This is an example of a MySpace spam profile, it’s very convincing—see if you can spot the ad. I think this phenomenon is under-reported. They are using data from your profile—location, age, romantic preferences—to highly target messages and “adds.” Seventeen hundred friends. It would be interesting to know the growth of spam on social networks like MySpace is as high as email or comments. The incentives are there.
Automattic Adams
Job Interview
Seth Godin: The end of the job interview. Hear hear.
WebWorkerDaily
Om has launched a new blog called WebWorkerDaily, it’s hosted by WordPress.com as part of a new program we’re making public soon.
Gallery: 8-31-2006
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Scooped by a Source
Scooped by a Source. “‘I think you’re assuming that there is any value left in the scoop,’ wrote Jeff Jarvis, blogger and citizen journalism advocate, in an email. ‘There isn’t. You can’t control the biorhythms of news anymore. The world doesn’t much care who reported what first. Bylines matter to writers, not readers.'”
Web Scaling Books
I’ve read two really good books on scaling large-scale web applications lately: Building Scalable Websites by Cal Henderson and Scalable Internet Architectures by Theo Schlossnagle. (Original titles, eh?) Both dispel common myths and misconceptions about scaling. While neither maps directly to the approaches we’re taking at Automattic, they’re both must-read for developers approaching or past the million/day pageview mark. I only wish I had more time to discuss my thoughts on the various concepts in the books—particularly Cal’s.
Gallery: 8-27-2006
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5 Reasons to Use WordPress as CMS
Gallery: 8-26-2006
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Essential PC Software
I recently got my Sony TX690 back from the repair place, I asked them to wipe the HD to rid me of the plague that is Vista. Here’s the software I installed, in order, after getting it back: Firefox, Foxmarks, Thunderbird, Putty, TortoiseSVN, MIRC, Dreamweaver, Photoshop, Topstyle, AutoHotKey, iTunes, EVDO drivers, Filezilla. I will probably install XAMPP later for offline plane hacking. That’s all I need to do everything I do on a computer.
AutoHotkey
AutoHotkey is a very slick and simple program for doing cool things with shortcuts on Windows. I’m using this to create a Quicksilver-like command line for my most common tasks.
When You Can’t Get Started
When You Can’t Get Started Writing. I found this through the tag surfer.
Gallery: 8-24-2006
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Metcalfe’s Law and Social Networks
Metcalfe’s Law Recurses Down the Long Tail of Social Networks, written by Bob Metcalfe himself. (The title is tongue-in-cheek.)
Ensight Business Cards
Jeremy Wright’s Business Cards say “powered by WordPress” on the back.
BarCampTexas
I’m going to be in Austin this weekend for BarCampTexas. I’ll bring lots of WordPress stickers, so find me if you want one. Anyone else going to be in Austin?
MSN Spaces Numbers
Scoble has been questioning the claimed numbers of MSN Spaces and somehow the conversation got sidetracked in the technicalities of “what’s a blog?” I’m not sure what Microsoft hopes to gain by inflating their numbers so much, now claiming 70 million “blogs”, but it’s interesting to note back in March they were claiming 123 million blogs users at SxSW (Flickr photo of their booth). Activity (posting, etc) stats would be far more interesting. (This is something we need to expose more, too.)
This is silly
This is silly, but since the Canadians are organizing a campaign, I feel obligated to humbly request Photo Matt readers cast a vote in this poll. (For me, hopefully!) It has been noted that the picture makes me look like I’m 10 years old, when in reality I really look more like 15. You can browse Flickr latest, most interesting, or clusters for further proof. (Link updated for new round.)
Install WordPress Video
CNET has a video on “Install a WordPress blog”, this came up at WordCamp and I think more of these would be a great idea. Here are some intro videos from EduBlogs.