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Posted by junger - 04/15/08 at 05:04:26 pm
If you're only checking the blog when the spirit moves you, you're missing out on a lot of good content.
Consider signing up for updates via email or subscribing to the RSS feed (if you don't know what that means, get the email updates).
Both methods allow new stories to get sent straight to you; it's perfect if you don't have the time to surf on over to the site. Literally, the entire story comes your way — not just a headline and a link.
If you're interested in finding out more on a meta level, consider adding me to your Twitter account (that's what that little box on the left is, Mom).
I'm very good about keeping up with the people who are keeping up with me — so if you've got a blog or a Twitter account or just want to be friends on Facebook or LinkedIn, let me know and we'll make that connection.
Don't worry, I won't sell you on eBay.
I Pwned Google: Other Jason Ungers Be Damned
Posted by junger - 04/14/08 at 03:04:07 pm
I officially own the entire first page of Google results for jason unger.
While not every link goes to my Web site, each result is about me: my site, my LinkedIn profile, my Facebook profile, my Geek of the Week bio, etc.
Besides being pretty cool, what does that mean?
Considering that eye-tracking studies have found that Web searchers rarely (if ever) move on to the second page of results, I am essentially the only Jason Unger most Web surfers will ever find.
That's a huge brand builder. Since I make my living working online, anyone interested in finding out more about me won't get confused with any other Jason Ungers out there.
I was just talking with Dave Weinberg and Noah Wolfe this weekend about Googling yourself (also known as egosurfing) and how well you rank in the results. Until today, the only other Jason Unger on the first page was the lobbyist/lawyer who worked for GWB during Bush v. Gore.
Apparently, Google's kicked him off of the first page of results. (Don't be surprised if he shows up again; who knows how that Google juice works.)
How do you rank in Google? Take a look and let me know in the comments.
PS – It is totally cool to Google yourself. It's not egotistical or self-centered or anything like that. It's actually pretty important to know, since anyone who wants to find out information about you is doing it.
Teens Beat Girl on YouTube: But Why?
Posted by junger - 04/10/08 at 01:04:55 pm
The case of these cheerleaders who recorded their beating of a fellow teenager, 16-year-old Victoria Lindsay, and then posted the video online, has received a lot of attention in the media.
And it should. There's obviously something wrong when a bunch of kids attack another and then promote it as some sort of badge to be proud of. (I'm not going to post the video, but it's easy to find on YouTube.)
The coverage, however, seems to be only focusing on YouTube and MySpace and whether they should block these kinds of videos. The father is even "blaming the Internet" for the beating, which is about as moronic as blaming the telephone for prank phone calls.
But the fundamental question lacking in this entire storyline is an easy one: why?
Why did these teens beat up the other girl? Was it completely unprovoked? Did they do it in order to post a video and get their "15 megabytes of fame"?
(On a side note, that's the dumbest phrase ever. Seriously, stop trying to be punny, people.)
I don't know the answer — the only thing I can find is that "[the] suspected teen attackers claim the victim had been threatening them through postings on her MySpace page," according to WESH, the local NBC affiliate. The cops say they filmed it so they could put it online, but how did it come to that in the first place?
Look, obviously I'm not advocating beating up people and posting videos of it online. It's stupid, and you're going to get arrested. Cyber-bullying is a serious thing, as the family of Megan Meier tragically found out.
But the media isn't doing their duty here. Following the Internet storyline is one segment of the coverage, but every one is making the assumption that that's why they beat her up — to post a video online.
Can we get the real facts here, please?
Web Publishing Isn't Just For Experts, And It Shouldn't Be
Posted by junger - 04/03/08 at 11:04:40 amOne of the problems I have when coming up with topics for this blog and for the Online Savings Blog is choosing subjects to speak authoritatively about.
It's not that I can't or that I won't — it's just that I don't get that much enjoyment from it.
When I'm blogging, I'd rather share my experiences and stories living life than try and provide "useful" and informative content. It's a lot more fun to just shoot the breeze and post funny links and insights.
Every day, I read a number of amazing blogs like Copyblogger, Penelope Trunk and Get Rich Slowly, who are there to provide compelling and timely content. This is what I do every day at CE Pro — but it's not what I want to do when I write here.
Bloggers have been getting a bad rap lately, but a lot of that has to do with the different expectations and meanings that term has to people. Engadget might be a blog, but they are much better tech journalists than anyone in the mainstream media. Top it off with a strict policies regarding relationships with who they're covering and they've got a much cleaner rap sheet than many "professional" journalists.
But because anyone can start a blog, "bloggers" all get lumped together — the ones redefining journalism and the ones simply telling you about their day. But does that mean you should only start a blog if you really have something useful and informative to say? Of course not.
When you come to CE Pro, you get the informative content and breaking news. On this site, I get to talk about whatever the hell I want.
So what's the take away from this? You always have something to say — and you can speak authoritatively about it: you. As Gary Vaynerchuk recently laid out, you have to look inside yourself to find happiness.
I don't pretend to bring you compelling content with every blog post on this site — I only post things that I find interesting and want to share. That's our agreement.
Thanks for being a part of it.
David Richards Bullshits and Bullshits Some More
Posted by junger - 03/20/08 at 02:03:16 pm
David Richards, the mass plagiarist with the worst excuse ever, has posted an update to his "security" problem with utter bullshit.
SmartHouse is set to call in a Sydney based security Company who specialise in detecting the IP address of hackers. The move follows the detection of changes to code and the accessing of a proprietary 4Square Media content engine by unknown individuals. We have also identified one of the journalists who gave information to Media Watch in an effort to discredit SmartHouse.
Honestly, everything he says in this piece is complete nonsense.
To be accused of plagiarising stories in the way that Media Watch outlined is akin to robbing a store, and then with a huge name plaque standing outside that store for the police to arrive.
What a joke. As I've been covering this story, I've received a number of emails and comments from people who worked for Richards, all of which say he's a scumbag. (No surprise, there.)
One email gives a specific example to a rumor I'd heard about — that Richards basically extorted Hitachi, making them advertise with his company or face bad press.
It's really pathetic.
On the Media Watch message boards, once poster brings up a glaring hole in Richards' story:
Those items were also put in the Smarthouse daily newsletters, which I imagine are compiled and edited each issue. For two years no-one noticed that stories were being spliced into the content engine, or had bylines changed?
As I've pointed out, I have correspondence from Richards that proves he knew about the plagiarized stories before the February date he says he found out. Big fat lie right there.
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