Marilynne's World

I have geraniums planted outside the window of my office.  There was one growing wild in my yard and I transplanted it to a big bare space.  That space is more like a jungle now.  The geraniums are in the back and the roses are in front, and all are growing in wild abandon.

This geranium is tall – within a few inches of the bottom of the window.  The dried leaves are from this winter’s snow drops.

I am amazed at the generous beauty of this geranium.  I give it no care, but the little wild creatures (rabbits) that live under it may be providing some fertilizer.

What’s your garden look like?

Marilynne

I’ve been on a tangent about spam quite a while now, but I have to tell you about a recent email spam.  I belong to the San Diego chapter of Sisters in Crime – also known within out chapter as Sisters and Misters in Crime (SMinC) – because we have many male chapter members.  I used to write a newsletter, but now I just forward email for SMinC because it takes a lot less time and the news I send is much more timely.

I wanted to send our members a post about the KillerNashville writing contest and conference.  Usually I just forward the newsletter as it is.  This is a no-frills forwarding.  It goes looking just how it came in.

Well, I ran into trouble because the word killer was all over the email.  My own cable company, COX, wouldn’t let the email go out and called it spam.  It is not fun to have about 50 emails returned.  I tried three times and each time my email was rejected.  What to do?  I didn’t know.

Then the ex-president emailed me the same notice.  I told her I’d try once more.  I deleted any and all references to killer in the email, including the word buried in the email address.  That left only the graphic, which had all the information included.  I sent it out once more and heavens to Betsy it worked.

I think that somehow COX had marked my own email as outgoing spam.  When I forwarded it from someone else – carefully removing the k word, it worked.  It’s good to know COX is on the ball, but frustrating when it’s working against you.

I am, however, considering moving my blog over to Cox and getting the benefit of some of that spam protection.

Have a good day.

Marilynne

If you read my last post, you’ll know I listed a bunch of spammers.  Now they’ve disappeared – mysteriously – and I hope they won’t be back.  Actually, I hope Nike and Coach handbags crunched them, but I have no way of telling.

Here’s a comment I just received, that’s commenting on my spam post.  If you think of it in context, it’s really funny.

• “Superb composed article. It will likely be useful to anybody who usess [her error, not mine] it, which includes yours actually . Sustain the great operate – for positive i will verify out more posts.”

The poster is selling handbags.  Since I was complaining about spam in the post she commented on, I know without looking at the commentator’s “name” that it’s spam.

• Another spammer (SeyCDZg), commenting on an old blog “Blogs for writers that I simply love.” He had this to say.
  • XGCYdD [EXTRA]  XGCTdD
  • Those letters were stacked in the comment.  It looks like code to me.  No way I would approve this comment.

• Let’s try another.  This commenter called himself  “buy email addresses” and told me where I could buy them.  He also commented on my spam rant.

• This one has me baffled.  “plastic surgeon board” tells me that “that is a great launch, I’ll be back again later to have a look at other posts that you have on your website.”  That almost sounds legitimate, except that I’ve owned this website for years and he’s commenting on my spam rant.

• Last of all, “telegrafi” tries flattery.  He says “Thanks for sharing excellent information.  Your site is very cool.  I’m impressed by the details that youi;ve [his error, not mine] had on this site.  It reveals how nicely you understand this subject.
  • There’s more.  It’s very flattering.  He’s commenting on a photograph of my daughter and her new husband showing their wedding rings.  That isn’t up for comments.  It shows me he has other plans.  Sure enough.  At the end of his flattery he gives his web site in hopes you’ll click on it – or I’ll click on it.  Unfortunately, he hasn’t given me a reason to go there, so I guess I won’t go there to HIS website and rant about spam.

All of these comments went into my blog trash.  I’m interested in hearing comments from people who want to truly discuss the post, those who just want to say hello, and the like.  I’m not interested in spam.  I am thinking you aren’t either.

I hope this is helping you understand how I get rid of the spam that gets past my two spam cleaners.  Yes, I have two of them and the spammers get by it by commenting to photos and very old posts.  That, in itself, tells me I don’t want to read their comments and I definitely don’t want them on my web site.

So, if you have a comment that is just a friendly hello or something similar please feel free.  I don’t even mind if you don’t like the site and have some comments that might make it better.  I love comments, but I don’t love spammers.

Marilynne

Do we just follow along like a bunch of sheep when shopping?

Are we like a line of sheep – or lemmings – when we buy things?  Do we just see the name and plunk down our cash so we can own something?  What about paying money for knock-offs?  By knock-offs I mean someone designed the article, gave it a good reputation, spent money promoting it, and then someone else steals the idea, manufacturers a copy using cheap materials, and sells it to someone who wants a bargain.  The knock-off takes advantage of the superior company’s name, their design, their quality product, their advertising, and claims the product for their own.

Those who sell knock-offs have got it down to a science, but today’s rant is something that to me is totally ridiculous.  Who would buy a jersey from someone who commented on a blog?  Ridiculous!  Who would want to do that?  Who has any assurance that they’d even get the jersey after sending in the money?

If  you have ever considered buying something from a commenter I advise you not to even think about it.  If you want to buy something on the Internet it’s a simple thing to search for it.  Buy it from the people who did all the hard work and put out a quality product.

The other possibility is that they want me, the blogger,  to buy something from them.  Ridiculous!  Why would I buy something from someone who is spamming me?  Yes, spam.  That’s what it is:  the big nuisance spam that irritates blog owners all over the world.

I’m going to list these people and what they sell.  My advice to you is not to buy from these people.  I also ask you to blackball the knock-off products they’re selling.  Why, because somewhere out there is a sucker who thinks she/he’s getting a bargain.  I have a hard time believing it, but it’s the only reason I can think of.  A spammer has to do a lot of typing in order to annoy so many blog owners.

So:

1. Never buy anything from someone who advertises in a comment.  Occasionally a blog owner will recommend that you shop with the blogger’s friend.  Even be cautious there.
2. Never answer one of these comments.  They may be trolling for email addresses and other information.
3. The chances are that these are knock-offs – not the product you want to buy
4. Don’t buy from any of the web sites or products listed below.  (Apologies to Nike Air Jordan and Coach handbags, but you’re helping them.)

THE LIST

• wholesale League jerseys: Nike Air Jordan
• Stan Mikita Jersey:  Nike Air Jordan
• wholesale Bears jerseys : Nike Air Jordan
• wholesale Bills jerseys:  Coach Poppy Pink or Art White Handbags
• wholesale Panthers jerseys:  Nike Air Jordan
• Coach Poppy:  Air Jordan
• whole Blues jerseys:  Coach handbags
• wholesale Clippers jerseys:  wholesale Phillies jerseys, wholesale Pirates jerseys (add the team and another list)
• Cheap Jordans:  Nike Air Jordan
• wholesale Bulls jerseys:  Nike Air Jordan
• Jordan 2 black:  Nike Air Jordan
• wholesale League Jerseys (didn’t we just list them?):  Jordans, Air Jordan
• Wholesale nfl jersey:  Air Jordan
• Tom Barrasso Jerseys:  wholesale Blues Jerseys
• Nike Air Max:  cheap Coach handbags
• Air Max 90 Boot:  Air Jordan
• Beats Solo HD:  Air Jordan
• Wholesale Custom Jersey:  Coach handbags
• Air Max TN:  Air Jordan
• Tom Barasso Jersey:  Coach handbags

This is only half of the spam I received this morning.  There is a boring repetition to them.  I will continue to delete this spam, but I’d really rather it just stopped.

If you want to know more, see http://www.geekologie.com/2009/01/pssst_over_here_cheap_knockoff.php

Marilynne