This industry is shooting itself in the foot by bringing out a new 'technology' every 7.5 seconds.
Companies might start spending more on Information Technology if there were just a few months stability in the industry such that the media and C*O's can learn what's available, actually understand what things like 'XML' are, what it can do for them etc. and get round to planning ahead.
At the moment, this is industry is doing everything but helping C*O's see ahead by bombarding them with new whiz bang mega hyped new 'technology' all the time.
Your job, as a webmaster, is to produce a user friendly, useful, maybe informative website.
Google's job, as a search engine, is to find the sites most likely to be of interest to a user, based on their search terms.
Therefore,
To get good rankings, all you have to do as a webmaster is produce a user friendly, useful, maybe informative website.
It is Google's job to optimise to the web, not the web's job to optimise to Google.
So,
Search Engine Optimisation is big massive NET LOSS to you, because all it results in is getting visitors who aren't the slightest bit interested in your website or product.
It also results in a soon to be pretty useless Google, so please don't do it.
Don't be fooled into thinking that what appears to be intelligent behaviour is actually something very basic (although the same could be said of course for all levels of intelligence).
Many years ago here in the UK, and light hearted popular culture TV magazine "That's Life" had a feature about gifted pets.
This one time, they went to visit a dog that could do maths. His owner would hold up two cards with numbers on them, the dog would add them up, and woof out the answer (3 = 3 woofs etc.) The bloke would then shout out "Well Done!" and the whole nation was amazed.
The presenter appeared to be completely taken in by it, especially after the dog had done 4 sums correctly on the trot.
The bloke had basically trained his dog to woof until he said "Well Done!":)
...last night, and the movie got to a really quiet romantic scene.
I think the guy was about to propose, but I was startled by an almighty BONG and a 3 foot by 1 foot modal dialog box covering most of the screen politely informing me that a newer version of Windows Media Player was available.
Over the next 10 years, this fancy new Information Technology is going to be a great separator of good, capable companies (who will prosper in it), and those who just buy it because of Microsoft's cool commercials on page 2 of "Business Week" and on CNN.
Not many people are properly wired for this InfoTech stuff. A _very_ senior guy at the company I work for emailed me last week because I dropped the "Open Directory Project" into a conversation down the pub. The guy in question knows all about Google, yet he still emailed me with the precise words "What was that URL you told me the other day for 'The Open Directory Project'?".
In a way it's all happening now with Intranets, Extranets and CRM etc. Companies that are created by, or led by people that "get IT" - and have the business genes to go with it - are going to have no problem in this exciting new landscape where new "technology" comes along every 24 hours.
Does rapid improvement in processor technology cancel out the need for developers to learn how to write better code on a particular platform in order to achieve the maximum possible benefit from Information Technology?
Background:
Remember the BBC Micro, the ZX Spectrum? When they first came out, games were slow and blocky. But then several years went by without any significant improvement in processor performance.
Therefore, in order to produce better software and better games, developers had to learn how to write better code on their favourite platforms. They developed techniques and tricks to make every Hz count.
Today, you can do impressive stuff with crap code, simply through virtue of the raw grunt of the processor.
Hence the question. Do they cancel out? If Intel had not brought out a new processor in the last 5 years, where would software be in relation? Better, worse, or same?
That said of course, this is no reason _not_ to create safe queries from form input, that's just (or should be unless you're in the wrong career) common sense, but that's not the point.
These people make it out like it is easy to attack a site like this.
is the number of web application security prophesies who go on about SQL injection through form fields.
Yes, it's all good and dandy in theory and makes you look very clever indeed, but count how many unknowns you have to know before you can attack a site in this way, do some basic probability math and your chance of success is so low you might as well phone the web master and ask them what the password is.
I pronounce it like you (Gif{!t}), but you can't really argue with those who pronounce it "jif" since this is the soundex of the first two letters of "gigolo" amongst other words.
Just a word of caution if you use a "personal homepage" to do this.
Remember that the HTTP referrer header that is written to the web logs of sites you visit will reveal your "personal homepage" URL, so be careful if you store other information (such as friends email addresses or contact numbers etc.)
Aren't all M$ hardware activities just low (zero?) cost ways of getting the name "Microsoft" written in as many places to do with computers as possible?
Use the timings on the instructions as a guide only.
THE PERFORMANCE OF MICROWAVE OVENS REALLY DOES VARY.
Learn how your equipment compares to the average. I have a 750 WATT microwave oven, but I know that it packs a punch like an 850 WATT microwave oven, so I follow the instructions for category "E", even though my oven is a category "D".
To many cooks, bless them, will cook something at gas mark whatever it says, for as long as it says, and not a minute less, not a minute more. They will not learn (accumulate over time / through experience) how the performance of their oven compares to the "average" (i.e. that on which the recipient was based).
Perfectly reasonable, sorry I made my point by accusing all those who use blocklists of using them irresponsibly, of course there are mail admins using blocking in a professional manor like you describe.
The only point i'd make is that how does one of your customers know that they're missing something they actually want if they don't receive it in the first place....?
Is not so much the blocklists themselves, but the manner in which they are implemented.
Often, the mail server admin team of even a medium to large size ISP will decide amongst themselves to implement a blocklist on their mail server, with approximately ZERO consultation with either management or customers.
This is a pain in the ass for 2 parties.
(1) The perfectly legitimate, non-spamming, innocent company who happens to be hosted by an ISP for whom said blocklist has blocked ENTIRELY,
and
(2) The potential customer of that company at the ISP who's mail admin has selfishly decided to blocklist the company in (1).
So that's 2 parties inconvenienced. Yeah, sure SPAM is a problem, but so is what i've just described.
Fine, implement your favourite blocklist on your OWN mail server, but if you're hanlding mail for others I think you should have the decency to consult and advise that you are potentially blocking valid email for sake of cutting down on SPAM.
I wish companies would stop proclaiming that every new combination of database query and associated effect is a "New Technology". It's probably half the reason the US patent system is in such a mess.
This development in television advertising was obvious and inevitable YEARS ago, and I really do mean YEARS. As soon as there was sufficient bandwidth to carry multiple advertising streams (like there is now) it is a trivial matter to implement a bit of software here and a bit of software there to display different advertising streams to different viewers based on some (probably simple) profiling mechanism.
CLINTON, Miss., August 8, 2183. WorldCom, Inc. today announced that after its ongoing internal review of its network coverage, it has discovered an additional 237 billion light years of improperly reported network reach. Information previously made available to customers and analysts indicated that WorldCom had full fibre optic network coverage between the United States and over 118 other planetary systems outside of our own galaxy. On November 4, 2182, WorldCom announced that network coverage in actual fact only extended across the Atlantic Ocean.
Slashdot Mirror
This industry is shooting itself in the foot by bringing out a new 'technology' every 7.5 seconds.
Companies might start spending more on Information Technology if there were just a few months stability in the industry such that the media and C*O's can learn what's available, actually understand what things like 'XML' are, what it can do for them etc. and get round to planning ahead.
At the moment, this is industry is doing everything but helping C*O's see ahead by bombarding them with new whiz bang mega hyped new 'technology' all the time.
Let's just chill for a bit.
Here's why.
Your job, as a webmaster, is to produce a user friendly, useful, maybe informative website.
Google's job, as a search engine, is to find the sites most likely to be of interest to a user, based on their search terms.
Therefore,
To get good rankings, all you have to do as a webmaster is produce a user friendly, useful, maybe informative website.
It is Google's job to optimise to the web, not the web's job to optimise to Google.
So,
Search Engine Optimisation is big massive NET LOSS to you, because all it results in is getting visitors who aren't the slightest bit interested in your website or product.
It also results in a soon to be pretty useless Google, so please don't do it.
Seriously, roll your own.
There's nothing that meets your requirements better than something you rolled yourself, so get to it!
Don't be fooled into thinking that what appears to be intelligent behaviour is actually something very basic (although the same could be said of course for all levels of intelligence).
:)
Many years ago here in the UK, and light hearted popular culture TV magazine "That's Life" had a feature about gifted pets.
This one time, they went to visit a dog that could do maths. His owner would hold up two cards with numbers on them, the dog would add them up, and woof out the answer (3 = 3 woofs etc.) The bloke would then shout out "Well Done!" and the whole nation was amazed.
The presenter appeared to be completely taken in by it, especially after the dog had done 4 sums correctly on the trot.
The bloke had basically trained his dog to woof until he said "Well Done!"
I agree with that view.
This is basically the point I made in this post.
Opponents of this view base their arguments around being forced into something by an industry, but I think that's a weak cop out.
You're quite correct, you have no right to expect something from any company or industry.
...last night, and the movie got to a really quiet romantic scene.
I think the guy was about to propose, but I was startled by an almighty BONG and a 3 foot by 1 foot modal dialog box covering most of the screen politely informing me that a newer version of Windows Media Player was available.
Microsoft: Don't do that.
Over the next 10 years, this fancy new Information Technology is going to be a great separator of good, capable companies (who will prosper in it), and those who just buy it because of Microsoft's cool commercials on page 2 of "Business Week" and on CNN.
:)
Not many people are properly wired for this InfoTech stuff. A _very_ senior guy at the company I work for emailed me last week because I dropped the "Open Directory Project" into a conversation down the pub. The guy in question knows all about Google, yet he still emailed me with the precise words "What was that URL you told me the other day for 'The Open Directory Project'?".
In a way it's all happening now with Intranets, Extranets and CRM etc. Companies that are created by, or led by people that "get IT" - and have the business genes to go with it - are going to have no problem in this exciting new landscape where new "technology" comes along every 24 hours.
I can't wait
Does rapid improvement in processor technology cancel out the need for developers to learn how to write better code on a particular platform in order to achieve the maximum possible benefit from Information Technology?
Background:
Remember the BBC Micro, the ZX Spectrum? When they first came out, games were slow and blocky. But then several years went by without any significant improvement in processor performance.
Therefore, in order to produce better software and better games, developers had to learn how to write better code on their favourite platforms. They developed techniques and tricks to make every Hz count.
Today, you can do impressive stuff with crap code, simply through virtue of the raw grunt of the processor.
Hence the question. Do they cancel out? If Intel had not brought out a new processor in the last 5 years, where would software be in relation? Better, worse, or same?
That said of course, this is no reason _not_ to create safe queries from form input, that's just (or should be unless you're in the wrong career) common sense, but that's not the point.
These people make it out like it is easy to attack a site like this.
I don't think it is.
is the number of web application security prophesies who go on about SQL injection through form fields.
Yes, it's all good and dandy in theory and makes you look very clever indeed, but count how many unknowns you have to know before you can attack a site in this way, do some basic probability math and your chance of success is so low you might as well phone the web master and ask them what the password is.
"Downloading Pr0n from USENET for Dummies."
I pronounce it like you (Gif{!t}), but you can't really argue with those who pronounce it "jif" since this is the soundex of the first two letters of "gigolo" amongst other words.
for unauthorised use of my computing resources.
/SOFTWARE/Microsoft/Windows/CurrentVersion/Run $5.00 / month*
SPECIAL OFFER THIS MONTH ON DLL REPLACEMENT
DLL Replacement $2.00 / month (** NORMALLY $3.00 **)
Registry Entry in
Unrequested Email $5.00 / email
(additional "do you think I was born yesterday" penalty if the email contains the words "This is not spam.")
Application "Phone Home" Internet Access $0.50 / KB
Just a word of caution if you use a "personal homepage" to do this.
Remember that the HTTP referrer header that is written to the web logs of sites you visit will reveal your "personal homepage" URL, so be careful if you store other information (such as friends email addresses or contact numbers etc.)
Aren't all M$ hardware activities just low (zero?) cost ways of getting the name "Microsoft" written in as many places to do with computers as possible?
Nothing to see here. Move along.
Tuesday 17th, 01:00, then also at 21:00.
They really are doomed with a capital 3.
BTW, if you work for a 3G venture, i'll go with the first network that gives me an IP address. I'll roll my own content, thanks.
Web Application Stress Tool (freebie from M$)
http://webtool.rte.microsoft.com/
Since when did customers become an essential part of a business operation?
That's so Q4, 1998.
Use the timings on the instructions as a guide only.
THE PERFORMANCE OF MICROWAVE OVENS REALLY DOES VARY.
Learn how your equipment compares to the average. I have a 750 WATT microwave oven, but I know that it packs a punch like an 850 WATT microwave oven, so I follow the instructions for category "E", even though my oven is a category "D".
To many cooks, bless them, will cook something at gas mark whatever it says, for as long as it says, and not a minute less, not a minute more. They will not learn (accumulate over time / through experience) how the performance of their oven compares to the "average" (i.e. that on which the recipient was based).
Perfectly reasonable, sorry I made my point by accusing all those who use blocklists of using them irresponsibly, of course there are mail admins using blocking in a professional manor like you describe. The only point i'd make is that how does one of your customers know that they're missing something they actually want if they don't receive it in the first place....?
Is not so much the blocklists themselves, but the manner in which they are implemented.
Often, the mail server admin team of even a medium to large size ISP will decide amongst themselves to implement a blocklist on their mail server, with approximately ZERO consultation with either management or customers.
This is a pain in the ass for 2 parties.
(1) The perfectly legitimate, non-spamming, innocent company who happens to be hosted by an ISP for whom said blocklist has blocked ENTIRELY,
and
(2) The potential customer of that company at the ISP who's mail admin has selfishly decided to blocklist the company in (1).
So that's 2 parties inconvenienced. Yeah, sure SPAM is a problem, but so is what i've just described.
Fine, implement your favourite blocklist on your OWN mail server, but if you're hanlding mail for others I think you should have the decency to consult and advise that you are potentially blocking valid email for sake of cutting down on SPAM.
Interesting.
Any idea what sort of timings are used to assertain wheather you're actully watching something, or you've just left your digi-box on and gone to bed?
Warning: Rant
Sheesh.
I wish companies would stop proclaiming that every new combination of database query and associated effect is a "New Technology". It's probably half the reason the US patent system is in such a mess.
This development in television advertising was obvious and inevitable YEARS ago, and I really do mean YEARS. As soon as there was sufficient bandwidth to carry multiple advertising streams (like there is now) it is a trivial matter to implement a bit of software here and a bit of software there to display different advertising streams to different viewers based on some (probably simple) profiling mechanism.
"New Technology" my pointy haired ass.
WCOM Restates Extent Of Network Coverage
CLINTON, Miss., August 8, 2183. WorldCom, Inc. today announced that after its ongoing internal review of its network coverage, it has discovered an additional 237 billion light years of improperly reported network reach. Information previously made available to customers and analysts indicated that WorldCom had full fibre optic network coverage between the United States and over 118 other planetary systems outside of our own galaxy. On November 4, 2182, WorldCom announced that network coverage in actual fact only extended across the Atlantic Ocean.