Why does this exchange bother me?

[ISP NAME DELETED]:

I have been seeing a VERY large number of visits from two hosts in
your IP block since August 26, 2005.

A list of all of the hits since Aug 26 is attached.

If you do not stop this/these hosts, I will be forced to drop all traffic from the [/24 IP block deleted] IP block.

Thank you for your attention to this matter.

Their response:

Best thing to do is drop the traffic.

Truly Yours,
[ISP NAME DELETED] Abuse Team

Ummmm, WTF? Did I miss something?

Tags: attention, hits, IP, ISP, it, Om, traffic

Rick Segal and I have different, if not complementary perspectives on the United States. He is a US citizen living in Canada; I am a Canadian living in the US. I have met Rick in person, and he is an intelligent and insightful person to speak with.

Last night, he posted his reaction to the US Senate’s lack of unanimous support for the apology for lynching. [here]

This story hits home for me as well. I have chosen to live in this country. I know that as a guest, I should be quiet and not rock the boat. But when a situation such as this arises, along with the increasing levels of spitfire rhetoric and poisonous debate, I have to step back and ask: why?

For the most part, my life in the US has been one of comfort and ease. However, when I moved to the US in 1999, I was surprised at just how different two countries could be who looked so much alike.

Last year’s presidential campaign, the second one I have been through while here, further highlighted that the voices of moderation and rational thought are lost in the need to polarize and inflame.

But, as Rick says, at 32,000 feet, all of that is gone. There aren’t countries; or red states and blue states. Just the ever morphing tapestry of the world we live on. The hand of man can be seen from this height. Nature is still in control, shaping how man shapes the land.

We will come and go. We all die. But our legacy will be remembered, and, increasingly, recorded for all posterity.

Be true to yourself. Remember, the way history judges you is beyond your control.

David Janes is maintaining a list of the non-sponsoring Senators.

Tags: API, blog, Canada, control, hits, HTML, HTTP, IE, IM, it, LAN, live, maintain, Om, One, pr, president, presidential, United States

Tim Porter hits on why MT may not be the best blog platform for those who prefer to spend more time blogging than tweaking a complex environment. [here]

I use b2evolution, and it just works. I only play with it to tweak the design. The rest of it is handled internally.

What platform do my readers prefer? What makes that platform appealing to you?

Tags: app, blog, Blogging, design, EAD, evolution, hits, HTML, HTTP, IM, it, Om, pr

Tyme hits for six with this posting about how Scoble is unique in the world of corporate blogging.

I have to agree with her on her opinion. In discussing the possibility of establishing a blog at our company, the conversation between myself and the other contributor came down to one final point: could our company handle the content that is necessary to make a corporate blog work?

In most companies, blogging about work, even if you don’t talk about futures, financial, and other company confidential information, would most likely get you removed from your desk by a large security person.

And before I get flamed, we all know it’s true. Companies, despite lip-service to the contrary, don’t like transparency, because they cannot control the message.

As an example, if the corporate commandos at Microsoft discover who Mini-Microsoft is, he will be looking for a new job. I have no doubt about that.

So, Scoble, be glad you are unique. Live in the moment. But keep your resume up to date, because somedy you will need it.

Tags: blog, Blogging, content, control, conversation, corporate, cro, hits, HTTP, IE, IM, information, IP, it, live, Microsoft, Om, One, opinion, PHP, posting, pr, the other

Merlin at 43Folders hits for six with this post that, in summary, says

 

GTD: What are you doing to make it happen in YOUR life? 

In the world of GTD, having a Moleskine and a HipsterPDA doesn’t cut it folks. It’s hard. It requires discipline. It requires dedication.

It’s mental exercise.

Having failed at several physical exercise program over the years, I can offer some suggestions.

1. Don’t do it alone. Having a GTD buddy will help everyone stay focused
2. Set aside time EVERY DAY to do GTD
3. Post the GTD Flowchart somewhere where you are ALWAYS reminded of it. Here’s a good one to use; it’s my desktop image
4. You will stumble. Get up, and review your cards, inbox, and notes. What can you DO, DELEGATE, or DEFER?

You can do it.

Teach. Share. Learn.

Live GTD.

Tags: app, book, cro, desktop, EAD, hits, HTML, HTTP, IE, IM, IP, it, live, Om, One, pr, review

Uh oh! Serious issues are starting to appear with the Google Accelerator, including security/authentication issues.

More here and here and here

C|Net’s take.

geeked’s take.

Geek News Central

Om Malik hits for six by declaring: So What? [here]

Radar has a learned discussion on the GWA’s impact on my other fave whipping post: 37 Signals BackPack. [here]

Tim Yang brings on more 666gle anti-love.

Om Malik hits for the Century by saying: And Why?

BlogNewsChannel has the best wrap-up. [here]

Dan Gillmor chimes in.

Tags: app, ARIN, blog, design, GigaOm, Google, hits, HTML, HTTP, IM, IP, Issues, it, Malik, Om, Om Malik, OReilly, PHP, web

James Governor hits for six with this gem.

By bringing their correlation capabilities with Web metrics (Urchin) and site visits (Web Accelerator and Toolbar), Google will be able to direct even better, more focused ad placement, based on visitor location, time of day, Originating ISP, “actual” bandwidth, and any number of other metrics that they will have at their disposal.

I am interested, and concerned, with the brilliance of the Google strategy.

Tags: bandwidth, Google, hits, HTML, HTTP, IE, IM, ISP, it, metrics, Om, strategy, web

Gee, want to make those searches even more powerful? How about we track exactly where every person on the Web is going by tracking them using a piece of software that they install on their own computers?

Google Web Accelerator. The latest from Big Brother those folks at Google.

This also explains why Google wanted to buy up all of that dark fiber. You have to plug your proxy servers into something

Doesn’t mean I am not going to try it…

Via Micro Persuasion

O’Reilly Radar has the same paranoid delusions privacy concerns that I do over this product. [here]

John Battelle notes the salient feature of the Google Accelerator at the end of his article.

However, you do start to run all your web surfing habits over Google’s servers, and that, of course, makes Google something of a proxy ISP, with access to all the aggregate data that an ISP like AOL or Comcast has on you. Is that a good thing? Well, yes and no. But net net, it has implications down the road. Very soon, Google will know an awful lot about the world’s surfing habits, well beyond search. Hmmm.

Search Engine Watch has a straight-forward list of the features — limited commentary. [here]

Great comments from Techdirt.[here]

More from TechDirt, pointing to a great post by Tristan Louis.

The usually paranoid TDavid seems to be addicted to the revving icon. [here]

Lifehacker comments.

Google Blog Comments.

Darren Rowse hits for six with this quote from Mike Lambert:

Instead of using a random surfer model, Google can use a real surfer model, based on the aggregate web traffic of the people using their Web Accelerator. They can discover /exactly/ how the Google Juice should flow in the real world.

C|Net’s party-line, facts-only commentary. [here]

Silicon Valley Watcher is prescient enough to mention that “your browsing history might be just a subpoena away from the nearest FBI office”. [here]

More Google Web Accelerator anti-love from Carson McComas. [here]

Tags: blog, comcast, cro, Darren Rowse, data, EAD, Google, Google Web Accelerator, hits, HTML, HTTP, IE, IM, ISP, it, media, Om, One, OReilly, PHP, pr, proxy, proxy server, run, search, server, tn, tracking, traffic, web

Brendon Connelly hits almost on all cylinders with this post. I was shocked to see someone who relies on almost exactly the same toolbox (in a different configuration) as I do.

• I am off to buy a Moleskine Datebook
• I use http://www.notetab.com/and vim to do most HTML/PHP/SQL/whatever editing
• HyperSnap for screen capture
• SQL in Microsoft/Sybase, MySQL, and Oracle flavours

I have never been able to gracefully integrate a PDA into my life. I have tried 4 times, and all 4 have failed miserably. I am a pen and paper man for contacts, appointments, etc.

Outlook Calendar is good for business meetings…but for the rest of your life?

The one tool that he doesn’t mention: Google. I know that it is so omnipresent that it is easy to miss, but if you do fewer than 5 Google searches a day, and you work in high-tech…what do you do?

Tags: app, book, business, cro, Google, hits, HTML, HTTP, IE, IM, IP, it, Microsoft, mysql, Om, One, Outlook, PHP, pr, search

Sig hits for 6 with this post on the tension that exists between leaders and managers. [here]

Where do exciting ideas, visions and concepts come from? Leaders.

Who is responsible for stifling the unique voices of leaders? Command and Control Managers.

The common thread I am reading on the business books I am pouring through right now is that you will get farther, be more successful, and get the chance to meet really cool people simply by being the person you are, and not letting your ideas be crushed.

I have discovered that I can bring more to my company by doing less of my “job” and more thinking. I speak in an authentic voice, one that cries out to let our customers kick ass, be remarkable, and make an impact in the world.

Ok, the last statment is not really the case: I really just help companies suck less, and understand how to do it more successfully.

But by doing less jon and being more leader, I feel more fulfilled. And frankly, this role is how my mind is tuned anyway.

Bring me your problems, and I will help you understand what the real problem is.

Seth Godin has another take on this issue. Leaders are the management cultures worst nightmare. They show that the management culture is not necessary for success. In fact, you can succeed without the management culture.

Now, if you think success is only monetary in this case, you are so wrong. For a true leader, making a ton o’ cash is secondary to helping shape how people think and how they behave.

Think of the greatest leaders you know. How many were rich? How many became rich AFTER they had been recognized as successful leaders?

Tags: blog, book, business, control, cool, customers, EAD, hits, HTML, HTTP, IE, IM, it, Om, One, pr