Blog Things
Everyone likes surprises…normally. I got a nice one today. Through the magic of PingBack, I learned that a blog specializing in identity theft linked to one of my posts on that subject. They cited my blog, cut and pasted some of my text, and linked back here. Makes me feel like what I wrote had merit. So, that was a feel-good thing.
On the other hand, spam is something no one much likes…even to eat. 
Especially to eat. You’ve probably noticed I don’t use one of the word verifier things. Rather, I use the WordPress anti-spam plug-in, Akismet. Not sure if there’s a Blogger version.
Akismet is a great little piece of software. Since the last time I had to reconstruct my blog….(Don’t ask, please. I regularly blow up the blog experimenting with ways to make it “cooler.” Honestly, sometimes I think I’m twelve years old. Maybe it’s just a guy thing.)
Anyway, over the course of three or four months, Akismet has handled 1,729 comments. Of these, 1003 were legitimate—thank you nice people. Its overall accuracy rate was 99.6 percent. Very good, and all transparent to you, the visitor.
Speaking of spam. I really do want to know, why do the spammers do it? Can someone please explain that? I mean, spam is universally loathed. No one, and I mean no one in their right mind would ever, ever, ever click on a spam link. So, it’s success rate has got to be at or near zero. No reputable company employs it. What, exactly, do these folks think they’re going to accomplish other than annoy the recipient?
I truly don’t get it. Not to mention, much of the spam in the spam filter is written in an undecipherable language. So, even if I wanted to buy whatever product they’re peddling, because the spam is composed in Cyrillic, or Chinese, or whatever alphabet, I got not idea what they’re selling or even talking about!? Still, they must be making money…somehow. If you know how, share it, please.
Just wanted to mention, isn’t Fall grand??? Cool temps, gorgeous colors, the smell of dried leaves, moderate to no wind, length of daylight about right, football, basketball, the pennant races and World Series, Holiday threshold. What’s not to like? Hands down my favorite time of year…outside the Pacific NorhtWest where it will be gray and rainy from about 15 September through, well, 14 September.
I used to fly one of these…the Blackhawk, not the Killer Whale.
Okay, that’s it for today. Hope to see you on Monday. Best wishes for a happy and safe weekend.
Galen.
Themocracy
Kudos on the link to your post! You give tons of useful info here, so you shouldn’t be surprised.
I frequently wonder about spammers, too. I got one a few days ago with the subject line: “With tears!!!!!! With tears!!!!!” Very, very funny email. In fact, it was so amusing I couldn’t help but wonder if it was a crank email instead of spam.
Elizabeth
Mystery Writing is Murder
Congrats on the links. You may be a bit geeky in your software use, but you definitely deserve the kudos.
As to spam, I can attest that there are tons of idiots out there that WILL click spam links. I’ve been in tech support/network administration for over 15 years now, and trust me, I’ve seen it firsthand.
The spammers make money from the simpletons, the uninformed, and the naive. They make money from every person who thinks they should forward email chains. And they love the fact that so many human beans aren’t exactly working with a full deck.
Oh well, such is life. Have a nice weekend.
Eric
Dear Captain Blackhawk:
I wish I were more geeky and interested in blowing up my blog. Alas, I’m a tad klutzy. I’m afraid if I touch it again it might blow up, and I don’t want to chance it. Kudos on the the links
I think it’s so COOL that you flew a blackhawk. Wow! Anyway, about spammers, they are like any other petty thief, spending WAY too much time and energy preying on others when they could use less energy in a focused manner to do the RIGHT thing and get further ahead in life. Pathetic individuals to be sure. Have a great Friday!
Many kudos to you for having your blog post recognized; and why not? You share fantastic information here. I take exception to your description of the Pacific Northwest weather; today is sunny and clear (so there!) although we did have one heck of a windstorm yesterday.
You flew helicopters. You win.
Elspeth
I get those pingback links sometimes too – pretty cool. And spammers? No idea. I’m like get a life! Or your OWN blog, please? Askimet has caught upwards of 1200 legit spam comments on my blog, last I checked. Ridiculous.
Neat post – and LOVED the comic strip, lol.
The Old Silly
You so deserve the link backs, Galen. Your blog is filled with useful tidbits and darn good writing. Do you miss flying?
karen
I always try and give a pingback if using someone’s post, that way they know about it. It’s built into Wordpress, and so is Akismet.
How many times have you been contacted by a Nigerian Millionaire ready to give you half his money if you give him your bank account information?
Didn’t Monty Python like Spam?
Have a good weekend Galen.
I remember that blog and it was full of useful information. I can see why other ‘authorities’ would quote from it. You deserve a pat on the back!
As for the spam thing, I just don’t get it either. Why don’t you ‘geeks’ (and I mean that in the kindest way)get together and come up with a program that automatically blows up the spammers’ computers each time they try to send something out?
I love fall, too. In SW Florida that means we can finally turn off the air and keep the windows open for the next 6 months!
Good stuff just keeps on happening. This is a cool one. We do love those links.
And I’m with you on the glorious fall season. We’ve now gone from that big snow last week to days in the 60s and 70s this week. We even had one tree that refused to give up its leaves during the snow and wind and is now changing to fall colors as though nothing happened.
(I think that’s a shark, not a killer whale, but I couldn’t enlarge the image enough to be sure.) I recall years ago when there weren’t many spam filters, and I used SpamCop or something like that. Someone actually wrote in to the forum and asked why the emails she was sending out about her product were being blocked. She’d paid good money for that mailing list! Sheesh.
It’s sad that there are people so gullible and trusting that they believe these Nigerian and other schemes. The elderly are targets, because they come from a day when people helped each other, left their doors open, etc.
I’m still using Blogger and it’s spam word option. Haven’t had any spams on my blog yet.
How cool they commented on your post!Good job! Do you miss flying those helicopters?
I did wonder about the whale for a second, haha. And I agree, boys like to pull things apart and rebuild. So I’m not surprised by your “messing” of the blog.
Bargain with the Devil