Other News: Darcy's Dilemma

Other News: Darcy's Dilemma. Darcy Wood is trying to decide whether to switch back to Windows after switching to the Mac, and the decision hinges on a laptop. [MacInTouch]

Finished with Echo (for now)

Finished with Echo (for now). I’m spending too much time on Echo, and I’m disappointed with it. The momentum is definitely with people who think of weblog syndication and editing as a blank slate. That’s okay, I guess, but it’s a bad use of my time. So I’m going to pull back for now. Once… Continue reading Finished with Echo (for now)

Netflix to be swallowed up?

Small innovators attract powerful suitors. That's the case with
Netflix

Netflix to be swallowed up? Small innovators attract powerful suitors. That's the case with Netflix, one of the most innovative Internet companies , one that's fulfilling the dreams of the online bubble, and making good money doing it. The company has income of $55 million, has started turning a profit, and it's growing rapidly. Netflix,… Continue reading

Netflix to be swallowed up?

Small innovators attract powerful suitors. That's the case with Netflix

RSS Case Study Proves Successful

RSS Case Study Proves Successful. Case Study: Triple Point Technology, Inc. “Triple Point's information has traditionally been stored in individual mailboxes in Microsoft Exchange Server and Microsoft Outlook. But as the organization is growing, users are realizing that email is not necessarily the best communication mechanism for critical information which must be regularly updated, distributed,… Continue reading RSS Case Study Proves Successful

Pope Names New Leader for Troubled Boston Archdiocese

Pope Names New Leader for Troubled Boston Archdiocese. Bishop Sean P. O'Malley said today that he hoped to be “an instrument of peace and reconciliation” after the sex abuse scandal. By Frank Bruni with Fox Butterfield. [New York Times: NYT HomePage]

Spam, Anti-Spam, and Email

Once again, I am trying a new Spam Filter.  Ever hopeful, I keep searching for a holy grail that will keep out stuff I don't want without eliminating the email I'm waiting for.

So far, it hasn't worked very well.

  • Several products have refused to work at all or have worked badly
  • Two products froze my computer and in spite of the very willing efforts of the companies' developers never got sorted out.  We assume it's an interaction between their software and something on my machine — but, as you imagine, I've got a lot of software on my machine and I'm not going to take it off one package at a time.
  • A lot of products require that the people who want to send me mail (or receive my mail) do something.  I don't think I have the right to ask for that.  Moreover, I'm sure some of them just wouldn't bother (or would be away from their computers and miss the message).
  • These challenge systems (see above) are designed to screen out computer generated mail.  That includes the spammers, but it also includes the 100 or so electronically managed newsletters and lists I'm subscribed to.  I don't want to loose them.
  • When I find something that works, it often slows me down so much, taking it through its routine, that just deleting the spam is faster.

But you probably know all that, because you've been going through this, too.  And we can't just do nothing because it keeps getting worse.

So here's what I think:

(1)    We have to keep looking for the best filter we can find and put up with.  Currently, for me, that's a New Zealand product called Mailwasher.

Spam, Anti-Spam, and Email Once again, I am trying a new Spam Filter.  Ever hopeful, I keep searching for a holy grail that will keep out stuff I don't want without eliminating the email I'm waiting for. So far, it hasn't worked very well. Several products have refused to work at all or have worked… Continue reading

Spam, Anti-Spam, and Email

Once again, I am trying a new Spam Filter.  Ever hopeful, I keep searching for a holy grail that will keep out stuff I don't want without eliminating the email I'm waiting for.

So far, it hasn't worked very well.

  • Several products have refused to work at all or have worked badly
  • Two products froze my computer and in spite of the very willing efforts of the companies' developers never got sorted out.  We assume it's an interaction between their software and something on my machine — but, as you imagine, I've got a lot of software on my machine and I'm not going to take it off one package at a time.
  • A lot of products require that the people who want to send me mail (or receive my mail) do something.  I don't think I have the right to ask for that.  Moreover, I'm sure some of them just wouldn't bother (or would be away from their computers and miss the message).
  • These challenge systems (see above) are designed to screen out computer generated mail.  That includes the spammers, but it also includes the 100 or so electronically managed newsletters and lists I'm subscribed to.  I don't want to loose them.
  • When I find something that works, it often slows me down so much, taking it through its routine, that just deleting the spam is faster.

But you probably know all that, because you've been going through this, too.  And we can't just do nothing because it keeps getting worse.

So here's what I think:

(1)    We have to keep looking for the best filter we can find and put up with.  Currently, for me, that's a New Zealand product called Mailwasher.

Dean campaign surpasses $7m in Q2

Dean campaign surpasses $7m in Q2. By all measures, this is a stunning development in the Democratic race. I documented how they pulled it off here – it really is something to behold. Some interesting statistics from today: 9,011 first-time donors today 2,000 repeat donors Average contribution of $66.85 Once matching funds come in, the… Continue reading Dean campaign surpasses $7m in Q2