This site has become so infested with spam and other nefarious crap (you should see my top referrer links) that I’m taking the whole thing down and doing a fresh install. Some changes you’ll notice upon my return:
- No more comments. Don’t give me that “It’s not a blog without comments” bullshit. A blog is simply a webpage with chronological posts. Since the spammers have commandeered my comment system, despite blacklisting, IP banning and various plugins, they’ve ruined it for everybody.
- No more contact page. If you want to get a hold of me, shoot me a message on Twitter.
- WordPress is on notice. I’m tempted to hand the entire thing over to Posterous and forget the constant maintenance of WP. It’s a hassle.
If you visit over the next few days and find nothing, this is why. I hope to get it sorted soon. And spammers can go to hell.
I’ve no doubt that Twitter is making me dumber. Reading tweet after tweet is like a 90 minute car ride with someone who’s just slammed an 8 ball, bouncing between completely unrelated thoughts, ideas, conversations, suggestions, requests, etc. in a matter of seconds. There’s no time to give anything a moment’s contemplation. For example, here are the most recent 12 tweets from my stream as I write this (authors have not been identified):
- @shelitwits I knew the answer to that one!
- Beer break after assembling too much office furniture.
- RT @baixakioficial Mito ou verdade: Macs não servem para jogos? http://bit.ly/duelBe
- RT @yummygoods: want a copy of my book? want to read about random stuff? i have just the post for you: http://bit.ly/bT763W
- So, it might be who I follow, but MY view via the Tweets app is really noisy. cc @MarioSundar . Others might have a better shot.
- #Opensource #HIT data exchange: “Anyone can see it at http://NHITconnect.org”-CTO Chopra http://twitpic.com/1r29uy #g2e #gov20
- Computer model shows Earth’s mantle is speeding http://is.gd/coIG5
- Hey the American Library Association was just an answer/question (whatever!) on Jeopardy!
- #Opensource #HIT data exchange: “Anyone can see it at http://NHINconnect.org”-CTO Chopra http://twitpic.com/1r29uy #g2e #gov20
- One less, for now: One of the five wind turbines proposed for private property in South Plymouth m… http://bit.ly/bJ2hNj
- So, if I want to share about an Internet Marketing community with LinkedIn, I just do - http://bit.ly/cCSW1L #in ?
- ME! RT @TheChip Guess who’s coming to #Sturgis Buffalo Chip for his next Big Adventure?
Breaking it down:
Tweets 1, 2 and 5 are partial conversations that I’ve missed. Therefore, they’re just clutter. Number 2 is a pleasantry that has no bearing on my day. Number 3 is in a language I don’t understand. Numbers 4, 11 and 12 are sales pitches. I honestly don’t know what numbers 6 and 9 are about; I assume the author is attending a convention or workshop.
Numbers 7, 8 and 10 are interesting and I’d like to follow up on them, but they’re lost in the noise. Plus, by the time I get to wind turbines, I’ve forgotten about the Earth’s mantle and 20 more tweets have arrived, demanding attention.
This phenomenon isn’t unique to Twitter. Facebook also offers Information McNuggets. Instapaper makes me feel good momentarily, but I know that I’ll probably not read that article I saved in a timely manner. Days later, I’ll sync Instapaper on my iPad and remember, “Oh, yeah. I wanted to read this the other day. And these six others.”
Social media allows people to reach out and distract each other. The immediacy of the Internet is a benefit and a hindrance, reducing thoughts and stories to virtual Tic Tacs that we mindlessly pop into our mouths. By all means connect to those who interest you and share what you’ve got. But also take time to stop, reflect and think. Or you’ll end up dumber.
Like me.
On the heels of the new iPhone announcement, Walmart has begun selling 16GB 3GS iPhones for $97. I paid $199 for mine. If you aren’t concerned with owning the latest and greatest, pick one up. It’s a killer device.
Every weekday, I post the best of what I find online for you to read. Here’s today’s installment (previous collections here).
I’ve got just one article for you to read today, but it’s a good one. The New York Times explores “The Afterlife of Stieg Larsson,” the late Swedish author whose posthumously-released Millennium Trilogy has met with tremendous success. The final of the three, The Girl Who Kicked The Hornet’s Nest, will be released in the US this month. I can’t wait to read it.
His life partner, Eva Gabrielsson, says that he planned a series of 10 books, and was part way through the fourth when he died.
The NYT piece is a fascinating look at the life of an author who’ll never realize his success, and makes one wonder what else was in store for Lisbeth Salander and Mikael Blomkvist.