.
Project 365 is somewhat old in the blagoblag, but an interesting and timely idea. Take a picture a day. See what changes.
Tuesday, June 5, 2007
the things people say
Lifehacker has a good explaination of office jargon ... not quite complete, but entertaining enough that I read all the way through.
Some key phrases you should know.
Some key phrases you should know.
google print
So the Author's Guild filed suit against Google Print.
Google Print and Author's Guild - Google Blog
I'm not particularly surprised here, but I am somewhat disappointed. Google Print provides an excellent resource for researchers, writers, and the general public in addition to authors. In today's world, no one has the time or patience to sit around thinking about books. Google Print allows you to search in the modern sense for exactly what you are seeking and provides you with some alternative sources you may not have found otherwise.
Here's my question - if a library, or the ALA, had implemented a program similar to Google Print, would the Author's Guild have questioned it? My guess is that they wouldn't even have flinched at the card-catalog replacement. I'm not sure how we should draw the line between commercialism and copyright, but I don't think the Author's Guild got this one right.
Google Print and Author's Guild - Google Blog
I'm not particularly surprised here, but I am somewhat disappointed. Google Print provides an excellent resource for researchers, writers, and the general public in addition to authors. In today's world, no one has the time or patience to sit around thinking about books. Google Print allows you to search in the modern sense for exactly what you are seeking and provides you with some alternative sources you may not have found otherwise.
Here's my question - if a library, or the ALA, had implemented a program similar to Google Print, would the Author's Guild have questioned it? My guess is that they wouldn't even have flinched at the card-catalog replacement. I'm not sure how we should draw the line between commercialism and copyright, but I don't think the Author's Guild got this one right.
Sunday, June 3, 2007
Friday, June 1, 2007
why laws make sense
So, apparently, Nicole Ritchie is still out there putzing around on the road despite her DUI conviction in December 2006. To put this in "star perspective," Paris Hilton's license was revoked a mere 5 months after her DUI convinction in September 2006.
What separates Nicole and Paris? Well, Paris was driving under the influence of alcohol and therefore her license was suspended automatically and she will begin to serve a 23 day sentence on Monday (not the 45 day legal minimum, but a sentence nonetheless). Nicole was driving under the influence of Vicodin and pot, which does not incur the mandatory alcohol suspension.
Wait, pot? Yes, you read correctly. Nicole was in possession of an illegal substance in a combination that is likely far more dangerous to others. Not only is she not in jail, she's still allowed to drive. WTG, war on drugs!
What separates Nicole and Paris? Well, Paris was driving under the influence of alcohol and therefore her license was suspended automatically and she will begin to serve a 23 day sentence on Monday (not the 45 day legal minimum, but a sentence nonetheless). Nicole was driving under the influence of Vicodin and pot, which does not incur the mandatory alcohol suspension.
Wait, pot? Yes, you read correctly. Nicole was in possession of an illegal substance in a combination that is likely far more dangerous to others. Not only is she not in jail, she's still allowed to drive. WTG, war on drugs!
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